Some Mountain Fun

We spent a week in the mountains at the end of July for vacation as we always do. We had a lot of fun just relaxing and riding the 4 wheeler. Jamie even taught me and James to drive it ourselves! Jasmine and Jacob got to drive it too with help from Daddy. Oh wait, Jacob drove it on his own too! EEK! 

Here's some pictures to highlight our time there.

Jenna hanging out in the back of Daddy's truck


Daddy and JayJay


The gang helping Daddy cut down and pull out the dead trees




Jay and I just hang out and watch, eating snacks and drinking water


Uncle Carl and Chad came over one day so we did S'mores with Chad




I think we are in trouble with this one


And this one...


Well probably all of them






We had a great time and can't wait to go back as always.

Family Vacation to Alabama ~ Day 6

Visit with Opa/Opie

Today was the reason that Jamie pushed me and the kids to come. Today isn't promised to anyone no matter what age you are but my Opa isn't doing great. While we all had a wonderfully fun-filled week, this was one of the main reasons for the visit. As I said earlier, the last time we saw my Oma and Opa, Jordan was a baby. Jamie and I learned two years ago that tomorrow isn't promised and you have to take advantage of being able to see those you love when you can. Dad took Jo, Boo and I, with Jaylynn, to see our Opa.

My Opa hasn't been doing good for awhile now. I wasn't sure what to expect going to see him. I was actually expecting much worse but as Dad and Uncle Frits told us, that this was an amazing visit. One that we are so fortunate to have had. Something I will cherish forever. I will be forever grateful to my parents and to Jamie for making sure that I got to tell my Opa that I loved him. Something Jamie wishes he would have gotten with his dad. Just one more time.

When we went in, Opa was in the kitchen area. He saw us and you could tell he knew we were there and who we were. Of course there were tears, even from Opa, which made more tears from the rest of us.



We then went to Opa's room. More tears and lots of recognition from Opa. He knew who we were and would smile then weep. It was heartwrenching and wonderful all at the same time. He couldn't take his eyes off of Jaylynn. Oma kept telling him that was his great-grandchild. I am grateful that Jordan got to see him again and Jasmine got to meet him. I wish all the kids could have but it would have just been too much.

Getting ready to take the picture, see how Opa is just staring at her. It wasn't a blank stare. He was just staring at Jaylynn.



When it was time to go, Jo went up to Opa first to give him a hug and a kiss and said I love you. Opa, very clearly said, I love you too. Then I went up and did the same. Opa again said I love you too. Boo did the same and again Opa responded. Such an amazing gift we were each given. I will cherish that moment forever.

Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. Maybe we will get another visit with Opa. Maybe we won't. If we don't, I got to say good-bye. I got my hug and kiss.

When we got back from our visit, all the Missouri family was at the house to see us off. We had some lunch and finished loading up the van. Lots of hugs, kisses and attempts to steal my kids. Then we headed for Jo and Steve's house.

Family Vacation to Alabama ~ Day 5

Beach Time Again!

We had to get in another day at the beach. I really can't believe I'm saying that as I still hate sand but the kids LOVE it. The first day at the beach, I just kept thinking "Jamie should be seeing this." "Jamie should be enjoying this with them." The beach is totally Jamie's thing. He loves it. Every day I was adding pictures to Facebook so Jamie could see what we were doing. He saw one of the pictures of Jacob boogy boarding and couldn't look at anymore. He was just so sad he wasn't there. It just would have been so much better if Jamie could have been with us.

Anyway, back to the beach. Not all of the kids wanted to go on the beach initially. Some were still burnt from the first day on the beach. Mom and I decided we could hang out in the condo with Nana and take turns going down on the beach with the kids. Plus we figured they would change their minds and we didn't want to be stuck at the beach house with a crying kid who wanted to be on the beach. It was a good thing because they all ended up on the beach again. We made sure to thoroughly lotion them each up and reapply a lot. They had another great day.



I just want to know how Aunt Janice manages to go in the ocean, boogy board and still have perfect DRY hair???



Later on that evening, we went out to the beach again for pictures. Kylie's boyfriend, Steven, is a wonderful photographer and took all sorts of pictures of us. Me and the kids. Oma and Opa with their grandkids. Nana with her great grandbabies. And on and on. I haven't seen those yet as Steven has to process them and then I think we are getting them on disk. He did give us each a picture to take home with us. LOVE it! Again, just wish Jamie was a part of it.



THANK YOU STEVEN!!

Family Vacation to Alabama ~ Day 4

Oma/Omie Visits! Oh yeah, Uncle Frits, Aunt Carole, Jason and Isabella too ;-)

I think I spelled Omie correctly. That's great grandmother in Dutch for those that don't know and what my kiddos call my Oma. To express how exciting it was to see my Oma, I don't know that I have the words. I was just as excited to see all of my Missouri family as well although the last time I saw her, Jordan was 6 months old. Yes, Jordan is 12 now. She has only met one of my kiddos. This was a big deal and very exciting.

I'll probably keep saying my Oma as to not confuse her with my kiddos' Oma since I seem to always refer to Mom and Dad as Oma and Opa in my blogging.

Uncle Frits, Aunt Carole, Jason and his daughter, Isabella (who is a year younger than Jordan, I believe) brought my Oma to the beach house for a visit. In walked everyone. Lots of hugs, smiles and tears to say the least. My Oma hugged onto every one of the kids which was great to see. She had already seen Jordan and Jasmine the week before when they visited with Oma and Opa. She was so excited to see Jasmine, her girl, again. Everyone always loves Jasmine.

The cutest thing was her hugging Jeremy though. She thought he was my husband and of course, being family, hugged him too. A few minutes later, my Oma asked Dad where Jeremy was. Dad pointed to Boo and my Oma almost fell over seeing how big her Jeremy was. She had to hug him again. Adorable.

One thing to know about my Oma is that she goes NO WHERE without her camera. This was definitely a huge opportunity to take pictures.

Omie with all of her great-grandbabies



Omie, me and the kiddos (no Jacob isn't sad. That's just Jacob being Jacob.)



Boo, Jason, me, Oma and Jo



After pictures, the kids wanted to go swimming so we got them all ready for that. Opa and Uncle Steve got in the pool with the kids.



Jason got the pool with the kids for a bit which the kids had a blast using him as a spring board! Uncle Boo got in there too and he turned into a spring board as well. Boo thanked Jason. He he he.


Later on, all the Missouri family came over. Earlier in the day, I put together 4 pans of my famous stuffed shells. Ok, maybe not famous but Jamie loves them. My parents love them. My brother, who is a pickier eater than my children, loves them. Mom and Jo put together salad, bread and strawberry shortcake for later on. It was a great evening of wonderful food, family and fun. I even had a few requests for the recipe for my stuffed shells. Yeah! Go me!

Sheesh, I hope that post was too confusing. It's normally so easy to using Oma and Opa and not mixing them up. Which was pretty amusing during the visit as Isabella calls Uncle Frits and Aunt Carole, Oma and Opa as well. It's not very often that there is more than one Oma or one Opa in the room.