jjrlstiffler

Oma and Opa left today after a great visit. The kids were stoked to see them as usual and they will be greatly missed. Mo is going to stay with us for another week. Hopefully we will get to do a few more fun things before he leaves so that he isn’t too bored.

The kids birthday party went on without a hitch and we had lots of people over. The kids got too many presents and had a blast. It was nice to have Great Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Paul as well as Aunt Joyce. We don’t have them over often enough! Grandma Susan and Aunt Evee also joined us and brought many presents. The kids are now fully equipped until their 16^th birthday!

I uploaded tons of pictures and I hope that you all enjoy all of them!

I think that Jessica has decided that we need to get a family portrait yearly. I am not sure how I feel about that but I am sure that it doesn’t matter. We are sending a bunch of pictures out but I thought that I would put them up here anyway. They are in an album all by themselves, we hope that you all enjoy them!

My family from over the seas has finally arrived. Our much anticipated visit is going great! We have gone fishing, shopping, swimming, watched fireworks, and generally just hung out. This visit has been much easier than past visits because they are actually staying with us. We are looking forward to the upcoming week and hope that we continue to have fun with them.

The kids are thoroughly enjoying all of the attention and all the cool things that we are doing. They went to House of Bounce and did quite a bit of jumping while my dad, Moritz, and I went fishing with my good friend Greg.

We are having a shin-dig for the kids birthday on the 17^th of July at around 4:oo PM. I have invited a bunch of people but I am sure that I forgot some people I hope that everyone comes for a burger and a little bit of fun in the sun.

Enjoy the pictures!

Richard has beat Leukemia and the folks in Alabama are going to celebrate! I wish that we could be there but they will be here soon enough! Congratulations!

We had a great visit with the entire Mayfield clan here this weekend. Z, D, and K came up on Saturday and stayed over night. The kids had a great time playing and getting used to having other kids around. Ryan and Lily even might have learned a few words from Kylie. Unfortunately I think that Lily learned the word “No.” I am hoping the Debra got a few more pictures than we did but I posted the ones I have.

We played in the yard today and had blast. The kids ran through the sprinkler and really enjoyed themselves. This is a new thing because getting wet usually ends with tears.

These kids are making oil nets to protect Weeks Bay and all of the rivers that feed it.

We picked the first vegetables off of our plants last night. The kids wanted to play with them instead of eating them although they did try to take a bite out of them. It was a fight trying to teach them that the bell peppers are not balls and that they can throw the tomatoes. It was very interesting and a lot of fun.

Jessica and I dropped of the kids this weekend and went for some beer. It is the first time since we had the kids that we have had a weekend to ourselves. We spent the weekend in Hampton, VA with some friends that we haven’t seen in a very long time. Too long in fact! It was nice to see everyone and it was nice of Grandma Mayfield to watch the kids for us. I am sure that the kids had more fun eating cookies and milk all weekend!

On the way back home after the weekend getaway we stopped by and hung out with the Anderson clan at their newly acquired “farm.” We had a total blast swimming and playing. They have a salt water pool and I have to say it felt great to sit in it for five hours. The kids loved it and are already pointing to the pictures asking us to take them back!

We are now bracing for our last weekend before we are invaded from Japan. I think that we are going to try and get the Mayfield family together so that the kids can play and have some time to catch up. We are looking forward to a good weekend ahead of us.

Hope that you guys are enjoying the pictures!

I don’t think that I have ever been as proud of Magnolia Springs and Alabama as I am today! This Oil Spill has everyone flustered including myself. To be honest with you it messes me up every night when I think about all of the things we are going to loose at the cost of driving to and from work, church, the grocery store, etc. It is crazy to think that our way of life is causing such problems. I am glad to say that there is hope in Alabama and I am even prouder to say that it is coming from my home town!

Finally someone who is sick of the BS and is willing to do something about it! The Magnolia Springs Volunteer Fire Department has put a plan in place to be able to shut down the mouth of Weeks bay in less than three hours! This will hopefully protect the waters and areas that I have grown up loving.

If you are also from Magnolia Springs this is something that you too can be proud of!

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Good Read:

• Magnolia Springs Preparing for the approaching oil slick
• Fox News – Magnolia River Closing
• Desperate Fire Chief Risks Jail to save Alabama’s Magnolia River
• Magnolia Springs exceeds state rules to protect river