A new school year, really.

Jacqulin is 11 years old and this is the first day of 6th grade. Luke is 14 years old and this is the first day of 8th grade.


Notice the collared shirts. The school board implemented a dress code that requires shirts with collars this year.


Every year I take a picture of the kids in front of the front door on the first day of school. It's amazing to me how fast they are growing. This is just a comparison from last year. They are starting to look like teenagers - oh yeah, they are.


These are pictures from 2008 on the first day of school. They were both starting new schools and they look really excited.

Thank you God for the beach! And for Luke!

The older Luke gets the more I talk about how hot it was the day he was born. August 2nd is a tough time to be pregnant. The doctor's office didn't believe I was in labor so they told me I had to come to their office, when they realized I was really about to have a baby they pointed to the hospital and told me and Bert to walk across the parking lot to the hospital. It was 98 degrees! and I was having contractions every 45 seconds. They sent a receptionist with us (not with a wheel chair though) and she kept saying in a voice that sounded like she was going to cry "please don't have the baby in the parking lot, I just answer the phone." It was truly a scene out of 'Gone with the Wind.' The positive of the story is that he was born 2 hours later. I never tell him it was that fast. It's really hard to believe he's 14 now! Whew!






This is our favorite pizza place in the world - not just at the beach, but the whole world. It's Roberto's in San Destin. They have a seafood pizza that will set you free! We plan the whole trip around when we can get to Roberto's.



I just think God was teaching us a lot of lessons when He made the beach. It is so vast it really puts you in your place. It is so loud it makes you listen. It's so unpredictable it makes you realize you really aren't in control. It's so magnificent it makes you know that there really is a God who created it all.





We were able to celebrate Luke's birthday at the beach for the 4th year in a row (I think). Of course, it's the close to summer as school starts earlier and earlier every year.
This year the water was so clear you could walk 100 yards out in the water and still see your feet. No jelly fish, no sea weed just beautiful clear blue water.

Luke's Birthday is coming - let's have cake!

If you've read our blog at all over the past couple of years you know that we can drag a birthday celebration out for a while.
Luke did some 'mission' type projects with the church middle school last week. They were having pizza on Friday so I picked up a cake and we sang "Happy Birthday!" The funniest thing was apparently all week they would eat lunch or have quiet time in the elevator. So, it was appropriate to eat birthday cake while riding the elevator too.

Congratulations Dad and Bobbie

This weekend, July 25, 2009 Bert's 83 year old dad got married. It was a beautiful service and everyone had a lovely time. It's been a lot of fun telling other people that even at 83 you can find love and start a new life together.


Luke looked sharp in his black suit and size 11 dress shoes. Aunt Beverly was the first lady he got to escort.

Happy 4th of July, 2009!

Groovebox, the band Bert is in, played at a marina to celebrate Independence Day. I'm always amazed how Bert's hobbies afford us unusual experiences. The owner of the marina graciously allowed us the use of his enormous house boat; I guess it was 36 - 40 feet long.
Then, the day was made more perfect because our friends Elaina Brintnall and her family came by and picked me and the kids up in their boat. They took the kids tubing and showed us a great time.
We love America. We got to see great fireworks, some man made some God made. The lightening was spectacular.

Major League Luke

The day started out with a tour of the dugout (which for some reason is a big deal) and warm ups on this gorgeous field.






Luke had the opportunity to play with his school team at Greer stadium, which is the home stadium for The Nashville Sounds.




Papa and Daddy took their seats close to home plate so they wouldn't miss any of the action. We were so glad that Papa could be there to share in this great day.


"Luke Sumner will be taking charge of third base today." Wooo! Go Luke!




He looks like he belongs out there. Nothings going to get by him!


I got to be in the 'press box' for Luke's first at bat. What a great view and a great hit!





I don't care what anybody says, catchers are the hardest working guys in baseball. Not only do they have to squat for 2 hours they have to catch every wild pitch thrown their direction and throw back as many balls as were thrown at them, all with extremely hot gear on. Then you also get to warm up the pitchers in the bull pen. Luke did a little of everything that day.

Violin and family birthday celebration 2009

On the way to the recital we passed this gigantic turtle. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to take his picture. He even had spikes on his tale. Maybe he's part dinosaur.





Jacqulin played beautifully at the violin recital. After playing her solo piece she joined the entire class playing various pieces. She even led a couple of songs.




Our family is so supportive. The Sumners, Smiths, Darlings, Hoods and Dunlaps all came to the recital then, we went to Ellington Agricultural Center to the Iris Garden Gazebo to have a little cake and celebrate Jacqulin turning 11. It means so much to us that everyone would take time out of their busy lives to spend a couple hours with us. Thank you.

Two pretty girls in the flower garden. The flowers are pretty too.

Bert and Luke visiting with Uncle Billy.


We loved that Aunt Sonya and Uncle Billy drove up from Huntsville to spend the weekend with us. They planned on seeing a couple of Luke's ball games. However, it rained non-stop on Saturday. The weather was beautiful for Sunday though.