Happy 7th Anniversary from DC!

What a WONDERFUL 7th Anniversary we had in Washington DC! It was a short, fast weekend but we got to see and do so SO much! Here are a few highlights!

Got to go to the Washington DC Temple ... and walk an extra mile to get there! (We took the Metro... and then tried to catch the bus - only to find out we had walked a mile in the wrong direction to the bus stop... BUT thankfully when we got to the bus with only a $1 bill and $5 bill - the bus driver said we only had to pay $1 because he didn't want to overcharge us by us putting in the $5 and not getting any change!) -- What a BEAUTIFUL Temple - inside and out!

We got to walk the "MALL" a couple times ... took a tour of the Library of Congress and Capitol...

Ate at some AMAZING restaurants (only 1 of which we took a picture at!)
And Saturday ... we spent most of the day with my college roommate, Ivy and her family! Christian (16 months old!) was such a trooper as we toured Mount Vernon...

Us at Mount Vernon...

And Shane was an even BIGGER trooper as he went to this DELICIOUS restaurnt not feeling so hot! Dinner was so yummy and we enjoyed so so much spending time with Ivy and Shane!

Our last day we were able to visit several of the Monuments... (lots of walking in!)

Go up IN the Washington Monument (which Jonathan waited in line, in the rain to get tickets for at 8am!)

View from atop the Washington Monument and we could even see the Washington DC Temple!

And here we are in The National Gallery of Art!

This was by far probably our most "fun" trip together... I guess each year we grow closer together and enjoy being together more! I ate so much yummy food I think I literally gained 10 pounds - you would've thought all that walking would've helped! I'm sure I left a LOT out ... and we didn't take pictures everywhere - we just enjoyed being together! Big thanks to my mom for keeping our boys!

Benjamin's 1st Day of PRESCHOOL!

So Benjamin started his first day of 4 year old preschool (August 16th)... he is going FOUR days a week from 9-12! He is in Mrs. Jennifer and Mrs. Pat's class and really loving it! A BONUS is that his friend from church, Tyson is in his class... AND... Bonus for me - it is only 3 minutes from our house!

Updates!

The last few weeks have been FULL -- I just haven't taken LOTS of pictures! I have so many "to-do" projects, I can't take the thought of having to edit/caption MORE pictures right now!

So here's a little of what's been going on... we went to the BRAVES game - and after a 2 hour rain delay - they FINALLY started playing - probably not our FAVORITE game over the last few years because they lost and it rained SO MUCH and the game just was so long! We were all EXHAUSTED and everyone slept until almost 10 am the next morning! Fun to be together though!

We had "the Owens" family pictures... and count them ... YEP - 23 grandchildren and that is just the BEGINNING! So so many more to come! This is only 7 of the 17 children who have had children! Aren't they all so cute!

AND ... we ALL went down the Toccoa River - including one of my mom's friends and my mom! Micah was not THRILLED with the incredibly TOO big life jacket - but he HAD to wear it - he can't swim! He was a trooper though and it was SO much fun going down the river together!

If you want to come hang out - or go down the river with us this fall - we're game! Now for LOTS more fun the next few weeks ... stay tuned!

The Cabin, Stone Mountain, and Coca-Cola Adventures!

Jonathan's brother, Albert, came to stay with us for a WHOLE week - it was AWESOME! He was so great with the boys and a big help to me! Any other aunts/uncles want to come -- you're welcome ANYTIME - we would LOVE it! Here are the the three "big" adventures we went on!

Up to the cabin ... and a fun hike at "Fall Branch Falls"...

There really were lots of "fallen branches" - some Benjamin could just duck under!

Benjamin at the trailhead!

Our little family...

Since we were on "that-side-of-town" ... and had the raft in the trunk and Benjamin's lifejacket - we decided that the boys could go on down the Toccoa River...

Here they are IN the water ... think they had fun!

Here are my sweet boys at the TOP of Stone Mountain!

Here's our little gang at the top!

Albert "introducing" Micah to the sheep - he LOVES animals but wasn't quite sure at first!

Gotta love this one:

Benjamin: "Micah, say "cheese"..."

So Micah got BRAVE and did touch the goat ... but just with ONE finger!

Micah, Aunt Laura, Benjamin, and Uncle Albert at the TOP of Stone Mountain!

Albert, Coca-Cola Bear, Benjamin, me and Micah... the bear could even BLINK - that was awesome!!

Benjamin hugging the bears - he LOVES all dressed up people/animals etc.!

Micah, Me and Benjamin tasting the sodas!

Laura and my Mom at the Varsity -- a must go (and I actually like the food!)

Albert and Benjamin at the Varsity!

Micah's 1st trip to the Varsity - but he wouldn't eat ANYTHING - and hardly the food that I brought for him ... he was TIRED! - oh, and he REALLY does not like to wear hats ...

We had such a fun week! Now on for more adventures and fun with the family!

4th of July visit to Nana's!

I know I know ... so far behind and oh so many pictures .... but this is mostly just so that ONE DAY ... I will put together a blurb book with all of my blogs!

We had such a fun time in Florida for the 4th of July and a few extra days! Here are a few of the things we did:

Benjamin of course got to ride the golfcart with Grampy and help him do some farm/yard work!

Albert and Benjamin shucked the $.10 corn for our 4th (3rd) of July BBQ!

Here's Micah and I at Aunt Jenny's before dinner...

We went to see the Fireworks over Lake Butler:

Spencer, Albert, Cheri, Benjamin, Jonathan and Micah

Love this picture of Jonathan and Micah!

Here's a fun picture of the boys!

4th of July family picture...

The boys with Nana - both being silly!

Grampy played "Green Eggs and Ham" with Benjamin: I just L-O-V-E these moments!

Benjamin and Albert eating 4th of July dinner with the missionaries!

Grammy and Grampy with Micah before they left to go to Orlando!

Albert, Jonathan, Rachel, Benjamin and Cheri (*and Spencer) ... about to go rafting/tubing down the Ichetucknee River - COLD!

Albert and Benjamin in the water -- the water is so clear! We got to see some turtles and a few other fun wildlife plants/animals!

Jonathan, Benjamin, and I all on this one little tube!

The boys playing in the rain and hose ... so fun!

Benjamin riding on Albert's back in the pool!

Micah is really getting fun in the pool!

Both boys swimming at the same time!

Nana made snowcones for us - the boys were in heaven (me too!)

We had such a fun time - Jonathan and I even got to go to the Orlando Temple which was AMAZING! We love our visits to see family in Florida and treasure all of the memories!