A double digit birthday…10!
my sweet, sweet happy girl❤️
a beautiful day to celebrate outside, I love this picture
a surprise for a mini celebration at the lake
and a time to celebrate cousin Jayden’s birthday as well
#13 this year
we surprised both girls with a hit chocolate and cookie cake celebration for the cool November day at the lake
her daddy and Jackson slipped down to the lake earlier to set it up
Special girls!
we built a good fire to stay extra cozy
the scenery welcomed us
Great Aunt Fran, Amy, and Jeff were even able to join us
later in the evening a lost tooth…
a couple days later, on her real day of birthday, what she wanted…snow
Lucy was excited as well!
Even if it is just flurries, the first snow of the season is the best!
early morning goodness
sweetness
cornbread with candles, the best for Miss Abigail
sharing this day with those you love
a perfect visit with Nana and Papaw 
an early dinner at her favorite place
pasta, salad, and breadsticks
and another opportunity to blow out a candle
wonderful memories with Abigail Julienne
we found so many butterfly’s on our butterfly bush the day before the weather started turning in the late fall
we “rescued them” and contacted our friend from the Chattanooga Aquarium
we waited for Christine to send us butterfly tags and recorded our information
we tagged them, decided if it was male or female, recorded our findings…
we tagged and released about 13
This experience is so rewarding
this entire experience amazes me each time
these butterfly’s are ready to migrate to a warmer climate for the winter
Gorgeous!
one other sweet butterfly memory from this magazine…
The Chattanooga Aquarium hosted a butterfly Tagging event in Cade’s Cove earlier in the year
their story was picked up by Smoky Mountain Living 
my sweet “social butterfly” Isabela was featured in the article, we do love BUTTERFLY’S
An even school year, grades 2, 4, and 6. I can’t believe they are this big,
I guess an official middle schooler, I appreciate the fact we’ve been at it this long.
a 4th grader that daydreams easily but that likes her work done just so
2nd grade, the heart of my past, finally a true reader and finisher of arithmetic
although I am finally posting, we started our 2018-2019 school year at the end of July
we have been busy keeping up with our regular schedule and with our Classical Conversations Community
Isabela is somewhere in the background of this group of girls. For the first time in 13 years I am busy teaching/tutoring 9 other little girls on Fridays!
One of my tutoring responsibilities each week is to create a visual board for our subjects. I am responsible for Math, Science, English, History, Geography, and Latin. Also, I conduct two science experiments weekly and a lesson in Fine Arts which includes music and art. Trying to lead the students to be a “Memory Master” in the spring with over 400 pieces of information.
Also, each student is required to give a weekly presentation
time with our favorite girls
crazy sock day
a trip to Gray Fossil Site
Super Hero’s Day
Mommy too…Super Mommy, or “S” for Stevie’s Woman!
I do think they are super!
In the afternoon, Jackson, Abigail, and I have the Essentials Class. It is an intense afternoon of studying Advanced Math, Grammar, and IEW which is a writing class. This is a picture of Them getting ready to compete in a Math challenge
we took a field trip to Forbidden Caverns
a field trip so close to home is our favorite
part of our group…we unfortunately have missed the trip to the zoo and to the pumpkin patch corn maze
science experiment
pajama day on a cold January Friday…more learning fun to come in the New Year
Halloween is the best
A fancy puppy, Dorthy from the “Wizard of Oz”, and of course “The Judge” 
An exciting feeling to be with those people we find so special.
friendships are the very best
let’s carve a pumpkin with the sun right in our eyes!
yeah for the season
Lucy wanted to join the fun
we had to keep her mouth away until our project was complete…she was intrigued
so intrigued, and maybe frustrated! This is what we found after we went in to eat!
Mommy sure does enjoy the way the leaves and the sunlight touch each other
as we fix our eyes above, we are reminded of the Lord’s great ability
even can see a hint of the moon in the background
I LOVE THIS simple image❤️
I sure do love this man as well
this view was the first time when a winter sign came to kiss the fall leaves
Gatlinburg in the distance
who wouldn’t want to experience this view from the top?
or take a walk throughout the leaves at the bottom
lets enjoy the season and the fresh air
Cute and memorable
…but still my favorite from the fall season!
we are here once more
our favorite place away from home
finally time to just be silly and play
we were able to spend a few days with Jaydie
and Elijah
the waves were crashing ahead of the approaching storm
our fun was filled during each minute
I love my man!
and these three are my everything!
we love our favorite outdoor eating spot
always good times
guilty with a selfie
and finally Mikey and Brooke joined us before the storm
three “Michaels” on the night before Hurricane Michael was forecasted to make landfall
kids were sure enjoying us all together
the calm before the storm
the next morning
the hurricane was upon us, the bridges were closed and everything shut down
we had to take cover in our hotel waiting out the winds and rain
by around 3:00, one by one birds began to show themselves and everyone headed outdoors
an amazing sunset replaced the angry sky
we were able to find amazing treasures after the storm
I was incredibly content
the sky was absolutely blue and our shells were addicting to keep searching for 
we were having so much fun celebrating
the white sand is like sugar
my girls feel loved and so do I
good food and better company
calm seas added to the memory of the passing storm
we couldn’t get enough from this day
Mikey and Brooke had already left and we knew it would be soon everyone else would 
we were busy at cranking out a few more memories
my silly sweets
furry 
we have so much
so much we are blessed with
and more to be thankful for
our moments race by, yet we are filled with the purest form of joy
joy of togetherness
An Atlanta Brave for the fall
99 in Honor of Aaron Judge of the Yankees 
he had more opportunity at pitching this season
my boy with his gum…always in a game
An amazing feeling watching and cheering on a healthy and capable athlete
a good group of boys and coaches
Elijah played at the field as well, so we were able to catch a few of his games
it sure did turn cold before the end of the season
my favorite, a good reminder of his enthusiasm and commitment
and of course, may it never be forgotten, these two little sweet treats accompanied him to EVERY practice and EVERY game❤️
Growing and maturing all summer long
long, hot, dry days filling these clusters with sugar
plenty of interest from these two sweet things
a favorite of mine, their motivation and willingness to be a part of the day
a day to celebrate our farm
every bucket they picked together, they kept up with it by marking a tally mark
the prized cleanup job of rinsing sticky grape juice and of course playing in the cool water
he is my dedicated hard working man…the best kind
always feel blessed to have her picking with us
we also harvested some grapes from our vineyard at home.
after a full day, going since before seven, they are ready to call it a finished job
six extra hands, three sweet smiles and red cheeks
another experience of our hard work giving us something to celebrate…delivery day
We were able to join our man for a business trip to The World Equestrian Games
We were there last year and a lot had changed
Hearthstone had supplied some materials for the arena
we always feel blessed to join him on work
especially if it creates new experiences for us
or let’s us eat pizza
and sometimes even gives us another opportunity to swim
a little more time to just explore new sights
we also visited Amy and Stephanie in Sylva for a fall festival at the local college
we want one of these
there were so many fun activities there
although it was ridiculously hot, we had a really nice visit
the girls thought the old crafts were the best
we had to find a Chili’s for lunch
my eyes are always pointed to the sky regardless of where I am
some say lazy, I say freedom to just exist!
time for these moments are my favorite
Abigail has loved taking golf cart driving lessons from Nana
thanks Nana
garden time again
what could be more amazing than witnessing this transformation
my three special seeds
striving for survival
I caught the slide down the bank
we loved fishing at the trout derby in Cherokee, NC
Abigail ready for her trout to enter the weigh in
a fun new experience for us
next stop to the visitor center
the overlook 
beautiful skies
my favorite
with her Benjamin
more Smokies games before the end of the season
We were excited to have Aunt Fran finally join us
there is nothing like an entertaining evening with smiles like these
more playtime at the gazebo
an afternoon at the pool with Nana, Jaydie, and Elijah
I wish the views of the lake and moments with family could last a little longer
summer draws to an end but we keep squeezing out all that we can from it
a playful pair
more quit times…
and time for an unexpected quick lunch meeting with a special person
our blessing Janice, my prayer warrior, these three Godmother
Blessed to be…
we love the water
we love catching
he absolutely wants to catch them all
there were no injuries to the fish…all are alive
we like to catch, put them in our little mobile aquarium, and enjoy them for a while
an awesome way to appreciate their beauty before releasing
Lucy loves our fishing adventures!
a catch is a catch no matter the size!
boldness
memories that make me smile
our favorite fishing hole
This summer has been so full of hobbies and amazing skies 
the most amazing color of blue
This man is such a big kid
his ability to always make it a little more entertaining for us never gets old
so completely full❤️
For my children 