A Quick Trip to Memaw and Papa's House

During the week that we were in Frankfort, the boys and I took a much needed break. We went to Memaw and Papa's house for a visit and some delicious supper! The boys were as excited to see their grandparents as Memaw and Papa were to see them.

Greggy crawled around on the couch while he visited with Papa.

I think Memaw likes that baby!

Mom and Dad had strawberries for the boys...

their absolute favorite fruit!

Hey! There are two Jefferys!

I love some tomatoes!

Papa and John Isaac are such a sweet pair!

Rest & Relaxation

This week has been an extra difficult week as a parent of three children. Unfortunately, our family has experienced the stomach virus. As careful as I've attempted to be about sharing, disinfecting, and the like, three of the five of us have been significantly under the weather at some time in this week.
At the same time, my husband is gaining a better understanding of what it means to be a stay-at-home parent as school is out for the summer. Being the thoughtful man that he is, he planned an overnight excursion for us. A time to relax and take some time for just the two of us...if only briefly.
I must take a few lines to express my sincere gratitude for times like these. I honestly think that I am a better parent to my children because of them. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE staying at home with my boys, but sometimes (especially during weeks like this one has been) I need a few minutes of quiet and true unwinding. We've been on several of these shorter trips since becoming parents of multiple children, and what I find each time is that I come home refreshed, renewed, and ready to love my children with much more energy. As much as I miss the boys when we are away, it is such a wonderful time for John and I to spend together. These times also bring questions from the boys about why we "date" and "spend the night somewhere else." It is a beautiful chance for John and I to express to them that our marriage is important...that it takes effort and time.

I do so hope that my sons will want to be like their father in this way!

This time we visited Louisville for the evening. We stayed at The Brown Hotel. I do love this hotel, and it was our first time to stay there. Both of my proms were in the Crystal Ballroom, and I've always thought that it was lovely.

The afghan on the bed was a nice touch...I slept like a baby.

WHATEVER

I slept like a mother of three who is away for the evening. ;)

In the morning, we ate breakfast at Lynn's Paradise Cafe. John wanted to go as it has been featured on one of Bobby Flay's shows and in Southern Living. It's a good thing we

thought to make reservations. That place was packed!

This is our half-eaten, super-delicious breakfast. If you are a

breakfast person, Lynn's has got to be

on your list of places to visit!

I'd actually been to Lynn's for dinner back when I was in high school, but it has changed quite a bit since becoming a featured restaurant. The food is still great, and they've got the ugliest lamps I've ever seen.

Many thanks to the dear friends who stayed with our sons. We are truly blessed by their sweet friendship. Though it was great, I'm so glad to be back home with all of my boys. I think they missed me too!

Our Trip to Frankfort

This past week, John lead our church's youth trip for the summer. We went to Frankfort to offer VBS for children in a neighborhood local to a church where John and I once served. There were ten youth, five adults, and three pre-schoolers who made the trip.

This was my first youth trip in five years, and I was a little nervous about how the boys would do. All-in-all they did well. I think they had a good time, and they were definitely spoiled by the numerous young ladies who doted on them throughout the trip.

There were sixteen children who participated in the VBS. It was really nice to be able to focus on getting to know them and spend one-on-one time with them as opposed to shuffling them around as can happen when the numbers are really high. I took so many pictures of beautiful children. I thought I'd share some of those below.

Sweet Greggy and his Daddy played while the big boys were crafting. There is just something about a man taking time with his children that is completely beautiful!

Jeffery looks so grown-up in this picture!

I caught John Isaac being a very good listener.

To my eyes, this is one of the sweetest pictures!

In it, we see children with varying shades of skin color,

who are from very different family compositions.

They are from families in varying tax brackets.

At least three different ethnicities are represented

by these precious ones. It reminds me that we aren't born telling

ill-tasteful jokes and having preconceived notions

about the way people are based on outward appearances.

We are taught those things.

Let us be wise in what we teach our children.

Hello Sadie! This young lady opened up so much throughout the time that we were there. This, as you can imagine, is the last day

...beautiful!

This picture makes me think of beautiful friendships.

These girls are so sweet!

These sweet boys and girls are "Singin' In The Rain"...

John's the song leader (if you can imagine)!

Perhaps that's why she's smiling...hehe :)

In all seriousness, he did great!

In the background you'll see

our Mo Mo (aka Morgan)...we just love her!

The little boy in the front is Landon. Such as sweet boy!

This is a chalking that Moses and Landon drew together.

Yes, Jesus does love Landon!

I'm thankful that He loves me too.

Operation: Drink More Milk

Over the past month, John Isaac has stopped drinking milk. He's not been disrespectful or rude, he just quietly doesn't drink it anymore. This has been a big concern to Jess and I, so we purchased chocolate syrup yesterday. Our plan was to put only a small amount in his milk (and not in the other boy's cups because they already drink so much plain milk) so that he would like the taste and drink it. This morning I executed our plan successfully. John Isaac took one drink of his milk and proclaimed, "chocolate milk...I love chocolate milk!" Though I was glad that he was drinking his milk, I thought that the covert side of the plan was busted. Jeffery, though, immediately and dismissively exclaimed, "no it's not John Isaac...it's is not chocolate" Jeffery clearly thinks that John Isaac is crazy, but Operation: Drink More Milk was a success!

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

This weekend was a really busy one for our family, but it was lots of fun! On Saturday, we visited the boys' Gigi and Pop. Uncle Tom, Aunt Jayme, and Duncan were there as well. On Sunday, we attended church and then travelled to Frankfort. We saw Aunt Susie, Uncle Larry, Heather, Steven, and Adam. On Monday, we stopped by the Louisville Zoo on our way home. By the time we returned home, we were exhausted. Thank goodness we gained an hour on our return to Owensboro.

Daddy and Greggy enjoying the pool...I love that smile!

Jeffery enjoyed hanging on the rim...with Pop's help, of course!

John and Gigi walking to meet Uncle Tony and Abe.

Greg certainly enjoys the view from Daddy's shoulders!

John Isaac loved hiding in the back of Uncle Tom's truck. Here we see

John Isaac and Gigi visiting outside of his "home". :)

Pop gave Jeffery his first driving lesson on Saturday.

Of course, Jeffery absolutely loved it!

Aunt Susie and Jeffery played "Don't Spill the Beans".

I love it that the big boys are old enough to play many games these days!

Heather and Steven allowed the boys to play with their instruments from "Guitar Hero". Jeffery really liked the guitar. What a funny boy!

Aunt Susie had no difficulty making my Greggy smile. She makes me smile too! You'll notice in the background...Pregnant Barbie (aka Heather)...I can't wait to meet that little boy! ;) he he!

John Isaac and Jeffery were able to borrow some fun toys

from the Vaught girls in Frankfort.

Here, John Isaac is learning to walk on bucket stilts...VERY FUN!

My sweet boys wanted to pose on the rhino sculpture.

Too bad they wouldn't all give me a grin.

John Isaac's view of the elephants was GREAT

while sitting on Daddy's shoulders!

Greggy and Mommy enjoyed the merry-go-round.

Good grief he's getting so big!

Those are some stinkin' cute kids in my backseat!

I am blessed beyond anything I could have imagined!

We had a great time as a family, but the reason for the holiday is to remember those who have given their life in exchange for our freedom. In my opinion, it is terribly unfortunate that America is currently sprinting as fast as it can away from God and godly principles. I wondered, on Monday, how many of those who lost their life did so because they were willing to defend a country that stands for principles which are vastly different from those that America stands for today...a country that didn't mind the labels, "In God We Trust" or "under God". I would think that military men and women, over the centuries, have thought carefully about what it is they are willing to lay their lives down for.

Honestly, I was a little sad on Memorial Day. I found myself quite uncomfortable with the many ways that we've perverted the freedoms that those we remember have afforded for us. I wondered how many of them would be sad too...just something to consider.