Lake - Cation!!!!

A vacation at the lake is called a "Lake-cation." Coming up with that word was the most our brains did this past week during our summer vacation. Every year we travel all over Alabama and Tennessee seeing our family at all of their wonderful "vacation" homes, but this year we planted in one spot and didn't move! Sam's parents Lakehouse!!! Other than the fact that Colby broke his arm the day before we left... it was ALL GOOD!!! Let the pictures tell the story!!!

Oh, my Boys!!!

Max got his second tooth~ and had a blast at the lake!

Pop had a great time with Sam and the boys. He taught Jackson to knee board, went on many fishing trips with Sam, and took care of "broken arm" Colby by taking him for a jet ski ride anytime he wanted.

Colby ate popsicles the ENTIRE week. Poor little guy couldn't get in the water, so he had to stay cool somehow, right? How could I deny him! He said he ate 127 and none of us doubted him.
Oh, Lali love!!! She loves her grand-boys!

Fun playing Uno!

Bo "tummy"boarded after Jackson learned to knee board!
I got to enjoy MANY sweet moments with my guys!
The boys got some sweet time with Daddy, too!
There's our CHAMP!! Jackson was sooo excited that he learned to knee board. He ran to call Austen, Hayden, and Jack to let them know and then asked repeatedly if he could go again! I just beamed at his confidence!!!

Bo adores his cousins, Ben and Isaac!

Nanny Bea came to spend a day with us. She loves rocking chair time on the porch with the babies!
Who says a 9 month old can't can't have a blast on the water!!!

He even got to go for a little jet ski ride with daddy... big boy!!
Our most adventurous little guy had to have a more relaxed vacation this summer. Falling from a slide and completely breaking your two forearm bones and having to have a bone placement procedure with orthopedic surgeons 20 hours before leaving for vacation isn't a great wait to kick off your vacation. But Colby made the most of it... lot's of "one arm" fishing, boat rides, jet ski rides, and popsicles!!

Check out that bagged arm under the life jacket.
Check out that "one arm" fishing maneuver!
And Sam got to fish, ALOT!!!

Now that was a "lake-cation"!!!!

MY Good Morning!!

Usually about once a week... we get a sweet surprise! After a late night of something fun, Sam and I don't rush to wake up before the boys. Well, when mom and dad sleep in a little... a very special alarm clock goes off. It's the sound of pitter-pattering little feet and little voices saying, "Let's go see mommy and daddy!" As our eyes open, we see 3 little boys, one in tow (yes, Jackson gets Max out of his crib!) shuffling with sleepy eyes, blankets, dolls, and smiles into our room and onto our bed. Oh my... NO better way to wake up. So, all of a sudden our queen size bed just got a whole lot smaller! A few good morning giggles, hugs and kisses, dream telling, and we are ready for our day!

This sweet shot... I had to turn the flash off because their little sleepy eyes couldn't take it! Snugglin' with Blanky!
Sleepy Eyes

(but they are still big and beautiful!)
Oh, Blanky and White Bear!
and Funny Bed Head!!!
Good Morning All!!!

In case you needed to smile today...

Couch Clan Calamities & Craziness & Cuteness

well... my boys made it home from the mountains! I'll be doing a different post on that trip because there are more pics to get. Bute here they are... having a blast!!!

Bo came home from the mountains with a new prize! A one inch gash by his left brow, stitched with 6 stitches... compliments of big brother Colby and a skipping rock. I was 12 hours away so Grammoo and Grouch saved the day. she called me from one point in the ER letting me know that Bo was just laying in her lap letting her hold the numbing press on his head and she just rubbed his head! I remember that feeling... He couldn't have been in a better loving place than my sweet mom's lap. Since he got home... he got a little road rash on the cheek... we now call him "Boo-boo" instead of "Bo-Bo!"

Just in case you forgot how flawless his face was before... My mom is one of the most positive people I know... she said, "Ali, it's one of those scars that women think is really attractive on a man!"Putting the boys to bed one night... we couldn't find Rolo to say goodnight... we just decided to go onto bed... come to find out... Rolo was on Bo's bed, buried in his dolls... Reminds us of E.T.!Max has turned 8 months!When I picked the boys up from their mountain trip... Max saw his brothers for the first time and started to make this face... he is smiling soooo big that his eyes close and his grin can't get ANY bigger. He beams soooo bright!!!He is sooo enjoying eating at the table with us. He loves every baby food, loves to drink juice from a sipee cup, and loves Puffs.
We are also having a weekly laugh with Max. Our sweet, Spanish, neighbor watches Max for us while Sam and I and the big boys go enjoy time with our friends. It's our Thursday night Marriage group that we enjoy a meal together and walk through a book together while the kids are upstairs playing with a babysitter. Anyway... Laura puts Max to sleep for us at our house. Well... the past few weeks... Max is up when we get home, dancing with Ms. Laura... AND... his diaper is always on backwards.. figure that out!!!

I peeked at Jackson one day during his rest time to see what he was doing... he was having some quiet moments with God. On his own, unprompted, he got his Bible and Quiet Time book to have a little sweet time with His Savior! Whoo... best picture I ever took!
Big Jack also got a BIG haircut!!! Before....

After...
So, I bought this 12 person table so that our family could spread out and have room... for some reason my guys love to squish together to eat...So... Summer is just one big adventure after another...

I am constantly Amazed and Amused!!

God is Good!!!

WE MISS YOU!!!!

This blog is specifically for 3 precious boys in Tennessee having an

AMAZING MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

with their Grammmoo and Grouch without Mom, Dad, and Baby Brother Max... for a week!!

Well... 3 things have happened since you left. #1... The house is VERY quiet. #2... I picked up the house yesterday and it is still clean. #3... We miss our usual loud and messy home.

God is blessing you sooooo much this week with the love of your grandparents and the beauty of the nature that He created. Soak it up boys!!! Ride those tractors, drive those 4 wheelers, watch deer with Grouch, catch those crawfish and minnows, swing with Grammoo on the porch... make sure when you lie in bed tonight to thank God for the wonderful blessing of this trip... will you say a little prayer for us, too!! We sure do miss you, Jackson, Colby, and Bo... but we are thrilled that you get to be there!!!

Training with Dad!!

The Couch Men are in Training!!!

Sam started a summer workout training program with the boys... and boy is it tough!!

Jack's got the push-ups down!!!
Bo is straining!!
Colby has mastered the ab-roller!
Oh my... look at those muscles!!!

Max says, "Oh, if they could all have my physique!!!"

Max & Jesus

Have you heard this story... A mom was at home with her newborn baby and three your old son. She was cooking in the kitchen and hadn't heard from her toddler in a while she walked towards the playroom and saw the nursery door had been opened where her newborn baby was napping. As she peeked into the nursery she saw the three year old on a stool looking at the baby. She poked her head in to get him when she noticed that the boy was taking to his new baby sister. To her amazement, she heard him say... " Hey, baby, do you remember what Jesus looks like cuz I'm starting to forget?"

Babies... they are so fresh from heaven. I wonder if they remember that beautiful face of our Savior. Which leads me to our story below...

I was carrying Max past the bookcase and I felt his headjerk to look at something on the shelf. As I traced his eyes, I noticed he was looking at the picture of Jesus and children on the front of this box of storycards. I would walk back and forthand he just couldn't take his eyes off of it. I said to Sam, "He remembers Jesus!!!" Sam said, "Ali, it's just a cartoon picture and kids like cartoons." I said, "No, he's fascinated!"

So, I took the Jesus card out and he just kept staring at it, and touching it and...
kissing it... well, eating it!!!
So, when I called Max's name... he just looked at me and I could feel him telling me, "Thanks, mom, for letting me play with my friend!"