BIG WEEKEND

I had unexpected news this weekend. Dad ended up in the hospital with two very large kidney stones. They are trying to make him comfortable until they can use the laser and break them up. So I have a special request, please say a prayer for him, or two or three. You get my point. I have heard they are extremely painful and I know he is where he should be. Thank you for you thoughts and prayers!

Now, about the BIG WEEKEND. Kimberly came from Atlanta to have a Spiritual Toolbox party with me. I have done home parties in the past, but this, by far, was the best ever. She is so knowledgeable about her work that I want to share her wealth and beauty with everyone who is willing to listen. We did a lot of brainstorming and came up with several more ideas on ways to get her toolboxes known. She is in the process of doing newsletters so anyone who wants to receive those can sign up on her web-site at www.spiritualtoolbox.net . She has also started a blog, but in the very early steps. I think it will be the easiest way to access some of the shows she has going on and the latest information. There is so much to know that I will never do it justice so please check her out and let me know what you think. Tell a friend and lets spread the word, this is too good to keep to ourselves!

Before Kimberly showed up, Naomi performed her dance routine that she had been working on all week. It was really cute, as you can imagine. I will try and post the video later.

On top of it all, Levi had performed in the Spiderwick Chronicles play that he had worked on in theater camp. He played the part of Mackwack (the part he wanted). He (they) all did a great job. I see more of this in the future. I would have never been this brave when I was young so I'm really glad that my kids enjoy it. I think performing is a talent and I love seeing my kids happy!

Thank you to all that came and supported us this weekend. We really appreciate you!

FUNNY

This is a picture of my niece Hannah. I makes me laugh every single time I look at it. Click on the picture to enlarge for the full effect, partner.

BEAUTIFUL MORNING

It is a beautiful morning. The sun is shining, fresh, cool air is a blowing. We have so many things to be thankful for. I just wanted to share a few of the things I get to enjoy with you. I love the warm days and the cool mornings. This is the time of year I enjoy most. Spring is nice because everything is fresh and coming out but the days are still a little cool for me. That is what is so nice about summer. Everyday it seem there is a new flower to behold the beauty but the weather is warmer so I want to stay outside ALL of the time. It doesn't matter if I am hot, I get in the shade, but the beauty is every were! I love this flower. It looks totally exotic, paper thin, and blooms and blooms. The only hard part is trying to remember to water it every day. Not my strong point.
I like the wispy feel of this grass. It reminds me of the beach.
Looking down off our deck. Joe has done so much to create lots of texture. You never know what you might find in our yard.
We couldn't have done our deck without my family. Dad put in so much time that I can not thank him enough. Mom was great to help with the kids so that the three of us could get so much accomplished. Kenny was a blessing too. I think about my family every time I walk out back, and that is a good feeling.
Beautiful. It is exotic like the hibiscus, but with thick durable petals. And oh so fragrant.

PLAY HOUSE

As a late birthday present for Naomi, Joe's parents (Mamaw and Papaw) bought her this awesome play house. It was delivered the first day of summer vacation, and she was thrilled! It's one of those things I have wanted to write about but hadn't found the time. It fits nicely in our yard. We put it in the space that I showed you a few post back. The place where Levi is caring the limbs, right next to the tree that Naomi likes to climb. It looks out to the sand pit and our lovely flower garden.

The first thing she has planned is to put a loft in it. Our first plan is to put another window in the back. It has a side door that is large enough for an adult to walk in but I like the thought of more air flow. Mamaw can see a porch with an awning, and the list goes on.

It just so happened that on a recent trip home, Mom was cleaning out one of her rooms and gave us some great stuff. She had some Home Interior pieces that were still in the box and I gladly took them off her hands. I wasn't sure what I would do with them at the time but as soon as the play house arrived I knew where they would go. We bought a fancy chair at the fair rummage and she won a sequin lanyard that she put the keys on so they don't get lost. This picture was taken standing under our deck. She just had to have it painted purple!
She is so proud. The heart window, the great Home Interior decorations, her sequined lanyard.
The other side. Still showing off the keys, sitting on a hook rug that Joe's grandmother made.
Levi showing their mode of communication. Naomi's fancy chair and a piece of art that we got at the rummage sale also. She loves cats, so the art was perfect.
The dogs outside, checking it out.

FAIR MEMORIES

We got this lovely caricature at the fair. It was done by the art teacher at school. I think she did a great job. The funny thing is, I see Joe's sister when I look at it!

They had it done on the night I was working the food line so I got to watch them. Several of my friends and their daughters got first. Naomi came up to me bawling, saying that she wanted one too but that her dad was missing. Not being able to leave my post, I felt terrible, trying to console her. The next thing I know she is sitting on his lap, happy as can be. I love it! I just wish I had one of myself and the kids.

JOE'S FATHER'S DAY

After spending the morning at church and hanging out at the pool, Joe could take it no more! He just had to go fishing. I guess all the fishing on our camping trip only fueled the fire burning inside him. Must go fishing, must go fishing...you get the picture.

I don't mind to fish, I just don't have my fishing license. I usually don't go enough to justify getting them. With the kids getting older, I guess it will be something I invest in. That, and a good pair of gloves so I don't have to get worm guts on them! I never mind touching the fish, its the bait all squirmy that I am not so fond of.

Back to the trip. We went to our friends Donna and Vicky's house. Joe has had more luck there than any other place he has fished around town. We get there and the water is up, way up. Poison ivy everywhere and the thought of snakes is on my mind. Joe is not to be deterred from his mission. He plunges right in and the kids follow. I hang back, not able to see the bottom and looking for snakes. Mud is everywhere with little room to sit on the bank. I find a spot and get out the camera. The rest is history.

Notice the water line on Joe's pants in the pictures.


Just getting there. Everyone strikes a pose.
Not long and Levi gets a bite. He is able to reel it in and proof is at the end of the pole. Now Joe is really motivated and moves out a little further to get to the BIG fish.
They're getting bigger.
The Grand Finally. Joe's pants are completely soaked, the big small mouth bass, no snakes, the bugs hadn't started biting so we left while we were ahead.

He was soooo happy. He said that that was the best Father's Day!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Since we are apart this year I thought I share some older pictures of my Dad. He has always been there (here) for me and my family. He is a great guy who would do anything for you or a friend and ask nothing in return. I (we) are very blessed to call him our DAD. We love you! Here for my wedding. Sporting a rare beard.
He was here for Levi's birth. My kids love to see these pictures with their grandparents!
Elijah's lending a helping hand. Dad at the cabin spending many hours fixing it up.

We are very blessed to have two wonderful parents. Thank you for all that you have given us!

HELLO

I just wanted to give you a big HELLO from the Howell family. We've been busy but I see a break in the action. Well, not a break, just a slow down. I plan on posting a lot that I have been saving up, so stay tuned! One of Levi's creations. I'm sure you can tell who's who. He does a family good!

FATHER WILL'S CAMPING TRIP

We spent the last week in the woods. It is our second year to go, but the trip is an annual thing that has happened for the last 20 years. Joe went a few years ago with Elijah but I didn't know what to expect then so I didn't made it. Now, with Naomi being so vocal, she wants to go too! It is open to the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students but siblings may go if a parent chaperons. So, you know what we did. This was the only camp my kids wanted to attended this years so, here we are. And it is fun. I got off easy this year, Naomi loves kids and with so many to play with she barely noticed me. When she did, she was not happy because I was usually wanting her to do something that involved stopping play.

The girls in my tent were the older ones who mothered Naomi, would read her bedtime stories and played with her. One even gave her a beautiful purse with sequence and beads. I only had two request of the girls staying in my tent. 1. Do not leave the tent unzipped. 2. No wet clothes in the tent. They seemed to like that I didn't ask more than that of them and we got along well. Tent mates!
What we did all day. Except me, I got to stay on the shore line. I DO NOT like cold water and this was around 54 degrees. Father expects everyone to tube and if not, you better have a good reason not to. Being small helped, I told them I got cold easy. That is the main rule, no one with blue lips is allowed back in the water. So I pulled the blue lips card, I must NOT go in the water unless emergency. My plan was to walk the sides and help anyone who needs assistance and carry tubes back to the camp. My plan worked and I was a huge help, got lots of exercises and stayed warm.
Joe waving with tubers all around. After they get out of the water, they carry the tubes back to camp. Hot chocolate and hot kool aid are waiting for them to warm up the insides. The campers are instructed to lay in the hot sun and dry until the next run. The water was up enough to have several good runs a day.
After a day of tubing the kids are dressed and playing around camp. The boys mostly played ball and cards. The girls like to jump rope. They taught Naomi a new jump rope song that they would sing when someone was jumping. She loved it! It goes something like this with the words sometimes changing to suit their needs.

Going to a wedding, whach ya gonna wear? Dress, bikini, underwear, pajamas, dress, bikini, underwear, pajamas....You see why she loved it so much, especially if any guys decided to jump.

Poison Ivy. Hanging out on the sides I did see LOTS of this stuff. No one had gotten it by the time we left but we put the fear into them to stay away, I hope it worked.

We did notice one thing-no cicadas! I guess we left them all in Kentucky. The sound here can be deafening but there was not a peep out of them on our trip.

17 YEARS

If you want a real thrill, click on the picture to enlarge.

I guess everyone has heard of the cicada by now. This is the first time I remember having ever SEEN anything like this, ever. Naomi had her class picnic before school let out so we went to a neighboring park. We are getting there and the kids are excited until they spot this! The funny thing is, this is only a very small portion of the insects around the tree. So you can imagine their horror. I myself could not help but be fascinated by all the bugs coming out of their shells right before my very eyes!
I'm coming out, I want the world to know, gonna let it show....(name that song)
Just starting to change.
Did you know there is a difference? The 17 year cicadas have the red eyes.
Once out they have to wait for their wings to dry before flying off to mate and die.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Growing up we would go to my Grandmothers house (Dad's mom) and because family lived next door to her we would spend time hanging out front. She lived on an old street with huge trees. My earliest memory of cicadas was being at her house and finding the shells in the trees. I'm sure we were freaked out at the time but I thought it was cool to wear the bugs. I always attached them to my clothes, hair, whatever they would cling to, and then scare my sister!

Oh, the picnic was nice. It was hot, humid and everyone had bug guts on their towels from sitting on the ground (I told you they were everywhere!) but lots of fun.

THE FAIR

On top of sending Elijah off to Europe, we had the fair this weekend. Some equated it to Christmas, minus Jesus' birthday of course. And for some families, there was a lot more time spent on the fair than the holiday itself.

Because I don't always think things through, but I have a big heart, we wanted to donate the corn hole games. Thanks to Joe's Mom, who bought me an awesome sewing machine, I was able to make the bags in a little over 4 hours! I know I'm slow, but with a highly durable stitch, it was worth it. The bags are super tough.

It took Joe as long to paint the design. Originally we weren't going to have as much detail but it looks so much better with it. Joe also came up with the stamp that we used for the cat's paw. Made from old rubber, glue and some wood it turned out nice.


The finish product really turned out great and was a huge success. I was glad we went for the extra effort and got it done.
My girl.
Levi on the boat. He is the one in the middle on the left side of the dark pole. This was a favorite ride of Naomi's. The both rode so many rides and loved every minute of it.
This reminds me of last year with the Cotton candy. There is always the fair food which consist of funnel cakes and Cotton candy. I was glad PJ , Gregg and Georgia could join us. They brought some friends and a good time was had by all.

I've got some more fair stories to share, but I'll save them for another time.
Peace and Blessings to all.

EUROPE BOUND

My oldest left for Europe this morning. We were up until 1 this morning packing and had to be at school at 5:45 AM! He is a huge procrastinator and actually said to me, "Why didn't you tell me this would be harder than just throwing things in a bag?"

I stare at him with a blank look, (I DID tell him).

Anyway, he is in for a time of his life. They will be gone for 12 days and will sing at; Notre Dame, Eglise Saint Pierre d'Arene, Santa Maria dei Ricci Church, Waldesian Church and Basilica of St. Peter's.

They will spend time in Paris, Lyon, Nice, Montecatini, and Rome. I have never been out of the country but have been assured by everyone that has, it is wonderful. I tried to encourage him to write about his adventures but he declined. I guess time will tell. I did let him take my good camera in hopes that he would use it.

Now, for a request. PLEASE pray for my boy and his group. Pray that he is safe, makes good decisions and has a wonderful time. Makes new friends and furthers his singing career.

Thank you all. Now I will be totally distracted for the next 12 days. Amen.