Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Something every boy should have


Since my last blog talked about hunting, I thought I would show you what Allan bought Will. Every boy needs a bb gun in life. Allan bought Will his first gun just after we arrived home. Will has enjoyed shooting at the lake and at Allan's parent's house. He is getting to be quite a good shot, just like his dad.

Monday, July 30, 2007

A Quiet Week

Last week, we spent time together, just the 4 of us, at my parent's lake house. It was the first time it has been just us since leaving the Philippines. While we have really enjoyed visiting friends and family, it was nice to have some time to be ourselves. We were on our own schedule. We didn't have to get dressed until noon if we didn't want to. We did spend some time in Columbus though. My dad had knee replacement surgery last Monday at the Hughston Sports Medicine Hospital. He is doing really well and recovering nicely.

We love being in Pine Mountain, Georgia. It is so relaxing to be in the wooded Georgia hills. Pine Mtn is a small little town sandwiched between Callaway Gardens and FD Roosevelt State Park, near Warm Springs. I am sure everyone knows exactly where that is. My parent's house sits at the end of a dirt road on a little 17 acre lake. We like to canoe, fish, swim, and putter around on a small boat. It is quiet and relaxing. In the spring, a goose family gave birth to 3 goslings. While they were no longer little by the time we arrived, we have really enjoyed seeing the goose family swim and fly around the lake. Unfortunately, at the end of the week they seemed to have flown off to parts unknown. The kids fascination with the geese has been replaced though by a green heron. They love chasing him in the boat from place to place around the lake.

There have been times in the last week, I have thought about our partner Scott in the Philippines. Scott loves to hunt. While home on furlough last year, I don't think he even saw a deer while out hunting. Scott, next time you are home, you need to come to Georgia where "the deer and the antelope play." OK so I haven't seen any antelope, but the deer are plentiful. If we get up early enough, we can see them out in the yard. In our family, Will is the only one up early enough. He always tells me when he sees them. The rest of us have seen some fawns playing on the dirt road. On Friday, I saw them twice--2 little siblings, who just stood there looking at me in the car. While I was thinking..."didn't your mother teach you not to play in the road?", they were probably thinking...."Why are you driving on our playground." The kids just drool over them. As I was going to pick the kids and Allan up from the historical Liberty Bell Pool, I stopped and got the following picture of one of the "twins". This picture is just for you, Scott.....

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Prepare for Take-off

No, it's not time for us to head back to the PI quite yet. These are some pictures I found on Emily's camera that were taken when they went flying with Gramps. Both kids were thrilled to be able to be the "pilot". Gramps let them each have a turn to fly the plane. Poor Allan didn't get to be the pilot this time. Sometimes it's tough when the kids get older.

Sweet Home Alabama!

A couple weeks ago, we spent the week at Allan's parent's house in the big town of Moody, AL, just outside Birmingham. We had a chance to visit with family and old friends. Nana and Gramps were so happy to be able to spoil the kids a little bit. I thought you might like to see some pics we took there. By the way, Emily has decided this furlough thing is alright! She has really enjoyed being the center of attention everywhere we go. Her friends and family are all so happy to see her. I guess everyone should experience being the belle of the ball once in a while.

Gramps, Allan, Emily, and Will at
the McWayne Science Center in Birmingham
Gramps the pilot, gives pointers to Will on how to fly
The sweet faces of my beautiful kids!

Emily caught a "fish" this big...
or did it catch her?

What do you think of this picture for next year's Christmas card?
Gramps paid the kids to clean up sticks on his 4 acres
Emily snuggles with Nana's dog Oreo

Saturday, July 21, 2007

More Pictures from the 4th of July week

Here are some more pics from our week with my family:
My brother brought everyone a yoyo from his company.
They make wonderful ringing and siren noises.
My dad wins the expert yoyo competition
We decided to celebrate all the grandkids birthdays together this summer
This is our big birthday blast.
The kids are 10, 10, 12 and 12
Watching fireworks at Callaway Gardens
The girls play on the lake in the boat

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

5,4,3....

Ahhh, Walmart! I know there are many of you who probably greatly dislike Walmart. I have at times fallen into that catagory. After 2 years of shopping in another country, I have greatly enjoyed one stop shopping at Walmart. My motto for Walmart used to be..."if they don't sell it, I don't need it." The same holds true today. I have greatly enjoyed buying food, clothes, shoes, undies, socks, cosmetics, laundry soap, a dvd for Emily, a nintendo game for Will, a toy or 2, and the list goes on. I have been to 5 different Walmarts in 4 weeks in 3 different states.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Happy 4th of July!

I typed the following blog on the 4th of July. We have been on dial up though so I had a hard time uploading the pictures. So now 2 weeks later, here it is.....

After 10 days in Greenwood, we are back at my parent’s lake house in Pine Mountain, GA. My whole family is here for the week and we are enjoying being back together again. The cousins have jumped right back into their relationship like they have never been apart. We have spent the last few days fishing, boating, and lazing around together. We just finished our lunch extravaganza of b-b-q and later will head over to Callaway Gardens for their 4th celebration. There will be a concert by the Swinging Medallions with beach dancing followed by fireworks. In case you are wondering, I'm sure Emily will dance in the roped off dance area, but Allan will not. Here are a few pictures of the day so far.




Getting ready to eat


The kids table



Mimi's famous flag cake
Emily, Beth and Pop picked the blueberries yesterday

A 4th of July tradition...
Pop always leads the kids in the Pledge of Allegiance
I discovered, much to my dismay,
that Will doesn't remember the Pledge.
He of course does know the Philippine national anthem

About Us

Allan & Ginger Gilmer, Philippine Mission P.O. Box 2035 Antipolo, Rizal 1870 Philippines