Thursday, October 27, 2011

Camping!

Once again we went camping with about 130 of our sweet friends. :) The family who began the tradition has been camping twice a year with friends for over 20 years! We are honored to be included in this awesome time of fun and fellowship.This time Tucker, Ellie and I started off without the rest of the fam 'cause Drew Preston had an Upwards game on Sat. morning. With the help of a few good Samaritans we got our tent up and secure. Wahoo!

I brought paint and beads, which kept many kiddos happy and busy for quite awhile! The older kids played board games for hours. The first nite I went to sleep listening to them laugh and talk around the table as they played. There was a group around the fire singing, too. I fell asleep to the sweet sounds of teens fellowshipping and Amazing Grace. Love it.

The little boys spent most of their time poking the campfire or tramping in the woods. They had a glorious time.

Face painting!





Ellie, of course, made friends with the camp dog.

By the time Drew Preston got there on Saturday, Ultimate Frisbee was in full swing. He was a mighty worn out boy that nite, with football in the morning and frisbee all afternoon.

Tucker and Drew Preston after the disc.



These people are se-re-us about some frisbee.

Craig and his torn hamstring chose the calmer game of lawn marbles.

The little guy in the middle was the camp sweetheart. He melts all our hearts.



The Auburn game was on that Sat. nite and Sully spent it listening in the car. Everyone would come to him for updates, which he gave in full detail.

On Sunday morning we all gathered on a hill for worship and sharing. I love doing church in the light and surrounded by the Creator's creation! What an amazing weekend. Thanks God!!!

September Fun

Crazy hair nite at Awana, a yearly favorite. Ellie filled her hair with clothespins and Drew Preston attached legos and lego men all in his hair. They crack me up 'cause they are always terrified to go to Awana with crazy hair. The whole trip over they ask am I SURE tonite is crazy hair nite and what if it isn't and I'm so embarrassed and then they get there and there are always kids there with crazier hair than them and they have so much fun.

Drew Preston giving me "the smolder" (see" Tangled" if you don't know what that means). Mortons and Darth Vadar for dinner.

Drew Preston's new adventure is to climb all the way around the house without touching the ground. He and Tucker and his buddies do this quite often. They scared the heebiejeebies out of me the other day when I was in the laundry room and two crazy faces peered in at me.

This is how he does it:





His rock climbing/bouldering experience serves him well.





Cool bee.My sweet friend Christy and her kids came to visit for a few days while they were visiting in the Southeast. We were honored to be on their visit-list! I got to take some fun pictures of Julia. She is the youngest of 4, with 3 big brothers, just like Ellie.

What a cutie she is!











Crazy-kids picture.



Upwards

Drew Preston played Upwards again this year and had a great time. His buddy Ben was on his team and they did a special mid-air bump every time they scored. :) The Bump.





Christmas Bear

My Mom won this bear from Hallmark the year Sullivan was born and gave it to him. I take a yearly picture with the kids and the bear. We forgot until August this year. Arrrg. I'll have to scan each year and do a special blog post this Christmas, now that I'm finally catching up. :)

John Clark is here!

Yay! John Clark Newman is here. He arrived a little early (almost 4 weeks) and weighed in at 4lbs. 14oz. but is doing great and is a precious gift from God. We all adore him. Ellie and I got to go up for a weekend to babysit and spend some time with this sweet family.

In Johnny's, and Sullivan's, "coming-home-from-the -hospital" outfit.



Does she not have the most gorgeous eyes?


Little pumpkin.



Very proud Cousin Ellie.


Johnny and Monique's wedding rings.



Oh, his sweet little head smells so good. I love Monique's hands.



Precious family. I must say my brother was making comments after every picture was taken. He said, "Football!" And "2 minutes till the game!" and "I mean it!"



Love love love this one.



John Clark is SO content snuggled up on his Daddy's chest.



Johnny plays piano for him often. He heard it while in utero, too.









Ripsticking

My kids and friends love to ripstick around our house. They go round and round through the red sofa room and through the dining room and the kitchen. Lately, because of Bethany Hamilton from Soul Surfer, Ellie has been ripsticking one-armed. I love that one of her heroines is a one-armed surfer who loves Jesus! Ellie's friend Sara Kate in on the action.



Just cool

Cool spider webs and our gourd bird feeder on the back porch. A big red cardinal loves it.