Just A Test!

Okay, I am just trying to see if I can learn how to make my pictures bigger on the blog...and if it makes them look any better on the screen. Sometimes when I edit them on my computer they look just fantastic and vivid and sharp, and then when I post them they don't look as compelling. I think I have partly figured it out, but now I have to figure out how to get more than one picture per post. Baby steps, Michelle....baby steps...

Just A Test!

Summer Fun!

For the next few days we have our niece Bailey with us while her parents are helping out at church camp. We are thrilled to have her, as we don't get to see her nearly enough. Today the girls had Chuck put the slip n slide out in the yard and soon the neighbor boys were over too. They had a blast just having good old fashioned summer fun and they were so much fun to watch. I was so proud of Chuck, because while I was in the kitchen cleaning cupboards, he went and grabbed the camera to capture a few memories. Now, do I have this guy trained or what?!?! That's just why I love him!! :0) Nothing better than summer days, is there?

Smoky Mountain Vacation 2009

Well, first of all, be ready for picture overload! If you follow me on facebook at all, then you know that I have taken TONS of pictures of our vacation to the Smoky Mountains. It was SO hard to pick the ones to put on the blog, but I tried to pick my favorites! This first is one of many that depict the absolute beauty of the mountains. It really takes my breath away to see the beauty of our earth...it's so easy to forget to look for the beauty that is all around us!

We went to visit Cade's Cove, which is one of our very favorite places and we had a picnic and then we just let the kids throw on their swimsuits and play in the streams...they truly had a BLAST!! Mom, Dad, Chuck and I just sat and watched while they played for almost two hours. It was a great day and when I look at the pictures, they remind me of a magical forest that you might see in a movie. These pictures were from one of my favorite spots we discovered that day.

One of the highlights of this trip was a surprise that we had planned for the kids. We arranged for them to go horseback riding, and since Chuck and I weren't crazy about going, my dad agreed to go with them. We didn't tell them what we were doing, we just let them figure it out as we were driving. They were so excited and they had a ball!!!

We rented a little villa this time instead of doing a cabin and I have to say that we really enjoyed it. It was so clean and spacious and it gave us all room to spread out so that we didn't get on each other's nerves (not that that would ever happen in our family...). It had a really nice pool that was hardly ever used and the kids really enjoyed that. These pictures are from the first night of the trip and the kids were unwinding from a full day in the car.

The kids just being silly with Grandpa!

Our whole vacation crew: Mom and Dad, my Uncle Dick and Aunt Cheryl, and our family. It was a fantastic trip with many wonderful memories. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or if it's the kids getting older, but this was one of the best trips ever...no one really argued and we just laughed so much!!! Smoky Mountain Vacation 09 was a success!

Kenzie's Birthday Party

My parents were kind enough to let us use their house for Kenzie's birthday party so that the girls could swim. I was so thankful because it was definitely HOT! Kenzie had her friends, some very nice girls, and they just swam and had a great time together. It was the easiest party we've ever had, the girls just played and played. We even noticed that they didn't get out pool toys...they were just content with each other. It really was a fun day spent celebrating with good friends.

Emma and Kenzie

Alaina, Emma, Kenzie

Alaina and Kenzie

Grace and Kenzie

Erica and Kenzie

Jenna and Kenzie

The whole gang!