I love these guys! I am truly blessed with a beautiful fun family.
These were taken while we were visiting family 4th of July weekend. Carey Jenkins was our photographer and she was great working with eleven children and six adults! Here’s just a glimpse from that day. If you live in her area and are looking for a photographer, giver her a call!!
My dad saw this picture and got his breath caught up! Yep, that’s a lot of kids!!
How adorable is he?!?
Aunt B and I cleaned up while Papa, Grandmere, the older kids, Mark and Uncle B took the kids out to do some fireworks and pop those snapper things.
Note, the girls with the ears covered and the boys looking on with great interest.
After family worship and getting ready for bed, Papa had some really colorful fireworks. Zoe fearless with a glint of cousin O covering her ears.
Josiah thought they were pretty cool too! Cousin G, not so much.
We wanted to celebrate as 40 years is a big deal. They are not only showing us how to stay together and the commitment they’ve made to each other, but they also creating a legacy to pass down to their grandchildren.
Aunt B and I collaborated for a gift. We took individual pictures of the kids feet and put it on a poster. We added Isaiah52:7 “How beautiful are the feet…” It was a great way to show them how much we appreciated their faithfulness to God and how it is being passed down to other generations.
We kept it casual and enjoyed a pot “blessing” (ya know, instead of potluck…anyway) meal with close family and friends.
Now, I will say that Papa snooped at his sister’s house and saw the invitation about 10 days out. Sneaky little thing. To his credit, he kept it all a surprise for Grandmere. Which was really cool to surprise her. She really didn’t have a clue until we started setting things up in the house and pulling things out.
I think the next time we try to pull something like this off, Aunt B and I are going to wear nametags:
Mine: My name is Abbie. I’m married to Mark (the younger one) and we’re the ones without twins.
Aunt B: My name is Aunt B. I’m married to B and we’re the ones with twins.
Papa and Uncle B and Mark set up the swimming pool…after a little play in it, the kids took a break to eat popsicles.
That’s the cutest way to eat a popsicle if ever I saw one.
Here too! This is Cousin H.
Simply adorable!
Mark then set up the slip n’ slide that Josiah got for his birthday. In retrospect, since our little ‘Siah is none too fond of the sprinkler water things, we should have saved it for Ace, but it worked out that the others got to play on it. Mark showed them how to slide which was quite fun for him. No, I didn’t get on it…one of us had to be ready to drive the van to the ER. No major injuries…these things are more tough and Papa and Grandmere’s yard has less rocks than mine growing up.
Cousin J…he’s the oldest, and I think was really glad to have something he could do since he’s now too big for the little pool.
Ace diving!
Zoe
Cousin H…a little word about him. I’ve described him as “Liam on speed!” He’s a great kid but he is high energy all the time! Lots of fun too.
Ta Da! A wonderful big jumping inflatable! Oh yeah! My kids were thrilled.
Cousin O with flying pig tails!
Not sure if G wants to get out or is just hanging on for dear life.
The kids ran from window to window to see what it was and guess.
When Zoe realized what it was she said, “Papa could have given us candy as a surprise but this is waaay better!”
Getting set up…
And…you’ll have to wait till the next post to see it in action!
Yep, one of the twins with Grandmere…still not sure which one.
Cruising…one of them is walking but I can’t tell who it is from this picture because they’re both cruising.
She’s just too adorable not to take multiple pictures of!
Here comes cousin (I believe TJ)…
Out comes the pretty bow…”No stinkin’ bows around here, thankyouverymuch Aunt Abbie!”
Taking a break with cousin J.
I wonder if he knows how cute he is? It’s those eyes!!
Up first, we celebrated missed birthdays and father’s day…and Mark’s birthday (which was that weekend).
Papa’s father’s day…Snapfish has a great program to put in pictures and it makes a coffee mug collage…something that Papa uses everyday.
Josiah’s birthday celebration…piece by piece.
Mark is 30! FINALLY! We’re thrilled to have welcomed him on the otherside. For his birthday he got (just gotta brag because I thought it was great planning), Olive Garden salad and breadsticks, lasagna, Snickers Cake (that was delicious if I do say so myself…he had a Snickers cake for his groom’s cake and I’ve been trying to replicate it for nine years…finally able to). And for his present…we will be going to see a shuttle launch. There are only a few more before they retire the shuttle. I wanted him to be able to do somethign he had never done or would ever do on his own. Unfortunately, he’ll have to wait until next year. We’re full up with stuff until then.
