Oh It was HOT alright. (part 1)

We just returned from 5 days in HOTlanta visiting Aunt Julie, Uncle Jeff and our cousins Anna and Katie. It was busy, sweaty and really fun. We packed alot into the five days there and even had a few low-key days to give the adults time to rest!

Our first few days were spent at the pool, playing ping pong and foosball,and planning obstacle courses and dance parties. We had some intense games of Quirkle too!

We ventured out for some glow-in-the-dark mini golf and ice cream and I must say, Mama is quite the putter these days!! I ROCKED some hole-in-ones and long putts....look out Tiger Woods!!

The kids wore out wii Rockband.....Joe even got in on the guitar action! If I don't hear "Eye of the Tiger" anytime soon, that will be just fine too.




Here are a few pictures from our so called "low-key" days....stay tuned for more posts about HOTLANTA!


He is still....this lasted approximately 12 seconds


Having a snack with Daddy and Aunt Julie

Goggle Kids

He tried his hand at singing too....


Cute thing...

Katie and Lil at Glow in the Dark Golf!

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...

Duct Tape + Plastic + Awesome Teachers = FUN

Winston returned to Camp Invention a few weeks ago. This was his second year as a camper at this Science and Inventor's Camp held at his school. This is a national camp and we so fortunate to have such a great educational camp literally in our backyard - BHES is one of the host schools.

We were fortunate enough to be the BHES Camp Parents this year - this required some work throughout the school year plus help with registration and clean up but in exchange - FREE CAMP TUITION!! This camp is not cheap so we were happy to accept the job.

Winston spent the week creating a new mechanical pet, building a home for his pet and creating his own avatar. He loved spending the week with friends and learning a whole bunch. He also loves hanging out with the 4th and 5th grade Science Teachers who lead the campers -- he loves to talk about how one day he'll be in their classrooms!!

We were invited to the Inventor's Showcase the Friday afternoon of his camp and this was a great opportunity to see what he'd been working on. The Bell Inventors (Winston's group, named after Alexander Graham Bell) made drums during the week and they began the showcase with a drum concert....a LOUD drum concert. Winston chose a recycled wii box for his drum - perfect choice!

We visited each camp station and Winston showed us his inventions for the week. His pet had quite the digs - the house was solar powered (i.e. red saran wrap in the picture at the top) with a flat screen and a couch for all the sports-watching his pet would enjoy! His avatar was a baseball player and he made an awesome baseball field!

There really are no limits to one's imagination coupled with an unlimited supply of duct tape and cardboard!!

How lucky we are to have this gem of a teacher - Ms Wilde, 4th grade GATE teacher - DD2 Teacher of the Year 2009 - they don't get any better than this one!!


The fantastic Mrs.Ingram - she spends ton of time with the campers aking apart electronics and building new creations!


Ms Whitaker - Camp Director and awesome BHES Teacher! We love her!

We have SWIMMERS...almost

Still too soon to call it but this just might be our last year of swim lessons....we have Grant children who are swimming...or at least something close to it!!

Winston mastered cannonballs and the pool crazies a few summers ago...we were lacking in the "swim technique" department. This was ever so frustrating for me - I grew up in the water nonstop and swimming came quickly and easily; I also think swimming is simply a LIFE SKILL -- a healthy respect for the water and the ability to swim is essential for safety.

We've been spending some time with Ms. Samantha who is showing the Grant kids how it's done in the pool. She's patient and sweet and the kids love her - after a few years of "swim lessons gone bad" we have had 2 good years in a row of great instruction and that plus general comfort in the water is giving us some great progress!
A relaxed Winston learns to float....MIRACLE!

Kicks and More Kicks
I love those fish lips on our girl....
Arrow to Ms Sam - Go Lilly Go!
She made it and I love Ms Sam's constant positive reinforcement

Gotta go - we've got some swimming to do!

Kiaw....ahhhhhhhhh

Oh how we had missed it.....the beach that is.....Our first free Saturday finally arrived and we hit the road early for a day at our favorite place...Kiawah. Baseball and lake visits filled up those first few warm months and we were quite late getting a beach day in. She was worth the wait.




Water was warm and the fish were biting (just quicker than we were!). It was nice long day of baseball on the beach, riding the waves and making castles. We hit Stono Market on the way home and filled up on shrimp and fresh vegetables. Shrimp and Grits for dinner with fresh corn followed by a week of cucumber and tomato sandwiches....ahhhh....Welcome Summer!!

An experience of many gifts

Back in the fall of 2009 my Sunday School teaching partner asked if I would serve on the leadership and planning team for Vacation Bible School at our church. I was hesitant to commit as I had already taken on a monumental role at Winston's school in addition to the weekly Sunday teaching gig at Bethany. I have been a VBS teacher to preschoolers a few times over these past years and frankly the level of exhaustion that comes with that responsibility is never forgotten - I wasn't sure I was up to the task. I prayed about it and after a few weeks of thought and prayer, agreed to take it on.

The planning team began meeting on a weekly basis after the holidays. Our church is rather large and considering our size along with previous year's attendance, we began planning for 400 children to walk through our doors for Galactic Blast at Bethany.

This past week, the endless hours of planning, meeting and planning some more came to fruition as 410 children arrived on Monday morning excited to spend a week on the Starship Galactic Praise. Without any doubt, it was one of greatest things I've ever been a part of. You want to see why?

Since January, we've had many moments of stress, fatigue, chaos and even tense conversations. This past week we had many more moments of the same, plus some tears added in - tears of joy and tears of frustration. I have reached a level of exhaustion that I rarely experience...a mental and physical drain that is hard to describe.

But.....What I'll remember about this past week more than anything are:


The sight of our fellowship hall as it transformed into Mission Control. We were beyond blessed to have an awesome group of decorators.
The gratitude I felt in my heart...deep in my heart...to over 100 volunteers who braved the heat, the noise, the chaos and everything in between to serve in such an enormous way.

Experiencing some of my most special friends in such a different way - I so wish I had gotten pictures of my friend Linda creating the Informational Space Center....or of my girl, Kristi, standing on a ladder hanging black tarps, splattering glow in the dark paint and hanging black lights to get her room ready for her class of Shockwaves. How fun to enjoy my friends in this way.

Listening to my sweet friend Christy, dressed as Aubrey the Astronaut, engage our children each morning during our opening assembly. She was the sweet encouraging voice who helped us start every day.
The sights and sounds of 400 precious little people (including my own) experience and enjoy all the planning and work we put into such an awesome time together.

I went into the Sanctuary on Thursday to hear preschool Music Time and to catch of glimpse of my girl experiencing her VBS. I was unexpectedly overcome with emotion....hearing a choir of tiny and sweet voices singing about God's love for them was a memory I will cherish forever.


The gift of new friends, getting to know "old" friends in a whole new way and being so filled with God's spirit that we were already talking about planning for VBS 2011 before the tear down of this year was complete.

The ability of my fellow leadership team members finding the grace to put up with my extreme Type A personality - they overlooked my faults, celebrated my strengths and loved me all the way through it.

It was a blast of Galactic proportions....and after a nap, I can't wait to know our theme for next year.

Dance Sister Dance

Still a little behind on the blog....feeling a little more human each and every day, Thank you Lord for augmentin!

The merry merry month of May was quite busy. We said farewell to preschool, celebrated the end of a great 1st Grade Year and watched our blonde beauty stand on the big stage once again and dance her little heart out.

We were so happy to have Grammy, Granddaddy and Auntie all travel in from out of town so they could be here to share in Lilly's big night.

This year was very different than the year before - there were never any Tuesday afternoons with protests about ballet...never heard "it's boring"...Lilly loved her class and her teachers. She began singing her recital song to us months before the show and she would tease us every now and then with a few of her moves. Most of it was still top secret and she couldn't wait for the big night.

We anxiously waited for her number and finally she danced. She was wonderful - she smiled, she knew her moves and she was just the most precious one onstage. Another wonderful dance recital and once again, it took me back to those many years I spent covered in sequins and feathers - so many fond memories of that time.

We were surrounded by so many family members and wonderful friends who came to see Lilly dance. It was so great to have so many supporters for our girl. Lilly had quite the entourage. Our sweet friends Linda, Kristi and Kristi's girls came and Lilly was so happy after the show when she saw all of her "fans". Her sweet little friend from church Jacob and his Mama came bearing flowers too!! She got 6 bouquets of flowers, one VERY fancy tutu skirt and was completely overwhelmed - it was a night I hope she never forgets!

Lilly with her teachers Ms Katherine and Ms Ashley

Lilly and her very special guests

Some sweet sweet friends

Lilly and her entourage (Daddy is behind the lens)


They love each other alot - Thanks to Auntie for making the trip!

A Very Proud Family


Lilly and her stash of beautiful flowers

That's a Wrap

It's been almost two weeks since the dismissal bell rang at the "Beech"...

Our abode is almost sparkly clean...almost....

I can see my dining room table again...

Laundry is no longer "critically behind"....

The blog is still a little delinquent but we're getting there.

God has once again reminded me the importance of SLOWING DOWN...I've had to by necessity. I went to the Dr today and I have strep, a double ear infection and a sinus infection....excellent. I am hitting some antibiotics hard and praying even harder for a full recovery by first of next week - after 4 months of planning, Vacation Bible School comes to Bethany...and there is still much to do.

For now, we'll take a look back at a wonderful week, just 2 weeks ago. A big and wonderful farewell to a big and wonderful First Grade Year. Winston had an awesome teacher, made some awesome new friends and carried some awesome grades the entire year. The kid is a genius and we can all thank the Good Lord for his Daddy because Winston gets his smarts from the smartest guy I know. It was a wonderful year at a wonderful place -- we do love the "Beech" and while we will savor these days of no alarm clocks, no PTA meetings and no schedules to worry about, we look forward to another year filled with fun for not 1, but 2 Beech Hill Beacons. I'm just glad I have a few months to wrap my brain around that one.

Field Day for First Grade....

Winston with his sidekick, Griffin. Griffin is without any doubt one of Winston's most favorite parts of his first grade year. He's a full of energy, loves a good prank and adores sports -- the Winston Trifecta!

Ring Toss Station

Always a funny relay - Winston skipped the grass skirt and coconut bra as you can see he left those things behind

Grade Level Tug -o-War - a BHES tradition. I snapped this picture standing in our back door and the ability to do that is such a treasure to me - First Grade Tug O War - Winston's class is to the left.

His last morning as a First Grader. Dear Lord where did the time go.....

Buddies for sure. They've already called each other on the phone and have had a play date.

How cool for Winston - his Auntie was in town for his last day of school. She came to school and helped me cook and serve breakfast for his class. I hope he remembers this forever. This was such a great morning!

Chocolate Chip Pancakes for some special Beacons.

Breakfast is served.

Welcome Summer!