Library Bags

Recently, we have been going to the library more often. While reading one of my favorite blogs, Grace Violet, I saw where she had made tote bags for her daughters to take to the library (she posted them on Blissfully Domestic). I was actually inspired enough to make some for A.J. and Abigail. I only had to buy the denim for A.J.'s (which was only $2.50 per yard at Wal-mart) and had scraps of other fabrics for the rest of both their bags. So, for hardly anything, I accomplished the following goals:


1. I finally made a bag for MY children, instead of a gift for someone else. It was actually much more fun!
2. They have their own bags, unique to their own style, to carry library books. (Which also means I don't have to carry them).
3. They have somewhere specific to keep their library books at home (to keep them from getting mixed in with our own books).
4. I feel more justified in the fact that I always overbuy fabric... I actually used the extra!


Here are a few pictures. Don't look to close because they are definitely homemade!

Home From the Beach

The suitcases are full of dirty clothes, everyone's eyes are red and tired, we all have slight tan lines... know what that means... we are home! Here are a few pictures from our awesome week at Panama City Beach with Grandma, Pa, Kev, Lesli, Emily Grace, and Christian (Not to mention the 4 of us):

Aunt Lesli read a few books to Abigail and Emily. I am not sure Abigail was actually fully awake and aware during this book. 5 days at the beach makes a girl tired!

A.J. and Abigail showed off their goggles for the camera. Unfortunately, this was the last day we saw A.J.'s goggles. They are now floating somewhere in the bottom of the Lazy River at Shipwreck Island!
Abigail was trying very hard to help Grandma blow up her innertube. It never did get blown up... and this is what it looked like the rest of the week.

A.J., Abigail, and Emily were all ready to go swimming.

Check out Kevin and Lesli's site in the next week to see more pictures!

To the Beach...

The kids are in bed, the car is packed (for the most part), and the suitcases are overflowing... what does that mean? We are off to the beach! We are leaving tomorrow to go to Panama City Beach with Grandma and Pa for the week. That means no posting until the weekend (at the earliest), but there will be lots of pictures to show when we get back!

Pepperell Hula Dancers

YOU MUST WATCH THIS! Allan and our music minister, Josh, made a deal with the kids at V.B.S. this week. If we had 100 in enrollment, Allan agreed to do a hula dance for the family night service (to go with the Outrigger Island theme). If we had 125, Josh would join him. With a grand total of 126... they both had to dance! Go ahead... get ready to laugh!

Here are a few pictures of the kids singing tonight. They were all very cute!

Vacation Bible School

I haven't posted much lately because we have been very busy with V.B.S. each morning this week. The kids have had a great time at "Outrigger Island." Here is a picture of each of them making a craft. (The picture of Abigail was the only one I could get before my batteries died... may not be her cutest picture).

Puppy Kisses

Abigail has learned to "speak" a language Ruby, our dog, loves to hear. Before you watch this video, please note the following pieces of information:


1. If you don't like dogs (or dog kisses), please don't watch. (You won't think it is funny).
2. Allan was VERY against this, and it was me who thought it was funny enough to video.
3. Abigail did have her face washed afterwards (thoroughly).


Now... you may watch!

Abigail's Most Treasured Possession

If you know Abigail at all, you know two things about her. First, her favorite color is purple. Second, her most treasured possession is her silky. She has 4 of them (purple being her most favorite and white being the original silky).

Yesterday, we watched Emma Grace for a few hours. Abigail was extremely sharing and let her sleep with her white silky. This was a major sacrifice for Abigail. However, Emma Grace loved it, and it looks like her mommy may want me to sew one for her in the very near future!

Abigail Gets All the Attention

As I wrote in my last post, we only have Abigail with us this week. A.J. is spending the week in Thomasville with my parents. Although we miss A.J. terribly, it has been fun to see Abigail getting all the attention by herself. I never knew she talked so much! (She must get that from her daddy!). She wakes up every morning and asks how many more days until we go get A.J. I know she misses him!

Today, we sat outside with her while she swam in her little kiddie pool. Here are a few pictures and a video clip.

"I want to be Summer"

Ever since Summer came to visit with Brennan and Ian, Abigail has been saying she wants to be Summer when she grows up. She used to just say she wanted to be a mommy, but now, it is Summer. She talks about it so much, I had to video the conversation:



Abigail is such a little mommy. Whenever A.J. isn't convincing her to play football (or something else where he can torture her), she is always playing with her babies. She lines them up and has school and church. She feeds them their meals, and she is ALWAYS changing their clothes and diapers. I think being a mommy may really be her calling in life! Here is a picture of her with her favorite baby, Abby.P.S. Say a prayer for me this week. A.J. is gone from yesterday (Tuesday) to Saturday with my parents. I already miss him!

Super Heros... I think!

Last night, A.J. dug his Spider-man costume out of the costume box (Kevin and Lesli... remind me to thank you for this lovely costume by getting Emily something equally as cool when she is older!). He couldn't find the hat (no surprise), so he decided to make one himself out of construction paper. I was very proud of his creativity!


A few minutes later, Abigail came in where she had made her own "hat" (with glue) and had put a piece of paper coated in glue on her head! So, after a bath, we made her into a super hero, too. Instead of spider power, she had flower power! Soon after, she had a large plush flower out of her toy box which became her weapon! The fun just never ends!

Hot Day

It is Friday morning, not even 11:00 a.m. yet, and it is already 84 degrees outside. That just shouldn't be allowed. Since it will be too hot to play outside later today, Allan set up the sprinkler for the kids in the yard. After explaining to Abigail that girls have to wear a shirt outside, she opted for her swimsuit! (Look close, and you will see Abigail is wearing one pink Croc and one of A.J.'s flip flops, and A.J. is wearing two different blue Crocs)!

Summer Swing

Opelika has fabulous summer activities for families. Each Tuesday night (all summer long), they have different groups performing in Monkey Park. It is a great park with several playgrounds and a train (all for free). There were hundreds of people in attendance last night. I snapped a few pictures of the kids on the train. Abigail was scared because the train goes through a tunnel and everyone screams. She held on tight to A.J. for the trip! I just had a to get a picture of them holding hands, since we don't see that often!

Checking the Mail

Yesterday, I sent the kids down to check the mailbox (we have a pretty long drive, and they were already outside playing). On the way down, I had to grab my camera when I realized how they were dressed. A.J. was rescuing the mail from the "burning" mailbox in his fireman costume, and Abigail was... well... Abigail was Abigail. She was wearing only a t-shirt (no shorts), a fireman hat, and old Crocs on the wrong feet! What can I say? We live in Alabama!

Weekend with Grandma

This weekend, Grandma came for a visit by herself. Pa was out of town at a Men's Conference, so she came alone. Friday night, A.J. and Allan went camping, so we had some girl time. After dinner, we made a trip to Hobby Lobby, where Grandma and Abigail picked out a craft to make together: Here is the finished product (and if you know Abigail, you know whatever she made just had to be purple): On Saturday, the girls went to A.J. and Allan's campsite and met them for a picnic. Here are a few pictures and a hilarious video clip (you just have to watch to see it)!

(Grandma had told A.J. earlier how when she was a little girl, her brother (Uncle Bob) would jump off the seesaw when she was in the air, just to see her go flying. If you listen close to this video, at the very end, you hear A.J. say about his Daddy, "He's Uncle Bob!").