A Rip Roaring Good Time

Our church held Bible School this week and the theme was a Wild West/Cowboy kind of thing.  Well, we decided to leave our boots and chaps behind and sport our maroon today in preparation for the big game! So, happy Maroon Friday from VBS!!!!

 We had a petting zoo today and I was shocked when I saw this little girl going on a pony ride.  She is normally so timid and cautious about trying new things, but she seemed to enjoy it!

 They also got to take a ride in the horse and buggy.  The kids thought it was pretty awesome, and I have to admit, it was fun!

After watching EK with all the animals, I am thinking she may become a vet.   She LOVED the chickens and the goat.

Now, let's take care of business in Omaha!!! Go Dawgs!!!!

Fun Times

We spent a few days in Madison before our 2nd home study interview.  We took the kids to play at the park and they had such a fun time!

Ella Kate even got to go to school with Haley one morning.  Haley is working in the summer camp (day care) at MRA with the 3-4 year olds, so EK just fit right in with the rest of the kids.  She LOVED going!! Poor girl is missing school so badly!!!!

We were able to visit with my sweet Papaw some too.

There was a lot of playing at Kay Kay and G's house.  Walker decided to take up a little golf.

We did a little swimming as well.  Good thing EK likes it so much since this week is swimming lessons week!!!

We have been burning up the road lately between Disney, Jackson and then a quick trip to Columbus for pre-marital counseling for a sweet couple that will get married in a couple of months.  It is is nice though to be home for a bit!  Ella Kate has a big week with swimming lessons and she is going to art camp.  We are LOVING our summer!!!!

Thanks!

While we were away at Disney, this little guy spent some time with Nana and Pop. I know he had a blast and kept them quite busy!! We so appreciate the Nelson's keeping him so we could have some special time with Ella Kate. As much as I missed him, it would have been challenging to wrestle him on our trip!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Nana and Pop!!!!

Another Magical Day

We went back to Magic Kingdom for another magical day.  Since we had done almost everything the day before, our second day really allowed us to do EK's favorite things some more and just enjoy being there with our sweet girl.

The teacups were a favorite, so she rode them several times.  She LOVED spinning that sucker as fast she she could.

But her absolute favorite was the Barnstormer Roller Coaster.  She rode it 3 times and screamed from the time the little train took off until the time it stopped again.  She was hilarious!!! Can't wait for her to grow a few more inches so she can ride on some other roller coasters!

 We went by to meet Mickey and found Pluto on our way!

 We decided to check out the Storybook Princess area since she is such a princess fan, and I am soooo glad we did!  She got to see Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella.

 The princesses were so sweet to Ella Kate and she got to spend a few minutes talking with them.  She showed them each her pressed penny she had gotten at lunch that day and also her new charm necklace.  Sweet girl even thanked them for sending her the postcard months ago.

 Aurora asked EK if she had any pets, and EK told her, "Well, I had a cat, but she ran away!"  Ummm...what??? She's never had a cat!!!

 We truly had such an amazing time.  Ella Kate was just precious and it meant the world to me to get to watch the joy, wonder, and excitement in her little eyes.  None of this would have been possible without my parents!!! Thank you so much G and Kay Kay for such a magically wonderful trip!!! We will never forget it!!!!!

A Magical Trip!

It all started months ago with a simple statement.  As Ella Kate and Big G were watching television, a commercial for Disney World came on the TV.  EK said, "G, I want to go there!!!"  And so, the planning began! We have been so very excited to head to the Magic Kingdom and our trip did not disappoint!!!  Disclaimer:  There are a TON of pictures...and I'm not even sorry!!!! :)

On Wednesday,  we were at the gates for the Welcome Show and Rope Drop.  

What trip would be complete without the family picture in front of Cinderella's castle?

With the help of my friend Lynn Crowe, we had our "plan" in place as to how we would maximize our time and avoid the crowds.  I was incredibly pleased with how all of our planning paid off!  Between my planning, wait time apps, and fast passes, we only had to wait about 20 minutes max at any ride during an incredibly busy time of year!!!  I'm only slightly obsessive....

Once we made it in the park, we headed for the new Fantasyland area.  The Little Mermaid ride was so cute!!!

Of course, my favorite part of It's A Small World was the China area.  =)  Can't wait to have Emma home so we can take ALL our kids...in a few years!

Ella Kate LOVED the Peter Pan ride because she got to see Captain Hook...she is obsessed with him!

After our first few rides, we had a breakfast scheduled with the Princesses.  EK loves all things Disney Princess so I knew this was going to be our best shot at seeing all of her favorites.  She was a little timid at first, but quickly warmed up to them.  They were all so sweet and chatted with her and signed her autograph pillow case.

I love a parade and so does my child!

My little thrill seeker had a ball riding all the rides.  She only made me a little sick to my stomach making Dumbo go up and down.

She got to meet a few of her favorite characters as well.

 We were able to do everything that we wanted to do! The only snag we had all day occurred while we were riding Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride.  The weather report had shown a chance of rain all day.  It rained a bit while we were eating with the princesses that morning and we thought we were in the clear.  Well....not so much.  While on the magic carpet, the flood gates opened and we quickly became drowned rats!!! I wish there were pictures/video footage of this happening.  It was hysterical!!!  Luckily, the rain was short lived and after a quick change of clothes for EK, we were on to our next adventure!!!

The Electrical Light Parade is one of my favorites from Magic Kingdom!!!!

After the parade, we took in the fireworks and then headed back to the hotel for the night.  We had such a wonderful day!!!!

Sweet Summertime!

Yeah for SUMMER!!!! The end of a school year is always crazy busy, and this year is no exception.  We have so many fun things to do this summer and we are super excited.  My phone was getting pretty full of pictures of our recent happenings, so I thought I better share a few of them.

A couple of weekends ago, J was able to officiate the wedding of our precious friend Anne.  She was in our student ministry in Pelahatchie and it is always nice to go "home" to Shiloh!

Ella Kate and J have been quite busy because they have planted not one, but two gardens in our back yard.  EK is OBSESSED with checking the garden multiple times a day just to monitor the progress.  Hoping for a successful crop!!!

I cried when I opened my order from Baby Be Blessed.  Ella Kate got the doll of the right for Christmas one year, and I knew that sweet Emma would need one too.  So, before we even started our paperwork, I ordered the doll.  It came in this week!!!!  I love that scripture is on each doll and the ladies that make these, pray over each one.  I just can't wait to take that sweet doll to China when we go get Emma.  (a dress is being made for the doll so she doesn't have to remain unclothed!!)

We have been doing a lot of swinging on the front porch and on our swing set.  These two LOVE it!! Growing up, my cousins and sisters and I would play this amazing game called "Grand Canyon" on the big swing at my grandparents house.  We would spend hours on the swing trying to figure out how we would get across the Grand Canyon because our cable car/trolley type thing stopped mid way across the canyon.  Creative, right?  Anyway, it is one of my favorite memories from when I was young, so EK and I have been playing it daily.  It just makes my heart smile!

And speaking of sweet memories, this week marked the 8th anniversary of my Papaw Jones passing away, and the 2nd anniversary of my Mamaw Porter passing away.  I always get super emotional. 

 Ella Kate never knew Papaw Jones but she speaks of Mamaw Porter quite frequently.  While we were cleaning up all of Walker's party decorations, my precious baby girl said, "Mommy, I want to send these balloons up to Heaven since Mamaw couldn't be here today." I lost it, and we went outside and sent all those balloons on their way.  

We got the chance to go hang out with the Braddy's at their church's crawfish boil on Sunday afternoon.  J jokingly said "this is what it must feel like to be a church member!"  It was a different feeling for sure to not have all the pastoral duties, but it was super nice to just get to hang out with great friends and just play together as a family!

We went for a play date on Tuesday with some friends to the park in Sumrall.  It was a beautiful day and we had the park all to ourselves.  These two fair-skinned boogers LOVED playing in the water.  I see many return trips this summer in our future.

Have a GREAT Thursday!!!!