Curb Appeal

I am not very good at the gardening stuff.  Thankfully Abigail enjoys it tremendously.  It means our outside looks better. 

She planted some flowers in pots around our yard.

This one sits on our front porch.

back deck

front porch

backyard by the driveway

she wanted to plant some veggies

front porch

We have an American Robin's nest in our tree/bush in the backyard.  I believe there are 3 babies.  Let me just say, she is a good mom.  I try to get photos periodically so I can see the progress but she attacks.  I mean she will swoop out of a neighboring tree and dive bomb your head to get you away.  So sadly this is the only photo I was able to capture.  (On a side note  - the neighbors must think I am nuts because I scream my head off when she attacks me.)

Family Time

I love to be able to spend some time with my nephew and niece.  From two different sides of the family.  My nephew is from my brother Kevin and his wife Allison.  I got to go to the Aquarium with Kallen and Allison.  Here are some photos from that trip:

Babysitting

Had the chance to hang with Teegan. 

Junior Update

Josh is finishing up his Junior year at CCA.  Here are some highlights for him:

Josh went to Banquet (like prom) with Sona (who is wearng navy blue). Here are some his classmates.

Every year CCA honors those students who achieve academic excellence.  Josh on stage receiving one of his.

Josh is the one in pink shirt walking to the stage.

Up the steps

Sam, Josiah, and Josh dressed for banquet

Either an academic award or student government

Josh and Sona

Sam, Josiah, and Josh

My model son 

He had the opportunity to go to Colorado and with a group to visit a friend who moved there over the summer.

Colorado

Colorado again - Josh, Lane, Dell, Hannah (birthday girl and the one who moved) Ryann, and Chloe

More Colorado photos

While there they attended a ceremony for Hannah (white dress) for National Honor Society

Some of the guys for banquet - Ian, Josh, Sam, Nathan, Josiah . (I know I am biased but seriously they could all be teenage models!!!)

Me and my boy - The shrimp and the Jolly green giant

Josh being congratulated my Gabe (son 2.0)

It is because of these fine young men that my youngest thrives.  They are Tate, Ian, Josh, Sam, Mattias, Gabe, Ian, Josiah, and Nathan (slightly chopped out of picture)

Oh to know what was said to have Josh bending over in laughter.  Love love love these guys.

Nathan, Josh, Sam (peaking over shoulder) Josiah, Gabe . (Just as an aside those are all Josh's awards)!!!

I cannot stress enough how much CCA means to my family.  We are so blessed to have this as an option for education for our children. 

ECPW Retreat

I am always honored and humbled to be invited to the East Coast Pastor's Wives Retreat.  The invite is also for the support people that the Pastor's Wife thinks should attend.  I was asked and I accepted.  The theme this year was Take Heart  John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble:  but take heart I have overcome the world."

It is such a good time of reflection and growth for me.  The retreat is help at Sandy Cove in North East Maryland.

I very cool looking stump I saw when I was walking

So peaceful and quiet

This was a snake that was in the rock bed I decided to relax by.  Needless to say I moved after taking this photo.

Truly a beautiful day

Disney

I love Disney!  I thought I was done going as the last time we went as a family our experience was not up to par.  There was a lot of construction last time and we were just not happy.  Also, too many school groups with NO supervision made our time very challenging to say the least.  However, my sister and brother in-laws have a little one that they wanted to take to the parks.  Years ago, I said I would attend and be like a "nanny" for them so they could enjoy some rides that Teegan couldn't go on and so forth.  Well back in November we booked a trip for 1st week in April.  Just a Monday-Saturday.  We would just go into the main parks, no water parks.  So April 1st Bill and I boarded a flight to Orlando where we would meet up with the family.
This is only the 2nd time I have stayed on property.  Let me just say - it was fantastic!!!  I really thought I was going to hate not being able to come and go as I please but have to be at the mercy of the bus/transportation system that Disney provides.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised by the ease and the joy of it all.
Two things we did was - stay in a suite at Art of Animation and purchased the meal plan.  I recommend both.
Here are some photos of our time spent there.  Good time!  I want to go back!  AHHHH!

One of the meals for Teegan

Just delicious

fish tacos

Family style dinner in Magic Kingdom

Hanging out in the living room of our Finding Nemo suite

Tee at Be Our Guest restaurant

A snack for Mike and Rose

The bedroom in our suite

The dining area for our suite - the wall art pulls down and becomes a bed.

lunch at our hotel

outside walking to our bus transportation at our hotel

Ariel outside our hotel

breakfast at Be Our Guest

Breakfast at our hotel

Italian dinner at Mama Melrose - Hollywood Studios

Tee's meal

Rose's gluten free meal

Desserts were included with our sit down service.  I mean yum.

Mickey arrived at one of the kid's shows.

Lunch with some princesses

Tee got to meet Elle

This was considered a snack

As was this.  They were at Epcot

Butterfly garden

This too was a snack.  We ate wonderfully.  Disney does a great job on flavor taste and quality.  It is a wonder we didn't return gaining weight.

Outside at our hotel

The grounds at Art of Animation

Disney Springs

Carousel at Disney Springs

She was definitely excited about being in Florida

Mike and Rose

Me and hubby

The castle

They had to do the tea cup ride

Toy Story Land

Me with Ramone

Can you believe this is all the grounds of our hotel.  Really cool

Me with Minnie at Chef Mickey's

More food

This is the dining area turned into the bed

This was our arrival