Our vacation in the mountains

We just spent a week in the mountains and it was so much fun. We left on Sunday and returned on Saturday afternoon. Here is one photo that will forever make me think of this particular vacation. It's not even that big of a deal, its just one of those things that will bring fond memories.
We also had some friends come up for a few days and then Will's mom and dad joined us for the end of the week. We swam, rode paddle boats, canoed, swam some more, played golf, went
boating twice and we also of course....ate a lot.

There are these cookies that I make these days and they are so fatty and yummy. I could've made them everyday we were there and I probably would've eaten every one of them. I do have to give some props to the recipe originator, Barb McDaniel. I'm not sure where she acquired the recipe but I have coined them as hers for sure. She's from our former church, Church at Chapel Hill.












The house where we stayed had this hammock on a porch and it got used a lot and sometimes by a lot of people...at the same time.

We also rented a pontoon boat and went just tooling around the lake, checking out the fish, feeding the ducks or just whatever we wanted.



We took lunch out on the boat one day and of course the kids wanted to eat first thing, before we even left the dock, almost. Good thing we took plenty of snacks and Capri Suns. Wonder what people did before things like Capri Suns were invented???

While on the boat, where you are forbidden to jump off and swim, we had a few "men overboard." They conveniently fell off the boat, back in a cove. I was a nervous wreck that the Lake Police were going to come and take us to lake jail.








One night also, we asked our good friend Amber to come up and babysit for us so we could go out to dinner without children (almost never happens). She graciously agreed. My children know and love her since she is their almost full-time nanny during the school year. So once she arrived, we were off.

We realized our friends, Eric and Missy had never done fondue before so we decided to get them "cultured" (what?) and show them the wonderful and exciting world of fondue.

We did manage to get Missy "out of her bubble" and try something new and different. It was a real treat. When we left, though, we were so full, almost on the verge of gluttony (one of the 7 deadly sins). The men in our sunday school class are studying those right now, so I thought I'd throw in...that it felt like true gluttony.









You start with this ridiculous cheese and then move on to the main course which is whatever you want and cooked in whatever type of


oil/broth you like. Then of course, dessert is the best part....chocolate and more chocolate. We chose a pot of pure dark chocolate and one called smores, that had chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers. Can you say stupid good? Well, that's what it was. We think every small group in churches now needs to take an "outing" to a fondue restaurant and just have dessert. You better like to dip though, because that is what fondue is all about.


G&T just a boatin'.

I'm not sure if Brett is a bird here or if he is just enjoying the life jacket that he has just put on. Funny character.

This is hilarious, there was a buffet in the house and Graham and Tucker thought of this game. They would crawl in and out of the buffet and sometimes even shut the doors while they were in there. It was very enjoyable and did keep them occupied for at least 15 seconds. Ha!

Will's mom and dad got there on Thursday and we enjoyed having them with us too.












Tucker and his Mema and his "mine." His "mine" that he is currently calling for, is this hand made blanket that our friend Stephanie made for Brett that Tuck has adopted into his own personal snuggle item. He calls for it when he's tired. The "mine" is in the washer right now getting cleaned and he's just walking around calling and calling. Blake even tried to fake him out but he knows his "mine" and does not take the bait.













We did the pontoon boat thing again with them and also went to a fabulous Mexican restaurant to eat, it puts our little places in Cleveland to shame. Here's a few family photos, just in case you all were wondering if I was even there. Isn't that funny how the person who always has the camera is hardly ever in any pictures? I try to get Will to take them sometimes just so I have record that I exist or that I travel with my family on family excursions. Am I having a pity-party? Sounds like it.

Okay, I think that's about all I have for the week. It's back to life...back to reality...(who's singing?) next week. Will goes back to work Friday and then Blake starts 1st grade on Tuesday of the next week. Lee's students don't come back for several more weeks but we are already getting geared up to assist, serve, feed, and teach the students when they arrive!

Hangin' out with friends

We had dinner at our friends Eric and Missy Moyen's house last night. We go over there a lot and we always have a great time. The kids play well together and they have so many toys, everyone is fully occupied the entire time we are there. It's great. Brett almost always plays with the girls, they come up with games he enjoys and sometimes he ends up throwing "polly pockets (?)" all over the room. Evidently that is some crazy girl toy that has a zillion parts and pieces. You have to know Missy too, she is very particular about how and where things are put away. Sometimes I bet she wishes we would just go home and let her clean up since we have no idea what parts go to what girl toy. You cannot mix the polly pockets and party girl items, that is a terrible mishap. Funny!
My boys play outside there a lot, they have a cool swing set in back. Tucker learned how to climb up the ladder and slide down by himself after Blake spent an hour trying to teach him how. Blake is a wonderful big brother. He played with them a lot and I would look over and he would be having a full blown conversation with them knowing good and well they can't exactly formulate words back. So cute.









Graham and Tucker both think Blake hung the moon and they love it when he devotes all of his attention to just them. They take full advantage of it when it happens.













Here's the 3 musketeers. I made a whole pan of brownies and brought the pan home completely empty, full of crumbs. I think the kids had like 5 each and maybe Eric had 5 too, just kidding E.









Graham likes to flirt a lot. So he sat in Missy's lap for a long time just flirting with her. She then started to "eat his corn" on his arm and he got to laughing so loud.











We always enjoy hanging out with friends and E&M are true troopers because when the Campbell's come over, we bring an army!! (that usually aids in destroying their house)

A Friend to Watch the Golf Match With

I took this picture this morning and I just had to post about it. Will was thrilled that he actually had a partner to sit with him on the couch for an extended period of time and watch the British Open. I had to take the picture because its a rarity for someone to watch golf with him around this house. Anyhow, pretty cute. This is Tucker, he's the calmer of the twins, in my opinion. Maybe he's a future golfer? Maybe...maybe not, but I'm sure they'll at least try it. How could they not, right?

Our weekend

This past weekend, the kids and I took a little trip up to my parents house in Oak Ridge. We made big plans of going swimming at Aunt Carol's house on Saturday so we left Friday after work and made the trek up there in time for dinner. Will didn't go because he was set to play in the Cleveland Country Club Invitational Golf Tournament on Saturday morning and Sunday. We made it to moms in time for dinner. Dinner was unusual, most of the time when we go, there are lots of people around and the dining room table is full. But, this time it was mom and dad and me and the boys. It was fun and exciting as usual, anyhow. The boys played so good and always look forward to taking a bath in Mamaw's big tub.


After baths and G&T went to bed, we all sat up and watched High School Musical 2. The boys and I had never seen it. Briley came in towards the end and sang each and every word of the songs. I think she has those songs memorized. I wasn't surprised but since I don't have any girls in my house, it was a new thing to me to have all of those songs memorized.

Saturday morning we got up and mom fixed pancakes for the troops and we just laid around playing for a couple of hours. Then it was time to head to Aunt Carol's, about 30 minutes away, to swim. Todd decided to take the older ones with him and go on and I would follow with the little ones. It turned out to be such a fun and beautiful day at the pool. Graham and Tucker did not take a nap but they were surprisingly happy and content in their wet swimsuits and swim diapers from about noon until 5:00. I was shocked.
















Briley and Blake played ALL day together in the pool and never got into any arguments, they had so much fun. They made up games and played baptismal and had diving contests and dove for rings, you name it...they played it.
Aunt Donna, Uncle Roy and Aunt Brenda joined us at the pool and Donna brought their grand-daughter. We ate hot dogs and had numerous baskets of chips etc. We also, between all the children, demolished an entire bag of dark chocolate M&M's. Man, those things are good, ridiculously good.

Speaking of playing good together, Baylor and Brett are new best friends and always seem to have a big time when they are around eachother. It's so cute, they tell everyone they are best friends. I'm not sure what they are doing here but I think they loaded and unloaded this blue tub 150 times with whatever they could find.

Before we headed home we went over to visit my Grammy and Grampa at their house across the street. Grampa just got out of the hospital from when he fell and shattered his arm. He's a real trooper though and is in good spirits.

I tried really hard to get all the children to take a picture with Gram. All but one cooperated. It was my idea and it would have to be one of mine that would not cooperate. Tucker decided to just watch me take the photo and would have nothing to do with being in it. Oh well, win some, lose some.

Then I went to the back and Briley and Blake were entertaining Grampa while he was resting in bed. I did manage to get a shot of them hanging out before we left.
It was a fun, simple trip to Oak Ridge and Knoxville. We wish Will had gotten to go but he was out trying to win a golf tournament. He did not end up winning but shot a 76-81 and we were very proud of him.

Can you say sensory overload?

After our restful July 4th, we decided to just knock it out of the ball park on Saturday beginning with picking up Blake in Calhoun at 10 am. We ate at Cracker Barrell with Will's mom and dad. Everyone was starving and we had more bacon, pancakes and syrup on that table than I thought was possible. Of course we had tons of napkins too but somehow with syrup, dry napkins just don't get the job done. When we were done there we headed back up to Chattanooga for a stop at the Creative Discovery Museum. We have a great friend who bought us a family membership and we have totally enjoyed it. We heard there was a new Clifford exhibit, which was great but wait and see how Graham feels about Clifford. They are not best friends, actually Graham will be fine to never see Clifford again.

Blake and Brett got up close and personal with a snake at CDM too, they loved it. Graham and Tucker love to play in the "little yellow house" there. It's a toddler size area complete with a kitchen, garage/workshop, and treehouse. Too cute.


Graham's leg is doing much better. He went back to the dr. and he said it is healing very well. He said in 4 weeks he should be back to normal. He is starting to run more and more so I know it has to feel better.

The twins absolutely loved the bubble area on the roof-top exhibit. They played over there, soaked one another with the soap and just laughed and laughed. At one point Tucker had bubbles seeping from the holes in his crocs he had so much soap in his shoes. Of course their dad had to show off and use the hula hoop to make a bubble, the boys were amazed at his abilities.




After we did the roof top stuff, we finished out at the water station which is really the beginning. We hardly ever go there first, we usually save it until right before we leave. Graham and Tucker played so much in the water they were completely soaked, of course they wouldn't wear the provided smocks.


Brett liked the fishing game he found, it was super cool. Blake was busy climbing around in the water area.










And last but not least, this might be my favorite photo of the day. We were excited for the kids to get their picture made with Clifford but Graham wanted nothing to do with good ole' Clifford.
By then, it was time to head home after a fun-filled day and no naps!

4th of July

We had a very uneventful 4th of July. We didn't go out of town, we really didn't do much of anything, but it was a very enjoyable day. We got up late and piddled around the house watching Wimbledon until we went swimming at Ms. Teddie's house around 2:00. The babies only last about 2 hours like that so by 4, they were "done" and ready to take a nap. I must say all three boys are doing so well in the water now that we've been to the beach already. Again, Blake was still out of town, we missed him terribly. We grilled out some dinner and ate really late for us. All in all, it was a relaxing, restful day. I didn't get any pictures, the 4th this year really was an unphotographable event (is that a word?). I didn't even bake anything fun which is very odd for me.

Friends Over

Recently we had some good friends over to eat dinner. I made mexican lasagna, Jen made this ridiculous chocolate cake and Jana brought chips and salsa from Las Margaritas. Jason and Dennis aka: Purvis are good friends of Will's from college that over the past 10 years, we've done our best at staying in touch. Somehow college friends are in this separate category...almost in the family category. What I mean is when you are together with those people, college buddies, the comfort level high and it's always fun, even with all of our children. Jason married Jen, who didn't go to Lee with us (she's younger than us) and Dennis married Jana, who we also didn't go to Lee with (again, she's younger than us). We love both of the wives and enjoy getting together when we can. Between the 3 families, we have 7 children (4 of which we supplied, ha!).








Okay, so Dennis and Jana's little girl Maren is an exact clone of her father, holy smokes she looks like him.

This is Jen, Jason's wife along with Brett and Tucker. Let me also point out the lovely sunflower wallpaper in this house we live in. We are renting this house and it's been a year of living with the wallpaper and I'm getting very close to being well over the gros decor.
Something else funny is now that Jason lives in Cleveland, so many people say that Will and Jason look so much alike. I really personally don't see it but I can see a resemblance every once in awhile.







These are Jason and Jen's girls. One looks like Jason and one looks like Jen, to me. Brett was so excited to have them over, they played so well together. Blake was missing, he was in Atlanta visiting his Mema and Grand-daddy.






Cute, cute family.





















Here's Jason and Will, do they really look that much alike? Sometimes I say yes and most of the time I say no. Anyhow, here's Jason and Jen together, aren't they sweet?