Happy 1st Birthday, Hannah!

Hannah loves her birthday present. It's just a simple set of Fisher Price stacking rings.

She loves to put them on her arms and can even use one as a phone!

When she puts the "phone" to her ear, she says, "He-wo."

She is not yet walking, but she has taken steps.

Life is never boring with little ones in the home.

Praise God for children; they are such a blessing!

Memphis Zoo 2010

The five youngest and I went to the Memphis Zoo yesterday.

It seemed like such a small group!

We had a wonderful time seeing all the animals that the littlest ones have never seen before.

Josiah almost got kissed on the face by a piglet that was desperate for supper!

Seeing God's animals up close is such a blessing with youngsters who are so full of life and curiosity.

It was a fun day!

I think the cow felt relieved that everyone wasn't with us. Such a small family.

The boys were pushing the buttons to hear the farm animal sounds.

Below, Isaac is watching a young grizzly bear playing in the water. It appeared to be having a fabulous time. Teton Trek is a great new exhibit.

We all enjoyed watching the little train go around the little track.

Isaac chased it around and around.

Samuel is such a funny boy!

My little sardines were packed in the single baby stroller.

Hannah kept hydrating herself on command. She loved being outside and didn't fuss at all the whole 3 hours we were at the zoo.

Rebecca had a lot of fun and was a big help to me.

Puzzles are fun!

The younger Upchurch children have been enjoying putting together this puzzle given to them by Grandpa and Grandma Gardner. It really is fun to work together.

Finished product!!!

Three sweet girls

Here is Rebecca with Kimberly and Alyssia at Jessica's birthday celebration.

Jessica turns 17!

We had a big gathering of friends and family for Jessica's 17th birthday celebration.

The Andersons were there, as were Tyler and Emily, Grandpa and Grandma Gardner, the Bylers, and Tony's family. It was a good time!

Cane Creek, Loblelville, TN

We try to make a trip to Lobelville, TN at least once each year. There is a beautiful, clear creek to enjoy. There are old-fashioned stores (Cane Creek Market) where we can buy bulk foods, bowls, pots, pans, kitchen goods and our children's favorite, gummy eggs.

We also go see the Oberholtzer sisters and Hope who do some sewing for me and the girls. There is also Miller's Woodworking Shop where we have bought two large and two small cedar hope chests. They also make porch swings, rocking chairs, and many other furniture items.

This last trip, we found a new street sign that showed us just how close we've been many times to some of our favorite authors of child training and how to be a better wife books, Michael and Debi Pearl. We saw their many times mentioned Church at Cane Creek and their volleyball set-up.

Here is the Church at Cane Creek I've read about. It's on stilts due to Cane Creek flooding at times. They had a big flood there just a few months ago.

(You can see the creek in the background.)

Here is what we saw in the Cane Creek Market parking lot.

Below is a schoolhouse/church that we have attended once.

The picture following this one shows where the folks tie their horses and buggies while at church or school. We played in the creek just on the other side of the trees.

This is a sign we pass on the way to the Oberholtzer's place. This last time, the road was really rough due to recent flooding that washed out the gravel pretty badly.

Here is an interesting rock we found in the creek.

Josiah went fishing with haystring attached to a stick.

It was a perfectly hot day to play in to cool, clear water.

Bethany and Rebecca used air-filled dresses as floats as they let the current move them downstream.

Josiah found a good climbing tree right at the creekside, so he did what came naturally and climbed it!

Below is proof that Mom was there, too!

Jessica and Hannah mostly stayed out of the water, but they enjoyed being near it.