Visiting Family

Sorry it's been so long since my last update. It has been a busy few weeks for us. As I said in my previous post, Jonathan and I helped out at our church camp for a week. We had a great time getting to know the kids. It was also a great spiritual bond between all the staff leaders that were able to be apart of the week. I did surprisingly well without Ava. I knew she was in good hands but also we were so busy all day at camp that I didn't have a minute to think about her, which was a blessing! Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the week. (There are plently of pictures on Facebook posted by the kids!)

As far as what we've been up to, well, we've been busy seeing family. This week Ava and I went to my grandma's house. My sister, brother, mom and dad were there as well. My brother, Jeromy, has never met Ava, so it was great seeing him and his two precious boys. If my brother would've let me, I would've taken those boys home with me. They were so sweet!

Ava, Emma & Elsie (They were all smiling!!)
Jackson cuddling up with his brother Samuel.

Here are all the kids minus Ava. We were having snack time in the car waiting very patiently to leave.

My brother, Jeromy, and his son Samuel.

Elsie and her daddy.

Jackson, me, Samuel & Ava.

It was so fun getting to see my family again. It's a little crazy when we're all together, but it's always worth the craziness!

Family Photos

Next week, Jonathan and I will be leaving with our church to take the youth group down to summer camp in Florida. (I won't be posting anything for a while.) Please pray for the leaders of this trip, the kids attending and for our pastor, Byron, as he will be the speaker next week. Jonathan and I are really looking forward to getting to know all of the kids better. You can also pray for me as I'm leaving my daughter for a whole week with my parents! She (and they) will have tons of fun, but I pray that I won't let my emotions distract me while I'm there.


A few weeks ago my friend, Catherine, took some great pictures of our family. I wanted to post a few before we left town. She did such a great job!

Hope you all have a happy fourth!!

Sounds Baseball game

Last weekend we met some friends at Greer Stadium to watch the Nashville Sounds play baseball. We know the pitcher, Tim Dillard, so we like to go cheer him on. It's a lot of fun, especially when all your friends are there to enjoy it with you.

Me & Ava, Angela & Madison, Lauren & Ruby

Chattanooga

Over Memorial day weekend, we took a trip to Chattanooga. We had never been to Chattanooga before, so we thought it would be fun to get away for a little while. I thought I would share a few pictures from our trip.

The first few pictures are at Coolidge park where Ava loved to run.

The fountain in the background was very crowded with lots of kids in their swimsuits running around. They had statues of animals circled around the fountain. Ava just wanted to sit on the statues and watch all the kids.

After the park we ate dinner at a restraunt downtown. We didn't know our child loved corn-on-the cob so much. Ava's balancing act.
After dinner, we went back to our hotel to go swimming. And as you can see in the picture below, Ava loved it!
She also loved riding in the elevators. She would get so excited every time.
On Monday, we went to the zoo. This is a picture of Jonathan and Ava in the petting zoo. Of course I preferred to stay back and watch, especially at this zoo. They had goats everywhere!
If you look closely in the picture below, Ava is holding her chest. That means that she's scared. (And I can understand why!)

And of course you must wash your hands after the petting zoo!

Adios Amigos!

4 years ago...

...Jonathan and I were married. I just wanted to say "Happy Anniversary" to my hubby and to the ones who didn't know us back then, here are a few pictures of our wedding day. It's great to go back through pictures and remember your special day. We have both changed since then - physically and spiritually. It's been a fun journey so far and I'm looking forward to many years to come. I love you, Jonathan!

Coupon post

I've been sucked into the coupon world. Last night we hit the highlight, thanks to my friend Kelly. She knows anything and everything about how to use coupons. There was a great deal on meat this week, so Jonathan and I decided to stock up. I called Kelly to ask her a few question about it, and she told me to stop by her house so she could give me a few more coupons to make this deal even better. Our total purchase came to $212.32, but we only spent....$26.34. That's right! We felt pretty good walking out of Publix and saving close to $2o0! In the picture is everything we ended up buying except for the charcoal. We had to buy 4 bags of charcoal to get the free meat. And anyone that knows me knows that I'm ecstatic that I was able to get FREE Dr. Pepper!! So, in case you were wondering what we've been up to, well, this is it!!

Gatlinburg

A few weeks ago, Jonathan, Ava and I met my parents and my sister, and her family, in Gatlinburg. We spent a week there. It was definitely one of the most relaxing vacations we've ever taken together. It was extra fun for Ava to be around her cousins all week.

Here is our cabin.

Jonathan and Ava looking out from the front deck.

One day, we went on a hike to see...

(It didn't take Ava long to fall fast asleep on daddy.)

this waterfall. Mama and Papa with their three grandkids.
Another day, we drove through Cades Cove. It takes you through the Smokies. The whole time we were watching for bears. We saw plenty of deer and turkey, but we never saw a bear.

Here are some pictures of the Smokies.

We were still there to see the sunset. It was beautiful!
We also went to Dollywood one day. I was a little hesitant at first to go because it's not cheap, but I'm so glad we did because we all had so much fun. Ava rode so many rides and loved all of them. I think she would've rode the big kid rides too if she was allowed. She threw a fit after almost every ride because she didn't want to get off.
Ava was funny on the carousel because everytime she would come around to see her daddy, she would wave really big like she was big stuff riding on her horse.
On the train at Dollywood.
Riding on the ducks.
A long day for Ava. (I think this was actually her second nap at Dollywood.)

The last day we walked around Gatlinburg. Ava and Emma are taking a little break from walking.

After walking in Gatlinburg we drove to Pigeon Forge to play putt-putt golf. Here is my sister and her family. Speaking of my sister...she found out, while in Gatlinburg, that she's going to have another baby! (They are praying for twin boys!) Her due date is December 26. Maybe she'll have the third New Year's baby in our family. Wouldn't that be weird??!!
Ava trying to play putt-putt.

The whole gang.

We were so blessed to share a relaxing vacation with family!