Labor Day Beach Trip 2010

We had our yearly vacation with the Haneline family this past weekend. This year was our trip to the beach (we alternate beach/mountains every year). I love the beach & so do my kids. All 24 of us piled into a big condo and had plenty of fun in the sun and family time together. We laughed, we played games, we ate, we napped, watched movies, built sandcastles and airplanes, rode waves and enjoyed each others company. You know that I take a ton of pictures so I had to combine into a slide show for your viewing pleasure.

Kensley's First Day of Preschool

Today Kensley started preschool in the 3yr old class at Aldersgate Playschool. She was so excited! First thing she said when she crawled in bed with me at 6:30am was "I can't wait to go to preschool today!". From that point until we left the house at 8:50... she didn't stop asking if it was time to go. Needless to say, I think she was ready.

First Days of School

The boys started school this week. The official first day was Wed, August 25... only one of them were able to officially call this their first day of school. Carter started 3rd grade this year in Mrs. Triplett & Mrs. Bowen's class. He was excited to get the teachers that he wanted and most of all that his best bud Jack is in his class again. The first day came with some tears in the morning but he calmed down by the time we got to school and ended up having a wonderful first day.

Then we have Chandler....
He woke up with a fever of 101.3...on the first day of school. There should be a rule or something that does not allow sickness the first week of school at least. But there was nothing I could do about it, so took him to the doctor... he had a virus... and learned that it just needed to run it's course. So on the couch he laid the majority of the day.

Today, Thurs. August 26... Chandler had his first day of 5th grade in Mrs. Kinmon's class. He stayed home for a couple hours and I took him at 10am. He was a little nervous today but all the kids cheered when he walked into the room. They were anxiously awaiting his arrival.

My kid is an upperclassmen now. It's hard to believe this year is already here. Seems like he just started Kindergarten... and now it's his last year in elementary school. (Sniffle, sniffle)

Carter's Baptism

I'm a proud Mommy today. Carter was baptized at church tonight at Moss Lake. He prayed to received Christ as his Lord & Savior on June 6th this year. We've been talking about baptism for a while and he was ready to go for it until he realized it was going to be at the lake. (This is something our church does once a year during the summer) He was all for getting baptized at church but for some reason he was a little timid about doing it in a lake. We've talked about it a lot and how cool it would be to be baptized like Jesus was in the river. Still he wasn't sure he was ready for it until this week. On Wednesday he said he was ready to be baptized and was fine with it being in the lake.

My parents were here, Corby's parents and one of his brothers family came. It was a wonderful time of celebration for everyone tonight. It was even more special because Corby was able to baptize him (just like he did with Chandler).

Here's a few pictures and a video.

{Embrace} the Camera

I just had a conversation the other day about how I'm hardly ever in any of the pictures that are taken of my family. I'm always the one behind the camera. That's not a bad thing except the fact that when my grandkids look at pictures of their parents, they are not going to have a clue what their grandma looked like when she was younger... because I'm not in any pictures. Sigh.

I got this post idea from my friend Rebecca who stole if from someone else's blog who stole it from someone else's blog... which is here http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/2010/05/embrace-camera.html

I am in love with this idea! I try it once in a while, but my camera is heavy so it's a big awkward to hold & do self portraits with. I guess I need to recruit my kids... so I challenge you. I'm going to try to take a picture of me & the kids... or at least a kid...every time I pull out the camera.
Wanna take the challenge with me?

Me & the kids bowling today

Family Legacy

We just returned home from Statesville. Corby's grandmother died last week and her funeral was on Thursday. While it was a great time to spend with family... in the midst of the situation... I've thought a lot about the legacy that his grandmother left. My children actually knew her & got to spend time with her over the years. I am so thankful for that because all of my grandparents have passed on. My boys were 4 & 2 when my last grandparent died. Chandler remembers a little but Carter only remembers what he sees in pictures. I had a great relationship with my great-grandparents (and grandparents too) and many fond memories of times spent with them. I want that for my children and they had a chance to experience it with Grandmaw Haneline.

She was one of 14 children...had 7 children of her own... and was a Godly woman. She loved the Lord and she loved life. She loved to sing and play her guitar and I remember many Christmases sitting around listening to her & her children making music. Talking with my father-in-law the night before the funeral was great. His love for his mother showed so much and to be with her the last few days of her life was priceless to him. Her funeral was a celebration of the life she lived. It was evident, from all of the people packed into the church that day, how many lives she touched. Many tears were shed but I know she was looking down from heaven and smiling. One of the things the pastor asked us to do was to close our eyes and imagine a time with her. I could see the smile on her face. Always a smile. She left this earth knowing that she was ready to meet her Maker.

She left a wonderful legacy in the family that is still here on earth...mine included. When our days on earth are done we will leave a legacy behind as well. I want it to be something worth remembering.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD; the fruit of the womb is His reward." Psalm 127:3

Going to the Land of Odd

Anyone want to join me?
You enter the land of odd through the green glass doors. So what can you do in the land of odd? Here's a few suggestions...
You can drive on a street but not a road.
You can sleep but not eat.
You can shop in malls but not in stores.
You can read books but not magazines.
You can drink from glasses but not from cups.
You have have puppies & kittens but not dogs & cats.

Yes, it's a game... can you figure it out? Leave me a comment of what you will bring or do to see if you can come with me.