New kitchen Table

Ray spent yesterday making me a new kitchen table. I absolutely love it. Next come the chairs! He is so talented!

Caidy helping Daddy

Back Yard Playing

Last week Madelyn and Lilly came over to spend the day. I was bust in the kitchen and noticed it was really quiet in the house. I looked outside and got really tickled at what I saw. the kids had drug a tent outside and were camping. They had food from Caidy's kitchen. They even took there shoes off before going in the tent. We are raising true campers. I love it.







They boys looking for firewood. They later asked me for matches. I told them no camp fire. At least they asked.

Proud of my Husband

Many of you may not know that Ray is former military. He served as a medic in the army during Desert Storm. He doesn't talk about it much and is very humble when he does talk about it. When we left the mountains we drove to Southern Pines, NC where Fort Brag is. Ray spent a day training Special Forces. He was really pumped about it. I on the other had was not so gracious. I wasn't looking forward to spending a day in a hotel room witht the kids. Ray was gracious enough to spend extra money and get us a suite at a Residence Inn. We had a preatty mellow day. Found a park to play in and swam in the pool. I think the best part was that the hotel room had three TV's. No fighting over what to watch while Caidy took a nap. Here are some pictures of Ray. I love you and am very proud of you!

Mishap in the Mountian Stream

OK, This happened on our mountain trip. I wanted to blog about it separately so you could get the full picture. The kids had been waiting all day to play in the mountain stream. Well Levi is wearing crocs that have no back strap and they both slip off his feet. Ray managed to get one but missed the other one. It was either get the croc and get wet or let it go. (We were headed to dinner) The croc that got away got stuck in a pool at the bottom of a small water fall. Just when you thought it was coming out it would get sucked back in.

Trip to the Mountains

A view of the mountains
One of the bear cubs
A deer at Cades Cove.

Caidy sleeping at Dollywood


We took a small trip to the Smokies a week ago. We stayed in a cabin and Ray's mom and dad joined us. We had a great time. Some some bears( not related) and went to Dollywood.








The kids with Mamaw and Papaw at Cades Cove
Putt Putt Golf
Caidy lost interest in Putt Putt after two holes so she played in the tall grass.

Breakfast at the Apple Barn. Ray was making faces at Caidy trying to get her to look at the camera and smile. She made faces back instead. Priceless!!!

Hair cuts

Before


Ray likes his hair short. (I'm sure you all know that) Well it had been a while since the boys had hair cuts. So this past Sunday all three got hair cuts and Bear's Barber Shop.


After

July 4 with Old Friends

The week leading up to the July 4 we had company. Some dear friends from college and their daughter came to spend the week. We kept very, very busy. We had a great time. We went to the zoo and aquarium in one day. And believe it or not we had never been to the zoo. Who knows why. But now we have a membership so I'm sure we will go back. We went to the lake. We went to Stone Mountain. We went to the mall. We ran and ran and ran.

Fun on a farm

Riding the tractor
cows
Picking Berries
This tree is really old Ray, Brian, Levi, Eli, and Caidy all stretched there arms out to get around it. It was over 5 feet in diameter

On our way home from camping we stopped and spent a night with Ray's brother Brian. Here are some pics of the kids around the farm.

Camping

Here are some more vacation photos. Our family camping trip was lots of fun.