4th of July at Fort Gordon

Happy Independence DAY!!!

So Fort Gordon does their fireworks show on the 3rd, and a group of us ladies (all our husbands were either working swings, mids, or tdy) got all our kids together and headed out.

I had a blast! First off--I had the genius idea for the location of our fireworks watch-ery.  The main place to go is packed with blow-up toys, climbing walls, booths of goodies and toys, bands, and SOOOOO crowded that it's tricky to even find space to lay your blanket.  It's insanity and SOOOO scary trying to keep track of your kids.

We didn't go there.

We went to the OTHER side of the fireworks. A giant field...were there's room for the kids to play with a soccer ball, eat otter pops and goodies, push each other in strollers,

Do crafts together (Thanks to Dantzel--she's AMAZING and brought supplies for all the kids to make 4th of July fans--she's so great!)

Play with Sparklers.

And NOT loose the kids.  I tell you--it was awesome!

Max totally rocked it too. He woke up for the fireworks and just sat and stared. We love him!

It was such a great fireworks show.  And there was even a new firework this year that I loved with all my heart. It was like a waterfall of glitter--mmm--loved them.  PLUS, Jess was able to take a break and step outside his building during the fireworks so he saw some too.

On the actual 4th, we went to a yummy pancake breakfast the ward did. Later that night me and the boys went to the Lindquists for some bbqing and then to the pool with them.  It was a great couple of days of celebrating.

I LOVE AMERICA!

Oh, and here's a picture from just the other day when we had the Rhodes girls, some of our favorite little ladies here in Grovetown, over for bit to play.

Upgraded our bucket pool!

So for REAL! Who knew these pools were only $25! Woo woo! Jess bought one the other day and it has been the best thing that has ever happened to the Winn household!  The boys are out there all the time and have so much fun! LOVE IT!  

Kade and Luke crack me up.  Kade had just pushed Luke in...

This was the beginning of the chokehold that went on for like a 30 minute play fight over the soccerball. Ha! Good times.

I mean yeah, there were a few shovels to the eye, or kids tripping as they ran to the pool, or bums that hurt from cannon balls into 20 inches of water...but what are backyard pools for? 

The Awesomeness of Summer Months!

Oh how we love the summer!

Here's a cutsie picture of Rhett at little Miss Paisley's birthday party. He surprisingly loved it...well, for a short time.  Then he was done--but he was happy long enough for a picture at least.  

"otay mommy"  I hear this all day--and I love it.  Also, I am currently loving when he sings, "I got my tight pants on" while scrunching up his face! Ah!  (from Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrells skit on Saturday Night Live--we watch it with the kids up till 1:39 :)

Okay---so I probably get 5 pictures like this one each time I empty my pictures onto the computer. Luke just loves to do it.  He kills me!

Luke's quote of the month:

"MOM!  Ice Cream man!  I'm gonna get my pants on!"  (on account of he only had on his boxer briefs)

Rhett eating his breakfast cereal...with a glove obviously ?

Kade is SUCH a great kid with babies and little kids. He gets it from Jess' side of the family--they just love kids and are so amazing with them. I'm really glad he got that.  Anyway--he's a huge help around the house and is a first responder to anyone's cries.

Kades favorite things about living in Georgia, have been:

Tons of friends (like Nathan Conrad (from school), Rachel Rhodes, and Alex Nocchi (from church), and Brody Lindquist

Lots of delicious food like French fries, pomegranates, and chicken (he’s a carnivore)

            Everybody’s happy

            I like that it’s sunny most of the time

            I like that they’re like a million people in my class (when I asked him how class was today since they just combined, he said, ‘terrible, there were too many people and they talk too much…well, it wasn’t horrible, I just didn’t like it. J

What I’m excited about for Utah:

            SNOW!

            Living with my GRANDMA AND GRANDPA! “boo-ya”

            Hiking

            Being able to see family more often

            Being able to see the Salt Lake Temple.

Whenever it rains--these boys HAUL out the door to go outside to play.  (also--I know we look slightly ghetto because of the fence posts that are gone--Jess had just taken down broken ones but new ones are up okay--okay!)

Luke spends his money on the funniest things.  He decided to spend $3 on this bag of GIANT marshmallows.  And let's be honest--who wouldn't at that age! They're gi-normous!  The only rule was that he couldn't eat more then one a day. Ha--silly.

Luke's favorite things about Georgia: 

Only one more week until we move.  I am scared and happy cause I can play my ds until its out of batteries in the car for our trip.  Bad cause I’ll have to leave all my friends.  Like Bridger, Brody, and Ben and Mara.

 We have a 10 foot pool in the back yard.  We play in it almost everyday.  This summer has been good. I like playing in the pool, playing games, and sleeping in.

My favorite thing about living here is:

            We have lots of friends, like Daniel

            We have a big house

            We have lots of toys

            I also like the forest by our house

           

I’m excited for Utah because:

            We get to live with our grandma

            After Scott gets home from his mission I can show him my Pokemon collection

            I get a new class—cause I’m bored of my old school class.

 Max :)

 Garrett got on these rain boots, put some puzzle pieces in his Elmo tin and informed me as he headed for the door that he was going to work.  Well then...okay :)

Ahhh--just one of those evenings that the sky takes my breath away. I called everyone outside and we all enjoyed it together--pictures never do nature justice.  LOVE IT!.

For Fathers Day.  A few of us surprised our hubbys with a man date to Six Flags White Water in Atlanta.  Here's Jess, Adam, Nate and David right before taking off for the day.  Jess LOVED it and said it was 'epic'.  Lot's of lines, but he had so much fun.  Ahh--love water parks!

 Kade is such a great lego builder. His mind just creates such fun things. He created 4 creatures--then showed me all their 'upgrades'.  It was super impressive.

 Then he took those creations and combined them into one giant...creature.

The other night I went to tuck Kade and Luke into bed. Kade and I were talking about whatever…pokemon, or something, when he said, ‘mom, I’m scared about something’ and with small tears in his eyes he said, ‘I’m afraid our whole family won’t make it to the celestial kingdom.’ Ooooh, rip out my heart—he’s sooo amazing.  I asked him why he was thinking this, he said, ‘I try to repent to our family, but sometimes I forget to repent to Heavenly Father.’ 

Wow. I love him so much. I learn so much from that little man with his strength and faith and testimony of the gospel.  He truly knows and feels why were here.

And Jess turned the big 32. Woo woo. He did a great job with his candles, despite his old age.