Vacation part 2: Newport, AR

These are so out of order, but, I finally went through my pictures from the rest of our vacation. We were so glad we got to go to Newport and spend the night with the Salinases. We miss them so terribly. My dear friend told me that it really was better in a lot of ways when your friends aren’t right here because when you are together, your focus is on time together and not the day to day stuff. While that is true, and our time together is so much more meaningful now, I do miss having them right here.  Another perk of them being in Newport is that every time we visit, we get to visit with Daddy too since he lives pretty close to them. It’s a two for one deal!

 

We got to see one of Lucas’s games and what a game to see—he hit a home run! Of course nothing is better than snow cones with your best friend afterwards.  

Sleepover with cousins

We love it when the Jackson kiddos spend the night. I am going to have to get a bigger piano bench and bed when Jackson Baby #3 gets here!

 

The Paparazzi

We were enjoying a lovely lunch at one our neighborhood restaurants last week. Emmy wanted to wear the dress from her Rapunzel party; normally, I don’t let her wear dress up clothes out of the house but after one to many “boy” comments over her hair, I thought it would be fine. Not that anyone cares, but I wore a cute blue tunic with a floral scarf. Emmy fell in love with the hibachi grill and now usually insists on steak for dinner. I am glad that we can get by with a good beef and broccoli meal from the Chinese place without having to actually have a steak for each meal.

 

On the way home, Emmy borrowed my scarf. I love this picture, it looks like John is her own bodyguard. On the way home, she would run and then hide behind the bushes and cars and say “do you hear that? That clicking?” She was obviously a movie star and people were following her to get a good picture.

 

Super Proud Aunt

When Neall was a little boy, he climbed every door frame he could find. He WAS Spiderman. It is probably one of my most vivid childhood memories of him. So, when Solomon kept telling me he was Spiderman the other day, I told him about his daddy could climb door frames and the he should have him show him how. Being the brilliant boy he is, nothing escapes his memory, so Solomon did just that. Becca sent me this picture of him and I couldn't be more proud. And it doesn't hurt that he is wearing Incredible Hulk pajama bottoms. I love, love, love that sweet smile.

Preschool graduation

Emmy Ruth's school didn't have the traditional cap and gown graduation ceremony, and I am so thankful! We did, however, go to the park and have a fun picnic and everybody got their diplomas. I talked a big talk, but when it was time, I was the one crying more than others. I don't know what happened to me! We are so thankful for the wonderful friends she has made at Idlewild and look forward to going to school with many of them next year for kindergarten. We were so lucky to have such awesome teachers each year!

 

 

 

The Beach!

We decided to take a quick beach trip this summer. I didn't want to drive too much so we headed to Ocean Springs, MS. We couldn't have been more thrilled with our cabana. It was adorable and nestled just between the beach and the quaint downtown district. We loved it.

The water where we were wasn't the most enticing, but we heard about an excursion that we had to try. We got to ride a boat out eleven miles to Ship Island, a national park with nothing but a snack bar on it. It was awesome.

Some of Emmy's best quotes of the trip:
As we talked about fishing, I asked what we would do with the fish we caught and John suggested just tickling them and throwing them back. ER said, "or we could just kill 'em and eat 'em. Or send them back to our friends."

I told her I needed to write down all the funny things she was saying and she told me I was gonna need a lot of paper.

"Beaches are cool except for the goblins, monsters and vampires. Yep! None here!"

Every so often, she would kick back and exclaim, "this is the life!"

We had to make a trip to Walmart one night and she was not amused, "What are we doing here? We are here to relax and we are at Walmart??"

On the island, I headed to get food for us at the snack bar while she and John were making sandcastles. I asked if she needed anything and she replied that she needed a flag, with a crown, for her sandcastle. Sadly, they didn't have one.

At the cabana, she exclaimed, "I'm bored. I guess I'll read a book".

M4 marching band

We went to see an awesome band at the Levitt Shell tonight. They were so much fun and we got to meet this stilt walker. Emmy was nervous to meet her because she is "scared of tall people". Good thing we are so short!!!

She also calls the Shell "the clam". As they were playing she told John that it was another jam at the clam!!!