Camp Flintlock & Baby Gunner

Firing a Musket

Tug of War

Printmaking: Laurel really loved this!

Some of Printmaking successes

Making Indian Glass bead necklaces with reall Buffaloe bone!

Dress up.....it was the favorite!

Learning to throw a Tomahawk....Yes...everyone got to try!

My babies are growing up. Noah picked out that suit :)

Mike getting our Bee Swarm 30 ft. up in the air!

Enjoying the fruits of their labors: the bees

Rachael & Baby Gunner

Making Necklaces in Colonial Camp

Watching Grandaddy do a Civil War Living History

WOW!! We have had a bunch going on around here. School is winding down. June 10th Laurel is finished with her preschool and Noah will be done with his first year of Kindergarten. So hard to believe but we survived and had some fun along the way.

We recently went to Camp Flintlock with a Homeschool Group and got to learn about Colonial History. They learned about period games, Tomahawk throwing, necklace making, period clothing and Printmaking. They got to see a canon shoot and musket firing. It was a great time (even though it was HOT). We learned a lot.

Baby Gunner made and early appearance last week and is doing fine. He is a great baby & a cutie. I got to witness the birth and it was an awesome experience!

We also got to visit a living history that Grandaddy was in for Civil War History. Noah LOVES history so he's in heaven right now :)

Oh.......and we've got Bees!! We have been wanting to start bee keeping and some friends called us and told us they had a swarm but it was in a tree 30 ft. in the air. Not to be deterred, John & Mike got a cherry picker and Mike got the swarm and put it into our hive. Success!! So, hopefully they will stick around. We are feeding them and they are already making honey!

That's all for now! Enjoy the video of Noah throwing a tomahawk for the first time and hitting the target!!

Goodbyes and New Beginnings



Uncle Ron & My Grandma



This plaque always sat in the window over Aunt Janie's sink. It described her perfectly so Uncle Ron read it.

My Mommy & Daddy

The lunch was held at one of the family farms we lovingly call "The Cow Palace"

Aunt Ruthie (left) & her sister (My Grandma)

Aunt Janie's "BOYS"

We must Memorial Fish :)

Not quite 3 months ago my Aunt Janie passed from this world. I no longer like to call it "DIED" because that would lead one to think that it's over. No, we are all dying, each day. I believe she got the better end of the stick. She "ALIVED" :) She is shed of her earthly body that fought cancer for 10 years. She is shed of the hurts and pains. She is in heaven with her earthly father and her heavenly Father. I'd say it doesn't get much better than that. But, we miss her dreadfully. She was a spark for our family. The life of the party. We are learning how to adjust without her. We will, but it will never be the same.

Last Saturday we had her memorial service at the little church where I got married. Unconventional to wait 3 months for a Memorial you say? Absolutely! She'd have it no other way. It was perfectly simple, funny, sad and just how Aunt Janie would have wanted it. Lots of us wore hats in memory of her famous hats she wore during her treatments. Some wore purple and red in memory of the poem above that describes her so perfectly.

Afterwards we had a picnic at a place our family loves to gather....outdoors with old chairs and tables. I would turn around and glance and see her out of the corner of my eye..... Nope. That was one of her daughters. She was there.

We played and fished and went on just like she were here. Just like she would have wanted it. She would not want tears for her. She is not in pain! She is with Jesus.

PS: The "New Beginnings" part is the picture of our addition. Hoping to gets windows/doors next week!