Our May Flowers

Here is our May.  Most spent visiting with family since Josh was gone most of the month to Asia.  He had an amazing trip and I plan to share later.  We spent a little less than a week in Gainesville after Josh left.  We finished up our last MOPS meeting of the year. I worked at Corks.  Then we headed to stay with family.  We stayed for a little over a 1.5 weeks in the panhandle splitting our time between the Gorman's and Williams' house.  

CORKS and art project fun

Fun party I taught

Twilight 

Moon, Sun and Stars

My own art project- chore magnets for the kids

Love these two!

Arabella dancing and singing to her Daddy's jams

This is how little boys entertain themselves in the car: Landon and his silly faces

Noah's Pirate Party

Landon's homemade card for Noah

MOPS Splash Day

Mommy and Her Little Loves

Box fun

Once we got to the panhandle it was a little easier for all of us dealing with Josh being gone.  Lots of fun, laughter and smiles being surrounded by friends and family.   We were home to celebrate Jamiie Jo's birthday.  Grandpa and Grandma Williams watched the kids one night so I could go out with Jamiie and celebrate.  We had fun!  I ordered Jamiie and myself special drinks so we would have a souvenir cup to remember the occasion.  :)

And if you are wondering if that is Carter with a pirate eye patch on, the anwser is yes.  I was going with all the young ones, since I was almost 10 years older than most of our birthday celebrating crew, that when you get to be old and a mom you have a bit of everything in your bag.  Well I had a pirate eye patch among other things.  ;)

Happy Birthday Jamiie!

Grandpa and Grandma Williams, the kiddos and I surprised Jamiie at work :)





 I was able to spend Mother's Day with both my mothers and the two reasons why I am a mom.  It was a lovely day!  I did miss Josh a lot this day.  It helped when I received a surprise delivery though.  A beautiful bouquet of flowers.  Even being on the other side of the world 12 hours ahead, he managed to make my day.  

Happy Mother's Day

Beautiful bouquet from Josh

We got a chance to meet up with Jermiah and Sally, who were in town for the day, Mom W. and Jamiie at the beach.  We also ended up by seeing Carter and Kaili there.  We had lots of fun!

Beach Day

Lots and lots of pool time at Grandpa and Grandma's Gormans plus smiles, laughs, story time, and silly antics.  

Grandpa and Grandma Gorman's House

Jamiie took Landon, Arabella and I out on her kayak.  We just went for about an hour because it was the kids first time out and we were sure how they would do.  I think Landon would have been happy out there all day.  Bella enjoyed it but was very ready when we were headed back.  They both did great.  No flipped boats!  We stopped on a little beach cove to eat a snack and check out some gulf animal life.  

Kayaking with Aunt Jamiie

Aunt Jamiie came back to Gainesville after our visit to the panhandle.  She stayed for a day or two less than a week.  It was so nice to have her around to help out and play with the kids.  The first day she was here I drove Sally and Jeremiah to the Orlando airport for their flight to Greece.  They finally got to go on their honeymoon! Jamiie, the little ones and I played outside a lot.  We were all pretty sad when she left.  Landon asked me to take the toys and books that him and Aunt Jamiie played with away because every time he saw them he said it made him too sad.  It was so sweet and so sad.

Morningside Nature Center

Fun with Bendaroos- Gary from Sponge Bob

Arabella creation- I think it was some animal  

Colorful mini pot pies

We did a Corks pottery morning while Jamiie visited.  Landon painted a crab, Jamiie painted measuring spoons and Bella and I did a purple duck(I guess I forgot to take a picture of her duck, but you can check it out in our bathroom any time ;)

Landon's crab- 100% by himself

Jamiie's measuring spoons

Love this picture of my little loves- watching the clouds

Fun outside Corks


Fun with the sprinkler

American Flag by the Williams children

Memorial Day- we missed Daddy a lot this day

We had a week and half after Jamiie left before Josh came home.  It was a big rough but well worth all the amazing things that happened in Asia.  The last day or two of May Josh was home and was mostly spent keeping the kids quiet so Josh could sleep  before needed to go back to work.  The day Josh did go back to work, he took a lunch break and came with us to the dentist.  It was little ones first time and they were champions!!

April

Blueberries!

We were invited to go blueberry picking with our friends, the Bolins.  So we loaded up all 5 kids in our van and headed to Ashley's grandmother's house in Tampa.  It was fun and oh so yummy!!!

Blueberry Picking!

 When we got back from blueberry picking, it was late so our guy joined us and we had dinner at the Bolins.  While Bella was waiting for dinner I found her like this...

And our conversation went like this..

Me: What are you doing Bella?

Bella: Watching Duck.

Me: Why?

Bella: Because... shhh!

She is so funny!

Christian Campus House
Josh was asked to speak at University of Florida's Christian  Campus House.  The kids and I came along.  Arabella and Landon were really excited to be able to go.  We packed up some quiet things to do while we were there in their super cool backpacks from Aunt Sally.  They were so good! Yay!!  We had several people come over and tell them how impressed they were with how they behaved.  Landon was pretty happy with all the compliments he received.  Josh did a great job speaking too :)

Firehouse Day
We went with our MOPS group to a firehouse tour.  The kids were excited.  It was kind of a bummer, because about 10 minutes after we got there, the firemen were called out to help someone.  Thankfully the kids didn't mind.  They thought it was cool.  Rosemary, brought a Curious George book about Firehouses. She read that in hopes the fire truck would return.  No such luck.  So we  decided to head over to the near by play ground.  We hadn't ever gone to the playground.  It was a great day even thought it didn't go as planned.

Firehouse Tour

Playground and Crooked Houses

 Corks and Colors
I am changing our kitchen decor.  So I thought I would add personalized salt and pepper shakers and a butter dish.  I didn't do many painting classes in April, just lots of pottery.  These ladies were here for a bachelorette party and were delightful to teach!

Pottery and painting

Stop Cancer Gala with Corks and Colors

A bit of everyday

Silly boy

Silly Girl

Arabella's first french braid

Silly Family!

A boy and his dog

Landon napping is a rare sight

Cuties and their backsides.  

Florida's Spring Barbershop Competition

We were able to join Mom and Dad Williams again this year for Dad's Barbershop competition.  It was held in Orlando this year.  Jamiie, Jeremiah and Sally were also able to join us.  We enjoyed it as always.  I love how much our little loves enjoy it, especially Landon.  Check out Landon in the college below, the bottom right hand picture.  He was intently listening, and singing although very quiet.  He is such a great kid to take.  Kids are really fondly welcomed.  Everyone has to be seated during the performances of each group, NO getting up even if you have to go to the bathroom.  You also have to be extremely quiet!  No filming or recording of any kind.  They are kind of okay with pictures, if they don't have a flash.  It is pretty serious business.  My kids are pros now though.  They both have been coming since they were around 4-6 months old.  Arabella took at nap during part of the performance.  She cuddled up on Daddy.  So sweet :)

Dad's group did awesome, as I always think they do.  I believe they placed 4th.  I can't wait until next year.  Yay for amazing singing!!!!

The hotel had a pool, which we all enjoyed despite it being on the cold side.  

Photo op with my little lady bug :)

And my sweet and silly boy

 I think I might just have a little obsession with my children and picture taking. ;)

Our beautiful girlie :)