Fishin'

The girls have been blessed with an Uncle Kyle who has a pretty sweet fishin' hole. We finally got to take advantage of it and had a great time in the rain. We were catching fish like crazy. Nothing like setting your children up for a lifetime of disappointment and impatience in every other fishing venture. Thanks Uncle Kyle (and Aunt Kelly!).

70's day

Kate should have been a Flower Child.

Kate's First Grade Class does a Poetry Bash each spring. They memorize poems all year, then put on the big bash for their families. It's pretty amazing how much a little 7 year old brain can memorize. What's even more amazing it that that same 7 year old brain can NOT seem to remember the 3 morning chores that are done each and every morning. EACH and EVERY morning. 3 simple chores. Seriously.

I love you Kate!!!

From 70s day

From 70s day

From 70s day

From 70s day

From 70s day

Little Digger

Movin' dirt. That's all.

From Digger

From Digger

From Digger

Christmas in Goldsboro 2011

Yeah, I know it's June. But since we celebrated the Sutton Christmas in March, I figure I'm just about on time with this post. Don't ask why we celebrated in March. At this point I have no idea. I think it had something to do with snow and sickness. We doubled up and celebrated Grandmother Jean's birthday on Saturday, followed by the Sutton Christmas on Sunday. Spending the night at Grandmother Jean's was a first (and last. shhhh. don't judge. you haven't tried it.) - and the highlight was definitely the girls' sleeping positions on the pull-out couch. Check it:

From ChristmasInGoldsboro

From ChristmasInGoldsboro

Sunday was the Sutton Christmas Extravaganza! Woo hoo! OK, I have no pictures except these that I took in the field on the way out. Do you see the beloved Christmas gift?

From ChristmasInGoldsboro

From ChristmasInGoldsboro

Did I really say that?

Oh, John Piper. Why do I love the way you put me in my place so?

One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time." - John Piper

Below? Proof that I have no excuse.

But also? A pretty fun trip down Facebook's Memory Lane.

Plus a few more of my favorites that wouldn't fit on the fancy page. (oh, and you can click on the image to see it bigger. which kind of makes me laugh. because i'm fairly certain that you could care less.)

From New Album 4/2/11 2:29 PM

Blake to Kate - "you really need to go to bed so you'll have energy for camping tomorrow."

Kate - "don't worry dad. I'll take my chances."

just rushed home to whip up some spaghetti casserole. unfortunately, also just discovered that you don't really "whip up" anything related to paula deen.

kate - "i had no idea having a sister would be so much WORK!"

me either, kate!

is glad they pay her to work out, but a little annoyed that she still has to show up even when she's so over it.

this new iMac is worth every stinkin' penny. ramen noodles may become the new standard at the Shotwell house - but we've got one sweet computer.

kate picks up my cell phone today, opens it up and very matter-of-factly asks . . . "mom, what's god's phone number?" oh - don't i wish i knew the answer to that one!

kate - "anneliese hit me and I'm NEVER playing with her EVER AGAIN!!"

wait for it . . . 3 . . 2 . . 1 . . - "OK Anneliese - it's your turn to be the puppy dog"

ahhh, the smell of beer at church on sunday morning. i do love 1.21 church (despite the smell of beer)

just went throught the drive-thru 4 times and sat in line at Festival of Lights for an hour before bailing and saw not one light. Merry Christmas y'all!

is so sick of those stinkin' Christmas shoes. and it's just the first of december. just buy the kid some shoes already!

Snow Days

Lots of school snow days =

chocolate chip cookies, a clean inbox, 4 redboxes, chocolate & peanut butter pretzels (with sprinkles!), 2lbs., christmas boxes finally put in attic, jumping on furniture, 3 board games, 1 wedding logo, 1 desperate scream, catch-up bible reading and loads of girl time. love.

New Year's Eve

Eleven years later. (I think it's 11. Somebody comment if I'm wrong. Or just to prove that you read this thing.)

The Christmas that Blake and I got engaged, we had some friends over to my house for New Year's Eve. Little did we know that ELEVEN years later, we'd still be doin' it. With the same people. And their kids. And sometimes their dogs.

And every year it's been great.