Oh, My Little Soldier Boy!

Porter all dressed up like a soldier. He put on his army hat, his army socks (just tan ones like daddy has) and tan boots like daddy's (they are really his sister's). And of course he's gotta have his gun!

Pictures of Ellie

Baking Bread

Kalin helping me bake my very fist loaf of wheat bread! It really didn't turn out all that great, but that's okay we just have some learning to do!

"Our Beach" - Lake Acworth

This is Lake Acworth. The kids call it "Our Beach". It really felt like a slimy fishtank! It had this gross film in the water and when we got out there were marks on our arms where the water was.

Summer Tours

Over the summer the kids and I have been on a couple little tours. First place was the Fire Station and Police Station.

Porter got to pull the siren and push the petal for the horn (not that I asked or anthing!). It was so loud that everyone had to plug their ears who were standing around! He felt so cool after being able to do that, it made his day and mine! Kalin had drawn a picture of a fire truck to give them but she was so nervous to tell them, it was cute!

We also went on a tour of Publix. They got to taste some deli meat, watch a baker decorate a cake (he was super fast, like 2 minutes!) and get some free cookies from the bakery, and tour the freezer and back rooms. They walked in the freezer (below) to see how freezing it was. We watched how they cut up the pineapple and each got a sample, and then the kids did a little rain dance to turn on the water for the veggies. It was cute and they all seemed to have a good time.

Then it was on to Lori Belles. They are a frozen custard shop just up the street from us.

Alan's Promotion

July 10th, Alan was promoted from an E6 to an E7 in the Army National Guard. He has been waiting for this promotion for a long time and I think it was pretty big for him! Above: Me taking off Alan's old rank and tossing it over my shoulder below. This is a tradition I guess!

Soldiers that were an E7 or above can give Alan what is called a "blood rank" by punching him hard in the shoulder. They way it used to be done would leave you bleeding and thats why it is called "blood rank".

Best Friends

Ever since we have lived here in Georgia Kalin has had mostly boys to play with. All of my friends had boys her age. There has been one girl in her primary class, Kimberly Johnson, who Kalin absolutely loves, but she has been in school and we haven't been able to see her much outside of church. So when the Buffington's moved in we were so happy to know that they had a daughter, Savannah, that is Kalins age. They've been able to hang out together a few times and they get along so well. Kalin loves having a girl-friend that will dress up with her and play barbies and ponies!

Kids Workshop

Home Depot does the funnest thing for kids. On Saturdays they have a kids workshop where they get to make something with tools and take home a cool orange apron! Kalin was so proud of her little tool box and the time she got to spend with Dad. Porter made a little wall hanging with a football a month before. It's kind of fun they switch it up so the kids can go back and make something else with dad!

Puddle Jumping

In June we got quite a bit of rain. And oh, how the kids like to play in the rain puddles. Getting wet and dirty seems to be the funnest thing one could ever do! First they started with jumping in them to get wet, then they thought it would be even better if they slid on the grass into the puddles, and finally they sat and laid flat on their backs and bellies to get soaked!

Memorial Day Fun

To celebrate Memorial Day, Alan invited his soldiers over for a BBQ. We had close to 30 people (including kids). It was pretty hot outside, but it was fun. I loved having that many people over! It's just one big party and I love that! We need to do it more often. The kids had bubbles, sand, water guns, and other activities to do. Next time we need to have a croquette set so the adults can have that to do (even volleyball would be cool). We did end in a bit of a water fight, so I was happy with that! Oh, and I made the pinata with Kalin and Porter the day before. They were so excited to help me with it!

Porter didn't want to hit the pinata, so that is why I don't have his picture. One of the guys, Tim Boland I think, brought a few different flavors of Mountain Dew soda. Most of the night Porter spent his time opening all the different cans so he could try them all and mix them together. One of the guys made the comment that he was mixing his own margaritas (or something like that)! He also took them all out of the boxes and would line them up along the table. He sure does some funny things!

Easter 2011

Easter was pretty simple this year. Saturday we had a small easter egg hunt outside with Kalin and Porter. It was fun to have our backyard to be able to do that. Then we colored eggs - Porter didn't feel well, that's why he looks so grumpy in the picture! That night Porter complained of a stomach ache and later threw up all over my bed...he and Alan stayed home from church. Sunday night was Kalins turn, throwing up a few times during the night. Morning came, early morning (2 am) and Alan started (every hour almost all the next day). He couldn't eat or even keep any water down, didn't get out of bed because his body hurt, it was awful - I wanted to help but couldn't do anything. Tuesday he started to feel better when I started to feel sick that night. My back hurt so much I slept with the heating pad and the next day I just felt awful. No throwing up for me, thank you, but I still felt terrible and nausious. Well, enough of that, I probably could have just said that we were all sick for Easter! :) At least the kids did enjoy some candy and a few things from the Easter bunny. Chris and Alan also gave them Easter baskets (those pre-packaged ones in the picture). They were both so tickled!!

Atlanta Temple Open House

Friday, April 22, we took our neighbors to the newly remodeled Atlanta, GA Temple open house. The temple has been closed for almost two years. In that time we had to travel to Alabama, 3 hours away, if we wanted to visit the temple. All I will say, is that we now have a renewed desire to attend the temple more frequently. It has been missed! What a blessing to be able take our friends and share with them our beliefs.

Christine Gower and Cecily Smith at Mellow Mushroom (the yummiest pizza place ever!) for lunch after the temple.

Cecily is a sweet, talented, and wonderful lady. She has been the best neighbor. Cecily moved here the spring after we moved in and lives alone, so it has been fun for us all to be neighborly and become close to her. The kids love going over to paint and explore her home. She is from Jamaica, but moved here from New Jersey.

Below is Chris with her husband Alan. Chris and Alan are from England (Canvey Island) and they have a 2nd home next door to us. Chris has a sister that lives here with her family so she has been visiting Georgia for years. We love having them as neighbors and really enjoy their friendship. Chris is like another mom and I think the world of her!

Porter became pretty attached to Alan and just loved being his little buddy. Of course he was quite the trouble maker!
After we ate pizza we went over to Cecily's home to have "hot cross buns" with cheese (a Jamaican tradition). It was Good Friday and we learned all sorts of things that others do as tradition on this day. What a fun day!

What are KIDS for, right?

I'm trainging them early! I even pay Kalin if she puts lotion on my feet and gives me a massage! Is that terrible? They seem to like doing it, so why not! :)

I liked being THIRTY

Turning 30 wasn't a big deal. I enjoy getting older, probably because I know I get to experience life and things are always changing. Even so, I have struggled a little more being 31. Don't know why!? Maybe I'm feeling old, or 31 just sounds old!

Alan and Kalin baked me a cake and then Porter joined in to help decorate it! Can you see the "31" in there? It's beautiful and it totally made my day! Alan stayed home from work, we went to lunch together at Panera Bread and then went shopping for me! Yay!

Kalin and Porter helping me blow out the candles! You know, since I'm so old!

Some of my friends went to dinner with me that week at Panera. It was sweet of them to support me and hang out. Those who made it were Lisa Parberry, Stephanie Saponas, and Heather Harmon.