July was a busy but relaxing month. Shortly after taking Madison to GSP, McKenzie, McKayla and I visited the Yates' in Alabama. We all had a great time doing lots of nothing...just swimming, floating, laughing, reading and making memories. I tried to preserve some for us with a short photo session which included this photo...
I really like it. And, if you go back through my old blog posts you will notice how much everyone has grown up.
Speaking of photos....I am also still working on my photography hobby. Recently I took some staged photos of a bride and some senior portraits.
I really love it and I am so very excited and flattered that my sister has asked me to photograph her family this fall!!! (in Boston...even more exciting!)
We took some time to stop and taste the ripe raspberries on the farm. It was a great time spent with Nana and Papa doing something I remember doing as a child.
For more photos of this you can check out facebook(because the upload is a lot faster there)...the whole berry picking outing was great fun until me and my trusty camera were staring right into the eyes of a black snake warming in the sun!
Our niece, Tori, and husband, Shane, were blessed to deliver Taelor Shealynn. She's a beautiful baby...as you can see.
Congratulations to Tori and to all of us too! While it was fun to visit and hold baby Taelor, it was just as much fun to observe 1st time grandmother--Vicki! I wouldn't doubt she hasn't photographed every minute and I am sure she knows the way to Cookeville blindfolded!!
Madison graduated from the Governor's Scholar Program on July 25. Since we had to travel to Louisville to bring her home, Randy and I went up a few days early to hang out and do some things the girls are never excited to do. Below, we visited Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum....very impressive.
We also went to a Louisville Bats game,
went to the Falls of the Ohio State Park, saw a movie, ate well and did lots of sightseeing before attending Madison's GSP closing ceremony, packing her up and coming home.
The welcome home crew.
And then....on July 29, 2009 McKenzie and McKayla turned 11. They got cell phones which they think they needed, I don't.
We celebrated with one big cake...two different icings and different colors. That's what you get when you have a twin sister and a former babysitter who bakes wonderful cakes, understands your differences even as twins and caters to your wims. Thank you, Mrs. Pat..it was perfect!!
After a sleepover--still trying to figure that word out since no-one sleeps at these events--we all went skating and laser-tagging for the day.
Now, we are just two days away from the beginning of school and McKenzie and McKayla are both sick. Hopefully the antibiotic prescribed today will clear things up quickly. Madison continues to spread her wings as she drove herself to Richmond today (interstate driving) and made it fine although I worried. Just pray for our healing, our safety and our sanity! We are truly blessed and one of our best blessings are the dear people that read this post....true friends and family! We love you.
Kim
I really like it. And, if you go back through my old blog posts you will notice how much everyone has grown up.
Speaking of photos....I am also still working on my photography hobby. Recently I took some staged photos of a bride and some senior portraits. 
I really love it and I am so very excited and flattered that my sister has asked me to photograph her family this fall!!! (in Boston...even more exciting!)
We took some time to stop and taste the ripe raspberries on the farm. It was a great time spent with Nana and Papa doing something I remember doing as a child. 
For more photos of this you can check out facebook(because the upload is a lot faster there)...the whole berry picking outing was great fun until me and my trusty camera were staring right into the eyes of a black snake warming in the sun!
Our niece, Tori, and husband, Shane, were blessed to deliver Taelor Shealynn. She's a beautiful baby...as you can see. 
Congratulations to Tori and to all of us too! While it was fun to visit and hold baby Taelor, it was just as much fun to observe 1st time grandmother--Vicki! I wouldn't doubt she hasn't photographed every minute and I am sure she knows the way to Cookeville blindfolded!!
Madison graduated from the Governor's Scholar Program on July 25. Since we had to travel to Louisville to bring her home, Randy and I went up a few days early to hang out and do some things the girls are never excited to do. Below, we visited Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum....very impressive.
We also went to a Louisville Bats game, 
went to the Falls of the Ohio State Park, saw a movie, ate well and did lots of sightseeing before attending Madison's GSP closing ceremony, packing her up and coming home.
The welcome home crew.
And then....on July 29, 2009 McKenzie and McKayla turned 11. They got cell phones which they think they needed, I don't.
We celebrated with one big cake...two different icings and different colors. That's what you get when you have a twin sister and a former babysitter who bakes wonderful cakes, understands your differences even as twins and caters to your wims. Thank you, Mrs. Pat..it was perfect!!
After a sleepover--still trying to figure that word out since no-one sleeps at these events--we all went skating and laser-tagging for the day.
Now, we are just two days away from the beginning of school and McKenzie and McKayla are both sick. Hopefully the antibiotic prescribed today will clear things up quickly. Madison continues to spread her wings as she drove herself to Richmond today (interstate driving) and made it fine although I worried. Just pray for our healing, our safety and our sanity! We are truly blessed and one of our best blessings are the dear people that read this post....true friends and family! We love you.
Kim
