A Day At St. Simon's Island

We decided to spend yesterday at St. Simon's Island in Georgia with the kids. It's a nice day trip for us since we're about an hour and a half away. My husband and I have always loved St. Simon's. We have spent several family reunion trips here for my husband's side of the family and one of them was one of the first time's I met alot of my husband's family when we were dating. We got up early and decided to head that way with nothing in particular planned other than we knew we wanted to eat at our favorite resturant on the island.

Here is the bridge that you have to go over in order to get to St. Simon's. In 1972 the previous bridge that was here was hit by a cargo ship I believe and 15 cars fell off into the water. My husband's great aunt and uncle had just passed over the bridge that night about 5 minutes prior.

The Marina

Coming onto the island. I love all these trees. It's so pretty.

Looking out at the water from the pier. See the bridge in the background? That's the one from my first photo.

My husband and the kids walking out onto the pier.

St. Simon's has a cute downtown with tons of cute shops and places to eat by the pier. This shop was one of my favorites. It is a Christian based shop with clothing,jewerly,art,etc.

The kids in front of one of their favorite shops there.

They had a used bookshop there also and Dawson is in LOVE with reading right now so we checked it out. They had a children's section. Dawson ended up with 8 chapter books or so.

Downtown St. Simon's

David and the kids sitting in front of one of the stores.

Sweet Ireland

We rode in Hamilton Plantation at St. Simon's which has beautiful homes. This picture here right after I took it 8 deer crossed the road in front of us.

Here are some of the homes riding through Hamilton Plantation

We visited Fort Frederica also which the kids enjoyed. Here's Dawson dressed up as General Oglethorpe.

The kids looking at a display of what it looked like back then.

Our favorite place on the island to eat Benny's Red Barn. They have the best steaks and seafood.

On our way home from our long fun day.

Ansley minutes before she fell asleep on the way home.

Finally gave it up.

10 years and still the love of my life

Today is my husband's and I 10th anniversary. We've been together for 14 years though and I love him more and more each day. Marriage is hard work that's for sure but as we've grown we've learned to love alittle more, appreciate alittle more, and respect each other as a person alittle more. I feel like David makes me want to be the best I can for him and our children. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful,loving husband who is a godly man and loves our children to pieces.



Today we just spent the day together just the two of us which is unusal lately with him working out of town we usually always have the kids with us when he is home but today was about just him and I. We shopped, went to the movies to see Shutter Island, and we ended the day with a dinner at the Melting Pot. Oh my goodness how delicious it was.



I love you David. Happy 10th Anniversary Baby.

Playtime

Just wanted to share a few pictures of my sweet Ireland playing. I can't believe she's 16 months now but still my peanut.

Playing peek-a-boo with our dog Libby.

Brother and Sister Love

Here's one of those sweet moments when it melts my heart to watch my children. We were out to eat the other day and I looked up and these two were hugging each other. Priceless.

A giveaway and a visit by Great Nana

The girls and I had a surprise visit today from my nana. My nana is my mom's mom and she lives an hour away from us. She still drives and is a social butterfly. She has something planned everyday and loves to go on trips. I think it keeps her young since she's 83 years old. My nana is special to me because I'm named after her with my middle name. Thanks "Great Nana" for the visit today. The girls and I enjoyed it.

After my nana left today I put Ireland in the playpen for abit so I could get a few things done and know where she was at. She got awul quiet and this is what I found. I guess she wore her poor self out playing. Too cute.


I found a new blog recently called One Day At A Time that I love and today she is having a giveaway. It's a perfect one if you have little girls. Go check her blog out and enter her giveaway.

My Canvas

A couple of weeks ago I was looking at some of the blogs I frequent and came across Kelly'sKorner and she had a post about a free 8x10 canvas at CanvasPeople. I decided to check it out. I decided I would go with a 11x14 so I paid a difference of 19 dollars or so. A big difference from the 64.99 it usually is. I got my canvas today and I LOVE it. I haven't decided yet where I'm going to put it but it's so worth it. It looks so much better in person also than online and I'm very pleased with my purchase for the price. They still have the promotion going so go and get yours. I promise you'll be glad you did.

"By George"

Dawson had a play Friday for President's Day called "By George." It was really cute. The kids did facts on President George Washington. Dawson had been learning his parts for over a month. The girls and I went Friday morning to watch his class.

Here's Ireland waiting to watch her brother.


Ansley waiting

Here's Dawson's combined class. He has two teachers one for math and science and the other for reading,spelling,and english.

Dawson saying one of his parts.

Dawson and Mackenzie doing another part together.

Dawson and one of his best friends Issac.

How do you like their hats and beards?

God's Love,Valentine's Day,and an Anniversary

My husband and I have always been in church all our lives and our prayer has always been that our children would accept God into their hearts when the time came. Our oldest Dawson who is 9 decided recently that the time had came. He approached us about his salvation and literally broke down into tears saying "Mama, I don't think I'm saved and I want to goto Heaven one day." Those words were music to my ears as a parent. My husband and I have always took our children to church but have never wanted to push our children before they were ready. We want to make sure they do it of their own will and know they understand what they're doing. Dawson has been asking alot of questions lately and I thought maybe the time was coming. I kept telling him "Dawson if you need to talk I'm here." That talk came and it's blessed my heart. Today we went before the church to tell of Dawson's salvation. This picture is of Dawson,his dad,and I right after going before the church. I think Valentine's Day was a fitting day for this being a day for love and all. There's no greater love than God's.



Before we left for church this morning we gave our children their Valentine's gifts.


Here's one of my Valentine gifts from my husband. He's so good about sending me flowers all the time.


These roses are from my dad. As long as I can remember my dad has always given me flowers for my birthday and Valentine's Day. Once I got married he's continued to give me flowers and never forgets he's just downsized on the number of flowers since he knows my husband gives them also.


This is my in-laws. They went to church with us this morning since they knew Dawson would be going before the church. Today is also their 40th Anniversary. We took them out to eat after church. My in-laws by the grace of God are here today. They've had a tough year and a half. My mother-in-law suffered a stroke, then about 2 months later my father-in-law had a brain aneurysm had to be life flighted and was on lifesupport for awhile. He had brain surgery and was in the hospital for 2 months. They told us he would probably never be the same and would probably have to be put in a nursing home. After those 2 months he showed great improvement and they sent him to a rehab facility. He spent 2 months there learning how to walk,eat,and all the other skills necessary for life. They told us he might not ever drive again and his memory would probably be to the extent that we'd have to leave notes all over the house to remind him of things. My mother-in-law suffered another small stroke about 3 months after my father-in-law came home. Today both do extremely well. My father-in-law drives and his mind is sharp as a tack. You'd never know by looking at either of them what they've been through. Just goes to show you whose in charge and knows all about it. Happy Anniversary Mr. Dan and Mrs. Edie

A cute prayer by Ansley

This child never ceases to amaze me with the things she says.


I decided to take the kids today to see the new movie Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. My mom went with us to watch Ireland and shop while Dawson,Ansley,and I went to the movie to spend some time together. If you haven't seen this movie I recommend it. It's very cute. After the movie we went to Books A Million to meet up with my mom and Ireland. I picked a few books out for the kids for Valentine's Day and let them pick a book to keep today. We then left there to eat at Applebee's before heading home. When our food came I asked who wanted to say grace. Ansley raised her hand and said "Me,Me." So we proceeded to close our eyes and hold hands waiting for Ansley's prayer. This was her prayer. " Dear God, thank you for today and mom taking us to the movies to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. I loved the cute fat Chipmunk. He was precious. I also loved the one who said "boo-yah." It was funny. Thank you for mom getting us a book. She's the best mom. Thank you for this food. Amen."

I got tickled because it sounded just like something my Ansley would pray. Her personality is so funny. I had to write this prayer down and put it in her memory box I keep with the kids stuff that's special.