Happy Father's Day, Daddy...

We had to celebrate Father's Day early at our house because Ashley was going to be gone this weekend. Ashley was going with Paul's parent's, to Maryland, for a family reunion. The girls had gotten Paul a nice bird bath and had hid it at my inlaws house, so we went over there Thursday so the girls could give it to him. They were so excited. They made him close his eyes and they carried it out to him. When he opened his eyes I don't know who was more excited, him or them. He has been wanting a bird bath for awhile now. We have a bird feeder and he loves to watch the birds. Below are a few of the pics I was able to capture from the moment.

Ok daddy, open your eyes...

Just what he wanted...

Paul and his two girls!!!

Sandy Fun...

The other day we were at my mother and father-in-laws house and Sandy discovered the balloon that his dad had in the hospital. She was hilarious trying to get to the balloon. She would catch the string and then get it twisted around her feet. She kept us in stitches. I think she realized she was entertaining us. She finally got smart and jumped up and grabbed the bootom of the balloon. She meant business then. She got ahold of the string and laid it under her paws. Here are a few pics of her just being silly.

Sandy twisting it around her body...

She finally got smart...

Now this is more like it...

Sandy at almost 11 months old!!!

Garden Update...

For those of you who read my blog a few months ago, you know we planted a garden. We asked you to help us pray the the Lord would bless our efforts, since we have never done this before. Well, He has!!! Last night we had green beans for supper that we planted ourselves, and some squash out of our friends garden. It was so exciting to know that it was something we planted and that God grew for us. The Lord is really blessing. We have stuff coming up left and right. The only thing that is not doing good is the peas. They got so high and have just kind of died off. We also do not have a tiller so the weeds are trying to take over in between the rows. We are trying our best to keep the weeds away from the plants themselves, but it is not an easy job!We are looking forward to trying the rest of the food when it is ready. I was out there this morning and we have a tomato turning red. It will be ready soon. Ashley is excited about the 2 little watermelon that are growing, she loves watermelon. Here are a few pics I took this morning so you could see the progression of the garden.

A couple of our tomato plants...

It won't be long and these tomatoes will be ready...

Our squash plants are taking off...

This squash is just about ready...

Ashley is excited about this watermelon...

Some of our green beans. They sure are yummy!!!

Look close in the center and you'll see the first okra...

The cabbage is starting to form a head...

I can't wait for stuffed peppers...

This is what I'm really looking forward to!

Piano Recital...

May 12th, the girls had their yearly recital with their piano teacher, Rita Moore. They both did a very good job. When they had their recital I got a picture of them with their teacher, but forgot to get pics of them at the piano. I was not very happy with myself, needless to say. Then, on top of that, the videos I got while they were playing, are to big or something to upload to blogger, because it keeps saying there was an error. I wanted my fellow bloggers to be able to hear them, but for now you will have to wait. Yesterday, at church, we had a mini recital for the church people and I was able to get pictures of the girls playing. I also used my camcorder this time to video them. Now I just have to figure out how to get the videos from there to the computer. If anyone knows how let me know please. They played 2 songs each. Ashley played ~ "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" and "Morning Prelude" Lauren played ~ "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Pastorale". We are so proud of them and they are both improving greatly. Keep up the good work girls!!!

The girls with their piano teacher, Ms. Rita...


Ashley, playing one of her songs...

Lauren, playing "When the Saints"

Tea Party...

We have been wanting to do something special for the young girls in our church, but I didn't quite know what to do. Then a lady in the church suggested we have a Tea Party for them. I thought it was a great idea so we ran with it. We have been planning it for several weeks and watching Thrift stores for fancy tea cups and saucers. Well, we finally got everthing together with lots of help from the church ladies and decided to have it on Saturday. I took the time Saturday morning to decorate the Fellowship Hall. So it looked liked a fancy Tea Room. Then, we had all the girls wear a nice dress. When they got their, we had all of them pick out a hat and a boa or scarf. They looked so cute. They had a little meal and drank Kool-aid out of their tea cups. We tried to teach them how to be fancy and hold their pinkies out while they were drinking but they didn't catch on to that one. Then we did some crafts, which were making book marks and Easy Bake Jello Aquariums. We then went outside and they broke a Princess Pinata. When they came back in, we had gift bags for them, made to look like tea bags. They really enjoyed the bags and all the goodies. We had six girls altogether ranging in age from 8 months to 13. The girls seemed to really enjoy themselves. We hope to do it again sometime.

This was the table of goodies...

This is where they ate their meal...

Ashley and Lauren looking like little ladies in the food line...

Ashley enjoying her "cup of tea"...

Lauren enjoying her goodies...

Lauren making her Jello Aquarium...

Ashley and Kayla working on their bookmarks...

Lauren taking a swing at the pinata...

Kenslee, Emma, and Lauren collecting the candy...

This was the "Tea Bag" goody bag.

Ladies Night...

Not long after we moved here, to pastor, I started having ladies night once a month. It has been a huge success and the ladies have really seemed to enjoy themselves. We have always shared a meal together, had a devotional, and just sat around and talked. This month we thought we might try something different. This month we decided to do a craft night. So, Friday night my mother-in-law and I took all our scrapbooking stuff and thought we could teach the ladies that were interested. Then another lady brought stuff to teach people how to crotchet. We had our meal, which consisted this time, of Pizza, salad, and dessert. Then we did our crafts. Two ladies really took off with the scrapbooking. I think we have them hooked. Another lady really enjoyed crotcheting. Some of the others just watched or sat around and talked. Either way you look at it we had a wonderful time and we will be doing it again.

Mary loves her salad...

Susan is now hooked...

Emma teaching Irene to crotchet...

Linda really enjoyed scrapbooking.

Happy Mother's Day...

I wanted to take the opportunity to say Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. I hope each one of you had a very special day. My daughters got me 2 hanging baskets of flowers and 2 candles. They were so sweet. They were so excited about it. I had hardly got in my mother-in-laws door after church, and they were handing me the stuff. Unfortunately, I was not able to be with my mom again this year. I don't get to see her a whole lot because she lives in New York and I live in South Carolina, but I did get to call her and I sent her a gift earlier this week in the mail. I do want my mom to know she is a wonderful person and I love her very much. I did get to be with my mother-in-law today and she made us a wonderful dinner. Thanks mom!!! My mother-in-law is a wonderful person and she is more of a "mom" than a mother-in-law. I want her to know I love her very much. Here are a few pics we were able to get at their house today.

My beautiful family gathered around me on the swing...

Paul and his mom, Donna.