Fabulous Fourth

July 4th week-end was fabulous. We went to Florida to visit with family and to celebrate my papa's, R.A. Jackson, 80th birthday. His birthday is on July 1st. Clara also shares this birthday and we celebrated it as well. She turned 2.

On Thursday evening we went to Uncle Lindsey and Aunt Heather's house to celebrate Papa's birthday. We ate, played, enjoyed some music, the pool, and so much more. It was a wonderful evening with family. Please view the pictures below.

Above is pictured, from top left: Graham Jackson, Davis Jackson, and Ellen Knight.
From bottom left: Harrison Jackson, Clara Knight, and Clay Hart.

Mildred Jackson with her eldest granddaughter. (me)

The Birthday Boy! Eighty years young!

Clay loves to swing.

The Jackson boys have an excellent fort.

David Knight, the grill master.

Three handsome young men. Davis, Harrison, and Clay.

Another view of the fort.

Eating isn't always pretty, but the peanuts sure tasted good.

Grands and Greats.

Family pictures begin below.

The Lindsey Jackson family with his parents.

The eldest grandson (Garett Knight) with his grandparents.

The eldest daughter, Rita Knight, and her parents.

The eldest granddaughter with her family and her grandparents.

R.A. and Mildred Jackson with children Rita and Lindsey. (not pictured, Kevin)

Two copies of the ugliest picture on the camera. (don't know how that happened) Again, eating isn't always pretty. But those burgers sure were yummy.

These two are up to some mischief. And, they always want to go outside.

I have not played in over 15 years. It didn't sound as terrible as it could have.

"Camptown Races, Cripple Creek," and I got an applause

from Papa for "Just A Little Talk with Jesus."

Everyone had a part in the musical portion of the evening. Clay was
the featured singer.

Clay was "mooing" at the cows.

Clay wasn't crazy about the life preserver bathing suit.

And that is all the pictures from Thursday evening. Below are pictures from Clara's birthday party which was on Friday evening. Theme: Minnie Mouse.

The plan was to play under sprinklers but the weather did not cooperate. After the rain had stopped there was no time for sprinklers, but there was still time for some puddle time.

Clara wearing her Minnie Mouse pillowcase dress that her mommy made for her.

Clay sat down in the puddle with his clothes on, so we took them off and let him have a good time running around in his diaper. He had the most fun, I think, out of any of the kids there. Well, with the exception of Clara of course.

Clara went with us after the party to Grandmother's. Clara and Clay needed a bath.

Clay was worn completely out after a fun and busy week-end playing with his cousins. This is a picture of him napping in the car on the way home.

At church on Sunday we had our morning service followed by a meal and some outdoor activities for the kids. Clay was still tired from the Florida trip, which I guess is why he was resting on the floor in the picture below.

Below is a picture of Camden Carter enjoying the kids pool.

This is a picture of me and Sandi Nelms, wearing our red and blue.

We enjoyed a week-end with friends and family. What better way is there to spend the the fourth of July? After our Sunday fun we headed out to Nana and Pa's house for even more fun filled adventures. Clay had a great time and I think everyone else did as well.

Play Date, June 29

Emma Kate Hardy is, nearly to the hour, 10 weeks younger than Clay. Even though she has tea parties, likes to rock her baby doll, and wears pink, she is still Clay's best friend.

We went over to Emma's house so she and Clay could have some fun time together. Here are some pictures from our wonderful morning.

Summer Fun: Black berry pickin', fresh strawberries, and lots of good deals.

There have been several days during the past week that we have been able to go black berry picking. It is a lot of fun except for the heat. It isn't as bad if we go in the evening before Clay's bedtime. Brad and I do the picking and Clay does the eating. He loves blackberries. He also now loves strawberries. For his afternoon snack today he had goldfish, strawberries, blackberries, and some banana. (the picture has nothing to do with this post other than I don't have a new one to put up and I can't not put a picture of him up. If you missed the blog about this picture, click into the last post to get the full story.)

I have also been trying my hand at coupon shopping. Not this wal-mart coupon shopping, but some serious couponin'. Like a lot of couponers, they post pictures of their good deal purchases so other people can salivate in jealousy that they weren't smart enough to do the same. So, my scenario is below. (all totals include tax)

I got the box of Huggies diapers last week at CVS. I paid $5.61 out of pocket for a box of 56 size 5 diapers. Clay isn't in this size yet, but I am stocked up on size 4's so I am looking ahead. I got back $10 extra care bucks (ECBs) when I bought these. (not a Huggies fan, but for the price, he can wear those diapers)

Then, before church this evening, I went back to CVS for this week's deals where I bought a bottle of lotion, two boxes of ziploc freezer bags, two boxes of brownies, and two bottles of Windex multi-surface cleaner. I paid $7.21. I got back $5.00 in ECBs.

Then, I cruzed over to Bi-Lo because they had their Stonyfiled Organic Soy yougurt on sale for $1.69. (It is $3 something at wal-mart) I then bought the Emerald Smoked Almonds because they were buy one get one. I only bought one because I only had one $1.00 off coupon. That total was $3.72.

My grand total for these three purchases, $16.54. And, I still have $15.00 ECB's to use next time I go to CVS. But, I'll save those for another Extra Care deal. (the diapers alone are over a $20 value)

Papa, aren't you proud? :)

Into Nearly Everthing

On Saturday, 6-18-20, I was working in the kitchen. Clay, who loves to play in the pantry, found his old box of rice cereal. He dumped it on the floor and played in it like he was in a sandbox. I snapped a quick photo before I cleaned up his little mess.

These are just a couple of pool photos.

Here is Clay holding a postcard he received from his Grandaddy and Meme. They are vacationing in Alaska. He enjoyed reading the card but when I took this photo he was more interested in the camera instead of his card.

These are photos of the onion mess we are living with currently across the road. The smell and flies are terrible. I called EPD and they are going to investigate. This field looked much worse before they harrowed up the onions. It has been like this for a month or longer.