Edisto Family Pics

Here are the Best of the Best of our pictures we took as a family. I was thinking about cropping some and then seeing how they look in black and white, but honestly, I love the bright colors and thought they turned out so good, that I just left them as they were for now. We were going to have a professional take our pictures, that is right on the island, but they never returned our phone calls or emails. So...(God worked it out that..) the staff from our church was having their staff retreat that same week and so Leisa Clamp volunteered to be our photographer and I have to say that she did a super job! But then again, look at what you had to work with, I mean, come on, did you expect anything less than super? Just kidding! Enjoy!

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Edisto Beach with Kevin's Family

This past week was Christmas in June for us and Kevin's family! For Christmas, Kevin's parents decided to give everyone a week at Edisto Beach. All but Kevin and I headed down last Saturday. Kevin and I came down Wednesday late afternoon. (We had to split the time with Kevin's dad due to the farm). Wednesday evening we had family pictures made. (As soon as I get copies, I will post them. They turned out so, so good!) We spent all day on Thursday at the beach. It was a beautiful, perfect beach day! Kevin and I played with our nieces and nephews. We had a great time playing in the water, boggie boarding, jumping waves, playing in the sand, and building things. Friday we awoke to rain. After breakfast it stopped long enough for us to think it was over, so we all headed down to the beach. Only to find that it was going to rain until lunch time. After lunch the sun finally decided to poke it's head out again and shine for a little while. After lunch, the family scattered in different directions. Kevin and I headed back to the beach. Katelyn, Mrs. Katie, Tori, Jared, and Lily Kate headed to Charleston to bring some stuff to Ryan that he had forgotten and needed at the fire station. Heather, Michael, Kayla, and Geoffery headed to the Edisto Serpentarium to check out the snakes and other reptiles. It was a nice, quiet, lazy afternoon for Kevin and I on the beach. Saturday morning we got up and headed home. We were home by lunch time. Then Kevin went to work and I decided to start washing clothes and took a nap. We had a good time. It was very noisy and busy with 8 adults and 4 kids, meal time, but once I got home I found myself a little bored, because the kids had provided the entertainment and I missed having everyone around. I think we all enjoyed our Christmas present.

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Family Time at the Pool

Sunday afternoon, Kevin and I decided to go swimming at his parents' pool. Abby, of course, went with us. This time I wasn't going to put her in the pool at all. So, Kevin and I were playing volleyball and all of a sudden we heard a splash, and we look, and here comes Abby swimming out to us. We were both so shocked. Abby was very calm about it. The times I had put her in before, she didn't seem to like it at all and was acting scared. I had my camera with me, so I got it on video. She swam back to the steps and got out, then a few minutes later, he she comes again. She only got in twice. I think the only reason was because we were not paying her any attention. But I was pleased that she could handle being in the water and not be scared or panic.

Anniversary Dinner

For our anniversary dinner, I wanted to cook and eat off our "good stuff", our China and use our nice glasses, etc. So I cooked a meal that Kevin and I both enjoy. I found this recipe a few weeks ago on the back of the French's Fried Onions, and you prepare your chicken like normal, then dip it into egg, and roll it into the fried onions, then bake for 20 minutes. And it is very, very tasty. If you like onion rings, you would like this. Then I cooked green beans, fried some squash (fresh from our garden), and had some silver queen sweet corn and no that wasn't from our garden, but we will have our own soon! And to top it off, we had a piece of our cake. It was very satisfying.

Happy 1st Anniversary!

I cannot believe that a year ago today, Kevin and I got married! It is crazy to realize that it has already been a year. We celebrate our anniversary last weekend with a trip to Savannah, GA. Last night we went out on a date. It's been a while since we have done that. We went out to eat at Ruby Tuesdays-which was were we ate on our first date-then went to the movies. This was the first time we had been to the movies since we saw Fireproof. We saw "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. It was very GOOD! Kevin and I both enjoyed it. There was plenty of comedy for Kevin and plenty of romance for me. It was a great all around movie. If you haven't seen it, it's a great date-night movie. The kind of movie that leaves you warm and happy inside and thankful for the spouse or special person in your life. We cut our anniversary cake at lunch. See, in my cake contract you could either save your top layer or on your anniversary she would make you a new, fresh top layer. So of course I wanted a fresh one, instead of one that had been frozen for a year. (That was one of the errands that my dad and I did on Thursday, was to pick up the cake.) It was just as heavenly delicious as I had remembered. Only better this time because Kevin and I get a whole little cake to ourselves!

A funny thing happend last night at about 4:30 am, I heard Kevin coming back in the house from checking on the chickens. I normally don't say anything to him when he comes back in, I am still so very asleep at that time. I heard him come into the room, but instead of going to his side of the bed, he was coming over to my side. Well, being still asleep, it kind of scared me, and I woke up and was like " what are you doing?". He was like, "oh shoot!". He turned on the light and had a dozen red roses in his hand. He said that he had them hidden at his parents' house and wanted to surprise me, and have them sitting on my night stand so I would see them when I woke up. It was very sweet.

Kevin and I have had a wonderful first year together. God has blessed us so much, He's taken care of us, and has reminded us over and over that He is the one in control. I love being married to Kevin. I love hearing his voice in the morning (I don't see him because I am still have my eyes closed), and being there when he gets home. He has been there to support me with all the changes that I have had to make. He is always encouraging and helping me to do my best in all I do. He is caring, understanding, and sincere. He's everything I could ever ask for, and I love him more and more each day. I am excited to celebrate this day together. I think we would both agree, we are more relaxed and comfortable today than we were a year ago. I think the only thing maybe that Kevin and I might want to do different would be, that we would love to be back on our way to Jamaica right now. Kevin, thank you for all you do and for being you! I love you and happy first anniversary!

Thank you to our family and friends for being there, supporting us and encouraging us throughout this year. Thank you for those that have sent us anniversary cards or phone calls.

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Happy Father's Day!

Hey Daddy! Remember what you were doing a year ago today?

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! I went to Greer on Wednesday to visit with my dad, grandfather, and uncle Keith. We went out to eat Wednesday. Thursday, my dad and I ran some errands and just hung out. It was a nice visit. I am sure that dads have a very special relationship with their sons, but there is just something extra special between a dad and a daughter. I could have not asked for a better dad than I have. He has always been there for me at awards days, swim meets, dance recitals, piano recitals, and Mr. Fix-it, etc. He has always made sure that I had everything that I need, plus more. He has given me many opportunities to see and do things that many people would not have had the chance to do. We are so much a like in our personalities that sometimes that can cause us to be suborn when we have a difference of opinion, but we love each other for it. I don't know anyone, next to Kevin, who is a harder worker than my dad. He showed me what a dad was suppose to be like, how a husband was suppose to treat his wife and set the example very high for the kind of man I was to marry. I love him very much and he has helped to make me the person I am today. Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Butterfly

This afternoon, after we got home from Savannah, I was putting water in the birdbath and filling up the bird feeder, when I noticed the butterfly on my butterfly bush. I got some good pictures.