Journey to the Promised Land

Today was an exciting day in the life of our church. We recently purchased 60 acres adjoining our property and today we celebrating by lining up and crossing over into our "Promised Land". It was a beautiful day, and we all really enjoyed a great time of food, fellowship, and fun!

Lining up to cross over

The line went all the way to the back lot

Entering our new land

Each family brought a stone to build an altar

Our altar

Gathering to hear the message

Alex, Tommy, and Nathan

Tyler

Tommy on the swing

Alex and Nick on the swing

Tyler on the swing

Tyler is having a big time

Tyler heads up the rock wall

Up to the top!

Free fall!

Betty and Aunt Gayle

Me and Aunt Gayle

Tommy, Heath, and Nick

Beth, Carsten, and Sam

Bonnie

David

Bonnie, Cana, and a friend

Vicki

Janice

Ed and Robin

Matthew and James

Suzi, Chris and Christian

Ron and Bernadette

Cassie and Pastor Brian - finally getting to eat

Fishing Widow

Recently, Jamie has taken up fishing with his friend James on Lake Murray. Needless to say, I have become a fishing widow many weekends. James posted this video of Jamie driving the boat on YouTube. He is having a great time!

Never a dull moment

There is always something chaotic going on in the Atkinson house. Last week was no exception. Sunday night at 11 after we got back from Mimi's house, Tyler started the week with a bang by getting sick all over 3 blankets, my bed, the dog, and the floor. Tommy bathed the dog in the shower, Tyler got in the other tub, I washed the linens, and Jamie cleaned the carpet. On Tuesday night, I came home to a mysteriously quiet house. I didn't see the kids anywhere. I found them in my bathroom with Tommy in the jacuzzi tub trying to give the cat a bath. While Tyler was playing outside that afternoon, he didn't want to take the time to go inside to use the bathroom. There was a surprise inside of the bush he decided to relieve himself on - the cat! Needless to say, Emily was none too happy. She was even more unhappy to get a bath as you can see from the photo. The other shot is from Thursday. Since Paw Paw retired, he has decided to help our family out my coming over on Thursdays to help with the laundry. Thanks a million to Paw Paw!!!

Poor, unhappy Emily

Paw Paw the Laundry Man!

Happy Birthday, Mimi

This Sunday we went to Mimi's to celebrate her (belated) birthday. It was a beautiful day, and the boys had a great time riding around in the golf cart with Jake, the dog from across the street. Michael, Stacey, and Liam had a hard time getting there due to trees blocking the road from the storm on Saturday. We had a good time when they finally arrived!

Tommy and Tyler with Jake

A frustrated Michael finally arrived

Liam is so happy to be out of the car!

Cousins

Tyler gives a birthday performance

Michael and Stacy a bit more relaxed

Me (possessed) with Jamie

Mimi and Oneil opening her presents

Tyler's Big Weekend

Tyler had an exciting weekend full of birthday celebrations. It started on Friday afternoon - I took 1/2 day off of work and picked him and three friends up from school. We went to the movies and then picked up supper from Dominos. They all had a fun filled night with pizza, Rock Band, and Wii games. Then on Sunday, Paw Paw and Aunt Gayle came over for yet another celebration. I can't believe my baby boy will be 11 tomorrow!

Tommy, Dad, Dylan, Mark and Brooklyn all watch

Tyler blow out the candle on his birthday cookie

Tyler shows Mark his new Ipod

Tyler thanks Aunt Gayle and Paw Paw for their gifts

Paw Paw aka "Long Whiskers" shows off his bowling prowess on the Wii

Tyler aka "Long Hair" after a big throw

Aunt Gayle aka "Long Arms" turned out to be the ringer!

Happy Birthday, Tyler!!!!

Birthdays in Barnwell

Today we traveled to Barnwell to celebrate birthdays for Liam, Tyler, Rhette, and Ryan. That is a lot for February, huh? As you can see from the photo's, Tyler has recovered from the eye injury nicely. He is back to his old, charming self!

Tyler enjoying the birthday serenade

Everyone blowing out the candles

Gathering to open presents

The other half of the gathering

Tyler with his I-Dog

Legos for Liam

Tommy is really under all of that hair, and no - that is not a burglar in the background

Michael attempts to block all of the NOISE Stacy and I were making while he was playing Battleship with Tommy. The nerve of us having a conversation!!!

Anxiously awaiting THE race

Aargg!!!

We had quite the weekend. Tyler was playing with the edge of a poster frame like a sword and ended up jabbing himself in the eye. We spent the wee hours of Sunday morning in the ER and found that he had lacerated his cornea and scratched the white part of his eye. Luckily, he only peeled the top layer of the cornea and it is already almost healed. He was in a lot of pain Saturday night, and is still uncomfortable. We were in the opthamologist's office at 9 am Sunday morning and then back there on Monday afternoon. He was able to go to school today, but ended up calling Mom to get him at lunch. The nurse suggested that we get a patch to cover his eye to try to keep his hands off of it, so here he is modeling his new pirate garb. I tried to get a picture of the actual injury, but he would not hear of it. Hopefully, he will be healed soon and back to normal. (Did I actually say that?!)