Time in GA with Whit and Josh and also the Okefenokee Swamp

We spent a few days with my sister Whitney and Josh and had such a wonderful time. We went to the AFB and went swimming on the 4th and went to see fireworks, got attacked by fire ants, went to the preserve and saw beautiful bald cypress, kids drove these two into the ground, the kids saw their first alligator, and certainly not the last, we had a few adult talks with them and enjoyed every moment with them. I miss my sister. I miss my family each one, dearly.

Adam and Josh with lightsabors, I think it is initiationJohnny nextSome fireworks, still learning to use the cameraThe nature preserve close to Whit's houseThe first spottingThe first spottingWhitney and IanWhitney and JoshThe boys now obsessed with motorcycles after seeing Josh's and they get to try on some fun gearThis is Sam and she almost fits! scary!Now Ty's turnthis is an alligator that I think liked the sight of all my little kids. I didn't like him one bit!!!!!! He kept following us around. I know I could have lost one so easily. My stomach still churns! One of the places on the Oke swamp (history tour)

All the kids got to blow the horn of the train, just didn't put all the pictures here.

Kids looking down at some Alis, maybe if you click on the picture you could see Ty, look in the shadows by the kids legs.

on the cat walk looking down at some big ones at OKE

Some of the bald cypress, beautiful trees (could be that other cypress too I know there are two)

I know I have put a lot of pictures in the 3 posts, really, just from this trip I had 409 pictures on my camera. lucky putting pictures on takes so dang long for all of you. I tried to remember some of my favorites here.We had a wonderful time driving in IN, KY, TN,GA,SC,NC,VA,WV,OH and back to IN. Also seeing this beautiful country we live in. It is so diverse.

more vacation picts

Bodie Island

Lighthouse

Ian loving the water

Joe and I watching the sunrise with the kids

Watching the sunrise

the sunrise

Joe, Sam and Adam

The sunset by the lighthouse

Ian

The family on the steps of the lighthouse

Joe and Ian

some pictures of the Outer Banks, NC

The first view of the ocean

We all couldn't wait and went straight into the waterSammi going to the water Ty loved the water until the water went back to sea, it scared him Adam having funTy holding on for dear life our spot on the beach We found a mermaid washed up on the beach Johnny having tons of fun playing in the sand alone
Ty waving to the airplane

some picts in Michigan

Sam climbing the chimney

Crazy eye Johnny!

fun climbing a car in MI

Adam was having fun when the camera comes out the smile disappears?

Ian watching everyone playing

here are some pictures I took of the kids at 2 different parks in Michigan when we were up there being with Joe for work. We had fun staying up there with him. The second week we went up some of the kids were passing around the stomach flu. that was fun in a hotel room. The kids had fun swimming at the pool. Now we are back to the rutien of stuff and cleaned the house a lot with everyone being sick for the last week. Hopefully everyone will sleep well tonight. We aren't playing outside a whole lot because of the humitity I like ac a lot.

To Make Grandpa Smile

I hope that this makes you smile Grandpa. I found a picture of you and me and thought it could make you smile. I also have the picture of you, Grandma and Sammi that Sammi has kept by her bed for the last few years.

Thank you for visiting us when we lived so far away. I know it is nothing compared to now... I love you so much and wish I could see you. Pictures, phone calls, and cards will have to be it for now like everyone else I suppose.

Hope you had a blast from the past with my little pictures. Happy Father's Day Grandpa.

change of plans...again

Well, we are not going to go to Wy and Ut afterall. We are dissapointed because we really wanted to see family and friends. Sorry to everyone that we would have seen we will see you another time hopefully soon. We have decided to stick around here for Joes vacation, draw things to do out of a hat daily and then go see Whitney in Georgia for the 4th. We are excited to see the East coast and to see Whitney and Josh.
The kids are great and loving break from school. So much to fit into a few months. Garden is in and growing tons. I think I weeded most of my corn out of the garden, so I replanted some and hope that I will still get some corn this year.
We have seen tons of turtles and some huge snapping turtles. lots of turtles laying eggs. I think it takes 2 yrs for them to hatch? We all love seeing the wild life in our yard. Turkeys, white tail deer, rabbits, turtles, all kinds of birds, crains to tiny finches, toads, fish, racoons, muscrats, moles, squirles, and chipmunks. you know... I could have forgotten one in there...
Our one eyed cat brought us a rabbit the same size as him and keeps bringing chipmunks and mice to our door as prizes i think. everyday I have to watch the first step out of the door or I might end up regretting what i step on:}
all is good on the homefront.

stuff

I went the last week to a girls night out to eat. Joe got home in time to switch cars with me after the kids last Gymnastics class. I was 30 min late and hoped I would find someone at the pizza place to eat with. I got to the pizza/subway and everyone was leaving. I had 3 friends that stayed behind and waited for me to eat a sub sandwich. If they would have chosen a restaurant like they did the previous month it wouldn't have been a big deal to be late. I had good conversations and enjoyed my 30 minutes with friends. I wasn't wanting to go home yet so I went to the church and picked up my eggs I forgot on Sunday, and then went to the grocery store by myself. How boring but needed. I was able to fit everything in one cart and didn't have to squish the food around a baby seat or around Tyler in the front. It was nice. Yes I didn't have any kids. I stayed out for 2 hours and came home wishing the night out didn't start at 7pm. I couldn't think of where I could go at 9pm and seeing Joe so little, I really didn't want to be away form him either.

I have planted the garden I need to do the tomatoes and potatoes but will when I finish the fencing. We have deer and I will try to keep them out as much as possible.

Joe's Dad is not going to get married anymore and I am very sad about that. I really thought they were a good match and stuff... We thought we would stay home now. We were going to go to Wy and then UT to make a vacation out of it. We have gone back and forth about staying home and going different places closer to home, but in the end we are deciding to go to UT and WY anyway. We would like to see family and friends and still need a good vacation. It will be 1500 miles one way so lots of books on tape and games in the car. Our car dvd player's screen isn't working so most likely we wont be bringing dvds.:(
Today is our 10 year anniversary. Joe is out of town so we will celebrate when he gets home. I think we will celebrate together as a family and make cards, cake and stuff. I will post pictures and stuff probably tomorrow.
I was weeding the garden and Adam decided to take Johnny's training wheels off of his bike. John was helped for a couple of times to steady himself and then rode the bike all by himself. I got it on video because I told him to stop. I got back and he started right back up and really didn't have any trouble starting and stopping and turning. I am so happy that the 4 yr old can ride w/o training wheels. in 2 minutes flat he learned.