July 4th, Finally!!!!!

I am finally posting for the 4th of July. It has been a crazy last couple of weeks. We had a great fourth of July! We went that morning to the parade in downtown Kingston and stocked up on candy. Then we went over and walked around the car show, let the kids play in the inflatables and play on the playground. We went home for lunch and for the kids naps. That night our neighbors across the street Bobby and Tracy came over for some hotdogs. They have three children; Felicia is one year behind Andi, Jonathon is in the 3rd grade and Ashlyn is one week older than Landon. Our kids play well together. After dinner, Tracy and I took all the kids minus Addi to see the fireworks in Kingston. For such a small town, people come from all over to see our fireworks. It really is a good show!! This was Landon's first year to stay up and see them and he loved it, but was really tired! It had been a big day!!

That weekend we were getting ready for our churches "service week" for the next week. The youth worked on service projects around town for people at our church for a week. They started last week on the seventh, John and Andi both went Monday and Tuesday but then we had to make an emergency visit to Atlanta.

On Sunday, the 6th my GG had a stroke. It was very bad!! Many of you may know or have met my Grandmother. The great grandkids and many grandkids called her GG for short. She was a beautiful woman inside and out and had grown so much in her faith over the past couple of years. For that we were all very thankful!! We made it to Atlanta on Wed. afternoon, each day GG just got weaker. On Friday, all her children decided to put her into hospice care at her home, which is a house behind my mom's house. Because all the family lives in the Atlanta area, everyone lived at mom's house for two days. GG's 80th birthday was on Saturday and we had a birthday party for her at her home. Then early Sunday morning at 3:30 am, GG went to heaven! She left us very peacefully and I know is hanging out with my dad! I just want to say in honor of my Grandmother and our GG, that I am so blessed and thankful to have known her for so many reasons. She was such a unique and neat person, with so many talents and gifts. Many of them, that I don't think she ever gave herself credit for. She was beautiful, and adored being a mother and having such a big family. She was so proud of her family and all their accomplishments. She lived a very full and healthy long life. She had an amazing, adventurous spirit and loved to travel and try new things. I always loved that about her. She was quite a woman, who left this earth an amazing legacy in her family! Now, she is on to better things!!!! We love our GG and we'll miss her!!!!

Margaret Delk July 12, 1928 - July 13, 2008

GG adored her family!! She was so proud of her children and grandchildren and even got to know 6 of her great-grandchildren!! Here she is with Addi at a pumpkin patch a couple of years ago!


Here is Addi sporting her shades on July 4th at the parade!


All but John at the parade, he was over helping in the sound booth.


Mike lifting Addi to see inside a car and Landon checking out a black Chevelle. Landon LOVED the car show!!!


Landon loving the black 67 mustang that looks a lot like my dads. I wish I had the time to take my dad's mustang around to car shows. I think he would have loved to have done that.


Landon beside a newer mustang. He loved posing by the cars.


Andi enjoying the parade.


Landon having fun at the parade too. He loves his sunglasses!


Addi giving us a cute smile over dinner on the 4th!


Landon loves these jumping inflatables. Addi, however, will not go in them. She is definately very cautious!!



Here Landon was explaining and teaching Addi about the engine on this purple roadster. Landon loved it because you could see the engine and it was purple, his favorite color!


Addi taking a peek inside....


At dinner that night the kids all had fun playing and being silly together. Here is Landon and Andi playing and wrestling.


Felicia, Andi and Landon hanging out and being silly.


Felicia getting Addi's hand with all the little ones on the couch.


The three littlest ones on the couch Addi, Landon and Ashlyn.


They were all getting pretty silly!!! It was a fun night and day!

A Fun Visit to Nashville and Our Weekend at the River House!

Last week John and Andi were both on trips. Andi went to South Dakota to serve on an Indian Reservation and John went to California with his good friend Spencer. They each had a great time and I am working on getting some pictures from them. We were so glad they could both have these awesome experiences, but were ready to have the whole family home again.

While they were gone, Mike was on call, so the little kids and I took off to spend some time in Nashville with Aunt Ryan, Uncle Bryan, and Mary Paul. We had such a wonderful visit and time. We got there on Tuesday and all came back together on Friday because all the son-in-laws went mountain biking on Saturday morning. Then we all spent the day at the River house hanging and out and visiting. G-Mama came down and joined us late Saturday afternoon, so she got to see everyone. It was beautiful weather and a really fun day.

Below are some pictures from our really fun week, sorry they are out of order.
Happy 4th of July to everyone!!

Aunt Ryan has a fun crawl through toy that Landon and Addi love!! They played in it for quite a while!!


I thought this picture looked funny with only Landon's head.


When we arrived on Wednesday Aunt Ryan had cookies waiting to be decorated! She catered to Landon's addiction to trucks by having several truck cookies. It was funny to watch the kids. Landon wanted to decorate as many as he could, Mary Paul was just licking the icing right off of her spoon, and Addi refused to use any icing at all. I could not believe that!!




We went to a science / kids museum on Thursday and the kids had a great time. Here they are in the front of a truck. Of course, Landon had to drive!


Addi liked to watch this mechanical K'Nex toy move all around.


A little frustrated by the PVC pipe! What a face!


Landon and Mary Paul liked moving this big bulldozer to pick up colored balls.


Do you think Addi was having fun????


They all took a bath together in Ryan's big tub. It was so funny to watch. Do you think Addi is a little tired of the camera in her face??


I think Landon and Addi really look alike in this picture. You can definately tell they are related!


Landon loved pushing all the buttons in the train!


Mary Paul getting a little tired!


This big magnet board was perfect for building trucks!


Landon at the River House developing his croquet swing. Ryan, Sam and I played and I won, by the way!


Landon and Mary Paul had fun in the sun and water. Of course, Addi would not put one toe near the water.



Landon loved the pool and the water!!


All three kids after their bath watching a movie. They look so cute!


The river house has a great swing that we all love. Here is Landon enjoying his turn. He goes really high!!!




Mary Paul still has to swing with her daddy, but she loves it!


Uncle Dave and Kaori watching the action below from the deck.


Landon loving the pool some more at the river house!



Landon loving his shades!! Ever since our day at Six Flags he and Addi have loved wearing their sunglasses. We take them everywhere!!


Landon being pushed by Aunt Sam, and Uncle Bryan!


Mike checking things out below!


Addi sitting in the relaxing swing below the deck. She loved it too!


Addi watching everyone take their turn swinging.


Addi taking her turn on the big swing!! She won't put one foot in the water but she loves to swing!!!




A funny thing Addi has started to do is sing. She sings all the time! Most of the time we don't know all of what she is saying but it is so funny!! She loves to sing with her toys when playing by herself. I have tried to get a good video of it, but so far this is best I have gotten. I am sure there will be more!

Addi Sings!!! from Elizabeth griner on Vimeo.