Parties, Family, & Children~

All the big kids came over for the day Saturday to celebrate Scott's birthday.
The guys played golf and the girls had a day of hanging out together.
We finished the day with everyone gathered around our table~

NOTHING makes me happier that all of us together!

We celebrated Labor Day with Jason, Amy, & their kids with frigid swimming, pizza, and homemade ice cream~

Rosie had her last big/little reveal and she's the great grandmother~

Blows my mind that she is in her senior year of college!

SJ found the perfect stick bow, 10 perfect stick arrows, and sewed her own quiver~

 She and Calla took care of all the wild animals in our yard!

I decided to do a little rearranging of the sunroom creating a table space for art or whatever~

And here is baby Calla helping just like the big kids with our JOY time~

A great week!

Ben Curtis and Santa~

Ben Curtis' babysitter always takes the week after Thanksgiving off
so we have the joy of keeping him at our house!
He is surely loved and given plenty of attention while here~

 He and Calla grew closer and enjoyed each other so much!

On Friday we all met in Atlanta for our annual Santa visit and ride on the Pink Pig~

Just look at Ms. Calla sitting on Santa's lap like she's done it a million times.
We ate our celebratory meal @ Maggiano's!
It was the sweetest day watching the spirit of Christmas twinkle in our children' eyes!!!
The perfect kick off for our Christmas season!!!

Apple Orchard, Waterfalls, & Pumpkin Patch~

It is a family tradition to take a day during the week to visit Bryson's Apple Orchard~

 Everyone grabbed a bucket and headed off to find the biggest!
This was Calla's first time, and I remember last year telling the owner we would have a new baby when we came back.
So surreal to have her in our arms showing her what families do~

 We made it to the top of the hill with full buckets AND hearts~

 Time to pay up. We forgot the checkbook and no check cards accepted SO
it was a blessing SJ had 'her' money to loan us the cost of a wagon load of apples~

 We left with a carload of yumminess and drove on to Highlands, NC to Dry Falls
where the kids LOVE crawling in caves and walking behind the falls~

 We were so happy someone offered to take our family photo
and then I took the sweetest photos of just the kids~

We always buy a pumpkin from the little white church nestled in the mountains of Highlands
and enjoy ice cream/caramel turtle apples too.
It was certainly a full, long day but lots of memories were made
and family was seared into their hearts just a little more.
"Go Big or Go home!"

Family Birthday Party~

Happy birthday to daddy from the WHOLE crew~

It was so wonderful to have Ben Curtis, Savannah, and Josh home~

 He made is all happy!!!~

 It was the most beautiful day so we spent most of our time outside~

 Love that Rosie was home from school and our family was all together~

 Amelia and Logan dressed Cabot up for the first Ga game...
only 50 days until the wedding!!!~

 We grilled steaks again and added lots of sides, a DQ ice cream cake,
and everyone we love for dinner around our big outside farmhouse table~

 The sweetest day with grandlove Xs 2... and sweet baby Dove is growing~

Family and home are so very important, and we celebrated ALL that with our oldest, dearest 55 year old daddy!!!
We adore and love you beyond measure! XOXO

Happy 21st to Rosie~

We are all gathered in Rosie's college town to celebrate her 21st birthday.
It was WONDERFUL to have all our children together (missed Logan and Hayden!)~

I'm always so thankful they know I LOVE a great chance to shoot photos~

 It was hot as blazes but everyone hung in there and helped in their own special way~

What a blessing to be the mom of such sweetness!

Happy Birthday Rosie!!!

You are officially an adult now. :)

Weekend Fun~

EK and SJ enjoyed Ellie's birthday party and getting to hang out with their church friends~

Calla had a great weekend hanging out with her sweet sibs~

Scott and his siblings planned a family reunion weekend to celebrate their significant birthdays for 2016.
Larry 75, Jan 70, Susan 65, and Scott 55~ There was a great turn out on Saturday evening~

 We were able to get our first family photo with Calla too!

Lots of time in the pool because it is so hot~

 SJ taught school and pulled her own tooth!
A full and fun weekend!!!

Mother's Day Weekend~

We were super thrilled to have BC for the weekend so Savannah and Josh
could get away for their fifth anniversary!
We also loved celebrating Holly and Payne's birthday~

 Along with Mother's Day for my mom~

It was wonderful to be together!

Sunday ALL my children were home.
Scott grilled, we took photos, and hung out around the pool~

I am a VERY blessed mama/Shayshay and SO thankful the little space between me and SJ
will soon be filled by a precious little baby named CallaAnne!
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms reading my blog.

Christmas Afternoon~

We ate a late breakfast and looked forward to Josh, Savannah, and BC to arrive for the afternoon.
They brought BC's favorite gift so we could push him around~

 We grilled steaks for dinner and hung outside in the super mild weather~

 We watched BC open his gift from Memommy and Pop~

 Then enjoyed our yummy dinner~

FINALLY (said the kids) everyone opened presents~

And I HAD to get family photos~

Christmas with Grands sure is Grand and considering the number of children we have,
I think our Christmases will only grow GRANDER~

A Merry Christmas was had by all and we were SO thankful to have everyone together for the afternoon!!!!!

Happy Birthday Again Ben Curtis~ {Big Party}

After Amelia's party we all gathered with about 50 of BC's closet friends for his Big Party~

 Savannah wanted a few photos of the birthday boy in his birthday shirt~

 Love, love, love~

Actually love everywhere~

Finally it was time to sing Happy Birthday~

So so sweet~

Then gifts (just look at all his little friends)~

It was wonderful to ALL be together for his FIRST~

Looking forward to many many more!!!

Happy Happy Birthday sweet Ben Curtis!!!