1st cousins

Shhh--still need to surprise my dad, but here are some of our favorites of his grandkids.

Score!  You have no idea how hard it is to get 10 kids to look at the camera at one time - especially when the youngest three are three and under.

Can you tell which kid is a real character?

and the meltdown starts - we knew it would happen

This may be the one we frame for Dad.

or maybe this one

When Savannah saw this one, she said this is the one that sums up the session.  Ira is losing it.  Isaac is crawling away.  Kinsley is picking grass, and Regan is just hanging out while all the big kids are trying to cooperate.

all photos courtesy of Derrick Dixon Photography

Remember that you can click on any photo to see the photos bigger.

Family Pictures

We decided to surprise my dad for his birthday with pictures of the grandkids.  We hired a pro, and while we were there I had some family pictures made.  It has been a really long time since we have done a professional family picture.  I am posting some of my favorites here.

I did not get the usual photo sessions of the kids this year, so I also asked for some individual pictures of all of them except Zach.  Since he has passed his senior year, I am not doing pictures of him any more:(

We tried so hard to wait for Savannah's braces to come off.  She is just a few weeks shy of ending this 3+ year sentence, but I really could not wait any longer.  We may do an individual session for her this fall if money allows so that she can get some pictures without braces.

Wyatt was not particularly cooperative, but we still managed to get a couple of good shots.

all photos courtesy of Derrick Dixon Photography

This girl...

This girl, the one who drew the following pieces is growing up on us.  

Yesterday, she was hired for her first job and opened her first checking account.  Learning to drive is progressing slowly but nicely.

One of these pieces will be submitted to the state fair.  She has decided that it will be one of the first two.  Thoughts?  Leave a comment.

Psalm 127:1  (June 5, 2014)

June 2014

1Corinthians 12:14  (June 23, 2014)

1 Peter 3:4

Remember that you can click on any picture to see it bigger.

Good times

Wyatt spent last night with a friend at his family's farm.  Wyatt was beyond excited to go, and the pictures I have been receiving via text indicate that his expectations are being met.

How beautiful is this?

He caught a bass.  He's never fished before.  

Not sure who caught the six pound catfish, but what fun!

Meanwhile Julia enjoyed the holiday weekend with a good friend and her family.  K is an only child, so having a friend along is always a big help to the parents.  Both these girls head to camp this afternoon, so by the time I pick them up on Wednesday, it will have been a full week since I last saw Julia.  I think that is the longest she has been away from home.

One last picture of that beautiful farm.  I told Andy that I could be okay with a place like that to retreat to on occasion.  His response: I want to buy a farm just so I can say "I bought the farm."  Typical Andy.

Post Script:

Julia has been safely delivered to camp.  I am sure she is thrilled to be there with her sweet friends.

Let Freedom Ring!

God bless America!

We started the day with the only fun swim practice of the season.  Raft and watermelon races, so much fun!

Somebody is ready to start crawling.

cousins

Tiffany gave haircuts tonight, and Ira wanted one.  She gave him a fake cut.  When she finished, he said, "I'm beautiful."  Tiffany commented on how long Regan's hair is getting, and Regan responded with "yes, it's beautiful."  Such humility in these little people! Ira looks bigger in the picture, but Regan is the big sis.

Soccer fun!  We need some girl power.  Julia was not with us for the holiday this year, therefore Savannah was the only girl on the field.  Andy is impressed that Jonathan can still handle a soccer ball quite well.

Look closely.  Ira almost has his hands on a firefly or lightning bug as we call them in these parts.

Beautiful night

Joshua brought a stash of fireworks.

Wyatt loved it, and yes, we brought out blankets on July 4th.

Ira was fine until the fireworks got loud.  He got scared, so I covered his ears for the show.

cousins