Relay For Life 2012

I just love doing something that is both worthwhile and fun, don't you? Well, Friday was our local Relay For Life. This was my first year doing it as an adult, and actually working on a team to raise money. It was a lot of work, but so much fun. I am already looking forward to doing it again next year! The kids had a lot of fun, too. Tyler keeps talking about, "Remember we had so much fun on Friday?" He loves any time he gets to play with other kids. We didn't stay all night, as Katie (my team mate/captain) and I both have small children. It was right at 11 pm before we got out of there, though, so my kiddos were worn out! Audrey out-partied both of the boys! I know you are dying to see pictures, so, being the kindhearted person that I am, I will oblige. ;)

 Andy, on the far right, was who our team was formed for. He is Jeremy's friend from school, and his wife and I have become good friends, too. He overcame testicular cancer a few years ago. The other two are his parents, who both had skin cancers.

 My sweet baby girl. :)

 Our team name was Daddy's Warriors, and our tent theme was Napoleon Dynamite, which is one of Andy's favorite movies. (I have never seen it!)

 Ok, sorry it's sideways, but this was just a couple of posters of the people we sold luminaries to honor.

 Our booth fundraisers were face painting and selling homemade ice cream. Troy and Ty decided they wanted their arms painted instead of their faces.

 There was a big open area behind the tents where all the kids could run and play. Auston, the boy here with Troy and Audrey, goes to church with us. He is battling cancer right now, too. Their tent was set up next to ours.

 Troy takes care of his little sister. I think the football they were playing with either hit her, or got to close and scared her. He was picking her up to carry her back to me.

 Another shot of my beautiful sweetie pie!

 Jeremy's sister and her family came, to support us and Auston's team (our brother-in-law is a police officer with Auston's dad). One of the other booths was selling sky lanterns, and they bought one. Our pyromaniac children were very excited by this.

 "Up, up and away!"

 My sweet husband and our brother-in-law.

 Gotta love that grin!

 Brotherly lu-uv!

 The sky lantern Katie bought to honor Andy. She wrote "Daddy's Warriors" on the side.

 Kind of made me think of the movie Tangled. The sky lantern ceremony was very beautiful and touching.

 Katie and Andy watching the sky lanterns go up. I loved this shot of them. 

(and yes, there was crying.)

 Ty decided he'd had enough fun.

 My sweet freckle faced boy

Another sideways shot. Troy was trying so hard to stay awake, but his eyelids were winning. This is a kid up way past his bedtime. ;)

Ok, I know I have bored you enough with all my pictures. I need to get going anyway. Lots of schoolwork and housework to do today before time to buy groceries! Helloooooo, Monday!

I'm An Auntie!

Ok, so technically, I already was, but it's exciting every time, right?

My brother and his wife (mostly his wife!) had their first baby yesterday! Can you tell I am excited? I love all babies in general, but nephews and nieces are the best, after your own kids! ;) So thankful that all is well and Christie had a pretty easy labor and delivery. Can't wait to spoil him!

Carson Ray, 8 lb 2 oz, 20.5"

Our Camping Trip part 2

Here are some more pictures from our camping trip. We sat around by the campfire, played on the playground, went to the campground's arcade, played football with our terrific neighbors, and just had a really good time! Our last day we went to Gatlinburg for a little while, but all of those pictures are on Jeremy's phone (along with more good ones from camping!)

Our Camping Trip part 1

You guys know I don't usually just post a lot of pictures, but we had so much fun on our camping trip and I took pictures like crazy! I mean, it was Troy and Audrey's very first camping trip, and the first one Ty will remember. :)

Here are some pics from the first couple of days when we were getting camp set up (in the rain!) And the day we went to Cades Cove, where the boys got to see their first bears and talk to a park ranger! More to come in the next day or two!

(Sorry it is just a string of pictures. I'm still doing all my blogging from my phone and I cant caption pictures from here. And for some reason the blog has decided to put the pictures in a completely random order, instead of how I uploaded them :/ oh well)