Lake Time!

After Jeremy returned from camp, he drove up to Nashville to see us and hang out with my family!  We had a blast!  We loaded up and spend the week at a lake house...some sweet friends of my parents loaned it to us and we loved every minute of it!  Resting, relaxing and soaking up good family time!

Bella LOVED the pool!

Chillin' in the water =)

Jackson loved napping poolside...

Will you take a look at the growing baby pot-belly!  Hehe!

There were deer everywhere...and they usually didn't run from us...it was the coolest thing!

We loved our nature walks...we saw deer...horses...wild turkeys...ducks...

One evening, we ventured down to the marina and fed the ducks!  Sadie and Bella thought this was the greatest thing EVER!

Sweet Jackson with Aunt Linny as layed back as ever!

A little wink from  my little guy =)

These silly girls make for quite an eventful and busy week!

Precious...check out those swim trunks...consignment sale special!

Family pool pic! (Jackson's first dip in the pool!)

The two guys watching Olympics...check out that cute smile on Jackson's little face!

Snuggles

We love auntie!

Swinging away...

I love my sweet Sadie Bug =)

What "Boyd" vacation would be complete without some sort of athletic event!???  We were up and at em at 5:30 with these babies!!!

The "athletes" of the day!  Linz represented us sisters well!

Bella even competed her her first race!  Ages 5 & under...she held her own pretty well!!  Made us all proud!!!

Quick after race photo with her "trainers"...

Fun day cheering for Daddy, Pappa, John, Matt and Linz!  

We headed home to Pensacola after the big race...we made a quick stop by Samford so Jer could drop off camp keys (how cool that Student Life was at Samford this year...too bad I couldn't make it!)  The babies and I hung out with good old Mr. Beeson while we waited on Daddy. =)

Happy 8th Anniversary! =)

Where has the time gone!  EIGHT years!  Well, let me tell you...7 years of youth camps, fall retreats, pool parties, ski trips, d-now's, sleep overs, Bible studies...5 years of teaching precious 1st graders...many running races, triathlons and road trips...and a long baby journey which gave us two adorable-sweet babies - Bella and Jackson...

There have been ups and there have been downs...hard days and easy days...sick days and healthy days...days filled with joy for great accomplishments and days filled with sadness from grief and loss...days filled with laughter and days flooded with tears...days we felt strong and days we were weak...but through it all the Lord has been our rock and fortress.  He has used the good days and the bad to strengthen our faith in Him and each other.  I love my Jer more each day and I couldn't imagine doing life without him by my side!  I'm so glad the Lord united us 8 years ago and I look forward to all that's in store for our future!  Happy Anniversary Babe!  Love ya!

Jer was at camp during our Anniversary so I got to have a dinner date with this sweet face!!!  Lots has changed in 8 years. =)

We love our Pappa!

We love our Pappa!  Just thought I would mention a few of the reasons why we are thankful to have our Pappa!  He loves Jesus more than anything in this world!  He teaches us all through His powerful Spirit-filled sermons and He faithfully prayers for each of us.  He encourages us through phone calls, texts, emails and quality time.  He graciously sends "Mimi to the rescue" whenever we need her!  Oh, that Mimi...she is a precious servant!  He takes his grand-babies on special dates to the park...even when it's a hot, humid summer day!  He runs fast in races and makes us proud!  He gives of himself sacrificially to all those around him...especially his family.  Thank you for all you do for us Pappa...We love you!

Puppy Shower...

We enjoyed throwing Brit a "Puppy" shower for baby Houston!

Guests wrote special words of encouragement/advice and put them in the buckets!

We printed cute little baby pictures of Brit and Matt and used them throughout the shower! =)  Houston is bound to have some cute little dimples!

I loved reading through the words of advice...such wise women shared great tips!

The winner of the game won "puppy chow."

The table set and ready for delicious food!

We accented the shower with little puppies...since that is the theme of baby Houston's nursery!

Over the mountains & through the woods to Pappa and Mimi's we went (really just up hwy 65) =)

Jeremy had a week at camp and several youth events in the month of July, so we decided the babies and I would enjoy a trip to Pappa & Mimi's for 2 weeks!  Having extra hands of help was a huge blessing!  We loved our special time with them and it was such a time of rest and relaxation for us all! =)

Here are some of the highlights of our 2.5 weeks in Nashville...

Auntie Brit loved coming home on her lunch break and getting special snuggle time with Jackson!  I think she's loving the excuse that she needs "practice" before Houston gets here!

Our handsome little pilot!

Pappa pulled our old tricycle out of the attic!  All three of us girls learned to ride on it...Bella loved learning to ride her "bicycle."

Mom and I had a special pedicure day together.  We left Bella to nap with Pappa and took Jackson with us.  He was an angel...charmed all the ladies and then dozed off to nap while I soaked up the quiet relaxation time!

Bella and Napoleon bonded!  Bella saw it as her duty to make sure he had food every day.  =)

We love our Pappa...full of cuddles, sweet treats and tickle tortures!!!

Brother is growing way TOO fast!

Bella enjoyed special trips to the park with Pappa!  She loves putting her "running shoes" on all by herself...we just gotta work on getting them on the right feet! =)

All ready to go to "Pappa's Church" as Bella calls it!

Aunt Linny and Cousin Sadie came up for a few days to visit!  Bath time with a friend is always more fun.

Who knew my sisters and I would have the privilege to celebrate a national holiday together..."Ice cream Day" ...

Sweet snuggles with "Aunt Linny" 

Cousin snuggle time...

Love these little rascals!

Jackson practicing his boxing skills!  He loves to kick those feet and punch those fists!

We were able to hang out with 2nd cousins for an afternoon as they were passing through Nashville!  

Hey...a girls gotta work for her place to stay! =)

I guess she got hot on a summer sunny day...

We love our Mimi...she gives fun baths, willingly changes poopy diapers, cooks delicious meals, prays with us, snuggles with us...and takes mommy out for special relaxing days! =)  BEST Mimi in the whole world!

We enjoyed some hot summer walks together up and down the rolling hills of Tennessee.

Love this sweet boy!

My baby girl is growing up...precious little toddler girl she is =)

LOVE her!

My little handsome all ready for church...(the best place for a baby nap)...

My babies...(do you know how challenging it is to get a 25 mo. and 2 mo. old in a picture together!?)

Bella anxiously searches for her Pappa...and as soon as she sees him she does not want to be separated from him.  I think she'd make a good pastoral assistant! 

We loved attending the annual church-wide picnic!  Yummy food, great fellowship and a fun stream to play in!  Pappa was teaching Bella how to skip stones.  She was ecstatic!

Bella, Jackson and I had a slumber party at Brit and Matt's house one night.  We put Bella to bed and Jackson and I helped organize all baby Houston's cute things!  Jackson wanted to try out the froggy hat...Cutest little froggy around! 

The next morning, I took Bella to play on Aunt Brit's neighborhood playground!  FUN times!

Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics! GO USA!

Ready to cheer for the USA!

Summer Time!

This summer seems like a whirlwind in so many ways!  As you can imagine, life with a newborn and terrific 2 year old can be quite busy!  Along with that, my body had some challenging weeks adjusting to not being pregnant!  LOVELY hormones =) I was so very thankful for our sweet family and friends who brought meals and helped us the past few months! =)  I'm going to do my  best to blog about the highlights of our summer the best I can!  For those of you who have 2 babies...it's always a bit unpredictable how much time you really have to sit and actually do something productive during nap times!   But, we are slowly getting into a good routine...Isabella naps about 2-3 hours every afternoon and Jackson will nurse...nap and nurse again during that time period!  So...here it goes for our summer posts!