A Long Weekend

Wow, this has been a long weekend. A good one, but an exhausting one. It all started Friday night when Mark came home from work. He had a big surprise for the kids - a new canoe. Mark has wanted a canoe for a very long time, and I'm glad he finally got one. Mark is great about being very intentional about spending time with the kids and this is one way he can have fun with them. The kids were super-excited to say the least.

Saturday was a busy errand kind of day. I made pear preserves in the morning and then my parents came to bring us a new-to-us couch. I love it. We had this terrible futon and my feet would not even touch the ground when I sat all the way back on it. We got the futon because we wanted something we could wash easily. It was great for that, but not the most comfortable to sit on. So in with the new couch and on the Hannah Home for the futon! Thank you Momma and Daddy for bringing it to us. James also got to ride on the lawnmower with Pawpaw so he was a happy boy.

After they left Abbie and I ran errands and then when we got back Mark took Tyler to get new shoes. We keep telling these children to stop growing, but they won't listen. We had family movie night and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks, a huge improvement over George of the Jungle 2.

Sunday we went to Oak Mountain so the kids could canoe. It was great, but it was HOT. I don't do hot very well. We had a good time and after canoeing, Mark took them to the beach area and they got to swim awhile. James and I went to the Nature Center and walked around in the air-conditioning. Much better. We came home thoroughly tired and just plain worn out. After the kids went to bed I still had to go buy groceries. I was moving very slow through Wal-Mart Saturday night.






Today we went to my second favorite place in the world, my grandaddy's house. There is no way I could even describe how this place makes me feel. It is different than when my grandmother was alive, but it is still wonderful. I am so thankful my children get to know their great-grandfather, just as I knew mine and experience his house and land. I'll try to write more about his house some other post. We mostly just sat around and talked and ate lots of awesome food. (Shout out to Aunt Sister and her delicious chicken cheese ball!!!) Everyone laughed at James and his antics. The guys shot guns for awhile. It really was a good day and I am so thankful for my family.

Besides Mark, the two most wonderful men I know, my grandaddy and my daddy.




The kids experiencing Pop Rocks for the first time. Thanks Aunt Sister!



Abbie helping Nana frost the cake for dessert. (By the way, if you can find a better Nana out there then, well... it'll never happen.)

And finally, if there is anyone still reading this... I can't stop looking at this picture.



Just so you know, the chicken does not live in the house, she just came in for a short visit!
Sorry about all the crazy picture alignments. I can't get it togther tonight.