A Lake Martin Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day weekend at the lake. It was a wonderful getaway. Dru's parents, us, the Allgoods, the Fowlers, Uncle Taylor & Jessica and Uncle Miles. Plus lots of visits from different friends. We had so much fun and I was sad to go Tuesday morning. The house was full of little ones, but that's all we know now, so it is wonderful {in my opinion at least ;) }

There was lots of swimming and playing in the water..



Simms & Merrill..So happy the Huddlestons came over!





There was jet-skiing...

Simms with Uncle Gee & Lilla

Cope & Daddy

There was the return of Fun Island...



Simms, Lilla & Charlie Fowler



And relaxing on the boat, including naps for some..





Simms & Merrill relaxing..
Cope, Charlee &baby Manning
were taking serious naps

As evidenced here..

Cope &Lilla taking a break

We enjoyed lunch at Chuck's..I ate 4 pieces of pizza. So good...

Charlie, Lilla & Simms



Cope tubed and loved it. Simms did not..

Before taking off...

Cope with Dru, Miles and Matt

Simms & Merrill

Simms & Lilla enjoyed watching an old VHS of Dumbo..

Simms had lots of fun with these 2 girls..

Simms, Anna Crawford &Lilla

Cope and Simms enjoyed posing for pictures, for once!

And of course there was a few times Simms got to be the captain!

We had a great time! The kids did so much better than I expected. Cope was beginning to get moody on Monday, but I know he was so exhausted. He even fell asleep on the little rug in front of the fridge one night. We hope to be back this coming weekend & can't wait! And I was so happy to come home and find my gardenia bushes weighed down with that most wonderful, fragrant flower. And what makes me even happier is that my grandaddy gave me and Dru 11 more bushes he'd rooted and grown which we planted in the yard 2 weeks ago. They are doing great and we can't wait till they are as big as these first two he gave us! That is so special to me to have those growing in my yard from him!

Happy 5th Birthday Bennett!

I can't even wrap my mind around the fact that Bennett is 5 today! Has it really been 5 years since that wonderful day that he joined our lives? I guess in fact it has been, but it sure doesn't seem like it has. He has brought so much into all of our lives and we continue to love him and be amazed at all he knows about this world and nature and how it all works. And trust me, he knows alot! He is a true scientist, that boy! He changed all of us on May 22, 2007 and oh what a wonderful five years it has been with him. He is one amazing little boy.







He isn't much of a fan of having his picture taken these days. Guess that comes with getting older..



  

His birthday is actually today, but we celebrated safari-style Saturday. Such an adorable invitation.



Little safari people..the birthday boy with his little sister



Simms was so excited Addison was there..notice Simms' new summer haircut. Took us a few days to convince
 her how cute it was. She loves it now thank goodness..


Mae Mae loved all of the animals..she is used to them though. I get pictures of her wrestling
 fainting goats
and a pot bellied pig all of the time.

Cope wasn't too scared either, as evidenced by
this ostrich coming after him.

 

Look at her staring him down..she meant business.




 

The fun began once we boarded our rented safari van. And by we
I mean 9 adults and 13 kids,
5 of which were 2 and under.
 Lots of laughing and screaming. Some of the other adults were smart
and stayed back at our party site.

Cope was loving it at first..

And then this got a little too close to him..
he hid his face the rest of the
ride behind a seat..

Lanier having fun!

Simms surprised me with all of the giggling and feeding
 she did with the animals..
she is usually very cautious



Lunch was waiting on us when we got back..
after sanitizing,the kids couldn't wait to eat!
Adorable lunch boxes..Sissy thought of everything!

                   Adorable and DELICIOUS cupcakes. The monkey was the best..he was iced in fudge!

    While most of the kids ate lunch..

   Cope contemplated round 2 with the ostrich..And if you are gasping for air wondering how we could let his hair get this out of control, have no fear. Dru and I cut it last night, amid screams and protests from Cope. He looks 4 now. Sad.

 

And here is the 5 year old today! We took him a pizza and balloon today and enjoyed a pizza picnic by the pool to celebrate! He told Sissy when he woke up that he looked and felt a little bit taller today! We love you Bennett. We had a great day at your party and Uncle Dru and I are so glad Cope has such a great cousin to look up to, and that Simms has you to look out for her! Happy Birthday!

Our Ballerina!

Simms had her spring ballet recital last weekend. Our precious little girl is just growing up so fast. I really can't believe she is already at the age to take dance and have dress rehearsals and be in recitals. The recital was "Calendar Girls" and the dance studio did tap and ballet dances to different songs that went along with various months or holidays. This recital is for 3 year olds through 4th graders, and the 5th grade through seniors have theirs later that night. I love it that way because the recital is just under an hour! Simms did so good dancing..she did freeze at one point for like 45 seconds when she spotted me on the floor taking her picture, which was hilarious to all of us there watching her! She was so excited about wearing a little blush and lipstick and curling her hair!

Running out onto the stage to begin!



She looks so grown up!



Simms' ballet class



I think this is when she froze up!



Little ballerina!

Sweet little girls..



Finishing up their dance..

                           

So proud of herself and so happy to get flowers from her Daddy!

                                     





She loves flowers!

She told Mae Mae to pick out a rose because they were so "beautiful"



Simms was so happy to have Mary Margaret, Aunt Sissy & Minnie there!



And Gigi and Papa!

Simms & Lanier..pretty girls

We were so proud of our sweet Simms! She had a great day being in her recital and loved having family there to watch her. Both sets of grandparents gave her sweet gifts to remember her special day by but I think all she cared about was the fact that she had her family there! We love you Simms! You are a beautiful ballerina!