Night out in Chatty: Tommy's birthday party

Okay, these uploaded in not the order I wanted but I'll do the best I can. Below, Cole makes this one look like it was his birthday but it really wasn't. For Tommy's birthday he invited several couples to go out and celebrate and below is everyone that came. It was super fun and we even went up to Lookout Mountain after we ate dinner at Provino's.

April and Matt, our good friends and also Tommy's assistant coach. Matt and April have known us awhile and we're happy to have them in Cleveland and around Lee.

Here we are, hanging out.

This is Josh and Abby, Tommy's other assistant coach and good friends of Tommy and Sarah's.

And this picture cracks me up. I'm sure I'll be in trouble for it but I can't help it. Sarah is mid-sentence and Tommy is trying to crack a smile but I took the pic before the smile actually got there.

Fall sports: tackle football and soccer respectively

This fall we have spent numerous hours at football fields and soccer fields for our 2 oldest to participate in organized sports. I must say it's been a crazy experience but I think they've enjoyed it immensely. Brett had his very first experience and Blake was trying out a new sport, tackle football, which he has loved.

This is our little star soccer player who really isn't that much into the sport itself. However, the hanging out with other kids his age while trying to learn some basics of soccer, Brett has been all about. He's so different from Blake though. Brett is there for social reasons and that's it. Blake likes the social part but is very athletic and likes to learn about the sport and is competitive. Brett would like to just chat and at the end fully expecting a snack and a drink for all of his hard work...socializing. He is his fathers child, no doubt.

As much and hard as Sarah and I tried we did not succeed in getting our boys onthe same team this season. J played for UK and B played for WV. But they did play their first game of the season against one another and I took pics at this particular game. They both wore the # 5 which we thought was interesting how that turned out. Cuties.

Here's the gang watching our kiddos play. I like this picture, only thing missing is Will isn't crossing his arms!?! Oh well.

Cutie EK and Grahamer watching the game or actually playing in the dirt which is what G&T do at all the games.

This is Brett's coach and his little buddy. His coach is actually trying to show him what to do - he looks good though right? Cute shoes, socks and shorts. Yep, he looks good.

Brett's favorite part of the experience - socializing with the ladies, of course. Did we think anything different???

Here's our little QB, he enjoyed playing that position this year and hopes to keep it up but we'll see. He caught on quickly with what to do and is athletic enough to pull it off. I was very apprehensive about him playing tackle this year but it really has been fun to watch and Blake really has enjoyed doing it.


This is the West Virginia team.

Trip to the River (Blue Hole, never made it there)

We took a little jaunt out to the Ocoee River one weekend. We decided to take our dinner out there, grill it and let the kiddos play in the water. What fun it was! There's a tiny little water fall thing too that the kids loved hanging out around. I did not get wet, I was the designated picture taker but most everyone else got in the water.


Below is Joseph in a surefire action shot as he jumps in the water. I love that my camera caught this exact pose of him as he jumps off the rocks. EK and April look on and Will is busy making sure no one drowns!

Brett was a cutie, he just liked to lay with his floaties and his crocs, mind you. He loved just being in the water and didn't have to be doing any tricks to have a little fun.

Matt was also a designated helper to keep people from drowning, they did their jobs well. It was a fun time for all involved.

Blake is so happy here, wow, I love his expression. He does have a swim suit on too, if you are wondering. ha ha.

One last lake trip before fall

Okay we had one last chance to head out to the lake house before it got too cold. I got some good pictures this time out as well. We all love going out there, its about 30 minutes away and we stay and hang out outside and build fires and eat the house down, of course.

This is one of my favorite pictures of these 3 people. We were on the boat and I just asked these 3 peeps to gather for a photo and I caught all 3 of them with true genuine I'm having a good time smiles. Love it.

Below is a good "girl" picture. EK, Em, and AG plus Tuck, he's in it too but not really paying any attention to me for sure. They are all enjoying a mid-afternoon popcorn snack on the dock. Life jackets are a must out there because falling in the water at any given moment is always in the realm of possibilities.

This is Missy enjoying soaking up some rays in our little soccer chairs that we always bring out there with us. It rains alot there when we go, it's just what it does. The sun will pop out and stay long enough for us to lather in sunscreen and then it'll shower for about 10 minutes. We enjoy the breaks from the sun though.

Eric and Brett posed for a picture, aren't they cute??

Alright, this is a fave of mine. This is all of us but Eric, who is taking the picture. Everyone else is in it and the boys in the front, make me laugh every time I see it becuase they make it look like we are going 180 miles an hour on the boat. So this is 14 of the 15 from the name Outfit 15.

Cute little buddies.

This is a good one of EK and Tommy except Tommy refused to look at the camera.

And this is another one that I like alot. Mainly because EK looks gorgeous to me in this picture.

So, who knows when and if we'll get to go back. We definitely have a lot of memories from that place this past summer. Good times.

Graham and Tucker turn THREE!

August 11, 2006 Graham and Tucker made their appearance into our family. My, oh my, what a 3 years it has been. I can't imagine our lives without these little guys. They bring so much joy but yet are so much work - BUT they are so worth it. We love them and they complete our family. For this year, we decided to rent a bouncey house thing and have it at the Lee University Tennis Center. We bought a bunch of pizza and had a large cake and invited tons of friends to enjoy the bouncer. It was hot as hades but our friends were troopers and stayed out there to help us celebrate.

Isn't this such a cute pic? Everyone is so happy and smiling so pretty. I just randomly took this one but it turned out so good.

Below is Jason, John and Tommy. They're just sittin back relaxing enjoying the hot environment of the party. Really, it was so hot, I mean sweaty hot. But it was fun anyhow, the kids enjoyed it.

G&T blow their candles out. Actually Tuck is taking over and blowing his and Graham's out while we try and make Graham stay up there long enough to do it. They were so excited and enthralled with the bouncy house, they didn't even want cake or presents - just to jump!! They are all boy, that is for sure.

More friends, Andrea and Ann.

1st day of 2nd grade

So, it's already gone by but I wanted to post the first day of 2nd grade pictures. I am a bit behind so I'm going to try and catch myself up here.

Blake started 2nd grade this year and he is so grown up. When I think about him as a baby when I only had one child, I can hardly remember it. It seems like it was a thousand years ago although its only been 7 almost 8. He's such a sweet child and will always be my baby. I love him so much.

He has such a personality of his own and he loves his momma! He's a little on the goofy side but let's be honest, he didn't have much of an option otherwise growing up in this family. (I'm not sure what was all over his shirt, I think water - surely I did not send him to school on the first day with nastiness on his shirt!)

Vacation in the mountains

Short disclaimer: not sure why all of this first part is underlined. Can't make it go away.

First of all, I know this is super late and I've needed to update the blog for a very long time. I know, I know, I get it but it still doesn't make it any easier when you are just trying to keep your head above water. We are back into full swing with everyone back at work/school/pre-school and football and soccer etc. Holy smokes, makes me tired just typing it all out. So, I'm going back to July when we went to the mountains for a week with lots of friends. The Moyens and Browns joined us for a fun get-away in the North Georgia mountains. It was chaotic, loud, funny, sunny, rainy, late nights: all of the above. There were 10 children and 6 adults in our house but it had 3 floors so it was totally accommodating. What I love about this place is there is pretty much anything and everything to do from inside stuff to outside stuff, if you want to work out, swim, hike, play tennis, be quiet and read, eat, take a nap, whatever you want. The adults went to dinner one night and bowling: so much fun but guess what? Forgot my camera that night...I know what you're thinking - seriously?!? Yep, I did it. Also while we were there it was Mason's birthday so I made a cake and we celebrated that day. I am going to just put up the pics that I do have from that vacation with small explanantions underneath them.

Games on the screened porch, the kids loved doing this.

Mason's birthday cake

Joseph, Blake and Brett

Playing on the porch swing.

Emma Kate and Tommy lounging in the living room.

Sarah enjoying morning hot tea.

Eric & Missy chillin in the morning time.

Will and Blake hanging out in the living room.

AG and Emmy coloring some cool pics at the table.

Ah, yes. This is Missy's poor toe. One day while packing up our towels and stuff to leave the pool, Missy accidentally kicked a lounge chair leg and broke her pinky toe. No worries though, the lifeguard folks were very sweet to offer their assistance.
Will and I after breakfast one morning.

Then next we have all of the canoe and paddle boat shots. I love these because it's all in the name of the place and this place hold a special spot in my heart.

So, once again, what a fun trip. I sure hope we get to do it again in 2010.