Here comes the bride!

Our sweet nanny who helped us earlier this year with the kids got married over the weekend! Diana and Jason's wedding was stunning. Every detail was covered, and the beauty was beyond the imagination! The ceremony was personalized with poetry and songs for the couple written by friends! The ceremony was at an outdoor venue, Camp Nakanawa. Diana attended camp there over many summers, and is now a counselor there too! The location and flowers were breathtaking. We are so happy for the newlyweds, Mr and Mrs Phillips! Anthony and I learned alot from the wedding, Mrs. Diana has set the expectations higher for Jayne Elizabeth to attend camp, and to also have wedding like this would be our dream!

 The coat hangers for the bride and her bridesmaids were personalized with their names bent in the wire..adorable!

Diana has the cutest personality, and was a fun bride!

 The sanctuary for the ceremony, floral bliss!

Gorgeous Bridal Party!

 Our dear neighbor Mrs. Becky with sister-of-the bride Rebecca. Their families have grown up together!

 Mr. and Mrs. Phillips!!

The reception at Camp Nakanawa!

 A soft, elegant, and pink outdoor reception combined with a little rustic charm! Simply perfect!

The wreaths were a favorite of mine, each floral centerpiece was unique too.

 The Chamberlins with "flat Kevin" who is studying abroad,  his cut out was the life of the party!

Oh my, the tower of Gigi's cupcake!!

 First dance, in the bistro area!

 The details, colors, and arrangements were unforgettable!

Congratualtions Diana and Jason!

I think we will start planning Jayne Elizabeth's wedding on the farm now, we have 20 or so years to get it together! :)

Serve A Thon

We have decided that it is time for our children to start school next year! The kids will attend Crossville Christian School two days a week, we plan to supplement the other days with a home education system that is similar to the classical christian education. Knowing that Crossville Christian School is where they will attend, we began to get involved with the school this year. Our first commitment with the school was the first annual fundraiser as a Serv A Thon. Anthony and I love the concept of serving the community as a fundraiser. This was an excellent teaching opportunity in itself. We sent out support letters and had Johnathan and Joseph sign or trace their name on each one. Then we discussed what it mean to sever others, and volunteer in the community. The event that was chosen to volunteer was a trail race!!!! It was a perfect fit for our family!! Uncle Kent and Uncle Ross were still in town from Auburn and went with us to the event. Our family signed up for the early shift! We arrived at the race at 7:30 AM. The Cumberland State Park, park ranger Mark sent us in the "red" trail head to the split where we would meet park ranger J.R. Our family cheered and encouraged all the runners. We picked up trash, and then hiked back out to where our fellow students were toward the finish line. We enjoyed a family picnic at the park to celebrate a successful Serv A Thon!

Uncle Kent, Johnathan and Jayne Elizabeth hiking to our position!

 Johnathan couldnt resist "running" a little too!

 Uncle Kent and Jayne Elizabeth with the support signs we made, and clappers for noise!

 Park Ranger J.R. was great with the kids while we were serving!

 The split where we helped direct the runners!

 Awe, my babies in Crossville Christian School t-shirts!

 Words of praise and encouragement for the runners!

 We joined fellow school mates toward the finish line to cheer the runners on!

 These sweet girls will be in Johnathan and Joseph's class next year! We are so excited!

 What would a party be without Briggs, Joesph, Brody, Jayne Elizabeth and Johnathan?!?!

 A little running of their own to burn the energy this group has stored up!

Please join us in praise and prayer for the kids and Crossville Christian School next year!

Grandpa Tim and Nana with Uncles!

We have had such a good visit with Grandpa Tim, Nana, Uncle Ross, and Uncle Kent! Our kids adore them! It is so nice to have the extra hands to help manage our trio, but even more than that is the fun they have together! The first night that the Uncles were here Johnathan talked Uncle Ross into "snuggling" or sleeping with him that night. Joseph said "my not want uncles in my bed!" Jayne Elizabeth's spunky personality surely made laughs for Grandpa Tim and Nana! The boys have learned defense and offense of basketball from their Uncles! I desparately wish that we could spend more time with each of them. Our kids have learned so much and had so much fun during their visit.

 We went to the library and farmers market with Nana and Grandpa Tim

 Jayne Elizabeth had the attention she always wants when they were here!

 You would think with an engineer, and two Auburn engineering students here that my boys wouldn't have to play on a tricycle with two wheels!! ha!

B I N G O was the song and book favorite!

This little baby goes to the market!

Granna and Papa called and asked to take the kids to the livestock market in Athens, Papa was going to buy a few cows. However Joseph did not earn the privilege, so much to Granna and Papa's dismay he stayed home. Johnathan and Jayne Elizabeth packed their bags (Jayne Elizabeth ALWAYS packs her pink horse bag to go to the farm!) and off they went in Papa's big diesel truck, pulling a cow trailer! The report was good! They bought 21 cows, and Johnathan asked inquisitive cattle buying questions! He came home using the words "baldy", "pink noses" etc. Mommy had a call Papa a few time for explainations!

Johnathan and Jayne Elizabeth waiting to hear the diesel engine coming :)

 Please dont feel to bad for Joseph! He had Mommy and Daddy to himself, and enjoyed the evening too!

Mother's Day Fishing

Before I had the privilege of being the Mommy to little kids I would have not spend my special day fishing on the farm. BUT---enter three gorgeous little ones who love to fish, and see their Granna! It was an easy decision to go to the farm to fish with Granna after I was off work.....that is a story for another day.  Despite work, we had a gorgeous afternoon. It was complete with homemade cards, fishing, and pizza on Uncle Clay's porch with our family. Though I must confess that I am beyond excited about the gift from Anthony! I am waiting on the mail man to deliver my 16 x 20 canvas portrait of our family to go over our mantle! ( A big thanks to Joe Lowe Photography for the photography skills!) Motherhood brings many changes, but I couldnt be happier about the things that excite my heart now! Little hands fishing and family pictures over the fire place, life is blessed!

Oh, my camera is not working. I am relying on the phone camera, or Uncle CLay to send me pictures of the day. Please tell my husband that I need a new camera soon!  (sending mine to Germany to be repaired seems to be a difficult option!!)

Words...

The most entertainment is listening to the kid's discussions! I am going to try and blog some of the cute things they say so that I have a record of it when they are older! Maybe a weekly post on just words!!! Sorry to the grandparents, no pictures today!

Joseph entered our bedroom at the lake house early one morning and Anthony said "hey buddy, a little mouse came and told me who was coming today to see you today." Joseph said "Daddy, my not understand that, my dont speak mouse!!!" ha ha ha! We still laugh about not speaking mouse!

Johnathan was in a lengthy discussion last night in the car disussing the chickens and the large hatchery that we drive by. Johnathan said " you know those chicken houses, those chickens fly up and "duck" at night, then fly down in the morning to lay eggs." I think he meant "roost!"

Jayne Elizabeth now has "sam" the imaginary bear friend that all three of my kids have in their life. Sam is always with us, and we discuss him all day. Sam originated with the boys several years ago when somehow he came back with us from the Smoky Mountains. Johnathan, Joseph, and Jayne Elizabeth "sam's" are different colors, ride different color motorcycles, and are involved in all activity!

Maiden Voyage to the Lake House

Last year we finished the remodel on the family lake house! This year we plan to create thousands of memories here with our family! We made our first trip there this weekend, Anthony took off two days of work to "enjoy" this weekend! It was soooo much work!!! The leaves from the year needed to be raked. The debri and logs washed up from the year needed to be cleaned out. The house needed to be dusted, mopped and cleaned! BUT- we did it! Lots of Advil and blisters later we have a lake house ready for the warm weather! The kids enjoy being outdoors, even if the water was still cold and unable to swim. Granna, Papa, Uncle Clay and Aunt Justina came for a short visit too! The kids enjoyed catching fish at night with Uncle Clay on the dock. The fish with "whiskers" (catfish) was worth talking about! Aunt Justina managed to assist all three climibing trees at the same time! Granna and Papa brought fresh strawberries to enjoy on the dock. The boys enjoyed carrying the strawberries around the hill with the shovel and hoe, ahh boys! Johnathan and Jayne Elizabeth discovered that they sleep better together in the same bed.  The "vacation" was lots of work, but the reward will be great!

 Lake House 2011

Many, many leaves are now gone to a compost pile, and  not against the house!

Down by the water with Daddy!

 Spring cleaning in a pull-up and rain boots!

 Joseph digging and helping with yard work!

 Johnathan and Joseph love to climb THIS tree!

 Then Aunt Justina ( troop leader)  helped them climb another tree!

 A canoe ride around the point was a favorite, but Mommy was nervous on the shore watching!

Now I need a vacation, from this "vacation!"