Fall Family Vacation - Day 1

Recently we had our first "family" vacation. We usually spend Greg's vacation time in Monticello, Kentucky. However, this time we decided to do something w/ just the 6 of us. So....

On the first day, we went to a near-by Missouri State Park called Ha-Ha Tonka. It is basically the old homeplace of a very rich man who was trying to build a castle. Near the castle's completion it was burned, leaving some amazing castle ruins for families to tour decades later!

Our picnic lunch was one of the best parts of the day. We enjoyed many picnics that week. It just doesn't get much better than a blanket-picnic-lunch w/ nice fall weather.

There was an amazing natural bridge where we enjoyed cooling off after we ALL walked a VERY LONG hiking trail w/ 300+ steps each way... yep! 300+ down the path and 300+ back UP the path. Greg and I took turns carrying the girls. Whew! We were exhausted! But we made some great memories!

After the park, we went to Culver's Restaurant for some butter-burgers and their amazing crinkle-cut fries. And after that, the girls were fast asleep!

Kentucky Trip - Part 3

This is the last post for our summer Kentucky trip.

Below is a pic of my kids and my best friend Priscilla's daughter Dinah. Oh, how sometimes I wish we were closer. But we are both where God wants us, so....

We had fun visiting w/ them in Cookeville, TN one day. That's about half way between Nashville, TN and Monticello, KY. We were all thrilled to eat at Cracker Barrell. Also, during that trip I got to visit w/ another college friend, Cassie Butler/Lockard!

I miss both of you ladies!

Another one of our days in Monticello involved taking a trip to Foster Mountain to see my Great Aunt Verna Lee. She is such a sweet and simple woman. I really enjoy spending time w/ her and all her family, especially since my grandma isn't with us anymore.

Then, of course, we spent a few days at Greg's parents, a.k.a. Mum Mum's and Grandpa's. We always enjoy her good cooking... Harold does too! And that's Cousin Libbie in the pic below. We sure do love her!

The girls love to play in the gravel at their grandparent's house. And Molly loves to throw them onto the carport!

Here, Libbie, Lane, Grandpa, Mary Ellen, Aunt Linda, and Mum Mum are chilling out.

Mary Ellen, Lexie and Leah in Mum Mum and Grandpa's back yard playing.

Molly loved trying to drink the drops of water that fell from the air conditioner.

We got so tickled at her doing that!

One of the most special parts of going home is to visit our home church. I usually cry the whole time. It's a special place and I have lots of memories of what God did in my life as a young person.

This picture is precious. Mum Mum praying and Mary Ellen looking at the service.

Lexie and Mary Ellen got to sing a special at church that Sunday. I think Mum Mum liked that alot!

Well, we had a great time in Monticello, Kentucky and all our travels that week!

Leah's Sunday School Promotion

On August 21st, Leah was promoted to the Kindergarten Sunday School Class at Church. She has been in Mrs. Sheila Hendley's class since she was born. This last Sunday, September 4th, she went to her new class w/ Ms. Linda Irwin and re-joined having class w/ her big sister Lexie. I think Lexie was more excited than Leah was!

I guess I'll do a little bragging here. I'm a big fan of Sunday School. And I'm really proud of Leah for not only going (I understand it's not like she has a choice in the matter yet) but, she really enjoys going to SS. She's always telling us what she is learning and it blesses our hearts. It's really neat when she tells us "Oh you know, I learned that story that you told us about in the Bible."

Other parents, I guess, post pics of their kids doing "whatever it is they do." I'm proud to post a pic of her SS Promotion. She's hardly missed a Sunday during her 5 years of life. Keep it up Leah! Keep loving Jesus and learning about HIM!!

July Trip to Kentucky -- Part Two

Part of the reason for us going to Kentucky was to get my brother Harold so he could come back and live with us for awhile and start school. That's a story to be finished in another post.... coming soon!!

I continued to be humbled that he's not so little anymore...

We always love to get together w/ Greg's childhood best friend Josh Gregory and his family. Here are their kids and ours together. They love to play together.

One day during that week, Sharon and the girls and I went to visit our friends Brother Ray and Betty Savage in Sparta, TN. Bro. Savage was my pastor when I was a child and young teen. They have always been very dear to me. Our girls have come to love them very much and even call them "Grand Betty" and "Grand-dad." So sweet. We are blessed to have them in our lives.

July Trip to Kentucky -- Part One

This too is another post that is a bit late... but better late than never, right?

One week during July, I took the girls to spend some time with our family in Monticello, Kentucky. The first part of the week we spent with my Mom and Aunt Eva. While we were in town, the local Fair and Horse Show was going on. So during the day, we went to the Fair Expo. It was a lot of fun and pretty neat. After that, we had lunch and then went to Somerset to see the movie CARS 2. Below are some pics from that eventful day!

The girls w/ Nanny at the Theater about to watch CARS 2.

There were lots of hand-stitched quilts at the Fair Expo. This was Leah's favorite.... wonder why?

The girls really liked this one too!!

I had to plug a little "homeschool" in along the way too. Here the girls are trying some watermelon salsa and corn salsa. It was real yummy!

Nanny and Mary Ellen enjoyed looking at the homegrown flowers.

The girls also enjoyed swimming one day with Uncle Scott and Aunt Liz before they went to Cozumel, Mexico. The little boy in the pic is Liz's nephew Hunter.

4th of July post... a little late.

I know its a couple of months late, but I thought this pic was pretty cute, not perfect, but still cute. We celebrated part of the 4th at the local Nursing Home. They do a great job of making all the holidays special for their residents and give family an opportunity to come and celebrate with them. We obviously do not have any relatives there, but many friends that we have come to love .

We had a great time and enjoyed all the fireworks and food!