Visiting the McKnights

The kids and I got to spend 4 days near Columbia, SC with our good friends the McKnights.  We chose to go during Joel's finals week, that way he got extra time to study.  It must have worked because he got an A in the class :)

We got to go to the Columbia Zoo one day and the kids really enjoyed it.  Luke and Harmon spent a lot of time playing Wii and the girls were rainbow loom bracelet makers!  I can't even count how many bracelets they made during our trip.  We got to go swimming in their neighborhood pool which was very fun.  I think we will be visiting them again in the near future!

Charlotte hiding among the bamboo

My girls

The gang at the zoo

Luke milking a cow

They had people feeding the giraffes so they came right up to you.  Their tongues were really long!

Mia

They had penguins inside

Tough guys

Summer 2014

These are some more random summer pics!  Here Luke was playing football at Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Ross's house. I have no idea what Amelia is doing!

Amelia's birthday party had gotten canceled last December because she was sick and I wasn't feeling so great. To make up for it, we went away alone to a hotel in Roanoke for one night.  We had a great time swimming, eating candy, watching a movie, and painting our nails.  It was MUCH better than hosting a party :)

Luke got glasses!   We knew it was coming, we just didn't know exactly when.

I think this is a Hilton Head sunset?  My happy place.

Molly is SO happy that Luke is holding her like this. When she hears him coming, she crouches down and runs to the closest shelter. She does think that if she hides under a table, we can't see her.

Fourth of July parade, downtown Blacksburg

This is Sloan.  Our favorite almost 2 year old.  We got to babysit her for a few hours one day and the girls pretty much did all of the work.  They are training to be mother's helpers soon.  She is so sweet and such a delight!

This year I was in charge of a snack for the VBS goody bags.  The theme was camping so we put the ingredients for a smore in a bag along with microwave instructions.  Charlotte was visiting for part of the week to go to VBS, and she spent some time at our house which is always so fun.  Here are the kids stuffing the bags.

Joel and the kids had a "campout" in our backyard.  They put up a tent, made a fire for smores, and were so excited to sleep outside.  I wisely slept inside.  At 10:30pm they all came indoors to sleep.  Apparently it was too scary.

The girls with Charlotte

I am not sure what Amelia is doing here?

Misc Summer Pics

The girls started gymnastics in August!

Charlotte was in town to help us make goodie bags for Summer Bible Camp

4th of July before the parade... we were supposed to be in Emerald Isle with Rebecca, but Hurricane Arthur ruined our plans :(  The Fritz's took pity on us though and invited us to a cookout, we watched the fireworks from their driveway.  And, we needed sweatshirts?

Cupcakes for Zach's pirate party

For some odd reason my children always dress up when they go to the Fritz's house.  This is Luke, aka Alice.

These pics are a part of a craft Luke made for me for Mother's Day at school.

Emma

Some of the kids artwork from the past year

Emma

Emma

Emma

Mimi

Luke got superior academic achievement in 1st grade!

Amelia achieved math and spelling excellence in 2nd grade!

This award was no surprise, Amelia with a helping spirit?  Of course, she's been that way from day 1.

Emma got straight A's all through 4th grade

Ha ha!  This award was no surprise.  I pretty much laughed aloud when I heard it.

Mia with her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Carr.

Natalie as Miss Tink. She just pulled this out of the closet, she wanted to wear it on top of her dress.

Natalie wearing my girls' old dress, it was one of my favorites.

She found a talking Elmo at a yard sale, the best $2 Ross ever spent.  She carried it around with her for hours.

Her yummy donut