In Georgia with Savannah

Bowling FUN!

TYbee Island on the Atlantic Ocean

Sammie, a Son of Lady and Sons (Paula Deene) and Savannah

QT fans

Georgia on our minds.....

The two weeks we had Savannah we had lots of fun. We took her to church and she met some real sweet girls. They took her in right away and one girl even made her farewell cookies. Eastside Baptist is so special....She said she was going to miss it alot.

With Eastside came the Chaunceys...our neighbors and Pastor. Our 5 and their 5 spent hours playing pool, walking the mall, watching movies and playing games. Thanks Chauncey family for showing so much love to us.

We took a road trip to Savannah, Georgia. It is a beautiful little city. The town squares, the homes, the trees, the river are all so classic and Southern. We ate at Lady and Sons and Savannah and I even met one of the Sons. It was a very RICH Southern meal. We shopped till we dropped. Savannah took photos of EVERYTHING with Savannah on it, banks, septic services, trash cans, tshirts, etc.

We also drove over to Tybee Island and touched the cold Atlantic Ocean. We drew in the sand and jumped off dunes. We stopped in and explored Fort Puluski. It was a great fort with a moot and everything. We watched a musket firing demo that was really loud. It is always nice to throw in education when you can.

I, Sammie, got to sit on the same bench in the same square were Forrest Gump told his life story. I felt so complete.

Savannah discovered and fell in LOVE with QT....It is LIFE CHANGING....you have to know Andrew Chauncey to appreciate that....

We bowled the life out of some bowling pins. Savannah and Gary tied with Hi Score of 111. But Gary played with bumpers and Savannah DID NOT. heehee

She left with a smile....I am sure she is glad to be going home but I hope it means she had a good time here too.

Christmas and New Years

Becka, Sammie and Bitty (the Eschenbach Girls) at Lompoc Soccer Tourney

Civil War Ball Leah Dee organized....GREAT JOB!! FUN FUN

Savannah's 16th Bday celebration.

Elijah, Drake, and Donovan....

Close Clan

Well, we all survived a very QUIET Christmas in Marietta. It was different having only the 6 of us on Christmas morning. We enjoyed the day in our jammies trying to stay warm. The Chaunceys, our Pastor and neighbor family, invited us over for Christmas Eve dessert. It was a great time of sharing with new friends. We also were invited to the Smiths for Chili and Fondue. The Smiths are the family who the husband works with Gary, the son plays football with Isaac and the mom is Isaiah's Sunday School helper at church. The are a wonderful family and so supportive and kind.

On Dec. 30th we ALL flew, even BITO, to SLO. We were greeted by friends and family and the party started right then. 4 cars caravaned to our house and the boys were busy busy busy. New Years Eve we spent with family and friends. My sister and Mike came up and so did Jaci, Justen, Donovan and Drake. It was a blast of laughing and eating. My brother, Terri, Zac, Mel, and Elijah came over too for some Left, Right, Center. I love laughing and arguing....

The week was spent running to doctors. We got in all our check ups for the year.

We celebrated Savannah's Sweet 16 at her Uncle's place overlooking the beautiful central coast. Lots of friends and family played games and ate yummy treats.

We drove to Lompoc to watch "my girls", the Eschenbachs, Bitty and Becka play in a soccer tourney. It was a great match and it was fun to be apart of that experience again. We also got to see baby Finn and catch up with Deena. She blessed us with bedding and towels to help make our stay more comfortable for family. That gal amazes me....I love you Deena...

Grammy Close, Dave, Daphne, Jubilee, Maddie and Angel came down to see us the next weekend and we had a blast playing games and catching up. The girls are so big. Grammy stayed on and we enjoyed several days extra with her.

The night before we left Leah Dee organized a Civil War Ball. We all dressed up and enjoyed a night of etiquette and grace. Well, maybe not all of us, but we tried. It was fun being with friends. Thank you Leah for doing all that work. You are so special.

We also celebrated Sammie's 40th Birthday. Mom, Dad, and Gary decorated the house and invited friends from church and our homeschool group over to an Open House. It was neat catching up with the Moores, Torres, Schallen, Roberts, Dobbs, Eschenbachs, Sparrows, Sundbergs, Lawerences, Henderson families and everyone else we got to see. Thanks for making me, and our family, feel so loved. We miss you guys!

On January 11th we flew back with Savannah. It was fun having a girl around for 2 weeks. She is a wonderful, young, Godly Christian girl.