We have turned into FISH!!!

Seriously, we have turned into fish at our house... we have been to the pool every day for the past week. This is the first year I get to sit back at the pool and not necessarily get in the water... It IS GREAT!!! Katie is a good swimmer and Ben is good with his floaties. So, we have turned into fish and it is great. Yesterday was the swim party at the Splawn's. I think every child that goes to our church was there and it was wild, crowded, crazy but a total blast... Only a few injuries (including a basketball goal falling onto katie and charlie) No blood, just a small bruise so life was good!
Here are the pictures from the night!


My BIG fish... she jumped off that diving board a thousand times, and yes, she is holding her ear... it was hurting her, but it did not slow her down. I took her to the doctor this morning, but no ear infection just a mild case of swimmers' ear!

Ben chatting with Alena... He just adores her... they were so cute... He is telling her how "cool" the big water slide is!!

Katie and Molly, such sweet friends... I really hope they are friends for many, many years!

Craig and Marlin... partners in crime...

all the women just a gabbing and enjoying ADULT conversation for a moment!

My little fish!

Look at the crowd, and that was not even half of the kids and parents... WHEW!! lots of fun... and only a couple of injuries!!

Am I Quick or What????

What a great day!!! We headed down to Lake Martin to Uncle Tuck and Aunt Jean's place. We had the best time visiting with everyone and enjoying the lake. Katie and Ben LOVED riding in the boat, going tubing and floating in the water. It was so good to catch up with everyone and see how all the kids have grown and all beautiful and fun! Thanks Aunt Jean and Uncle Tuck for being such gracious hosts and for yummy food and a great time... We love you!


Aunt Jean serving up her homemade ice cream and famous chocolate sauce... YUMMY... and of course my two kids are the ones right there to get some!


Chris.. tall as ever and such a gentlemen and lots of fun to be around!!


Uncle Tuck, the man, the legend!!! hee hee


like father like son!


What's up daddy?


Mrs. Woods, looking fabulous and about to be the mother of the bride!!!


cutie Ty... getting so big and grown and so sweet to everyone!!


Mary Frances and Maggie I do believe... the bride to be in just a month!!


Leigh and Susie chatting in the shade!


Dr. Woods and his future son-in-law, Blake... relaxing!


Happy Father's Day, daddy!!!


Katie hopping on The tube with mama!



there we go!!!


The whole gang, minus Uncle TUck and Tucker... they were trying to figure out the cameras!!! Way funny!

New Blog...

I have started a teaching blog... like I have nothing better to do, huh? That blog will be used primarily for school and communication between teachers but I would love for you to check it out.. I plan on putting pictures of my classroom before and after since I am moving into a new room. I hope the blog will be a resource for other teachers and a place where we can share ideas etc. so check it out...

*** click on the white words "teaching blog" at the beginning of this post to go directly to the First Grade Ramblings!***

Coming soon...and...

This week I will blog about Craig's Builders For Christ trip, I actually should have him write about it...hmmm... and post pictures that he sent me during his week...
Thank goodness he came home last night BECAUSE... The kids and I were at church for a preschool campout event... we left around 10:30 since we were not planning on spending the night and I was just slam worn out. There had been a storm in the area that caused the lights in the church to go out...no biggie, the kids loved it... Well, on my way home I could tell the storm had gotten pretty bad, debris was all over the road, trees down etc. THe lights were working along highway 280 so I was feeling good, surely they would be on at home! We went up the mountain, as we call it, and turned into Greystone Farms and DARKNESS surrounded us... NO POWER... and then it hit me, we can not get into our house! The garage door won't open, and I do not have a key to the house. OH sNAP!!! So as we drive into the drive way I call Craig. His plane has just landed and he reminds me that there is a key in the box in our secret spot... soooo I go and trudge through the rain and mud to get the key... but...NO KEY!!! Duh, it must be in the lock box on the front door!! oh DOUBLE SNAP!!! so the kids start getting worried and so do I... I call Craig back and he is like "what am I supposed to do, just wait until I get home" that will be at least an hour, since he has to take a friend home too. Soooo we headed back to church!! Thank the Lord they were having the camp-out. So we went back to church and hung out with Mr. David and Molly and the others in the dark until daddy met us there.. We threw ourselves into the bed at midnight!!! (all of us in our room, and as Ben would say "Nice and Comfy") SO, thank goodness Craig came home last night!!! :)

-Jen

SEC Spring Meeting 2009....

WHEW, what a week we had at the beach... It is the longest we have stayed there and it was pretty great... of course we had the daily meltdowns of complete exhaustion and Ben did not sleep at all during the night but hey, we were at the beach, and waking up to sound of the waves just made me calmer and less stressed, really it did!!! We left on Sunday (I drove down with the kids, my friend,Kelly, followed us down and then Craig flew down after the Baseball game..) Kelly came down to help me with the kids until Thursday and boy was she a help!!! She also watched the kids while Craig and I attended dinners during the week. It is always so much easier with help!! Everyday consisted of going to the beach, lunch, pool, nap, ice cream, beach again, dinner, bed.... repeat each day! IT WAS PERFECT!!! We came back home on Saturday and began the crazy week of VBS!! Below are some pictures from the week... some with captions, and some without..


Update on Ben: He has not woken up with a night terror in 2 nights, THank the Lord!!! I am praying this continues. I really think we had some prayers going up, because you all know how Craig and I are without our sleep. NOT a good sight around our house. We felt like we were back in the infant days, ugh!!! So I hope the little guy continues to sleep well...
ALso, Craig is leaving on Saturday for his first Builders For Christ trip. I am really excited about and for him going!!! I really hope he enjoys it and can let go of some of the day to day stress here at home and work and be blessed by the work he will be doing!!







our annual family picture

Below are PHOTOS BY BEN:



my pretty grown up girl... I just love her hair like this!!! (Kelly did it that way)

This was hilarious, Ben was looking at Chuck while he was saying something... too funny!

My little dancers... they had such a great time dancing to the band!!

taking a break from dancing: Ben, katie and Olivia Hussey

David and Leah Knight, Chuck and Amber Dunlap and us... dinner at the OCean Club... we had a great dinner and lots of fun hanging out!!!

the BIG chair at Baytowne Wharf!

the beautiful sunset while we sat on the rooftop at Graffitti's!!!

Craig and Ben checking out the boats on the bay.

Finally...Ben's 4th Birthday...

Finally, I am blogging Ben's birthday party. He has been waiting since last year for this party at the baseball tournament. Unfortunately, he was sick, sick, sick. But, the party went on. The weather was perfect and the crowd at the ball park was not large and we had plenty of hot dogs and ice cream. Ben's best buddy, Eli, was able to come home with us and ride out to the party with us. This was a big treat for both boys. Ben perked up around gift time and then was in a good enough mood for a group picture. All in all it was a great time, but I sure hope he feels better next year. I can not believe he will be 5 next year. wow, how the time flies by....
On a side note, say a little prayer for Ben... he is having what we think are night terrors and has not slept for the past 7 nights and wakes up screaming, thrashing, kicking and incoherent... he makes for some rough nights and looong days. We have contacted the doctor and we have some things we are going to try... So pray for both Ben and US!!! :)






Wendy did a fabulous job again on the cake... it matched the invitations and his shirt... Unfortunately the Goodwins could not make it because of t-ball tournament... we missed them...but the cake was YUMMY!!!

Katie and Gray, good friends..and sooo cute together... future Auburn TIgers!!!

A view of part of the party on the first baseline deck!

This shows just how bad Ben was feeling!

This Ben and his best buddy, Eli!!

this is the crew, we managed to talk Ben into getting his picture taken!!!

Family picture.... ]