Happy Birthday USA!

As usual, this is a very busy, fun-filled day in our family.

We start off the day, bright and early, with the Sweet Land of Liberty Children's Parade.

The 'theme' this year was Red, White and Blue goes Green. So, Coleman helped Campbell wire up the tricycle with solar panels that powered a fan and a little radio. This year, she really enjoyed working the crowd! It is her 4th year, and it was her first year not being pulled. She was really proud!


Here is a shot of some of the neighborhood cuties working on the banner for the group.

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NEXT!!
Off to the 'Farm'. Anyone that knows me, knows that I could live a thousand years in air-conditioned surroundings. However, I have grown so to love the farm. Campbell LOVES visiting with 1st, 2nd, 3rd cousins. We go fishing, play at the creek, ride the Ranger, see donkeys and cows...you get the picture.

These SWEET children are just one of the reasons I love to visit the farm.


First of all, if you didn't know from hearing me tell the stories - 8 of these 12 children are siblings. I think I am in awe, because I can't imagine that I would have a hair left on my head if I had 8 children. Their parents, however, seem to be the most laid back. Secondly, Jodi, in the red/white stripes - LOVES my little girl, and she LOVES her back. She is so attentive with her, despite their age difference. There are reasons to love each and everyone of them (including their friend Austin on the right, who gave me his 'picture smile' each time I took a shot!).

Here is another reason to love it...see this 2 year old? She is catching fish in a bucket (See, the cliche is right!). Someone brought back a little blue-gill from the lake to take to their pond.


She just reached right in and picked it up. Too much! I guess, when you have 7 older siblings - you aren't afraid of much!

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LASTLY!
We went to Franklin to watch the fireworks. It was so nice and relaxing.

It is a very family friendly atmosphere. Just sitting on a blanket near the river.

We went with Casey and A.G. It was this little one's first time seeing fireworks. She thought it was AWESOME!

Campbell loved it too - she just doesn't LOVE the initial BOOM. So, she brought her trusty hunting headphones. Just like her Daddy, always prepared!

WHAT A DAY!

Father's Day Weekend

Father's Day at the farm meant doing some fishing.


Campbell caught her first fish. Daddy helped reel in this little blue gill.


Phillip also caught one with Daddy.


Coleman calls this my 'Bill Dance' shot!

Tired, after a fun afternoon.

Those Dads deserved a yummy treat (dessert hamburgers and French fries). The 'baby' Bud looked like the perfect complement to the mini treats!

After bed, Anderson enjoyed reading one of Campbell's books for bedtime.
I think she liked it too!

We Three Cousins - Version Vice

It just has to be done each year! We went to the farm to catch up with the Vice's/Mitchell's for Christmas. So, the cousins were captured in their Santa hats.

Our Sweet Girl

Phillip
Anderson

It Happened...

Because we happened to be at the farm, because it happened to be Thanksgiving and it happened to be Phillip's birthday...
(and because you might be tired of looking at that sweet face on my sweet girl!)

My sister-in-law, Kim, thought it might be fun to play around with some photos while we were at the farm. She is always great. Here are the some of the other results.


Phillip, the birthday boy, looks like he is always up to something!

Anderson is such a poser! I had more fun playing with him and the camera!

Another 4th at the Farm

Remember how families used to have family get together/reunions at least once a year. Well, as we all know - that is getting harder and harder to do. On my Mom's side of family, we stopped big 'everybody' get togethers when my Grandmother passed away - maybe before that (there were well over 100 of us!). We used to get together every year with my Dad's brothers/sisters/Mom/cousins until about 5-6 years ago. It is sad, but, people are busy and their families grow/change
- which makes it more difficult to arrange.

Grandmother, pictured here with her "make you smile, wear you out, one and only" granddaughter tries very hard to get the family together once or twice a year (along with help from Granddaddy).
This is no small feat. Consider that only about half show up,
and we had 27 there.

We have a great time at this annual family event and celebration of Independence Day.