Claire is NINE

Celebrating at Granny's house.

Claire and John picked out a Toy Story 3 cake for this celebration.

Scott is pretending to enjoy the organic ice cream sandwiches that I splurged on for the birthday dinner :)

Claire's choices for her birthday dinner included: Hash brown casserole, fried chicken tenders, fried garlic green beans and peas. I made a salad to try and offset some of this meal:0

Nana and Granny at the birthday dinner. We are thankful for our grandmothers!

The doggie sleepshirt from Anna and John

Her webkin from Ben.

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Celebrating with friends......

Last week my baby girl turned nine. We had several celebrations starting with a joint celebration at Mom's for John and Claire a few days before John's birthday. Then last Saturday night we had a couple of families over and celebrating again and then on Claire's real birthday, Scott took her out to breakfast at Cracker Barrell and then we opened presents and had a family birthday dinner that night with Granny and Nana. Claire's favorite gift was no doubt the bright blue Gee-tar!! All of the children are saving some of their birthday money for our upcoming trip out West. I am thankful for my precious daughter and I pray that God will rescue her soul and she will bring Him much glory with her walk with Him!

Monkey business

This is Stewie-he is 5 months old.

Ben, John , Claire and I had an unexpected adventure today. We were journeying all over town taking pictures of famous sites in Tupelo for our online geography class and when we went to the buffalo park, we asked if we could be photographed with an animal. They said sure and told us to go to the office where we got to not only photograph, but play with 2 babies of the famous Oliver monkey(the one who escaped from the buffalo park a couple of years ago).

They were sooo cute and friendly. Claire and John held them and we all played with them for over an hour. What a treat!

John John is SIX

Mrs. Sheryl , our neighbor, and John

John is enjoying the cake:)

Here is the luscious cake - yum -my!

Claire picked out a stick horse and cowboy hat for John. We bought him cowboy boots , so he is ready to head out West!

John used his money from Aunt Cat Cat to buy this webkins rooster and his hair was roosterish this morning

Granny gave Claire and John the cutest cards that barked .

Joseph and Lauren are soon to move to Jackson, TN where Lauren will enter Nursing school.

Jeremy and Lindsay!

The children all love Uncle Jerry and Aunt Rosella!

The festivities began on Sunday with a family birthday dinner for John and Claire(hers is next week) at my Mom's. Cathy, Jim , Jerry, Rosella, Jeremy, Lindsay, Joseph and Lauren were there and we had some of Claire and John's favorite foods-hashbrown casserole, corn casserole, fried okra and fried chicken tenders. They also had picked out a cake. We had a good time visiting with family and it was bittersweet as it was the first major family gathering without Daddy.

Yesterday, Scott took John out to breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then when they got home, John opened presents and we did school! I am really enjoying John's curriculum this year. We are using Sonlight which is mostly read alouds. We cuddle up on the couch and read for over a hour. Love it!! He is doing Singapore Math and Handwriting for a Reason as well as some Sing , Spell , Read and Write and we are finishing up Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
I try to play educational games with him every day as well.

After track yesterday, we were back at home for John's birthday supper. He wanted peas, mashed potatoes and BBQ chicken! After supper we enjoyed a delicious ice cream cake created by Anna Beth. It was truly the best ice cream cake I have ever eaten. John picked out the flavors. Then we topped off the evening by swimming in our neighbor's pool until after dark.
I am very thankful for John and as I have prayed before, I hope God will use John's life for His glory!

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tales

Not really any snakes or snails around here , but a really cute puppy that needs a good home!!

She is around 6-8 weeks old and has been a pampered pooch today at our home! The kids are getting waaay too attached and I am not sure if they will ever forgive Scott if she has to be taken to the animal shelter :(

Still down memory lane...March 2010

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Anna was involved in the making of an Answers in Genesis DVD about the human body (look for it in stores in the coming months :) The Homeschool Channel under Jeff Chamblee produced and filmed this for a week. Anna enjoyed feeling like a "star" even though her role was just to sit there and look interested while Dr. Menton from AIG lectured.

Father/Daughter banquet

Scott is enjoying time with two of his favorite girls!!!

Margaret, Martha, Anna, Olivia and Julie

Our homeschool group has a father/daughter banquet each March. This is one of the highlights of my girls' year and this year's banquet was wonderful. Geoffry Botkin and his daughters , Anna Sophia and Elizabeth spoke and challenged the girls and Dads in their walks with Christ and their relationship with each other.

My little girl is quickly growing up. Claire had a fun time at the banquet with her Daddy. He presented the girls with a chocolate rose and another tradition on this night is going to Sonic afterwards for french fries and ice cream.

A collection of April happenings.........

Our day at Tombigbee was a blast! We ate and boated and fished and played and had a great time with friends. Yonea was dangerous with the lighter fluid!

Eatin' popcorn and drinking tea

Some Snyders and Duleys came over and had fun in the barn.

The poor toad! Dissecting in Biology class..

Ben and Scott had a great time fishing and filleting their catch! The yacht came in handy :)

This is the last picture that I have of Daddy. I think it was taken on April 15 just a few days before he died.

April was a blur for us all. It started out with a fun picnic at Tombigbee State Park with the Chunns, Corbins and Williams. Then we had an Easter Egg Hunt at the Johnsons and then Easter. The weekend after Easter was the 5K and then my brother's birthday party on April 15. This was the last time that I saw my precious Daddy. The next Monday he was gone. The days since have been sad, but I am continually thankful for his 80 years and all the good memories that I have of him. He was a good father and provider and he made me (his baby girl) feel loved and special. I miss him terribly but know that I will see him again one day because of the blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice and atonement for Daddy and for me.