Georgia!

The week before we left for Georgia, we sent the kids to the Dutch Neck Presbyterian VBS. It was the same church they went to last year, only this time, we took some friends with us! We picked up Emma (left) every morning, they live in our complex, and then she came home with us all week until her mom picked her up after work. Harriet and Bethan (right) are wonderful, fun friends and they even took care of our guinea pigs while we were gone :) I think all of the kids had a great time at VBS........we are soooooo glad they could all go!

Jaron refused to be in any of the pictures.


So, Sunday morning, we loaded up our teeny-tiny car and headed for the Peach State!!!!


These kids are excellent travelers. Jaron did ask ALL day long if we were in Georgia yet, but they didn't fuss or cry or anything. They were content to watch movies or listen to books on CD or even just look out the window. Once we crossed into Virginia, we got to see some absolutely gorgeous country. I wish I had been smart enough to take some pictures, but Chris and I were busy taking turns driving.


So we drove 15 hours Sunday and got to Georgia tired and exhausted, but so so so so glad to see everyone!

One of the first things we did on Monday was hit the Chinese buffet.....oh barf! Jaron and Keats played musical cars the whole time we were there. Sometimes they wanted to ride together and sometimes they didn't. Most of the time they were inseparable!

Keats and Uncle Chris had fun playing with the PSP.

Kemper got a big kick out of Jaron......he is pretty goofy sometimes!

And those boys dressed up over and over and over and over again. And the Spiderman costume was fought over and over and over and over again.


Jordan even joined in the fun!! She looks like a model, huh?


Is that not the cutest Woody you have ever seen?

I got some really cute pictures of the cousins infront of Uncle B and Aunt K's house.....

Their expressions in all of them are so different, I don't know which one I like best......

so I downloaded them all!!!



It's too small to read, but Kemper's shirt says, "Single and lovin' it."


And all the kids got to have their picture with Grandpa Small. That was the nice thing about our trip......Nana, Papa, Grandpa Small and Jeanette drove in from Texas and we all spent the week together. It was like a little reunion :) We looked through old pictures, cooked together, and the best part were the laughs we had together. Chris and Brandon can split our sides!!!!!!

Jaron Lost His First Tooth!!!!!!!

Ground Zero

It's hard to believe, but this a window from one of the planes that crashed into the Twin Towers. Was someone looking out of it in disbelief as tragedy unfolded infront of their eyes?

This is someone's bag, someone who carried it onto the plane, but never off.

A stuffed toy........the inscription under it reads, "This lamb was recovered from the top of the collapse pile. Tattered, torn and looking sadly up from the rubble, he was cradled in the arms of a firefighter. We all wondered, if he could survive, why couldn't the others?" Lynn Tierney, FDNY

Were truer words ever spoken?

The Stars and Stripes.......recovered.

The uniform of a first-responder......he gave his life.

A beam of steal.......steal is supposed to be indestructible.

A portion of a patchwork quilt.....one of many gifts made and donated by people and children around the world.

The cranes take the place of the Twin Towers. Hard to believe we walked right by where they used to be standing, right where thousands of people watched in terror, where even more ran for their lives.

As we walked through the WTC Memorial, I just could not stop thinking about all of the people that lost their lives and those they left behind. How incredibly horrible it must have been. Then, as I came around a corner of the memorial, there they were. The names of the people, human beings, that had lost their lives. Not only were their names listed, but their pictures and sentimental keepsakes were displayed as well. I was overcome with sadness. Sadness for children who would never see their mothers or fathers again, sadness for those who would never see their spouses........sadness for the loss. These were people who loved and lost. I have to have faith that one day, whenever that may be, they will recover what was taken from them.





After recovering from another day in NYC and the visit to Ground Zero, we spent the last day with Candace, Wes, Granny, Jaden and Claire just hanging out and having fun.

Playing outside in their jammies!!


They played and played and played......

We couldn't resist a visit to Terhune Orchards. They all loved it!!



We also decided to celebrate Granny's birthday a few days early since we were all together. It was great!!!!!

Every night the kids would gather outside and chase fireflies. I loved every minute of it, watching them, listening to them. What I would give to have them back again.

So, so, so silly.........and adorable...and wonderful. I miss Granny and the McNutts terribly. They just need to move up here! I hear Pennsylvania has some nice places to live at a reasonable price (hint, hint)!!!!!!

*** This is the last of the Granny and the McNutts posts. We just got back from our visit with the Georgia Bohannons, so those pics are coming soon!!!!***

Coolness

I get stuck in a rut out here in "suburbia USA". Sometimes I have to remind myself what my husband does for a living. And when I stop and think about it for a second, or better yet, go see him at work, I remember............he has the coolest job in the world!!!!! We are proud of you Chris/Daddy! You are awesome!!




Signing autographs.....seriously?? They WAIT for the actors to come out of the stage door. That has to be a boost to their self-esteem :)

Jordan's Cake Decorating Bday Party