A little bit of Family!

It worked out to snag a few photos of my sister and her family! Her eldest daughter did her own hair and her face (the funny face) makes her look exactly like Carrie (my sister) did when she was that age, cute and hilarious at the same time!

Rope Swing

About a month ago I went through the property with a piece of paper and laid out all of the things I'd like to do to it over the next 30 years! You know, the GRAND PLAN!!! Most of which might never happen, but it's fun to have a plan regardless and dream some!!

There were a few things on there that we have been 'waiting' to do because we weren't sure where or how or even if we should do them!

A rope swing was one of those things that we could do with the materials that we had, it would just take a little work.

Nate's Dad had some rope that we cut a chunk off of.

Nate M. had some wood that he cut round and then cut a hole in it with the scroll saw.

Nate (Dad) had some paint that would blend in with the leaves and tree bark and such.

We also had a tree out back that needed a bit of trimming but was PERFECT for a rope swing.

So, one Sunday afternoon we all went out and put it up (actually we all watched Dad do the work but we felt apart anyways:)

Then, of course, we had to try it out and make sure it worked for everyone!!

Summer with Vance

~Vance's first mobile summer~

~Scrunchy Face~
~Rope Swing~
~With his accountability partners~
~His 'whaaa' face~
~Teeth to grow into~
~Friend time at the river~

My good friend has seven children as well 6 boys and a girl that is a few months younger than Vance
~One of Todd's many crawdad catches, Vance would always be over there dumping their buckets and letting them go~
~Watermelon front~

A true sign of summer at our house
~This was a daily (sometimes twice daily) view in my bathroom... tops of little heads and lots of water~

New Family!

Back in July-August sometime I went to a baby shower for a friend of my sisters who has become my friend as well (kind-of fun that way, my sister was ALWAYS good at making the friends and I got to enjoy them too:)... Anyways, we did a belly shoot beforehand in 100+ degree weather.

She was all set up with props and lots of fun ideas!
She had real alive flowers that were their birth 'stone' colors...in flowers...super fun and really pretty!

One week old sweetness~

She's really a good mom and he's a very well loved boy!

EXCITING NEWS!!!!!

Last night Nate visited with our daughter Andi for a while, giving her lots of time to ask and hear answers to her questions! The MAIN desire was to have Jesus be her boss, Lord of her life, help her to do what is right, and honestly she really wanted to go to heaven when she dies to see Grandma and be with the older children (who have a 'new nature' already).

When do you know if someone truly understands what it means to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved"?

Her simple and profound little prayer was very well thought through and from the heart, genuine and REAL!!!

"Dear Lord, I need you in my heart. I can't do it by myself, I've been doing bad stuff. I ask you to be in my heart and be my boss, and I'll obey you all my days! AMEN~!!!

Now this little SIX year old has a 'new nature' that will struggle all her days to put out the 'old nature'.

It's been a prayer of mine from before she was born. That she would one day have such a strong desire to know God personally and realize that she can't do it without Him... to make God her 'boss' and to follow Him "all her days"!!!

When talking with children about their attitudes I have found it so much more effective when able to appeal to their spirit!

Thank you Jesus

More Randomness

Grandpa took Nate M. out fishing one early morning and they came home with these little guys.

I had to call someone and ask what to do with them.

I tried following directions to make the kids 'lunch' from their 'fresh fish'!

We (of course) cooked them OUTSIDE (as I detest the smell of fish) on the grill in a pan used for camping!
And this is what's left!!! They LOVED every bite, I was shocked (NO I DIDN'T TRY ANY)!

We now have two persons in the house who can handle the grill, both Nate's! He did an excellent job really!

My little gymnast climbing all over the playground!
This was supposed to be a photo of Nate M. fishing but the kids kept getting in the front!

Todd is forever building towers of all sorts, the one below was built around Darbi, she was perfectly still. I think we have a builder who will one day construct something amazing!

The face of a little man about to take his first drive on his go cart!!! Just a little excited I think!

We took all of the coke bottles that Andi had for her birthday and filled them with different amounts of water. I think the below song was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!


I had the privilege of second shooting a wedding with a pro photographer this past summer! One of the bridesmaids stayed at our home and gave the girls the bright pink pumps she wore with her navy dress... Needless to say, the girls were ECSTATIC and immediately dressed up and clomped through the house for HOURS!

The 'TOY'

...Continued from previous post!

Okay, so the real reason that I didn't post and tell you about the boys new 'toy' is because I didn't have a photo of it yet!

THE GO CART!!!!! The cutest, zippiest little thing!!!
Nate has saved since he was five and Todd for the last year or so and TOGETHER they purchased this Go Cart off of Craigslist!! They can start it on their own already (which saves my arm and back)!

Even Dad rides it and zips around. EVERYONE has a blast riding it (yes, even me:)!!

Summer Randomness!!

Just a few photos to fill in the last couple of months:

We have made MANY fires throughout the 'getting darker earlier' days/evenings! It's not uncommon to see Nate M. reading to the little kids but this day was different. He wanted to read through the book of Job! The boys drove trucks 'quietly' next to him while listening intently.

Why, you ask, would I even take a photo like this?

Because, I'd say:

It does a mommies heart good to see her children thirsting for the word of God and choosing that over all the books in the house!

It does a mommies heart good to see my older children teaching the younger and taking responsibility for them!

Our Darbi learned to ride a bike and Great Grandma Copper's farm. She pretty much peddled around and taught herself! I think I didn't realize how determined she is because of her being so quiet about it. I MUST pay better attention:).

ALWAYS rides with jewelry, fancy shoes, hair done somehow and nail polish on:
We were driving around one day looking for garage sales when the kids spotted this jeep for 10.00. I happen to have had the trailer with us (cough, cough:) so threw it in with the hopes that we could make it work. I found for 8.00 online a charger for the battery it came with and it works beautifully. Best money spent that week for sure!
And now for the SUPER EXCITING news of the fall...

The boys have been saving (especially Nate) for a new 'toy'...

A specific 'toy'...

An Expensive 'toy'...

One that you have to be old enough to really take care of...

A 'toy' that you need to mow part of the field for...
Well, Halley just danced while the boys mowed!!! I LOVE her spirit lately and how God has changed her into such a gracious young lady! She's an amazing help to me and the world's BEST accountability partner!
Trae gets Nate laughing so hard he can't get the lawn mower started:
Oh, and before the big 'toy' news... Praying Mantices (however you spell that) They have literally caught over 100 this last month. They keep them in containers and scare me, then laugh and run get more!!


...to be continued...