Jack's Birthday Party

This sweet baby is not so much a baby anymore....boo hoo!  Jack turned 5 on July 17th and we celebrated with a Batman party at Pump It Up in Montgomery.  After attending MANY parties at Pump It Up, Jack was thrilled to have his very own party there.  He had a great time and enjoyed playing with his sweet little friends. 

Jack with his friends from school: Camden, Bry and Avery

My best attempt at a group picture. 

Jack and Laken

Avery and Jack

Avery, Daniel, Brooke, Georgia Anne and Jack

This was Banks first Pump It Up party and he had a blast!  He would come up to Michael and hold his arms up to him....meaning take me down that slide again!  So he would.... 

Banks looks scared, but believe me...that boy was anything but scared!



Memaw with sweet Mary Porter

Zadie and Daniel holding hands down the slide.

Nana, Tori, Banks and Papa

Cheese!!
Jack, William, Bry and Bruin

The Birthday Boy

Cake Time!

Banks sure did enjoy the party food!

Brooke and Georgia Anne

Opening presents is always fun!

Swim Lessons

Last summer Jack just barely missed the deadline to sign up for swim lessons due to having a summer birthday.  This summer he was very excited because he was finally old enough to take swim lessons at the city pool.  He did a great job and is a little more comfortable in the water.

Jack and his teacher, Mr. Joel 

 On the last day of lessons, they got to have a "fun day" filled with playing and popsicles. 

 I was so proud of Jack because the jumped off the diving board!! 

Jack really looked up to Joel and tried to do everything he did.  Joel was sitting on the side of the pool and Jack went and sat beside him.  So cute!

 Daniel talked a big game!  For two weeks while he played in the baby pool he kept saying he would not be scared to jump off the diving board.  He wasn't a baby.  Well, they gave him a chance to give it a try on the last day.

He was very confident as he climbed up and walked out....

until he got out over the water.  One look down and he chickened out!

Miss Hannah tried to get him to jump from the side....nope not doing that either!

Georgia Anne also took lessons.  She completed Level 3 and loved her teacher, Miss Hannah.

Choir Camp: Spend Awhile on the Nile

Last week Georgia Anne participated in Choir Camp at our church.  30 school age children put on a wonderful show directed by Leslye Ames (Elizabeth's mom).  It is truly amazing what they do in only five short days of camp.  On Thursday evening, they performed an entire musical, Spend Awhile on the Nile.   

Waiting to go on...



Kiley, Elizabeth, Georgia Anne, Caleb and Meg



The opening number

Elizabeth, Kiley, Georgie were the Pharaoh's Back-Up Band in Poor, Poor Pharaoh.

Georgia Anne was the burning bush...

Afterwards at the reception Kiley, Georgia Anne and Caleb were hamming it up!



Elizabeth, Hannah and Georgie



Jack, Daniel and Nana



I was in charge of the reception after the performance.  I thought I'd share the food table with you.

Oreo Ice Cream

I have very fond memories of Oreo Ice Cream from when I was a child.  My mom use to make this sweet treat for my sister, Tori and me during the summer back before you could buy Oreo Ice Cream in the freezer section at the grocery store.  I thought about it the other day and decided to make it for the kids.  I knew they would love it because it involves two of their very favorite things....oreos and ice cream.  And besides being really yummy....it is really easy!


Oreo Ice Cream

(1) Half Gallon Vanilla Ice Cream
(1) 12 oz. Container of Cool Whip
(1) Package Oreos

Let ice cream thaw until you can mix it (about 15 minutes).  Crush Oreos in a large ziplock bag. Mix ice cream, cool whip and oreos in a large mixing bowl with a spoon until blended.  Pour into a 13"x9" baking dish, cover and freeze until set.

Sweet Summertime!

It seems as if summer is just flying by!  We have been so busy but we sure are having a lot of fun.  

We enjoyed sparklers on the Fourth of July.

The boys having fun doing boy things.

Summer isn't complete without a little sprinkler action.

We jokingly placed P.J. in the sprinkler thinking he would run like he usually does when water is involved.  Nope.  He just stayed right there, just like this for a long time!  We got lots of smiles from people driving by.

Daniel loves P.J.

Georgie loves him too....really.

We also had a great time at VBS!  The main theme was "Trust God" and it makes me so happy to hear my little ones use that phrase in everyday life. All three of them have said it at different times when they were in various situations.  Makes me smile!!

Georgie in a big bubble...

Daniel and Jack's group during crafts (which I was in charge of....30 preschoolers with glue and paint was interesting to say the least!)

Alison, Elizabeth and Georgie

Dave leading a prayer with Georgie's group.

Daniel and Ian singing Fly, the theme song from VBS.

Of course one of the best things about summer is getting to spend it with family.

Daniel and Jack with Papa

Celebrating my birthday

It's so fun spending time with sweet cousins (Virginia Kate above and Banks below)

Papa and Paw Paw riding bikes with the kids.

The boys in their Alabama hats

Georgie and Memaw

Daniel loves his new seat on the back of my bicycle.

The kids have also had lots of fun play dates.

Jack and Camden

Georgie and Mrs. Dickerson

Davis, Georgie and Daniel (I promise he has shorts on...it just doesn't look like it)

Georgie and Bradyn

Georgie and Kiley

Georgie and Andy

Daniel, Zadie and Jack being silly

Ian and Daniel playing "sharks"

Daniel, Jack and Ian

Georgia Anne and Jack begged Michael for their own radio program.  Michael decided to let them come in for the last fifteen minutes of his morning radio program on Fridays.  Georgie came up with the name "Georgia Anne's Cuts & Jack's Nuts."  Not real sure how she came up with that, but we felt it was best to rename it "Georgia Anne's Cuts & Jack's Stunts."