Happy Father's Day!

 I am getting behind on sharing our summer travels (partially because we have had an action-packed week, and partially because another grad school class has just begun).  That said, today is Father's Day, so the summer stories will have to wait another day.

Happy Father's Day to the amazing Father's in my life.

I cannot express my immense joy and humility that I not only was raised by an honest, hardworking, loving, honorable man who loved being my Daddy, and loves being a grandfather, but I also married an honest, hardworking, loving, honorable man who loves being a Daddy.

The icing on the cake is that my Father-in-law is an honest, hardworking, loving, honorable man who loves being a father and grandfather, and I have a brother, and two brothers-in-law who are honest, hardworking, loving, honorable men who love being Dads.

Yesterday, I also got to visit with my grandfather, the only living great-grandparent of my children, and... you guessed it, he is also an honest, hardwork, loving, honorable man who has loved his years as a father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great, great grandfather (one of my older cousins is a grandma).

I thank the Lord for the wonderful Fathers in my life.

Fun Lunch

 We had a fun lunch... more pictures later, but for now, just know, we had a fun lunch.

Ten Hours

Monday, we had about ten hours at Grammie and Papa before we had to hop back in the car... and our kiddos made the most of that time.

We'll be back there later this week, but our kiddos sure know how to have fun in Michigan at Grammie and Papa's, even if its just for a day.

Say Cheese!

 Say Cheese!

Whom to Marry?

 Lee Lee has had a rough few nights being sick with a high fever and abdominal pain.  We learned today that its a rough case of adenovirus after some time in the ER ruling out appendicitis.

All that said, a few nights ago, she was crying in her sleep.  Calling out and talking, and in the jumble she said with great emotion and crying, "I don't want to marry you, I want to marry Daddy."

When I awoke from her talking, I talked to her and told her she needed to take some medicine.  She responded that yes she would take the medicine, and then she would marry Daddy.  I agreed and she took the medicine and drank her water.  Then she started crying and asked in great despair, "Where will all the love go?"

The next day, when she was feeling better, she calming explained that she remembered the dream and that everyone was playing a game where they had to choose who they were going to marry, and Mama picked her, and she responded that no she didn't want to marry you (Mama), she was going to marry Daddy.  Somehow taking medicine was looped in there too.

Dreams are so fun.

Cousin Memories

Hubby and I do not live near our nieces and nephews and so we really try to get to know them, have tons of fun, and get to know them better and build our relationships when we're in town.

This trip, we opted for a hotel overnight in St. Louis with Aunt Brooke, Uncle Chris, Memaw and Pepaw and ALL thirteen cousins.  Thirteen came and ate and swam, and played, and twelve spent the night.  We had two suites and the nephews (Howard, Judah, Silas, Hunter, and Brady) slept in Memaw and Pepaw's room, and the nieces (Zivah, Mayah, Tracey, Caroline, Fridah, Lee Lee, Scarlett) slept in Uncle Chris and Aunt Brookie's room.

I'm writing this blog at 10:44pm... so I'm hoping that we all make it through the night successfully.  All children are peacefully sleeping as I write this...

Thank you for the prayers.

Also, when you read this, it will be June 8.  June 8, 2002 is the day that my sister, Tracey, went to heaven.  Knowing that she is an aunt that never had the chance to build relationships with her nieces and nephews makes me appreciate even more this special overnight with so many of my nieces and nephews.

Nine Years Five Months

 All of my girls have to wait until age ten to get their ears pierced... but yesterday was a very big day.

After nine years and five months, my oldest got her ears pierced.

We had a very special day with three cousins and three Mountain Miller girls all getting hair cuts, and hair styles, and manicures and pedicures.  This is an adorable salon specifically catered to little girls.  My kids have been there one time before in 2018 (so five years ago), and then they got to go yesterday.

It would be very special for Tracey to get her ears pierced on her tenth birthday... but it was also VERY special for her to get her ears pierced yesterday surrounded by her sisters, her mama, her memaw, and three of her favorite cousins.  Hopefully she will remember that for the rest of her life.

Of course Caroline and Lee Lee were all ready to get their ears pierced too... so new tradition -- they have to ten, or the trip to St. Louis that is most close to their tenth birthday, and we will go back to that same Sweet and Sassy salon with their cousins.

It really was an incredibly special day with the girls.