Shocco Springs

Our church always takes a trip together every year. For the past 5-6 years, we have all went to Dollywood. We all had a great time but were ready for a change. Josh and I are youth directors and I always plan the trip. Thought we would look for something different this year and come to find out it was practically in our back yard. We heard about Shocco Springs, which is a Baptist Conference Center located in Talladega. It was WONDERFUL!! We were able to all stay together in a lodge and had all meals and activities together. It was great for all ages. We had 81 people attend the retreat from the ages of 1-80! I had to theme the retreat and came up with "Family Fun & Fellowship Retreat". I believe it was a success! No injuries or sickness, safety of travel there and back and fellowship that couldn't be beat. We got there around 11:30 on Monday AM and came back Wed. We swam, played putt-putt, ping pong, basketball, Foosball, did the aqua park(FUN!!), the men played paintball(so much fun to watch), had nightly singing w/devotion on Mon night and Bible trivia on Tues night and played board games and cards until the wee hours of the AM. The retreat was so refreshing for everyone. You can check them out at shooco.org if you think this might be something for your church to try. The grounds were so nice and the place was packed out. They served over 1200 this AM for breakfast. Kids everywhere and JOY everywhere! We had so much fun and hope to go back again. The boys enjoyed all of the water activities, they are little fish! They sang so sweet at service and slept so hard afterwards. Nothing like playing until you can't go anymore. We slept to 9:00 this AM. We were so tired but loved every minute of the trip!

This would be Houston, my little baby, jumping off the diving board into 12 ft of water. He was the only "little guy" with floaties in line for the big diving board the whole trip. The teens from the other churches thought it was so cool that Houston was so brave. He has a problem with getting in line and waiting his turn. But what was so funny, was they would all say stuff like "he's so awesome he should be able to jump as often he wants too."HA He did love being "a big boy like Justin Grzala."

They also had a log to balance on. Once you got in the middle it started spinning and you had to balance across. Of course, my little guys thought they were big and gave it a try. Levi figured it out by the 3rd time and was so intense about making it across. Check out the look. I think I can, I think I can.

A few steps out and the log is spinning.

Almost at the end and a little smile.

I made it!

Our kids choir singing.

Levi and Houston watching paintball behind the safety net. Levi wanted to do this so bad but you had to be 12 yrs. old.

All awaiting the aqua park.

We had so much fun!

"Tickle In My Heart"

GOD IS SO GOOD!! Levi has been asking a lot of questions about getting saved lately. We have tried to answer as best we know how. He's only 6 but is so mature about things. He has asked all about how do you get Jesus in your heart, if I get saved does that mean I'm fixing to die, bad people go to hell and I don't want to go to hell I want to go to heaven, etc. So, since the questions have been on 3 different nights this week alone, we felt like this was something that was really troubling him. We went to McDonalds after church tonight to eat w/Luke, MK, Ben, Beth, Mom and Dad and on the way home I read him a children's book about being saved that Luke had gotten for him. At the end you could ask your child if they wanted to ask Jesus into their heart. I stopped at that point b/c we were in the car and almost home and thought I would finish here. However, he continued with the questions and wanted to talk to PePaw about it. So, we stopped by Mom/Dad's house and talked about it. He wanted to pray when he got home and call PePaw/MeMaw after he prayed. SO, he prayed the sweetest, tenderest prayer you have ever heard! After he prayed he ran to the phone and called PePaw/MeMaw and then Pop/Nana. He told them he knew he had gotten saved "cause I felt a tickle in my heart and I'm so happy!" HALLELUJAH!!! I'm so thankful no matter our age, gender, or denomination GOD is no respecter of persons and loves us all the same!! Please say a little prayer for Levi and continue to pray that God will be more real to him everyday! If you haven't asked Jesus into your heart, maybe you should really think about it. JOHN 3:16....I know if my 6 yr.old can quote it and explain it you can understand it too. Besides, his love and blessings are boundless and there's nothing in the world like feeling that "tickle in your heart!"

Girls Day Out

We had the rare occasion of "girls day out" today. KK, Mom, Aunt Debbie, KirKir, Peyton, Lily Grace and I all got together today. MawMaw BJ was under the weather and couldn't make it, we missed you! We had lunch at Cypress Inn and then went and watched Mama Mia. It was a pretty good movie. It was a musical and by the time it was over wow they sang a bunch. The ladies in the movie were hilarious though and we all enjoyed it. It's great to get away every once in a while. Thanks Nana for watching the boys! Lily Grace came home w/Debbie for the night so I got to ride home w/her and she is so funny. Her facial expressions are priceless at this stage. I'm so thankful for my family!

The Bozeman Ladies

The Deavours Ladies

She would turn her head before I could snap it.

She loved sharing her cracker with us.

Out With The Old....

The old swing set had had it! It was getting so shaky and unsafe so Josh and the boys tore it down. It's been a pretty good one considering all the poor things it has been through. From being a look out tower for the bad guys, to being a pirate ship sailing the rough seas to mountain climbing up the sides and a nailing post for the carpenters, I would say we got our money's worth. Out with the old usually means in with the new but the new probably won't arrive until around December. They sure had fun using Dad's tools and having their "workin' man clothes on." They want to be right beside Josh no matter what he's trying to do. I'm so glad he includes them and tries to teach them things. He's such a great Daddy and husband. I think it's safe to say that "out with the old and in with the new" will never be an option when it comes to him. I love you, honey!

Cutest "workin' men" I've seen in a while.

They actually look like they know what their doing.

See what I mean by unsafe? The swings and ropes had already been taken and the "look-out tower" was next.

2 Cannon's, 2 Darty's & 1 Kizzire...........

That leads to a pile of BOYS! We had a great day w/our buddies today. We hit the park for a while, then lunch at I'm sure you know where-McDonald's, Splash Pad then Wal-Mart. It was hot but they didn't complain at all. The slides were full of water from the rain and they of course ran wide open to the slides and got wet first thing. They didn't mind being wet but sure made the little ones slide so much faster. Which led to a swelled upper lip(Houston), a goose egg on the forehead(Isaiah) and burnt elbows from trying to slow down(Noah). But it didn't stop them from having fun. Levi and Isaac are at the age where they don't have to watched every second and never slow down. They all loved the splash pad as always and I loved getting to visit w/Christy, Amy, Granny and Nana. We'll have to do it again girls.

The Boys.............Where's Isaiah?

There he is!

YUM!............ Flavored Water- "Strawberry Pee-Wi"

Will find some way to play football EVERYWHERE he goes.

CAR WASH

The boys are always using their imaginations. Today, they were in the tub and I was in the hall outside of their bathroom. Of course a lot of laughin' and splashin' were goin' on. I would go in occasionally and wipe the gallons of water that somehow found it's way on the floor and refill to "warm-it-up,please." The scent of their bath wash always smells up the upstairs but today it was so much stronger. I walked back in to find lots of soap bubbles, an empty bottle and the boys bathing w/their "diving creature toys". They have these octopus diving sticks with loose blue tentacles and they were bathing w/ the tentacles. Levi said they were "in the car wash like when you go through the car wash Momma, and those long blue things clack, clack, clack on our truck." And then the "ho,ho,ho's" started sounding w/their bubble beards and then ivory soap filled the air. Walked back in and they had a bar of soap cleaning the tub and soap was everywhere. Somehow it takes me ALL day to get anything accomplished and they can do all that in about 15 mins.

FUTURE PILOT

Houston LOVES to change clothes! He's in something different all day. Today, he started off as a Pilot. I have been cleaning out closets and the attic over the last couple of days. I've been trying to figure out what Levi might possibly be able to wear to school and figure out what hand-me-downs would work for Houston. Anyway, I also have tons of their baby clothes still packed away b/c I have "letting go" issues as Josh would call it. Well, Houston found the cutest little Pilot's coat except for the fact it's a 12 month and he wears mostly a 5 in everything. He looked so hilarious in his too little coat and some "good workin' man pants" handed down from Bub.

Notice the look. I thought this was so funny but he's a Pilot, "for real"!

Check out the sleeves(should be L/S) and the zipper almost busted when we tried to zip it. Would work great as a "shrug", don't you think? Don't you just love 'em to pieces?!!

POOL PARTY #2

Peyton, Lily Grace, Aunt Debbie, Skyler, MeMaw, MawMaw, and Grandaddy all came to Tuugies for lunch and then came over for a little while to enjoy the sun and pool. About 15 mins. later, Uncle Luke, Ben, Beth and MeMaw showed up at the pool and we had a great time! The kids really enjoyed playing with Skyler and Peyton throwing them. Lily G wasn't so sure of the water but did fine as long as you held her. Ben and Beth didn't swim b/c they were getting ready for a LONG road trip. 2 small children, 2 Bozeman's and 2 in-laws(LOL) in 1 van to West VA for a week, whew....glad I wasn't invited!HA Just kidding, hope ya'll have a GREAT time! Love all my peeps! Glad ya'll got to come down!

LG LOVED the flowers! Na,Na,Na,Na Boo-Boo, just out of Peyton's reach!

Just woke up from a nap and WOW these people are crazy!

MawMaw doing what she does best!HA

Grandaddy doing what he does best! Taking care of them grandbabies!

MeMaw doing what she loves best! Holding them grandbabies!

Lily Grace BEFORE floaties.........

Lily Grace AFTER floaties!

One of their favorite guys!

POOL PARTY

What better way to spend hot summer days than at the pool w/the ones you love? Today, was a LAZY summer day for me. We got to Nana's around 11:45 and enjoyed the day with part of our crazy family. The "Hutto" bunch came down and we grilled out, swam and laughed all afternoon. I'm so thankful for all my family and the memories that my children are hopefully making. Houston cracked us up all day with his little "verbal mistakes" and Levi, the determined "little Josh" that he is, learned to dive today. He has jumped and swam all summer but never taken the diving plunge. Once he started, he dove until he perfected it. It's amazing how fast they learn. Houston is still a little cautious but has swam under water and in the shallow all summer. He has recently mastered swimming to the steps w/out floaties, but still insists on wearing floaties off the diving board. That's just fine w/me! He almost jumped today but "lost his mind"(he meant changed his mind). Another member of our family has also took to the pool. He can really "dog paddle".HA Skip sniffed around the edge for a few seconds and off he jumped. Liked it but tired easily being so little and young. The day was enjoyed by all and the weather was beautiful. Thank you God for all your wonderful blessings. "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."

We Had Church!

We had our annual Pastor Appreciation Day at church and what a wonderful day it was! If you have never heard Mike & Kelly Bowling (& Jeff) , you are missing out! They are filled with God's love and sing with all their heart. You can sample some of their music at their website, http://www.themikebowlinggroup.com/ . We do appreciate our Pastor and love that he still preaches the WORD! Say a little prayer for your pastor today, he may need a touch this very minute. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." 1 Timothy 5:17

WHAT A DAY!

We started the day off w/breakfast at ERG and then off to MeMaw's house to help with Ben and Beth. Luke and MK had a youth conference in Memphis so we got the pleasure of keeping them today. They are growing so fast and are so precious! How my brother got a son that is so good and obedient it is beyond me! It's not fair at all!HA Then, we went out to Granddaddy's to pick the FIRST and SECOND and THIRD cantaloupes of the year. Smelt so good, couldn't wait to taste 'em! Checked the beloved watermelons and decided with the good 'ole "thump" test, they need a little rain and about 2 more weeks. You don't get that good over night folks, it takes about 60+ years of gardening to come to that conclusion. One crop of peas coming up nicely, plowed out and they too need some rain. So, were hoping the Good Lord hears our prayers for the rain. After that, a few naps, baths and snacks later it was time to head to "CHUCK E CHEESE"!YEA! Noah had his big "3" birthday party tonight and the boys had a blast! A night filled with friends, tokens, pizza, cake and a performance from ChuckE himself, "one of the best nights ever" in Houston's book. Then, we met KK at Applebee's for a late supper and the boys opted for dessert since they had filled up on pizza a little earlier. We had a very busy BUT very blessed day!

OH, HOW SWEET.................

BUT THEN THIS HAPPENS!!

OH HOW SWEET.............ALL THE TIME!

FIRST CANTALOUPE!

SECOND CANTALOUPE!

THIRD CANTALOUPE.......AND THE GOOD 'OLE THUMP TEST.

ALL HIS HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF!

PARTY TIME

WHAT IS IT WITH BOYS AND THEIR GUNS?!

CAKE TIME!

YES, THAT IS CAKE!

YES, THAT IS A CHOCOLATE MOUSSE SHOOTER, I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING, "ALL THAT SUGAR, THIS LATE @ NIGHT?" THE QUESTION IS," WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

HE HAD TO HAVE ONE, TOO.

THANKS KK, WE LOVE YOU!