these pictures make me happy

so photography wise they are really lacking. I probably could have done a much better job. But I was being lazy. Still, I love them and will grow to love them more as the years pass by. Mimi, playing with Asher's hair, who is all sprawled out and comfy. Addison getting a foot massage from Mema, snuggled up by Papa as he reads the Bible.





yep, this is our family. sweet moments.

3 little monkeys

Gage, Asher, Makya

we got to start our weekend early

because their was a huge gas leak and we thought we were going to have to evacuate. Robert got called in early this morning and then he called me around 9 to let me know they had a horrible explosion and oil, gas, and water were spraying everywhere. They had to evacuate the field and were talking about evacuating the city. The buses all fueled up and lined up in front of the school, only thing was no one knew where they would take all the kids. It all depended on how the wind was blowing. And there was no way they would be able to communicate with the parents, who would also be evacuated. I got a little freaked...I wanted my babies with ME. So I went and got them. Lots of other moms did too. I think they finally dismissed everyone. Robert didn't get home until after 7 and said they finally had it contained. And fortunately God blew the wind just right and we didn't have to evacuate. So, we started our weekend early. Here are a few pictures from the first day of school and so you can see Asher's new haircut. He looks so different, all clean cut.

and this house in the background is my niece's (Jade's) I just love that we walk by it every day, and the boys always ask if we can stop and say hi (and get a Popsicle) on our way home. Just makes me all gooshy inside to get to be so close to family.

and do you see the fashion statement (rubber bands around his fingers) Addison insisted on wearing to school. My little trendsetter....or was he planning on shooting the teacher?

This is Addi's teacher, she is so soft spoken and easy going. So sweet. I was a little nervous about who he would be placed with, but decided fretting about it wouldn't do much good. I prayed God would put him where he needed to be. I am really happy HE worked it out like this.

I wasn't really prepared for this picture, but she posed, so I quickly switched to auto and snapped...if this doesn't make you want to shoot manual then I don't know what will. Blah, but still want you all to see he is spending all his time with.

Hard to watch him walk away.

asher's page

I really haven't done a lot of digi scrapping, because I tried it about a year ago and found it really frustrating. Well, now that I know my way around photoshop a bit better, it is so easy. And FREE...which of course I love. I think it is so fun to drag stuff down to the little trash if I don't like it and I don't have to feel like I am throwing away money. I was never one to "plan" out my pages or follow much of a design when paper scrapbooking, and I was forever wasting expensive scrapbook stuff. This is so easy and fun and guilt free. I think I may have found one more reason not to do laundry.

Goodness these pictures make me happy! Think I may have to work them into a new blog header in the near future. BUT, TGIF tomorrow and I get a whole long weekend with my boys! Yeah, I can't wait to play with them. They are just so stinkin funny. Today I watched Baby Jadyn and the boys were so excited to play with their cousin. She was very entertained by them too. Addi was giving her a bottle and said, "Mom, I just love milkin her." Cracked me up! Anyway, hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday weekend!

addison laughs.

so I've been scrapping a little since the boys are in school. Got this one of Addison done, I'm still working on Asher's. I've kept myself pretty busy and haven't had too much time to play, but squeezed in a little digital scrapbooking the other day. Just wanted to share.

ETA: I better give credit where it is due....this is a free layout design from www.PixelGypsyDesigns.com Not one of my own. Only embellished by me.

tomorrow

mr. cool starts kindergarten. I've created a long list of to do's so as not to fall into a deep depression. I will be chunking all the rocks from the empty pond where Addi lost his teeth, into the soon to be caved in cellar by around 8:15 in the morning I'm sure. Although I plan to run the bleachers a few times after walking the kids to school...I'm sure I will be home pretty quickly given my non love of exercising. Actually Asher has been begging for the last part of the summer to wake up early and go jogging at the track. I did set my alarm a few times...but I didn't take him, not once. Robert did though...I just don't like exerting physical energy. I'm all about spending quality time with my boys, especially when it allows them to get some individual attention, aaaahhgggg, I DO NOT like anything that remotely resembles exercising though. AND, I'm not a morning person and he really wanted to jog in the morning, really early, for no reason at all. All that to say, I probably will come up with some great excuse to NOT run the bleachers, but hey I'm thinking about it! So I will be back home shortly after school starts with an entire day filled with SILENCE. I know a lot of moms who crave this time...not me. Even though there are definitely times when my kids make me want to climb the walls (my mom used to say that about me all the time...hee hee) I miss them sooo much and have been dreading the school stealing my babies from me. I'm sure some of you will be happy that I will have more time to post more often. And my house will be cleaner. And if I owe you pictures, you might stand a chance of getting them in the near future. And I might even get out and earn a little $$. And I will get so much more accomplished in my days because I won't be distracted by little boys wanting to play Lego's, or cries for mommy to come quick and see the big fat blood spitting horny toad, or the unveiling of the newest junkyard creation, or a boy asking to have his after bath bubble beard photographed, or be completely mesmerized watching two brothers play sweetly together as they feed the ants another grasshopper, or OK, I better stop...my eyes are burning with tears. I don't want to let them go, but I guess I gotta! a few pictures from our vacation.
that is sprite dripping off his chin, this picture was followed by a huge, make your Pa proud, Turk burp. Burping contests are a favorite family entertainment.
and I would say, these curls will be going off to school tomorrow too...BUT, Asher decided he wanted to cut them off. I do love these curls and will miss them, but I am happy to see more of his sweet little face and I suppose following school policy is the thing to do.
Ooohhh, I'm gonna miss these little joys! They are my world and it is quiet and lonely (though productive) without them. I'll try and control my whining though. I better get to bed, so I can get up in the morning and find the energy to get some exercise in...Ha!

Meet Miss Avery

How cute are these wrinkles?

I had such a good time photographing this little princess. Thank you David and Stefanie for honoring me and allowing me to be part of her new world. She is such a doll!

Do you want to swing?

Ok, I realize that I probably don't need to post every picture form this little series, BUT seriously it was so cute and lasted for quite some time!

You need a little help getting in the swing...no problem your new BFF is here......


mmmhmmmfff...

almost there...

uuugghhh!

do you weigh somewhere around twoooofitty or so?

a sweet smile for the camera and how cute is it that Addi is got his hand ready to catch her if she falls.

MADE IT!

That is all I have for now and I am going to be out of town for a few days, getting the computer worked on and doing some school shopping. More to come soon, though.

finally getting a chance to catch up on some photos

Posting pictures from all the family events from the summer is sort of a daunting task. So I'm going to try and post just a few pictures at a time. I know some of you are anxious to see your adorable kiddos...but lets face it, our family isn't lacking in the juvenile department and I've got lots of little people to post about.

This pic is from our impromptu family reunion in San Angelo so that we could all see The Murphey's while they were traveling around the U.S. Tristan is Shay and Mandy's little guy. He is so full of life and I loved chasing him around trying to get this picture!



Colt is one of the island crew....

He and Asher are best buds....it was so sad when it was time to go and they both were crying. They wanted to spend the night together, Philip said we might could work that out in about two years when they came home for another visit. : ( We will put it on the calendar for 2010. I know doing mission work on a beautiful island sounds wonderful....but I also know the sacrifices that are being made. Thank God, for such selfless people! We loved every second we got to be with you.

cute pictures of Addi and Ally coming soon....

giggles and grins

just wanted to share...I love this picture! I think Addison was tickling Asher so he would smile for me. I don't know how many times in my day I am blessed with this little snapshot, my boys, best friends, open mouthed, full laughter. Bet it made you smile too!

a Texas Beach vacation

I'm going to jump out of chronological date order (which totally freaks me out) and post about our vacation. I want to share pictures from our trip to Abilene, and the family reunion in San Angelo, not to mention a few from July fourth and other summer fun, BUT, I am so excited about sharing our beach trip with y'all. It was the B.E.S.T. trip! It was so relaxing and perfect weather, pure and simple fun. It was so nice to just play with the boys and explore God's creation together. We were all equally excited about the "treasures" we found on the beach. I loved watching Addison's reaction as he saw the ocean for the very first time. I loved when they would find something and run, run, splashing through the water to show me. I loved that Robert enjoyed playing in the waves and digging up creatures and feeding the sea gulls just as much as the boys. I loved sitting back and watching my three men. I loved being awestruck over and over again by the beauty and grandness of the masterpiece of our Lord. I loved watching the boys build sand castles and delight in destroying all their hard work. I enjoyed Asher's homemade shell pie and sand and shell pizza. I loved watching my children be so willing to share their toys with strangers and so friendly to everyone.

The boys LOVED the ferry ride. It was pretty special because when we first went across dolphins were swimming all around us.


This is what Asher does every time he plays in mud or anything that is that consistency (seriously he would do this with pudding if I would allow it). Goofy kid. Look how pleased he is with himself, like he's really enjoying his mud bath.

SWAMP THANG!



Asher thought these skimmed boards looked so fun, he found out they were a lot of work for a little thrill. He had a great time giving it a go, though.

We planned on going to the Aquarium and to see a few movies, but we were all completely satisfied with just "being" on the beach. It was nice to not have the commercialized vacation. We took our camper and ate in all but one meal. Robert cooked steak and shrimp on the grill. We ate unbalanced meals at odd times of day. We had special treats like yummy vanilla coffee and cereal straws. We stayed up late and hunted for crabs with flashlights. We woke up early and walked the beach and watched the sunrise. We ate sandy sandwiches and lots of juicy watermelon. We found snails, sand dollars, sea stars, crazy cool fish, ghost shrimp, and crabs with funny buggy bulging eyes. We dug for buried treasure left by pirates and rode the waves to our hearts content. It was a completely, perfectly, wonderful time!

Addison loves to whistle, he is either whistling or talking most the time. It is a pleasant, happy little whistle, but I do get a little tired of hearing it from time to time...so I say, "Hey, whistling Boy!", and he smirks and says, "ooohhhpp, sorry Mom." And don't ya love his tattoo. My kids are crazy about tattoos (wonder why?)!