Izzy
Izzy, James & Mimi 
Nick
Noah, Hunter, James & Samuel
Izzy
Nick
Shaun, Courtney & Henry
Aidan & Olivia
Cooper & James
Mason & Aunt Katie
Noah & Aunt Becca 
James & Olivia
Mason & Noah
Cooper, Uncle Mark & JamesSoooo...I have a lot of catching up to do on here! Although I don't feel like we've done much this summer, we've apparently been busy (or I would have found the time to update!) I've been doing a lot of sewing, and we've spent a lot of time at the pool although not as much as I'd have hoped. We made a quick jaunt down to L.A. (Mobile & Atmore) and took a short day trip to Auburn a few weeks ago to pick up a bookcase and visit with my cousins and were then in Jackson, MS last weekend to meet our newest cousin/nephew, but other than that we've been homebound for the most part...
...and now the summer is almost gone! My first clue to that was a call I got a few weeks ago...from James' new teacher! YES, I said teacher! My baby is going to school in September...CRAZY! It's just two days a week in the mornings and while most people call it MDO, it's still school to me. The other clue was the arrival of our new nephew/cousin Henry! Aaron's little sister Courtney (and husband Shaun) just had their first baby boy (see previous post.) She was due August 12th, but delivered him on August 7th (which also happens to be my sister's wedding anniversary...Happy belated Anniversary, Erin & Blake!)
Henry makes boy cousin #7 for James & Noah! If you're reading this and know anything about my family, you know that I'm the oldest of 6 and the first 5 of us are girls. Aaron has 2 brothers and a sister and cumulatively between the two families, boys have won out so far! On my side, there are 3 boys and 1 girl (all ages 4 and under with the last 3 being born just months apart!) For the Dettling clan, there are 3 boys (soon-to-be 4) and 1 girl...bringing the grand total (including our two boys) to 9 boys and 2 girls! Olivia (July '08 - Ashley's daughter), Mason (November '08 - Erin's son), Noah (December '08 - our 2nd) and now Henry (August '09 - Courtney's son) will all be less than a year apart! It's been a busy couple of years for our families (and I'm pretty sure we aren't done yet!)
Easy Cousin Math:
3 (of 6) Reynolds' children + 4 Dettling children =
5 Dettling boys, 1 Dettling girl, 1 Sirmon boy, 2 Harris boys, 1 Mendoza boy & 1 Mendoza girl
(For added fun, sing in "Partridge in a Pear Tree" fashion OR try saying that 5 times fast!!!)
P.S. Most of the photos are from several visits home and to Jackson between March and August!
So for those of you wondering what it would be like to have a large family, this is what happens when that large family starts making their own family! My mom went from 0 to 6 grandkids in 2 years! Fun times! Christmas will be intersting, fun and LOUD this year! :) And I wouldn't have it any other way...
