Firstborns

I'm so glad most of my children don't read my blog.  It would
probably embarrass them although that's not my intent.
Remember, family, this is a lazy mom's way to journal and
scrapbook :).  I post on the girl's birthdays but I figure
that grown male children would rather me not do that.
However, as I was cleaning and thinking last week it
occured to me that I did post a tribute about Lance
the day before he and Lucy got married.  That means
that Bryan has never officially had his own personal post
on my blog.  I'll leave the cute baby and growing up
pictures for the post I do the day before he gets married
and just put up big boy pictures  today (sorry, Bryan).

Call me predjudiced, but I don't think any
other children could have a better oldest
brother than my kids do.  He has proven
to be what oldest brothers and first-borns
were designed by God to be.  A born
leader he sets a Godly example for the rest
of the family.  The other kids greatly value
his opinion and proven good judgement.

Loves the outdoors and all things manly.
And.......my all-time favorite picture of him
doing what he does best.........

Serving and praising the Lord and
leading others in worship.
Thanks, Bryan, for blessing your mother's
heart and life.  You and all your siblings
are truly a gift from God.

Oops--rewind to August

Because this is primarily to record life--and because I have found this is a lazy way
to keep pictures :)--I need to rewind our life back to August and put in pictures of
the birthday boy.  Lynn's birthday was the 29th but with about a dozen schedules
all running together we celebrated on Sunday the 28th.  It's getting harder and
harder to get everyone together but it's really nice when we pull it off.

The birthday boy in his man cave with all his
dutiful children surrounding him in adoration :).
Or...maybe they're giving him a hard time
about getting older.

I've noticed we're starting to segregate--
this is the chick's table

The rooster's table

I don't want to advertise his age but if you want to do the math--in 40 years
he will be 98.  Happy 98 Lynn, 40 years early!!

Party in a Box!!

A good friend of mine calls Ashley a "Party in a Box" so when a PIAB has a party
it's a lot of fun.  A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Ashley's 26th birthday all.
day. long.  It started at lunch, continued into the afternoon with a chick flick, moved
to Gary and Carol's and continued and ended there.  I hope it was a good day for
her.  Happy birthday, beautiful Ashley.

Her favorite colors

Tubing fun on a deserted lake--there was no one out there

At the watering hole

a 21 layer chocolate cake

Awww....

Cuties at sunset

Happy Birthday, Ashley!!

Ummmm...

I spotted these cupcakes here yesterday and they looked like something my family would appreciate.


Bakerella's Cookies and Cream cupcakes are much better
constructed looking than mine but I still managed to copy
hers well enough to pull it off.  You begin by breaking oreos
into cupcake liners so you know you've got a winner here.



Oreos swimming in a delicious batter ready to be cooked.
And....tah-dah!!!

The finished product waiting to be tested, which it was.
Family-tested and family-approved.  An easy way to
win a best-mom award :).

Absolutely Amazing Ashley--25--NW Arkansas

This post is going to be linked to Kelly's Korner "Show Us Your Singles."
It is about our 2nd born child of 5--Ashley.  From these pictures you can
see her beauty but not the real Ashley so I'll fill you in on her!!


She is more beautiful inside than out--and that says a lot in itself.
She loves her family but more importantly she loves the Lord and
is committed to waiting on Him to bring the perfect man for her life.



Ashley is 25 and is the store manager for Christopher & Banks in the
Northwest Arkansas Mall.  Her employees love and praise her and
appreciate her generous, considerate manner. She studied interior design
in Dallas and completed her design studies at home.  She is a gifted
designer and loves to help ladies make their home special.

Ashley was part of a core group that went from our church to begin
a new church a few miles south in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  She has a
heart that loves to serve the Lord and is excited about this new area
of ministry.  She hopes to be able to use her talents in the area of music.

Ashley loves life and loves living it.  People are attracted to her genuine
smile but grow to love her for her sincere, genuine heart.  She is one of
the most sincere persons I know and has had a heart like that from the
time she was young.  She relates well to people of all ages from the very
young to the older ones. 
If you are a young man seeking a Godly woman look at and pray about this one.
If you know a Godly man--point him this way.  We love this girl and pray that
she will someday be the woman who completes a Godly man's life.

Well...Hello Summer!!

Welcome back, Summer.  In February when we measured
snow in feet and each day brought the question,
"Will today's temperatures break the record
lows for this date," you were just a memory.
But here you are again and we're glad you're here.

Of course that means the return of the family's
outside activities like volleyball--you know
that game where family love flees and
family competition comes to stay. And,
oh yes, where no one is safe from being
slammed to the ground in the name of
winning--not even the mom!

And one of the best evidences of summer--
the return of homemade ice cream. :)

When the red light is blinking...I am recording

Recording is really what this post is about.
I didn't want May to become too distant a
memory without recording what happened
in it.  So this will be pictures of Anna's bday,
Hope's ballet, "Eternal Light", and Anna's
Knight's banquet.  Warning: full of pictures.

Always a Lady Knight

Family bowling

Gorgeous costumes

All dressed up and ready to receive her awards

Too dark but there stands the Lady Knights--
2011 National Champions

Anna received the Christian character award

A lap-full of medals