Summer 2017

I had started a good thing. I was wanting to post at least 3 times a week. lol Then I lost my computer charger!!! I had to wait until I could order a new one, and what do you know, the very first day I had the new one, I found the old one!

I really would like to post about a few things that have happened this summer. We really have had a lot of fun. So I guess that I will try to catch us up here and try to move forward with my weekly plan, and hopefully, nothing else will get lost!!

The little stinker loved his
 gifts

JUNE 9TH > James turns 3!

I checked out a dinosaur cake
pan from our local library
and made his cake this year!

We had a little family get together for his special day. I had been to the library a few days before with Layla and I found a cake pan in the shape of a dinosaur.
It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. It was a Wilton cake pan and the instructions were included. It also came with a recipe for buttercream frosting which is now my go-to frosting recipe. 😃  Jonathan helped me with piping, something we both had never done before. The instructions came with precise details on how to do all the eyes, teeth and shadowing. It ended up being a lot of fun.
Mee-maw, Pawpaw, Uncle Matt, Aunt Dianne, Riley, and Dianne's sister came to help us celebrate. He received an awesome "Lightning McQueen" car that he could build and rebuild easily. He loves it and even still plays with it! He also received a school bus toy from the new Cars 3 movie. As you may have guessed, buses are a pretty popular gift around the Mathis Bunch. 😆
We almost always cook the birthday person's favorite dinner on "their" night. We had asked James several times about what he would like. He always mentioned hot dogs, so we ended up grilling hot dogs and burgers.
After dinner, cake, and gifts, Meemaw convinced Pawpaw to take the kids home for the night. They were all excited about being able to spend the night, and Jonathan and I were happy for a night off. It ended up being a pretty nice day.



JULY 11-13 > VBS at Faith Baptist Church

 The kids had a wonderful time at VBS this year. But then again, they always do. This year Jonathan and I helped with James' group. My anxiety was extremely high, and I was grateful that my husband stuck around and helped me stay social. And whenever I just couldn't, he stepped in for me. I love him so.
The theme at VBS this year was Galatic Starveyors, which I adored. They learned songs that we still sing around the house such as "God is over the Moon" and "Sin Messed Everything Up". The crafts didn't last very long, lol, but there were some very cute masterpieces made that week.


JUNE 16 > Selmer Splash Pad

The Selmer Splash Pad is a small, but fun location to go cool off. Its kind of hidden away, but it is near the Prime Care location there in Selmer. It is free fun, which is what we are all about.

It was overcast on the day that we went, and actually started raining towards the end. It is timed, which I could appreciate. It would shut down if they stayed away from a certain area too long. It also cut the water off if the children tried to shoot outside the water area. So no squirting the parents! Genius!! lol


JUNE 19 > Campfire & Marshmallows

 This night we went and bought these "humongous" campfire marshmallows. That sounded like a really cool idea at first. I could just see us feasting on the roasted fluff and having the time of our lives. The only this was that they were really too big. No one could finish more than 2 before we were tired of the mallow! lol Then the kids started sticking it everywhere. James and Savannah both to have baths as soon as we were done. The dogs had the fluff in their fur, it was on our clothes, on the bench, just everywhere! But it was a lot of fun, and a beautiful night!


JUNE 28 & 29 > Our first adventures at Mousetail Landing State Park

I worked really hard for a good picture. I promise!!

 If you are local and have never made the trek to Mousetail Landing State Park, the Mathis Bunch highly recommends it! Jonathan has been wanting to see waterfalls all summer long. The only problem is that they are all at least 3 hours away. We have to end up camping wherever we went, and that takes more preparation than we sometimes have time for. But we have a trip planned for the end of August, and we are looking forward to that.

My ever lasting beauty

In the meantime, we are checking out all the local places, within 2 hours or less from home. Mousetail is a hidden gem. The first time we just drove around looking at the property. We ended up grilling near their pavilion and watching the deer. The kids played on one of the playgrounds by the swimming area and we just "chilled" for the rest of the evening.

Mom, why are you taking my picture?

The next day we prepped for a day long trip out there. We took Jake and Cha Cha with us. We went creek stomping, swimming in the Tennessee River at their beach, had lunch, and played on the other playground. The kids and dogs had such a great time. They still ask to go back, and we plan on it, soon.

She's got that magic sparkle

JUNE 30 > Layla turns 11

It was a busy day on her birthday. We had tons of things to do. Se couldn't decide on what exactly she wanted for dinner, or for her cake. Eventually, she settled on chocolate cake with caramel frosting, ribs, corn on the cob and homemade mac n cheese. She got tons of money from family so we took her shopping. Our gift to her was getting her ears pierced. When did they get so expensive? Over $70 at Claire's. I was shocked!
She didn't have any company over because they all ended up sick at the same time. But she still had a good time. She will be baptized soon, and I am so very proud of the little woman she is becoming.





 So now we are pretty much caught up. Two other things are that I started my custodian position with the school board and my first discovery hearing was on the 13th. I'm so grateful for my new full-time position, which equals more pay and benefits, but also the opportunity to serve and do something other than sit around and worry. The hearing was nothing much, we just asked for another date to hear more evidence. The DA is having a hard time proving that the accident was intentional, which it wasn't, of course. And my attorney seems confident that I will not face jail time because of that. God is protecting his child, I know that for sure.