Snead's Farm

My Dad and sister loving the kettle corn

My beautiful Mom

Soy Avery

Shelby, Shelby, Shelby

"Higher Daddy!"

Avery and me

Pretty girls!

We spent the evening with my family at Snead's farm. So quaint and non-commercialized. I loved it. They had a chicken coop and the girls loved feeding the 100's of chickens. We roamed around petting horses and cows and picking out pumkins. So much fun! Liz brought her new camera and we got some great shots. Upon leaving, Annalee announced that she wanted a camera just like Liz's with a long front and a BIG flash! Big dreamer...Enjoy!

King Georege Fall Festival

I was shooting a wedding with my sister on Sat, so I sent Shane and the girls to my old stomping grounds for the Fall Festival. Don't worry, they were escorted by my parents as to not be attacked by the roving mullets.

Washing the Car

Action Movies

The girls really like action movies. Not the shoot'em up kind, but the kind where you have to get up off your rear and dance! Annalee watches the live performance of Swan Lake Ballet at every opportunity. But, it doesn't hold Shelby's attention for too long, so I have to insist on other movie choices when I need them both entertained, if you know what I mean. Here they are dancing away with Psalty.

Yes, we exist.

Here is proof that we as parents do still exist.

Story

Sleeping Beauty sunbathes.In the shade. On the driveway. At 7:30 in the morning. While yelling,"I need a pillow!" The Queen mother prances. Giving orders to everyone within ear shot... "The shoes go here." "No, Avery, that is our blanket!" "The pillow goes here, Shelby, put the pillow HERE!"

The evil baby sister. Stealer of all things princess. Laughing hystericaly all the while.

hair

So, we are driving down the road on a beautiful afternoon. I have the windows down, enjoying the cool air and I hear,

"MY HAIR! Mommy, roll up the windows, my hair is blowing. You are messing it up!" Shelby apparently has lost all innocence when it comes to enjoyment of spontaneous fun. She has been defiled by vain fashion appearances.

Are you kidding me?!

Swimming

We go to the pool at the gym about twice a week. I like to take the girls in the evening (they get good and tired for bedtime). The pool has a 1" baby play area that reminds me of Nick's Double Dare from long ago, minus the slime. Shelby likes to sit on the spraying water while Annalee runs through the hoops and chases her friends around. Annalee has recently learned to swim and can take on the big twisting slides all by herself. I picked her up from the Kid Zone the other day and Mr. Mickey, one of the workers, said "You have quite a track star there. She has been the reigning champ for fastest girl for weeks now." Shane was so proud.

P.S. Note Shelby's refusal to smile...

A new fashion statement

Tea Time

Do you get tired of loking at these dresses? I do. (They are beautiful dresses Nannie, I just wish they would choose something else somedays...)

Tired girl...

Shelby Lynn

What a face! Shelby has grown up so much in the last month. Her vocabulary has exploded and she makes the most ridiculous comments, pretty much all day. She is the picture of silliness with a mix of oh-so-sweet. She could be held all day, if I was willing. She can always put a smile on your face with her expressions. She asks me everyday, with a very perplexed look, "Is it going to storm today?" One day we watched a storm on the front porch, and she loved it... apparently! She runs back and forth to the bathroom yelling at the top of her lungs, "I-nee-a-go-potty!" She loves her big sister and copies her most of the time, but most defiantly has a road of her own. She never gives in to pressure to do anything she doesn't want to do. In fact she most nearly always does what she wants to do, when she wants to do it...we are working on this:). This girl is a blessing in our lives and she makes everyday better!

Is this a hill I am willing to die on? Cause I feel like I am losing the Battle!

It is 100 degrees outside and the humidity is suffucating and this is what my girls choose to wear, SERIOUSLY?! Really, I have asked this before, but, why do I even buy clothes? I have to fight with them to keep them on. I think this fall I will skip the wardrobe and just let them dress up everyday. They do anyway. We will go about our business and people will ohh and aww and say how cute they are I will think to myself... Yeap, you too can have this hand-me-down, thrift- store-found attire if you choose not to die on the hill of cute outfits at Target and Kohls. I mean, why fight it?

Avery learns to share

You know when you have a couple of kids running around and the baby screams 'cause she wants something...well, everyone just kind of gives her whatever she wants just to stop the screaming. Somehow it all works together like a nice machine and you don't even realize it is happening. UNTIL... a friend comes to visit. Especially if this friend happens to be a boy... Yes, Avery's friend Owen dropped by for the day and they learned to share, ALL DAY! It was a fabulous day of learning and I realized what a selfish, tempered little girl I have. Oh don't those boys bring out the best in us. On a side note, can I just say how much I appreciate parents who discipline and train, (YES I said THOSE words) their children. It makes it so much easier to babysit them. Owen was a delight to have around, not only did he STOP doing whatever it was he was doing when I said, "No", but he also taught my little girl to share. Please come back, Owen. We had fun!

God and His chores.

After working on our weekly verse,

Romans 8:28 "In all things God works for the good for those who love Him."

I asked Annalee if she understood what it meant, she said , very matter of factly,

"Yes, God works at the Goodwill."

I seriously almost choked.

Then we were talking about it again later, because that is the point, to talk about it all week...

She was repeating it after me and explaining to Shelby that,

"It is God's chore to turn bad things into good, you know kind of like the Goodwill."

Cleaning Day

I found a new trick... How to clean house with three kids running around.... Invite freinds over so they will stay outside all day!! We invited Jacob and Becca over to play and I got the whole house cleaned in three hours, floors and all. When I was done, they came in and slept for three hours while I did work on the computer and read. Ah, the productivity, who would have thought?!

Synergy '08

What an awesome time we had at our last business conference! God is so good! We took 17 people with us and had a blast. Check out this link for a brief overview of the weekend. The best part is always Sunday. We took 8 new people with us and 5 of them accepted Christ on Sunday, at the optional church service (not part of the conference, per say)!!! 2 of the 8 had already accepted Christ at our church a few weeks ago. We are so blessed and very aware of God's grace as He has allowed us to use this business to reach so many people for His kingdom. I think of this new couple on our team who had NO hope for their lives until they met this team. I am only repeating their words... previous to the business, were involved in drugs, dead-end jobs at the grocery store and struggling with depression. Because of a hope and a future, friends who really care and a new found purpose, they are drug free, happy to be alive and look forward to the lives they will touch on their way to Heaven!!! Did I mention we make good money, too? God is good!!! Looking forward to the next one...

Happy Birthday Liz!

Last week we celebrated my sister's birthday. What a fun day! We started out at Starbucks, I mean, how else would you prepare for a day of shopping?!

Then we shopped, shopped and shopped for quality wardrobe basics. We were very diligent to not be distracted by the super cute, trendy, on sale styles and got only fashionable basics that will stand the test of time, not too long of a time, cause we sure do enjoy SHOPPING!

Then we went out to eat with our parents who were classic, I mean classic. And if you need more details, go here. Happy Birthday Liz! P.S. I am risking missing Body Pump (that would be a tradgedy) this morning to post this JUST FOR YOU!