DINO-mighty

I always write letters here to my grands on their birthdays and today is one of those days...

Dear Sweet Baby J-

Today you are three. 

We had such a fun day celebrating you on Saturday, with a dinosaur themed backyard party filled with lots of friends and family. Your cousins finally live close enough to attend and you were so excited to see them walk through the door. You refer to the oldest two as 'my boys' which is too precious for words. You cry in the driveway when they pull away and I love the way you're growing up together. 

The little girls are right in there with you boys, and that's fun for everyone to see too.

When someone asks me what you're like I often say 'he's extra'. I don't know how else to say it. You're extra sweet, extra loving, extra joyful. Extra in all the very best ways. 

Some of my favorite things about you are the way you talk, the way you run, and the way you do a little happy dance when you're excited. You are precise in the way you put things together, and want to help Daddy in the garden, the garage, and with any wood working project he undertakes. 

You share well (most of the time) with sissy and love to bake with momma. Actually you love anything with momma because she's your girl. You also love swimming, swinging, all things that go, puzzles, and books. You love your people hard, and want them close by all the time. You have a sweet tender heart and move everyone at the table with your earnest prayers at mealtimes.  

Hey, guess what? Not only is today your birthday, it's also the day some forty one years ago that your Nana and Pawpaw got married. You were born on our anniversary, which only makes it all the more special. 

I believe these two milestones landing on the same day is no coincidence. Instead I see it as a gentle reminder love never stops growing. That day marked the beginning of a love story that would expand beyond just the two of us in ways we could not envision or be more grateful for. 

You little man, are living proof love multiplies, and every year as we celebrate our marriage we get to celebrate you too. You're a joy, a treasure, and a gracious reminder of God's love and faithfulness in our lives. Always know your Nana loves you deep and wide xo 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; 

do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 

Joshua 1:9

Merry Monday

Hello Monday. It's still Monday right? The days are a blur this time of year and you just have to roll with it. I'm linking with Holly and Sarah for the weekend recap party they host every Monday. Here we go-

We had a fun weekend spent with hubs brother, sister-in-law, and his momma, not counting of course that Tennessee football game, which was possibly the worst game played in the history of ever. Let's speak of happier things. 

It's not a straight line from our house in SC to theirs in TN these days, due to the wrath of Helene. The interstate remains shut down so we have to take the long way around. 

Long but absolutely beautiful I will say. The road that runs across the mountain from NC into Tennessee is one of the prettiest in all of America. Dusted with snow it was just breathtaking. 

As we came in to Tennessee we saw more remnants of the hurricane. Yellow piping is piled high all along the highway from a plastics plant that was destroyed by rushing water. 

Lives were lost here and it's still such an incredible mess. 

We picked up my mother-in-law on our way to the lake where my brother-in-law lives, and got there just in time to see the Clemson-Texas kickoff. We were rooting for our hometown team, but they ended up losing and then things sped rapidly downhill from there. 

That Tennessee game. Whew! It was painful. My sister-in law had ordered Chicago's famous Lou Malnati's pizzas for dinner and that was the highlight of the evening. 'Nuff said. 

Sunday morning we all went to church together. Their church choir performed their cantata which was so lovely. 

We had a charcuterie style lunch, then spent the afternoon chatting, soaking up some Vitamin D on the sunny back porch, and watching the women's volleyball championship on TV. 

Sunday evening we took hubs mom out for a delicious meal at one of our favorite Italian spots-Bella.

Hubs passed a shop window with a prop that goes with his suit and we had to snap a picture. 

This suit brings out the best in everyone. People stop to wish us merry Christmas with a big smile on their face, and to tell us how much they love it. An easy way to spread holiday cheer. 

Monday morning hubs and I headed south about an hour and a half to Daughter2's home near Chattanooga. We take a back road so it's a country drive with pretty farms dotting the landscape along the way. We made a stop at our favorite smokehouse Bentons, home to the world famous Benton's bacon, and still made it to Daughter2s by lunchtime. 

Sweet Baby J literally jumps up and down and claps his hands when he sees us getting out of the car and it is the best thing ever. Truly. Whatever is weighing you down dissolves at the sight of this precious little boy so happy to see you he can't contain it. And baby sister is right behind him, giving us her whole body smile and showing off her newest skill-walking! 

The excitement level is at a ten with littles in the house and we are here for it. 

Merry Christmas Eve Eve everyone!

Summertime And The Livin' Is Easy And Also Loud

We've had a full house all week and we still have a mostly full house this week, but I want to put some of the happenings here on my blog while they're fresh. It's not short so buckle up. 

Before I dive in I do want to let you know I've finally added a 'follow by email' option to my sidebar. If you'd like to be notified of new posts here via email, just add your address in the box there and hit subscribe. 

I'm joining Holly and Sarah for their regular Hello Monday link party to talk about the week that was. 

There has been lots of merrymaking with both daughters and their littles here at the lake this past week. It has been loud messy fun and we're all exhausted and ready for bed at an early hour, but we are truly loving all the minutes spent together. I have washed at least 100 towels and cooked 1000 meals. Nine people in and out of the lake and the pool means a lot of towels and all that swimming means we need fuel. These boys can eat and I'm not even kidding. 

I made myself a calendar of menus before everyone arrived and that's been so helpful. I did have to run to the store once but mostly I shopped ahead and hubs has been doing a lot of grilling. My girls appreciate home cooking, plus dining out with five small children might be too much, even for us. 

Going all the way back to Tuesday for this recap...we declared Tuesday a boat day. Sounds simple, right? Y'all. The amount of gear we needed to pack, take down to the dock, get on the boat, as well as five children swim-suited and sunscreen-ed, buckled into life jackets, hats and sunglasses on, water bottles in tow, not to mention our own selves, plus noodles and water saddles and fishing poles, beach towels and lunch in a cooler, well it does make one wonder for a minute if it's worth it?

Totally worth it. 

There are lots of islands in our lake and many have sandy beaches so we headed to one of those. Once hubs set the anchor the process of getting everyone and everything off the boat and onto the island begins. Hubs totes most of the gear while one daughter puts the swim diapers on the babies and the other daughter gets off the boat and then I pass the kids to her and she escorts them to the island. 

Is it worth it? 

100%!  A morning in the sand and sea with little ones is not a walk in the park, but we don't care because it is way more fun than not. 

We got home in time for naps for some, although probably not for the ones who needed it most-ha! Hi hubs!, and the older boys watched a movie while the three littlest slept. 

Hubs had to attend an event Tuesday evening so I made spaghetti and meatballs and we got everyone in bed on the early side. Daughter2's hubs arrived from working nearby so we hung out on the deck until Pawpaw aka 'the hubs' got home. He had just sat down to finally relax with his favorite bourbon when I ever so gently reminded him he was grilling a pork butt for Wednesday's dinner. 

Which means he has to prep it on Tuesday night. 

As in right now.

And also get up at 4 AM to get it on the Green Egg. Hi hubs! 

Wednesday morning he and my son-in-law were up before the sun, so when I came outside with my coffee at 6:45 am the smell was already so good. We swam in the lake that morning, and then late afternoon my older sister drove the hour and a half out from her house to mine with my mama. 

My mama is in town for a few days while my younger sister and her family (who she lives with) are traveling. It was wonderful for her to be here the week the girls were both in town. 

Wrangling everyone for this picture might have been trickier than boat day, but I wanted a pic of my mom with all of her great-grandchildren, and with my girls too. 

My sister was a big hit with the boys especially and they had so much fun with her. I didn't take a single picture of her while she was here because there was a lot going on (possibly a giant understatement! lol). Hubs made maybe his best BBQ ever and I added coleslaw, baked beans and roasted veggies to the meal, with a peach and blueberry cobbler for dessert. So good!

Thursday morning we went back up to the neighborhod pool and everyone had such a nice time playing in the water. We came home for lunch and naps (so grateful these little ones sleep the way they do!), then had an early taco dinner before loading everyone up in two cars to get ice cream in town. Making the fun happen with littles of various ages is something of a production but we all dig in and make it happen. 

And we don't take a lot of photos but we're definitely living it. 

This spot does the Nitrogen ice cream which is exciting to watch, and they loved every single bite. When we got back to the house Daughter1 and I took the big boys to the lake to swim again, and Daughter2 and the younger three hung out on the deck with Pawpaw. 

Divide and conquer is not a bad motto for managing kids of varying ages and stages. 

Friday morning daughter2 and her sweeties headed back to their home in Tennessee.  After they got on the road we went for an easy boat ride with daughter1 and her kids. 

Still a few things to carry but we just brought towels and snacks and opted for lunch at home. 

We hung out in a cove and jumped off the swim platform and had a grand time before the clouds rolled in and we made a bee line back to the dock.  Hubs made popcorn in our big popcorn machine and the boys watched a movie with him while little miss napped. Daughter1 and I sat on the porch with our iced coffee and solved all the problems of the world. 

Maybe not all, but a few. 

It was leftovers for dinner Friday night because this cook needed a break. And my next door neighbor brought over a blueberry pie for dessert which was so sweet and so thoughtful and we all really enjoyed that. 

Which brings us to Saturday. I needed to do a grocery run so hubs took the two older boys (the mancub and Max as they're known on the blog) to a fish hatchery not too far from here. He encountered a detour so it ended up being further than anticipated, but he made it and they had a ball. 

They were allowed to feed the fish which was exciting and it was a great way to spend a drizzly morning. 

Hubs treated them to lunch on the way home and they came in laughing and happy and full of fish stories. 

I had ordered some legos for the boys and they arrived midday Saturday, which kept them busy the rest of fthe afternoon. They were anxiously waiting for their Daddy to arrive as he wrapped up his Fellowship in Cincinnati on Friday and will hang out here for a few days before they all head to England for their six month stay (you can read more about that on Daughter1's blog linked here-Sincerely Shannon). 

Whew. Who's tired? 

But in the very, very, best way. 

Roads Traveled

The last time I blogged something more than the Wednesday Hodgepodge was more than two weeks ago. As per usual we've done a lot of coming and going since then so let's catch up. This might be two posts or I might just jam it all in to one, so you'll want to grab your coffee. 

Rolling it back two Fridays ago which is when we made the trek to daughter1's house to spend a few days with her crew. Yes, three children constitutes a crew. The drive there should take six and a half hours but we have never made it in six and a half hours. This time it was nine. Ugh. 

Fifteen miles from their exit a tractor trailer caught fire and the authorities shut down the interstate. We sat for over an hour with our gas tank on the verge of empty before we were able to exit. We got gas then wound our way around what turned out to be some of the most beautiful Tennessee countryside we would have otherwise missed.  

Even life's little aggravations and irritations can have a silver lining. 

We wish we'd known about this route on previous trips because it was just that pretty, and this was likely our last visit to their current home. The movers come soon and then it's onward to another new home, new adventure, and lots of Graters ice cream and Skyline chili if that helps you figure out their new 'where'.  

The mileage from here to there will be about the same, and we're always grateful when we can visit by car. 

One bright spot en route to visit Daughter1 was a happy quick meet up with daughter2 and sweet baby J in a shopping center parking lot. Because of road construction on our usual route (always!!), the GPS directed us another way to Tennessee, which meant we'd be passing very near daughter2's exit. She happened to be on her way home from a friend's so we made it happen. 

His smiley face makes a long road trip feel less long. 

Hubs and I had a grand time with the grands doing all sorts of fun things. They have a huge pond in their neighborhood with a walking path all the way around and we are going to miss that for sure. It's been a wonderful spot to safely learn to ride a bicycle without training wheels, power a scooter, and identify ducks of every shape, size, and variety. 

Little miss has grown and changed so much since we saw her back in March and she gives the best smiles, rolls herself literally all over the house, and looks so much like her momma it makes my heart sing. 

You can relax. This will definitely be two posts. 

Saturday night daughter1 had gotten us all tickets to the local rodeo. You can walk to the venue from their house and it was set to begin at 7:30 PM. We arrived at 6:30 only to find the event had been waaaay oversold. There were almost no seats to be had, with long lines of people still pouring in after us. 

Daughter1 was wearing the baby and I had Max by the hand when a very nice lady offered to scooch over, move her kids to the floor in front of her, and let us have a couple of seats. The dads took the mancub and climbed to the top of the bleachers to squeeze in there. People were standing around the ring because there really wasn't anywhere else to stand so we honestly couldn't see a thing from our location. 

It was at this point daughter1 and I looked at each other and said, 'let's go home'. We gave Max to the dads and the boys were able to enjoy the show. I was going to write a review on the host's website but I guess now I can just direct them to this post lol. 

Did you come here to read about traffic jams and events that don't live up to their billing? Let's talk happier things...the great outdoors-

We went to a nearby playground that also has some walking trails throughout, meandered through the woods, along a stream, and then had quite a moment when the mancub alerted us all to a SNAKE!! right beside our feet. Fortunately for all we had the snake whisperer (aka the hubs) with us and all was well.

We walked another day along a trail that's been set up along an old community golf course. It's now a storybook trail and the boys had fun riding their bikes from 'page to page'.  I read online this was an Eagle Scout project so kudos to the creator. 

The setting was lovely with farmland all around, and we talked about how nice it would be to own land that had at one time been a golf course. A little bit manicured, a little bit wild, plenty of room for a house and garden, and a cottage for your parents to live in their old age someday too-ha! 

We have so enjoyed visiting all the places my daughter1 and her family have lived. I think about the staggering beauty of Washington state, the faraway Land of Morning Calm, and the wide open farmland of the Tennessee military town they've most recently called home. 

Moving stirs up all kinds of emotion and I feel the feels with her because I've been there myself. 

The sad goodbyes and the hopeful hellos. 

Pointing your eyes and your family in a forward direction.

Quietly tucking precious friends in your pocket and opening your heart to new people, new places, new experiences.  

To my girl and movers everywhere...

Unpack the boxes, hang the pictures, plant the flowers. Call the new place home. For a year or two or ten or forever. 

"You can have more than one home. You can carry your roots with you and decide 
where they grow." Henning Mankell