Random Pics

Ezekiel feeding Daddy a green pineapple

Ezekiel loves this tree. It's just a little bigger than him.

Daddy and Damaris. She likes her two fingers.

My nephew Jason and his "cousin Damaris."

It is sooooo funny to hear him say "this is my cousin Damaris" in his little country accent.

Smooching on the couch. Damaris looks like she's enjoying Ezekiel's kisses.

Vacation (Part I)

Ezekiel and Betty on Betty's Lawn Mower

Ezekiel and Tim taking a break from fishing to swim in the cold mountain river.

Papa teaching Ezekiel how to use his fishing rod.

Damaris is all smiles while watching big brother ride the merry-go-round.

 The big train at Tweetsie.

Last week we visited a lot of family. Our first stop was Rockwell, NC to visit my grandparents and Betty and Jr. Ezekiel enjoyed getting to play in Betty and Jr's big backyard. He rode with Betty on her lawnmower, investigated their garden, and played on the back of Jr's pickup truck. We only got to spend one day with our family in Rockwell but we enjoyed it a lot.

The next day we headed to Sugar Grove, NC for the Johnson family reunion. We had a blast staying at "The Ranch" with my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Lynn. Tim bought Ezekiel a fishing rod and he and my dad took Ezekiel to the river to practice using it. Ezekiel did a pretty good job learning to cast it and reel it in. While we were around Boone we took the kids to Tweetsie. Tweetsie is great place to visit with young kids. They have so many rides for little ones. Did you know that Tweetsie was voted the 12th best amusement park in the States? We took advantage of their after 3 pm policy. If you go in after 3 pm, then you get to come the next day for free. We did that b/c we thought it'd be hard to spend the whole day there with a 4 month old and a 2 year old. Kids under 3 are free!

Our last stop was visiting our family in Blanch again. I'll post some pics of that later. There's never a dull moment there and always something funny that happens when we go to Blanch.

CLIO (Part II)

Ezekiel waiting to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Don't you just love those dimples.

He gets those from his Nana.

Bathing Beauties: Papa and Damaris relaxing by the pool.

Heath and Emily

Four generations: Great-Grandma Helen, Gaga, Me, and Damaris

(This isn't the best pic. Damaris looks like she's crying and my shirt is all wet from her drool.)

Great-Grandpa Tom and happy Damaris

We had the chance to spend time with our family today in the big town of Clio. Yes, it IS bigger than Blanch, but not by much. My grandparents came down to visit three of their great-children, Ezekiel, Damaris, and Heath. We enjoyed spending time with them and having lunch at Emily's new house. It was fun talking with my grandparents about how things have changed soooo much over the years.

Later this afternoon we got to go to the pool!!!! Ezekiel loves trying to swim and jumping off the side. There was a kiddie pool where we went today which was right up his ally. A funny thing happened while we were swimming today. We kept hearing this strange noise ever so often. It sounded like a goat bleating or something. We never could actually see it but we kept hearing it the entire time we were there. You know you're from the country when you hear a goat bleating at the Country Club (ha)! On a side note there are always hogs and horses that we see and hear when we swim in Blanch.

CLIO (Part I)

Ezekiel and Heath hanging out on the bean bag.

Aunt Emmy and Damaris

Heath and Dustin

(Look at that little smile!)

Independence Day!

Sorry I don't have any pictures of our Independence Day celebration. I left the camera in the big city of Blanch, so I'll have to post them when I get it back. I have some cute pics of my niece and nephews snapping beans and holding Damaris. We had so much fun hanging out with our family today. We swam, played, ate, laughed, etc. and got to see Uncle Vic and Aunt Sissy this time!!! Ezekiel's favorite part of the day was swimming with Nana, Haley, and Jason and taking his nap (well over 2 hours!). Damaris' favorite part was talking (cooing) to all her cousins. Seems like she might be a real talker. I enjoyed getting to hang out with my sister-in-law Bev in the pool for a few minutes without the kiddos. I love my kids so much but it was fun sneaking away for few minutes of girl time and not having talk about "going potty" or sharing trains or "asking nicely."

I am so thankful to have this Day of Independence to celebrate. I thank God for being able to live in this country with so many freedoms and am thankful for the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. I think we take our freedom too lightly sometimes and don't realize what a huge cost it has been to so many people. There is a neat post on NPR's website. You can listen to their staff read the entire Declaration of Independence. It takes less than eight minutes and it's written out so you can read along. (www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgld=3) 

I always enjoy celebrating Independence Day and remembering what God has done just in this country not to mention what He's done around the world. Thankfully I get to celebrate being free every day because of what Christ has done for me. I am not a slave to this world or the things of this world but I am free in Him. 

The Big City of Blanch

We always enjoy getting to visit our family in Blanch because there is never a dull moment with them. I learn something new every time I go to there. One of my first visits there, pre-children, I learned how to stomp my foot just right to make the TV clear. This time I learned that you have to light one of the burners on the stove and slam the oven door while holding your tongue just right in order to get the stove to come on.
This past weekend we really enjoyed getting to swim with Jason and Daniel and Nana. Damaris' favorite thing was talking to her cousins Caleb, Daniel, and Haley. The most exciting part of our week though was learning that Haley knows the Father now!!!!
We love you all and look forward to seeing you again soon. Hopefully Uncle Vic and Aunt Sissy will be there next time.

Update

We enjoyed getting to spend time with the Heaths and Mews during May and June.

Ezekiel is crazy about his Gaga and Papa and his Uncle Dustin and Aunt Emmy. Damaris is crazy about anyone who will talk to her and hold her. She is so much fun right now laughing and cooing. One of her favorite things to do is sit in her swing and talk to Humpty Dumpty. She really has a lot to tell him most days. Humpty Dumpty was Ezekiel's favorite toy too for a long time. Thanks Wendy and Dewey for thinking about us and our kiddos.