CBG: Home Away From Home

We are off to Camp Bratton-Green in just a few short hours. We are packed (ridiculously overpacked) and ready to get to the place we love and that means so much to us. This will be Whit's 5th summer, Caroline's first, my 22nd and who knows for Buddy!! Its hard to explain what Camp means to us. For me, I loved going every summer as a child. I remember taking Sarah before I was old enough to be a camper, but everyone thought I was since I was tall for my age. It broke my heart that people thougtht I was a camper but I couldn't stay! But, eventually I got my chance! I couldn't wait to get there and hated to leave...if i could go to more than one session each summer I would. I kept going back as a teenager, college student and now as an adult and parent. Buddy and I met there, we got engaged there and now we take our family each summer. My sister and I spent a whole summer at CBG. My Dad's ashes are sprinkled in this lake. My spiritual life is renewed after time spent at camp. So, as I sit here waiting for Buddy to load the car with more stuff than 4 people should need, I give thanks for the week ahead and for the opportunity to return every year. The heat will be rough but it will be overshadowed by the love, fun, laughter, silliness, songs, games, friendships, meals, fellowship and light of God that is Camp Bratton-Green!

Whit's class trip to the zoo

apparently looking down the sewer grate and yelling is fun!
rocking with friends

whit, august and selena...these boys LOVE her!

whit and mrs. edie....whit loves his teachers, especially mrs. edie!

happy 4th birthday maggie!

the crew at the park...charlie, parker, whit, maggie, kamp, lacy and emily

my precious loves

my two boys at cherokee

Here are some random photos of what we've been up to these last few months...busy but having fun!!

caroline trying sweet potatoes!

Whit got his face painted

Two of the sweetest girls we know...harper and sadie gray...my how whit is hugging on sadie!! he is a ladies man. and harper just loves holding baby caroline, such a little mama

brother and sister play time...he's so good with her

rub-a-dub-dub, caroline in the tub

Miracle Times Two

It is truly a miracle what occured today! Sarah and Nate welcomed TWO precious babies into the world, big healthy babies!! How she had both of them in her tummy is pretty amazing, apparently even her doctor said that as she was delivering them!!! It is such a blessing that they are both full size babies and doing great. They were in the room with them all day and I loved getting to hold my niece and nephew. A BIG thanks to Buddy for taking care of our kiddos so I could spend this special day with my sister and brother-in-law.

Congrats, Sarah and Nate, on your two beautiful, precious gifts from God! We love those babies so much!

Eleanor & Griffin are Here!

Caroline meeting her precious new cousins! She loves them already!
Griffin Lee Ballard: 6 lbs 11 ozs, 19 1/2 inches, born at 9:07 am

Eleanor Miner Ballard: 5 lbs 14 ozs, 19 inches, born at 9:06 am

Whit meeting Eleanor. He was so excited to go see them!

Whit meeting Griffin.

Spring Time Fun

I don't know why these pictures wouldn't upload the right way, but I thought they were cute, so just turn your head to see!

Caroline and Ella Kate playing on a blanket. We enjoyed a picnic with the Schneiders at Laurel Park a few weeks ago.
Cute bunny bath towel perfect for Easter time!

Trying cereal for the first time...she didn't know what to do with it of course!

Whit and Parker at Kehle's Minnie Mouse birthday party...he was very into the Mouse ears despite them having a pink polka dot bow!!

Trying out the Laurel park swing...I have a shot of Whit just like this one.

Caroline talking to Seahorse

My Niece and Nephew Will Be Arriving Soon!

So, I'm getting super excited that I'm becoming an Aunt again! I've been an Aunt since I married Buddy...he has 10 nieces and nephews!!! But its very exciting for my own sister to become a mom and to share this with her. We were pregnant together for a few months, although at very different stages and I honestly can't compare my pregnancy with hers b/c she's having twins! She looks amazing to be almost 34 weeks pregnant and she's so tough...tomorrow is her last day at work until next school year. I can't believe she's hung in there this long! Baby Eleanor (or Ellie-nor as Whit calls her) and baby Griffin will definately be making their appearance before Easter. Keep checking back for updates on their arrival!

Random Pics

Parker, Sara, Maggie and Whit at the Zoo one pretty afternoon Jason Woodcock and I cooking pancakes for St. Alexis Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Out to dinner with Karen, Regina and Rod...Regina and Rod were in town for Rod's work, but it also happened to be their wedding anniversary so we all went out to celebrate!

Caroline trying cereal for the first time! It was messy but she seemed to like!

St. Paddy's Day Parade

This picture was taken in the 20 minutes Whit had an interest in the parade...he even told me today that next year when church is a parade, he doesn't want to go b/c he didn't catch enough! (for those who don't know, our church is on the parade route, so we make that our homebase for the day of the parade so that's how he thinks of it!) Claire White, Grant Duncan, Whit, August Duncan and Nat Duncan....heading to the kids area of the parade.

Mr. Ray Boone! I always look for him at the start of the parade and try to get a flower!

Sarah, in all her 30-something weeks pregnant with TWINS, braved the heat and sat on the parade route...you just can't miss Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade, even if you are preggo with 2 babies! (we did have umbrellas to help block the sun!)

Whit & Caroline

OXFORD TRIP!

Whit, Caroline and I took a one night trip to Oxford over Spring Break. We wanted to go visit the Gray's and just hang out! It was a fun trip to see our friends who we love and miss so much. I'm so glad they have room for us and let us come play! And Duncan was so great to make us some yummy strawberry margaritas to have that night...he offered to stay home with the kids and let us go out, but as we were worn out and didn't feel like getting all dressed up, we just stayed in! So, here are our pictures from our trip...in complete backwards order! Lunch before we headed home...a yummy Greek restaurant that has a great deck to sit on. How cute is Sadie in her pigtails???? The Gray family + Whit

Whit & Sadie "napping"

me and Amber (and an upset Harper) the kiddos

Climbing in the huge tree in the Gray's front yard...I so wish we had a tree like this! out of order, but oh well! fun pajamas pics with the kids!

more tree climbing!

the only picture we could get with all four of them in the shot!

Whit, Harper and Caroline

Fun at Avent Park! We met up with Christin, Layton, Bess, Margaret Dillon and Thomas for some fun at Oxford's awesome park.

Bess, Whit and Layton

Christin and Caroline

Dance practice on the Square

Making phone calls in the phone booth Caroline enjoyed a stroll around the Square as well!

yummy yummy frozen yogurt

Whit & Harper were partners in "Dancing on the Square"

pre-Square photo shoot