Happy Birthday Grandmother!

We celebrated Grandmother's 87th birthday this past Wednesday! Happy Birthday!

Drew's grandmother (and yes, I claim her too) is one of those people that the only way to describe her is that she is a jewel, a pearl, a rare treasure. She is a precious servant, multi-talented and a real treat to get to know. She is a retired missionary from Africa where she and Grandaddy worked 33 years. She is a mom to 4 and the grandmother and great grandmother of... oh I don't know how many right off hand. Her life is a legacy. The stories she tells keep me on the edge of my seat for hours. If you want Red Lobster or Chinese food, she is the person to go with you! She has blessed us all and continues to do so. We love you grandmother!

Handy Week

We went to Rivertown to hear Dillon Hodges (www.dillonhodges.com)
Another night we went to hear a few bands and ate at Rosie's!
We took Drew's grandpa to hear a concert of big band jazz at the Ritz. It was fabulous. And we loved getting to be with Ray.
Handy Week is a huge deal here being the birthplace of W.C. Handy. We have had lots of fun hearing different bands and getting to have a few dates too!

Silly Moments and Catching up on the Blog

Kalie's friend Jacy came over and spent the night recently. They had a great time!

Karlee going down the slide
Eloise and Kalie saying NO MORE PICTURES!!
Okay, these next pictures are pretty funny. First of all, above, Kate could not find her swimsuit and grabbed my top and wanted to wear it with her elmo panties- who says a 3 year old has no fashion? Then, she pointed to the camera and said me and made a funny face. I asked her if she wanted me to take her picture. She nodded and this is what she did....


Can you tell she has been around Amy too much?

Okay, another story that I know will never do it justice by writing it. But you have to picture this. I wanted to learn to pull Drew on skis, driving the boat. So, we had been taking some dry runs on this particular day. He gets in the water and is on the side of the boat, I am turning the boat in a pretty sharp turn. Well, I was so focused on getting that boat going fast quickly I forgot I was in the middle of the turn and that Drew was NOT behind the boat and just gunned it. Drew says, he kept thinking- What is she doing? What is she doing? WHAT IS SHE DOING??? Needless to say, he let go before his arms got ripped off! Kalie yelled that we had lost him so I turned back around. We were laughing so hard, we still laugh when that story gets brought up- if you could have only been there. Let me just say however, that the second time I did PERFECT and he had an awesome ski run. So, I am ready... Any takers??He let me have a turn skiing too.
We put our family of five on the jetski for a ride! Too funny!

I know you are probably getting tired of lake pictures- but this is our summer weekends, so just endure a few more.

Sailboat Cruise

We had gotten this sailboat dinner cruise at a fundraiser for Kalie's school. The owner of the boat called us to see if we could go this last weekend because the weather was supposed to be great. It just so happened to be when Stuart and Tonya were coming! It worked out great. We had the most wonderful time. We sailed on the water late. We had a fabulous dinner. It was so peaceful. The four of us sat up at the front of the boat and talked and watched shooting stars and a perfect sunset- it was fabulous.

The four of us on the sailboatStuart and Tonya Drew and meWilson (the owner of the sailboat) had Carribbean music playing some of the time and Tonya caught us dancing Jamacian style.

One of the views of the sunset

Between the two families, we took TONS of pictures- you are fortunate that I only posted this many. ha! It was a great weekend! We love yall so much!

WHAT A WEEKEND!!

Our friends Stuart and Tonya and two of their children, Abby and Caleb came for the weekend. They used to live here before the days of children and we were usually together! Tonya and I taught together at the same school. We hit it off immediately. Drew and Stuart did as well. Then they had Josh, then Kalie came, then we all moved but they didn't come back!!! We had lost touch for a while but over the last year or so have reconnected and its like we never lost a day. We love this family! And as you can see, they are as crazy as us!Stuart posing for a picture! oooooh! says TonyaThe evening boat ride was pretty cool after playing in the water.Tonya and I have gone crazy from all the time apart.Karlee, Kalie and Abby going for a ride. Abby gives the thumbs up sign. She's ready! Drew got to ski
Caleb is fishing
Okay, a story here. Drew swears that he had nothing to do with this tube ride but Tonya and I will never be convinced.... Anyway, it was ROUGH and we are showing here that we will NOT be defeated! BRING IT ON!!

Then we tried 100 times to get a picture of us both standing. It didn't happenBut Tonya got the award for staying on that thing.

I decided to kneeboard for a while after that ride. ha!
Abby is belly-boarding. She loved it!
Kalie was nervous at first but did great.
Kate looks into things with great detail...
Stuart was finishing a jump

And the all famous card playing quartet. We love SHANG-HAI!!! I even had found napkins and little appetizer picks with card suite symbols on them. ha! And Stuart- please watch out for those chairs and that MAN!! ha! Love yall!!

Friends come in all ages....

Mrs. Warren and Kalie made cookies together this week. Kalie got to wear the apron that Mrs. Warren made in high school home- ec class! The cookies were delicious and Kalie had so much fun! I heard stories about their time together the rest of the evening!
Mrs. Warren has been a family friend for a very long time. She deserves an extra jewel in her crown because she endured giving me piano lessons after we moved here when I was in high school! I have always thought so highly of her and her dear husband. She played in mine and Drew's wedding and now Kalie gets to benefit from getting to spend time around this dear sweet lady! Thank you Mrs. Warren- I am still waiting on the recipe!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA!

I love this shot- all the girls gathering around Andrea hoping to help her open her gifts!

Andrea, James and their daughters Khloe, Lilly and Emma"That" and the girls- Emma, Karlee, Khloe, Lilly, Kalie and Kate
Amy, Andrea and me

Today was my sister Andrea's birthday. We actually celebrated a couple of days ago. Happy Birthday Sis! I LOVE YOU!! (And I promise, I behaved with the photos! ha! -Some of you would love the unedited versions wouldn't you?? ha! ha!)

A Little Horse'n Around

Anita teaching Kalie how to push in with her legs and pull the reigns in different ways....
The lead rope is off and Kalie was riding by herself!
Talking to Gypsy and loving every minute she rode this sweet horse!
Of course Kate rode too!
And here is Karlee taking her turn- she even pulled on the ropes to stop Gypsy. She was quite proud!

We spent a wonderful evening with some of our dearest friends Mike and Anita. They just got a pony. She's an 11 year old paint horse who was truly created for children. This horse turns her head like a little snobby child when adults are around, but when small children come up to her she stands perfectly still and just lets them do whatever. Karlee is convinced that "Mrs. Anita" bought Gypsy for our girls!! Anyway, Kalie has been wanting to ride for years now and had her first real lesson today. She was so excited. It was such a blessing to spend some time with them. Thanks Dr. Mike and Anita- we all had a ball! And we will always remember those frogs!

More Time on the Lake

We took some friends, Mike and Carrie and their children Emma Claire, Abby and Conner and Scott and Ashli Smith with their children Hudson and Anna Claire on the river. Plus our family of 5- what a crew we made! The children loved it! Some of my pics didn't turn out, so I didn't get everyone, but everyone had fun. Drew grilled and was the captain of the boat all afternoon. I have got to get my lisense soon so he can take some ski runs and stuff!

this is Conner- not too crazy about being woke up or having to sit on that boat! isn't he adorable?
Scott, Emma Claire, Anna Claire, Karlee and Kalie are in the water cooling off
Drew took Scott and Mike on one more ride!
okay, GIRL'S TURN!! but the tube flipped as we were getting situated and getting back on is always so hilarious! here is Carrie being pulled up by Ashli!
I'm thinking... oh man........ we had a great run though!
Emma Claire turned 6!! We had to sing to her!