Busch Gardens!

WOW! all of jeff's siblings were in the same time zone for the first time in years. to celebrate papa-in-law treated us to a day at busch gardens. a slight late start, but it made for an early lunch in the parking lot before we hit the park. 20 people with 9 of them ages 6 and under. it was total chaos, but fun. the kids loved almost all the rides they could go on. a few rides were too scary for them, or so they said. i have such great SILs cause they were constantly saying to me "if you want to ride that i'll watch your kids". we had so much fun despite the "dante's inferno" type of heat goin on. there was one ride that the adults (or most of them) got sick on, it was a 3-D ride. i was so affected by it i had to put my head between my knees. call me a whimp, i don't care. around 7ish, we all kind of split off into our own family groups. hit a few more kiddie rides and then left. i was totally planning to leave no later than 6:30, we left at 10 AFTER the fireworks. the kids were sooooooo tired from such a long day they were totally zonked out before too long. we didn't get pictures of everything we did, but i had to get the kids sleeping.

Slight rest

we had a busy saturday. i took the kids to the 'burg' for some shopping and then to drop erica off at a birthday party. it was a very warm day and my babies were such troopers. i have learned that erica is bad for my shopping... "mommy you should get both!" (and i did). i was surprised that sofia stayed awake the whole time, that is until we got home.













it was so quiet downstairs i had to investigate. just so cute!














he was tryin to "sleep" too. but he just couldn't resist looking.













i LOVE this picture!!!!! i saw the sun rays and ran back into the house to get my camera. i just might frame this.

Fun at Grandma's

i finally got my biggest wish!!!! one of jeff's sisters had come for a month long visit and requested to have my two oldest angels (he he he) come for a few days to visit with her two boys. well, when jeff and i talked about when to take them and how long they would stay HE suggested i leave sofia too. knowing how many kids would be in that house i gave my MIL the option of letting me take sofia back. we agreed to play it by ear. i left sunday evening without ANY of my babies. i love my babies greatly, but i really wanted time to myself. i was free to do anything from sunday night to wednesday late afternoon. SWEET BLISS!!!! now before you think my MIL went insane, jeff was there to help with kiddie patrol (or i would not have left all my kids).













she wears her food well.














i hope he was sprayin her.... they had so much fun playin in the water.













i KNOW i packed his swim trunks! and now these pants are lost forever. daddy left them on top of the car to dry and forgot they were there.













i don't know what she is doing, but i think matt is gettin ready to run!














i'm pretty sure i packed a swimsuit for her....

And A Third...

casey and his beloved rachel were married last year and had a small reception in lexington. then had another earlier this year in her home state of georgia. this was our turn to throw the party. the day before katy and i went to mom's to help with any prep work that could have been done. lots of chopping, frosting, packing and crying (the babies that were being ignored). i put sofia down for bed at my mom's knowing i wasn't leaving until everything was done that i could help with.... i left at 11:30pm. up early the next morning to travel up to NoVa to help set up. a long two days, but sooooooo worth it!














the reason for the season.... i mean party.


















b-e-a-utiful! if i had more than one "reception/open house" i would have worn my dress to each one too. just too pretty to not wear it!














the food. after helping with some of the prep i was in no mood for it. aaaaaaand, i stopped at burger king and got a value meal before i got to the church.














the dessert table. katy frosted the cupcakes and made the fruit basket.... i just added my bride doll. (daddy made the cupcake holder)














i can't tell you how many people came up to me and asked "is that you boy under the table cryin?" he was sad cause i put veggies on his plate.














"aunt katy took care of me.... made sure i had food, since my mommy was too busy with visiting old friends" (thank you katy!!!!)














i love my brother and his family! not playing favorites, i love my other brothers and their families too.... i just don't have a picture of them from this party.














he was not playing a game of 'chubby bunny'.... poor guy couldn't eat hardly anything at the party, and what he could he didn't want. i was too far up 81 to turn around when i realized i forgot his food. at least he could eat the marshmallows!














we get together often enough, but never ALL the grandbabies as often as grandma would like. so when we do there has to be a picture...














they're escaping!!!! we tried, but the need to be 'set free' was too much for the parents to contend with.


i don't know how my kids lasted as long as they did. erica and aidan went to bed after 11:30 and were up way too early. the two oldest gave up the fight and fell asleep by the time we hit 66. sofia didn't drift off until 10 minutes before we triangle. and yes, i was driving when i took these pictures, but i was just pointing the camera and hoping to get something.

A First and A Second!

so this was sofia's first popsicle. i didn't know that jeff had given it to her until i saw the evidence on her shirt and then the pictures. don't know how much she started off with but i doubt it was more than what is in the pictures. then a few days later we had celebrated my niece's second birthday. we actually had that great party the saturday before, but then on her actual birthday we had some cake and ice cream with just family. a nice quiet affair, until the boys started the fighting (as usual).














but mommy.... daddy said i could.... in the family room! goinnnnngggg....














goinnnnnng....














aaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnd.... gone!














aidan and aylor wanted to help uncle scott/daddy in the garden, but that just wasn't gonna happen. i just knew they would pull up a plant instead of weeds.














i think i can...... i know i can..... just a few more inches and i will be there...














i did it!!!! told ya, now how do i get down without hurting myself?














look out, the new dare devil is in town!














attack daddy!!!!!! i love how saidee just loves her daddy. all little girls just love their daddys!














what can you say to this.... saidee was being so accommodating on her birthday!














my sweet saidee! she and sofia are like two peas in a pod when it comes to eating chocolate!














i didn't even keep track of how many bowls of cake and ice cream she had. no shame! but i do know that this picture was not taken after her first bowl.














"peeeesss" is about how she says please. i'm pretty sure she did say it to grandma. who could resist!



















done with grandma jones...... now for grandpa adams! she didn't sit still too long though.

pretty pictures

ok, these are not out of order. the first picture was from the back yard.... the rainbow was in the front. i just love the fact that my camera can take beautiful pictures. i was so excited to get the sunset picture without a big white dot i ran around to show everyone. they probably are sick of me showing off my camera.














i love sunsets at my parents house. a nice swing on the back porch to watch them makes it even better.














i was wondering what all the fuss was at first, then i saw the reason. a real rainbow at the end of a rainbow themed party.














beautiful ending! i love where my parents live.