Fallen Right into Fall 2011

Much water has gone under the bridge since our last posts of State Fair and Labor Day happenings!

To name a few, Aly began homeschooling this Fall and is doing a splendid job thus far, we enjoyed taking her to NQC 2011 for her first "Field Trip"...the music was, as expected, wonderful and we saw many friends and laughed ourselves almost breathless! We went to Greg's parents home for our annual "BD" trip...when Aly and Whitley are able to celebrate their October birthdays, together and this year Tanner joined in on the celebration! A triple party it was! The entire Indiana side of our family gathered together for a day of country fun "down at the Farm" and thanks to "Aunt" Nodi, we had a most relaxing and filling day! Of course, we have just come through the biggest event of all...Aly's 4th Birthday!!! "AN EVENING WITH PRINCESS BELLE" went very smoothly, the girls had a ball having "Tea" together and once again our family enjoyed a delicious meal, a specially made cake for the occasion and many stories and laughs!

Rather than going into too much detail and boring you, I'll allow the slide shows I've created to tell the story of how we have quite literally, "Fallen Right into Fall 2011"! ENJOY........

Labor Day Weekend 2011...PLUS!

We had yet another great weekend filled with fun and family! Needless to say, as usual we were completely awesomized by our time together!(You just had to be there to get that one!)The food & fellowship were equally life-changing, heart-skipping & chill bump-giving, as Harry Bunch & Larry Breeze would say!(Again, you just had to be there to get that one!)A good laugh & times with those you love dearly, are the best cures in any book & with that being said..... we'll not bore you with the details instead, we will allow the photos to speak for themselves! "To us, family means putting your arms around each other & being there." {Barbara Bush}

Labor Day Weekend 2001

BACK TO SCHOOL PHOTOS BELOW :

Back to School 2011-12

Indiana 2011 State Fair

WOW!!! What fun we had and the many wonderful memories we were able to make at this years State Fair! Deep Fried Veggies, Pepper Jack on Sour Dough with an original Dairy Barn Malt, Old Fashioned Corn Dog, Deep Fried Pizza, Lemon Shake Up or Pineapple Whip, Fried Oreos, Fried Milky Ways or the new Deep Fried B.R. Ice Cream...so many yummy things to choose from!!! Needless to say, we were feeling full and hoping to be heartburn-free at the end of the day, before we ever arrived on the fairgrounds! We do love the State Fair...especially on 2$ Tuesdays!!! We were able to use vouchers which allowed us on the grounds for TWO dollars (per adult) AND there were also several food vendor choices for only TWO dollars, as well! In addition to the delightful and unlimited Fair food, our visit included pony rides, petting and feeding lots of different animals, sightseeing, the Evening Parade, the Ferris Wheel, Wavy Slide, Bumble Bee and Strawberry Swirl rides, Roller Coasters and MORE!!! We certainly got our groove on again this year and are already looking forward to next year, y'all!!! The photo album will speak for itself, so view and enjoy!!!

2011 Indiana State Fair

An Indy Anniversary Celebration

We truly enjoyed our little overnight get-away downtown... an Anniversary Celebration deluxe! We began the day taking Aly to a "sleep ova" with her Mimi and Papaw, which included a tea party and a visit to the Children's Museum and one where she felt like a real life Princess. I relaxed with a much needed manicure and then we headed into the city. We had reservations at The Omni Severin Hotel, which was simply lovely! We enjoyed a delicious meal at Weber Grill, including a complimentary dessert of Chocolate Bundt Cake Wedge with Hot Homemade Fudge Sauce poured all over it and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream! DIVINE! Back at our room, we received Anniversary gifts and a note from the Omni staff, chocolates, chilled water, in-house bathrobes, late check-out, etc. This morning we walked to the Hilton Inn and Resort for their infamous Breakfast Buffet (you'll see some of the yummy details on the photo), before walking the city, the Canal and Circle Center Mall. We did a little shopping and grabbed Burgers and Malts before heading home to meet Aly. This was a weekend that will live on in our hearts forever! Thank you Greg, Mama and Daddy for a most memorable weekend!
Following a major accident a week or two ago, which involved our camera being ruined, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Anniversary gift (a new camera)... we have several photos waiting 'in the wings' to be edited and posted from other Summer '11 activities, so please keep your eyes open for their soon arrival! Trust you are all having a splendid Summer.......

Family Spring Break in The Smokies 2011 (incl. Mother's Day)

Arrived in The Smokies on Friday afternoon around 5, enjoyed a wonderful relaxing supper @The Pottery House, Aly loved being in the pool again and her "Duggar-style" suit was a big hit with everyone! We also spent a day @Dollywood, with supper following @Big Daddy's (where they cook with a wood fired brick oven~YUMMM)! Every day was a beautiful day on our vacation in the southern countryside! You will see "CAPTIONS" on the photos, if you right-click in the center of the Slideshow, itself! On Sunday, @Cade's Cove alone, we saw 7 or 8 deer, several wild turkeys and a half a dozen black bears! Later, @Three Bears, we saw another 4 black bears, up close and personal! Those pix were taken on a different camera and will have to be shared at a later date. Aly loved all of the wild animals and wanted to find some she could pet and feed... which will have to wait til our next visit or til we find a local petting zoo! We always love the home cookin' @The Old Mill, too! What INCREDIBLE days were enjoyed on this Spring Break!!! Aly rode rides "alone", literally, in Kids Country @The Track (Family Rec. Center) including GO KARTS, also "alone"!!! We all loved eating @No Way Jose's, late afternoon shopping for Mama and I @Tanger Outlet, afterwards, we stopped by for Christmas Eve Stew and Million Dollar Dessert @Partridge & Pear and had a nice chat w/Kirk Talley... later that night, I was thrilled to go on a nighttime horse 'n carriage ride, followed by a round of outdoor putt-putt and late-night snack @Five Guys, with my Man and Baby Girl!!! Such beautiful sights to be seen all over the Smokies !!! Sunny and warm, the whole week, with the exception of ONE afternoon when rain and temps began to fall, but it remained in the 60's and the rain was that wonderful "slanted, gentle" rain like we Southerner's love! Temps shot back up the next day and the sun was once again shining! We found a new “favorite” place to eat @New Orleans Sandwich Co., in G'Burg, and it will now be a "REGULAR" stop for us! YUMMO for REAL Cajun cuisine!!! One can't forget ice cream @Kilwin's, either! Brunch @The Applewood Farmhouse AND shopping @The Apple Barn, General Store & Cider Mill, as always was a hit! Nothing beats their delightful "fritters" & homemade apple butter, either! Though this was far from a stress-free vacation, it was a GREAT one with TONS of memories made, and I will always be grateful to the Lord for providing it for us!!! Ya just gotta love southern sunshine and believe me, the five of us are considering putting down stakes and calling the South “HOME” again, someday... just sayin'!

***I also added a couple of Mother's Day photos to this album for you to enjoy!!!

Easter 2011

We had an incredible Easter week!!! We stayed busy the entire week in preparation for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which we are in charge of and it was another great success! We didn't quite make it in time for the Easter Church Breakfast, due to not wanting to have full stomachs for singing, though Aly did get to enjoy a bit of the morning goodness! Our Worship Service, mini-musical and sermon, has been said by several who were in attendance, to be the best Easter service they had been to in years or even for their entire lifetime! We must agree, the Spirit was there in a way that just gave you goosebumps from the first note of the first song! One of my personal favorites this year was, "Finished Indeed"..... ♫♪ "The road to Calvary's hill has been travelled, for Jesus took upon Himself the burden of our blame, so why do we feel the need to bear that cross again, to struggle so with all our guilt and shame. When He said it was finished, it was finished, indeed? We're no longer bound to what sin had decreed with the blood that was spilled, His Grace was revealed and it was finished, indeed!" ♪♫ Of course, Easter isn't complete without a fun Egg Hunt, lots of candy, a visit with the Easter Bunny, a wonderful meal with the family, etc. So, I've added a photo album below for you to have a glimpse of our Easter celebrations this year! Our dinner menu consisted of Glazed Ham, Chicken & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Corn on Cob, Broccoli Casserole, Strawberry-Almond Salad, Deviled Eggs, Hot Homemade Rolls, Cream Puff Dessert and Swedish Nut Cake! Thanks to each of the family members for bringing in such delightful foods!!! I'm afraid my diet was in jeopardy! Trust all of our friends had an enjoyable weekend, filled with the knowledge of God's divine love, in that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us and the through the goodness of quality time with those you love! We love you ALL.....

Easter 2011

Pre-Easter Trips, Sleep-Overs and More

It's been a very busy month and hard to believe it's been that long since our St. Patty's day blog! Too many things to mention without boring you, but we do have a handful of photos from this month, so far! Greg was sent to the New Orleans area for work and this left Aly and I at home...alone, for close to a week! Before he left, he and I had a date night with supper at Bravo's and Aly had fun with Uncle Mark, Aunt 'Nita and Nate while we were out...they even made cupcakes for us!

Pre-Easter and Springtime Fun

During the time Greg was out of state, Aly and I had a sleep-over at Papaw and Mimi's, went to supper with friends, rode bikes, and even had a sleep-over right in our own house, as well! We are all excited about Easter and will continue to try to capture a few special moments on camera to share with you...trust y'all are all having a fabulous Spring and Easter season, as well! Easter is a holiday when many people think of the Easter bunny, decorating eggs, dressing up in your 'new' Sunday best and going to church. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with these things, Easter should be more than just another holiday to the Christian. It should be a time to remember that Jesus not only died for our sins, but He rose again and is waiting to come back and receive us back to Him!!! "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said." {Matt 28:5-6} Happy Easter to you and yours........

♣HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY♣

Aly honors Princess Fiona for "Pinch Me Day"

On this day of clovers, may a rainbow run beside you, in a sky that's always blue and may happiness fill your heart each day... your whole life through! May Irish hills caress you, may her lakes and rivers bless you, may the luck of the Irish enfold you and may the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you! However, I've seen the OTHER side of the rainbow and already found my pot of gold... His name is Jesus Christ... the very Maker of the rainbows, blue skies filled with sunshine, the Irish hills and lakes, happy hearts, the gold 'in the pot' AND The Promise!!!

Special Note: We are happy to report that Uncle Ron was released from the Hospital on March 10th and his recovery is moving along perfectly! There is sure to be a long road ahead, but we are thanking God for His answers to prayer! The latest news is that he received a great report on Tuesday, the 15th, from his surgeon and of course, God continues to work in the entire situation... what a MIGHTY God we serve! Too many details to print here, but we are praising the Lord. Please continue to pray with us that God will receive all the glory!? Thank you!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST...

"Difficult to know what words to write ~ my heart is hurting. Asking for all of you to believe in the power of prayer with us, and to pray for someone very special to me. My dear Dad has recently been diagnosed with a type of sarcoma in his leg. Praying for healing, wisdom and strength. (He goes in for another surgery on Tuesday, March 2nd.) God's peace and presence have been amazing. We greatly appreciate all of the love and prayers that we have been feeling this week. Thank you from our hearts! Please KEEP us in your prayers." A special note from my cousin, Ronda (Kennedy) England.
This news has hit our entire family, pretty much right out of the blue and we are asking the prayers from saints around the world!
The color YELLOW brings Sarcoma awareness so, please wear something yellow (even if it's just a ribbon), on Tuesday (the 2nd) and remember my Uncle Ron in prayer throughout the day! WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL AND WE'RE TRUSTING HIM FOR A MIRACLE! Thank you in advance for your prayers!!!
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord! Psalm 31: 24.....

♥Valentine's Day 2011♥

A FEW VALENTINE 2011

MEMORIES TO KEEP

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫

When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore
When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay.......
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You're in love
When you walk down in a dream but you know you're not
Dreaming signore
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli
That's amore

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫

○•^`^•○Winter Fun○•^`^•○

Scenes of Christmas 2010

WINTER 2010

(MORE PHOTOS BELOW)

I wish that I could wrap up all the love and Holiday cheer that comes along with Christmas and with New Year's every year, pack it in a pretty box and put it on my shelf and pull it down again each year and give it to myself.

I wish that I could tie up all my favorite carols with twine, wind around some ribbon, too, and for twelve months call them mine until the next Yuletide came when the sounds again could be unfurled and untie every single one then give them to the world.

Each year though wiser and older am I, still thoughts of Santa cause such excitement... and a simple reading of the Christmas Story brings such tears of joy to my eyes. So, like many Christmas's before, you see there really is no difference, it's just "your height in the door" and in the innocence of a child, I take this moment, to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! {Adapted}

Christmas at Our Home