Happy 13th Birthday Peyton!

The Birthday Girl

Today is my niece Peyton's Birthday. We went over to my sister's clubhouse pool for her party. The kids had fun, although Morgan still isn't able to go swimming yet (she can wade in the pool but no swimming for 6 more weeks--she can't wait!). Here's some pictures:

The Cousins

(Jordan, Peyton, Morgan, Jacob)

Peyton and Mallory in the Fish Kiddie Pool

Aviation Camp comes to an end....

Aviation Camp came to an end Tuesday much to Jacob's disappointment. He wished it would go on for at least the rest of the week. He can't wait for the next camp during Spring Break. On Monday they worked in the Air Maintenance Shop and made tool boxes from scratch (see picture below). They used machines to bend the steel sheets and power tools to attach the rivets, latches, handle, etc. I think he did an AWESOME job on it! On Tuesday they built rockets and shot them high into the air. They had so much fun and he learned alot. He is ready to become a Pilot!

Pilot in Training Videos...

Jacob--Taxiing from the hangar.

Jacob--Take Off

Luke--Taxiing in on Landing

Jacob--Pilot in Training.....

We're down in Cochran this week until next Tuesday for an Aviation Camp that Jacob is attending through Middle GA College Aviation School http://www.mgc.edu/aviation/. Today Jacob got to fly and actually co-pilot the controls even on take-off and landing--he also got to use the rutters (Jacob insists that the pilot let him do most of the actual flying, even on take-off and landing--he did a great job (Luke did too!)--they all got back safely!). They flew over my parents' house (they came out to wave) and landed at the Cochran Airport and then his friend Luke co-piloted on the way back to Eastman flying over his house too. They were so excited when they got out. The pilot had stalled the plane and they thought that was just awesome--better than any roller-coaster! Jacob has had the pilot fever for quite awhile and plans on becoming a pilot. After the flight, the pilot told me that he thinks Luke has also caught the pilot bug too! Here's some pictures. I also have video and am working on editing it and getting it posted.

Jacob and Luke (Air Traffic Control Simulator)

Luke, Jacob and the Pilot

Jacob (ready for take-off)

Luke (on take-off)

Jacob and Luke (Air Traffic Control Tower)

Luke (just landed) and Jacob

In Your Children's Eyes.....

I saw this Tag on Jaime's blog and her children had some cute answers and I wondered if my teen-agers responses would be as cute.....some are too truthful!! Morgan's (age 16) answers are in purple and Jacob's (age 14) in aqua. (Mom's comments are in pink)

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Clean your room and do your school work (home-school).
Brush your teeth and clean your room.

2. What makes mom happy?
A clean house.
A clean house.

3. What makes mom sad?
A messy house.
A messy house.

4. How does mom make you laugh?
When Mom doesn't "get it"--having a blonde moment.
When she busts her bootie--such as slipping on the wet steps during the storm the other night.---(Isn't Jacob so sweet?)

5. What was mom like as a child?
She played sports.
Tom-Boy-hanging with her brothers.

6. How old is mom?
40
I thought 50 until she had her 40th B.D. in June.

7. How tall is mom?
5'3"

Shorter than me.

8. What is mom's favorite thing to do?
Scrapbook and Blog.

Blogging

9. What does mom do when you're not around?
Scrapbook and Blog.
I don't know--I'm not around!

10. ??--it wasn't listed on Jaime's post--did we lose #10?

11. What is mom really good at?
Scrapbooking and Blogging.

Blogging, Scrapbooking and being a Mom.

12. What is mom not good at?
Gourmet Cooking (she doesn't really like to cook much)

Riding my Dirt-bike.

13. What is mom's job?
Work with Daddy--bookkeeper and Stay-At-Home Mom

She's our House-Maid. (I need to work on this--I'm obviously doing too much of the maidwork around here!!)
14. What is mom's favorite food?
Chicken Fettucine' Alfredo from Carrabbas.

Reese's Cups

15. What makes you proud of mom?

When she finishes a project and is happy about it.

She helps me out with stuff.

16. What do you and mom do together?
Spend all day together.

Stupid Questions to go on her blog.

17. How are you and mom the same?
I have her lips.

We are both real picky about food. Our hair and eyes are alike.

18. How are you and mom different?
Almost in every way--she loves to play sports and I don't. She's outgoing and loves to talk and I'm more quiet and reserved.

She's a girl.

19. How do you know mom loves you?
She tells me and shows me.
She does things for me.

This was enlightening to see their answers. Thanks Jaime for this fun tag!

My Beach Trip Pictures....Finally!

I tried to post this as a slideshow as I've done before with my scrapbook albums, but it was a No Go tonight. It was just being stubborn, or in a mood or something! (surely it wasn't me doing something wrong!...yeah, right!! LOL) Here's a few of the pages:

Flames Still Burning.....

This morning when we got up, I looked out my bathroom window again and there was smoke rising above the trees. Scott and Jacob went over to check things out and the flames had starting burning again. Scott called 911 to let them know and the firetrucks got here within 10 minutes--much faster than last night. Here are some pictures in the daylight. There's also a picture of the limb on my car.

Lightening Strikes "Quail Hollow"

While we were eating dinner tonight, we had a severe thunderstorm with hail and high winds. I was watching out of our kitchen window when lightening struck closer than I have ever seen in my life--and I have seen lots of lightening (thunderstorms are very common in the South). It was outlined with purple and flashed so close I blinked my eyes. There was a loud bang--a sound like no other. It was so close. I told my family it either hit one of those trees or the top of the neighbors house. We have some high trees between our house and the neighbors so I couldn't tell. Then we heard hail hitting our front porch and living room windows, so we all went to look. We were having quarter size hail. Then we came back to the kitchen and Jacob told us the top of the neighbors' house is on fire. Scott went running out to help and I called 911. Then Jacob said Mom, let's say a prayer. The kids and I went to my bathroom window to look out. The rain was coming down really hard and the wind was blowing fierce too --the pictures didn't come out very well--this is a picture of the flames when it first started:

I know it's not very clear, the rain is hitting our window--there are very high trees on our property right where the flames were so we were on the lookout to make sure that our trees did not catch fire as the wind was blowing fire balls from the flames. Scott made sure the lady had gotten out and they got 3 of her 4 animals out. They couldn't get one of the cats to come out from under the bed. It was a 26 lb. Tabby--we don't think he ever came out. The lady didn't even realize her house was on fire. She heard the lightening hit and a smoke alarm fell off of the wall upstairs. But until Scott and a neighbor told her, she didn't realize it. Scott got her computer from upstairs for her and asked what else to get out, but she was in shock and didn't know what to do. Her husband was not home from work. They are about my parents age, I would guess. She did not think that the house would burn down, but Scott told her it was moving fast, so she needed to get out what she wanted. She moved her 2 vehicles out to the road, so they were saved. The roof started burning quickly and from my window we could see edges of the house falling down into the trees and shrubs--our trees looked like they lit up a few times, but I think the rain helped put it out. I went out and pulled tree limbs from the edge of our lawn at the road, so firetrucks could park. It was still lightening really bad and I did have the thought I may get struck by lightening while trying to help. I did get very soaked even through my raincoat. The house burned to the ground within about 25 minutes. The volunteer firemen got here quickly along with an ambulance, but they didn't have any hoses so they couldn't do anything. The big fire trucks didn't get here for almost 50 minutes. We found out that the main road coming to our subdivision (Quail Hollow) had huge trees down across it and traffic was having to be diverted around to come in the back way--we're assuming this is what kept them from getting here sooner. Had they been able to get here sooner, they probably could have saved most of their house, at least the downstairs. Here are some pictures after they got most of it put out. This is of the front downstairs porch and frame--the whole inside is burned out.

This is a picture of the GA Power guy turning off the power and disabling the power lines going into their house.

They are still out there checking the property lines between our houses for stray embers and making sure it's all put out. When I was out there tonight, it kept flaming back up several times. Thankfully nobody was hurt. We have some tree limbs down all over our yard and on our cars--but no major damage. It has been quite the night!

Playing Catch Up

Trips are fun--especially Beach Trips, but .......coming home and playing catch up isn't! I often wonder if our office/business wasn't in our home if it might be different--it's been this way for almost 20 years, so I don't recall life before. There are many benefits to having your office at home, but separation of home/family life from work are not one of them--at least in our business. When season is in--the Echols family talk, sleep, breathe salmon! I know I was only gone for 3 days, but 3 days during the summer is almost like 2 work weeks during the rest of the year. Okay--enough complaining--the point is, I haven't had a chance to do what I like to do which is scrapbook my pictures and post them. So.....as soon as I catch up I'll post them.(hopefully later tonight!)

My Great Escape.......

I am so excited about my Beach Trip this weekend (leaving tomorrow early am) that I went ahead and made a digi scrapbook page for my album --to be...... We're staying at the Sugar Sands Inn and Suites http://www.sugarsands.com/index.html . I'm going with my sisters and my Mom. No kids--no hubby's this trip, just us girls! We're all so excited that we're already talking about we should do this once a year fom now on. This is a much needed escape for all of us. Gotta get going to get my long To-Do List finished. More pictures to come........Have a Great Weekend everyone!

Polls Close ......

and the winner for Sheriff in Cochran is-- my Uncle Harold. It was a very tight race, but he was victorious. This will be his 3rd term. Congrats Uncle Harold!

Blessings Realized....Prayers Answered

As I said my personal prayer tonight giving thanks to my Heavenly Father and pleading for inspiration and answers for many things in my life, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming joy and thankfulness for many blessings. Some I didn't even realize until tonight. There is something very recent that I was blessed with that was a desire of my heart that to some may seem so simple or could even be considered a coincidence. But I know it was a direct blessing from my Heavenly Father to give me joy and happiness. He not only blesses me with my needs, but also my wants and righteous desires as long as it doesn't involve over-riding someone else's free agency. And when He's not able to give me a certain blessing, He blesses me with peace and lifts my burdens so that they are light and sometimes I don't even feel the weight of them. He blesses me with inspiration and direction. I know He answers my prayers.

I feel that by posting this message I am sharing some very personal thoughts that I usually would not post on my blog. I'm not really sure why I am sharing this tonight, other than I had a tremendous pull to post it (almost like when you're sitting in Testimony Meeting and just know you have to get up). Maybe someone who reads this needed to hear my testimony of prayer or maybe I just needed to see it put into words for me.

Celebrating 14,610 Days Old.......Again!

Actually today, I'm 14,646 days old--but we were celebrating my birthday--so I celebrated being 14,610 days old--or 40 years---gotta hang on to those days as long as I can since I'm sitting at the top of the hill these days!! We had post-poned my dinner out at Carrabbas, (as I mentioned in my original b.d. post--I Love Carrabbas!) because Morgan had just had knee surgery a few days before my birthday and we've been pretty busy ever since. But tonight was the night, we were able to go and celebrate. It was very good as usual--the Chicken Fettucine Alfredo is my favorite. We had fun even tho' it was belated. Thanks family for taking me out!

Lazing down Lazy River.....

Cherie and Loran Elizabeth (my niece)

My parents and brother's family and my sis-in-law's parents, brother and some more friends all have Fifth Wheel Campers and go camping together alot. This last week they camped up at Vogel State Park and Jacob had gone with my parents. I went up on Thursday and we went tubing down the Lazy River. This is the only picture we have because our picture takers (Grandma's/Grandpa's) met us at the end and they barely got there as my niece and I were getting out (that's me out in the water--I had gone past the steps to get out) and my brother was a little way behind us. Jacob and Ross had floated ahead of us and had already been out awhile. When they went earlier in the week, it took them about 2 hours, so the ones that didn't go tubing timed it based on that, but since it had rained some we had more water and didn't have to walk as much as they did, so it went faster. We still hit some rocks in about 3-5 inches of water at some spots. The kids that were much lighter in weight floated along better in the shallow parts. On one of the big rocks I got stuck on, I kept bouncing my inner-tube thinking I'd bounce on past it--as I did on other rocks--but this time I flipped out onto the rocks--OUCH!! they hurt! Then in another part of the river a huge tree had fell down across the river from one bank to the other bank so we had to maneuver over it. The water was at least 3 ft. or so--and I stood up on the tree and put my inner-tube on the other side to get back on it and let me tell you--it's much easier to get back on it in ankle deep water---when I got on it, it flipped over and I got soaked completely! I had to go over to a sandbar to get back on it. There is definitely an art to it---that I had not quite mastered yet! It was fun--there were a few spots that the river was flowing pretty good and even a few small water falls--but for the most part it was slowly Lazing down the Lazy River!

Trying this one for now......

Trying this header for now----at least it matches better than my old one. Will work on it later. Happy Friday everyone!

Okay--I don't match!....yet....

I just uploaded this new background to my blog (thanks Cheril for sending me to this site!) and it's late and I'm sleepy (yes, even before 1am--I am tired tonight!) so a matching header will have to wait until tomorrow. Plus, I'm still deciding if I want to keep this background. What I really want to do is figure out how to put my own digi- scrapbooking paper/elements that I use for my header as my background so all my papers will match. If anyone knows how I can use my own digi papers for my background--please let me know! So until I figure out the patterns I like, please over-look my mis-matching header and background. (and being the typical Gemini that I am--I love to change things around all the time--so I'll probably be changing it quite a bit anyway! that way it doesn't get boring for me!!)

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Homemade Ice Cream!

I wanted to add the song to this post, but only found the lyrics and some different versions on YouTube. So no song, just a picture of my Homemade Ice Cream.

I know summer is here when we pull out our Ice Cream Churn. This has been a tradition in my family since childhood. I remember when I was really little, we had a wooden churn with a manual handle, then later on we got the electric kind--which was nice. My Mom often puts fresh peaches or strawberries in it. It's all good--especially on a hot summer afternoon.

Jacob's Heart Rock

Jacob is my child that--let me think how to put this--gives me many patience building opportunities. He also is a very spiritual child and a sweetheart. When he got home from Boy Scout Camp a few weeks ago, he gave me this Heart Rock that he had found. He said when he found it, he thought it looked like a heart, so he brought it home for me. (can you see my tears running down my cheek?--this was an "ahh how sweet moment" for sure! and those patience building opportunities were quickly forgotten!)

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone! This is one of my favorite songs, so turn up your speakers and enjoy!

"God Bless the USA"
Written By Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, '
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston and New York to L.A.
There's pride in every American heart and it's time we stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, '
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

A "Southern Delicacy"

Corn Shuckin' Time

Corn Silkin' and Cleanin' Time

Corn Creamin' Time

Corn Freezin' and Eatin' Time

This is one of mine and my family's favorite Southern Food. It is so Tasty--otherwise I'd never spend the many hours it takes to put it up in our freezer for the winter. This is part of my Southern Summers ever since childhood. We spent every 4th of July morning-- picking, shucking and creaming corn to put up in the freezer, then in the afternoon we'd go over to our extended family picnic and pool party--those were the carefree days of childhood. All 5 of my siblings probably complained (I know I did) about all of the work, but we sure enjoyed eating it during the winter!! Thanks Mom for teaching me about the fruits of this hard work! And thanks Dad for getting me these 2 bushels of corn! I look forward to some more and also my order of Butter Beans (my other favorite delicacy), Zipper and Cream 40 Peas. My freezer will once again be full for the winter.

Morgan bids Farewell to the CPM Machine

Morgan bids Farewell to the CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) Machine.

Morgan had her checkup with her Doctor today and is doing Great! No more 6 hours a day in the CPM machine--she couldn't be more thrilled about this!! She is able to staighten out her leg and bend her knee to 97 degrees (which is right on track and AWESOME). She will continue with Physical Therapy 2 times a week through July and can start putting 25% weight on it and adding 25% each week. So by August, she'll be able to put full weight on it. YEAH!! She'll still use crutches until she is able to walk without a limp--Doc is guessing by September--but Morgan might just prove him wrong--she's working very hard to be able to walk on it without crutches asap! We are proud of her progress and thankful for how well she has done. Thanks again to everyone that keeps checking on her!

Braves Picture Update

Braves FanFoto arrived today: