Happy Birthday Samantha!

It is hard to believe Samantha is 3 years old.  She is a joy to our family, full of happiness and fun.  It is a blessing to watch her learn and grow.  We love you Samantha!

Happy Fourth of July!

One of the advantages of living in Alabama is that we can set off our own fireworks on the 4th of July.  We spent the day at the Farmer's Market, came home and relaxed, went swimming, ate hamburgers, watermelon and ice cream cones and put on our own firework show.  It was a lot of fun. 

Kathryn and Carol go to Girl Scout Camp

Last week Kathryn and I went to camp with her Girl Scout troop.  We had a super time.  We climbed rock walls, learned to shoot a bow and arrow, went canoing, went swimming, played in a creek, roasted marshmellows and had a super fun time.

Farmer's Market

We now have a booth at our local Farmer's Market.  It is a small market - only 20 vendors or so.  The customers are plentiful and we are having a great time doing it.  Here are a couple of pictures of what our table looks like.  Not too many veges yet, but we should be really cooking in the coming weeks.  We are mostly focusing on selling our beef and chicken.  All the kids help out.  Sarah is in charge of collecting, washing and setting the eggs on the table, she gets to keep the proceeds from egg sales.  Jacob and Kathryn are both selling cookies which they make.  After paying me for supplies they get to keep the proceeds.  It is a lot of fun and since we do it as a family that adds to the pleasure.  Check out the local Farmer's Market where ever you are, my experience is that the vendors are really nice people and it is always nice to buy things locally grown.

Rock 'n Roll Girls

The girls went to a birthday party that sent inflatable guitars home with each girl.  What fun to have our own rock and roll band!

Jacob's Court of Honor

Wednesday was a court of honor for scouts.  Jacob received his Tenderfoot, Second Class advancement and 4 merit badges.  He is only lacking a few troop activities to be a First Class.  He is the Patrol Leader over the 11 year old scouts and is excited about working on his climbing and cycling merit badges over the summer.  He is doing a really good job of reaching his goals!

Cotton Row Run

HURRAY!!  Jacob and I finished our first 5K.  We ran the entire thing and James (who has run many races) ran with us and encouraged us along the way.  My favorite parts were that I finished, ran the entire thing, had a decent time, and that the last mile was all down hill!  YIPPEE!  Jacob's favorite thing was all the free food at the finish line.  James had fun running with us and seeing me meet a goal I have had for a very long time.  

Do not let my bright red face fool you...I was NOT ready to pass out at the finish line as my face may have indicated.  

Jacob and I have decided that we will now train for an upcoming 10K and hopefully a half marathon in the future.  I am hopeful that I will have a better tan on my legs for future runs...

Kathryn was not up for the 5K this year so she ran in the 1 mile fun run with our friend Julie Brown.  She wants to do the 5K next year and Sarah and Emily are interested in running the 1 mile.   It was a really great day!

P.S. I intentionally included 2 pictures of myself since my sisters and mother have mentioned - several times - that I am conspicuously absent from pictures on our blog.  Here you go ladies - hope you like them.  I would like to mention that it was 85% humidity that day and my hair normally looks slightly better - atleast I hope it does...