Cotton Pickin'

My boys skipped school and went to Clayton to pick cotton with their daddy yesterday.  It might as well have been Christmas (for the boys and for their daddy)! They were SO EXCITED!  Eli rode with Walker on the tractor "mowing stalks," and told me he fell asleep riding the tractor with Daddy.  Sawyer rode in the cotton picker with Papa Pitt and then helped Michael "smash" the cotton.   They LOVED it, and I'm glad to know this will most likely be an every year occurence for them.  I hope Papa Pitt and Uncle Pitt will put them to work pretty often.  When either one of them complained that it was hot this summer when they were helping do something, Walker would tell me "I need to take those boys to Clayton (to work).  They're getting soft!"  haha!  I appreciate some hard-working boys, and I pray they will grow up with an appreciation of hard work too!  For now, they're more than glad to be able to "work" with Daddy!  Walker and Beck-Beck snapped a few pictures for me of my boys and of Risdon.  I'm sure when they go to work Risdon will be right there with them.  I had a lovely day alone in Dothan shopping.  :)  Then, Sissy, Caleb and Hayes surprised us with a visit last night.  It was a short visit, but man pppppuhhhlease....I like them being here!!  Caleb talks 90 to nothing and laughs all the time!!  DOLL FACES!  Thanks for coming, Brown-brown! 

Grandparents' Day

Sawyer and Eli had Grandparents' Day at preschool on Tuesday.  They were SO EXCITED that Papa Pitt, Beck-Beck and Grandmama were coming!!  I really, really love my in-laws and appreciate them so much!!   I loved them pre-kids and knew they were extra special people, but there's nothing like people who LOVE your kiddos like they do!! :)   Unfortunately, my parents couldn't make it because they are renovating their house, but Sawyer and Eli were well-represented with grandparents! 

Here's Papa Pitt with Eli's cute teacher, Mrs. Beth

Eli and his SWEET great-grandmother, "Grandmama"

At the Grandparents' Reception

Afterwards, we came back to our house and ate my first-ever attempt at chicken salad....which SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH was really good!!  It was a fun day for sure! 

First Days of Preschool

 "School" started for my boys this week.  Sawyer will go 5 mornings a week.  Eli will go 2 mornings a week.  Both were excited for school to start.  I have mixed feelings, but overall, I think it's going to be good.  They both go and have fun, and they're home in enough time to eat lunch with me every day! :)  I've figured out that 11:30 comes fast, so I have to get all my business done quick before it's time to go back and get them.  Here's Sawyer the first night at open house.  They were told to sign in and then, draw pictures of themselves.  His little stick man had a lot of yellow hair.  :)

His teacher, Ms. Angie J

the homework he took on the first day of school...he worked hard on this!

i love this one!! :)

first day-signing in

When Sawyer got home, I asked if he liked school.  His response was, "Are you kidding me?  I loved it!"  haha!  I'm glad!

Eli-Chocolate Pie started today (Tuesday)...He was a champ!!  I think he truly thinks he's hot stuff getting to go to school like his big brother.  He's a bit of a rascal, and I wish I could be a fly on the wall in his classroom to see what all he'll say.  Thankfully, he has several buddies in his class and a really cute, sweet teacher.  We asked if he liked it, "I like chool, Mama!" 





both boys outside the school (church)

Eli's class-he went in and didn't look back at me when I told him bye.  He was ready to go play! 

READY for school-hope he'll b this ready again on Thursday

I pray that they will both have a great year in preschool.  I pray they will  learn to be kind to others, be respectful of their teachers, learn more about Jesus, and feel HIS love from others while they are there. 

Happy 4th

We had a good 4th of July!  Living in Enterprise (which is home of Fort Rucker), I have a whole new appreciation for the military and their spouses.  I've known about Katie's military life a long time, but it's really amazing how many military people there are and just how much they do for us.  They serve so selflessly.  I admire the sweet wives who take care of their kiddos without a backup and without family around.  They really deserve so much for their sacrifice!!  They get moved around, told what to do, have to leave their families....all for the sake of freedom!!  I'm extremely thankful for their service!! 

Anyway...we were glad to celebrate at Fort Rucker this year for (I think) the third year in a row.  Lieutenant Dan (from Forest Gump) has a band, and they were the entertainment out there Saturday night.  We had a small photo shoot before we left while Walker was getting dressed...I hate I didn't get any of my cute husband...Next time!  I sure am enjoying my camera!  Pictures are so much easier/more fun to take.   

Sweet Sawyer...Have I ever mentioned that I REALLY love these boys!! :) 

Eli cracks me up here, because he was laughing in between pictures, but when the camera came out...he wasn't dare going to flash a smile. 

I got him to smile here.  I told him we'd send these pictures to Caleb and Hayes, so he's saying, "Hey Cabub.  Hey Hayes!" 

Thank you Cabub and Hayes for about 20 good pictures of Eli! :)



Sawyer will smile because he's very compliant! :)



Wide Open while the band played

The NICE lady in front of us blew bubbles for these boys for about 15 minutes.  She was a hit!



Our sweet friends the Martins.  Baron is in flight school, so unless we can find him a job around here quickly, they will move back to Texas in September. :(  They're about as precious as they come!



Sunday night we had a surprise birthday party for my friend Robin.  Her sweet husband asked us to plan a little surprise party.  It was fun! :)

Pretty Banner courtesy of Lindsay Elliott

Bobby's cracking up because I thought we should hide behind the counter and jump out (even though our cars were in the driveway)....I did it anyway...so he's laughing at me....what's a good surprise party though if you can't jump out and yell surprise?  Are y'all with me, friends? (These people were not. :)

Robin coming in.  She WAS surprised. 



Allyson and Wes went on an anniversary trip to Charleston for their 5th anniversary, so we got to keep Caleb and Hayes one night.  I'm so thankful there were no major injuries. ;)



Our redneck waterslide

These boys had fun!

There was also a cookout in Clayton on the 4th, but I failed to take my camera.  The Williams are set up for cookouts!  We enjoyed fresh sweet corn, watermelon, homemade icecream, and the pool....LOVELY!  Hope y'all had a great 4th too!! 

We've been swimming a little....

...Almost every day.  I'm not sure who is enjoying it more...me or my boys.  I do love a beautiful day at the pool.  Sawyer took swimming lessons one week, and he's doing great!  Day 1-he could swim, but couldn't get a breath and go back down.  By day 3 of swim lessons, he had it!  Now, he's swimming all over the pool.  

Sawyer swimming across the deep end at swim lessons. His buddy Tucker is waiting on him at the ladder. ;)

Jumping off the diving board

We are SO THANKFUL to have lots of friends with pool access.  I'm a big believer in a city pool.  Enterprise's, however, is not the greatest, so we're thankful for neighborhood pools, backyard pools, and water parks!  We've hit 'em all up!

Eli is a fish!!  Ms. Heather (Sawyer's fantastic swim teacher) doesn't "teach" until they're three.  However, the last day she let me get in with Eli, and we practiced.  He got it!  He can hold his breath a LONG time, so he can swim as far as he can hold his breath.  He's a good little swimmer for two! 



Handsome Pants



We've been going to the gym in the morning, then the pool which ALMOST guarantees an afternoon nap!  I love summer time!

Eli, Ella Kate Elliott, and Sawyer
We're thankful for cute friends that join us too!