Legoland!

There are some people who,  when you get to see, it feels just like yesterday. Some of our dear friends, who were teammates in East Asia, came through Orlando...crazy...who comes through Orlando? But Danny is from Florida and was going to a high school reunion, so they stayed two nights in Orlando on their way to Ft. Lauderdale.  We took the kids to LEGOLAND (their first park experience here since we arrived) and we all had a great time. With six kids between the two families, veryone had a buddy and we enjoyed every minute.

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Fun with GranC and Papa

We were blessed to have our parents offer to take care of the kids for us, so they divided up the time and first they went to my parents and then they went to Alan'
s parents. Here a few fun pics from their time. We are so thankful for grandparents that love to spend time with our kids. They don't get to see them as often as they would like, but this time they had extra long time with them :) They had fun in Auburn together.

Feeding the fish and other outdoor adventures wioth GranC and Papa this summer

GranC has a beautiful assortment of fish in her pond and the kids love to feed them and watch them. She even named a few fish. They also love to play with Shadow, their golden retriever, whom Laura Cate says is her best friend. Here is a funny line of photos taken of William stealing balls from Shadow, poor doggie didn't know what to do. Not sure which is more amazing, that he was able to get them away from the dog, or that he could carry three tennis balls in his hands!

Laura Cate loves to ride a bike GranC and Papa got for her

Cameron plays tennis with Shadow dog

Gran C and William enjoying time on the swing. I think William looks a lot like her!




brothers just playing around

playing on Papa's Razor

we love it when Aunt Amanda comes to visit!

 

 

Alan's parents church had a watermelon social one Wednesday night and we stopped counting how much watermelon  William and Cameron consumed

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Fourth of July!

I love celebrating July 4th, no matter where we are. People ask if we have " July 4th" in East Asia. Alan always says, "they have July 4th they just don't do anything on it." :))

The last time we were in the States during the summer, in 2011, we were in North Carolina. This year we were here as well and it was so memorable. We began the day by going to watch a parade , then swimming in the afternoon followed by yummy hotdogs, hamburgers and ice cream sundaes, then watchng fireworks outside together with my parents. I'm not sure which was more delightful, being with my parents and seeing amazing fireworks from the safety of a hill on a golf course on a clear summer night, or watching the kids run in the grass and play with lots of other kids before the fireworks. William got into the fireworks as well, which was not surprising since he oohs and aahs at every light he sees. He was a little shocked at first I think, not by the noise , but the sheer vastness of the fireworks as he covered his eyes.

I love how William and Granddad are having a little conversation together while waiting for the sun to go down and the fireworks to begin. William LOVES his granddad!!

Cameron looks about 15 here...it will happen before we know it :(

Perfect night

sweet kiddos enjoying a summer night on the grass

what a joyful, easy-going guy!

at the  parade downtown in my parents' town; we were actually here, in the same spot in 2011, right before William was born.  What a fun time!

Laura Cate showing off a fun American flag painted on  her hand

 

Well, that is all the fun for this Fourth of July!

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Memorial Day

We had a wonderful time with BOTH sets of grandparents!! This doesn't happen very often, but since we just arrived, my parents were anxious to see us. They drove from North Carolina to Birmingham to come see us. Alan's brother Jeff and his family, Alan's sister, Amanda, and grandmother Head came too. We enjoyed playing outside (watching) the kids on the slip and slide and Papa even put a pool at the bottom of the swing set and slide.. So fun Papa! We definitely couldn't do any of this back home in our apartment :)

I tried to explain what Memorial Day was to Cameron, basically a time to say a big THANK YOU to our military, past, and present, especially to Uncle Steve and his family!

slip and slide!

Gran C and Papa put a kiddie pool at the bottom of the slide...super fun!

 sweet cousins enjoying fruit pops 

Grandma and William 

so thankful for these friendships!
(right to left) Cameron 7.5 years old, Laura Cate 4, Molly almost 8, Andrew  5

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Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to three wonderful dad..Alan Head, Ralph Head (Alan's dad), and Ed Duffy (my dad). This year we had the privilege to spend Father's Day in the States celebrating Alan and his dad! We had a wonderful time being with these great men who give so much to their children.

We let daddy rest well today since he had a migraine yesterday, then we enjoyed a wonderful dinner of barbecue at one of our favorite restaurants, with some of our favorite people...our family, GranC, Pap, and Alan's brother, Jeff, and his family.

My dad - he is my calm, level-headed, hard-working daddy who would do anything for me. I love you! He's taught me so much about perseverance. I wouldn't not be who I am today without him modeling that to me. He has a great sense of humor too :) and a really good hand at tennis and golf...watch out!

I am so thankful for Alan and the role that he plays in our kids lives. It is incredible to see how the Lord is molding and shaping him to be like our Heavenly Father... Alan is compassionate, loving, wise, funny, generous, thoughtful, and prayerful. I am soo blessed to be on this parenting adventure with you Alan!! I love you so much and as Cameron and Laura Cate say, "I love you more."

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swimming with Papa

fishing with daddy

Special times with Grandma and Granddad

The kids got to go spend 9 days with Grandma and Granddad in North Carolina this week. They were soo excited. What a special time for all of them. They go on long walks, play Rumikub, read lots, and Granddad loves to have their help picking up pinecones...they do live in Pinehurst, so there are always some to pick up. William has learned how to do it now too. They went to Discovery Place in Rockingham, which they all LOVED! Thanks Grandma and Granddad!


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Their favorite thing to do is swing in the hammock out back. Laura Cate even fell asleep one day, oh the life of a four year old :)