Just Hanging Around

Some random pictures just hanging around the house...

Visitors

We have had quite a few visitors since we moved.

Uncle Garrett and Aunt Sam came first and we got to meet sweet Alissa.

Then Uncle Hunter came to visit for a few days.

About a week later, Mimi came to visit!

While Mimi was here, she treated us to a visit to North GA Zoo.  The girls had a blast!

Mimi's nail salon....these girls LOVE having pink nails and show EVERYONE they meet!

New Job & New House

A lot happened over the summer!  In May, I interviewed for an Assistant Principal position and it could not have gone better.  I felt extremely comfortable and confident during the interview and three days later I was offered the position.  The high school is in the county just north of ours, but it was an hour drive one way, so we put our house up for sale.  Six days later, it was sold, and about two and a half weeks later, we moved out and closed on our house.  With things moving so quickly, we decided to rent a house rather than try to find one to buy.  We absolutely LOVE the area we are living in and I LOVE my new job.  GOD IS GOOD!

Our new "temporary" home.  

We are very excited about this new chapter in our lives.  We have seen God's hand throughout the entire process and are grateful for His provisions and grace!

FLORIDA!!

With all of the changes lately, we weren't sure if we were going to be able to make a trip home this summer...thankfully, we were able to make it happen!  Katie's kids were down with mom while she, dad, and Jud are in Ethiopia to bring Kai home.  It was so fun to see the cousins having fun together and helping mom (hopefully I was a help) handle the chaos.  We were sad that Melissa's gang couldn't be there, but glad that they will get to visit later in the summer.  We had a blast visiting Jacob's Aquatic, the Monkey Jungle, the Fruit and Spice Park and of course, spending time with Mimi and all of the cousins!

Dinner with the gang & hanging out with the BEST MIMI EVER!!

Monkey Jungle is always so much fun!

The kids loved feeding the monkeys raisins and watching the gorilla show

Catching a baby peacock, swinging, jumping on the trampoline, hunting with Uncle Phil, lots of lizards, and celebrating Aunt Erica's birthday!

Since Katie and Jud weren't sure exactly when they would be headed to Ethiopia, they prepared Ali for the fact that they might not be with her and that she would be celebrating her birthday (June 8) in Florida.  Well, her birthday came and went and when they finally got a court date, they realized they would be gone over Kingston's birthday (June 23).  Long story short, Ali thought she was getting a Florida birthday, King really was getting a Florida birthday, and poor Can Man wanted one too.  The Cousins decided that we should have a "Cousins Birthday" to celebrate everyone's birthday.  I think the anticipation leading up to the party was almost just as much fun as the actual event.  The kids spent the entire day decorating and planning and it was so fun to watch!

Visiting the Fruit and Spice Park with the Foxes and Fryes

Aunt Erica had a great idea to paint a banyan tree at Gram's and then we all added our handprints!

Check out the HUGE BUBBLES! Coolest little gadget ever!

Preparing for King's Batman party!

Pinata time!!

Cake and presents!

On our way home...worn out after a busy week at Mimi's!

We always love the time we get to spend in Florida and we always look forward to our next visit.  Since we have been home, the girls keep asking to go to Mimi's house....it's gonna be a long wait until Christmas!

Peas & Beans!

Phil has been working diligently tending to our garden this year.  The first fruits of his labor were finally ripe and ready for picking!

Anna & Kate loved helping daddy pick green beans and snap peas!

First Haircut & Princess Dresses

Mimi has been in town for a few days and the girls are LOVING it! Today, she and Aunt Melissa took the girls to get their first haircut and to pick out their very own princess dresses!  They did great at the salon and both picked Sleeping Beauty dresses.  So sad to have missed out on the fun, but so glad they had fun with Mimi and Aunt Ma!

End of the Year Program

Last night we went to the girls' end of the year program.  This progression of pictures says it better than I can.

And then we left the sanctuary before their class even started singing because they were screaming so loudly.  Oh well, maybe next year!