Two For Tuesday: A Giveaway And A Getaway

A GIVEAWAY: My friend Beth is tinkering with the idea of starting a photography business. To jumpstart this venture, she is having a GIVEAWAY. She is picking a family at random to win a FREE photoshoot. Check out her blog at http://www.bethhaut.blogspot.com/ and enter by Sunday, July 5th. You must be a resident of Davidson County to win, or be willing to travel here for the FREE photoshoot.


A GETAWAY: Our family is gearing up for a GETAWAY to Lake Sinclair, in Eatonton, Georgia. We have rented a house on the lake from July 4-10th. We are taking our boat and will be fishing, tubing and skiing. We'll also celebrate Hayden's 9th birthday during our GETAWAY. We are looking forward to this family time together. Check out the blog in the coming weeks to see how we enjoyed our GETAWAY!

Weekend Wrap-Up: Firefly Party and Warehouse Worship

Friday night we went to the Miller's for a firefly party. We ate desserts, played games and caught some little critters.

Drake spent most of the evening playing badminton.

Hayden's got a lightning bug.

Corinna caught one, too.

I'm holding the jar. We captured about 10 altogether.

J.J. and Hayden hanging out.

Amy read "The Lonely Firefly", by Eric Carle, to the children.

Saturday evening I went with the youth group to Salem Lake.

Here's their better side.

We had a picnic supper.

The rest of the crew.

Here I am with Rachael.

Next we headed to La Tortilleria for "Warehouse Worship." It was a gathering of several youth groups from our Presbytery. We're mingling.

Stacks of food.

The truck waits to be loaded.

We worshiped in the warehouse, heard a testimony, had refreshments, and talked to students from other youth groups. We had an enjoyable time. I think next time, we'll have to do some icebreakers or games. It was a bit awkward standing around trying to make conversation with strangers. We hope to have another area-wide youth event in the fall.

Flashback Friday: Our 10th Anniversary

J.J. and I met in September of 2007 and got married on September 12, 1998. This past September, we celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss. We had a weekend get-away to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, our original honeymoon destination.

Here we are outside of the cabin we rented. We were thankful that J.J.'s mom kept the kids.

Another one of us together. For our 20th anniversary, I'm hoping for an Alaskan cruise, but J.J. wants to go hunting in the wild west. We'll just have to cross that bridge when we get to it.

Speckles Of Freckles

No, we haven't been drinking Freckle Juice around here, but the sun sure has made the freckles pop out. I used to have them in the summers as a child, too. Take a look.

Corinna's freckles.

Drake's freckles.

Hayden's freckles. I like freckles, yes I do, I like freckles, how 'bout you?

Father's Day Weekend Wrap-Up

We had an eventful Father's Day weekend. Friday night we attended a cookout at Alston Brook, the nursing home where my dad resides. Here a am receiving a kiss from my father. Hayden took the picture and cut off our heads a little.

Here we are after the meal.

Pa Pa pictured with 3 of his 7 grandchildren.

Saturday afternoon we met our dear friends, the Hunt's, at the pool. Can't believe it's been 2 years since they moved to Shelby. We miss them and are always delighted to spend time with them when they return to Lexington.

Hayden, Isaac and Drake

Cana, Corinna and Grace

Saturday night we returned to the drive-in in Albemarle with 2 families from Drake's soccer team. We watched Up and I managed to stay up for the second feature, Imagine That, while the rest of the family slept. We didn't get home til 2:00 a.m.

A little wrestling before the flick.

Hayden adores babies and liked playing with Christa.

Corinna cozied up beside Tyler.

J.J. and I.

We spend this afternoon at the lake. Corinna gets on the tube.

Drake on skiis.

Hayden after his ski attempt. He nearly got up.

Latta came along, too.

My camera battery died before I could get a picture of J.J. with all the kids. We wish him a Happy Father's Day. I am thankful that he is such a wonderful dad to these children that the Lord had given us.

Flashback Friday: Playing Dress-Up

This was taken last fall when Corinna had some girlfriends over to play. Of course, they got all gussied up. For the summer, Corinna is surrounded by boys......her brothers and the three lads that stay with us during the days when their parents work. I know she's hurting for some "girl time." We'll have to make arrangements soon!

Soccer Party

Drake's soccer team had their end of the season soccer party this past Saturday, at the lakehouse of one of his teammates. We had a wonderful afternoon and evening of fun!


J.J. gets ready to attempt the wakeboard. There will be a video clip at the end. Will he make it up?

Game time. The children circle up.

We passed the coconut.

Corinna was glad to pass it to Hunter.

Limbo

How low can ya go?

lining up to hit the pinata

Hayden prepares to smack it.

Corinna whacks it.

How will Drake do?

He cracked it open.

had lots of food

watermelon and grilled corn

pool time

went for a pontoon ride

Corinna and Noah on the tube.

Ryder, Drake, and Styrling

Devin and Hayden

The X-treme team displays their trophies.

Coach J.J. got a whistle in a cool wooden box. Maybe if he keeps the whistle in his mouth, he won't be able to yell so loudly.

Now what you've been waiting for......J.J. got up on the wakeboard on his first try.