I just had to show off the little desk John built for me in the kitchen. We had this area next to the fireplace that was just bookshelves- so he removed the bottom shelves and built me a little working area. He did a great job! I thought I would take a picture before it got messy with paperwork. I am still planning to build the stone fireplace like the one I did in the living room- I just got burned out on cutting stone... I needed a break! I will probably do it this winter- I hate the white tile.
I am going to convert my office into Jack's new bedroom- I am never in there anyway since I work off a laptop. It is a lot bigger so I am going to let that be their playroom until we get a separate one for them. John already knocked out his next project on his honey-do list which is to put up beadboard in Anna Grace's room. It looks perfect... now I just need to paint it. Just a few more projects and this house will be done- yay!

Trip to Oklahoma City

Us with John's mom, sister Marian, Ken, and G-Mom


John and his dad's sister Aunt Ann

I think this is a cute picture of me and Anna Grace, but really I put this in here because I don't look fat.

By the end of the party, her sweet white dress is brown :)

The kids with their GiGi

The life of the party!

Anna Grace with one of GiGi's puppies

This looks like a botanical garden but it is really

Mimi and Grandpa's backyard

Grandma ("Mimi"), Aunt Ann and Anna Grace-

I have finally figured out who she looks like- definitely

a Strealy girl!!

Anna Grace is being sweet- Jack wants nothing to do with it

Anna Grace had more fun with the water bottles than anything else

Jack is rearranging Aunt Ann's rocks

My sweet boy at G Mom's house

We just got back from our road trip to Oklahoma City for John's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. It was a great trip! I did notice that I mostly took pictures of the kids (there were other people at the party, really!) but I couldn't help it- they were so cute.

Mom's birthday

All the girls hanging out in my kitchen!


Jack and his grandpa at dinner

We took Mom out for her birthday then back to my house for cake. We got a picture of all the girls- although Dad and Jack are in the background... along with John's underwear which you might recognize from the Brave's jumbotron picture :) Okay- so I was in the middle of folding laundry when I realized it was time to go to dinner!

How cute are these kids?

Jack playing in the birdbath

Anna Grace in mommy's robe

We are going through a fun time right now... lots of time-outs, spankings, scoldings, etc... they are official well into the terrible two's. Anna Grace has mastered the temper tantrum- the girl has some lungs! But Jack is a bit more subtle- he just throws things and hits when I am not looking (or he thinks I am not looking) - he can clear a table or countertop with one swipe of his arm. But then somehow - right before I have a meltdown myself- they will turn around and act like little angels- these are the times I live for!

The Braves game

We took Kelsey, Caleb and Stacy to the Braves game for Kelsey's birthday... but John got a special treat when he was picked by the hot "brave's girls" to play a game on the jumbo-tron. While he was standing on top of the dug out cheering like a crazy fan... I was busy crouched down in my seat pretending that I didn't know him as he showed the thousands of Brave's fans his orange underpants and belly. Nice! (he is really proud of this- by the way!)

Trip to Florida

I had to go to Florida for work, so John flew down with me for the weekend to go to my class reunion and hang out at the beach. It was fun to take him around to my old stomping ground. Did I mention- no kids? We stayed at The Resort at Singer Island which was awesome!

July 4th 2008

We had a great July 4th weekend. Both John and I took some time off of work and spent most of the week at the pool with the kids and my family. On the Fourth, we were able to come up with another convincing excuse not to go to the big golf cart parade in Peachtree City... whew! (I haven't been in over 10 years... I am running out of excuses...) but we hung out at the pool, cooked out at Shannon and Brants, then John, myself, Stacy, Caleb and Kelsey went to see the Braves. It was a great day!