Monday, August 12, 2013

Farmapalooza 2013

Farmapalooza has become a family tradition.
Each year we meet up in Centerville, Indiana
at Westcott Place Farm where my Aunt Connie
and Uncle Bob live.  It is the farm where my
mom and her siblings grew up---and where
my Grandma Rhodes grew up.  There are
so many memories there and it is a really
special place. Aunt Connie and Uncle Bob
keep the farm looking so beautiful 
and FULL of fun things to do.
Group Picture
Group picture after a long day of play...
before showers!!
Sidewalk Chalk on the Lane
4 very important ladies in one shot...
My Grandma Rhodes, My Mom,
Milla and Faith
The Man and Lady of the Farm...
Uncle Bob and Aunt Connie
(aka Booda and CC)
Our Texan Cousins...
Kyle&Staci with KJ (10) and
Reagan Grace (8)
Our Florida Cousins...
Ben & Ragan with Gatlin (8) and
Eme (6)
Us!
Girl Cousin Stair Steps
Faith watching the horses!
Milla horseback riding
Brandon saddled up
Horse lovers!
Hank was in heaven on the farm!!!
Cozy Cousins
Cousin Totem Pole
The kiddos decorated white t-shirts with
their age on the front.
Sack Race....
sometimes the fastest things come in the
smallest packages...little Eme won
by a landslide!!!
Brandon and Kyle in the "egg on a spoon" race
"Back Home Again in Indiana,
And it seems that I can see
The gleaming candle light, still shining bright,
Through the Sycamores for me.
The new-mown hay sends all its fragrance
Through the fields I used to roam.
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
Then I long for my Indiana home."
The dogs would run along all of the trails
with the golf carts and 4 wheelers....they would
run through the corn fields and then take a
dip in the little pond....
Sisters.... Mom and Aunt Connie...
in the morning sunlight they sing to the kiddos...
"good morning God, this is your day.
I am your child, show me your way"
The smile on Milla's face says it all....
she adores her big cousin KJ...she said
"Mommy-why do I love KJ so much?"
Fascinated Faith looking around and enjoying
the wind through her hair on the golf cart.  
The front porch is a popular gathering
spot.  We sat out there and enjoyed each other's
company as we watched a storm roll in.
Ragan's world famous Reese Cup Cupcakes
I love the girls my cousins chose for their
wifes...Staci and Ragan!!! So much Fun!
Grandma Rhodes and Milla....
Grandma lives in a condo that sits on the
outside edge of the farm--so, her back patio
overlooks the corn fields and the wind mill.
Grandma Rhodes and Faith
Brandon taking a spin with Gatlin, Milla
Faith.
 Faith and Eme watching Bubble Guppies
 Reagan Grace and Milla huggin' on each other
 Dirty Dogs...HANK!!
 Puppy and newest addition...
"Sugar Belle"
a tuckered out "Daisy"
Milla... Uncle Bob calls her
"Frank" (after Frank Sinatra...
because of her blue eyes)
Faith...the observer..
Uncle Bob's nick name for
her is "Kitty Cat"...because
she quietly looks around and
watches his every move...
but ignored him for 3 straight
days!!
Aunt Connie makes sure there
are glimpses of God's glory all over the house!!
Pretty Flowers everywhere from the yard.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Fantastic Fathers


 Brandon is one of a kind!  He is an amazing
Dad to Milla and Faith.  I am SO thankful that
HE is my other half...in marriage and
in parenting.  It is so neat watching Brandon
love the girls the way he does, be so involved
and care for them. He is hands on.
He is strong, hardworking,
easy going, even tempered, funny,
outdoorsy, a great listener, adventurous
music loving, a joy to be around
and he is REAL.
 This is a sketch I love of my Dad that a friend
of his did in college.  My Dad is also a hard
worker, he is an incredible basketball coach,
the best story teller, has a tender heart, loves
animals (he is very tough--but you can bet that
he will definitely shed a tear in Old Yellar),
loves doo wop oldies, he is encouraging,
supportive,  motivating, and a very loving Dad.
This is a neat old picture of Mr. Crim. 
You can tell he and Brandon are
Father and Son in this one!
I am thankful that he is such a good Dad to
Brandon.  So glad he took the time to teach 
Brandon to hike, camp, hunt, fish, and 
passed down his guitar to him. Those things
 have helped shape Brandon into who he is today. 
 Milla insisted we make pancakes before church
on Father's Day morning...and serve
Brandon in bed... she woke up early and came
to get me to go downstairs--(you can see those
sweet, tired eyes!)
She helped decorate the plate with
her little "Peppa Pig" Daddy Pig figurine and a
 heart card with a princess on it!  Faith slept in--
but, woke up just in time to sample a pancake!
June 28, 2013 Brandon & I
celebrated our 10th Anniversary!!
I can still picture the doors of the
church opening 10 years ago and
looking straightdown the aisle and
seeing that bright, captivating
smile of Brandon's waiting on me
 at the end!! So thankful that I get to
 see that same sweet smile every day!
*We got to go to dinner at a
delicious restaurant called Pricci*
www.buckheadrestaurants.com/pricci/
 There has been a TON of rain lately!
Thankful for the library!  Here they are in
from of the Cumming Public Library...
a favorite place to visit!
The girls talking to Hank (who also wishes the 
rain would hold off for just a little bit so he
could take a good walk! 
PEACHTREE 2013
One of my VERY FAVORITE things to do
is run the Peachtree Road Race with Brandon
and my Mom.  This year Brandon and I didn't
get numbers--and my Mom had to be out of
town at the last minute.  So, she gave me her
number!  A friend that I work with Dawn
was doing the Peachtree for the first time...
so, we got to meet up and run together!!
It was FUN to experience the excitement
of the massive event with her!
 This was the Marta Station at 7:15am... on
July 4th.at the Peachtree Exit by Lenox!! Packed!
MY FEET!
Despite days and days of rain in ATL-
 It didn't rain at all during the race--
but, Piedmont Park was
a big mud puddle!
 A view of Piedmont Park as I headed back
to Marta.... a neat experience for everyone...
runners, walkers, spectators, and volunteers.
 Milla at Bath time!
 Faith at Bath time!
(doesn't want to look at camera!!..but I
like how this shows her cute little eyelashes)
Very last minute "Girl's Night" last week!
Got to go to dinner and shop around with
my old Bible Study friends down in the
White Provisions area.  That is right where
Brandon's office is--so, we had to take
a picture by his office window!!
Lindsey (baby boy #2 due in 3 weeks, Tiffany,
Anna, Audrey, Me, Jessica and Elizabeth.)