Murray Getaway

Doesn't this picture show how much fun... how much joy filled our weekend?

Can't you just feel the joy in this one too?

We had a truly joyous weekend with Ya-Ya, Marshall, & Aunt Kitty Cat in Murray.

We played at the park and we played in the yard.

We read books and shared stories.

We loved and were loved.

We also tailgated before the Murray State game where this moment earned Lillianna this comment, "You can tell that girl lives in Mississippi!"

Saying hi to Racer 1, the mascot of Murray State.

We also enjoyed our first taste of Fall,
enjoying some peaceful moments in the perfect weather.
It was a great visit and we were so proud of Ya-Ya,
who just had 2 hip replacements (on the same hip!),
and is still smiling, laughing, and making lots of her funny jokes.
Thank you for a wonderful visit!

Life without PJ

It has been a bit of a sad day here.

Princess Jumper has died.

It was sudden and sad...she was fine yesterday and very sick this morning.

No details here but I knew when I saw her that it wouldn't be long.

So I told Lillianna when I picked her up from school that she was sick and might not make it.

"She might not make it forever?" was her response.

So her very first pet did not make it forever.

She was precious and brave about it all...crying a little for a moment then changing gears suddenly and completely. Just like a 4 year old should. Her sweet Daddy did all the dirty work and buried her...and surprised us with a precious marker as well.

Then we all stood by it, the girls dropped flowers, then Ellenie picked them back up, we talked about how pink her ears were and how cute she was when she did that funny flip thing. Oh Princess Jumper, thank you for a very short but sweet time with our family.

These make me smile...

Rain Rain Go Away!

It has been raining, raining, raining, raining, raining, raining, raining and raining

for days and days and days and days and days and days here.

Good thing I have these ten scrumptious piggy toes to remind me how fun the rain can be too...

and this lovely little piggy that they belong to...

and what a sweet and sassy little piglet she is!

Who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!

Oh great.

That little-person-sized ghost is back again.

False alarm!

It's just Ellenie practicing her Sumo wrestling moves...

and making us all laugh.

She is the cutest....I just want to eat her up all day long.

Nap time.

Ohhh....the girls are sharing a pillow for a little nap on the kitchen floor.

What? You two aren't going to sleep? That's not a pillow?
Well then, that's one big hug for Princess Jumper!

I just love this picture.

I just loooooooooooooove her.

Princess Jumper Twins!

I've always heard stories about pet owners who start to look like their pet...

But I never thought it would happen to us!

Don't you see a resemblance?

Why Hello again!

Guess who is feeling better?

A playhouse we can draw on - inside and out - how great!!

E: What? Who? Me?

One of my favorites: The "Yea, I know I'm really cute" look.

The picture of health...ha!

It's only the first week of September and we've already come down

with our first round of the stomach bug. ick! ick! and more ick!

Only sweet Lillianna has had it so far...

I wish I looked this adorable when I'm sick.

While La La was resting, Ellenie and I played beauty shop.

E: So now that my hair is done, can I have some make-up too please?

So glad the camera was sitting on the kitchen camera for me to catch this moment.

My children are all growing up - Boone is now six!

Tide Traitors?!

L: OOOOOOHHH look! Are you sure we are in the right place?

E: Gasp! You're right La-La!

We are defintely not in Alabama anymore. I'll start clicking my heels.

I never thought I'd see this! Or I never though Brad would let this happen...

We went to a Mississippi State Pep Rally!

We had a great time...especially when we got hugs from Bully.

L: See Ellenie, this is called a Cow Bell.

E: Huh? But it has a dog on it.

L: I know. I'm not sure they got the name right.

It was so much fun to see our sweet friend Bes there too!

She's a real State fan!


Giving her best Bama moves to Who Let the Dogs Out.

I think they are wondering if Big Al is going to have his feeling hurt

because they had so much fun!

Don't worry, they were decked out in their Crimson two days later to cheer the Tide to victory!

It's that time of year again!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 2009

What a difference two years makes!

She walked right in to her class, received a hug from buddy Meg,

and then started patting out play-doh.

No tears, no clinging...just her usual shyness beneath her quiet confidence.

She looked up from her play-doh to blow me a kiss and give a reassuring smile.

She is blossoming right before my eyes into a an absolutely lovely, lovely, lovely little girl.

Can you tell I am bursting with pride?

So much to do...so little time.

So we went on a trip...an exciting trip to see Dandy & Wil.

It was a very full trip full of things we'd never done before.

Ellenie LOVES to talk on the phone.

She had never sat in an airport terminal

with so many other people talking on their phone at the same time as her.

Lillianna's doll, Paris, had never flown on an airplane.

(Neither had Ellenie and neither had Lillianna as far as she could remember.)

I had never heard a pig talk before this encounter at the Kentucky State Fair.

This cow had never had her hair pulled into a ponytail before.

Ellenie had never seen a pig before

and this pig had never been offered a piece of gum before.

Lillianna & Ellenie had never met two animals that were more like them than these two geese.

They squawked and honked at each other just like they do.

My two little girls had been on a train before.

They LOVED it!

They had never been to Six Flags before...

or driven a Big Foot truck!

Lillianna had never been the only one on the entire carnival ride before... She wasn't so sure about it here but she loved it once it got going.

(the rest of us didn't meet the height requirements).

Whew! That's a lot of things we've never done before.

Oh wait! I'm not done.

In these few days we did more than we've done the past month...

like go to Chuck E Cheese and ride in the KenChuckE. Derby,

and flirt with 10 feet tall men,

and hug penguins,

and see amazing creatures at the Cincinnati Aquarium,

or ride on the backs of giant tree frogs,

or balance on them. (with a little help)

Lillianna and Dandy fed these little birdies cups of nectar.

I allowed these birdies to dispose of all the nectar they drank on my hair.

Drink up my little friend.

We certainly had never been this close to a Great White Shark before!

It was a great trip with so many great moments that will be treasured memories forever!

Thanks Dandy & Wil! We love you!