Grandpa's 90th Birthday

On November 24th, Michael's grandpa turned 90 years old! And he is in excellent health! Grandma threw him a birthday party in Cairo for him...it was so nice! Carrie, Andrew and myself were able to attend, Michael couldn't go because he had a basketball game at the same time 6 hours away! The kids and I had a great time visiting with family and friends! Grandpa was so excited, lots of family he hasn't seen in a while came to celebrate with him.
Grandpa, at 90, is still very active! He helps the local church in the kitchen, helps when there is a need for building things, he does just about anything! I hope that if I live to be 90 I am as healthy and as active as he is! Happy 90th!
  

The cake that cousin Dawne made, it was absolutely delicious!

Aunt Judy and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa looking at pictures from the past

Family and friends gathering

Our Christmas Tree 2011

We were finally able to put our tree up this weekend! With basketball season in full swing our lives revolve around when there is practice and games. Michael didn't have to be anywhere until Saturday afternoon so we went and picked out a tree Saturday and decorated it on Sunday afternoon. I wasn't really in the mood to decorate for Christmas, but once we got everything out I felt better!
Carrie was really into decorating the tree this year. She wanted to know the stories behind ornaments and I enjoyed telling her about the different ornaments. We have so many ornaments, and most of them have a story behind them. One tradition Michael and I began when we were dating was getting each other an ornament each Christmas that represented something that happened during the year and we do that with our kids as well. We have accumulated a lot of ornaments over the years! Some of my favorite ornaments are ones that we got when we got married. I also love remembering why I gave the kids certain ornaments, brings back memories!
I do love this time of year...I love the meaning of Christmas and spending time with family!
  

Andrew hanging ornaments

Carrie

Our beautiful tree

My sweet babies in front of our tree

Love these two!

Family Adventures in St. Augustine

This year while visiting St. Augustine I talked Michael into taking the kids to "The Fort." I have only been one other time before, and it was many years ago, but I wanted to be able to take our children...I thought they might enjoy it! We did have fun, because it was just the four of us, however, it was probably not the smartest decision I've ever made :)! It was blazing hot and with a 4 year old and 7 year old the complaints kept coming...also from the 32 year old husband! After about 45 minutes we were all toast, so we left and headed to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Ripley's was a lot fun, however, I think my favorite part was when Andrew screamed like a girl because something scared him a bit! That may be mean, but it was hilarious! Not only did he scream he started running the opposite way we were going, I don't think I'll ever forget that. For the most part the kids enjoyed Ripley's!
After Ripley's we headed to the Santa Maria for lunch. We go to the Santa Maria each year, we started doing that when Carrie was just a baby. It's a kid friendly place, plus they get to feed the fish out of a hole where you sit. The food isn't the greatest in the world, but we go for the experience!
All in all it was pretty good day for the Keown bunch! I love my family, and I love spending time with them!

  

The Keown Family at Castillo San De Marcos in St. Augustine

Inside one of the rooms at the Fort

Michael and Carrie at the top of the Fort

Carrie and Andrew with one of the Soldiers

Going to the "Santa Maria" for lunch

Family Pictures

We took our annual trip to St. Augustine, we all had a blast. Like every year we get family pictures taken. I love getting to see how much the kids have grown each year, one of my very reason for taking these pictures!
Here are a few of the pictures that were taken at the beach this year!
  

Mother's Day

I have been blessed with a wonderful family! I have a great husband, who takes excellent care of his family! I have two awesome kiddos, yes there are times they drive me nuts, but for the most part they are well behaved, well rounded kids!
I love being a mommy! I love being able to spend time with my children, reading books or watching them sleep! I love it when Carrie wants to have a mommy/daughter day and when Andrew wants me to take a nap with him so he can lay on my shoulder! In all the craziness of life, we still get to enjoy each other! I love having a family and I love having the job of MOMMY! God has blessed me beyond measure! Thank you Lord!

Mother's Day 2011

Mommy and Andrew

Mommy and Carrie

Celebrating Jesus' Resurrection

We had a great Easter! The kids woke up to find Easter baskets left by the Easter Bunny filled with a few pieces of candy...Carrie got finger nail polish and fake nails, and Andrew got Buzz light year plus some baseball cards.
After checking out the Easter Baskets we got ready and went to church where we had a good worship service! After church we went and celebrated Easter and my 30th birthday at our good friends, Steve and Kathy Meadows' home. The kids had a blast playing with Seth and Luke and hunting eggs.
After a short nap, Carrie and I went up to Ms. Ginny's house for more egg hunting! We had a great day together with friends and family!
We did miss our family back in Thomas County, but we know they all had a great Easter as well!
God is so good to us, thank you Lord, for your son Jesus!
 
 

Look what the Easter bunny brought!

Carrie and Andrew

Mommy and Carrie

My handsome Andrew

Mommy and Andrew

My beautiful, Carrie

Mommy and Carrie

My sweet children!

My silly husband and son picking their noses!

I love my babies!

Michael and Carrie, and Andrew being silly

Giving Daddy and big hug

One of my favorites

The kids table

Kathy had a beautiful table spread

The Keown and Meadows children

Family Times

Last Sunday evening I got a phone call from my mother telling me that my Aunt Dee had passed away. Honestly, I still don't think it's sunk in! The service was going to be on Friday, April 8 at 7 pm in Gainesville, GA.
Chandler came up and stayed with us, he even brought the kids back up from south GA for us, which was a HUGE help! I was very excited to see Chandler and our other family that would be coming up to celebrate Aunt Dee's life.
We headed down to Gainesville Friday afternoon. We got to see a lot of family that we don't get to see much because we are all spread out over the state. We all got to eat supper together and then we headed to the church.
My Uncle Gregg, mom's brother, did the service, and he did a great job! He talked about Aunt Dee as a child, teen and adult. Some of the stories he told were new to me, I enjoyed hearing them! My cousin's husband, Keith, sang two songs, and Aunt Dee would have been very proud, he did a great job. My Aunt Nettie wanted Keith and me to sing, but we couldn't get together to work that out.
I'm going to get some pictures of Aunt Dee up very soon...she will be missed! I still don't think it's set in that she's gone. It makes me realize that we take each other for granted, we always expect people to just be there, and that's just not true....

My 1st Cousin, Dawne and me

My handsome brother, Chandler

Me, Katie (my 2nd cousin) and Dawne

The girls

Cousins

My Aunt Nettie and me

My Aunt Nettie with Chan and me