Happy 4th of July!

We didn't really take a vacation this summer, well with the exception of the girls and I getting out of town next weekend. So on the 4th we went up early to the lake for a couple of days and had a nice "staycation" as my husband so calls it. We did get our first chance to take the girls to Magic Springs though and Addie Blaire loved it, well Brit did to but probably won't remember it! We got there right when it opened so we had the rides to ourselves at first. We tried them all out and that Addie wasn't scared a bit, if it hadn't been for the height requirements on some of them she would have tried them all.


Kinda like the teacups, I guess, funny how getting old changes things thought because I wasn't right the rest of the day after all that spinning.

Daddy and both the girls got to ride this one.

Addie Blaire is on the far right there.
It was a tad bit hot that day, nothing like the 115 today but hot all the same.

Addie Blaire and I tried out the log ride first since Mitch had to stay behind with Brit. We had the best time and she loved it so much that she wanted to do it with daddy. Well they headed out as Brit and I watched, but for some reason some amount of time had pasted and I noticed no boats coming in. I got a little worried at that point, well the ride had broken down ( I know big surprise right) anyways next thing I see is these two being escorted by security off the ride (luckily they weren't at the top like some others) !! Poor Mitch that's some bad luck.

Addie Blaire and I on the water log thing. Boy I forgot how wet you get on this one.

After the rides we went over to the waterpark and had some fun. I was really impressed with that place I must say.

BTW, for those that know Mitch got injured at the park, this is the ride, just saying!!

We had dinner at the Arnold's one night and the girls had a lot of fun playing together, it is a shame we don't get Allie and Addie together more often.

This is Addie's favorite place on the boat, right up front. I added this picture to show how she is our precious little hood ornament. She stands up there and as you can tell by the picture sings and dances and just has the best time.
We are trying to get Brit used to the boat and she does pretty well for a little tike. She likes to take a little nap everyone once in a while.

Uncle B and Addie Blaire

Me and my sis!

We love to pull up in a cove and float so this was Britann's first try at it and she didn't hate it so that is a nice start. Big sis on the other hand wants to stop every few minutes.

This was a picture I caught of Addie Blaire and Zoe one afternoon. She had just gotten down on the floor and did this, so of course I had to run and get the camera. Poor Zoe, but man that is a pretty good impression of her!

Addie Blaire and her first "sparkler" experience.

Happy 4th of July little Brit, you made the first one a good one.

The whole fam, including ole Zoe.

We came back in time on the 4th to help out with our church's big firework display. Before the lights they always have some fun activities for the kids including a bike race and games. Addie Blaire is still getting used to her bike but with a little help from Dad she did just fine.

Britann and her cuz Julia, they kinda look a little alike I think.

Addie and Kennedy

The band we had this year did an excellent job. They sang some of my all time favorite contemporary Christian songs.

For the second year in a row Mitch was recruited to drive the train. After last year and his lack of use of brakes I didn't think they would be so brave to ask him. He decided this year though that the kabota (?) would be a little better ride for him than the 3 wheeler from last year. He stayed so busy he never stopped for 3 hours that night giving rides!!

The family in our Church shirts, it is great to have memories like this with our church. I am so proud of all those that do such a great job of planning this event every year not only for our Church but for the community as well. Hundreds of people come out every year and it always makes my heart smile to see so many lives that our Church is reaching.

Couldn't resist taking her picture watching the fireworks it just never gets old seeing how excited she gets!!

Brit even got her first show in and she really seemed to enjoy them and the sound didn't seem to bother her either. Now why she was still awake at the time I'm not really sure about.

Good times with old friends!

Addie Blaire and Grif got a great surprise a few weeks ago, NONA!! The kids had not seen Janice (as I call her) in a long time and so she called and wanted to get together with them before Grif moved. We set up a date at the pond like old times and it actually makes me want to cry just writing about it because I think back to all those days of pulling up in the driveway and seeing the kids and Nona over there feeding the duck and fish. It is such a blessing that we had someone in the kids lives that loved them more than anything. She is such a hoot and the kids I know are results of some of her as much as anyone because she spent so much time with them. I know we will always have a special place in our home and our hearts for you Nona!!

The kids were so excited to see her they went running for her the minute she stepped out of the car and just like Nona she came bearing gifts. She was always the best at buying the kids all kids of cool gifts and she had not forgotten some of their favorites!

She brought some of their favorites: bubbles, more bubbles, pop rocks, m&m's!

She even came with a gift for Howard the duck, lots of corn feed. The kids played and sang all their own tunes just like old times. They have a song to the tune of "animal crackers in my soup" but they changed it to say "makes ole Grif go toot, toot, toot"! The kids just crack up everytime.

Mrs. Lashonda took pictures of Britann the other day around the yard and she got some pretty cute ones so I had to share!

This is one of my all time favorite pictures of the girls so far. Mitch took this while I was gone to market at the end of June. I guess he knows what it takes to make me rush home. I got this picture and all I could do was think about how much I love these two little faces!! So I guess it worked thanks daddy!

Addie Blaire going for a spin in Pop's jeep. My dad bought this jeep back from a friend that had bought it years ago from my grandpa Fowler. It is so neat to see her riding in this old Jeep with her Pop just like I used to at her age with my grandfather. Funny how time goes by but pictures like this make all those memories still so alive.

Britann on her first of many trips to the golf course.

This picture was taken a little out of order but I thought it was pretty funny, my car after a weekend away was so full that poor Zoe only had one place to sit. Needless to say she couldn't get out fast enough, but she did look pretty comfortable at the time.

One day the girls and I were headed back to home from Hot Springs and we stopped by and met up with my parents at the farm. The girls and I hadn't been out there yet this summer so we decided to have a little picnic out there. It was a lot of fun for the girls and mom even surprised us with a watermelon for dessert. A little dirtier background than most picnics but a little dirt never hurt anybody.

These are some pictures of Addie Blaire's sunflower field. My dad planted a field full of sunflowers and it is so pretty, needs some rain but very cool. He told Addie that he had an "Addie Field" so she has been telling everyone about it. She was so excited and still talks about it all the time wanting to go check on her field. She has even been praying for rain for my dad every night in her prayers and now she adds "oh, and the Addie field too"!

This is just a fun picture that Lashonda got one day while watching all the kiddos before the Ralph's moved. We are going to miss those guys!

Purple cow, enough said!! No need to explain that smile further....

or this one!!!