Tractor Training For Isaac

It has begun......just barely.

Isaac is eleven and got to help Joe drive the tractor over to a neighbor's house for

minor repairs.  Isaac sat on Joe's lap, but steered most of the way!

They went on back graveled roads and Joe said he did GREAT!

My Trip to Huntsville!

Oh, this Mama's heart was HAPPY indeed!

To be able to see this beautiful daughter pick me up at the Huntsville airport

was good medicine !  I enjoyed  five days with Courtney over the Labor Day

weekend and it was great fun and very relaxing!

One of the highlights was going on the Breakfast Trolley Tour!

We boarded a vintage 1920's trolley and toured the downtown Huntsville historic district.

We heard lots of good history about the Civil War, famous people and families

in Alabama, and of course, the story of Lily Flagg, the milk cow!

Before we boarded, we were treated with a massive blueberry muffin 

 (most of which we both saved) and coffee or water.

Afterwards, we went to Humprey's and ate a delicious brunch outside.

Of course we had Winslow Davis serenading us the background!

On Labor Day, we drove north across into Tennessee and visited 

the Arrington Vineyards.

Since Willcox has become well known in the wine industry, it was interesting

to see a vineyard in the south.

It was gorgeous!

After Courtney sampled several wines, we took our picnic out to the

beautiful fields.  It was so pleasant outside!

Looks like a postcard!

Thanks for the wonderful visit, Courtney!

And for such a rainy part of the country, I (we) always manage to have beautiful

weather when we visit!

Miss Elenna is Three!

Little Miss Elenna is now three!

Isn't she just the cutest?  And she has such a sweet, spunky personality!

We met Rachel at a park and had Elenna open some gifts there.

Yes, Elenna is going to be a BIG SISTER!

Baby Nathan is due on my birthday, February 6!

We had Elenna stay with us several times over the last month and that's always fun.

Isaac and Joshua love to engage her in all sorts of fun play!

Apron goes on when I start to make dinner!

The only picture I got of her on the trampoline when she was STILL!

She loves to jump!

Grandpa is always ready and willing to go for a horse ride!

We  sure do love you, Elenna, and wish you a wonderful year ahead!

Adventures in Odyssey!

Mr. Whitaker, Connie, Eugene, Donna and Jimmy Barkley,

Tom Riley, Bart Rathbone, Bernard Walton, Lucy Cunningham-Shultz, Rodney Rathbone,

Jack Allen .......................and the list goes on and on!

Our family has, and still continues to be great fans of the Adventures in Odyssey radio

program, produced by Focus on the Family.
Isaac and Joshua were so excited to visit this - they had heard stories from their older
siblings, and were excited to experience it for themselves!!

Matching the actors with their voices!

The B-17 Bomber that is featured in "The Last Chance Detectives."

"The Underground Railroad" is one of my all time favorite episodes.

We signed up to record a personalized episode of Adventures in Odyssey.

It was the very same one we had recorded with the older children back in 2002!

Joe played the part of Casey.

Joshua played the part of Jamie!

Isaac was the "FOLEY", which is the person in charge of all the sound effects!

Big excitement as we headed over to Whit's Soda Shoppe!

Oh yes!!!  A  Wod-Fam-Choc-Sod and Rasberry Ripple!

Flashback to 2002!

The joy of having older AND younger children, is that Joe and I get to

have fun experiences over and over again!

We had a BLAST!

All in all, a wonderful day spent at Focus on the Family!