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!