Ready...Set....

Go!! Ford is walking! He took his first two steps in the hotel in Dallas on Tuesday and by Thursday at our friend's Matt & Courtney's house, he was walking across the room. He loves it and is not phased at all when he face-plants or falls backwards...he just laughs :)

Here he comes! The last foot or so he just dives onto me which is hilarious.

We met Sy on his trip with our Youth Choir last weekend as they drove down to Panama City. They first went to Memphis and then Birmingham, but drove back through Montgomery on their way to Florida where they led worship at two special services in churches in Panama City & Niceville. Saturday the kids had a break and relaxed at the beach! We had a great time and all three kids loved the beach this time!

Here's James "scaring" the waves!

Ford dug in the sand and enjoyed the waves for a little bit, but the backpack carrier was perfect to keep him out the direct sun the whole time and he could keep an eye on things (especially the seagulls...birds are one of his favorite animals).

The cousins.

I just realized I never posted any pictures from James's 3rd birthday (ah! poor middle child!) We had a "Percy Birthday" since Percy the train is more his favorite than Thomas. James loved us singing "Happy Birthday," but his little friend Grace thought it was too loud!

Painting "Percy."

He will not smile on cue, or even look at the camera for that matter, so this is the best posed shot I could get before the party!

Charlotte helped Sy and I set up the trains he got for his birthday on a table that Big Jim made. It has taken the place of the coffee table for the time being and all three kids love it!

Vacation Bible School Week 2008 has been so much fun, but quite tiring for everyone! I'm teaching the one class of 3 year olds, but thankfully not really "teaching" with the well-delegated and coordinated system the Church has. Charlotte loves it and James actually would rather be at home playing with his trains. Ford adores his favorite friend in the nursery who takes care of him and is taking 3-hour naps everyday because he is so exhausted. Three days down....two to go!

I'm amazed at how much Charlotte and Ford look alike in this picture. Even the same expression :)

We celebrated Mother's Day yesterday by making everyone take a nap after church and lunch :) It was great! Then, we went out to Pike Road to an Episcopal church that is known for its architecture and gardens. Everything was in full bloom and the kids had fun roaming through the brick-lined and gravel paths. I love this pictures of Charlotte and James because they are really enjoying eachother and love one another very much. Makes having them close together worth it!

We went with some friends strawberry picking this morning, bright and early! Ford has been waking us all up at 6:15 a.m. every morning so we made the best of it and traveled about 45 minutes north and into the country to a wonderful organic farm (http:www.bchuntfarms.com/default.aspx) We wanted to all go on Saturday, but when we called that morning they had been picked clean and told us not to come! It was amazing to see all the wonderful berries that had ripened up by today. Ford had a fabulous time being held by two of the farmer's daughters, who continuously picked and fed him strawberries--note the red stains on his face and arms :)

James mostly roamed around the fields, but ate his fair share of "straw-burrries" has he calls them. He did think it was fun to pick one and then hide it for me to find like an Easter Egg!

Charlotte worked diligently with our friend's three daughters and their cousin, munching along the way. She filled one gallon almost completely by herself. The weather here has been very nice lately and breezy. We had some thunderstorms last Thursday with lots of wind that caused a lot of damage around town, but also brought with them wonderful rain and gorgeous clear skies that made these beautiful berries :)

I managed to pick 3 gallons myself and am hoping to freeze a bunch and puree some to make a strawberry cake for James's birthday that's coming up. Let me know if you have any good strawberry recipes!

Charlotte is very proud of our flowers in the boxes out front this year.

Our Mother-Daughter Banquet this year was turned into a picnic on the lawn of the church because of all the construction we're doing. The fellowship hall and the part of the building where Sy's office used to be have all been torn down. It was a beautiful evening and the food was wonderful. This was our 3rd year going together which was really special.

My big 5 year old!

Go Eastwood Warriors!! Charlotte's 6 and under soccer team lost again today, but they all did great. She loves playing goalie, but only a couple of the kids have grasped how to follow the ball and dribble it. Because there are only 6 kids on the team, they usually all have to play the entire game. Ask Charlotte her favorite part of playing soccer: "The snack!"

James's favorite part of soccer: "I want a lol-a-pop."

A couple more from the eating of the birthday cake that are just too cute :)

Washing it down...

Ahhh, so happy!

Happy First Birthday Ford!! The big kids helped blow out his candle, but he loved everyone singing to him...

Hmmm, should I stuff this all in my mouth???

Yes!! Yummy :) And he finished the entire piece very carefully until all the crumbs were gone. You can tell by those cheeks that he doesn't miss a meal....We should have known when he weighed in a year ago at 10 lbs. 6 ounces.!

Surprised Sy arrives home from breakfast with his parents to find things in a state of disarray! Mike and Ellen are on the trailer loading up shrubs/bushes that we've already managed to pull up. I finally surprised him!

Most of our crew (and yes, all the kids helped, too!) Sy's parents and Charlotte aren't in this photo because they are at her soccer game and picking up the birthday cake.

Sy, James, & John (two men from the single's group). James planned the landscaping and took care of buying the plants for me that morning! John and his fiance, Katy, drove her truck to pick everything up for us at 7:30 a.m. Thank you!!!

Here James and Sy are discussing the fate of the boxwoods.