Gag Weekend 2012

It started about 14 years ago. A group of close friends from college got all dressed up and went out for a girls night out. After dinner they had fun, played silly pranks on boys, oh college, and became the best of friends. A few years into this tradition, some of which I was able to attend and some not, they started a Bible Study. They called it Girls Accountability Group. One of the boys (they had played a prank on) in the previous years decided to tease them and call their group GAG and that was the beginning of one of the most fantastic friendships of my life.

Here we are for our annual weekend away. My sweet Kennedy and Everly, the beautiful 3 week old, were allowed to attend since they are still attached to their moms. I pray that they have friendships like this when they grow up. Two of the girls could not attend this year, but they are just as loved. We stay in a beautiful cabin and relax the whole weekend. I am pretty sure this is the only picture we took the whole weekend (setting the camera on a table and using the timer). This group of women mean the world to me. They are fierce lovers of the Lord, their families and their friends. I had a fun and relaxing weekend girls! Love you!

Good Times

A few weekends ago we spent some time with some very fun and dear friends. We went to a cabin in the mountains where we played and relaxed all weekend long. We had a fire in the fireplace and the kids road their bikes up and down the very long driveway for hours.  

 Miss Kennedy and I always end up hanging out together while the boys are going crazy. We all went for a walk and this sister came right along with us. I took this picture of us as we were walking. Please forgive the lack of makeup. I am not sure I can blame that on the low key trip or just the fact that I count it a victory if I have brushed my teeth some mornings. 

 Here the boys were climbing on the haystack. Pretty fun stuff.

The big boys went on a mountain bike ride. Please note that Curtis is wearing Milo's jacket (the same jacket that is pictured above in the haystack picture). Hilarious. 

Joy

"The servant-hearted never serve alone. Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for: Joy in Him." 
                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                  One Thousand Gifts

A New Valentine Flower

No, it is not a bouquet of Stargazer Lilies or a dozen Red Roses. The new Valentine flowers are two sweet, simple dandelions picked by two little boys running through the yard to their mom. Although it is definitely not as extravagant, it is absolutely just as special. :) Happy Valentine's Day!  

Maybe This Spring...

...we will finally put in our backyard. We do something to it once a year it seems. Last year we planted one tree. ;) We are a little on the slow side with yard work. How embarrassing! We just like playing and hanging out with our friends on the weekends more than digging in ROCK HARD dirt. I think the time has finally come though. Jeff is going to start to build the wall and then we will start planting this Spring. He got a truck load of dirt and the boys helped him shovel it. 

Helmets must be worn at all times in case you might need to spontaneously jump on your bike

 ...or go on a Safari or do a little construction.  

We hung out and gave some moral support. Go team!

Brothers

It was one of those moments when I thought to myself, "Why is the house so quiet? Where are the boys?" I was sure they were probably looking for candy or trying to open a box of cookies because this house is NEVER quiet. When I came around the corner though, there they were on the couch in the toy room. Both of their tiny buns fitting in one seat. Their cute little heads poking just over the couch. 

 Please also note how many stick horses and stick cows we have. They live in our toy room couch...that is their corral. Miss Kennedy has a pink one. 

 They were sitting quietly, playing Legos! That never happens...the quiet part. Oh sweet brothers. 

Hockey Game

 For my nephew's birthday we went to a hockey game! We have a professional team in town that is actually really good. It was so fun. I had not been to a game in years. Even though we didn't get home until well past Kennedy's "normal" bedtime, she hung in there like a trooper. :) 

 We played musical kid. I had Kennedy and Cody thought the hockey game was most fun to watch from Jeff's seat. 

Brady loved hitting those sticks to cheer for our team. He LOVED all the action.