We're SO Glad When Daddy Comes Home...

After being gone for almost 4 weeks, the kids and I were SO excited to welcome Bart home for a couple of days. After being shy for a couple of minutes, Makenna, ran into Bart's arms and wouldn't let go for almost 10 minutes. Cute, but also made me cry. She is such a Daddy's girl.

Backpacking

Every year, twice a year, since we moved here, a group of women go backpacking. It's usually at a different place each time. They leave Friday at noon and come back late afternoon on Saturday. I've always wanted to go. But, each time, something came up...being pregnant, having an infant, Bart traveling... So, as our time is drawing to a close here, I knew I needed to find a way to go. So, Bart and I got his traveling schedule worked out so he could come home for a couple of days so I could go! Yipee!! It was SO wonderful! There were 7 of us that went and it was an amazing time. We drove three hours to get to Lexington, hiking Cold Mountain and Mt. Pleasant. The scenery breathtaking, the women incredible, hard but worth it. I came back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Love these ladies! Thank you, Bart, for helping it happen!

Pumpkin Patch!

For the last several years, we've gone to the farm to pick pumpkins. Since this is our last year out here, the kids were more determined than ever to experience getting their pumpkins in our traditional fashion. Bart is traveling a ton, so we had to go without him this year. So, we went when we could, which was when it was raining. I thought we might miss the storm, but it started raining when we were about half way there. It ended up being ok. We were prepared and the kids had a lot of fun. We are having an exchange student coming to stay with us for a week from Costa Rica, so Cole was really excited to get a pumpkin for our new friend to carve when he comes (he hasn't ever carved a pumpkin before, so Cole can't wait to show him the ropes). Good times had by all!

Random Pictures

First time any of our kids have done this

Makenna has totally rocked potty training. She is pantless most of the time at home, but loves her Dora underwear. I'm super proud of her!

Egg carton lunches in a fort during the rain storm!

Wearing Mama's shoes after church

Florida, Baby!!-Day on the Lake

The day that we flew home, we went to the lake with the Hicks Family. Boy, did we have a blast! Their boat was sweet, the kids went tubing, I water skied, Bart surfed behind the boat, Cole surfed and wake-boarded (getting up both ways very quickly), the 3 older girls all went surfing with Brant and Sadie got up on the wake board. I was proud of all of them! The water was so warm, I loved all the moss hanging from the trees, we had a very wind blown picture of us taken in front of Shaquille O'Neil's house, and we just got to relax and enjoy the company. Perfect ending to a perfect trip! Thanks, Hicks Family!

Florida, Baby!!-Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom was super fun. The animal variety was amazing and there were some fun rides, along with a safari trip that we took. There was a tree that I'm posting that had animals carved in the trunk. There is a picture of another tree that looks like an upside down tree..roots in the air. I loved it! There was one huge roller coaster that took you frontwards and backwards. Bart only went on it once and got sick...I should've only gone on it once.... :) Brant and three of his kids came with us, which was great! At the end of the day, it was wonderful to head home to the pool!