Jason's Trip

As promised, here are just a few pictures from Jason's trip. He did not take a whole lot...but there are some good ones! The organization they worked with over there was Refilwe...pretty cool site if you want to check it out.

Here is the mural that is on one of the walls of the place where the community center was. In some of the preschool classrooms
Hanging out with the kids
She is so darn cute...Jason gave her a hug and then she grabbed his sunglasses from his shirt!Hanging out and singing

I loved seeing these pictures and hearing all about the trip. It truly made me want to be there with him. Our hearts desire and dream is that in the very near future Jason and I will be able to do some mission work together and then be able to bring the girls as well.

Lots of love and laughter
Letting balloons go for one of the churches there.

Jason got to see a lot of incredible things are one was this enormous elephant crossing the road right in front of their car.

We are truly so grateful that Jason had this opportunity. You can truly never come away from something like that the same. It changes the way you view your "problems" big or small and the way you think you "need" things. We are so blessed...or maybe overindulged in this country!

"I...I will SURVIVE!"

I love that song...I have for a long time...but this past week...well, it has been my theme song! Seriously...it was in my head all day...every day. You see...this guy down here...he was in South Africa for a week!

It was for a good reason. He went on a mission trip and he had an incredible time (pictures of his trip to come...I promise). And, honestly, when we talked about him going a few months ago...I was like, "Babe, seriously, go we will be fine...I can do this with my eyes closed"...really...really! I mean Jason travels a couple times a month...normally for 2-4 days...so no big deal...right? Well, let's just say that by day 4...I was wishing I could take back the "eyes closed" statement...and that my eyes could really close...sleep...I need sleep! Truth be told, we had a great time...wild...but a great time...we missed our daddy!

We had lots of dance parties...sorry the pictures look blurred but I wanted you to know what my vision was like after a week by myself!

Two crazy dancing little ones...loud dancing little ones.

Ahh...but there were moments of peace...had by her that is...it is like she was born with earplugs!
If I could just bottle up some of her energy...the things I could do!Hadley developed a little more independence when Daddy was gone...wanted to dress herself...so there you have it!

Oh...and then this...yes I spent the morning getting everyone ready to head out the door...only to walk outside to this...I had to laugh...seriously...are you kidding me...my husband is in SOUTH AFRICA! I know, I know...some of you are thinking "can't you change a tire"...well the answer is No...and I don't want to learn how either!

Then there was this moment...when I came out from putting Bryn down for her nap...a slightly larger "baby" in the exersaucer!

Bryn may be sweet...but when I told her what Hadley had been playing in...well they say a picture says it all!

Disclaimer "no children were hurt in the following pictures...but a lot of fun was had by all involved...ie..mommy and Reese"

Yes...she is dancing on the washing machine...better than on the ceiling!

I am not going to say where she may have seen these moves!

And...finally, our daddy is home! We all SURVIVED...and we are all so grateful that our family is back together! Things just aren't the same without our daddy!

How have I not blogged about this...

Or about Them I should say!

YES...these two! My brother and his FIANCE, Caitlin! This weekend we had a few wedding showers for these two...and I realized that I have not talked about this! I mean, my brother is getting married...to an amazing girl...and we are SOOO excited!So, we headed over to Atlanta...to just hang around for a few days...

Well, we really did not hang around...we really ran crazily all over the Atlanta area! We started at my dad's house to have a celebration lunch for Jonathan and Caitlin with my family, my Aunts and Uncles from South Carolina and Caitlin's mom (we had the best time meeting her)!That night we headed over to a Tool Shower for Jonathan...where you can see he got a really big tool box! (he is going to kill me for that picture...but what are sisters for?)
Here is the whole group from the shower. It was an incredible night....lots of laughter and a few tears as we shared about the amazing man my brother is and how his journey has brought him through so much! I truely do think he and Caitlin are an incredible match!

We stayed with my grandmother, Myrl, and the girls loved it! I say this all the time but I can not even describe how incredibly beautiful I think she is. We headed over there for a bit on Saturday afternoon...and then Aunt Bethany and Uncle Steve graciously agreed to take care of Reese and Hadley while we went to the tool shower...we did not get any pictures...but the girls had a great time!
Then, Sunday afternoon we headed out for a shower for these two again...it was really a shower for Caitlin...but we let the "soon to be groom" come along!

OOOOOHHHH...this is serious business! Seriously, some of the hostesses had to let Jonathan know that it might not be time efficient to give everyone a hug after each gift....he is just really nice like that...and you can't blame him...this was his first time at one of these! (ok, truth be told I may have told him first to put a stop on the hugs...bossy sister...I know)

The gift opening was fun...although Jonathan looks like he might be sleeping...I am confused...why is he not excited about new towels and dishes!

But, in case you were worried...this little one thought the shower was sooo much fun!

Giving a little thank you speech...they are so darn cute together!

The whole Hansard crew

So...in just a few short weeks...these two will be Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Woodlief!

We are so excited!

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7...ahhh...I keep missing these!

Well, September 10th came and went and I forgot to post this little peanut's 7 month birthday...not that it bothers you...but it bothers me!

First...in case you have not seen her...she totally has more red hair coming in...and her second tooth is popping out! She still loves to hang out and smile and squeal really loud (she has to be heard somehow in this crazy house). Bryn can sit up all by herself now but she still takes a tumble...when she gets loved on a little too much by her sisters! She still loves her feet...from the minute she is on the changing table she grabs those little toes and tries to get them in her mouth. She is 100% entertained by her sisters and she laughs really hard when they tickle her! She has started noticing the dogs and she smiles when they get close to her...she gets a little nervous when they bark (so does our mailman). We love this little one...hard to believe she is 7 months old!

Three Sad Bulldogs

Technically it is 4...actually 5 (even though Jason is a Florida fan he does cheer for the Bulldogs as long as they are not playing the Gators...he is such a good sport...I wish I could say the same for myself)!

We were sad that the Bulldogs did not pull out a win over Boise State...but we are not fairweather fans...it was just the first game (and a hard one at that)...GOOO DAWGS!

Three little Bulldogs!

STARTING OFF THE SEASON RIGHT!

Of course we have to get a little silly...