AL Summer Break 2011

We had a wonderful time of vacation in AL a few weeks ago.  We began our time in Orange Beach with the Hall’s.  The Lord knew we needed this time away and the timing was perfect.  HE is SO good to us!  We had a great time!  Family time AND we LOVE the beach so it was great!!!  We then went to be with my family and we had a great time there also just hanging out and more relaxing!  Not sure what my deal is but I did not take many pics at all.  Most of these I downloaded from our sister-in-laws camera.  Thanks Ang!  We attempted beach pics and it really was not as bad as I had anticipated.  It is always a chore to get good shots of that many people but as I look at them I just cherish us all being in the same picture and the memories of our time so the fact they are not perfect is OK!

On our last full day at the beach Nanna was holding Millie in the ocean and they had an accident with a wave and collided with each other ending in 5 stitches for Nanna :(  Thankfully Millie was unharmed.  SO, we had to get a pic with Millie and Nanna with her stitched eye!  Millie may never get back in the ocean.  She has told me a million times that next time she just wants to get in the pool. 

LOVVVVVEEEE THIS!!!!

A few candids from my parents.  I am determined to take more pics next time we are all together!Hard to believe these kids have grown this much!  Love them all!  Notice all the green in the picture.  We loved being able to see green since everything here is brown and dry! 

It really was a great 12 days before we had to get back to reality! 

Busy now getting ready for the new school year and church year.  We appreciate your prayers as we make decisions and get geared up for the new church yr which is right around the corner.  Also, please pray for us as school starts next week.  Lots of emotions right now in our house!  Lizzie does not want to go now and clams up every time we mention anything about it and Millie cries at the mention of the S word!  5 more days and it all goes down!!! 

5 and 4

The days came: 

July 25th Princess Lizzie turned 5!

August 9th Baby Millie turned 4!

We did not do a big party this year.  It just didn’t fit in the schedule and the girls were good with a low key party.  Lizzie requested steak for dinner and Millie requested shrimp SO they got steak and shrimp!  Yes, they are only 5 and 4 (with great taste!)  Normally when we combine their party we do it on a neutral date somewhere in between but this year because of us going on vacation, Lizzie’s actual birthday was the only day we could do it so their party was on her b-day.

They both love ice cream so when I saw this theme I thought it was precious for them!

I called the lady who did Ell’s b-day cake because it was SO good but she is not doing cakes anymore.  I was in the process of finding someone to do a regular cake and pipe an ice cream cone on the cake when I saw a pic of this cake in Maggie Moos which is our favorite ice cream shop.  I thought it was perfect.  Ice cream cake with Ice Cream cones on top.  It did not disappoint and the girls loved it!The many faces of the Birthday Girls!Melbie joined us for the celebration!

On Mill’s actual b-day we had cupcakes.  When I asked her what kind of cupcakes she wanted she said, “half Phineasy and the Ferb(that is what she calls them!) and half Toy Story because Phineasy and the Ferb is daddy’s favorite and Toy Story is your favorite”  How sweet is she?  She really has the most tender heart and love for others.  They didn’t have the rings for P&F but they did have Toy Story so they ended up all being TS.  When I explained that to her she said, “it’s OK, Daddy won’t whine and you will be so happy”  Bless her!!!  I admit she looks older in this pic…  BIG SIGH…  Notice all the yellow.  It is her favorite color! 

So, how are they handling 5 and 4? 

Lizzie of course LOVES being older.  She thinks 5 is the magic age.  There really was a difference in her when she turned 5 because she really thinks there is nothing she can’t do at 5!  As for me, I have not handled 5 very well.  I look back at my older girls and know how things do change at 5.  I will move on!

Millie on the other hand does not want to get older!  On the morning of her b-day I said “Happy Birthday Mill, how does it feel to finally be 4?”  She looks at me with tears in her eyes and says “I liked 3, I want to be a baby!”  Just what this mama wants to hear!!!  I assured her she would always be our baby! 

They both bring so much happiness to our lives in such different ways!  This year will be much different than the other years in their lives.  I hope to embrace this time!

It May Take A While

It may take a while for us to get back to a regular routine after vacation for 12 days!  It also may take a while for me to get caught up with blogging!  So, I will just start where I left off and get it all done eventually.  The week before we went on vacation we had VBS and it was a great one!  The theme was Beach Blast and it was a blast and everything went so smoothly. 

These are just a few shots from the week:

Sallie in her class

Worship

Millie and MelbieSallie’s class in the Craft Hut which was so cute!Mill at Recreation!

On the last night we had Family Night with a water slide and bounce house.  The kids had a  lot of fun!

AND some of the adults!YEP, that’s our Melbie!

Each night we had a theme.  This was crazy sunglass night and the girls and I made these glasses!Ell will probably kill me for this picture but I love it! She taught 3rd and 4th grade which was mostly boys and if I heard them say Elleigh one time, they said it a million!  This boy is actually 6th grade but Ell’s face says it all!!!The younger girls look up to her so muchNotice Sall’s foot!  This was crazy flip flop night and this was A’s idea.  Cute to begin with BUT a mess by the end of the night!Elleigh with our newest addition to the church.  Precious!Crazy Hat night.  We made these as well. Melbie is getting Mollie in the picture.  She was busy this summer!  VBS here and in Africa!  The Mission Friends are going to love hearing about her summer expeditions when they begin the new yr in a couple of weeks.

It was a great week and by the end of it, I think we were all a little frazzled!!!  Already looking at next years VBS!