I love Coca Cola!

The song "I'd Like to Buy The World a Coke" had its origins on January 18, 1971, in a fog. Bill Backer, the creative director on the Coca-Cola account for McCann-Erickson, was traveling to London to join two other songwriters, Billy Davis and Roger Cook, to write and arrange several radio commercials for The Coca-Cola Company that would be recorded by the popular singing group the New Seekers. As the plane approached Great Britain, heavy fog at London's Heathrow Airport forced it to land instead at Shannon Airport, Ireland. The irate passengers were obliged to share rooms at the one hotel available in Shannon or to sleep at the airport. Tensions and tempers ran high.

The next morning, as the passengers gathered in the airport coffee shop awaiting clearance to fly, Backer noticed that several who had been among the most irate were now laughing and sharing stories over bottles of Coke.

In that moment, I began to see a bottle of Coca Cola as more than a drink. I began to see the familiar words, "Let's have a Coke," as a subtle way of saying, "Let's keep each other company for a little while." And I knew they were being said all over the world as I sat there in Ireland. So that was the basic idea: to see Coke not as it was originally designed to be - a liquid refresher - but as a tiny bit of commonality between all peoples, a universally liked formula that would help to keep them company for a few minutes. - Bill Backer as recalled in his book The Care and Feeding of Ideas (New York: Times Books/Random House, 1993)

I'd like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.
(Repeat the last two lines, and in the background)
It's the real thing, Coke is what the world wants today.

(story taken from here http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/coca_cola_2.htm)

I LOVE COKE! Recently I've fallen in love with Coca Cola Classic! Especially the fountain cokes! Tuesday we took some of RMLBC's youth girls to the World of Coke and the Aquarium. Both were SO MUCH FUN! Really the time just spent with the girls was GREAT! But my all-time favorite was the Coke Museum. Coke's new slogan is "Open Happiness" - and that's exactly how I felt when we walked in. It was a world of happiness! We got to take our picture with the Polar Bear, see a lot of old Coke products - see the history, see the bottling process and BEST OF ALL...TASTE ALL THE COKES from around the world! Some I would not give the slogan "Open Happiness" to - like the ones that tasted like Alka Seltzer or the one Anna told me to try that tasted "spicy." But most of them were pretty good - the one from Japan brought back a familiar taste! But none compared to the "Classic." Crystal Ramos will tell you that Vanilla is the best but I'm not scared to tell her she is ALL OUT WRONG! None is more faithful than the Classic.

Very STRANGE guy who busted in our group picture! FREAK!

The SWEET Polar Bear! Crystal is making herself very comfortable with him!

Love it!

Anna was scared and Mary was not so scared but she watched him and kept saying..."He won't touch me!" But I guess she had to look and be sure!

This is for you DADDY!

Japan Memories!

Easy does it baby girl!

Can't decide on that flavor!

Heavenly...

My very own fountain!

Thanks friends for humoring me and going all the way to Atlanta with me. See...it's more than a "refreshing drink" it's a girl trip!

I LOVE my HUSBAND!

We had the AWESOME priviledge of meeting some friends at the beach Monday to take pictures of their families. Liz and Kendra did a joint family vacation this year and asked me to come down and do pictures! I thought it was such a priviledge and they thought I would think it was a hassle?!? REALLY?!? Beach, Husband, NO KIDS...hassle?!? No... It was glorious! We had a GREAT ride down there played in the pool, layed in the sun, walked the beach, and took pictures! Really - I'll do that any day!! It's horrible to say but when you take "kids" out of the equation - going anywhere is EASY! Especially if you have kids and know all they entail JUST TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! To go anywhere! But don't be mistaken...I LOVE MY KIDS!! But they are hard work when you want to go somewhere.

Liz actually took these pictures of me and Jason - It was our "pre-pose" - which turned out to be pretty hilarious! Liz has got the idea - just keep snapping! I wanted to get on Jason's back for the picture - with our faces close together and my arms around him - yea... we just found out I can't jump anymore and he can't lift! WOW, we are getting old babe!

Can't get up!

It ain't happenin'!

TA-DA!! But, I was just so proud to be up there I forgot what the pose looked like in my head - ha!! But - I think this will work!

I love you Jason!! You are the best husband in the whole wide world and I LOVE living my life with YOU!!

Here are a few pictures I took for Liz and Kendra!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=465258&id=871615244&l=33f57d94c1

Family Fun

Bowling is SO FUN! A couple of weeks ago we went with some friends from church and yesterday we took the kids! I love it!

Vestavia (and many other bowling alley's around) have a summer program called "Kids Bowl Free" - all you pay for is shoes and you get 2 games free!

After a SLIGHT change in plans yesterday (we were headed to Alabama Adventure) we decided to finally use our bowling passes! And in my opinion is was just as fun (if not 'funner')! It's nice and cool in the bowling alley! I like it there! ha!

Silena and I took all the kids and the Cvacho's KILLED the Dollars! Noah is so much like Jason it's not even funny! He tried really hard, many techniques, stances, and styles, all leading to the same result.

I personally think the way to win in bowling is to just throw it down the lane. Don't think about it, don't practice a swing, don't worry about your stance - THROW IT! Actually, throw it halfway down the lane - where it doesn't have time to gutter (even though the kids had bumpers up - they need to be practicing keeping it in the lane!). Anyway, it was a lot of fun even if we didn't win! The kids would get SO EXCITED and hug and scream and jump around! It really is an exciting game!

I love SUMMER!

Lifegaurd OFF Duty

Isaac is basically - everywhere! He hasn't perfected his walking but I'm amazed at his climbing! I know in these pictures it's just a little chair he is sitting in! And he got there all by himself but at church - he climbs a slide up to the top! He climbs on the couch and anywhere else he wants to get! He likes to climb! He's so strong! Not to mention ADORABLE...

See!

This Makes Me SMILE BIG!

A little history here! When I was little my sister and I along with our cousins, Josh and Nate (when we were older Rachel came - she missed out on A LOT of fun), anyway, we would stay a week at my grandmothers house. We ALWAYS looked forward to this week! It's sad but we never saw our cousins much during the year so this was our time together! We did many things like going to a little fair like park, we went to Point Mallard once, we would ALWAYS feed the ducks at a park that looked Japanese. Mamma would take us to a movie and sneak in candy! We would go to Kroger to get our candy. I was always scared about this but that didn't stop me from dropping the candy I liked into Mamma's purse! She would take us to Toys R Us to get ONE toy for the week. In the times we were actually at the house we would play church where Josh was always the preacher and Silena was ALWAYS the piano player. I always had some babies in the nursery (which is funny now that I have 4 kids - 2 more than any of them). Nate would be an usher - and he may have actually done the music. Am I right about that? I mean we would set it up with the elevated dinner trays and pews! We went all out! That's how little Christian kids play! HA! It was fun though! We also played board games - my favorite was LIFE! I loved to fill my little car up with pink and blue people! But almost EVERYDAY and ABSOLUTELY every time we got together we would watch a video my grandad made that had Donald Duck and the Chipmunks and Little Rascals. This is a small part of one of our FAVORITE videos! It makes me smile so big! I love these memories! SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY...our childhood video has gone missing! We always talk about it and wish we could see it again but it's gone! So thanks to YouTube...I can see a little bit of it again!!

THOSE WERE THE DAYS! I really LOVE my family and I love that as we have grown older and our cousins have gotten married we actually see each other more! And we don't fight with each other - but actually have conversations. They have turned out to be really good God fearing guys! I'm feeling it a privilege to know them! Thanks for the memories!!

A HAPPY FOURTH INDEED...

We hope you had a GREAT fourth of July! We sure did! I kinda like having the 4th on a Sunday! We had a great service Sunday and a lunch all together. It was so delicious and fun! Since Isaac's birthday was Friday we did the smash cake thing with him at church. He likes cake!

We came home and rested a while before heading out to our friends Erin and Tyler's house! We had dinner with them. Tyler took the kids on a four wheeler ride! Then the Colvin's insisted on watching "The Book of Eli" with Jason (to get his input) then for the big finale of the night - fireworks! And Erin just so happened to find "the wedding sparklers" - they burn for 4 minutes! That was exciting! We also did some big fireworks too!

We just had a great time - eating, laughing, and doing fireworks! I'm so thankful for our freedom here in America but as reminded Sunday morning I'm most thankful for our Freedom in Christ! I hope I truly embrace that freedom and stop trying to save myself! Christ has paid an amazing payment for me! I'm truly thankful!

More Birthday's...

Well, I can't let my birthday glory go on for too long! We have more birthdays! And a REALLY special one too!!! Jason turned 34 Friday - whoo hoo!! You're hangin' in there buddy!! And Little "Busy, Izzy" Isaac turned ONE on the same day!

I'm not gonna lie - this past year has been a DOOZIE!!! There were times I felt so overwhelmed and spent a lot of days wondering what in the world have we done! It was in times when Mary couldn't walk yet and wondering how I was going to get anything done with 2 babies, or times when Isaac was sick and Mary didn't understand she wasn't the center of our world. Or when Mary was sick and Isaac didn't understand he would be fine playing in the floor! It was times when everyone was in a bad mood and cries and screams echoed through our house! It was sleepless nights and busy days!

But, it was all worth it! Isaac has been a TRUE joy. I say all the time - he had to be a "surprise" or he definitely wouldn't be here with us! He has made our family so unique - people are REALLY surprised and taken aback when I say..."I have four kids!" It's funny to see people's reaction. But I love it! And the older Isaac gets the more we really enjoy him. He now interacts with us - laughs at us, hugs us, and kisses us!

I have not taken him for his "well" visit -I know y'all are all so surprised! But we did have to go to the Dr. the other day and he is 23 pounds! WHOO HOO!! He gained a pound! He is not walking yet but as of yesterday he took 3 BIG steps. We were at a friends house and he let go of the foot stool - thought about sitting down and then went for it! Walked 3 steps right to me! We ALL celebrated...he had no idea what just happened. I'm so excited about him walking.

He has also gotten another tooth. It's on the top - 3 on top...2 on bottom. He still loves to eat and I've yet to find something he won't have anything to do with! He loves REAL food! His smile will continue to melt my heart everyday. He is really happy - but also has his outbursts of frustration! He is so aggressive. More so than the others! He is going through a "Don't ignore me stage" - he hates if Jason or I walk past him! He is really independent but also likes to be noticed!

The thing I'm most excited about is that he is FINALLY sleeping through the WHOLE ENTIRE NIGHT! He was waking up at least 2 times but sometimes 3 times a night! That is the hardest part of child rearing to me! I LOVE MY SLEEP! BUT, he is sleeping really well!! Even sleeping like a DOLLAR! He will go to sleep with a bottle - no long drawn out nighttime routine. He actually hates it if you try to rock and cuddle him. He wants his bottle and his bed - that's all! I think summer has helped with his sleeping too! I LOVE SUMMER!

The kids have him saying some really cute stuff too! I love to see them all play together. He will say - "BOO!" - I guess we are gearing up for Halloween! He will say, "Shhh...", he hears that one a lot too. He is really trying to say a lot of things and during VBS he perfected his "Yee......HAW!" That was extremely cute!

I am really looking forward to this year! I love this stage we are about to enter - the 1-3 year old stage! It's gonna be fun...







I will spare you all the things Jason can now do and accomplish! But HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!! You are amazing and I love living this life with you!