Jessie Turns 30!!!

I flew out to Georgia to spend the week with my sister for her 30th birthday on Wednesday!! What a fun week it has been! We showered her with gifts all day long. We had cake & balloons, and we went out to three different restaurants all in one day!

We surprised her at work when I showed up wearing a sandwich board announcing her birthday and loaded with pictures of her as a child! We sang Happy Birthday to her in the lobby of the doctors office and even offered some of her cake to the patients!!

Then, we took her to lunch at a favorite Mexican restaurant where we gave her more gifts, of course!

When she returned home from work, we went out to eat at The Last Resort - a fabulous Athens restaurant - where her friends Beau and Angie joined us as a surprise to her!

Then, after dinner, we decided to walk over to Hiwire, a nice new bar downtown, and surprised her with 20 of her "closest" friends waiting for her in the back room! It was such a fun day and night!


Happy Birthday, Jessica!! We love you!

South Geogia 6-pack

We actually purchased this from a liquor store exactly like this! (In case you can't tell, it's a 12-pack that has been cut in half and taped with packing tape!) Welcome to South Georgia!

Together Again

Jessica and I were so excited that our childhood best friends came to visit on the same day! We have all kept up through the years, but we don't see each other much. It was so much fun to see each other, especially since Laurie just had a baby 2 months ago and Lindsay has one on the way!
Aunt Janice came by too! She and my mom have been friends since elementary school too! Check us all out!
Mary Frances was so excited to get to feed baby Walker, Laurie's baby! She said she was one of his best friends now!
Mama and Mary Frances baked cookies for a tea party that we had while all our friends were here. Mary Frances was very pleased that so many people were able to enjoy the tea with us!
Mama used the baking opportunity to teach Mary Frances that just because something smells good and looks good, it doesn't taste good. Of course, she didn't tell her until after she gave her a taste of plain vanilla! Her face was priceless. I can't believe I captured it!
Baby Walker
I love this one!!
Jessica and Lindsay together again!!

More Fun in Georgia

Mama's dog, Bailey is so precious!! Sugar had so much fun playing with him!

Fun with Honey and Grandaddy

We have had a FUN week with honey, grandaddy, and jessie! We've played cards, ping-pong, hang man, and more. The kids have played on the swing, run around the yard and played baseball.

Everyone took a turn playing "Jack-Slap" in the living room.
Everyone had a chance to show off their reading skills.
Thomas enjoyed doing some math. He and Jessie worked hard on counting the "treasure" money. I think he had $36!

Grandaddy's Treasure Hunt

I have the best dad in the WORLD!! He is such a great grandfather! He loves to visit with the kids. So, a few weeks ago he decided he wanted to set up a treasure hunt for the kids to do as soon as they arrived. So, about 2 hours after we got to their house, he gave each of the children their own compass and explained to them how to use it.

Then, he gave them their first clue on how to find the treasure. They had to read the clue and use their compass to find the next clue. Thomas and Mary Frances took turns reading the clues, and then they all walked together, counting steps and finding different types of trees to find their next clue.
Which way is south?
This clue was in a medicine bottle. We had to walk 72 steps to get to it!
Grandaddy gives instructions on the compass.
Counting out their 56 steps to the next clue - a pink painted spot on the lawn!
Finally, the treasure is buried under the pine tree 20 steps from the pink spot! Grandaddy gave them each a shovel. They found a Juice Plus+ Container full of money and realized it had one of their names on it!
That meant there was one for each of them. So, they all dug until all three containers FULL of coins were retrieved!! What a fun experience. They learned how to use a compass and had a fun adventure along the way!
We love GRANDADDY!!!

Christmas in Georgia

What a fun Christmas! We had to sing Jingle Bells every night for the Christmas lights to come on! That was amazing!

We were so excited that Unlce T and Aunt Jean came and brought Papa G. The kids had a great time playing with him. He taught Mary Frances how to use the crochet hook to make pot holders!
Santa even knew we were in Georgia! Check out the boot prints he left on the fireplace! Daddy reminds us what Christmas is really all about - Jesus!
Bailey was a little overwhelmed by all the craziness! He isn't used to having all the kids around!Jessie did a great job setting the table for Christmas Dinner!
The kids loved their keyboard from Papa G. They will have so much fun with it in their playroom!Mary Frances finally got a Chocolate Fountain! She has been wanting one for a year!
The boys had fun playing the card game "war" with Papa G.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

My friend, Lauren, and her mom, invited us to a birthday party for Jesus today. The kids had a wonderful time!

They had a relay race with marshmallows!


Mary Frances, Mary Anna, and Merritt
We had a great time decorating the gingerbread house!
Mrs. Rosemary watches as the kids decorate.
Thomas enjoyed his cupcake and then gave Jessie a big kiss!
Merritt and Christy
Mary Anna
Lauren did a great job with the Bible Lesson.
Sweet little Davis watched from his high chair.