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!!

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 :)

A wrap up of August

 A week with playmates!


Kayla and Zach came over for the week, while their parents were having a much needed get away (Mike was gone out of the country for 6 months!).  Landon loved having them over.  We had lots of fun playing with cars, make believe, art projects and lots more fun.  Thanks guys for coming over and playing!

Watching the BIG fish tank

Zach helped Josh fix the truck

Landon was more interested in filling his truck with sand and rocks

Sally also stayed a couple weeks with us between apartment leases, Reesie loved Sally's things

Kayla is so great with the boys... reading books

I think the kids tired out Chang

Bike rides!
  Sincethe weather cooled down a little (surprisingly for August in Florida)  and before my belly gets too big to ride the family enjoyed a couple of bike rides together. Bourbon even came on one or two!

Nap Time

A Sunday favorite for the boys in the house.

Girls Night Out

Sally and I joined a couple of girls from our youth group for a girls night.  There weren't a lot of us but we still had fun eating dessert, playing card games and talking.  I only wish I had more time to hang out with all the girls, I really do love spending time with them.

 Rain, Rain, come and stay!

Landon loves the rain!  In Florida there aren't too many rain showers, but when there are I try to let him out to play in the rain.  This particular day the rain was freezing, I don't know what is up with the weather this summer in Florida.

The Swamp!
A day out at the mall playground which Landon loves!

Touch a Truck Day!

At the fairgrounds they had a day event called Touch a Truck Day.  Since Landon loves trucks and our friends Ashley, Matt, Noah, Jen and Even were also going we took Landon.  He had a lot of fun but we didn't stay long.  It was a typical August Florida summer day and there was no cover from the sun.  Landon did get a couple of coloring books, with trucks in them of course, a free bike helmet, and a couple of other souvenirs. 

Landon the fire fighter

The truck table

Landon Loves trucks!

Look at me, Mom!

 Concert Time
 Landon went with Josh to a concert held at Harvest.  Since they both love music they had lots of fun and Mom had a great night of relaxing at home!