Weekend Family Fun

This weekend was full of outdoor fun.

We took in a baseball game in Northwest Arkansas.

 

My new phone has the panoramic shot option.

I'm not sure if I love it or not.

I love the idea.

However...see the guy in the red shirt going up the stairs?

Yeah.

He was caught several times in the one image....

Kinda creepy!

 

 

 

I wish I had seen it before we left. 

I would have tried a second time.

Oh well...I'll get it right next time.

 

 

I just love that he lets her be cheezey for pictures.

#imaluckymomma 

 

 

We also had a cookout with the family at the pond on Sunday evening.

Cookouts always include lots of...

FOOD

Family

Kids running around

Fishing

Laughing

Smokey air

Bugs (ewwww)

Dessert!

Here are a few pictures from this past weekend.

.

 

Courtney sitting atop the old fort swing set.

Waiting patiently for dinner to be cooked so she can have her fishing partner back.

Poor brother.

He had a LOT of math homework.

It went with us to the pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Finally...the food is finished.

Courtney has her fishing buddy back.

Cookouts are messy.

Cookouts take a lot of work.

Cookouts take a lot of planning.

 

But...Oh BOY, they are delicious

and SO worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if she knows...

Courtney is one very lucky young lady!

She began Jr. high this week.

She is my sidekick.

She works with me at home and at school on her days off.

She likes to know I'm near.

During elementary years, she insisted that I walk her to the end of my building

So we could be together a little longer.

You can imagine her apprehension for going to school this week.

Not only is she in a new building learning new faces and routines,

But she is also on a different campus than I am.

On our way to school, we had our normal talks and prayer time.

Both days, her big high school brother walked her

Into her building, 

made sure she was okay, 

and then continued his walk to the high school.  

As the momma, it brought tears to my eyes that she was so nervous.

More tears came, though, when he stepped up and took care of her.

I shouldn't be surprised.

They have always been good buddies.

He has always been aware of things she needs 

And has always been so kind to her.

I wonder if she knows how blessed she is.

I'm eager to see how long this routine continues.

I'm a lucky momma.

I'm so incredibly proud of the people they are becoming.

My heart is happy.

Siblings are delicious!  

That went Fast!

Summer vacation is behind us.

Teachers started back to daily meetings last Friday.

I met my new Kinder Kids on Sunday.

Corbin began soccer practice for tryouts on Monday.

Courtney had Jr. High Orientation tonight.

She starts volleyball tryouts on Thursday.

(Eek!!)

School officially begins on Thursday.

This year is yet another milestone for us.

I will drop off both the kids at the "other" campus.

It will the the first year in 10 that I don't bring one or the other with me to my room before school.

When I mention it, they both look at me and grin. 

They are fine with it.

I'm the only one who has a problem with it.

One day they will understand.

In the meantime, I think I'll bring them to work with me in the morning...

just so I can bring them with me one more time.

Just.  One.  More.

#milestonesaredelicious

Did I mention that ...

Not only is Courtney going to Jr. High,

but...

Corbin will be a Sophomore!! 

#ineedatissue



Loving Summer

What a fun week!

My niece had a gymnastics camp in town on Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Amy brought her down on Monday, and we were able to visit before she had to go home.

The kids and I had a road trip on Tuesday.

We drove to my sisters boutique ((2 hours away) for some back to school shopping for me.

We got some lovin in and hit the road.  

We drove another 40 minutes to the town where my momma lives.

Granny is being cared for in a nursing home right now.

Se fell and broke her hip in June.

That lady has been through a lot, 

and I am simply amazed at her ability to keep fighting.

We took Granny some angel food cake and strawberry bread for treats.

She felt the love.  Haha

 We had such a terrific visit with her.

Our next stop was a Donors Reception at the hospital.

The Foundation donations have been used to help so many people.

That tour only convinced me more that our annual donations are so important.

(Sigh.  #wishwecouldgivemore)

Following the reception, 

we drove to another little town 

and were blessed to have dinner with Daddy's best friend. 

It was great to catch up and share some old stories and memories!

We laughed a lot.

My face hurt from smiling.

We shared memories for the sake of the kids.

They are starting to forget.

It breaks my heart, but its understandable.

They were only 6 and 9 when he passed.

So...we will continue to tell stories and share memories for them.

(Big smile)

We drove the L.O.N.G. Drive home.

Corbin was a trooper and stayed awake with me the whole way.

That's LOVE!!!

It had been a long day, and it was late.

How late?

We shared the interstate with semis...that's it.

Anyway....

Wednesday we picked up my niece from gymnastics camp and headed to lunch.

After lunch we toured the Candy House.

We put on our little hair nets.

We learned that they make and dip each piece of chocolate candy in their store! 

It was a short but SWEET tour.

When we finished, we shopped for some chocolate treats and then headed home.

The girls played and then rested.

My sis showed up just after dinner.  

We were able to sit on the deck and visit for hours!

I haven't seen her since Easter.

It had been too long.

It has been a nice week.
Time for sitting in my big comfy chair.
Time to listen to my kids playing together.
(video games, but hey...they're still together and laughing.  That's what matters, right?)
Time.
It goes too fast.
Summer vacation will be over so soon.
Too soon.
Summer vacation has always been the best. 
It's simply delicious.
Enjoy every minute, friends.