We are home!

Where to start? Oh my goodness what a weekend. We had a wonderful trip to the beach. It took us almost twice as long to return home as it did to get there due to the traffic, but it was worth it. Here is a brief rundown of the events from the weekend....................................

We attended a fabulous 4th of July party. Everything was decorated in red, white, and blue. We drank Pimms cups galore in honor of our friends from England. Dr. and Mrs. Greene were wonderful hosts and we had an amazing time.

While there Olivia got to call London and talk with her friend Josephine. She thought that was very fun! We ate real Memphis BBQ cooked by a national BBQ winner. Then we took in the gorgeous fireworks on the beach by the City of Gulf Shores.

On our way home we drove past an enormous wildfire and traffic was somewhat delayed so we watched for a long time and Olivia took every moment in. It was quite exciting and a little scary. Over 15 acres burned before it was under control and we heard illegal fireworks were the culprit.



Not to bring an end to the excitement of the weekend this morning Chief and Joe killed a rather large snake that had found it's way into the backyard of my parents home.

Thanks for a great weekend Chief and GrandMaMa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We missed the fireworks here at home in Helena, but a fellow blogger had a picture of them posted. They were beautiful and perhaps we will take them in next year.

We ask that you keep some very dear friends in your prayers as they to have suffered a still born birth in their family over the holiday.

The fourth was birthday for two of the little ones (not twins) in our crew.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:

Grayson(2) and Riley Claire(1)

So begins the month of July

What an adventurous couple of days we have had. We had lunch at a fantastic little place called The Tip Top Grill. The view alone was worth the money we paid, however their prices were as good as the view. The food was about what you would expect from a little diner. It was flavorful and the entire experience was perfect! It reminded me of overlooking certain places in Scotland with Ross Bridge in the distance and all the surrounding greenery. Kind of like the picture.

They offer a lot and Mondays I understand are $.99 hot dogs. The cheeseburger I had was excellent and the chicken fingers were huge. Joe had the double cheeseburger and I am guessing it tasted like mine.

The children had the desire to go to Pottery Barn Kids... like how I insinuate that they don't go much? I think it makes me feel better. So OK we went AGAIN to PBK. We love it and it is our first stop for toys. OK .....SO.... THERE. For the ones it bothers, and you know who you are Michelle El-Fallah, I did. So what? Anyway, the kids got the cutest little wrist bubble blowers. They are battery operated and user friendly Orren can even do it by himself. We also got a gorgeous book PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON. I know all of you remember Puff! We discovered that Honalee is a real place the author was visiting at the time. He came across an old volcanic cave that to him, looked just like a dragon would live there. Now, Olivia wants to go to Hawaii to find Puff's cave. It came with the CD and the children have enjoyed it so. Olivia knows all the words by heart and Orren gets very still and doesn't make a sound. Great for them, but I am wondering how many times an adult can hear that song before they suffer some type of adverse effect. HMMMM?

Orren spent his birthday money at Toys R US. He got a Pirate Ship and some more Knights and horses. ( I think Spiderman may be replaced. He still likes the ones he has and plays with them, but he had NO INTEREST in the ones at the store.) He cried for the Knights. That has happened a few times now.

Joe is cooking on the grill here tonight. He is insisting that I rest. So he is doing everything tonight. He is so precious! I am dying for that steak though, oh my goodness!

I had an unexpected phone call last night. My college room mate, which I have not spoken with in over 9 years, called. I could have fallen in the floor. It was great to hear from her and she seems so very happy. I hope that life continues to bring her bounty! As I do for all of you.

Take care of yourselves out there!

Oh, one last thing...................................................

I did not post yesterday, and it was my sister-in-law's birthday. So I did not get to say:

Happy Birthday Katy!!!

we love you

Elections are coming to Helena

http://www.woodman-for-helena.blogspot.com/
I am so excited to use this forum to promote a man I truly believe will help push Helena forward and make her an even greater city than she already is. I have known his family for a few years now and I am thrilled to be a supporter! Please visit his website and VOTE for

HAL WOODMAN

I will make a regular Post tomorrow, for now let's just all take in the wonder of

HAL WOODMAN

Weekend update!

It was a great Saturday!

We had such fun being together today. I love our weekends!

We hit the BIG sale at OLD NAVY and it was hopping that is for sure. Everyone got flip flops $1.00 a pair how was I going to pass that up? So you could probably guess we all got more than one pair. We got t- shirts and sweatshirts and little Orren got a new raincoat. Yellow and navy blue it is so precious. Our fashion Diva found lots of cute little shirts and we stood in line for about 15 minutes. I thought I was going to Six Flags. (I know even on the best day I would wait longer than 15 minutes at Six Flags, but it was a really long line)

We have been on a gnome hunt in our neighborhood. I hear tell that many gnomes live here in Old Cahaba, but we only found one tiny little green gnome. Guess that magic has them on the move (possibly to avoid the covenants restrictions). I have had an idea and I need to get with our resident gnome expert in Helena about it. I am hoping it is something we can do, my children will love it! AND they will believe it. Sort of a local version of the traveling gnome. So Hewy I need to talk with ya.

Not sure I want to find these gnomes, and we might should ban them from the festivities! I found them @ Gnomeland.co.uk

think we will leave them there, but they were very funny!

Hope you all enjoy the rest of this glorious weekend!

Thank goodness it is Friday

Olivia feeding the Lorikeets at the Zoo

Orren playing on the floor at home

Well, Orren and Olivia and Joe and I ate at a local place here, called Frankie's for dinner tonight. It was good, I really enjoyed the beef tips and rice and gravy I had. Joe got the catfish and was some what disappointed. It was one piece and not the greatest. Olivia had the chicken fingers and they were the size of her head! Orren had rice and cheese. We most likely won't go back, but it was cute and we enjoyed being together.





We talked to Aunt Christy tonight, it was wonderful to have a few minutes to catch up with her. We are all eagerly waiting to find out what Kayla's baby will be.... girl? Boy? We are ready to start shopping. It should just be a few more weeks. But, so far all is well and everyone is healthy. Our nephew TJ is a typical teenage boy, and full of mischief. Our sweet Dawson told us he loved us over the phone and we hope to see him soon. I can't believe how quickly he is growing up and how precious his heart is.





Michelle and Salah are still house hunting and we hope they will soon be on our side of town.





Chief and GrandMaMa have had lots of visitors since returning to the land of sea and sun......


Aunt Kay Ivey was down on yesterday and their college friends are with them now. We hope that they are having lots of fun with everyone.





Things are nice and calm for now and hope that they stay that way! We have some yard work to do.... we got a covenants violation letter today. Seems our "tree" on the corner of the house has died and we need to remove it sooooooooo guess what Joe will be doing tomorrow. OOPS!





The children both got "happies" today from Learning Express. Orren had his first I want this and I am not putting it back episode today. So we came home with a knight on a horse. Both are "dressed" in full regalia Blue with gold Lions. Could he know already that he is a nobleman? Instinct maybe? Lord Breland.


Olivia got a pumice stone that is shaped and designed to look like a lollipop and lip gloss. SHE KNOWS SHE IS A PRINCESS!





We will hopefully all get some rest tomorrow and just get to enjoy being together. We will check in again soon!

Breland Babies everywhere are growing up

Well, Orren turned one and now our baby bird family is learning to fly. We have been so blessed that for 3 seasons the same Mother bird has returned to lay and hatch her eggs in our courtyard. Now an entirely different family has joined us. Three little babies are learning to fly and we have had such fun watching them. What wonders our heavenly father sends us if we only take the time to appreciate them!

Not too much going on here today, we are running some errands and I am going to pick up the things we need to make homemade cookies! I want to bake a pie and a cobbler also. I am in a baking mood! Olivia is so precious she is always ready to bake anything. I love having that time with her in the kitchen. Just the girls. Olivia is growing so fast, she will be 10 this Jan. She is such a little lady and a true Princess. I am so proud of her.

We may need to do a roast for dinner, oh yes, that sounds so good. I better get that going now! I can almost smell and taste it, rice and gravy...carrots... potatoes... broccoli casserole. OK I really need to finish this post so I can get dinner going.

Is it too early in the summer to say how ready for Autumn I am? I love that time of the year when there is a blustery crispness in the air and the foliage is turning. Football is in the background, and friends have gathered. When spices fill the air from pumpkin pie and banana bread. It has to be the most wonderful time. So on this hot muggy June afternoon, my heart and thoughts are looking forward to the rush of cool Autumn air on my face.

We have Orren's appointment with the GI doctor in July. The 28th at Children's. We will be praying that all is well and the report is good.

Today is SHANA'S Birthday! Happy Birthday Shana!

Tomorrow we will be packing the pic nic basket to go to Friday night flicks in the Park. It should be lots of fun!

Love to you all,

Lazy days of summer

Swimming in the pool
Chief enjoying the pool and Orren's float.

We had such a great weekend and we are now back to our normal life. Joe is suffering from a spider bite still ( he got it back on Father's day at the lake) I am beginning to worry about it.

Our downstairs air conditioning unit is still not cooling and they still have NOT come to fix it! So we are puddling and sleeping upstairs where it is like a cave! I mean who has ever heard of that..... upstairs being so cold you freeze and downstairs is an oven?

We just keep saying maybe tomorrow!

Orren is trying to get the hang of this walking thing, he has lots of toys to help and he is enjoying them very much!

Joe and I are so blessed with our life and our family. We could not imagine anything more perfect. We are so very thankful to our Holy Father for his love!

Have a great rest of the week!