photo 122

For some reason, Winston likes to sleep on his back with all four legs sprawled out.

photo 121

Stacks of dirty serving dishes = tasty treats, hours of Scattergories, squeeling kids, lots of laughs and good friends.

photo 120

Mark and Forrest are camping in Cumberland Caverns. Marty and Mac are having dinner at Waffle House. All of the girls are at VBS.

-

Amy and I watched a movie and broke in her new rocking chairs.

photo 119

How can it be called a beauty shop if this is what you look like while you're in it?

-

Maybe if you're tying to impress a microwave...

photo 118

Vacation Bible School started tonight. The girls loved playing in "God's Big Backyard".

-

They did not love the snack...fruit with shredded cheese on top.

-

I do not love that I have to wash their shirts every night so that they can re-wear them the next day, lol.

photo 117

The breakfast room has been converted to an art studio. The artiste's are kind enough to move their masterpieces at meal time...but quick to reclaim their space as soon as it's over.

photo 116

We were hoping that I could use this old phone until my new one comes in. Fortunately for Chloe, the sim card was obsolete, and could now longer be used. She loves her new *real* cellphone and charges it every night.

-

She turns the ringer off before church, then turns t back on after service. She's started carrying a purse everywhere we go so that her phone is always available. I'll hear something ring and think it's my cell phone...as I dig through my purse, she'll giggle and say "That's for me, I'll get it"...she's figured out to make it ring on demand.

photo 115

Low-tech. That would be the best word to sum up my temporary replacement cell phone.

-

After losing my cell phone last week, I had to get it replaced. The phone that I want doesn't come out until mid-July...and I didn't want to pay much for a phone that I would only be using for three weeks, so for the low-low price of $40.00, I got this.

-

I've wanted to throw it on more than one occasion. How many more days until June 11th?

photo 114

Summer takes a toll on the kids. By bedtime, they are exhausted...and they usually sleep until 9:30. Except on Sunday mornings. We had to drag Cammie out of bed for her bath. As soon as she was in the car, she laid her head on Forrest's shoulder and fell right to sleep.

photo 113

Mark spent the day playing with the new toy he received for Father's Day...a pressure washer.

-

If he had given me a new vacuum for Mother's Day, I promise you that I wouldn't have spent an entire day "playing" with it. Evidently, a man's idea of a good gift and woman's idea of a good gift are ENTIRELY different!

photo 112

I forgot to order coffee pods before we went out of town. Today was a sad, sad day. I have a caffeine withdrawal headache that is threatening to turn into a migraine. Blessedly, my order was delivered this afternoon.

photo 111

Woeful...because she had just gone round and round and round, faster and faster and faster on the tire swing.

photo 110

In a rare moment of photo cooperation, Sophie posed for me.

photo 109

We hiked up to Clingman's Dome.

-

I have three words to sum up the experience: Out Of Shape

-

Okay, a fourth word: Beautiful

photo 108

After tubing (which there are no pictures of as of yet because I took them with a disposble camera), we drove to Gatlinburg. After dinner, we went to Ripley's Believe It Or Not. The kids posed in front of a "shadow catcher".

photo 107

We woke up this morning and decided to take an overnight trip.

-

Destination: Townsend, TN...where according to my Kids Love Tennessee book, we could have a grand time tubing down the Little River.

-

Since it was Father's Day, Mark got to choose our lunch venue. Cracker Barrel.

Cammie decided to put on a fashion show while we waited for our table.

photo 106

Chloe and Cammie had already watched Kung Fu Panda, so Mark and I decided to take Hannah and Sophie. While it was cute and (Jack Black is hilarious), it wasn't in the same league with Toy Story or Finding Nemo.

photo 105

Chloe graduated from Jr. Blue Belt to full Blue Belt today...she rocks!

photo 104

I heart my drycleaner.

And, seeing how I don't know how to iron (nor do I care to learn), they heart me too.

They have my phone number (account number) memorized (all 3 that work the counter), they come out when they see me pull in and carry in my ginormous clothes hamper and they carry my clothes out and hang them in my truck.

photo 103

When Chloe overheard us talking about taking the training wheels off of Cammie's new bike, she was determined that she would learn how to ride a two-wheeler first. It took her less than 10 minutes to get the hang of it.

photo 102

My first break from the kids since school let out...how did I spend it? Catching up the laundry...joy.

photo 101

Ola. Se habla espaniol.

Well, not very much. Not yet.

Hopefully by the end of my classes I will.

photo 100

I have another confession... I am completely clueless when it comes to fixing long hair. When it actually turns out *cute*, I am genuinely surprised.

So, when a little girl at church passed me this morning, and then said to her mom "Mommy, she has princess hair", it made my day.

photo 99

Cammie's actual birthday is on Monday, but we celebrated today. Her party was low-key this year, which suited her just fine.

-

She did make a few requests...

1. Chocolate cake with pink flowers...Check. Thank you Publix.

2. Vanilla ice cream...(vanilla??? whose kid is this???)...Check.

3. Two presents...one for herself and one to share with everyone else. Check. A new bike and The Bee Movie.

4. Doritos. Check.

*She had on a cute outfit, but changed into this ensemble...green shirt, orange and white floral skirt, brown leggings, and a Barbie cheer leading costume on top.

Happy Happy Birthday Muffin!

photo 98

We went to visit my grandparents today. Today is my Papaw's birthday. The kids played, my grandma listened to Chloe sing for two hours, and Papaw and I talked politics (one of his favorite things to do).
-
Each time I go to their house, I pass this old, dilapidated farm house. It sits out in the middle of a wheat field, and there are three ancient oaks that shade the front porch. The driveway is usually blocked by a heavy chain. Today, the chain was lying in the gravel.
-
I pulled in and shot from all around the house. The windows were broken out, the doors were open.
-
Something about old farmsteads draws me in.
-
This is a favorite from today...the door leading to the upstairs. There were two steps up, then the door. It was flung open and resting against the first floor wall.

photo 97

Have I said that I love, love, love this dog?

photo 96

The Popsicle man made his rounds again this week. The girls retired to the play house to eat their treats...high above Winston's reach.

photo 95

My sister and I went to our 2nd "Card Club". I am so thankful that we have committed to spend time together... she makes me laugh, which is free therapy.

photo 94

My sinus and allergy issues are killing me. Seriously, they've had me bed ridden for 36 hours. On the up side, it was an excellent opportunity to read without interruption.

photo 93

You know how cows stand in their pond to cool off? Winston does the same thing. (The fish love it...they swim through his legs and surface when he drinks...funny).