Our Trip to the Mountains....October 2007

We enjoyed a trip to the Mountains this month! And oh yeah...the ride was in our new Mini-Van!! Yes, it's official...I'm a Mini-Van Mom...something until recently I swore I would never be. However, it only makes sense with two more on the way and the fact that I can push a button to open the doors is really cool. That will make loading two babies and a pre-schooler much easier. We bought a Nissan Quest and I'm loving it! I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I have and I'm soooo loving all of the loaded features. Thanks...Clay! Evan especially loves the DVD player (which he's only allowed to watch on long trips...I know...mean Mom) I'll try to snap a picture and upload it soon.

It was a very special trip and Evan had so much fun! While we were waiting for Evan we went to Cherry Log and stayed in a beautiful cabin, high up on the mountain. It was very special because that was our last trip together as just husband and wife. That's what makes this trip so special too, because we stayed in the same cabin and this was our last trip together as the Hodges Family...of 3! Being there brought back so many memories of what it was like to be waiting for Evan and how hard it was. I can't believe that God is now blessing up again. Evan keeps saying that he wants to go back...we think that he might have enjoyed it more than the beach even! We went on a nature walks and went apple picking.

Before we left Evan and Mommy made a Nature Bucket together. Evan had so much fun walking around the cabin, collecting acorns, rocks, and pretty leaves.

On Saturday, we went to the Apple Festival in Elijay. Which turned out to be terrible for Mommy and Daddy. We were thinking it would be something like the Cherry Blossom Festival...which it was...but they were expecting over 30,000 (not a type-o) people that weekend. We stood in line for over 30 minutes (which isn't easy anymore) to take a shuttle bus to the festival...with traffic the ride lasted about 25 minutes. We got there had to stand in line again, just to get in and it cost us $10 to get in!!!! It was supposed to be cold and ended up being HOT so we were all over dressed...we soon decided to leave and they announced that the shuttle was broken down...so we stood in line for close to an hour waiting for that! Clay and I laughed at what a terrible day we had, but that night when Evan was saying his prayers, he thanked God for such a good day. He said, "Dear God, Thank you so much for letting me ride that bus, it was SOOOO much fun, God!! I loved it..." It was so sweet and was so worth the money that we said we wasted.!

Evan on our Nature Hike with his Nature Bucket that we made. He said that his favorite thing was throwing big rocks in the lake with his Daddy. Mommy couldn't keep up that long, so it became a boys only hike.

The picture is a bit dark, but this is us at the apple orchard.

Daddy and Evan under the apple tree.

Evan has picked up that fake "cheeeeeese" grin again.

Evan and Mommy.

I love this picture....Evan was up on the ladder reaching down to give his Daddy the apples that he was picking.

Thomas the Train

The Hodges...family of 3 drove to TN to ride Thomas the Train. We all had so much fun!

Beach Pictures HHI

Walking out onto the beach...Hilton Head Island

Last year, he was a little taller than the rail...just look at him now.

This is one of my favorites...what a beautiful smile!

Looking for shells...

Evan wasn't too excited about wearing his overalls but they made for some

really cute pictures on the beach. Wesley was fishing with his friends so we didn't

get pictures of our boys together. :-( July 2007.

Beach Pictures...SSI

Here are some pictures that I took while we were in St. Simmons...June 2007

MY SUPER HEROS

I asked Evan who my hero was and he replied, "Jesus, is our hero"!!

What a sweet and true statement!!

I must say, I have the best husband that anyone could ever ask for. Clay is so great! He works so hard to take care of our family. He is my best friend and knows me so well. Everyday I am reminded how blessed I am to have him as my soul mate and I am so thankful to God for him. And, he's the best father too!

We found the perfect spot for pictures...a HUGE old tree in front of the ocean near the pier.

Our Family...This was the day that we found out that we are expecting twins!

I was feeling pretty sick!

Mr. Cool

What a big boy! I can't believe how much he has grown!

Our Trip to PA

I apologize that it has been so long since I last posted.
One of the last posts I promised to write about our trip, so quickly here it goes...

Our trip to PA...
It was so wonderful to visit with Mark, Carol and Hannah. Evan and Hannah had so much fun playing with each other. Evan took Hannah a Monkey just like his from Build a Bear, which he named Monk (the same as his). We had a wonderful time. We keep praying that God will lay it on their hearts to move to good ole Georgia. HA HA (Ask and ye shall receive, right) :-)

The first night Carol and I went to a cooking class together, a Happy Mothers day present from Mark and the kids. How sweet! Carol and I had such a good time reminiscing while eating the great food. We even teared up while talking about the past...nooooo not us! We were asked by the lady sitting across from us if everything was okay. We visited Amish Country, went on a train ride, and a horse and buggy ride. Mark and Carol are both retired Army (though they still work some) so we got to go onto the base and see what an Army Base is all about. We also visitedmuseumsum and went to a minor league baseball game. On Sunday they had a family cookout so we got to meet other members of the family and we ate ST. LOUIS STYLE RIBS Mark Schatte Special!

Before we left, we planned our next get together, for them to come to GA in November. Since our trip we found out that they will be joining us and Clay's family in North Myrtle Beach in August. We can't wait to see our babies on the beach together.

We had such a wonderful time with our extended family. It is always so hard to leave each other as we cried together in the airport. I so wish that so many miles diseparateperate us.