Getting dirty

Gates is such a boy. He loves getting dirty and campmeeting has been great for it.

Campmeeting back-when

Campmeeting is a wonderful tradition in Chris' family (and other families) that goes back to the early 1800's. A tradition that is based around praising God, fellowship, worshiping and is wonderful. I had no idea what this was all about or that it even went on until I met Chris. This is one of Chris' favorite times of year. I have also grown to love it and appreciate the history of this sacred tradition. Campmeeting started last night and will continue till next Sunday. Here are some pictures from back-when of Chris' family through out the years at Campmeeting. These pictures will hopefully give you a little idea of why Campmeeting is so wonderful. I will also try to post some pictures of this year; especially because it is a very special Campmeeting for Gates, it's his first one! One of many more that I am sure he will grow to love and look forward to every year.

Dog or Boy?

Is that a dog coming out the DOGGY door? No, that's my Gates!

As soon as he comes out he turns around...

and goes back through!

He did this probably 10 times!

Despite his tendency to take after the dogs, he is still the cutest little boy!

Don't these pictures make you want to squeeze and kiss those adorable cheeks!

Too cute for words!

More to come tomorrow!

The Marlowe School

One of our friends is opening a pre-school in buckhead and it is the cutest school ever! I wish I could spend my days playing in this wonderful place. Here is a sneak peak. I wish I had more then my cell phones camera with me but this just means I will have to go back soon to get some better pictures! http://www.themarloweschool.com/

Yes, this is a pre-school! I don't remember any pre-school I ever went to looking this nice.

Gates really wanted to play with all the fun learning material. Hopefully when he is old enough he will get the chance.

And he especially enjoyed the reading nook. Who wouldn't!?

Trying to walk

Gates is trying really hard to walk. He will stand up and do two little steps and then falls. This is a video of him walking behind some a walker ( I don't know if that is what this is really called).



He has gotten really good at this and could walk for a while if we had more room at our house.

Annual Canoe Trip

For the past 6 years Chris and I have gone down to Thomaston, Ga to go on a Canoe trip with some friends down the Flint river. We even went last year when I was very pregnant. We look forward to this trip every year. The trip is always planned the day before or after the 4th of July. It is so relaxing and peaceful floating down the river.

The Master Canoer

And me, the lazy bum. The first year we went on this trip I dreaded it. I thought Canoeing sounded terrible and didn't understand why we couldn't just go tubing. So, Chris said that I didn't have to do any canoeing, I could just enjoy the ride. Me just enjoying the ride kinda stuck 6 years later.

The trip consist of more then just canoeing. After spending the first half of the day on the river, we go back to our friends cabin and hang out.

This year they had an abundance of blue berries I picked.

There is also some fishing on a little lake at the cabin.

Some sitting around chatting and some dogs. (We didn't take of our dogs this year, sad)

And the guys favorite part, shooting guns.

Chris got some crazy idea that it would be awesome to get some exploding targets this year. The guys thought they were great. Every time one would explode they would all start laughing. It was a good thing we were in the middle of no where because these things sounded like bombs going off.

This is all the guys supervising Chris mixing the exploding target up. It must be a guy thing.

P.S. Gates stayed with Grand and the Major