Blogging is hard for me...

Hi, Everyone!  It's been forever since I got on here.  I just finished admiring and catching up with all of my friends' and family's blogs.  So cool.  I just get so discouraged when it comes to our blog.  Primarily, I think, it's because we don't have a digital camera.  It's nearly impossible to blog on a frequent basis because by the time the 35mm film is developed, it's been a month since the event occurred that I was going to blog about.  Then, I just give up trying to keep up because it's old news...

So, I don't know how much longer we'll be keeping up our blog.  Life has gotten a whole lot more complicated and difficult this past fall, as well.  With a new baby on the way (Yay! and "all day sickness" has taken me down!), and Larry's very very difficult and discouraging school year, blogging is the last thing on my mind.  With James now in school full time, I would have thought my time would be freed up, but Johnny has filled the void...needing my attention and time, especially since his older brother and playmate is no longer around much.  Not to mention I've been feeling like crap all the time, too!

So, I'm wanted to update anyone who does check this pitiful blog out every once in a while, that we're still alive and kicking...we're just not bloggers.  Forgive my cynicism, but maybe, one day, we'll get that digital  camera and I won't have to spend oodles of time trying to upload a single picture and create all the wonderful things that so many of our family and friends have done...but for now, I'm feeling that we're going to quietly fade out of the blog-o-sphere. 

THANKS for the times you have checked us out and commented. 
And Happy Holidays!
Love,
Foxette (Foxxey and little foxes are sleeping in the den)

SUMMER 2012 - June and July

We have had a very busy summer, so far!
 Larry's Summer Job
 June was filled with the end of a very difficult school year for Larry and his starting a summer job as an activity director's assistant at a Senior Living facility. What a blessing for him to get the job through connections with a friend from church who is the executive director of the facility.  Larry calls bingo almost every day.  He puts together little brunches, teas, and parties for the residents.  And he's helped organize and supervise craft projects.  His favorite part, though, is the time he gets to spend visiting with the seniors and hearing them talk about their lives and families.

Pioneer Trek
The highlight of June, though, was when Larry and I were able to participate in our church's youth pioneer trek! It was so so hard, but a lot of fun. Neither one of us had ever been on a trek as a youth since they started having them after Larry and I were in college.  And this was our first camping experience since we were married- so you can only imagine how inexperienced we were with camping gear, let alone supervising 10 other youth outdoors in a kind of "backpacking" retreat for 2 days and nights! Our church had the retreat or "youth conference" in the Uhwarrie National Forest about an hour south of where we live. We put all of our gear, with the exception of tents, on a handcart, and we pushed/pulled it for about 6.5 miles on the first day and about 4 miles the second day.  It was hot and humid and the trail was very thick with trees.  It was soooooo challenging, but we did it!  I've never been so sweaty or so dirty in my life!!! (not even at Girl's Camp!) We truly appreciate the sacrifices of the pioneers.
I'm so bummed I can't post any of the pictures because our computer's CD drive isn't working! :(

July 4th and VA trip w/ the Fox family
A week after the trek, we hit the road and came up to VA to visit Larry's side of the family.  We have a ton of pictures thanks to Brett & Lisa and Erik and Nichole!

The highlights of our visit are in the following pictures!

On the 4th of July - getting ready to shoot off fireworks in the culdesac with all the family!!  It was SOOOO hot!!

We went to see the fireworks show near Fairfax Highschool...sitting along 29 and 50....memory lane!

Johnny turns 2

I know it's been a month, since Johnny's birthday, but we have been so busy with end of school, Larry's new summer job, and getting ready for a youth conference pioneer trek, that I've not been able to catch up, until now! We celebrated his b-day with Grandma and Grandpa Fox when they were here, the middle of May. Then we celebrated again on Memorial Day weekend. It was so much fun. He really got into the spirit of cake and presents. So here's a few pictures to share with you how much our 2 year old has grown!

Lighting the candles!  Johnny was not so sure about the fire!

Johnny loves the Happy Birthday song, and even sang along with us towards the end.

Here he is posing...what no fingers and looking at the camera?!  A miracle!!


CHEESE!

The two boys are so happy!!  Presents! 

We love gardening!

our Gardenia azealea in bloom!  One of the cool plants that we found in NC!  Unfortunately, no scent, though.





Larry's palm tree!

Baby romaine lettuce with purple pansies and a pinwheel.



Romaine lettuce in our garden with green onions!



Soccer!



The photo above is where James is taking on a player from the other team to get the ball!
















 James loves to play soccer!  He's always loved to run, and now he can play a sport that requires a lot of it!  These pictures were taken at his second soccer game of the season.  He's learning a lot, and so are we!

I don't think he could keep this one from going out of bounds!

James has scored in 2 out of the 3 games! 

It's always fun to see him run with the ball, and he is very excited when he scores! 

Here's James and his buddy "Hank." They have a blast together during water breaks!

The team on picture day!  James loves his coaches!

We're so proud of you, James!

Easter pictures



Easter Sunday!  Our handsome boys!!!




Happy Spring!



Our busy weekend!

We had a great weekend! We ate green eggs for breakfast on St. Patricks Day!

Then we took our cousin Kimball (in the form of "flat Kimball") to Greensboro, NC for a train show. Daddy and James worked out in the yard all Sat. afternoon.

Here are James and Johnny after church, looking so handsome!

Our "8th" was great!

We had a great Valentine's Day! This has to be the first holiday that both boys were in incredible moods and cooperated beautifully! We had pink heart pancakes for breakfast! Then the boys and I drove up to Larry's school later that morning with a surprise visit and tasty burger from "Cook Out." He was surprised when he walked into the cafeteria with his class and we were sitting at his table. All the kids loved meeting the boys. Then after we left and came home, Johnny took a nap and James and I decorated and cleaned up the house. I started dinner and Larry got home. We passed out valentines to each other and ate a great meal (even Johnny ate it - and that's saying something for someone who really really dislikes dinner food). Then we had valentine treats and put the boys to bed. Larry picked up our friend Barbara who is an elderly lady in our ward and she house sat, while Larry took me out to dinner. He did such a great job! The food was divine and we had excellent service! Larry brought two of our wine glasses (from our wedding) and we toasted each other with fresh lemonade. He then spent much of the dinner sharing with me his homemade card - 8 reasons why he loved me! "8" being the lucky number of the day for our 8th anniversary! It was a wonderful evening with the man I absolutely love! We had an amazing anniversary/Valentine's Day! And we got a couple of surprise gifts that were so thoughtful from friends and family!!! Here's to 8 happy blissful years and counting onward!

Grandparents' visits!

We love our grandparents!