**Double Diner**

Sunday afternoon, after a much needed nap, Ran and I were lead to the kitchen to find it had been transformed into "Double Diner" :) The girls had gone all out!!

menus, decorations, the table set beautifully, pics of Ran and I around the room!!!

It was so sweet and simply adorable!! oh, and the food was way yummy, too!!

The beautiful table setting!

(not my best pic, barely awake! but enjoying the diner none the less ;)

Flowers they picked from the yard and a grouping of some of my favorite willow tree angles.

The menu =)

The waitress: Ali

The cook: Randee

Our diner guest: Rae

They are So cute!!! I'm so thankful they are mine!!!

Ran and I are truly blessed!!

A quiet Sunday nap and a romantic dinner at home!

Thanks, girlie's!!!

Back in the Saddle!

Randee riding Jessie!

Randee started back taking horseback riding lessons again yesterday!!! We are SO excited that we were able to get her in at a barn that is only 5 minutes away!! It always surprises me how well she rides! Her confidence and ability is a true talent~ I could sit and watch her ride all day, it so peaceful. I'm thankful she has a hobby/interest that has lasted since she was 5 yrs. old. Although she doesn't ride year round, each time she starts up again it's like she hasn't missed a week. We love you "Dee" and are so happy to see you back in the saddle =)

First Day of School!!!!

Wow! Summer went by crazy fast this year!! And like it or not, kick and scream if we must the first day of the new school year has come and gone. Yesterday was a hard one with my baby starting kindergarten=( I began tearing up about it weeks ago, so there was no surprise when I burst out crying upon entering the school. This did little to console Rae or Ran for that matter. Moments after the below picture was taken we were ALL crying!! I'm happy to report that she had a wonderful day and told me she was only sad, "for about 5 seconds or minutes"!! It was also emotional as I really took a moment to S.T.O.P. and look at each of my kiddos.......my how they've grown over the last year! I'm so proud of each of them and I just love them more than words can convey and it is my prayer they have the best school year ever!!!

Rae seated at her table, ready for Kindergarten!!

Rae 5 yrs., K


Ali 9 yrs., 4th grade

Randee 12 yrs., 7th grade

Nate 15 yrs., 10th grade

(yes he leaves when it is still dark out)

aaahhhhh, Summer Time!!!

Oh, how I LOVE summer!!!

I love having my kids home! I love the relaxed schedule! I love that there's no homework or projects to stress over! I love that we are able to spend more time having fun and making wonderful memories! We've done a lot of things this summer and still have a list of activities to do but I wanted to share just a few of them with you.......

We had a fun week visiting with many of our cousins at my parents home. It was special treat to have Danny's family from Arizona there. Above is Ali and Katie (danny's) they are close in age and similar personalities. They always have a good time together :)

Below is my sis Cindee and another favorite cousin Jayde (sam's). With 24 grandkiddos and a "Dukes of Hazard" mentality, it was good GeOrGiA fUn!!!!


The beginning of June, Randee and Nate joined Popa for a weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. They commented how beautiful the drive was through the Smoky Mountains.


The hotel they stayed at had a water park so they spent lots of time in the pool!
YES!! They are jumping off the diving board together!!

Of course, the true reason for the trip was a car show ;)

Ran had a great time and was able to talk with some people about Peggy Sue, his 1950 Merc.

I love that he has a hobby that brings him joy and that he takes time out of our busy life to truly RELAX once and a while, gazing at an antique beauty or talking Flatheads ;)

We've spent lots of time at the pool this summer!!

Miss Randee, 12 yrs. going on 16!!

Miss Rae, our little fish!

She went from swimmies to swimming in the 5 ft. in 2 weeks!!!

Miss Ali, our little Mermaid/diver!

Ali trying to balance on a beach ball!

I see you Rae, can you see me?? Love the goggles!




No summer is complete without a trip to Cabbage Patch in Cleveland, GA.

A happy baby Randee,

A sad baby Randy ;)

Ali and Rae in HEAVEN!!! They love it there!

Ali actually dreams of working there when she grows up!

A favorite weekly activity is a trip to Mayfield Dairy.

Cold, creamy, YUM!!

Ahhhhh, Summer time!!

Our reward for surviving the rest of the hectic year!

Happy Popa's Day!!!

My children are so blessed to have their father! When Ran and I were dating I sensed his patience and fun loving spirit but I never truly realized what a wonderful blessing these traits, and many more, would be in the lives of our children. I am so grateful for ALL the time and love he shows them, for I know it will forever bring them comfort and strength. I can not give thanks for Ran without thinking of his father, our beloved Grandpa Bob. He was a blessing to Ran's life and influenced him tremendously in the father he is today!

I interviewed the kids and wanted to find out a few of their favorites about their Popa:

***What do you like most about Popa?

Rae: He gives me piggy back rides!

Ali: He's nice :)

Randee: He's fun!

Nate: He's hard working and a righteous example~

***Name a favorite memory with Popa:

Rae: Going shopping with him at Walmart. (?? she insisted this was her answer)

Ali: When we went to the World's Largest Yard Sale with Grandma, Uncle Rob and Robby

Randee: The trip to Pigeon Forge, Tenn. last month.

Nate: Knottsberry Farms amusement park in California.

***What is your favorite activity to do with Popa?

Rae: Ride bikes

Ali: Go to Cabbage Patch

Randee: Swim

Nate: Going mountain biking

As you can see from the sweet answers, Ran is a fun father and is very involved in making great memories for our children. I love him and thank Heavenly Father daily for the father he is!!!!

Go, Speed Racer, Go..but not too fast!!!

Way to go, Nate!!!!

Nate got his learners permit today! Of course I had NO doubt he would pass! (some things are just easier being a boy, I see lots of studying and tears in the future w/ my girls) He actually turned 15 the end of April but he has known for a while that his eyes were bad, so he finally gave-in and got them checked :) No surprise he needed contacts, which has been quite the experience! Then he was gone for a full week to scout camp. So finally we were able to get him tested! Honestly I do feel old having a child that can legally drive with an adult in the car but as I sat in the HUGE waiting area today with all the other mom's and dad's hovering over their teenagers, I couldn't help but think back to 15 years ago......all of us parents in that room couldn't imagine this day would come so quickly!! How blessed I was 15 years ago to be reunited with someone I'm sure was my friend in the pre-existence!!

Grow he must, We couldn't be prouder!

She's Home!!!!!

Hip-Hip Hooray!!!!!

Randee made it home safely from Girls Camp!!!!! She had a WoNdErFuL time with all the girls! She is blessed to have great leaders that made it extra fun ;) She camped at Lake Hartwell in northwest GA. They had a pretty strong thunderstorm roll through last night; Randee's tent actually blew away (not lost "away", but in the air, end over end "away") everything got wet and they had to sleep under the pavilion on the cement floor!! I'm sooo proud of Randee that she was able to experience ALL this and still say she had a WoNdErFuL time!! This is the girl that I jokingly call "The Princess and the Pea" because she is SO particular about her sleeping conditions!! Her sleeping on cement, in the open air, all wet is HUGE!! She talked nonstop all the way home from church, after picking her up. About an hour later, her exhaustion caught up with her.......

Most of the girls had their hair french braided when they arrived at the church, it was so cute!! The theme was......... Be Beautiful, Be You!

~You are Beautiful, just by being You~