September 2011

Last fall we went to my parents lake house for a last hurrah until this upcoming spring. We celebrated, T's 61st bday with all the lake kids over an ice cream sandwich cake. My father loves children probably more than anyone I know, at least until they start whining and crying because they missed their nap for the last three days due to grandfather camp; and then he hands them over to us. :)

Happy late Birthday Dad!!

Then the next day we drove to Montgomery to have a special burial ceremony for Dee's father who passed away one year ago last September of lung cancer. He was cremated, so we saved the ashes until we could honor him with the whole family being together.

Dee's Grandmother Dot and Ali

Susan, Henry, Aunt Julia (almost 92 years old) and Beth

Pate

Wesley, Dee, Aunt Julia, Henry, Mary Taylor, Grandmother Dot, Ali and Susan...
You are missed, Pop.

The next weekend we got together with our neighbors the Arbergs for one of their amazing dinners. It is always a treat to be over at their house. Brad keeps us laughing!

Blair (2) and Mary Taylor (2 1/2) have become buddies even more in the last six months.

Somebody loves their daddy...

Henry and Hannah have known each other since they were 11 and 15 months when we first moved to the neighborhood.

Now they are both in Kindergarten together...Hard to believe that so much time has past.

Miss Brook and Tuck...

 Tay Tay and her daddy...

Henry played flag football last fall which was really fun to watch, especially when he ran the wrong way with the ball....every time!! It was fun, but we realized he was a little young to be playing football. He had the most fun wrestling on the sidelines with his new friends.

 

And then at the end of September Henry had a multicultural feast at his school. All the parents made food from their families heritage. We decided to go with German food. I brought German bratwurst, but it was actually sausage. It seemed to be a hit!

 

 September was also the month we celebrated Daddy's birthday and Charles Tucker's birthday as well as welcomed home Martha Jane from Uganda!! It was definitely a full month. Now on to October...only 5 more months to go before I am caught up!

Events that got lost in the shuffle of summer...

Back in May (I think), Mary Taylor's favorite person at the gym and jumpy place, Larenza, enjoyed her last day working before she left to move back home to Boston. We had to make sure we went to see her and take a picture so we would not forget her. We miss you Larenza! (probably misspelled your name)

Then at the beginning of June, Henry enjoyed his first real VBS at Church of the Apostles. The last day ceremony with all the kids singing, "Our God." was really powerful! Can't wait for next year!

Henry's good friend Hugh, who we have known since they were two, spent his last days in Atlanta before moving to South Carolina in August. Henry misses you Hugh!
























They even played on our backyard playset we had put in, in the spring. Sadly my kids really don't play on it that often. Hoping this fall weather will bekon them to go outside and play....

We also visited the Botanical Gardens some this summer. We love that place...

  

We learned how to swim this summer. Henry needs no help from me and the babies are loving the water. This is Charles Tucker swimming to the side. After three times in the water, he was swimming on his own. He learns by watching other people, which is pretty impressive. We have learned he has no fear until he realizes he should be scared of something. 

At one point during this week, he jumped in with no one around. I had to jump in the water and save him. He was pretty shooken up, but then he developed a healthy fear after that.

Henry, Mary Taylor, Mollie, and Elie chillin out after a hard morning swim...

Henry getting ready to swim with the older kids. Hard to believe two years ago this crew was crying the whole time they were in the pool. They grow up fast...

We are so proud of Henry for swimming the length of the pool all by himself. He is really a confident swimmer.

During Henry's lesson, usually the babies are goofying off. Look at that kick! He's got some real talent. Seriously, his gross motor skills are excellant. He might be ready for soccer in the spring.

 
Mary Taylor and that pacifier...I know, I know. I am told by my husband that at her third birthday, we have to give it up. I am trying to prepare myself for that day in November, already.

Miss priss pot...

Look at that cutie!!

Bailey has a real passion for orphans in Africa, so she was thrilled to meet Charles Tucker. She hopes to adopt one day.

My crazy crew on a raining day playing with their new floats...

Love this sunshine picture of Charles Tucker...

On our way to the lake for the 4th of July, we stopped in Auburn to see our friends the Ashby's who moved to Texas, a year ago. It was really special to see them again. It was their first time meeting Charles Tucker too. Love you Ashbys!

Rachel and Henry have been friends since they were 1, so it was sweet to see them together again.

 Then we spent 4th of July at the lake with my family. Did not take many pictures that weekend, but this event was too cute to pass up. I was worried the whole time that they would tip over....

 We made it back home on the 4th, but we were too tired to go see fireworks, especially because daddy had to go into work the minute we got home from the lake. So we made this flag and watched you tube videos of people singing the star spangled banner. The kids loved enjoyed our lesson on America, until they started falling apart...

 I think Mary Taylor's lack of sleep from the lake is getting to her...

A couple weeks later, we celebrated my good friend, Shelley's birthday and soon to be birth of her baby over dinner one night with no kids! It was so much fun! I really need to do this more often!! Please pray for Shelley, as she had her precious Lucy six weeks ago, but lost her father about five days after the birth. She is going through a rough time dealing with a new born and morning the loss of her daddy. Love you Shelley.

Henry participated in a Junior sports camp this summer, which he really enjoyed! Yes, I took a picture with my iphone from the track above.  

This past summer, we also had a mommy son date to see our cousin Rachel perform in God Speed. She is very very talented and a joy to watch! We are so proud of you Rach!!

Another mommy/son date to Baskin Robbins...

And lastly, my two little munchkins lov'n on eachother...

This caught me up til August. I have a real idol of wanting to document my whole life in a chronological order. I drive myself crazy trying to keep up. I am not sure why I feel this need to document my whole life. Yes, my kids will get to look back, but should I sacrifice other things in my life to achieve this burden I have imposed on myself. I know I am getting deep about this. But this tends to stress me out when I am behind. But, lately, considering I have not blogged in three or more weeks, I am letting go of some of this yoke that is holding me down. I am spending more time in the word, reading books that feed my soul, listening to sermons from very wise people and just trying to be a mom and wife, which takes much out of me on a daily basis. So this blog has to come after all those other things. But, there is a place for it in the right space. I am trying to learn the balance.

Have a good Sunday night everyone!