Sea World PLUS Disney!

 For Fall Break we decided to head to Orlando ... so I packed up the three kidos and headed down ... Jonathan joined us 2 days later!  He missed out on SeaWorld but we were so excited to pick him up for Disney World!  

Since I was still very sickly from being in my first trimester of pregnancy ... we treated ourselves to a little Japanese at Benihana!!

 Then on THURSDAY, we headed to Sea World - just the boys and I!  They were troopers and we were able to see all the shows!

 Us with the Shamu...

 My FAVORITE: the dolphin show!

 The boys favorite was the Clyde and Seymore show... but the Whales came in second!

 We were SO excited for Jonathan to join us Friday-Sunday!!  He was able to hold Jacob and calm him when he was SO exhausted!  All in all - the boys were GREAT and just enjoyed the rides and all of the characters!

Our first day at Disney...

Micah got to meet Stitch while Jonathan and Benjamin rode Space Mountain!

 

We ALL got to meet the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland...

the boys riding the teacups!

 LOVE the boys riding the DUMBO ride!

 One of Jonathan's favorites... riding the PEOPLE MOVER in Tomorrowland!

 By the end of day 1... it was raining and we were all pretty tired!  We did ride Pirates of the Caribbean which was one of our favorites before heading back to the hotel (and the rain hitting!)

Day 2... We got to the park a little later as we stayed until the FIREWORKS show and night parade!

 Micah and I on the DUMBO ride (again!)

 We toured the Swiss Family Robinson House... of course a classic and a favorite!

 We had to wait a pretty good bit to ride the Magic Carpet Ride... but everyone enjoyed it!

Some of our other Favorites that we don't have pictures of were:

the BUZZ Lightyear, Peter Pan's Flight to Neverland, the boys liked a few of the "little" roller coasters, Jonathan got a kick out of the jokes on the Jungle Cruise ... and I LOVED seeing all of the princesses ... I just don't think it's quite the same for boys!

 

 Benjamin did a GREAT job taking this pictures of Jonathan and I as the sun was setting... this is definitely a MAGICAL place and we are excited to go AGAIN (in a few years!) ... We had a WONDERFUL time with our boys here and being together!

A new NIECE!

Jane Elizabeth Ray...

was born on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

weighing 7 lbs. and 11 oz.

I was the one of the LUCKY ones that got to go and hold her when she was less than 12 hours old... what a sweet little spirit!    

 

 Charity, Jane and "Aunt Rachel"...

 Baby Jane and me!  So glad that I have little nieces to enjoy!

Laura and Hazel VISIT!

My awesome college-roommate and dear friend, Laura, came to visit with sweet little Hazel!  She was able to help us pick out some things for Jonathan's upcoming office remodel ... and we were able to do a few fun things!

  One of the things we did was... HIKE Stone Mountain!  One thing Laura and I LOVED doing in college was go hiking (and camping!) together... 

I wasn't quite so sure about this hike with all the kiddos though - but they all made it up and down!  Jonathan's brother and Mom were able to go with us last minute as well!

The BIGGEST bummer news was that they weren't doing the Laser Show that night!!  AND all of the attractions closed at 5 pm ... so note to self - if you're having company come into town and want to take them to Stone Mountain ... check dates/times!!

We still had lots of fun and ate dinner at Ted's Montana Grill after our hike!

 We did lots of eating and talking while she was here!  We ate dinner atop of the Omni at the Sun Dial Restaurant ... which spins around during the meal so that you get a 360 degree view of Atlanta!  Hazel was always a champ when it came to our outings!

 Enjoyed every minute that I got to spend with Laura ... what a sweet friend indeed!

Micah's FIRST day of 3-K!

 Micah started 3 year preschool at Mt. Zion Baptist Preschool and is going 3 days this year!  

He is such a little stud and is SO good at school! 

His teachers this year are: Mrs. Dorothea and Mrs. Terry!

Here he is on his first day...

He went right on in ... gave me a hug and was ready to play!

DOLLYWOOD for a DAY!

SURPRISE... we picked Benjamin up at the bus stop and headed to DOLLYWOOD!

We enjoyed riding rides, getting slushies, and spending time together!   

 Micah was SO excited to ride on the Merry-go-round!

 Benjamin and I being silly waiting on the train to go!

(MICAH LOVED the train!)

 Jacob's FIRST time driving the cars!

 Jacob, Micah and I riding on the ducks!

 boys on the ducks...

... fun little memories!

 All three boys riding the pigs!

Benjamin and Jonathan did go on a couple BIG roller coasters... Benjamin is still not THRILLED with them ... and Benjamin and I did our traditional "Fire in the Hole" and Dare Devil Falls!

So glad that we got to go - LOVED IT!

Benjamin's first day of FIRST GRADE!

BENJAMIN...started FIRST GRADE on August 1st!

 

 This is he and his teacher: Mrs. Dixon at the meet-and-greet!

He LOVES her!

 Jonathan USUALLY takes Benjamin to the bus stop... and it usually picks up around 7 am ... which means he has to be up around 6:15 am or so!

Don't they both look HANDSOME!

 

 Benjamin waiting on the bus...

Benjamin getting on his NEW bus... with a new bus driver ... Mrs. Sherri ... and taking some applesauce to her!

He had a GREAT first day... will be buying his lunch some this year now that he's confident in knowing his lunch # ... and won't have any homework until AFTER Labor Day (except Mom getting him to read!)

Amelia Island Vacation!

This year we headed to Amelia Island for a long-weekend vacation with the kids!  Since it was attached to a Dental Conference - we got an amazing rate at our hotel and had a WONDERFUL time!

While Jonathan was in class ... the boys and I headed to the beach and pool ... Jonathan did surprise a couple of times and came out to play!

 

I'm not in even ONE single picture ... but I guess that's what happens when you are the photographer sometimes!  These pictures capture some of the fun we had!

 Jacob and Jonathan...

 AND... we had an official WALKER by this trip!

 One evening the Dental Association put on a dinner and luau that we could go to... Benjamin was excited to be "in the show!" at one point...

 And here just shows how fun of a dad Jonathan is... trying to "surf!"

 Boys playing in the ocean...

 So the "sand" here is mostly SHELLS... so if you sat at the edge of the waves - watchout when you get in the shower because your bathing suit will be FILLED with shells! 

The boys dug this amazing hole - with Jonathan's help -- and they LOVED sitting in it!

 Can't have a tastier ice-cream than one shared with your brother...

 Here are the two little guys playing in the sand/water hole!

 Boys at the beach!

Jonathan helping to build a sandcastle!

 Best of the "photo-shoot" ... sometimes it just goes that way!

My favorite picture entitled: "Looking down from Heaven." 

I hope when God looks down from heaven on our family ... he sees the smiles and the love that we have in our family... and HOPEFULLY is looking elsewhere on the not so happy days!

4th of JULY weekend!

We celebrated the 4th of July at Mom Mom and Poppy's this year!  Since the kiddos were SO tired from playing all day (AND going to see Madagascar 3!) ... we opted to do sparklers and hit the bed early!

 The only DOWN-er was that a spark from the sparkler sparked right into one of the holes in Micah's CROC - and up under his toe - I know - what are the ODDS?  But it burned his little toe pretty bad!

 This was RIGHT before the spark got him...

 He was able to come back outside for a little more fun but Jonathan had to hold him... poor little guy!

 After the 4th... Jonathan and Benjamin went to play in a family golf tournament in Ringgold ... and then we all headed up to the cabin to tube down the Toccoa River with Mom Mom, Poppy and the Colemans.  It was my Dad and Charlie's first time - and they did GREAT!

 Everyone enjoyed the boys floating with them ... even though they had their own floats...

 Jacob is SMILING here ... but the trip was a little long for him - and he tossed his pacy sometime within the first hour of the four hour trip!

This was our best Group shot before getting in!