The Year in Pictures - January

In 2011 things were strange. We started the year with a whole-house remodel, went to Arkansas for a Spring Break getaway, had a great school year, traveled to South Dakota to work with a friend at a church-plant, moved to Kansas, started a new job and school and got settled into life on the plains. We are above all blessed beyond measure. The Father has lavished His love upon us and we are the recipients of His great grace! We hope you enjoy the photos that follow...the year in pictures.

You gonna cook it for dinner, Mom? Nope. (And you aren't coming in the house either!)

When you turn 8 you get to wear the hat of shame! We had a good time at the Japanese Hibachi grill in honor of our first-born!

Papo and the boys...

We took Mom squirrel hunting at our Chireno deer hunting camp. Ford was her buddy. Mom gets some serious kudos for going squirrel hunting!

Coconut Creme Pie made by Mom, devoured by John Mark. 

Clothed and in his right mind.

John Mark wanted Tech Decks for his birthday. The guy who thought of this was a genius. Get boys to play with miniature skateboards with their fingers and sell them for, say, A LOT and you've got a fortune! 

The Year in Pictures - February

It's the Amazing...not sure what it is...but it's Amazing!

He had a looth tooth!

Our ceilings had "cottage cheese" on them and we hated it, so I scraped it all off and we had it retextured as part of our "remodel the house and then move in 10 months" plan! (No we had no idea God was getting ready to move us, but we sure got home remodeling out of our system!

A nice East Texas surprise snow while we were remodeling our house. It only made things better (did you detect the sarcasm?)...

Installing those beautiful new granite countertops! 

John Mark the Conquerer of Small Rodents - that's his new legal name! (Thanks, Todd, for a great trip to South Texas)

There's only ONE barbecue restaurant we'd call the BBQ of Texas and it's Cooper's BBQ. There's absolutely none better. (Again, thanks Todd, for introducing us to this national treasure!)

Our new cabinets in Gary Stripling's shop...that's some serious craftsmanship!

Goldie had a short life once he came to our house. He took one final swim in late February. 

We were so excited when the cabinets finally reached this stage...and so stinking tired.

Out with the old! 

Basketball was a new sport for both boys and they did well.

John Mark learned that basketball can make you tired!

The Nacogdoches Lakers...that's Kareem Abdul Ford...

Gameday!

The Year in Pictures - March

What's a pirate's favorite letter? "R!"

I found these people on top of a hill in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I felt sorry for them, so I brought them home...

We went to DeGray Lake State Park in Arkansas for a Spring Break getaway. It was a much needed time of rest!

Dodgeball...Redneck style (at Pineywoods Baptist Encampment)

First baseball practice of the season (it was cold, too)...

John Mark's baseball tryouts.

Riding bikes on the SFA bike trails is hard work for squatty bodies!

We played our first game of golf together at DeGray Lake and had a super time!

Golf may be Ford's sport!

Head down. Check! Hips forward. Check! Nice shot. Check!

That's Gilligan on the left...

Ford and I had a fishing excursion at DeGray Lake. We didn't catch anything, but we had fun!

Digging for dinosaurs in Hot Springs. 

The Year in Pictures - April

It's a lunker! The mouth is almost as big as the fisherman's...

We LIKE PF Changs!

John Mark in the dentist's chair after much cajoling and crying (I cajoled and he cried) and it didn't hurt at all. 

That's a good day right there!

You may see a big bass, but I see a happy boy and that's what makes my heart glad. Thank you, Lord, for the catch!

"Hunting" eggs. There's no sport in it...

Go as fast as you can and get as many as you can get!

The Cousins... 

Easter Sunday morning picture. We finally got a good one - it just took forever...

Making Resurrection Rolls...

Resurrection Rolls and the Resurrection story make for a great start to Easter Sunday.

The Great Easter Egg Hunt in downtown Nacogdoches. We had close to 6,000 people present that day - great job Fredonia Hill!

We. Had. Fun. That's about all I can say about it. 

The day the first boy cousin was born into our family, on both sides, to join the lonely John Mark and Ford, was a glorious day indeed! Thanks Phil and Jamie for helping to even the score a bit.

John Mark taking a swing at a pitch in his second year of coach pitch.

The Year in Pictures - May

He lost another tooth! I keep kidding him that he has been kissing girls and his teeth are falling out because of it. 

Ford loves to dress up in super hero costumes. He's Batman here in case you couldn't tell. 

This was field day at Fredonia Hill Academy and John Mark was showing his speed. Like molasses!

It was a super day! The boys got ribbons for their efforts and we just enjoyed being together that day...

 Speed. I am speed!

Getting ready for Academy Field Day...

Ashley Stevenson put together such a great kids musical for the Spring - John Mark had a great time and the kids really sounded great.

They passed! John Mark is off to the third grade and Ford is off to first grade. John Mark had a great year with Mrs. Greenville and Ford had a great year with Mrs. Fedun.

Kindergarten zoo trip to the Ellen Trout Zoo.

John Mark's class at the closing program...

A toothless tiger at the zoo...

No caption needed...