For Paige

Day 296~ The Big MO

(photo by Cameron)

Beautiful farmland at sunset on our drive to Monetta.
I obviously have much to learn about taking photos at night, but I had no choice but to document the joys' first trip to a drive-in movie!
We loaded up the car with drinks and snacks, stopped by the local pizza shop for pizzas to-go, and began our one hour trek to The Big MO!
It was all I expected and then some!

Thanks to some Facebook advice, we were well prepared.

(Thank you, Sherry!)It only cost $20 for us to get in- and it was a double-feature.

The boys enjoyed 'Legend of the Guardians' and 'Alpha & Omega'.

I mainly enjoyed snuggling up to the joys in the cool, fall air under a quilt.

Poor Superman dozed in and out in various seats in the car.

He had worked all day, so when the first movie started at 7:45 pm, he was already pooped.

Next time we'll do things a little differently.

Like, pack the air mattress for laying down in the back of the car.

After two movies, I realized I'm not as young as I once was.

I think we'll also pull the 3rd seat out and set it up for Superman to stretch out on.

All in all, it was a wonderful night!

Best family date night ever!

:)

Thank you, Superman!

Day 294~

I have been in a funk all week long.

Pooped, grumpy, funk!
Even my pictures have been out of whack!!!So today I decided to do something about it!
After finishing school, I ordered the boys to their rooms for shoes- and then out to the car.
I wouldn't tell them where we were going.
Because of my aforementioned 'funk', I think they may have even been a bit worried that they were in trouble.
So, imagine their surprise when I swung through Zaxby's for kid's meals, then stopped at a park for an impromptu picnic!
:)
We discovered nothing cures a funk quite like fresh air, sunshine, and a picnic with some veggies for Mom...
except maybe all of that & a side of french fries for her, too!

Day 292~ Drink the Wild Air

At the insistence of the littlest joy, we've added a daily walk to our homeschooling schedule.

Truth be told, I like the idea a lot... it was just the motivation to get up and do it that I lacked!

It felt great to soak up some sunshine (vitamin D) and breathe in the wild, fresh air.
Which, of course, reminded me of a piece of artwork I need on Etsy by Katie Daisy at The Wheatfield.
Superman, if you're reading this... I really, truly need it! :)

Day 289~

Today my sweet, little brother took the oldest joy to a Clemson game.

With us iving in Gamecock Country, he doesn't often get to Clemson games in Death Valley.
My sister was kind enough to let Cameron have her ticket, and she took the littlest joy out for lunch and a movie while I went to shoot pictures.
Thanks, Ashleigh & Daniel!There are not words for me to tell you how much I just want to smush kisses on this sweet little one's face.
I've loved her since the first day I laid eyes on her!Her big brother is quite a cutie pie himself!
Love these kids!

Day 248~ Historic Charleston, SC

We spent the day after the wedding taking the joys to some of the historic sights in Charleston.
It was 95* outside, and with Charleston's humidity, it felt like over 100*.
But, I was determined to get at least one shot of the boys on the cannon balls.
When I was little, we spent lots of time around Charleston.
Somewhere there is a picture of me on the cannon balls at The Battery.
Mom?
Dad?
Do you know where it is?

And when you have boys, you're bound to end up with at least one picture like this! It makes me think of the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote.
'It didn't work out too well for the coyote', did it?
(Can you name the movie that line is from?)

Of course, we had to cross the bridge and take the boys to see the USS Yorktown.
To say I thought a lot about my parents while we were there, would be an understatement.
Thank you, Daddy, for dragging us to every historic or military site you possible could in our childhood!
I find myself following in your footsteps!
P.S. The fire station on Meeting Street was fabulous.
I'd like to tour that one, for sure!
Thank you, Mama, for instilling a love of all-things Charleston in me.
Sure do wish The Ice House was still open!
That would have been the perfect spot to stop for lunch!

Day 247~ Folly Beach

It is not easy to get 4 boys ranging from age 1-12 to not only look at the camera, but smile- all at the same time!

:)

But gosh, they are sweeties anyway!

These fellas are all of the current cousins in their generation.

I've been envisioning this shot ever since I first found out we'd all be together on the beach watching another of Superman's beautiful cousins say, "I do!"

I was determined to get at least one shot that I could frame and give to Superman's grandma for Christmas.
So, now it looks like I have at least one Christmas present taken care of!

WOOHOO!

And as a bonus, I even happened to get a shot to print and frame for me!

What a great weekend!

Day 234~ Family reunion

Ahhh, family reunion time.

I look forward to it each year.

I especially love picture time.

Here are the joys with their generation of cousins.They were nervous about holding the newest babies of their generation for the picture.

She looks a little bit nervous to be held, too.

I kept having to remind Wyatt to keep her head up, bless his heart.

We had such a great time.

So many of us had kept up better via FB that we were even more excited to see one another face to face.

Especially loved that!

Day 233~

I'm going to tell you a secret, but please don't hold it against me.

I can be a little bit of a brat at times.

(just a little bit)

Like, when I go home to Central and don't have a bed to sleep on... I'm a brat.

Or don't have a room to put my stuff and my children's toys in... I'm a brat.

Or when the shower isn't just so... I'm a brat.
I don't act that way when I'm a guest at other people's homes.

I promise!

It just sort of stinks to grow up, move out, and not be able to go back home.

I've lived out of my childhood home for more years than I ever lived in it, so you'd think I'd be used to it by now.

What can I say?

I'm a brat!

This weekend we packed up the family and headed back to Central for a family reunion.

My children are really good at making themselves at home there.

I'm getting better at it.

But, we were also taking Superman.

And even though I can sleep on a couch, and have no problem making beds for my boys on the floor, Superman is 6'4" and not built for couch or floor sleeping.

As luck would have it, my little brother was coming back into town- and sleeping in his room (that was my childhood room... I know... I'm a brat!)

But luckily my dear Dad was teaching out of town for the weekend.

Mom put my family in her master bedroom.

It was BLISS!

As in, staying at a bed and breakfast sort of bliss!

We arrived to fresh sheets, quilt turned down, lamp-lit atmosphere, and a freshly scrubbed bathroom (thanks, Ash!).

Have I mentioned that it was absolute bliss?

Because it was!

We weren't even in town for 24 hours, but we had somewhere to put all of our things, and a quiet place to escape when needed.

THANK YOU, MOM!

Thank you for sacrificing your room and for such enjoyable hospitality.

It was one of the best trips home... ever!

Day 231~

What a nice surprise!

Grammy was in town for a short trip, and stopped by to see the boys before bedtime tonight.

Can you tell they have her wrapped?

She is!

(And honestly, they are wrapped around her little pinkie, too!)

Day 226~

Superman's cousin (who I also claim as my cousin, because I claim nearly all of his family), is getting married next month.

Her mom threw her a beautiful shower today.

It was so nice to go and spend time with such fun friends and family!

Awww, she is going to be such a beautiful bride!

Day 185~

I love me some Tori!

I mean, how can you not love that sweet face?

She's like a mini-me, well, she's like a mini-every-Rose-granddaughter-that-has-been-born!

Ahh, the power of genetics.On our way to go visit her, Wyatt picked a bag of his bounty to take to Miss Priss' grandma.

He's so proud of how much his tomato plants are producing!

I had a blast playing inside with this little firecracker.Once we finished shooting the small fireworks off, she didn't want any part of being outside!She was much more interested in coming inside and entertaining us!

Lawd have mercy, I love to hear this little angel sing!

It's hard to look back and believe she was ever this small.