The Pirate and Scarecrow families

Watching for the headless horseman to start the parade

Watching the parade

Aladin and somebody (I don't know the monkey's name!)

I think they were on the "run away train" - that was the old name for it

Garrett dancing with Dale

Garrett and his KK

Papaw, KK, Garrett, Graham, Jeremy and me with Donald Duck

Chip and Dale (the good ones - not the male dancers!!!)

Goofy

Garrett waiting patiently in line for an autograph!

Tigger

Eorye

Pooh

The bears from "Brother Bear" - Garrett and Graham were all about some autographs!!!

Wall-E (Garrett loves him some Wall-E, you should hear how he says it!)

Mary Poppins

Outside Magic Kingdom

Sacked out! (This was after the 3rd night of being up until 1 am or later!!!- I know, but it was vacation!!!)

St. George Island, FL

The second half of our vacation week was spent on St. George Island, Fl, which is a small island southwest of Tallahassee. We met up with Lana and Jim and spent the rest of the week with them just hanging out and going to the beach. The island is not commercialized, so it is very quiet, only a few little restaurants and shops. There is a state park with campgrounds on the east end of the island. The closest little town was Apalachicola. It is a cute little fishing town. We went out to eat dinner there one night. Also, the weekend we were there they were having the annual Oyster Spat festival on the island. (In case you didn't know, b/c I didn't - a spat is a baby oyster!!!) Lana, Jim, Jeremy and I decided to run in the 5K on Saturday morning. Jim ended up winning in his age category! (I won't tell what your age division was, Jim!) Needless to say, I came in way last of the four of us, since I haven't been running in a few months! We had a good time just relaxing after an event-filled few days at DisneyWorld!!!

Oh, I almost forgot the worst part of our trip was when Garrett and Papaw were close to being attacked by a shark!!! Actually, 2 of them. It was our second to last day at the beach and we were on the beach beside a man fishing. (That should have raised a red flag!) We had seen 2 fins earlier, but thought they were porpoises (sp). So, Lana, Jim, and KK were on the beach and Papaw and Garrett were in the water just barely in the water, still standing up. Jeremy and I were in the pavillion where we had eaten lunch. I am walking out to the beach when I hear KK screaming, "Donald, get out of the water. There's a shark! Get out! Get out of the water!!!" I start running and starting to feel myself about to cry and panic at the same time. Lana runs in the water to help get Garrett and falls down. Meanwhile, I'm running over there thinking, "I'm about to see my Garrett get attacked by a shark, and there's nothing I can do!" Lana gets Garrett out of the water and Papaw gets out safely, too. Then we saw 2 fins swim away. These sharks were about 25 feet from Garrett and Papaw! And all this time Jeremy was in the pavillion using the bathroom!!! We left after that!!!

Just like his Daddy.....

Garrett has been all about his Daddy lately. Everyday when Jeremy gets home from work and walks in the door the boys yell, "Daddy!" and run and hug him. Then they've both been taking showers with Jeremy. So when they get out of the shower Garrett will tell Jeremy he wants to shave, too. (Don't worry - the cover is on the razor!) He is such a little Jeremy. He does exactly what Jeremy does. He even wants to lay by Jeremy just like he does. Sometimes when Jeremy isn't with us and I'm somewhere with the boys Garrett will say, "I'll be Daddy, Momma and you be Momma and Baby can be Baby." (He still calls Graham "baby" sometimes!) I think Garrett is going to be protective of his Momma!!! I can ask Graham whose boy he is and he'll say, "Daddy!" Garrett will say, "It's okay Momma, I'll be your boy. Your my girl!"

In this moment of watching Garrett wanting to be just like Jeremy I had a "WOW" moment. Actually the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "That's how God wants you to be with Him. He is your Father and wants to know you on such a deep level that your desire is to be just like Him." And the only way I can be like Him is by being in His word learning about His character.

Thank you God that You are my Father and for my precious boys and the godly father You've given them - Jeremy!

Garrett's First Soccer Game

Saturday Garrett played in his first soccer game at the Flowood YMCA. He did so good. He is just like his Daddy - so "coachable" and a "people pleaser." He would do just what he was told. We have to work on his aggressiveness, though. It's hard to teach a kid to go and take the ball because you don't want to teach them to be mean. Towards the end of the game Garrett would look at us and say, "I tirsty (thirsty)!" We would tell him that it wasn't time for a break yet. Then he would run down the field and hold his stomach and say, "My belly hurts, I tirsty! Is it break-time yet?" Finally, we would let him come over and get a quick drink. It was an hour-long game!!! He had a good time and was worn out. Next year he and Graham will be on the same team. I can't wait to see what will happen then!!!

Kick that ball!

Garrett (in the zone!) and Gage

Taking a Gatorade break!

2 soccer players - Kennedy (his cousin) and Garrett

Back home to Jackson....

This is my favorite picture from the whole month in Birmingham!!!

....So, we're finally home and settled back in. Clothes are washed and things are unpacked, and I've finally gotten a chance to post pictures from the month in Birmingham. We had a great time staying with Jeremy's cousin, Wendy, and her son, Justin and husband, Randy. They live on a farm right outside of Chelsea, about 15 miles from Birmingham. We stayed in their remodeled basement. It was like having our own hotel suite, but better. However, I was so glad to get back to my own bed with no kids sleeping in my room!!! We shared a room with the boys sleeping on air mattresses on the floor. They did great, though, we just all ended up going to bed around 10:30 since we were all in the same room. Since we were in the basement we had no windows, and when Garrett would wake up he would say, "Is the sun up, Momma?" I would lie and say, "No, go back to sleep." It worked for the first couple of weeks, then I think he caught on. But, they have been sleeping later now! We did not "live" the whole month in the basement (although sometimes I'm sure they wish they could have locked us - or the boys - in the basement!) Wendy and I took turns cooking supper, and sometimes we would swim after Jeremy got home. He and the boys would always give the horses treats when he got home from work. We got to go to church with them one Sunday to "The Church at Brook Hills" - loved it! It was just like Pinelake. And, Wendy and I had a girls' day out shopping after church that day. We had such a good time visiting family and getting to know them better. Jeremy did enjoy his month at UAB in Dermatology, and he is planning to pursue Derm. We'll just have to wait and see what happens!! We missed everyone while we were gone. It's good to be back home!