Another checkmark on the summer list!

It is so hot! The pool water is warm. It was time for something a little different.
David's brother had the bright idea to take all the kids for a morning bike ride in the 90 degree weather.
For some reason, the kids were up for the adventure.
I stayed home...but he kindly brought me back some photos!

 Loading up the pick-up truck with kids and bikes. 

Surely they don't think they are gonna ride up there!

 Ready for the adventure. My kids usually do wear helmets, but because my niece and nephew didn't have them, my kids decided they did not need them either. Uggghhh!

 Through the trails. At least there was some shade!

 Taking a little break. I really wish I knew what they were talking about!

 After the hot ride, they soaked each other with water.

Zac came back and said, "Mom, I did awesome! 

Next time you'll have to come with us. You would really like it too!"

Checking off the summer list is fun!

And I didn't have to get hot and sweaty...and my hind end isn't sore either!

Happy Tuesday!

Linking up here with 52 Weeks of Happiness!

Young Life Family Camp!

A few weeks ago, our family enjoyed a wonderful weekend away at Young Life Family Camp.

Here is a little recap instagram style. I hope you enjoy it!

Welcome to Windy Gap!

Weaverville, North Carolina

 

Enjoy the beautiful scenery and soak in the goodness!

Sleep good in your cozy cabin.

And may your children sleep good too. They will be super tired!

 

 

Enjoy the hilarious and uplifting entertainment.

And while you're here....squeeze in a little work to earn your keep!

The Infirmary will be open 30 min after each meal. Be sure to visit the nurse then if you have any minor injuries...or need a band aid...or tylenol.

She will have a very important looking walkie-talkie radio...just in case you need her at another time. Like if you chip your tooth or bust your lip or break your arm. Yikes!

We are equipped to handle more serious injuries, but only while we wait for paramedics.

We have a great KIDS program with responsible teenagers to hold their hands.

The same teenagers that will be serving you and cleaning up after your meals.

The Gift Shop is awesome. You are sure to find a fabulous keepsake!

The CLUB sessions are fun, entertaining and encouraging! And there are always a few really great surprises too.

If you are chosen for the "How well does Dad know the family" Skit ....don't choose the wrong answer or you be dunked in a pool of Jello!

Don't be afraid to try new things. Climbing walls and super swings....horseback riding too.

The Sweet Shop stays open late. You will love the ice cream pie!

Enjoy the best family get away ever. You will want to come back year after year. Play, share, talk, snuggle and reconnect! This is what it is all about!

And since it is Mother's Day weekend...don't forget to celebrate your Mom. She will be soooooo very surprised to get that awesome ipad. She was totally expecting a Young Life ball cap or a t-shirt!

Emily was brave enough to be in a crazy skit for the final night of Family Camp. 

She is a nut! Really! She is playing the part of the Mother!

We are huge fans of Young Life! To learn more, you can check out their website here! They have camps all across the country for Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers...and Families too.

There is something special about getting away....they get that. We needed it and feel blessed to have been able to go.
Happy Tuesday! 3 more days 'til Summer!

I'm linking up here with 52 Weeks of Happiness.
And on Friday...I'm here at InstaFriday!

Outside!

 

This weekend, as I returned home from some Easter shopping errands, I noticed the kids piled up in the yard.

I left the groceries in the car and headed over to catch the action in these photos! 

Lots of giggling and silliness. So much fun!

These 3 little wrestle monkeys make me happy!

Especially when the wrestling takes place outside!

I love this time of year.

Enjoy!

I'm linking up here with 52 Weeks of Happiness and here with Sweet Shot Tuesday! Join the fun!

I L.O.V.E This!

We had a big birthday bash!
It was a beautiful evening!
I took a great group of girls to have some pictures made!
This was one of my favorites!
More to come!
 
 I'm linking up here with 52 Weeks of Happiness and here with Sweet Shot Tuesday! Join the fun!

Wanting to be on her own!

 

In just a few days, she will be sixteen. 

I found this photo of Emily and her friends at her fifth grade graduation. I cropped it down to the image you see here. Like this...it has huge meaning for me. 

A blurry image...because it is so hard to remember this little girl, all of 12...wanting to be so big. 

Kissing the elementary years good-bye! Heading off to middle school. 

Blink!

And now....again...kissing the little girl in her good-bye!

She dreams of being sixteen...and grown....and free. 

Last week, she announced " This is last Thursday that you will have to take me to work!" and "Next time I go to the orthodontist, I can drive myself!" and so on. I remember the freedom and the feeling of independence. 

I am so proud of who she is....and what her being grown up will really look like one day. 

Sixteen is a milestone! One of many more to come!

She is growing up ....but she is not grown up yet! 

Thank goodness!

 

I'm linking up here with 52 Weeks of Happiness and here with Sweet Shot Tuesday! Join the fun!

Sunny Florida turned rainy...but Golden!

So.... our trip to sunny Florida was anything but sunny.
Try rainy, cold and windy.
We did not come home with the suntans we had hoped for,
but we did come home with something else...something better!

A fancy trophy and 13 Gold Medals!
First place! 1 out of 25 teams!
Woot! Woot!
Happy Monday!
 
 I'm linking up here with 52 Weeks of Happiness and here with Sweet Shot Tuesday! Join the fun!

I did not marry him for his gourmet cooking...

But, he has a knack for folding laundry and he makes a perfect pot of coffee.
My husband doesn't love it, but he does it...the dreaded laundry.  The piles of towels, the uniforms, the smelly muddy boy clothes, the mismatched socks, the much too teeny tiny things she calls underwear and every stitch of clothing in between.
He doesn't have to do it.  He chose it years ago, as one of his must do weekend chores.  He likes piles and order, sorting and delivery.  He likes that at some point, it is finished.  And by Sunday evenings, it is all done!
I do not think about it much, the fact that I seldom do laundry. Thinking about it now, though, is nice!
He doesn't do bathrooms or kitty liter, Christmas shopping or gourmet meals, but the laundry thing I mentioned...is enough to make up for most of that!
And every night, before he goes to bed, he makes a perfect pot of coffee and sets the timer...just for me...he doesn't even drink it.
I don't think I've thanked him lately, but I know he reads my blog!
And may I also add....I bet that packing lunches could be just as rewarding as laundry if given the opportunity to pack them every night. Hmmmmm.


Happy Tuesday!
Enjoy your week!

Linking up here with Leigh vs Laundry for 52 Weeks of Happiness!

Pancakes and Volleyball?

Volleyball players love pancakes...and not just the ones slathered in butter and syrup.
If you know the game of volleyball, you will understand. If not, let me give you a little bit of info. In volleyball, once the ball hits the floor, the point is over~ won or lost. It is the goal of the players to keep the ball from hitting the floor on their side of the court...and of course, hitting the ball to the floor on their opponents side. Got it? Now.... If the ball is going down and the player cannot get to it in time to pass it or hit it....it is possible to lay a hand on the floor and allow the ball to hit the top of the hand and bounce up to be set or hit back over the net by another player. That is called a "Pancake!" Any time someone gets a pancake...it is a big deal.
This weekend in Emily's tournament, she got 2!
What a thrill!
The first (above) I caught on my camera, thanks to a photog volleyball Mom who adjusted the settings on my camera! Yay! The pic shows the ball on it's way back up after it bounced off of her hand.
And the second one, we captured on video.
The video is of the entire game...so to see the pancake, skip to 9:00 seconds...and watch until 9:17.
If anyone can send me the link to instructions for posting only a portion of a video, that would be awesome!

Did you see it? Super fun, right?  Thanks for letting me brag a little.
Happy Tuesday and enjoy your week!

I'm linking up here with 52 Weeks of Happiness and here with Sweet Shot Tuesday! Join the fun!