4th of July, Canning Okra, and the First Day of VBS!

I honestly meant to make a post about our Fourth of July festivities, but time has got the best of me. We've had a busy week with the holiday, Charlie running a fever, all of us getting a cold, decorating for VBS, canning some good yummy produce we found and then today implementing VBS. WHEW! We haven't had much time to sit down this week, but it sure has been fun.

Charlie has had a little upper respiratory infection this week and she has so kindly passed it along to me. Because she was running a fever last week, she couldn't go to school on Tuesday. Dillon stayed home with her while I worked (I think secretly he wanted two days off for the Fourth! HA!)

On the Fourth, we all headed down to the pool at my mom and dad's. We grilled out at my mom and dad's and then we had a huge dinner of slow cooked ribs at our house that evening! We also did something we had never done before and took BOTH the kids to see fireworks! Charlie goes to bed at 6:00 in the evenings so I was a bad mama and put her to bed then woke her up two hours later to go. I will say, she had fun, did not fuss and LOVED the fireworks, so I didn't do too bad, right?!

Friday, Dillon and I were off work to set up for our VBS! It was so much fun and I think we all got our 10,000 steps in by the end of the day. The decorations were on point and I am so thankful for everyone who has helped us get this task completed! This morning started Bible School and we had a yummy breakfast and the kids all seemed to have fun (They were quite sedate today, I don't know what was the matter. We'll have them warmed up by Tuesday though and things will be crazy, I'm sure!) It's been so much fun and our family minister said today that we have over 50 volunteers helping us this week! Ah-mazing! I'm going to make some good strong coffee after work this week to get through, but I'm so excited! We had fun this morning and in fact Luke was sad because he thought we could go back all day tomorrow. We had to explain he'd go to school and then we'd go to church at supper time.

I'm thankful for a day off tomorrow. My house is in desperate need of attention and cleaning. I also may try to can some peaches. HA! And maybe a nap.

Playing with Legos on the porch! 

Oh yeah. Snots McGee

I cooked in the kitchen while everyone played! 

Hannah came over for a little bit and played in the sprinkler on the Fourth! 

I can't believe how big she's getting! She's also going to Bible School with us this week!! 

We had bomb pops to celebrate!

This was my fried squash from Hannah's daddy's garden! 

Eat a peach!

Fireworks! We went to the Honeybaked Ham parking lot and people kept driving by to ask if we thought we could see them from there. We had no clue. And honestly, it wasn't the best view, but we still saw them and didn't have to deal with the crowds! 

And we found out that both kids like blackberries.

Luke helped us to can!

Oh my goodness. Dillon has talked about this pickled okra all year... I'm probably going to make another batch because it has to last him through until next summer.

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VBS Bear!

Mrs. Melissa gives us direction!

Dillon even got in on the skit! He's such a good sport. He'll do just about anything!

I promise I took pictures of other kids, I'm just posting pics of my kids on here in case someone else doesn't like their children's photo being shared!

Pics are a little out of order. Going to the pool on the Fourth!

This was Thursday morning, after being out late to see fireworks. Usually he's up and at 'em. He got up from bed and went to the couch and promptly back to sleep!

Luke got to go fishing last week at his granddad's house! He swam a little and then fished a little. We're aiming to catch a fish next time! 

Luke's First Weekend Away From Mom and Dad

Technically, Luke has spent a few days away from us, but it was Dillon and I that traveled and my mom and dad stayed with him at our house. This weekend, though, is the first time he has traveled away from us and stayed away from home without us. And, honestly, I thought he might have a little anxiety about us leaving him and being away from home, but that little booger hasn't cared the least bit! Yesterday we spent the day in Virginia, but he chose to spend most of his time with Grammy while we traveled around. We did get to have a lovely cookout and Dillon's cousin, Deanna's, house.  She has an awesome pool and the kids LOVED playing in it!

It's a little lonely here without Luke though, and super quiet. The baby slept in until 9:00 this morning (I, of course, was up at 6:30. WHYYY?) and she's currently in bed now and it is so quiet. There's no kid's tv on, Luke isn't running through the house in his underwear screaming, and let me tell you, I miss him. It just doesn't feel like home without him here, but once again it's part of his growing up process. With him starting school, we'll have to get used to sleep overs and camp outs and him becoming a little more independent with each day. I told Dillon today that next month is the month that he starts kindergarten and I legitimately teared up. I think I'm going to need a Valium when he goes to school.

Charlie has enjoyed alllll the attention today. In fact, we asked her this evening "Do you miss brother." And she emphatically said "NO." That's also her favorite word right now, so I'm hoping that she does miss him, even if it's just a little bit.

Next week starts Bible School and I'm pumped for it. We have so many fun things planned for all these kids and I can't wait to get it started! I'm hoping that the promise of Bible School for Luke will lessen the blow when he has to come home. Ha! This week is a funky one, too, with the Fourth on Wednesday and then we're off on Friday to set up everything for VBS. It's a full month for sure, but I love it.

Granny is doing well and getting back on her "feet" after her broken arm. We were so glad to get to visit with her for a little bit!

Isn't Dillon so handsome? <3 And a good daddy to boot. 

She was blessed with curls. I know the struggle so at least I can guide her in that. 

I've got some nice grays coming in there. Oh well.

Claudia's turtle!

Pappaw Eddie has cool socks!

It was so danged hot. She just ran around in a diaper!

Russ "fell" in the pool! I think he really just wanted to play!

Claudia is good at taking care of Charlie! <3