Meet you in Tennessee

Grandma, Grandpa and the gang!

My girls

The girls were so happy to be with all of their cousins!

Chad and his momma!

Grandpa and Ava

All smiles.

Ava's way of saying, "I am done with pictures." ; )

Lainey and Uncle Chad reading Fancy Nancy.

Thanks for all the birthday presents!

Thanks! I loved all my presents!

Swinging with Maddie at the park!

On a nature walk with Uncle Seth!

BIG leaves!

Our little family!

Uncle Jamie and Lainey...what a daddy's girl!

Maddie and Julianna tearing up the trail!

Grandma and her girls!

Isaiah finding a comfy place on the couch...but not for long...cause he's off and running!

Grandpa and Maddie and Ava

So happy together!

Grandma and Grandpa treated us all to a cabin getaway in Tennessee a couple weeks ago. It was mega fun to get everyone together. The girls and boy : ) played to their hearts content, pushed strollers, rocked babies, ate nuggets, made crafts, looped the porch again and again, played at the park, watched Annie, sang songs, and just had SO, SO much fun! Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa...it was SUCH a great weekend for us all! : )

DSLR practice

Puddin' Pie

Silly girl

bff




Joyful

More silly girls

Little precious

And...all of sudden we are NOT happy and rain clouds set in. : )

Mandevilla

Fourth of July roses

Cupcake

So pretty, eh?

My honey...digging.

concentrated.

Saturday afternoon.

Nothing better than a sister.

Nothin'!

Negotiations.

Stop and do a little dance.

Quiet and reflective.

My writer.

Lovely hanging baskets on the porch.

My friend Kelly let us borrow her SLR camera for a couple days to see if I liked using it. I've been contemplating buying one for about three years now. There are a couple of blogs I follow and these girls take some amazing photos! I mean amazing. So, I've been considering a switch. I loved being able to zoom with one hand and snap with the other. The slr cut the delay time in half. Loved it. Now, just need to find the best one for our family. In other words, see you in another three years...after I make up my mind. ; )

Soccer Awards

Julianna and her medal

Jules, Daddy & Aves after the soccer celebration!

Baby, baby, baby

Monique, modeling classy/sophisticate maternity.

Last weekend (actually it was MONTHS ago...I am so behind in my blogging!), mom and I drove up to NC for Monique's baby shower. Isn't she just such an adorable pregnant gal? : ) We got to meet all her wonderful relatives and share in this very special time. Her daughter will arrive in the new year and will be named Finley Grace. I just love that name. It's a good thing she hurried up and is having a girl because I was totally going to steal that name. ; ) That is...if we have more children... No, no. No announcement here people.

Skyline Drive

My loves.

Just so beautiful.

Morning view.

In front of the dining hall which boasts a spectacular valley view.

Momma and her girls.

Snuggling at the lodge.

Mom and Dad, by Jules.

Daddy explaining God's glory through nature.

Oh, Shenandoah I long to hear you, far away you rolling river...

..and these are the two soundtracks we listened to along the way:

Mine and Chad's

My recommendation for budding artists on long car trips. Jules worked for over three hours straight on this art book during our ten hour trip. : )

On the way back from D.C., we drove down Skyline Drive. Chad was craving some mountains. We started at Front Royal, Va and wound our way down to the Skyland lodge, elevation 3600 ft. It was chilly and you could tell fall was blowing into the mountains. Red Maples had already turned a glowing red. They are always so beautiful in contrast to the greens and yellows. Foreshadowing for my favorite season. Chad, in a charismatic way that only he can do, got the girls completely excited watching for each mountain overlook on the road, for deer, and maybe a black bear. We had a delicious dinner followed by a delicious buffet breakfast overlooking the valley. What a perfect diversion.

President Roosevelt said, "..with the smell of the woods, and the wind in the trees, they will forget the rush and the strain of all the other long weeks of the year, and for a short time at least, the days will be good for their hearts and for their souls." Writer Wallace Stegner said, "National Parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst. Ken Burns said, "National parks embody an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence: that the most magnificent and sacred places in our land belong not to royalty or the rich, but to everyone and for all time. All that is required is we visit...and that we pass it on to our children."

But most importantly...

"You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (Nehemiah 9:6)

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea.... By his breath the skies become fair.... And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! How then can we understand the thunder of his power?" (Job 26:7-9, 11-14)