Hump Day

Today we decided to lay around and "hang out" with the girls! We needed to go to the grocery store and get some more groceries at Publix Grocery. They don't have Publix grocery Stores back in NC or at least not one close to us so I had never been in one. The store was so clean and the people are so friendly! The girls ate at every sample station, tons of food including lemon pie, crab meat, pork chops, cookies, etc. I now love Publix stores and wish they had them in NC! Is there a petition to sign to get one there? I know, how boring I am blogging about grocery stores!!!! We went home, ate fried chicken for lunch and later made our own personal pizzas for dinner! The girls loved putting cheese on their own pizza and the toppings they liked! It was fun for both girls and mommies and they were so tasty :-) Audrey (Jess' second) kept sitting on Lizzy's lap this afternoon. We weren't sure how it started we just heard Lizzy laughing hysterically and went to investigate. She is about the same size as Anna so it was too funny when she kept "backin' it up" on Lizzy! Lizzy just giggled and laughed! Audrey's other new favorite thing to do is climb on the coffee table and dance! I about died and started freaking out when she hopped up there and started dancing all around! Jess just laughed and laughed and said she does it all the time??? Anna saw us all laughing at Audrey and decided it was too much attention for Audrey and had to try it herself!! I can't wait to get back and share all our stories and pictures! The kids are so funny together and we will miss them when we go back home to NC!

Joe-Ja

So I had to add this random story and picture because it is too funny! On the drive down we stopped somewhere in Georgia to get gas, potty and buy snacks. After pumping gas I went in to get a snack. I could hardly hear myself think deciding over what candy bar to buy over the gigglings of girls in the bathroom. I recognized the laughs and went to check it out, you know to supervise. There I found Lauren (one of our youth) standing underneath the high-powered dryer with her shirt raised up(don't freak out Donna & Ronnie it was only a smidge) blowing her skin around, making ripples! Don't worry I didn't get a picture, but apparently all the girls had had a turn including Becky one of our chaperones! Peer pressure, it never ends! Becky bought some peaches while we were there too because "you can't go to Georgia without getting some Joe-Ja Peaches"! Here is Anna enjoying her peach!

Road Trip

Today we decided to visit a local aquarium, Mote Marine in Sarasota. It was a short drive of 30 minutes from Ed & Jess' house. The girls were so excited when we told them this morning! The aquariums here are different than in NC, they have dolphins and Manatees! They loved seeing all the fish of course and there were a few places they could put their hands in the water and touch all the sea life. It's so much fun seeing their little faces light up and ask tons of questions. We decided to treat the girls to McDonalds on the way home since it was nap time and 3 of the 5 girls were asleep! Later that evening we visited a jetty here in Venice. I got some good pictures of the girls and some animals they spotted along the way. On a side note Lizzy has been a real mover and shaker! She has really been pulling up on everything. She had started before we left but she is constantly standing on everything now and learning to balance herself! Here's a good picture of her acomplishment!

Monday, Monday

We started our Monday a bit later than yesterday around 8:00am. The girls didn't go to bed until late last night and Jess and I welcomed the additional sleep. We've been so thankful to have each other to hang out with while both of our husbands are serving on mission. We've been checking out the youth blog and getting updates from Ed daily and are praying for everyone at mealtimes and bedtime prayers! The girls miss their daddys and can't wait to see them Friday (Jody) and Sunday (Ed). The girls know they are doing what God has commanded us all to do, share the gospel even to those within the United States and in our own backyards. We've really been reminded this week especially that we can never under-estimate God and what he can do and will do as long as we are faithful to Him. Even at their young ages the girls see how important God is in our lives. Jess and I decided this week we wouldn't plan out each day and follow our husbands lead and "fly by the seat of our pants"! Today we hung around the house and played with the girls, ate dinner then ventured out to a local park and I got some really good pictures. Tomorrow we may head to the Aquarium, Beach or Pool, I guess you'll have to wait and see :-) It all depends on how the mommies are feeling and the girls are acting!

We Love Florida

Hello everyone! We made it to Florida! Our youth group is currently on a mission trip in Jacksonville, Florida! We all left Saturday morning at 8:00am. Jody and the youth arrived around 5:30pm or so at their destination in Jacksonville and I arrived in Venice, Florida with the girls around 9:45pm. I left the group at 5:00pm and almost 5 hours later (no stops) we arrived at our friends house Ed & Jessica Braswell! Ed, who is a youth pastor in Florida, is on a mission trip in NC right now, funny huh? Jess and I decided it would be better being together with all the girls than at home by ourselves. All together the trip here wasn't too bad. I was really nervous driving by myself with the girls and needing to stop. I told Emma we weren't stopping unless it was en emergency and we didn't. The girls were asleep when we got here and woke up during the unloading. They were really excited to come and visit Kaitlyn and Audrey as well as Jess! They of course didn't want to go to sleep and all ended up in bed with me. They were in a new place and were scared, blah, blah, blah. It was a long night, I was so tired I really didn't care what they did as long as I got some sleep!!! They woke up at the usual time 6:30am and were raring to go. After breakfast, showers/baths, then we got 7 ladies dressed, hair fixed (some make-up), we loaded all the car seats in Jess' van and off we went to church. Lizzy lost an earring during the drive yesterday so we decided to stop at Pizza Hut for a quick lunch and then Target to get some new studs. Lunch went quite well, 2 adults (1 pregnant) 5 girls 4 and under! After a short trip to Target we decided the girls needed naps. Jess' girls went right down but mine were a different story and after a few "talks" Anna and Lizzy got some rest! We spent the rest of the day relaxing and playing with the girls. I didn't take many pictures today, but have been instructed by Jody to take a lot and update a lot so he can see the girls! Please pray for us (Jess, the girls and I) as well as the youth, Jody and the chaperones. Check out what are youth are doing at www.stonyhillyouth@blogspot.com. Send me some comments so I can see people are actually looking at the blog!

I'll leave you with some Sleeping Beauties! They miss their daddy and can't wait to see him, I gave them a kiss for you Jody! I also have to give a shout out to my "littlest" brother Josh, his 23rd birthday is today!