Campmeeting 08

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Raylrode Dayz, fall carnivals, pumpkins, the fair, cotton candy, rides, Campmeeting, cooler temps and Ayden's birthday.

Ayden and Ally Brynn: Daddy and I took you guys to the Indian Field Campmeeting to daddy's family tent. Ayden you were so curious about the tents, the hay on the ground and especially the outhouse (you had to go to the potty as soon as we arrived). We didn't spend the night but we did enjoy a delicious meal and a great time with family and friends. We took you guys to several different tents to visit and both of you were so good. Ayden, you LOVED playing with your cousin David Reeves and even asked if you could stay the night. We will definitely take you back to spend the night in the future. Ally Brynn you loved all of the kisses and hugs and chewing on the glow bracelets and necklaces a little girl gave you. Everyone could not get over all of your beautiful blonde curls.

The County Fair

We had such a great time at the county fair. Ally Brynn pointed at everything saying "OOK." It was pay one price so she and Ayden got to do some riding. Sunny and Richie joined us and we saw so many of our friends. Richie even took Ally Brynn down the Big Slide. I thought she would surely be scared but she wasn't. In fact, she barely had an expression on her face. There were plenty of kids to ride with and have a wonderful time. The rides were definitely Ayden's favorite. I will be taking him and some friends to the fair for his birthday so I will have more pics. We all enjoyed a tiger show with real live tigers; the kids watched in amazement. We ate great food and stayed up really late. What wonderful memories!

Ally Brynn's room

Many of you have been asking and here it is....Ally Brynn's new roommates. Carmen did such a great job and we all just LOVE it. Ally Brynn says "monk monk."

Raylrode Dayz 2008

Nana and I took Ayden and Ally Brynn to Raylrode Dayz this weekend. I have been going since I was a child and have LOVED taking the kids. We go to my great Aunt Do's house and sit in the street and watch the parade and then head downtown for food, gunfights and the Can Can girls. This year Ally Brynn tried to help Ayden pick up all of the gobs of candy out of the street during the parade.

Nana and the kids along with Jess, Rach, baby Shelby, Aunt Lydia, Kristy, Jodie and Jake all enjoyed the parade and all the candy.

Ayden was locked up in jail at Branch junction...he was amazed by the gunfighters.

Ayden and Ally Brynn got their faces painted. Ayden has converted to Clemson and was so proud to show off his Clemson paw....especially to his beautiful little friend from school Shields. Enjoy the pics....

More Soccer Fun

With each game, Ayden gets better and better on the soccer field. I also think that those on the sidelines have a huge influence on how much effort he puts into the game. On Thursday, Papa, Mammy Jackie, John David, Greg and Kevin all came out to watch his game. He was thrilled to have such a crowd and really worked hard on the field to prove his skills. Like I said before Ayden...you are such a little ham and love all of the attention!

Pig Tails

On Sunday, the kids went to MiMi's for the day while daddy and I went to Columbia. I decided to try pigtails in Ally Brynn's hair. These are her first true pig tails........Isn't she beautiful!

The Pink House

In the evenings before going to bed, we have a time for reading stories. Ayden loves stories and since we have been reading books since he was a small, he can recite most of the tons of books in his room. A few years ago on a trip to Edisto beach, we walked into a book store while waiting to eat breakfast at the Sea Cow. On the shelf was a book called the Pink House. I recognized the pink house on the cover right away because it was the family beach house of one of Andy and I's friends. We had been to that house several times and it had recently been renovated. The book was a children's story about a family that spent their summers at the Pink House on Edisto Island and was written by Kate Salley Palmer, one of the members of that family. It turns out that she is kin to Andy and I's friend Hinchy. We purchased the book and have taken it back with us to Edisto Beach several times in the past few years to share with our friends and family. It is one of Ayden's favorite stories. Last Christmas, Nana gave Ayden another book by Kate Salley Palmer. This is a story about general Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox) that fought British troops on South Carolina soil during the Revolutionary war. On Friday, Nana called us to let us know that Kate Salley Palmer was here in our town signing books. I decided to surprise Ayden after school and take him by to get his book signed and have his picture made with Mrs. Palmer. He was so excited. When we went in, there was a gentleman there with her. Ayden told her how much he loved her story and the gentleman asked Ayden if he remembered Uncle Jim from the book. Uncle Jim loves to fish off the beach at Edisto...of course Ayden remembered. The gentleman told Ayden that he was uncle Jim. On the way out, Ayden asked me...."Was that the REAL Uncle Jim?" Here is a picture of me and the kids with Mrs. Kate Salley Palmer taken by UNCLE JIM and a picture of the Pink House book.

Soccer

Ayden began his first year of soccer this week. On Sunday 9-14-08 we had a Jamboree and he played for about 30 minutes. The temperatures were in the high 90's and it was miserable. Thanks to PaPa for helping cool the kids down with a refreshing Icy. He and Zackary G. are on the same team and boy do they have a good time running and playing. Here are a few pics from Sunday. There will be more to come...

Ayden Update

I know it has been a while since my last post, so I wanted to send a little update. Last week was a very wet week. It seems as if we had rain every afternoon. One afternoon, Andy decided to take Ayden and Ally Brynn to Lowes. Outside of the store, Ayden spotted a beautiful rainbow in the sky. While shopping, Andy and the kids ran into my boss, Fran. Ayden asked her if she saw the rainbow outside. She hadn't so he proceeded by informing her that "a rainbow means that God will never send another flood." Of course, he had everybody smiling, as usual. I asked him when he got home, how he knew what a rainbow meant. He told me that he saw it on Evan Almighty. A movie we had all watched that week. If only my mind were still that sharp!

On Sat. afternoon, we watched the Carolina ball game at the house. Andi, Tate, Tad, Chi, Bert and Carley all came over. About 10:00 Ayden was walking out of the front door of the garage, and spotted a snake. Remember, it was 10 at night and no lights were on. He came running over to us and told us there was a snake. Andy cut on the light and sure enough saw its tail under a shrub. He poked a stick in there until he could get it to come out and he and Tate killed it. It was a COPPERHEAD....IN MY FLOWER BED! YIKES! We still cannot get over how Ayden saw it in the dark. I will be buying moth balls this week. I wish I would have gotten a picture of it.

Our Lil' Singer

Ally Brynn, everyday you are saying something new or learning something different. For the past few weeks you have been singing with me around the house and in the car. Tonight while taking your bath, I couldn't help but grap the camera to record your precious voice. Some of your favorite things to say right now are mine, lub you, nigh nigh, patti (pacifier), bye bye, bubba, momma, daddy, rie (anytime you want to ride the 4 wheeler or golf cart - which is "off art"), eat, and you can say anyones names that we tell you to say. You are so beautiful and to hear your voice always makes me smile. Here you are singing you ABC's and saying I Love You. I love you very much baby girl!

Click the play button at the bottom of the video to make it start.

New Addition

Last week Ayden came home from school with a huge poster for him to fill in. It was called "All About Me." There were different areas on the poster to fill in information or post pictures. One area on the bottom said "My Pet." As most of you know, we no longer have any pets. My cat and dog died within the last 3 years. Since that time Andy and I have sworn off animals. No Pets. Well when I saw this area my heart sank. We had to get a pet. SOOOO on the way home from the beach Monday, we stopped at the Wal-Mart in Walterboro and Ayden spotted the fish tanks. Guess what Ayden't new pet is? You guessed it! A fish that Ayden has named "Dave." Here are some pics of the newest member of the Westbury family, "Dave." So far Ayden and Ally Brynn have been so intrigued with Dave. Ayden is responsible for him and feeds him every morning and night. Well, last night while preparing supper, I told Ayden to wash his hands before eating. It took him a while and once he was seated at the table I decided to go check on Dave...especially since a little earlier Ayden asked if he could HOLD Dave. When I got into the bathroom, there on the side of the tank were wet, dirty finger prints, water on the counter top and all over the floor. Oh, and did I mention the water in the tank was filthy. All evidence coming from the fish tank, not the sink where Ayden was supposed to be washing his hands. Ayden and I had a talk and I explained that he could not put his hands in the fish tank and that it could really hurt Dave if he scares him. All Ayden wanted to know was "How did you know I put my hands in there?" I swear, it was one of those moments that your parents voices echo in your head....."Mommies and Daddies know everything."

Labor Day Weekend @ Edisto

We spent the Labor Day weekend at Edisto beach with our friends. Edisto is one of our favorite spots in the world. With the laid back atmosphere and rolling waves, what better place to make wonderful memories. Ayden and Ally Brynn had so much fun playing with Kylee, Jake and Carley and we had so much fun watching them. They were to funny. Ayden and Ally Brynn love the ocean and the sand. Some of my favorite memories from the trip were finding sand dollars, walking the beach with Ayden and Parrish (and seeing a flying fish up close), everybody dancing and doing the Cha Cha slide in the den(even the kids...too funny), Ayden and Carley modeling, building castles on the beach, story time with the kids, sunsets, dolphin watching and sitting and talking on the porch with the girls and being with my family and friends. I think Ally Brynn's favorite time was eating. All she did all weekend was eat. I took almost 300 pics this weekend and I think most are of Ally Brynn eating. Ha Ha. Ayden's favorite thing would definitley be playing in the beach. One night I took the kids down to the ocean at sunset. The kids were looking at the shells when a lady came by. Ayden always speaks to everyone and they struck up a conversation. She gave Ayden a beautiful star fish that she had found on the beach. He was so overjoyed with his new "real" starfish. Thanks to the Wallings, the Edmonds and the Bonnett's for a great Labor Day Weekend. We had sooo much fun and can't wait until next time.