Goin' to get my babies!!!

My babies have been gone since Monday. They went to my in-laws' an hour away to go to their church's vacation bible school this week. I'm going to pick them up this afternoon. As many of you know, this is the longest I have been without them. I'm doing ok. I've filled my week with lots of things to do, had people over and kept myself busy to make up for the loss in company. I guess since we homeschool I have just become so used to having them with me at all times that I really do miss them when they're gone. That doesn't mean they never drive me crazy or make me want to pull my hair out, but I must admit those times are rare.
While I sometimes, usually when going through pix, miss the cuteness of the baby stage, I really enjoy where they both are now. Seems like each new stage they get to I like even better than the one before. They are so fun to have conversation with now. Their thoughts and ideas amaze me sometimes! And, they never cease to crack me up daily!!
I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pix of them together.

A kiss from big brother. Tanner was only a few days old.

They may no longer look like babies to you, but they will always be my little babies! They are, by no means, perfect children, but I couldn't imagine our lives without them!

Soon-to-be winery

Mike has built (is building) a building at a (soon to be) winery. It is hoping to be opened by late next year. They are in the process of finishing the main building which will house a tasting room, a banquest room upstairs as well as a balcony overlooking the vineyard. It is owned by a man whose family has owned the land for hundreds of years and it is so full of family history for him, he could (and will) talk for hours about it. He has all kinds of artifacts. He has the ledger books from the corner store his great (maybe another great) grandfather owned with the lists of people and what they purchased. It's pretty interesting. What's amazing is seeing how excited he gets talking about it, knowing he's probably told these same stories a hundred times! Here's a few pix of our visit.


There's a pond behind the main building. It's so peaceful and calming. There's a gazebo next to the pond that he hopes people will, one day, take advantage of for weddings. It's made from the wood from and old grits mill that was on the property.
This is the winery owner. He has all this old equipment that he uses (or plans to use).

His drying rack.

Bottling equipment.

I loved these old barrels.

This was an old press that was given to him.

This is the front of the main building where his tasting room will be. It's kind of got a rustic, yet upscale feeling to it inside.

The property is full of old buildings used for many different things 'back in the day".

This old well sits in front of the vineyard.

The vineyard, taken from the balcony of the main building.

I can't wait to see it when it's done, he has big plans for this place! It'll be a great place to go with a group of friends and sit overlooking the vineyard or watch the sunset over the pond. Can't wait...

We went to a cruise-in of a nearby car club this weekend. Matthew has a new camera and has been taking pictures of EVERYTHING!!! He walked around the entire time taking pix of the cars. I just enjoyed looking at them from his point of view, seeing the angles he appreciated and the details he thought worthy of a picture. I thought I'd share:

I think this one is my favorite!

Or maybe this one...

Last but not least, a self-taken pic of the artist.

And, yes, I'm sure he's available for appointments!

Summer To-Do List

With all of the junk (ummm...I mean yard sale treasures) finally gone, I have been wanting to get other little projects done and finally get this house in complete order. I sat down this weekend to make a list of things I want to get done this summer. Some are small tasks, others a little larger. Some I can't do myself at all (which really bugs me!!) I'm taking the boys to my in-laws for the week to attend VBS at their church and thought this would be the perfect week to plow through my list. I thought by going public with it on my blog there would be a certain feeling of accountability to get it done. So, without further ado, here is THE LIST:

*cut grass
*overhaul schoolroom
*put up clothesline
*clean and refill bird feeder and bird bath
*paint picnic table
*finish Elvis puzzle for Tanner (its spread out on the guest bed and he's lost interest)
*kill spider and dispose of web above front door
*sweep sidewalk and porch
*order coat hangers for laundry room
*clean out under kitchen sink
*sealant on front porch
*strip and paint old dresser for our room
*re-pot african violet
*move Tanner's bed (he wants it on other wall)
*plant lantanas
*clean out storage room
*clean front door
*straighten up back patio
*move Hampton's pen (he's still recovering from being ran over)
*install shelves in guest closet
*clean up office (and throw out lots of paper!)
*organize sewing stuff
*clean back door
*finish painting laundry room cabinets
*organize laundry room
*wash boys shower curtain
*hem T's new pants
*hang jewelry box in closet
*iron clothes
*bathe Lola
*paint and install shelves in office
*cut out dead limbs from shrubs

There's a few more things that, without lengthy explanation, would not make sense so I left them out. I realize several of these things are ongoing and will never be complete such as sweeping sidewalk and bathing Lola but I put them on their anyway because they are things I need to do this week.
So far today I have cut the grass, moved Hampton's pen and cut the dead limbs out of the shrubs. I had done all of that, though, by 11:00. I showered and the boys and I met Mike for lunch before they leave for the week. We got home, packed them up and did a few little things around the house and now it's almost time to leave to meet my mother-in-law. I will go straight from meeting her to our car club meeting and from there Mike and I are headed an hour away to look at two armoires I found on craigslist. One is actually a computer armoire. I want to move my computer down stairs. The boys are getting online a little more as they get older and my computer is now upstairs in my little hole-in-the-wall office and I can't easily monitor what they're doing so I want to move it down stairs but need a cabinet to close up the mess. The other is a cedar clothes armoire that, if I buy, I'll get Mike to install some shelves in to house my fabrics and other sewing stuff. It will go upstairs. Hope it's not too heavy!
So, that's my day and a glimpse of what's to come. I hope I can report each and every day that I have crossed another few things off my list!!

Happy Birthday Gloria!

Gloria turns 27 today! Happy Birthday Gloria! Her sweet husband, Warren, threw her a surprise birthday party last night and we were honored to have been a part of it. It was so much fun!

Warren with his birthday girl! Gloria's sweet spirit is as beautiful as her smile!

Ellen trying to defend herself during a game of maffia (having red hair excuses nothing, Ellen!). This was the first time I had ever played this game. It was a little confusing, but fun!

Charlotte with her main man David. (Chin out, girls!!)

John Q. thoroughly enjoying the laid back atmosphere of the party!

Pastor Rowe was hilarious during the maffia game. I'm still not sure he ever really

got the hang of it!

Louise and John Q. They have to be one of the most fun couples ever! Mike and I always enjoy spending time with them.

Eric and his love, Audrey. Two of the sweetest people you will ever meet (besides Mike and myself, of course)!!

Tan man got a little bored waiting for his turn to play the wii in the den and found a playstation in another room. I think he played quietly hoping none of the other kids would find him!

Fun was had by all ages!

One last pic of the birthday girl with friend, Ellen.

I hope you have a great birthday, Gloria! Thanks for letting us share it with you!

It's been a while...

It's been a while since my last post and everyone keeps reminding me I need to update my blog. I have been very busy but either it's boring or I don't have pictures (I don't like to blog without pix). But, here's a few things I've been up to:

*Had a yard sale (made $677!!!!)
*Had our homeschool yearbook staff over to work on our yearbook (almost done!)
*Went to the beach with my mom for the day
*Family reunion
*Funeral (Mike's maternal grandmother passed away about a month ago)
*Homeschool year-end celebration
*Ran over our basset hound so we've been having to tend to him a little more than usual
*Boys had green tae kwon do belt test

I'm sure there's more but that's all that comes to mind right now. Things are starting to slow down some now and look a little more like summer. Pictures next time, I promise!!