Country Music Thoughts

I am embarrassed to confess that both Jonas and I have come to the realization that we really, truly enjoy Taylor Swift's music! You would not want to see me in the kitchen rockin' out to "You Belong with Me"--it is entertaining even for the one dancing around saying every word. Jonas has even admitted to liking “Love Story”!

The boys and I also are enjoying other redneck songs like "Sideways" by Dierks. Also, I had a good laugh this week when a new song on country radio came over—“She's Rocking the Beer Gut”. Only in country music...so funny...if you have not heard it and you need to laugh...you should hear it. If you have ever been to Wal-Mart in Seneca when it is over 90 degrees you should be able to identify with the song! This is classy stuff…not really, but it is good for remembering to not take everything so seriously in life!

On a more serious note, the song “I Thought I Loved You Then” really makes me think about how love grows over/through all of life’s changes, ups, downs, & seasons.

The pics...Caleb is into dressing up...it is cute and funny.
We had a blast going down the Chattooga with the Rays. They are some tough city slickers. I was amazed that Cay actually enjoyed the ride. He wanted to walk/swim/ and drag behind the tube and the frigid water did not bother him one bit. He giggled and sat with me or J all the way down. It was sweet time with him except that my back was KILLING ME when all was said and done! The river was down in places but the big kids still enjoyed tubing and swimming and throwing lots of rocks. Jonas can really skip um! The pic is the kids getting ready to claim their tubes. Then we had a fun "dinner" at the Dirty Queen aka Dairy Queen.

We had fun slip and sliding recently. The Ball kids and Jeb really were flying after about 1/2 container of dish soap...the Bonzai was MOVIN'! Caleb enjoyed the pool at the bottom mostly. That kind of thing is just not fun with a baby brother so it was nice to do that with some big kid friends!

Caleb is really doing a good job feeding himself these days (despite what is in the pic)...he can do a bowl of cereal, fruit, spaghetti, and yes, pudding and yogurt really well!

Jeb and I have enjoyed our sunflowers that came and now are quickly going. They were pretty while they lasted. Now the goats will get to enjoy their scrumptious taste...and they will make their white coats sparkle.

Parental Abuse Can Start Early!!

Last night, when I was shaving the thought occurred to me that I had multiple bruises and lacerations this week from 2 toddlers?? If you have boys you know that rarely a day goes by that you are not hit by a moving car/truck/jeep/power wheel, decapitated by a thrown ball, a mis-swung bat/golf club/ tennis racket, or walloped on some body part with a pipe, stick, some object that should be stationary or yes, the proverbial rock that just must be launched as hard as he can. Then there is the “wrestling” and chasing that happens most days. I have had boobies busted up, noses almost broken, my head stepped on, my gut punched out, and knee caps out of place just by “play fighting.” As if they don’t cause enough trouble WITH your help and assistance, then they have to start doing everything alone and “helping you” by doing things that really you’d rather do yourself. Cay has already tripped into and out of the dog lot trying to feed them himself. Someone always gets hurt around here everyday. It seems inevitable. This week a friend hit Cay with a bat, Jeb hit me with a rock, then Cay dropped a pipe on my foot, Jeb hit a door running wide open with Daddy chasing, Cay fell down some steps and busted his lip since now he can officially open any lever handle in the house, and Jonas generally stays sore from all the “free licks” and wrestling that goes on around here.

One pic is of me and my cuz Lane. She is one cool chick. I have been blessed to have her closer this summer/past year and not she is back in Alabama!

We have just started a HUGE landscaping project. Jeb has staked his claim to part of it. He has set up a chair in a great overlook spot and he calls it "his house." He has eaten a few meals out there and just likes to sit there and play eye spy and chat. It is amusing to me that he connected with this spot of dirt surrounded by rocks.

Let the Tantrums Begin!

Cay pretty much wants me to hold him all the time…...when I don’t…the tantrums ensue (see pic). If you take anything like a remote, phone or cell phone you can expect a major battle. If you take him off of anything that moves he is livid. He is doing the limp fish act..if you are a parent you know what that is. He adds a thrown head though so you really must watch your face when it starts. He is a pretty ruthless persuader—even at 2 am. Man, I am tired.

We had another great trip to Lake Joc. We have had the best times there my whole life. Honestly, some of my fondest childhood memories are there and it is pure joy to take my own children back there to relax on beaches, play in the water, and yes, jump off rocks that look like whales in the water (see pic of Jeb on rock). We also like to go see all the waterfalls around the lake. AND Jeb and Jonas were thrilled that this trip we saw a big snake!

My best childhood friend came by to see us this week. What a joy! She brought her 2 girls and Jeb really relished holding and loving on sweet little Addison.

Cay is now saying “outside” and he starts to put on shoes—any shoes…even our shoes (see pic).
The boys have enjoyed our very own home grown melons this week (see pic)! They were yummy! We can eat a gallon of berries, 2 containers of strawberries, at least a few apples, a couple bananas, some grapes, a head of romaine lettuce, and a ½ gallon of OJ a week. My produce bill is not cheap so I am grateful for a few FREE melons!

I have had the great joy of keeping some friends' kids this week when they had new babies or things they needed to do. I don't like making folks meals, but I will keep kids with a happy heart. It is a nice way to serve friends without cooking! I wish I liked cooking since it is so necessary and something I do often...but the fact it...I JUST DON'T.

We have also had a ton of fun swimming with Mrs. Jill and at Mrs. Kim's this summer. See Caleb in Mrs. Kim's baby pool. He has taken a few naps there while Jeb and I play and chat with Kim and the girls.

8 Years later...still in love!

Every time I am with J and we are kidless for a short time I am reminded of why I married the man--I LOVE BEING WITH HIM. It is quite simple really. I love laughing with him and talking with him AND he can fix/build/figure out anything, he is great with kids, he loves serving others, he is not a difficult person to make happy, he is down-to-earth and would do ANYTHING to make his family happy.

We got a cute cabin in TN and spent some time exploring Great Smoky Mtn National Park. The pic is of our cabin, "Time for Two," it was called.



The others are of Cades Cove and its beautiful valleys and mountains, and us en route and AT the 2 other waterfalls that we hiked to. We were thrilled to know that we can still walk 4 miles straight uphill gaining 2k feet and keep our time of more than 2 miles an hour! We may be old, but we're as good once as we ever were--as the old country music song says! Now, we did have some blisters and some achin' backs...but the views were worth it in the end! One is of me in front of this HUGE Hemlock about 3 miles into one of our hikes.


I was ticked that people are carving in these amazing trees and in all the old home places in the park. It is sad to see folks have such a disrespect for historic landmarks and other amazing natural beauties. Don't even get me started on all the trash on the hikes..but back to our good trip...

We had the best steak I've ever eaten and some relaxing time in the hot tub on our deck AND I beat him in putt- putt; It doesn't get much better than that!

Jeb was excited to know that we had seen "Gilbert" (elk like his elk) in the park. We also saw some deer and fawns in Cades Cove.
We had some good talks about what we hope to do and who we hope to be this year and generally thought about God has been so good to us for the 10.5 years we have been committed to each other!
THEN--we missed our kids like crazy and came home as quick as we could to see them...I have kissed Cay about 2,000 times a day since I got home. I missed those cheeks BAD. No speeding tickets this trip--yeah!

July Happenings

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Whew...this month has quite sadly gone too too fast.

We had a great surprise party for my mom at Aunt Jeanie's Lake house--see Cay enjoying the cake! Lots of folks came that are her friends and the food was yummy.

We have enjoyed the lake often and much!

Jeb can now officially drive a skid-steer with little help from Jonas--scary.

We have remodeled the garage and put in a wardrobe, cabinets, sinks, etc...it is AWESOME! Since we practically live out there it is a nice place to improve.

WE have also been picking our weight in berries. We can eat a gallon in less than a week. We have enjoyed pickin with many city slickers and they have enjoyed having a "souvenir" to take home and enjoy! We love blueberries and hope to put some of our own in this fall. Much, much thanks to Shirley and Ray for letting us get out there and pick their bushes clean!

Jonas and I celebrated our 8th anniversary in Great Smokey Mtns Ntl Park. Pics coming soon.

Jeb played for a least a few hours in the sand and surf and Cay and Samuel preferred the container that I brought the beach toys down to the beach in!

Jeb is becoming quite the tennis player. I am thrilled. We almost have Bailey trained to bring all the balls back to us to! I knew she was good for something besides making us feel loved, slobbered and dirty.

The shot of the boys in the chairs is at the Marina. I like going and seeing the yachts and all the witty names folks name their vessels. There is also a talking African Grey at the docks named Taylor so they always enjoy visiting him.

Summer Vacation Part 1

I did not hardly get back from our trip when my Mom called and asked if we could go again next month..I thought about it for about 1 second and chatted over it with Jeb for about 3 seconds (his only thoughts were about when we could leave?) and so we are going to go back!! What a great thought..it helped me get over the sadness of it being over AND the HUGE speeding ticket we got on the way home!

Jeb enjoyed swimming and being slammed by the surf.

Caleb enjoyed the tide pools, but not so much the ocean--too cold for him. That was the only thing COLD That week..temps were well over 100. We usually went out by 8 and were back by 11:30.



We ate out at the wharf most nights and listened to music, shopped and ran around on the "Grand Lawn."

Jeb was in heaven all week long.

He enjoys having daddy around 24/7...they took naps together and lived in the pool.

I enjoyed some great time with my sister and her family AND my parents. My dad was not supposed to come and we all made bets on when he would arrive. I won--I bet Wed and he actually can 3 days before on SUNDAY with his 94 dollar one way ticket find. He is like me --Does NOT enjoy missing out on ANY FUN! It was good he showed up!

This is our 3rd time at this resort and this year they added a new Pirate Playground on the island that we explore. They have a "look out" over the bay area and a cool enormous pirate ship themed play area...this is Jeb on the bridge to the island.


I enjoyed snuggling with Caleb a few mornings on the beach while he took a morning nap.



This is one of about 4 entries on the trip. I am going to have to choose out of 279 pics about 12 to share...