Our Joy of Joys...

is THREE TODAY!!

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Elise.

We love you.

Too good to forget...

Caleb reprimanded me for not blogging this picture so I had to come back and add it, so I wouldn't get in any more trouble. [grin]
While at the cabin, a huge moth spent the morning on the front porch. EJ was fascinated with it, so David sat down with her to help her see it better.
(Click on it to see a bigger version, if you'd like.)

Too sweet, huh?!

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

Saturday our Caleb turned TWELVE!

Can you believe it?!
I know I sure can't.

David and I have just entered our last year with NO teenagers in the house until June 2025.
(Where's the THUD smiley face when you need it?! LOL...)

Happy Birthday, Caleb!
WE LOVE YOU!

And, yes, that is NOT birthday cake.
He asked for Key Lime Pie.
(That would be the 'Moody' influence in our lives, ;o})

With his new bike.
Can you tell he's pleased??!

And my parents came for his birthday, too...
(Thanks for EVERYTHING, Mom & Pop!)

A few more vacation pics....

OK, so it took me longer than I thought to get back to these pictures.
What's new!?!? ha ha ha...

Hope you enjoy the pictures! We sure did enjoy the vacation. :o}


(OH, and they are in no particular order....I'm too busy to worry about ORDER today, LOL...)

Abbie & EJ enjoying the swing in the morning

Our "Little Cabin in the Woods"

The Great Smoky Mountains and the Natahala River
(Abbie and I had a great hike and this was the view! Not bad, huh?!)

Abbie at the sign for the cabin after finishing our hike

EJ coloring (She loves to color!
Unfortunately, she loves markers, too. UGH.)

A game of Go Fish during lunch

Abbie found me in my favorite chair

I took this pic of my favorite spot early in the morning on Saturday. Isn't it beautiful?! It was so peaceful to sit out there all wrapped up in blanket and just enjoy nature and read.

Abbie and Laura did some coloring, too.

Hot tub time!!!

More later...

(hopefully, ha ha!)

Our Vacation...one day at a time

(But only because I have too many pictures to post all at once. ;o})

This last weekend we did a rare thing. We took a RELAXATION VACATION! We never do that, LOL. We've always gone to visit someone or something, and usually come back feeling like we need another week to recover! But this time we just rented a cabin in Western NC and did nothing but relax.
I really believe that it was one of the best vacations we've ever had.
Truly wonderful.
Here are a few pictures from Day ONE.

The cabin near Bryson City, NC
where we spent Memorial Day Weekend

Caleb was checkin' out the Hot Tub!

Laura Kate loved the loft...

We played games all weekend!
Here are David and Abbie playing a game of Uno Attack

And here's Caleb....

They all headed straight for the Hot Tub and spent most
of the weekend there. (Although, once we set the temp at an appropriate 'kids' level
it was more like a WARM Tub...hee hee hee!)

Check back later... There are more pictures to come!

Abbie and EJ

Took these pics on Friday.
Thought you might like to see. ;o}

Abbie had a school activity at Copperhead Island and EJ and I went down to the dock at Lake Wilie with her before we left.

Spring Concert

BBCS held their yearly Spring Concert last night and it was truly enjoyable! Laura sang in the 1st-3rd grade choir, and Caleb participated in a number of things. He was in the 4th-6th grade choir, a small ensemble, band, and the elementary hand bell choir.

Here's Laura Kate, front row, 2nd from the left...

Here Caleb is, waiting to play in the band...

I'm learning that it's kinda' hard to get a good picture of a drummer boy...

Playing the hand bells. Caleb plays Middle C.
(I LOVE HAND BELLS!!!!)

The biggest blessing of the night was when Caleb won an award! He was given the "Leadership" award for his hand bell choir. We are so thankful to the Lord for leading us to a place that is truly rich in musical quality. And we are even more thankful to Him for our son. Parenting can often be the "trial of the century" but each of our children are a special joy from Above.

Here's his award!

And this is his teacher, Mrs. Fox (who also teaches him piano)

Wordless Wednesday

Early morning birdwatching last Sunday. :o}

(Caleb loves his camera. He got an awesome one from Santa ... Aunt Pam... this last Christmas.)