Catching Up

Well, I've done it again, let way too long pass before posting! Here are some pics from the last couple months...

Brandon came to visit before he started his residency in KY. It is so funny to take him hiking- Will always choses to take him places you can go swimming too. Brandon's reactions to cold water are priceless! I think he had fun after he got over the shock:)

Ana is sitting up really well now. It is so nice to be able to put some toys on the floor and get something done in 10 min. increments.

Gaines found one of our head lamps recently and has had the best time building caves to use it in!

Believe it or not, Gaines started pre-school this fall! He really loves it. We had our first parent-teacher conferences yesterday and it made us feel really old! The teacher said Gaines is a friend to everybody (just like his daddy).
The following three pictures were taken at Sonya and Erik's. Ali and I met up with them in Knoxville a few weekends ago. We had the BEST time and Ana got lots of lovin'.


Ana is eating solids now and gets really eager as soon as I sit her in her booster. Her rolls show she isn't lacking nurishment!
Recently Will sold his road bike and used the $ to get a trampoline. The kids are loving it, but Will is having more fun than anybody. He is truly a kid at heart...probably why he makes such a good Youth Minister.



Ana is NOT crawling yet...not even close. Fine by me. Instead, she kind of rocks on her belly doing a super man move. Here's a clip...

This was the Third now annual Tucker Family Vacation. The Tuckers vacationed in Gulf Shores a lot when the kids were young, but I had never been. We had such a great time! The pool was great, the beach was awesome (although a few days the waves were so big we weren't allowed to swim), and the restaurants were fun (we went to Lamberts- home of the thrown roll, and to LuLu's right on the water...best Fried Green Tomatoes EVER!). Gaines had so much fun with his cousins that he was in tears when we had to leave.

These three were inseparable!

No swimming!

For those of you who don't know, Will's mom had a major back surgery in the spring. The surgery was done to straighten out a severe curve in her back. She now has a lot of hardware in her back...two rods and 23 screws! Needless to say, she has been quite uncomfortable! We are so glad she was able to come on the trip, although she wasn't able to do everything she's used to. Please pray for her healing to continue.
Ana was such a water baby...she loved the pool!

All the guys went golfing, even Gaines and Tuck.Friday everyone besides HB, Ana and me took a boat out to the gulf.. They saw dolphins, jumped off the boat and caught all kinds of little minnows- actually, Will caught a pretty good sized catfish in his net.

Lamberts was definitely one of the trip highlights. Here is Gaines eating a real frog leg...eewwhh!



This is a clip of the swimming triangle. Gaines started out swimming full time with a life jacket and by the end of the week he was jumping off the side and swimming quite a ways with out help. The next Phelps!

Visitors

When Will took a group of kids from the youth group to Memphis my parents and Grandpa came to keep the kids and me entertained. My Grandpa had never been to our house so we were very honored that he made the long trip. He and Gaines bonded very well! It was so funny to see Gaines interact with him just as I remember doing as a little kid. He still uses all the same lines, all the same little jokes, and they still work!

Gaines and Daddy having too much fun!

Brandon and my parents went in on a soccer goal for Gaines' birthday. He has LOVED it. Sometimes putting on his cleats first thing in the morning. Yesterday I went outside to find the boys practicing their celebration dance. Later in the day Gaines asked to go outside (While Will was gone) - he decided he needed to practice his victory lap again. I think he was having a bit too much fun. He's crazy!

Journey to Michigan

Well, we made it! The kids and I are back home from our journey to Nashville then to Michigan. The kids did so well traveling and I am grateful to all those who were kind to us at the airport. I encourage all of you who are reading this to keep an eye out for mothers traveling with kids by themselves...help them! On the way home we sat next to a guy who is in the army and is stationed where Brandon will be, although he is leaving for Iraq soon. He was so friendly to Gaines. The poor guy was trying to read a book the whole flight but Gaines kept talking his ear off. It was pretty funny- I think he got a kick out of Gaines. Anyway, we are home safe and thankful for a safe and fun trip. Marcie and Josh's shower was really nice. They got some awesome gifts! We can't wait to meet Maeley!

Morgan and Ana thoroughly enjoyed their first swim!

Forget the pool, where are the donuts?

We went to the zoo or as Gains calls it...the gazoo with the Cope kids. They were all so good with Gaines and Ana.

Gaines loves his GG.

Ana and her Grandpa Leeser

Forrest, Brooke, Taelor, Ana and Gaines

Aunt Tina (my Dad's sister) and Gary flew in from Oregon to spend some time with the fam. It was so great to see her!

One afternoon Andrew, Linc, my Dad, Gaines and I took a little trip over to friend's lake.

Lincoln is such a sweet boy. He seems like a deep thinker...always studying everything he sees. He is sure to be a smarty pants like both his parents:)

My sweet girl!

My Little Helper

This past week I made our friend Tiera a birthday dinner. Gaines helped me with dessert...here's a clip of him assisting me in the kitchen:)

Missions Camp

Last weekend we spent some time in Jellico because Will was helping Steve Meeks with Missions Camp. There were 12 campers who attended (one of them our very own Emily Blake). The camp is specifically held for those who are seriously interested in missions. Kevin Bryan (producer of the H2O videos) came to help show the campers how to use media to reach the lost. The kids heard missionaries from around the world speak, were put through mock situations that missionaries encounter, ate foods from many countries and produced 8- 30 sec. commercials featuring the Celebrate Recovery program that are being shown on TV in both Tennessee and North Carolina. We really enjoyed being involved. The videos they made will soon be posted on the web at www.jellicoCR.com

Hannah and Ana fell asleep together for nearly two hours, it was so cute.

Gaines had an absolute blast playing with Josh while we were there. Josh is nearly seven and Gaines had to work pretty hard to keep up with him. Most the time they were running around outside or jumping on the trampoline, but one afternoon they decided to have their own tea party! They thought they were pretty cool getting to have their own meal together. They invented a new specialty dish...almond soup.

Josh's older brothers all sell puppies to help earn money for their college tuition. Currently they have 15 pups!
Ana thinks she needs one.

The first day the campers arrived the staff turned the church building into an airport in Africa. Will fully enjoyed harrassing the kids.

Monday afternoon Donna fixed a West African lunch of black peas, rice and a VERY spicy tomato sauce. She wrapped Ana onto my back and had me join the women in serving the meal. This is a common sight in Kenya.

Because Josh is the youngest of five, he has never gotten to experience being the big brother, and he would be a good one. He loved holding Ana and asked to do so about every 15 minutes!

This is a picture of Curtis. He has overcome a chemical dependency through the Celebrate Recovery Program. He says that it is only through his new found relationship with Jesus Christ that it was possible for him to get off drugs.

Here is Kevin shooting one of the commercials. Emily is in the pink.