August In Review

There have only been 16 days this month, but they have been jammed packed full of fun! On top of that, I applied for a job at James Avery on Friday. Monday they called to set up for an interview on Tuesday and hired me Wednesday. I offically started yesterday (Saturday) and was thrown to the wolves. haha! Not really, but the store just opened on Friday and when I got there at noon yesterday the store was packed out. I kind of like learning that way though. Today was slower so I got to learn more about the computer system. I hope this job will work out for a while to make some extra money for us on the side, but not mess with me being a momma! That comes first.

The first weekend of August we went down to Albany to celebrate Bryan's birthday with our family there. We had a Lightening McQueen birthday party. We had a great time swimming, eating, and opening up new treasures. (Can you believe how big Grant is!?!?)



The week following we had a play date with our cousins that live here. We went to the McWane Science Center. We had never been before. I think B really had a great time. He loves his cousins too :)

Last week we drove down to my parents house. ML had a few days off so she and A hopped in the car (for 7 hours!!) and drove to see us. We celebrated Bryan's, Dad's, and my birthdays together. I love sharing my birthday with them. :) One of Bryan's favorite places is Monkey Joe's so we had to take them there. They had a great time together. Every time A & B get to be together they play better and better. One night they were dancing to a music DVD when A stopped and said, "I love you Bryan!" That's the BEST!!! Bryan tried and tried to tell Allison what to do, but she just ignored him. It was hilarious.


Another post is coming in the morning. It's the big 3 year old birthday!! :)

Another fun weekend

Other than the fact that we almost died on the way to Albany on Friday, we had a wonderful weekend. Seriously, we were inches from death or at least being very, seriously hurt. We had only been on the road a little over an hour when we met a car going the opposite direction in our lane (left one)!! Highway 280 is a divided highway with 4 lanes across. We noticed a car that had been traveling far in front of us get over in the right lane, but just thought they were changing lanes. As we started to top a small hill, there was a Tahoe barreling down the road at us like they were supposed to be there. I was going 70 and they were at least going that speed. God's hands directed our car off the road just enough for them to miss us. Matt and I both said we couldn't believe they didn't hit our mirror or at least the right front side of the car. I was going 70 down the median and never once lost control. That is all by the grace of God. Friday night I didn't get much rest replaying everything in my head. Of course Satan likes to get me thinking about all the "what ifs." There are SO many! If there had been a car in front of us, we wouldn't have had time to get out of the way. Same if there would have been a car directly behind us.

We stopped at a McDonald's in Dadeville just about a mile or two down the road to check out our tires and calm down a little. A man pulled up behind us that had seen the whole thing happen. He had been in the right lane. He asked if we were ok. I told him yes, but that I was shaking. He said, "you were all in that ditch!" I told him we were praising Jesus for our safety. He then told me he was praying the lady didn't come into his lane. I never saw a lady...just a big shiny grill. I WISH I would have thought to turn around and try to get a tag number or something. I'm praying they didn't hurt anyone else and quickly learned they were on the wrong side of the highway.

Whew!! We went to Albany to celebrate Allison's 3rd Birthday and Father's Day with Bruce. Saturday morning we met the England's early so we could take the kids to the Riverquarium. We all enjoyed that. We then ordered pizza and had YUMMY birthday cake. Allison got a little shy when we were singing to her, but she blew all 3 candles out by herself. She opened presents with Bryan's help, of course. :) It was then time for Bryan's nap so while he slept, I swam with Mary Lynn, Nate, Allison, and our friend Kim. It was good to spend time with all of them. (click pictures to enlarge)

After naptime the Soles came in to town. They got a new boat so we went and tried it out. It was Bryan's first boat ride. I think he really enjoyed it. I always love riding on a boat. Now we have one in the family! :) We probably would have all loved it even more if it wouldn't have been soooooo hot! We went back to the Baker's house for supper and had a chance to visit with Punkin and Uncle Huck. Always so good to see them! :)

Saturday evening we went to Phenix City to go to church with mom and dad for Father's Day. We enjoyed lunch at El Vaquero. Mary Lynn and Nate were coming in around supper time to spend the night so we got to have dinner with them before we came back home. Thankfully, our trip home was uneventful! We were so glad to spend time with so much of our family this weekend.
(Papaw popped popcorn for Bryan. I think it's his favorite food. We eat some almost everyday. Anyway, he gets so excited hearing the "pop pop pop" as he says.)

pictures!

Bryan and I made trip to Phenix City on Thursday to see ML and Allison. ML had the weekend off and made a spontaneous decision to come see us! Bryan was asleep when they arrived at Mom and Dad's, but was so excited when he woke up seeing Allison's face. He and Allison are so cute when they first see each other. Lots of squeals!

On Friday we got up and headed to Monkey Joe's for the kids to play together. I think it was much more fun for Bryan to have a playmate this time. After a while of playing we took them to Fuddruckers for a corndog (bryan) and grilled cheese (allison.) Promising Bryan a corndog was about the only way we could get him out of Monkey Joe's happily. :) :) We returned home later that afternoon, but were so glad to visit with the Englands! (Mom and Dad too, of course!)

Here is the link to the pictures and short videos:

Visit with ML and Allison

I can't wait to see y'all again, Mary Lynn!

Boogers

I know there are certain things that come with the job of being a dad. Pretty much all types of bodily fluids, dirty diapers, and even boogers. Apparently this also applies to being an uncle.

We're at Jamie's parents' house this weekend for Bryan's birthday, and my niece Allison is here as well, along with her mommy Mary Lynn (Jamie's sister). I've been getting stuff off of Allison's finger all night, including Play-Doh and bits of crayon that she's gotten under her fingernails. She came running up to me after supper going "Finger!" and holding her thumb up in the air that she'd apparently gotten something on that she wanted off immediately. Without really thinking about it, I just wiped her thumb off with my hand, and then looked down at what it was.


A booger.

Our Weekend in Pictures (updated with short videos)

We loaded up and went to Albany this weekend. Allison celebrated her 2nd birthday and the Soles' came up. We got to love on precious Grant! We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends.

Allison's 2nd Birthday and 6 week old Grant

Play Time

18 months

Click the picture above to see Bryan and Allison's play date pictures from the park this afternoon.

Fun with a Box!

Lunch with Friends

A few days before Christmas Bryan and I, along with Mary Lynn and Allison, had the privilege of eating with our friends Kim and Lindsay at the Mayberry Diner. Kim is away at school in Mississippi so it was wonderful getting to visit with her! Lindsay had a baby boy, Will, in September and it was the first time I ever met him. He's so precious!

Here are few pictures from our fun lunch!

Eating and a Concert

Here are a couple of pictures of our kiddos eating lunch and watching Blue's Clues at Granna and Papaw's house! :)

Mary Lynn and I (and babies) went to Phenix City this weekend and had a great time! Friday night we went to see Jake Owen, Little Big Town, and Sugarland in concert. It was AWESOME! I recommend seeing them if they are ever near your town. Jennifer Nettles is very entertaining!!! They put on a terrific show. I'll leave you with a video of Sugarland singing at the CMA's this year.

Visit to Granna and PaPaw's

ML and I took the babies to Mom and Dad's house Monday for the week. Matt was in Atlanta for training all week, so we packed up and headed north too. Here are some fun pictures! :)

Here we go!

Play time

Watching the neighbor's dogs

This is Allison's silly face!

"I think I'll climb these!"

PaPaw knocked down some pecans so we could pick them up.

ML and Allison watching PaPaw.

There's that silly face again! :)

Good boy, Bryan!

Flint Riverquarium

The Englands have a year pass to the Flint Riverquarium. ML and I took Bryan and Allison yesterday to check out the fish, turtles, alligators, etc. They really enjoyed themselves, as did we.

I didn't have my real camera so these were taken with my phone. :)

Allison's 1st Birthday Party

Allison Drew turns 1 this Friday, the 29th! That is so hard to believe! ML and Nate had her party today at the Riverquarium, here in Albany. We all toured the place and then watched Allison dig in to her yummy cake! :) She was precious rubbing her fingers in the icing. She finally learned to pick it up and squish it between her fingers.

In a little less than 2 months we'll be doing this with Bryan! My, how time flies!

Cousins Playing

Mary Lynn's 26th Birthday

Friday Fun

ML and I took a few quick pictures of 2 tired babies on Friday out by the beautiful azalea bushes in her yard. Bryan and Allison both wanted to eat the pinestraw. Of course when I took it from him he got upset. (top right photo!) Anyway, these were too cute not to share.

SCREAMER!

Bryan started screaming about 2 months ago but stopped at some point. Now he's back at it again! It's not a squeal...it's a SCREAM! Like hurt your ears scream. He is so funny!

I laid him down for a nap today and went in to check on him and he had turned all the way around and was laying with his back against the side of the crib. I'm not sure how he did that! Anyway, he's starting to scoot around more. He's still turning from his back to tummy and is every once in a while making it back over to his back. :)

Right now I guess the biggest news is that Bryan is cutting his first tooth!

Allison, Mary Lynn's baby, comes over every Monday and Tuesday mornings while ML goes to work. We've been having a great time together. Allison is crawling and pulling up on the furniture. She's now 8 months old.

More Christmas Fun

First Christmas

 

Trip to Phenix City

Mary Lynn and I loaded up Bryan and Allison Saturday for a fun weekend at Granna and Papaw's. They did soooo good and were very interested in each other! Allison is almost 4 months old and Bryan is a little over 2 months.

More pictures of Allison!