The Suits Sisters

I present to you the Great Backpacking Trip of 2019 ! In recent years, Dad, Mom and Anna have remained faithful in their quest to be mountain (wo)men but for some of us, this was our first trip in ten years and for others (HI KARYN!), it was their maiden voyage. We hiked along the Foothills Trail starting at Oconee State Park.  Kent and Dad working on a can of beans with a crummy can opener and rock.  Dad's (probable) head lamp motto: IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO HAVE IT IN PLACE. Nightfall comes swiftly and without warning.  On Sunday night we used a 6 man tent that had seen camping action in South Sudan and confirmed the fact that a 6 man tent with 6 actual (wo)men + sleeping bags is a tight squeeze (Dad chose to sleep 50 feet away under a tarp) Although I had my earplugs in, I was still able to target people that snored or breathed heavily (4/6 of the tent) and I made my plans to vote them off the island. Before our slumber party, we laughed, told stories, answer...

Nothing says LONG LIVE THE QUEEN like coming home from a Florida road trip at 11:30PM and waking up at 5:30am the next morning to watch Meghan steal Harry from Anna  marry Harry. BEST WISHES, you two!! (See our first Royal Wedding viewing party here )

With both of our spouses out of town, I invited my dad over for Taco Tuesday. My not-so-hidden agenda was to talk to another adult and have a distraction (distractor?) during our bedtime routine.  Tacos included in the visit. The tiara was an added accessory

5 grandkids with #6 coming in February! BLESSED. Gotta snag a picture whenever you can  and hope for the best.  No babies were harmed in the cramming of this pack-n-play  We started Charlie Brown and quickly realized they all have the attention span of an ant  Christmas nap for Pops  and a makeover for Pops  All aboard the Bubble Wrap Train! 

Before I delve into a Thanksgiving recap, I pause to recognize that some of my readers are going through some pretty sad/hard/intense/scary times right now. If my blog provides a mindless distraction, read on. But if you need to leave for a while, I understand and I welcome you back at any time. End pause. We celebrated Thanksgiving all together for the first time in about six years, if my calculations are correct. We had two special visitors, Karen (Karan? Karin?) and Robin. Robin, please forgive me as your group picture is lost somewhere between my email account and desktop folder entitled "blog, despite multiple attempts to find it.   Let's zoom in on the lovable wacknuts with whom I share a home. Prayers appreciated. ha ha  Pre-meal baseball with Pops A turkey tutu shirt?! Stop it. The concentration and zeal that Ben put into peeling the potatoes was not lost on us. This was PAB. Pre Ant Bite. A small army of fire ants attacked Cruz. Bless him. Stor...

We went apple picking last week with Kent's sister and our nieces and nephews. It was a great trip because Kent planned the entire outing and I had no expectations. I had no cute outfits packed. I mean, who wears black and white horizontal stripes apple picking ? (Said in my best Valley Girl voice) I had no perfect pictures that I wanted to snag. I was just blissfully along for the ride and it was a great lesson in kicking my expectations to the curb.  We ate the apples that had already fallen to the ground  which I think is legal in apple picking? Making memories with cousins  Warm doughnuts!  Please zoom in on the two happy parents holding two fart head grumpy girls

Praise hands for technology!   Fireworks wherein Caris stayed up way too late and Gigi fell asleep sitting in a camping chair in the middle of the Gilbert High School parking lot.  Ribs with dad  These glasses provided a whole lot of entertainment during our visit  Lights over Lexington  Glad I traveled so far to spend quality time  with my parents while we stared at our gadgets. winkyface  Breakfast at Gigi's! We were spoiled with french toast, muffins, etc.  This picture sums up my daughter so well. She wouldn't sit with Papa (although he invited her to), but when she saw a photo being taken...she struck a pose. So her ...and so me.   Headed to the lake!  God's faithfulness displayed in the form of a rainbow and so much!  kiddie water gear.  We spent a fun morning at Edventure , along with everyone else in South Carolina, for 12 cents Kids Day.  True love: my Mom voluntarily p...