Charleston Trip 2012

This summer we have been able to travel to Charleston with Walter twice. We love going with him and are so thankful that we can.
The first time we went we spent time with our friends The Walkers and went to the beach. The adults also had a night out while the kids had a sleep over. That was a huge treat. We also met up with a sweet friend and her children. Mary and I were great friends when we loved in Charleston and our children were so close in age and played all the time (even though they don't remember).

The next time we went, we did things a little differently. The first two nights we stayed downtown at The Vendue Inn and it was glorious. The kids loved it. We accidentally found secret notes that other guest had left in the bed post. The kids thought that was really neat and so we left out own little notes in the bed post before we checked out. 

 We were right at waterfront park and could walk anywhere we wanted to go. I was able to get a run in down the battery and it was beautiful.

We played in the fountains, walked around the market, ate ice cream almost every night and ate fantastic meals downtown.

The next 2 nights we stayed at our usual Hampton Inn on IOP. The kids loved it because they could go right downstairs and get breakfast and then jump in the pool. We spent the day at the beach and then caught a Riverdogs baseball game before heading home.

These were the 2 best trips to Charleston that we have had in a long time. For the first time since we left, we were able to enjoy the city and beach without being completely homesick!

Precious quote from Walter

"Did you know I can talk to God and it works!" Per Walter...the wise 6 year old. He is figuring it out!!!

Walt Disney World 2012

We love Disney! It is always the best trip ever. The last 2 times we have gone, it has been after Kindergarten Graduation, both with AE and now with Walter. We left a day or so after school was out and were gone over Memorial Day Weekend. We love this time of year because it isn't to hot yet or crowded.
We were able to do all of the parks and even ran into our old friend The Phillips from TN.
It was a special trip celebrating Walter and his graduation. Wonder where they will drag us to for High School graduation??






























My favorite picture of the whole trip. This was the first and the LAST time that I will ever ride Splash Mountain. Everyone in the boat looks like they are going to die. I was scared to death. AE, not so much. She rode it more than once. Walter and I....DONE!

Kindergarten Graduation

How is my sweet baby graduating from Kindergarten? He is growing up and changing into such a boy and not so much a baby anymore. Wow!
Carmel Christian School has the sweetest Kindergarten graduation for the kids. All the classes get up on stage and sing songs and some even have little parts they say...like Walter (of course then he gave the fist pump up on stage). So precious. Each class also recites a bible verse that they have learned, one of many that they learn. We are so blessed to have out kids at such a great school. I just can't believe that my baby will be in first grade.
Happy Kindergarten Graduation sweet Walter! We are so proud of you and everything that you have learned this year and how much your heart for God has grown.

2nd grade Manners Lunch!

Manners Luncheon is always a fun day in 2nd Grade that the kids are really excited about. They get to dress up and eat a "fancy" lunch (spaghetti), all while learning about manners and how to eat.
The boys of course laugh and act like boys, but the girls love it.
Ann Elizabeth loved it. She wanted to wear her fancy dress to school. She looked beautiful!

Prayer time in Chapel!

Each Thursday the students at CCS have chapel and one class is chosen each week to participate in doing all the pledges and the prayer. Mrs. Beerbower's class was asked to participate in chapel last week and Walter was to do the prayer. I tried to talk to him about what he was going to say and to help him practice, but he didn't want me to help and he kept saying that he had it all in his head. He was precious! He was the last to go and he walked right up to the microphone and said his prayer. It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard. This coming from the child who up until a few months ago didn't want to even say his prayers at night. Then he surprised us at the end of basketball season and wanted to pray in front of everyone at the start of the game. Of course I cried...and now this. I love his sweet little heart and it is so awesome to see how it has been changed in the last few months!!

Our sweet boy is 6 today!

Where has the time gone? 6yrs??? It is totally blowing my mind. I feel like it was yesterday about this time (8:27am) I was in the hospital waiting for our new bundle to make his (even though we didn't know if it was a boy) arrival. Now, he is in Kindergarten and running off with his friends in the morning before school so he can talk to them about his birthday party this afternoon.
Our little Bubba Bear is growing up. He is excelling in school and his personality is really coming out. He is so sweet, kind and caring and will give you whatever you need so that you are happy too and not upset. He loves with all his heart and is so tender. I hope that never changes. He loves God and is so great at memorizing bible verses for school. He also has the memory of an elephant. He never forgets anything, and some things that he remembers I don't!
He lights up the room and makes us laugh all the time. I have to say I think that he is a favorite in his class too because he is so sweet.
The Lord has really blessed us with 2 amazing children and he is really showing his work on their hearts.
6 years ago my sweet Walter Edward Nichols, Jr. came into our life radiating joy and love and he hasn't stopped yet!

Abigail Adams for the day!

Ann Elizabeth had to do a project in 2nd grade on a President or First Lady. They were to research the person they choose and then all dress up like he/she for Presidents Day. Ann Elizabeth choose Abigail Adams. Thanks to a wonderful friend we were able to borrow this amazing outfit. Ann Elizabeth researched Abigail Adams and wrote out a speech and did so good. She received high scores for her report. We were so proud of her.