Memorial Day Weekend 2008 in Atlanta

We had a great time last weekend in Atlanta for Memorial Day weekend! We had great visit time and play time. On Sunday afternoon we had a big family gathering and all had fun catching up with family that we do not get to see very often. It was a strong reminder of how thankful we are for our families and for the freedoms we can enjoy because of the brave armed forces that we remembered this past weekend!! Below are lots of pictures from our fun family get together on Sunday afternoon!!!

Here is my handsome cousin Wes!!He is a college grad preparing to take a once in a life time rock climbing adventure all across the country!


Addi and Will hanging out. Will was making all kinds of growling noises at Addi and she was just standing there looking at him like he was crazy. So funny! It was great to see Courtney and Will on this visit too.


The kids playing with some new toys!


All the Delk family grandkids and great-grandkids with GG!!!


The Delk family kids, all six of them!!


Funny little Mary Paul in her cute swim suit!!


Addi still did not like the water but she did like the swing!


Landon, however, loved the water and was wet most of the afternoon!


Sam with Kaori in her new swimsuit!! Jeremy and little Taylor in the background hanging out near the kiddie pool. It was so fun to see my cousin Mandi, Jeremy and Taylor!!


The chefs of day at the grill, Adam and Andi!


Landon climbed right up and snuggled with his Uncle Bryan, it was so sweet!


Sam with Kaori in one of Kaori's favorite inventions. She loves her carrier!!! It is a sure bet to get her to sleep!


Addi looking at Kaori's arrival pictures with Uncle Dave!


Addi giving me a great smile as a bathing beauty!!


Cousins Addi and Mary Paul both bathing beauties in their ponytails!! So cute to watch them together!!

The Past Couple of Weeks at a Glance.....

We have had a good past two weeks! Summer is officially here at our house as the kid's last day of school was yesterday!! We are all very happy for the arrival of summer and all of its plans. To kick off the summer me and the kids will do our traditional G-Mama visit beginning the first weekend of June. We plan on making a Six Flags trip and it will be the first one for the little ones. It should be fun and interesting! John and Andi are the busiest with their summer plans. Andi is going on two different mission trips, one to the Lakota Indian reservation in South Dakota and one to the Gulf. John is going on a big vacation to California with one of his good friends and then he is going on the Gulf mission trip as well. Then they both have band camp the last two weeks of summer, so summer will go by very fast!! The little ones and I will be hanging out and possibly making some visits to see Aunt Ryan, Uncle Bryan and Mary Paul as well as my friend Amy and her kids. She actually came to visit me this last week and it was so good to see her. We used to work together in Augusta. She is staying home with her two girls now and was able to make the trip during the week. I am so thankful that she came to visit!! It is not easy making a 4 hour trip by yourself with a two year old and four month old, so hats off to Amy!!! We had a great visit!!!

This week also marked Andi's last year of middle school. I can't believe that next year I will have two highschoolers. Andi finished 8th grade with all A's!!! She recieved a Presidential Award for Scholastic Excellence! She is so incredibly smart and talented in many ways!! We are so very proud of her and the young woman she is becoming. Next year will be a big one for her being a freshman and a member of the RCHS colorguard!! We are so excited for her!

Last week John was asked by his marching band director to be the Drumline captain next year. This is a big honor for John as usually it is only seniors who have this responsiblity. John will be a junior next year so will be the captain for two years!! What a great leader we have and we know John will do a great job!!

Below are some pictures of my visit with my friend Amy and some pictures of Andi with her favorite teachers!!
Here are Addi and Abbi. Abbi is one week older than Addi! You can imagine it got a little confusing with an Abbi and an Addi!! ( I made them their matching dresses and they wore them to church on Wed. night. They were so cute!!)



I put several of these group pictures up because as many of you know it is so funny trying to get group pictures of kids. I love to see what all of them are doing in the different pics!!




Addi cheesing it up!!!


Addi and Abbi again trying to get them both to look at the camera!!


Abbi showing off her pretty brown eyes!!!


Some more group shots!! Too funny!!





Andi with her favorite teachers and friends from this past year!! Doesn't she look so pretty and grown up!!!

Mother's Day Weekend!!

Amazingly I did not take any pictures of my Mother's Day weekend, however it was great! Friday, all of us except Mike and John went to Atlanta to see my mom's play that she directed. Aunt Samantha and Kaori came too. It was so much fun and she did a great job!! Saturday morning we went shopping to get Andi some summer clothes and then took G-Mama out for a Mother's Day lunch and celebration. I am so thankful for my mother and the wonderful grandmother she is to my children. I have a great example in her and admire her in so many ways!! I love you MOM!

After lunch, we headed back to TN. Once home, I was admittedly very tired and crashed in bed at 9:15. The next day was busy at church (I was teaching two classes), but once I was home I was able to relax. It was so nice. Mike and the kids made me a special lunch and dessert. They make me the same thing every year and it is my favorite! Then they gave me flowers, a new candle, and then John and Andi volunteered to babysit for my big gift of a facial, manicure and pedicure at Salon Visage! Wow! I was very surprised and excited! My husband was so great and then let me take another long nap!! I absolutely LOVE being a mother and find my greatest joys in each one of my children!! Hooray for all the Mothers!!

Landon Turns 4!!! and a Few Other Funny Pics!!!

This post is mainly Landon's birthday party, but I also wanted to show some pictures that I took last week of Landon and Addi playing dress up. They were being sooo silly and put on these outfits because they were getting ready to dance. One day, Landon will despise this picture I am sure!! :)

On Saturday we had a great time celebrating Landon's birthday!! This was the first year that Landon had friends there other than family and it was a lot of fun. We are so thankful for all those who could come. Aunts, Uncles and cousins were all there in addition to our neighbor Tracy and her two girls Ashlyn and Felicia, and friend from church Becca with her two kids Evan and Summer. Landon was sooooo excited all day for his party and it was so much fun to watch his anticipation, even though he was VERY WILD and CRAZY! Landon got lots of fun gifts and his big gift was from mom and dad as well as family members who also wanted to help with its purchase. We got Landon a Ford F-150 Monster Traction truck from Powerwheels and he LOVES it!!!! I wasn't sure how he would do with it, since he has never ridden in one before. He has sat in them before at the toy store, but that is all. My mom got him a car two years ago for Christmas that you push with your feet and he drove it pretty good. Well, when he got in his truck, he was a natural driver! He did not hesitate at all, but got right in and took off. It was sooo fun to watch. He even backs up so well correcting turns, etc. It is so funny to watch him go and it was worth every penny! Thanks to all who came to his party and made it so much fun, and thanks to our family who is far away who sent gifts to help us celebrate! We love you all!!!!

Addi looking so pretty in her princess dress!


Andi snapped this picture while Addi was pretending to go to sleep, I thought it was sweet.


Landon showing off his favorite color dress, purple!


I told them to make silly faces! So funny!


Addi showing me all of her pretty dress!


Landon will definately not like these someday!


Landon decided he wanted A Firetruck Birthday Party, so that is what we did. This is the first year he has really had an opinion or really known that his party was coming up. The anticipation was killing him!



I tried to get a group picture of the kids at the party. I think this is everyone except for Kaori and Summer.


Landon and Ashlyn awaiting the cake!! Ashlyn is only 10 days older than Landon.


Here comes the cake!!!!


Landon loved his cake and was eager to blow out the candles!


This is also the first year he blew out all his candles all by himself! It was big year!!


Was he excited or what????


Evan watching the birthday fun!


Landon opening his gifts! He got lots of fun toys!!





Landon having fun!


Landon's big truck hidden under a sheet.


Landon got the Bee movie and of course cars and trucks!




I think Mary Paul wanted more cake, she has a sweet tooth like me!!


Landon did not hesitate at all about hopping in his new ride!


Checking it out before getting in!


A face right after the reveal!!


Discovering his new truck!!


Happy, Happy , Happy!!!!!!


Kaori and her proud Daddy!


Landon took to driving with no problem!


He took Addi with him on his first ride and Ashlyn couldn't wait for her turn!


Landon giving his little sister a ride!!! So funny!



Then, Landon gave Mary Paul a ride and she loved it!!!!



Lastly, Landon gave Ashlyn and ride and they have been riding everyday since!!



Mike and Addi watching the action!!


Landon riding and riding!!


After a while of riding, he finally wanted some cake. Pretty silly face!


Riding again!


I loved these posing pictures with his new ride. You can tell he is very proud of his new wheels!!!



He is such a funny driver because he acts like he is turning on the radio and he loves to look at people watching him instead of the road. He makes some silly faces!



Mary Paul having some fun running in the yard!


Here he is backing up and watching which way to turn. He is even a good driver in reverse. A natural, which is good since he LOVES cars and trucks soooo much! I told him this truck was a monster traction truck just like monster trucks. He corrected me saying that it was not a monster truck, only a pick up truck because it could not jump. I quickly agreed and said, YES it can NOT jump! Hopefully, I won't come out one day and he is trying to jump this truck!!!


Happy 4th Birthday to our sweet Landon!!!!!!