The 4th

...burgers...

...family...

...home made ice cream...

...fireworks (roman candles, smoke bombs & sparklers)...

...laughing...

...Mama & Daddy...

...Bonnie & Tim...

...my kids running and having so much fun...

-Samuel helps make the burgers.-

 -Amos loved the "poppers."-

 -Tim, Daddy, Amos-

 -My silly Mama & sister.-

-Rebecca gets in on the holiday spirit.  My Mama made this cute dress out of a onesie.- 

 -The kids were mesmerized by the fireworks.-

4th of July

Or the day of the torrential downpour.  Or the day that the river -near my parents house- kissed the bottom of the bridge because it rained so much that day.  Seriously people.  

My Mom decided she wanted to make Low Country Boil instead of grilling out this year.  It was our first time making it and it turned out great.  I think Hannah ate all of the crab legs all by herself.  

Despite the deluge we managed to shoot some fireworks.  We had some bottle rockets and roman candles.  Amos & my sister started out with us on the porch.

But after this started --

and this --

Amos retreated to the house to watch the rest of the show.

I hope your 4th was as delicious and fun as ours was!

Easter 2010

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The night before Easter, Hannah, Samuel, Karen & I dyed our Easter eggs. This was an amazing accomplishment considering we had been going non-stop all day.

Easter day we had lunch at my Granny James' house and had an Easter Egg Hunt with my younger cousins.

Easter evening we had a wonderful time of fellowship with our best friends, the Steele's. It was the perfect ending to a crazy weekend!

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Lately I've been uploading my pictures to flickr and photobucket to edit them before posting them to our blog. It's fun to play around and see what I can do with our pictures and I love the results. (The picture of Hannah welcoming Elijah to our Seder & the one of Ira "drinking" Elijah's wine are actually the same photo!)
It's so time consuming though and sometimes I don't get to every photo. So I wanted to add a few that didn't make the cut last time...

Karen & David before the Easter Bunny Run. I love that Karen is all smiling & happy while Dave is yawning!

Our sweet friend Jenny Bradford and her beautiful daughter Mattie. Jenny ran the 1/2 marathon.
I don't know how I missed this photo during editing b/c I had really wanted to put it on the blog.

This is my favorite... all of the guys standing around the grill talking. Never mind that we were starving!

Passover

For the past few years we've celebrated Passover with our dear friends The Steele's. It's so amazing to see what is celebrated & remembered during Passover while knowing that Jesus broke the bread - His body- and offered them the cup -His blood that was "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:17-35).

We use 'The Messianic Passover Haggadah' as our guide. It explains everything that is done during the Passover feast and provides scriptures and songs as well. We light the candles, wash our hands, drink the cups of wine, eat the bitter herbs, read the story of Passover, eat the meal, hid the Afikomen.... you get the idea. We do it all! And the kids really enjoy it too. Hannah was disappointed that she didn't find the Afikomen but she did get to open the door for Elijah.

The Seder Plate
Lindsay made cute little seder plates for the kids and we had the main plate as well.

1. Cup of Salt Water (represents the life of pain, suffering and tears that the Israelites led in Egypt)
2. Roasted Egg - replaces the lamb shankbone and is eaten during the sedar meal. (symbol of mourning of the destruction of the second Temple)
3. Bitter Herbs (to remember how bitter the life was for the Israelites in the land of Egypt)
4. Horseradish Root (causes you to shed tears of compassion for the sorrow that "our ancestors" -yes, they're even our ancestors - knew)
5. Chopped Nuts & Apples - you dip your matzah in the horseradish and then in the apple mixture. (To remind ourselves that even the most bitter of circumstances can be sweetened by the hope we have in God.)
6. Lamb Shankbone -Since the Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, lamb is not eaten at Passover. (represents the lamb whose blood marked the houses of the children of Israel/their obedience to Gods command.)
7. Parsley - dip the parsley in the salt water and then you eat it. (Passover is a springtime holiday, when the earth is beautiful and green with life. The parsley represents life created and sustained by God.)

Hannah loved her mini-Sedar plate.

The kids table.

Samuel washes his hands.
Who may go up the mountain of God?
Who can stand in his holy place?
Those with clean hands and pure hearts...
Psalm 24: 3,4

Joshua barters with Isaiah for the Afikoman (the middle piece of matzah -out of the three pieces- that was broken, wrapped in a cloth and hidden from the kids. After the meal the kids searched for the hidden Afikomen).
This is my body, which is being given for you:
do this in memory of me."
Luke 22:19


Hannah opens the door to welcome Elijah the Prophet to our seder. Hannah had a wardrobe change halfway through because her "best friend" spilled his juice on her dress.

Christmas & Some Thoughts on Death

We had an amazing Christmas this year. Bob & Tommy spent Christmas Eve with us and stayed the night. In the morning we went to my parents house for a delicious breakfast and afterwards we opened presents. The kids got a ton of presents and they've played with everything. Hannah got a kitchen set from my parents & sister and a bicycle from Bobby & me. Sammy got a remote control truck from my Dad and a Cars mini-four-wheeler (that only goes 2 miles/hr) from Bobby & me. They got a lot more but those were the major things. I'm going to post pictures but I wanted to get some shots of them enjoying their toys so it might take a few days.
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Today my mom took the kids & me to Wal-Mart. While shopping I found some of those little fat Coca Cola bottles on sale for $0.50 each. I was telling my mom that I wanted to get one for Hannah & Samuel but all they had left was Diet Coke.
Hannah was standing beside me listening to our conversation. After a second she looked at me and asked, "Why does it make you die?"
My Mom & I laughed so hard!! From the mouths of babes!!

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TOMORROW IS NOT ONLY THE BEGINNING OF 2010 BUT IT'S ALSO HANNAH'S 4TH BIRTHDAY!!

Christmas With the Cows

Last week the kids and I went to the Cow's Christmas Party at Chick-fil-A (just like last year). There were no door prizes this year though ... meaning no huge cow Pez Dispensers. We still had a great time decorating cupcakes and making Christmas cards. Of course Hannah had to have her picture made with the Cows. That's about it so enjoy the pictures!!

I'm thinking we should buy stock in Chick-fil-A considering how much time we spend there!!

Sammy enjoying his cupcake.

Hannah & the Chick-fil-A Cows.

Sammy taking a turn with the cows.

Delicious

Gorgeous girl!

Sorry the color is slightly off in this picture but...
Merry Christmas!!

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree...

One of my favorite holiday traditions is picking out a Christmas tree and decorating it. I love the smell of fresh pine, I love the way the lights look with the silver garland, and I love reminiscing over the ornaments as we put them on the tree (I have several ornaments from my childhood and Bobby & I have bought a new ornament every year.) It's even more special now that we have Hannah and Samuel. They've got their own ornaments and they loved decorating the tree this year.

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We bought our tree last Wednesday and had a 'Tree Decorating Party' on Saturday. I cooked some delicious food (if I do say so myself!) and we invited our family and neighbors. It was such fun!! I really enjoyed spending time with our families - just sitting around eating and talking. What could be better?

My sister paid for Hannah & Samuel to have their pictures taken with Santa. Hannah was excited and actually talked to him but Samuel started crying the minute we put him on Santa's lap. Don't really blame him.

I have the most beautiful family ever!!

It was so windy the day we bought our tree! Our tree was one of four that was still standing.

Not only was it windy but it was also freezing cold!

This is the picture we took of the kids for our Christmas card.

Hannah & I relax after our party Saturday. Hannah looks like some 80's Rocker with her sequined head-band around her forehead.

Our beautiful tree!

My Funny Valentine

I had a really good Valentine's. Bobby took Hannah to Chick-fil-A Saturday morning so they could make a special Valentine for Mommy. She made me a card and handmade flowers. It was so sweet!! And Bobby bought me a box of chocolates and later that evening we went out to eat and to the movies. I just want to give a big big thanks to my sister for watching the kids so we could spend an evening alone. I'm one lucky lady.
I've also included some pictures from my father-in-law's birthday dinner we had at our house. He wanted yellow cake with chocolate icing. Samuel had a lot of fun with his cake!!