July 22nd - End of Summer Trip to the Beach

Every summer, we take an "End of the Summer" trip. The boys really enjoy us going to the beach. This year, we went to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The water was beautiful. It was a perfect day! I went a little overboard on the goodies, and made around 100 chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter chip cookies! We shared these with everyone around us at the beach. Eli, Brady, and Bill spent most of their time in the ocean, swimming and trying to catch fish or jellyfish or whatever would swim by them in the water. Major built sand castles by me on the beach. He wasn't too sure about those waves!

July 11 - Major's 5th Birthday

Major has been waiting for this day for so long! He is so excited to be 5 and no longer 4. :) This happy, energetic boy loves all things dragons and swords. He is a natural protector, which he demonstrates again and again. He loves his family and playing with his friends. For this birthday, his wish was to have a Toothless the Dragon cake (From the Movie "How to Train Your Dragon") and go to Chuck E. Cheese's (which he calls "Chuck E. Cheez-Its"...so cute). I did my best to make him a dragon cake (seen below) and we also had an awesome time at Chuck E. Cheez-Its. I sure do love my sweet, imaginative, loving, full-of-life Major!

July 4 - Independence Day

What a great July 4th holiday! We spent the evening with our church small group at the Osbourne's house (Tara and Patrick and their boys, Cooper and Carson). They have a pool, so they kids swam, we ate, and then we launched a ton of fireworks! I swam as well, which is why there are not any pictures of the boys swimming. It was wonderful time! The boys asked if we could do it again next year. I sure hope so!

First, I have a picture of my 3 boys on Independence Day. This is a yearly must-have photo. :) Second, I took a picture of Major in this outfit because all 3 of my boys have worn this outfit on July 4th through the years. He will be the last one to do so. It is time for it to be passed on for someone else to enjoy.

 
 
 
 

Bill and Eli - Passport to Purity Trip July 1-3

When Eli was 3, I learned of this series called "Passport to Purity" in which a father and son go away for a couple of days and discuss growing up, purity, and God's plan for your life. We decided then that Bill would do this trip with each boy the summer after they turned 10. Well, 7 years after my initial hearing of this series, Eli is 10. July 1-3 Bill and Eli took a trip down to St. Petersburg, Florida, just the two of them, to discuss these sensitive issues. My prayer is that Eli will remain pure and will become the Godly warrior he is meant to be.  There is some time in the trip for fun, as well as discussion. Here are some of the pictures Bill took of them on their trip. Hopefully, these memories and lessons will last a lifetime.

Picture #1: Eli completing his first project, a puzzle with no clue as to what it is and a few of the pieces missing. The point is that you need a guide to help you through life.

Picture #2: Eli in front of a statue of Bobby Bowden (legendary coach) at Florida State University.

Picture #3: Bill and Eli in their free hats at a Tampa Bay Rays vs. Detroit Tigers baseball game.

Picture #4, 7, and 10: Eli and Bill at the gulf in St. Petersburg.

Picture #5 and 6; Eli at "the Swamp" - University of Florida football field.

Picture #8: Eli behind the Tigers dugout at Tropicana Field holding a ball he got autographed by 3 Tigers players.

Picture #9:  Nick Castellanos autographing a ball and throwing it back to Eli at the ball game.

 
 
 
 
 

Father's Day

Father's Day with the best dad in the world! He loves us, provides for us, plays baseball with us, he's a hard worker, and we love him! The boys and Bill all got some baseball cards to open together! Baseball is definitely a special past time that Bill shares with Eli, Brady, and Major. We love you!