What I did Last Summer by Bethany Hughes

We started driving on July 13th. Here's Gareth with his purchased especially for the car trip race car driving toy.


On July 14th we made our final stop before our destination, McDonald's in Tulsa. Had to have a playground after two days in the car.

Within minutes of arriving at Bethany's parents' home cousin Liberty was holding her favorite baby cousin. Thanks to Aunt Mikayah being on snack, toy and pacifier patrol, Bethany was able to arrive sane.

Cousin Liam had to have his turn with Baby Mall Mall (his name for Amalia). Liam loves babies.

A little swimming in Abba and Ima's front yard with the cousins.

What Amalia did for most of the trip to Oklahoma. See her incredibly dry, excema ridden skin. It's a constant fight, but we have come to manage it with hydrocortizone and Aquaphor.

Gareth playing baseball with Ima. Photographic evidence of Ima playing an outdoor sport.

Liam giving Aunt Bethany the thumbs up. He is incredibly charming and very athletic.

A little night night story with Abba and the cousins.

Crazy how big Gareth is compared to Amalia!

The Cherry Girls. Both were wearing cherry apparel and therefore needed a picture.

The boys, waiting to dig in at our shrimp boil.

Amalia spending some quality time with her younger cousin. He should arrive in October.

Amalia's first visit to Ted's Escondido Cafe in Oklahoma City. It's fantastic Tex-Mex.

We traveled to Texas for a wedding and spent a little time in the hotel pool. Gareth has decided he doesn't like pictures taken of him. So that's why he always looks glum.

Gareth and Amalia with their first cousins (Liberty and Liam) and their second cousins (Anna and Alex). We had lunch with them on our way out of town during our Texas weekend.

Bethany with her sisters, brother-in-law, cousins, and the above.

Bethany's parents, aunt and uncle (mom's side) and the above.

Liberty and Liam are quite a team. Smart and sometimes sneaky :)

Gareth with a Sonic ice cream cone. The Sonic near Abba and Ima's has a playground and volleyball courts.

Had to hit the pool with Abba.

A girl has to sleep a lot to keep up with this crew.

Liberty is a reading girl, introducing Amalia to the wonders of the written word.

Amalia meeting her Great-Grandpa and his wife Sherry. We had lunch with them on our road trip back to home.

Gareth's 2nd birthday party

The giant crane he got. Most of the birthday presents are still in their boxes in his closet, because he got so much for Christmas we don't have space to keep them on his shelves and in his baskets (and he doesn't need that many new toys at once, so we're spacing them out).

Lego set with Thomas the Tank Engine. The legos have been a big hit. Mostly he wants to build steps, cars, airplanes, buildings, towers and occasionally a train.

A little cake and ice cream to celebrate the day. Gareth is a pretty clean eater, which disappoints other people, but makes me happy :)

The cake was decorated by Liberty, Ethan, Elijah and Gareth

Grandpa spoke and Abba prayed, we all sang and ended the dedication with a prayer.

I love picture like this of my son.

Here are some pictures for Gareth's 2 year-old birthday party, which also included his dedication. It was just family and our next door neighbors.

Christmas 08 part 2

He insisted on wearing his Santa hat to bed













Matching Christmas pj's. Difficult to get a still and happy picture that late at night












With Liam. They are even cuter in person













The one he got to eat after decorating one for Santa












The Hughes side (missing Aunt Kirsy)













The Hocking side

















Our family after the Christmas Eve service at Grandpa's church












Building a snowman with the cousins














Wrestling with Liam

The Promised Pictures Cometh

"Driving" Abba's tractor at Berry Creek Farm.