Tool Time

My friend taught Ellie's Sunday school class this past Sunday. This is the picture of Ellie she sent me. It's a classic! 

Banks' Baptism

A couple of weeks ago the Bowers all gathered for my nephew, Banks Berryman's baptism in Tifton. Banks did awesome at church, and it was so good to have everyone together. Worth's grandmother from Augusta even made it down for the festivities.

Ms. Pendy had the smart idea of hiring a professional photographer to get some pictures of us while we were there. Thanks to West Meadow Photography and Ms. Pendy for these great pictures. Here are a few of the shots:

All the cousins: Mack, Emma, Bo, Ellie, and Banks (in Ellie's lap)

My 3. Looking all sweet and innocent

Family Shot, Mack is as hot and frustrated as he looks in the picture

The Bowers Family

The Bowers, Berrymans, and Mrs. Cavaleri

The Berrymans

Getting too big Bo

The star of the day, Banks. This kid is an angel!

Brothers

Family shot of the Berrymans

More Beach Time!

This past weekend we got back from St. Simons Island where we spent a week with many of our family members. We had lots of fun in the sun. I was a poor picture taker on this trip as well, but I got a few good ones! Something about having 3 little ones (mainly an insanely busy 2 year old)  that keeps me from remembering to grab my camera. Another year in the books of great family times at SSI. 

Matt and Molly Grace riding the "big" SSI waves. 

We finally got Ellie in the waves only when it was very low tide. The wave height was about 1 inch. 

Emma and Worth discussing strategy

Ellie, Emma, and Molly Grace. Sweet cousins. I was very impressed that MG kept her bow on the entire time in the water. 

Me and my cousin Haley (Molly Grace's mom) We did not plan the coordinating bathing suits, but it was hilarious!

Family on the swing in the condo. As you can tell, Ellie is thrilled about having her picture made. 

2 grandads and a wagon full of kids. 

The wagon was a big hit with the little ones. 

Tent shot

Other side of the tent shot

Kinnick got buried

Headed out. Emma earned the nickname human buoy, because she would stay out there all day just bouncing in the waves. 

Double trouble, AKA Mack and Bo

The Virginia Bowers crew (and George and Dena - who are SSI Bowers)

The Tifton and Valdosta Bowers and The Berrymans

We had a couple of decent family shots on the beach. Don't look too closely at this one, you may see it or something similar on our Christmas card this year!

Monster Mack

The Berrymans

What happens when I try to get a picture of my 3 kids together

I thought this was hilarious. Mack is covering up baby Banks, who Jay is holding up behind him. 

Kinnick doing the truffle shuffle

Mack wasn't happy about having his picture made with Daddy

I thought they looked so sweet in this picture

It was Mia's birthday while we were there and the girls were so excited to help her blow out some candles. 

UAB reunion trip 2015

We got back last Saturday from our annual UAB reunion beach trip in Ft. Morgan, AL. The weather was beautiful, and we had so much fun! There were 16 kids this year (we added 2 more boys - Connor and Levi.) The older kids really got along great this year and played together wonderfully. Although Mack stayed on eastern time and woke up around 5:30am every morning, and had a couple of nights that he didn't want to sleep at all, it still ended up being a fun trip. We look forward to this trip every year to see our old friends from UAB residency. It is so good to spend time with these sweet families! I wasn't a great picture taker this year. Didn't even get the big group shot :(  I did attempt a family shot, but before we could get it together, Mack decided to jump in the pool in his clothes. Oh well, maybe at SSI this year? 

Mack exploring the water

Emma finding seashell treasures

Lily and Ellie stylin'

She's a beach baby for sure!

Mack decided to join in this year to dig "the hole"

Sweet baby Reece. My kids have NEVER done this on the beach!

The girls playing together sweetly. I'm documenting this for future reference. 

Baby Connor was the sweetest kid there. I don't think h knows how to do anything but smile and be happy. He is such a cutie!

Baby Levi is the youngest of the group this year. As a 3 month old at the beach, I think he did really good!

And then, there is Mack...

Following Daddy into the waves. 

Under the boardwalk was a popular place again this year. 

The set up from above

Nightly hot tub time

Connor had a big time this year!

The dad's had a big time this year as well, this is a few of the dads trying to sling a water balloon on Russell

Russell waiting to get hit by the water balloon that never reached him

Hard to get a regular smile these days. 

All the kiddos. Poor things, we faced them directly towards the sun, hence all the squinting

The boys that started all these wonderful relationships

Showing off their UAB Blazers

Lily, Ellie, Caroline, Maggie, and Emma

The Steurmanns

Where I found my son when it was time for my family picture. I walked up to the pool and he saw me with the camera, shot his head up and said "cheese!" 

Just hanging out fully clothed, in the pool. 

Another attempted shot of the kids. I love Ellen doing the heel stretch. This would be hysterical reenacted in about 20 years. 

Low Country Boil night! 

Proof that the moms are there. And, yes, this is how we look the entire week. No makeup, PJ's after beach. It's so laid back and fun....

Because this is what we do the entire week!

The guys in their executive board meeting. We actually heard one of them say something about  "the first order of business" They are too much!

Just a day under the tents

Emma decided she wanted to attempt boogie boarding

I think we have a future surfer on our hands. She loved it!

This washed up by my ankles in the ocean one afternoon. It's a memorial bracelet for a Joshua Harton who  was killed in action in Afghanistan on Sept 18, 2010. He was only 23 years old.  I tried to message his mother on Facebook ( I found her name after googling his name and reading his obituary.) I wanted to thank her for her son's service and extend my condolences. I also asked her if she wanted me to mail the bracelet back to her. She has never responded to my email.  

And this happened on the ride home

Imagine a snoring sound here. Sums up how we all felt after returning home. We already miss everyone!