4th of July

Over the week of July 4th the entire Carpenter-Biggers-Crawford clan and Uncle Brent and Jackie went to the lake to enjoy some summer fun and relaxation.  We all had a wonderful time  playing together all week.  It is times like this that I love to watch the kids making memories and sharing happy moments in life that I know they will treasure for a lifetime. 

American Flag fruit for breakfast on July 4th.

Blackberry cobbler made from fresh blackberries

Birthday boy!

Celebrating Grayson's 4th birthday

Abby bought water guns for the kids for the birthday party.  You can tell who was having all the fun! 

Matney became a professional gun fighter

Celebrating July 4th with the annual Sportsman Cove parade

One evening we couldn't find Matney downstairs.  Brandon went to look for her and this is how we found her.  She is quite the monkey and loves soap!

Father's Day 2012

Abby found this great idea for a gift for Dad!

We celebrated Father's Day this year with a pool party, grilled pizza, and family.  The kids had a ball swimming and eating ice cream!

We are so proud of our father's and thankful they are in our lives. 

Sign courtesy of Brayden

Happy days

 Though I have been traveling a lot this summer for work, we are still finding lots of time for fun things and memorying making in the Crawford househould!



Our beautiful gladilus!



For the first time, I decided to plant gladilus in the front of the house to add a pop of color as you come up the drive.  These little guys did not disappoint and I loved seeing them everyday.  Sadly they have now withered due to all the hot weather, but I can't wait to plant more next year. 



Breaking green beans for the first time!  She tends to leave a few stems, but she will be an ol' pro before we know it.

Our profitable garden as paid off once again with lots of tomatoes, green beans, and other various veggies.  The heat has not been easy on it, making it very hard to keep up with this summer as there has been very little rain. Thanks to my wonderful husband, we have still enjoyed it almost nightly.

We did a little photo shoot to make a sign with all the grandkids for Papa G on Father's Day. 

When  it is too hot to play outside this is one of Matney's favorite past times.  Poor Bella just puts up with it and teases Matney to play with her.

Memorial Day 2012

Memorial Day 2012 was spent enjoying a beautiful weekend at the lake with the family.  The kids had a ball playing and swimming all weekend! 

The summer was kicked off to a great start with lots of memories being made for all the kids and the parents.

Take down

Brother-Cousin Love!

Summer Time!

Playing with Nannie B and Papa G's new kitties!

This is what our summer has looked like so far in 2012!! 

We spend a lot of time outside playing (that is when it isn't 100+ degrees, literally).  In the evenings and on weekends we like to swim in our pool.  Brandon does a wonderful job of keeping it crystal clear and Matney loves to dip her toes in every night after running to the door saying "Momma, dip my toes! Momma, dip my toes!"  We spent the weekend at the lake over Memorial Day and had a wonderful time soaking up the sun and the warm water.   

 

Swimming in the lake with Daddy!





Memorial Day weekend, Nannie B and Abby took the kids to the river before heading to the lake.

 




N.Y.C

View of the Hudson River from the Amtrak train



West Point



Last summer I started a new position at work on a new project to help implement a claim system between my employer and the sister company.  At the time the project started we knew there was potential for a little travel, but not as much as I have experienced in the last 8 weeks!!  I feel like I am an ol' pro at packing my suitcase and jetting to New York for the week and back!  Too bad most of my days are spent in the office and back to hotel to sleep (including a few trips to F!ve Guys, Chee$ecake Factory, wonderful Italian places, and the mall)

The first week we traveling, 3 of the ladies and myself decided to plan a longer stay and enjoy New York City for a few days.  We enjoyed a quick train ride from Albany to NYC and then an amazing weekend of beautiful weather in an amazing city.  We did everything one could possibly do in a day with 14 hours straight of sight seeing and walking and eating and walking some more.  We met 2 other ladies on Friday night from work and I had such a great time getting to know these ladies.   







Pear and Ricotta Ravioli at ReSette on 45th!  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G



The flowers at Rockefeller Center were beautiful and smelled like heaven.







911 Memorial- a breathtaking and humbling experience.

Battery Park-Ashley, Amanda, Laura, Alice, Judy, and Karen



Gelato in Litte Italy



View of the city from Top Of The Rock

 

Carriage ride in Central Park. 

Before heading home Sunday evening, several us of walked to Central Park from our hotel at 45th and 6th to enjoy the beautiful weather with a carriage ride in Central Park.  It was some of the best money I have ever spent!

 





View of the city from the Queens bridge as we headed to the airport.





For everything there is a season

Last summer I started a new position at work that completely took me out of my "box" and put me in a whole new world of projects and deadlines that I had never experienced.  There was a point when I asked to get out and move back in to my previous position, but something kept pulling me back to the "new" opportunity and telling me to push on. 

The little voice in the back of my mind that keeps reminding me that everything happens for a reason has now started to remind me that some things are just a "season" in our lives and will pass with time.  I am learning to accept my new "seasons" with grace and strength - be it miscarriage and grief or leaving my family for a week at a time or having to tell someone I don't understand how to do something , but these times will make me stronger and will create memories that I would have never.   

In the last several months I have been reminded that I am not in control and that He, my heavenly father, is.  It is often hard to understand the Masters plans for us, but it is my prayer every morning that I will take each moment in stride and not let things get the best of me.  That I will be accepting of the opportunities given to me and always be thankful for the countless blessings in my life. 

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.  ~Ecclesiastes 3~

By far this little lady has been a major part of my time to love! Both she and her Daddy get me through some of the tougher seasons in my life and for them I pray daily that I can be the best mother and wife possible; never taking them or the health or their love for granted.

 

Taken before I left for a business trip. 

Happy Easter and Happy Birthday

Matney dying her first Easter egg!



April 8th was a busy day for the Carpenter-Biggers-Crawford Families.  We celebrated Easter and two birthdays!  Part of the day was cool and rainy so we were worried we would have to hunt eggs inside, but it all worked out and the kids had a ball!












Matney is smitten with her Aunti Ab!



Abby (33) and Dady (62) showing off their birthday dinner!

 Mom coordinated a wonderful dinner of filets, scallops, salad, potatoes and more!  We were all stuffed!!

Kennon giving Matney her pink egg.

 

The cute little hunters!