We've been praying for rain for quite some time at our house. Thankfully, the Lord answered our prayers yesterday. We got lots of rain - about 45 minutes worth.
The Staples came over for the afternoon today. We grilled hotdogs for lunch and let the kids spend the afternoon playing. Marty and Mark spent a few hours in the basement running wires for our hottub that is on order. While they were downstairs, April and I spent all of our energy working crowd control. After all the work was done in the basement, we ate a quick dinner and everyone went to the pool. Here's a few pics from the pool.
Zachary, the leader of the pack, was full of instructions at the pool. He made sure that everyone was following all of the pool rules. At one point, he was using the noodle to go "fishing" for swimmers. He "reeled" Andrew in several times. He also took great pleasure in spraying everyone with his new fancy squirt gun.
Unfortunately, the pool was not Andrew's favorite place. He began the evening scared of leaving the steps. Zachary was nice enough to loan his "Buzz Pack" to Andrew and his fears were soon forgotten. We were so proud of Andrew. After a few minutes, Andrew was sneaking away from the wall - inch by inch.
The "Buzz Pack" gets its name from our friends, the Plumadores. Last summer, they told us about these swim vests that their son loved using. They said that they called it a "Buzz Pack" because he looked like Buzz Lightyear when he wore it. The name stuck. We got Zachary one and we couldn't imagine how our pool life would be without it.
Ol' Morgan was the brave soul of the crew. She was jumping off the side of the pool whether there was someone ready to catch her or not. We had to really keep an eye on her. She loved when we let her put her face in the pool. She was blowing bubbles like she had been swimming for years. Hopefully, fear doesn't work it's way into her head before next summer.
We hope they can come over and visit again real soon. They are such great friends.
Love you guys!
Louise Britt Barrett, age 79 of Gwinnett County, passed away, Thursday, June 5, 2008. Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 7, 2008 in the Snellville Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home with Minister Joel Davis officiating. Burial Eternal Hills Memory Gardens, Snellville. A member of Annistown Road Baptist Church, Snellville, Mrs. Barrett was born and raised in Gwinnett County. She was previously employed with Whitley Concrete Company in Decatur, worked with Georgia Warren Realty Company in Decatur and started Center East Realtor as a broker in Stone Mountain. She owned Barrett Antiques in the Centerville Community and retired in 1995. Mrs. Barrett was a loving mother, grandmother and loved baking for her grandchildren and others. She is survived by : Son & Daughter-in-law: Larry E & Karen Titshaw, Lilburn; Brothers & Sisters-in-law: Willis R. & Jenette Britt, Conyers; Mike & June Britt, Snellville; Sisters: Carolyn Simpson, Stone Mountain: Jean Juhan, Snellville; Grandchildren: Allison Renee & Marty Elkins, Flowery Branch; Jackie Lynn Titshaw, Lawrenceville; April Nicole Titshaw, Lawrenceville; April Nicole & Casey Lloyd, Snellville; Autumn Marie Cleary, Dalton Elliott Titshaw, both of Lilburn; Great Grandchildren: Caleb Harris Coles, Savannah Marie Coles, both of Snellville; Zachary Collin Elkins, Flowery Branch, Several Nieces & Nephews. flowers accepted or memorials to Annistown Road Baptist church, 4554 Annistown Road, Snellville, Georgia 30039. Family will received friends from 6-9 PM Friday, June 6, 2008 at the Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 2246 Wisteria Drive, Snellville, Georgia 30078. 770-979-5010. Please sing online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com
_______________________________
Today, I buried one of the most important people in my life - my Granny. Growing up, she and I were together every other weekend. I want to share some of my favorite memories of her.
Granny, I remember the late nights we stayed up watching Dallas. I remember you absolutely loving Monica Kaufman. I remember our dog, Lucky, buried in your backyard. I remember Marty and I putting up the birdhouse that matched your house - man that was a pain. I remember your famous chocolate cakes. Even better, the strawberry ones. You had some absolutely beautiful flowers in the pots outside your garage. You were always the slowest driver on the road - and 20 years ago it embarrassed me terribly. But now, I married someone that drives just as slow and I just grin to myself when I realize what goes around comes around. We took a cooking class together about six years ago and got some good laughs watching my sisters learning to cook. I still have all of the notes from that class. Walking to you house from Dad's wasn't always the smartest decision when it came to crossing 124, but it was always an easy one. I always loved coming to visit with you. I can't even count how many jigsaw puzzles we put together over the years. Oh, the stories that were shared over those puzzles. I also remeber that when Marty and I told you we were pregnant, you weren't sure you would live to see Zachary born. What a blessing that you did. Zachary called you "Other Granny." It makes me smile every time I hear him say that. Your picture is on his dresser. I remember going to your office and playing on your typewriter for hours. You had some delicious strawberry plants at that office. I also remember the time I called 9-1-1 from your bedroom phone without anyone knowing. I got away with it until the operator called the house and wanted to speak to you. I'll never forget the shopping trips we would take. You always made sure I went home with something nice. I could never go to visit you without coming home with something. I would never know what it would be. Sometimes I would come home with a bag of potato chips and sometimes I would come home with a piece of furniture. One of the favorite things I have to remind me of you every day is the Gone With The Wind collection of plates and puzzle I have in my living room. I always have and always will think of you when I enter that room. I smile when I think of how you would always slip me your loose change to buy something for Zachary. Even if it was a candy bar, he appreciated it. My beautiful pink and white bedroom at your house will always be etched in my mind. You always wanted me to be a girly girl, but it never worked out that way. I know you didn't love me any less, though. The piano in your living room never had dusty keys. If I wasn't playing around on it, you were playing some of your favorite hymns. The crazy drawer in your kitchen that was broken from practically the day you moved in will always make me giggle. I have lots of your cookbooks in my kitchen. You have passed on my favorite trait of dating and commenting on every recipe I try from them. I make a point to diary every recipe I try. You took me to Gwin Oaks Elementary to practice my driving when I was only 14. Not sure if either of my parents know that one. You instilled in me the value of the coupon and the value of hard work. I know you never had it easy, but you always made it look that way. Your entire family loves you very much. We will all miss you greatly.
Your service today was beautiful. You would be humbled by the kind words that were spoken about you. Every word made me proud to be your granddaughter. I love you and can't wait until I can hug your neck again.
Granny - I love you and I miss you. I will see you soon.
-Allison
This has been one of the busiest weekends we've had in a while. We have had a great weekend making memories, though. We'll share pictures of the hilights.
Friday began with Zachary's graduation from Pre-K. What a special day for him. He was so proud of himself. They had practiced the ceremony for a couple weeks, so he has excited to show us all of his hard work. He is really going to miss Ms. Nicole and Ms. Christy this summer.
Saturday, Zachary and I got up early to go get our hair cut. When we got home Saturday, we promised him that once Daddy was done with the yard work, we'd take him to the pool. Unfortunately, the yard work took until dinnertime, so it was after 7:00 that we went to the pool. It was so cold by then that Zachary was the only one to get in. He only lasted about 15 minutes, though. We were so worn out by then that it didn't matter.
Today, we got up extra early because I ran in the Dacula 5k. It was my first 5k and I was a nervous wreck. I asked my friends Jennie and Erin to run with me so I could have some familiar faces nearby. We had a great time. We saw lots of people we knew from around Dacula. Even more thrilling was my time: 36:38. I know that is not a time to win me any awards, but was by over four minutes the best I had ever run. My goal was to complete the race in under 45 minutes. When I approached the finish line, I was THRILLED to see the clock. Yeah, me!
We stayed for the Dacula Days parade. Whoa, what a parade it was! We have never seen a parade last one hour and forty minutes. We got to see lots of friends pass through the parade.
Jennie's dog, Otto, enjoyed the parade nearly as much as Zachary.
We ended our weekend going to Rebekah and McKinney's house to swim for the afternoon and evening. We stayed for dinner. The kids were having so much fun that we had to drag them out of the pool to eat. They swam and swam for almost four hours. My the energy that kids have.
From Rebehak and McKinney's house, Zachary went to Granny's to spend the night. On the way there, he fell asleep. It is not often that he crashes off to sleep before 8:00, but we can't blame him tonight. Hopefully he'll sleep late tomorrow.
What a weekend. What great memories. Thanks, Lord.
Marty and I went with our Sunday School class this past weekend on a Marriage Retreat. We had a great time and enjoyed the short getaway. As we were leaving town, we stopped to get a special gift for Zachary to bring back since he was so good while we were away. We knew exactly what we had to get for him. This monkey. For those you reading this that went on the retreat, you'll know exactly what we mean!
Thanks to Ray and Holt for giving us a theme for the weekend.
