4th of July and Random pics

With only 1 month until school starts, I can't believe how fast this summer has gone. I guess teaching summer school and having the girls here so much has made it go by that much quicker. We have done lots of things................ boating, riding, and swimming. I am enjoying getting to spend so much time with Hunter and his sisters. Enjoy the pics...................


The girls playing in our slammin pool!!!


Hunter's first time on Buzzard's Bluff. This place is a family favorite!!


Our little boy showing his teeth.


Aunt Bette brought her nieces, Katie and MacKenzie up to the bluff to play with us.


Pyro Jones Fireworks from the bluff


Hunter snuggles with his Aunt Lana before getting in her pool.


Hunter LOVES this float!!!


Fun on the tubes.....................


I think Chloe was gonna push Isaiah off the tube!


Anne and I tubing............ before laughing so hard we fell off!!!


Four wheelin on the Fourth Family pic minus Hunter, who was with his Aunt Anne and her family for the day.


Chloe and I and our self portrait.


Jerry and 'Liv smile for Chloe to take their picture.


Before the fireworks began............... Hunter loved his first fireworks and sat and watched pretty much like he looks in this picture.

Family Time : )

I am so proud when I tell people my parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on August 9th : ) WOW!!!!!! As part of the celebration, we had our family pictures done this past Friday............. outside.......... and boy, was it humid : )
But in spite of the heat and humidity, everyone did very well. Us girls refrained from our usual complaining, the kids were cooperative, even Hunter !!!!
Here are a few pictures that Isaiah randomly took with my camera and some I took. I think Isaiah has some talent. We won't get the professional pictures back for a few weeks. I am excited to see how they turned out!!


Daddy's Girls..........


Momma's Girls.......................


Hunter and Jerry


Hunter in the middle of his sisters and cousins

Hunter's 9 month check up

Hunter went to the doctor today for his 9 month check up.

He weighs 17 lbs. 10 oz.............. gaining a mere pound since April. Dr. James says he is healthy and fine, just little. He is in the 10% percentile for his weight and length (27.25") . His head is in the 50% percentile.

He isn't gaining much weight because he is so active at this point in life. He should be walking in the next few months, definitely before his first birthday.

His crankiness the past week is most likely due to a change in schedule. Jerry being gone probably had something to do with it as well. But this is only a theory.

He got his finger pricked. Didn't even flinch. And got a bright yellow bandaid that he was in total awe of.............cracked me up. His blood work came back fine.

He can start the Stage 3 baby foods and/or we can start crushing up table food. He can also start on juice in a sippy cup. We will start making changes when Hunter and I get back from my inservice in Gatlinburg. I am not going to try anything while we are away from home.

We go back in 3 months.........for his 1 year check up!!! It will be here before I know it.

I think that is all.................

Love and Hunter snuggles...........
Carol and the fam

I'm still here

Time has flown by.......... the end of the school year has come and gone. I am now doing summer school for half days for 8 more days. I have already done 10. We got the girls the Friday before Memorial Day and had them up until this past Thursday. I learned that I am not cut out to be a stay at home mother of 3. Bless those mommies that do that day in and day out. The plus side to the girls being here, besides that fact that they had rules and stability, was that they are great helpers. They help with laundry, dinner, cleaning, and Hunter. He still thinks they hung the moon. They talk to him and he giggles.
Hunter now has 6 teeth and we are awaiting the arrival of 2 more on the bottom. He is mobile and can get anywhere he wants to............ in an odd army crawl kind of way. He mocks sounds we make and makes us laugh and want to pull our hair out in the same breath. He will be 9 months old the 15th.
Jerry is still at his job and it still stresses him out, but I do think it is getting slightly better. He has learned to change the drum belt on the dryer and the motor on the air conditioner..... all in the same weekend!!!
Olivia just finished First Grade and is officially a Second grader. She got all A's and B's on her report card. She continues to amaze us with how smart she is.
Chloe is gearing up for Kindergarten. She tells anyone who asks, that she has 3 months until she starts school. The school better watch out for this one. She is a firecracker.
Me........ well, like I said, I am keeping busy with summer school and being a mom. That pretty much sums up my life. But I wouldn't want it any other way.

There really isn't much else to say.............. We are staying busy. Trying to stay sane. And I am loving every minute of it.

Here are some pictures from various activities:


The girls and Hunter watching "Little Einsteins". Not sure what Olivia is driving and Chloe definitely has the "just woke up" look.


Jerry and Hunter at Riverfront Park.


Hunter came to school with me.


Hunter's first ride in the Ranger. He LOVED it. And don't worry, it was a smooth trail.


Hunter and I relaxing on an island. We went boating this day. Hunter hated wearing the life vest.

Everybodys Got "Stuff"

The more I live, the more I learn. A few years ago I thought that my problems were nothing compared to what some people go through. I would sweep my woes and worries under the rug so to speak, because "there are people out there who have way worse problems than I do" ......... But after the last few years of soul searching, I know that "we all got stuff"........... My woes and worries are just as important to me as yours are to you. You never know what other people are going through. One's woes are not to be belittled by anyone. They are valid feelings that need to be discussed with someone. Talk about your "stuff" or you will stress yourself out.

So when you feel like there is "no one who will understand" you know what, they may not, but I bet they will listen and that itself will help you feel better. We all have stuff to deal with. How we deal with it is the challenge.

Trust me, been there, done that, have the therapy bill to prove it.

Thank you to those of you -- family and friends -- who provide me with a place to talk about my stuff.
Love you all.....................