Me and My Girls

Six Flags

Daddy and Whitney got to go to Six Flags again this year with Whitney's free ticket she earned reading during last school year.  This time, they road the roller coasters, but Whitney's big focus was on the water park and water rides.  You know the ones, the ones where you get completely and utterly drenched.  Yep.  Those are the ones.  I remember always liking those too when I was a kid.  I didn't really understand why adults really didn't get such a big kick out of them.  I think Ben understands that now.  They rode those babies all.day.long.  Such a good daddy!

New Toy

Daddy put together this awesome sandbox for the girls!  It has been a big hit!

Killing Time

Whitney and I were just killing time in the car one day...I don't even recall why or where we were waiting.  But this is what she entertained herself with.  She said, "I look like Mary!  You know, Jesus' mom."

Drive In

We surprised the girls with a late night trip to a drive in movie in Atlanta.  Funny thing is, when we told our friends about where we were going and the part of town it was, they just laughed at us.  Apparently it's not in the best part of town.  And I will say, it was a little shady and Ben said we probably weren't going to go back there anytime soon, but it was fun for one night!

Playing with Jack

These girls...they just love their kitty!

Jack

Meet Jack the cat.  We finally figured out a name that we all liked.  Let me tell you something.  These girls have absolutely LOVED every minute with this cat.  All they do is play with him.  The poor thing really doesn't get a minute alone.  Today they created a little "home" for him.  He doesn't love to be held, but hopefully he'll get used to that.  I hope he realizes he really doesn't have a choice in the matter.  He got his shots and some medicine to clear up a few things.  All in all he is healthy and thriving!  It's fun to have a little furry friend around again!

Winshape Camp

Whitney participated in Winshape Camp this year at a local church.  Winshape is a camp for kids started by Chick-fil-a.  They have overnight camps and day camps throughout the country.  Whitney did the day camp (I'm not sure if this mama is ready for overnight camp just yet).  The focus was being anchored in Christ.  She got to choose her activities for the day and then rotated.  She chose Secret Ops (They went around camp "secretly" doing helpful things for others.  Their "cover" was that they loved napping, so whenever they were on mission and they saw someone, they said "nap attack" and they'd all fall to the floor and pretend to be asleep.), Wacky Science (She did science experiments every day, right up her alley). and Crafts (Of course).  The last day was family day, so we got to go see and hear all the of the chants, cheers, songs, experiments, crafts and operations she took part in all week long.  Such a wonderful experience for her and am praying will be life changing for her if she does more in the future.  Those were some special college leaders pouring into the lives of all those kids. 

Getting her secret agent certificate

Making ice cream...or maybe a milkshake

Finders Keepers

It was just a normal old day.  The girls were both at camp.  I had just gotten home from the gym and stop at the top of the drive way to get the mail.  Pretty much like I do every day.  Only this time I heard this intense meowing.  I looked all around but didn't see anything, but could still hear it.  I followed the sound across the street to a tree and looked up and there was a sweet little kitten just meowing his little heart out.  I couldn't get him to come down all the way so I went back across the street to get my phone to call Ben to bring a ladder out.  In that short amount of time the kitty had jumped down and was running across the street to me!  So, a little kitty found us.  I plopped him on my lap and went into the house to show Ben what I had found.  Now, we have been talking about getting a few cats to keep the mice and other varmints away.  We just haven't pulled the trigger yet since we have so much moving back and forth in our life.  Been there, done that, not fun.  Needless to say the girls were more than surprised when they got home to find out we finally had a pet!  Whitney was absolutely speechless, which if you know Whitney, really doesn't happen too often.

Sweet Summer Vaca!

No beach trip for us this year.  Instead we took the girls on a 4 night cruise to The Bahamas.  We spent one day at Royal Caribbean's private island Coco Cay, on day at the beach in Atlantis, and one day at sea.  When we got back to Port Canaveral we spent the day (as in, the entire day) at NASA.  Ben's favorite part of the trip.  Consensus was, we had a GREAT time, the girls loved it, we played in some great clear water, and we spent lots of time together.  Just what this quality time girl needs!

Sweet girls in bed.  We drove down the night before we set sail.

Breakfast at IHOP before heading to the port!

In the port terminal waiting to board!

We're on!

Checking out the deck

First stop, pool and hot tub!

Dancing machines!

Safety drill

Setting sail

Our room, tight, yet effective.  We all slept well and no one fell out of a bunk onto us, nor did mommy or daddy bang their heads in the middle of the night.

Day 1:  Coco Cay

Lots of beach time, building sandcastles, following the fish in water and searching for creatures on the rocks.

And a hula hoop contest!

Fancy dinner night

Day 2:  Atlantis

First some play fighting that turned into serious fighting (for Lindsey at least) while waiting for our bus to Atlantis

We made it to the beach!  We had waves here which put some even bigger smiles on these girls faces!

Then a stroll around Atlantis to see all the different aquariums.  Such a neat place to see!

Each with their souvenir.  Lindsey, a stuffed animal (or course) and Whitney wanted this "camera" from the beach vendors made out of an aluminum Fanta can that has a little character that pops out of the lens when you push it.  She named it Sandy.

We were waiting out a little shower.  Caught this sweet moment of Whitney helping her sister get up on the wall.  My heart...

Faces of fun!

Love my family! Getting back on board!

Day 3:  Out at Sea

First stop of the day was the bungee tramps

Swimming and then some family bingo.  Lindsey won!

Evening shuffleboard

Movies in the water

Ready for the show!

Super fun time and great memories made.  Next stop.  NASA!

Daddy was sooooo excited!

Heading on the tour bus to see the sights!

Apollo launch pad

Future launch site

Shuttle transporter

Road that the transporter travels on

Vehicle Assembly building

Official countdown clock and stands

Ben with one the Apollo capsules.  His favorite thing of the day...let's be honest, the whole trip!

Me and the girls with an unused Apollo capsules

Ben with the girls at the base of the Saturn V rocket

Ready to see more stuff

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Showing the tiles underneath

Some big rocket engine

Future astronauts

Where the girls and I spent a lot of time towards the end of the day which daddy explored.  That man loves him some museums, especially about space!