Family Portraits

Posting...

So, it's been really busy lately and I really haven't had time to post. I want to try and keep it up because it's a good way to get these memories written down before I forget, which seems to happen really quickly!
I had a nice chat with my brother Taylor the other day. Honestly, this hasn't happened in a long time! He mentioned how he wants to be closer to his family and that he misses me. Really, it's nice to hear that, especially from a brother, right?! I want to do the same thing. Family is the most important thing. We've all been through tough times, even still, but love needs to be there. My children and my husband are my life! I don't know what I would do if I lost any one of them. My brothers and sisters and my dad need to be a bigger part of my life as well. I have a connection with my siblings that I just can't seem to explain. I think part of my mom is in each of us, so we all need each other to keep my mom around. That probably doesn't really make much sense, but I do want my family to know that I love them, without having to say it. So, I'm getting to work!
I have posted a few posts to catch up, so you'll have to check them out! Please let me know what you think, it's really nice to hear from others. If I don't have your blog on here let me know what it is and I'll add you! Thanks!

And Here Comes Fall!!

The leaves have started, well a few weeks ago now, falling off the trees. Kalin will see them and exclaim, "oh, I'm so excited for fall", in such a grown up way! I just love her enthusiasm for life and I pray that she will keep it. We went to Cagle's Dairy Farm in Canton to get pumpkins this year. We were a little dissapointed with the selection but ended up with some nice pumpkins and a little drive! It was raining and really cold actually, so we got our pumpkins and turned right back around to go home but stopped at a place called Shane's Rib Shack to eat lunch.Eeeww, pumpkin guts!
It's fun as the kids get older and we can do more as a family together. Like carving pumpkins and Porter throwing the guts all over the kitchen!

A week later these sweet pumpkins were shriveled and moldy! I think in utah they lasted at least a month!

Grandma and Grandpa Survived!

We all enjoyed having Grandma and Grandpa visit. Kalin and Porter really had a good time and warmed up to them right away. The first day we had a little party for Grandma, Kalin's idea was to have a surprise for Grandma with balloons and cake. We all went to dinner that night, and I think they got an idea of what they were in for with Porter!

This is our flooding we had while in Charleston. In one area the water was 8 inches deep. We were very blessed not to have any flooding in our home. It really was like a river flowing down our yard across the driveway and around the house. The kids sure loved playing in it! Because of the rain we really didn't get to do too much while Grandma and Grandpa were here, but we did visit the new science museum "Tell Us" in Cartersville. There were big trucks, dinosaurs, cars and trains, outdoors and weather stuff, rocks, and digging for real dinosaur bones and actual gems. Granted they were very tiny, but the idea was new and exciting. For all of us big and small!

Charleston SC without the kiddos!

In September Alans parents (mom and dad) came for a visit. They stayed with the kids while Alan and I went to Charleston for 2 whole nights! Yipee!!! It was beautiful there and we lucked out with sunshine while our sweeet GA home was being flooded with rain!

We took a ferry to an the island of Fort Sumter National Monument. This is where the first fire began the civil war. (Just some cool info!) We took another "water taxi", as they call them, over to the aircraft carrier . We also toured a 1970's submarine. I cannot believe how tight the submarine was. I dont think I could last a month being stuck on one of those things! We really enjoyed touring the museums, especially the one on the aircraft carrier, the Medal of Honor Museum. It was really touching to read what soldiers and other men serving have done for our country and their fellow men. We saw some different wild life while on our trip. I was lucky to be able to watch a couple pelicans waking up from a nap, stretch, clean themselves and then fly away. They are beautiful birds and a bit sentimental to me because my mom really loved to watch the pelicans in the water by the Great Salt Lake. So really they just remind me of her and her love for nature and wildlife. We saw many dolphin, and I was a little snap happy when I saw a whole bunch of crabs in the marsh by our hotel. Alan of course had to poke fun at the joy it was bringing me! We just don't see these where we are or in Utah, there were so many different kind, they moved with such speed and grace that I was a little mystified I guess!

Some Catching Up...

Back in August...Picture of me that Kalin took while we were shopping at Home Depot. Pretty good for an ameteur huh? Alan is actually quite proud that Kalin loves to shop at Home Depot and knows what one looks like when we drive by. Alan with Porter - we were so surprised that he fell asleep on the couch with daddy! That never happens...what a sweet moment!

Even though we are no longer taking dance I had to show Kalin ready for her first dance class. She enjoyed a few classes and then she absolutely refused to go in and I couldn't convince her to go back. We'll try again another time! Above Kalin is making a silly face for the camera. We actually have quite the collection! She gives me such good laughs when she starts laughing hysteraclly because she thinks that she is the funniest thing!

I decided to have a little photoshoot with the kids and I while Alan was out of town one weekend. I usually take the pictures and so I don't end up in very many and just wanted to be in some with Kalin and Porter. Porter actually started screaming and crying because I was trying to make him sit still and pose for the camera! He looks much too happy while choking me! He really did, I had to pry his arms off of me!

Somebody was SPOILED!

A couple weeks ago we helped our friends Stephanie and Brian watch their dog Portland. She was with us Tuesday through Friday until dinner time and then she stayed over night Friday. One might think, "Wow! What are they thinking, that will be crazy!" It was quite the oppostite. Portland is a great dog. She is very obedient and very good with the kids. They loved playing with her. Kalin was especially preoccupied with her by throwing her toys and the frisbee - most of all by telling her to sit. Every time Kalin turned around she be saying "sit" and "good girl"! All in all Portland was spoiled with so much attention. We had fun, but it was time for her to go home and now mom and dad know that they don't want a dog. We just want Portland to come and play every now and then! Thanks Stephanie and Brian for letting us play with her!

Some fun IN and OUT of the sun!

We just love it when daddy gets some time off work and we can all go play as a family! The beginning of August we ventured out for a drive to the beach. Good thing the drive was only 10 minutes from home! This is lake Acworth beach and we love it. It's always fun to be in the sun at the beach...we just have to be careful of porter stripping down then walking around for all to see!

We also had some fun out of the sun with a longer drive up to Chattanooga, TN. They have one pretty swell aquarium that we visited when we first moved to Georgia. This day we went to the Childrens Discovery Museum. What a cool place! And I don't just mean the air conditioning. The kids got to play in water, color, build things, play all sorts of fun instruments, get their faces painted, dig for dinasaur bones, and much more. After the museum we walked to a pizza joint about a block away. We almost melted it was so hot!