Days of Summer 2014

Wow, how fast time flies by!  Silas and Avery have had a blast at FBCJ Summer Camps. Bruce began these camps about 8 years ago when we moved to Jackson, and this is the first summer our kids have really gotten to participate.  Each week has a different theme and is led by an awesome team of leaders - Silas and Avery come home every day talking about everything they did!  Here are pics of Adventure Camp, which included trips to the Children's Museum, Natural Science Museum, Pump It Up, and Fishing: 

 Even on rainy days, trips are fun!

 Bruce, super Dad and Uncle!

Avery kept telling me all about their fishing day, saying "and then the horse went in the water"… and I kept asking her to repeat it. She said over and over, "and the horse" this, and "the horse" that… I couldn't understand what in the world she was talking about (she is really into imaginary stories these days…) UNTIL I saw the pictures.  Well, lookie there…

Papaw, he's ready!!   Bruce said Silas and Avery even helped bait the hooks with worms.

After work, we've got one big helper with the yard work!!

One thing is for sure:  These two don't mind knocking on doors down the street when they want to play!  For example, this particular day, I came home and they had on their bathing suits, and apparently had already decided that they would knock on Jack and Betsey's door to play.  They had their towels ready and lo and behold, their plans worked!

 And another day, it was this.  At least in the backyard.

Back to camp - Pump it Up!

Days seem to be more and more full.  Just like my heart.  Man, we are blessed.

Weekend at Moppy and Poppy's House!

Since we didn't get to drive up to Tennessee at Easter, we've been wanting to take a weekend to visit Mop and Pop and the family.  Bruce had to stay and work, but Silas, Avery, and I took off bright and early Friday morning headed to Jackson, Tennessee.  We made a quick stop in Grenada to pick up Mimi and continued north.  Here are the chatterboxes who kept me entertained the entire drive:

We have been wanting to stop at the Memphis Zoo for quite some time, and this day proved perfect.  It was HOT, but was overcast which helped some.  Silas and Avery were mesmerized at all the exhibits of animals.  They led the way the whole time we were there.

Strollers are useful for steps stools, of course.

The leaders of the pack:

For some reason, Avery had it in her head that she wanted to visit China.  At each exhibit, she would ask, "is this China?" We did finally make it to the Panda exhibit, and then I realized she must have thought an animal was named China… who knows.  Maybe she wanted to call this cute one China.   We watched the Pandas eat the "sticks" for a while, and Silas wanted to figure out why and how they were able to peel the green covering off the bamboo with their teeth.  (It was fascinating to me too:-)

I wish I could remember some of the funny things they said all day.  They are at the age of making up stories and their comments keep us laughing.  Sometimes they are like an old married couple interacting with each other, correcting each other, telling one another what to do and not do, and making sure the imaginary stories are 100% factual, of course.

Then, we saw THIS place to ride a camel!!  I asked Silas and Avery if they wanted to, half-way expecting them to say no, but they both wanted to ride… and so did I!  So we all climbed aboard this one named Cotton and hung on.  I've always wanted to ride a camel.  Cotton even smiled as we paused for the picture.

And, of course the carousel was a must do.

What a fun day!  We are so glad Mimi came with us - everything is always more fun with Mimi!  I wish I could share the hilarious pics from the photo booth…. but I'll leave you to wonder.  Avery held the strip of four pictures most of the day, looking at it every few minutes and cackling out loud.



We left the zoo in the nick of time as the downpour began.  The kids napped from Memphis to Jackson and we paraded into Mop and Pop's house later that afternoon. Silas immediately hopped onto the elevator after Moppy showed him how, and rarely got off while we were at the house.  Quite the cute bellman, if you ask me.

As in true Arnold fashion, not much time goes by before the karaoke machine comes out.  Silas and Avery had been looking forward to this - they remembered Christmas and the disco ball and couldn't wait to bring the party back.

Even for an audience of none.

Sweet times.

Saturday morning, Silas and Avery were up early and ready to go to GayGay's swimming pool!

Our little diva.

And taxi driver… water taxi or land taxi?  Who cares, right?

Kaelyn and Jack came to visit that afternoon - I love watching them all play together. They're growing up too fast.

We went to dinner that night with almost the whole gang for Father's Day.

More sweetness.

And Avery took every opportunity for glamour lessons from Moppy.  I snuck in to take a picture of one of the lessons.

On the way home Sunday afternoon, we stopped in Grenada to let Mimi off and see Papaw for a few minutes.  Silas and Avery quickly challenged him to "Ping Pool", a novel game made up spontaneously by the duo.

It was a great weekend with family… we are so blessed.  We headed on home to Jackson and crashed. 

The Warfs Visit

While I was in San Diego with the FBCJ Student Choir, the Warfs came to visit!  Silas and Avery obviously thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  Their week was fun-filled with sprinkler time in the yard, feeding ducks on the Rez, playing baseball, the splash pad, movie night, lots of desserts (Silas' favorite), and Avery bossing everyone around (and making them laugh, of course). 

Our neighbor and great friend, Taft, joined in the fun!

Granny and Grandpa, come again soon!!

A few pictures

Solutions to grocery trip shopping blues:  take these two with you.

(I'm fairly certain someone is telling the "rules" to another, who is too cool for school either way.)

VBS Week 2014:  We love Captain Kandy!!

And, of course we always watch our Rebels in style (with our weapon readily handy).  The Ole Miss baseball team sure was fun to watch this year…we were proud of them.  

Mother's Day, Lake Weekends, and a little Green Thumb

Trying to catch up here.  Just as our kids are growing up too fast, times are more busy and more fun each month.  I say this every month, but man, if we could only freeze time right now!  Silas and Avery are hilarious, always having a good time… I love to listen and watch them play.  Back in May, we enjoyed a weekend in Grenada at the lake... one of our favorite places on earth.  Here is our crew on the new pier watching the boat come in to dock:

They adore their cousins Eleanor and Garnett - we are so thankful they live in town!

My Captain!!

I cannot describe how much this boy likes the boat.  He talks about it (or a tractor) every single day. 

We can't wait for several more weekends at the lake this summer!!  Wonder if I can get them up on skiis?  :-)

We enjoyed a Sunday morning at FBC Grenada... check out these twins:

I just love this picture.  Silas said, "Papaw!  I have a tie like you!"

No caption needed for this one.  These two just smile ear to ear around each other.  Happiness exuding from every inch of them.

Later that week, Silas and Avery had a blast at our friends' magnificent garden. They were mesmerized at first, then dug right in.  We picked lettuce, fennel, beets... and Avery kept asking for carrots (her favorite).  

She found "my carrots!"

We dug for potatoes, looked at little 'baby squash' and helped Doc clear out beds as you see below:

Maybe Silas and Avery will have a greener thumb than their Momma ;)  I love fresh veggies... just am no good at growing them (didn't get that gene from Papaw)!

First dental procedure: Silas apparently fell hard on his front tooth (or something) and I noticed it turning darker and darker. We brushed and brushed it with the toothbrush and darker it became... so we called our sweet dentist. Turns out, poor little buddy needed a root canal. He and I went early to the office - the hardest part was explaining to him why he couldn't have milk or anything to drink ("mom, please just water?" he kept asking). He had to drink the "magic juice" then we sat in the waiting room for an hour waiting for the medicine to kick in. Let me tell you, this little guy has never talked so much in his life! I laughed and laughed at him as he became goofier and goofier and chattier and chattier. He was having a blast.. I had to hold him down a little to keep him from falling over and attempting to go down the slide... 

The procedure went great and he had absolutely no pain, thanks to awesome Dr. Susan!  He staggered out of the room and said "Mom, Yook!  They fixed my toof!"  We drove home and I expected him to sleep a little and take it easy... he sat in my lap and watched one Mickey Mouse on TV, then resumed life like normal.... amazing. 

We even played with Millie when Avery got home from Mother's Day Out that afternoon.  (Millie loves her new summer haircut.)