At the park...

After our failed photo opportunity and our visit with Santa, we took the crew to the park for some biking and strollering.

Ellie

Bailey Speaks...And Sings!!!

I'm starting to see Carmen's point about getting out of the house on the weekends. It clears the mind, it's good for the body, and the kids have less time to destroy the house.

Anyway, Carmen snapped some great pics of Bailey while Ellie was playing on the playground. This was my favorite.

When we finally made it home, Bailey remained on stage. She's recently begun to say "thank you" and other coherent mumblings. However, out of no where, she began singing a quite noticeable tune at dinner! I took a photo of her while she was eating/singing. (We're just happy if the food stays on the table--much less the plate...)

Of course Ellie is not used to sharing the spotlight, so she had to get a "pose" in as well. Seriously, she said to Carmen, "Take my picture, too," and this is the way she posed each time.

And here is Bailey singing on her first music video. We can't figure out if it's the first part to ABCs, Baa Baa Black Sheep, or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. No matter...those American Idols have nothing on our little girl. (You'll have to turn your volume way up...she hasn't learned the proper way to project her singing voice yet.)

Near Jonesboro

Last weekend, we tried a new campground near Jonesboro...Crowley's Ridge State Park. Memaw and Pepaw camped in their RV, and we stayed in a cabin near the campground.

The living room...

Katie's sleeping arrangements...

Swimming at lake on Sunday...

Sleeping at the lake :)

On Monday, we drove to Paragould to check out the splash park. I didn't get any pictures of the actual water part because right after the lifeguard break at 3:00, someone had an accident in the water and it had to be shocked. After waiting for a while, we decided to pack up and head home.

Eating a popsicle during the break...

Sleeping during the break...

Fun in the Sun...

Pyrate Fest

In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, the National Ornamental Metal Museum hosted the Pyrate Fest on Sunday, September 19th. The museum overlooks the river and was a nice shady place to spend the afternoon. Luckily, Halloween costumes were just being put on the shelves at W.al-Mart on Saturday. So, Ellie and I snagged a pirate costume so that she would be properly attired for the festivities :)

Climbing on the ship

Looking out from the pirate ship...

Taking a ride on pirate shippy golf cart...

Getting a balloon sword

Swinging...

Bailey :)

Argggh!!! Bailey, the Grouchy Baby Buccaneer

Sleepy pirate...

A little too much grog :)

Oh No!!! The pirate popped her balloon sword...

Cheese!!

The pirate ship playset

No pirate is complete without toe bling...

Popcorn mouth...

Camping...

Friday, once Jason dropped his mom off at her house in Scotts Hill, he turned right around and drove back home. After I got home from work, we started packing our stuff so that we could hit the road. Since the weather had been nice, we decided to go camping at Arkabutla Lake. We stayed next to my mom and Jimmy in the campground at Hernando Point. Amy and Bubba brought Blaine and Milton over and they stayed in the RV with my mom and Jimmy on Friday night.

Saturday, we were going to go swimming. But...we were informed that we couldn't swim in the lake without a life jacket...and the swimming beach was closed due to renovations. Our campsites were right on the water so we walked along the beach near the RVs. It rained a little bit off and on in the afternoon, but that didn't stop Ellie and Milton from playing in the tiny swimming pool we brought and with the floaty in the road. Blaine and I drove to the gas station and picked up some worms so that he could go fishing...I think he caught three little catfish. He threw them back after they got a chance to swim around in the little swimming pool and be harassed by Ellie and Milton :)

We had hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner on Saturday night, but the best thing we grilled was the corn. Yummy!!! Amy and Bubba came back Saturday night with Ethan. The sleeping arrangements had to change because Memaw and Pepaw's RV couldn't comfortably accommodate three boys. Milton decided to stay with us in our RV. We have a bed that pulls down over the front of the cab. We have tried to get Ellie to sleep up there, but she won't. Milton did fine for the first half of the night. At some point, he managed to climb down, and he got in the bed with Bailey and I. Ellie slept on the pull-out couch with Daddy.

We came home Sunday afternoon. Ready to go again... :D

At the lake...

Looking at the fish that Blaine caught...

Determined to roll that floaty...

Milton and Ellie makin' faces

Bailey :)

@ the Zoo...

Members Night at the zoo was great Labor Day weekend fun. Jason, Ellie, Bailey and I went with Ray, his wife, and their little boy. Ray is one of Jason's co-workers. We met at a Chinese restaurant in Bartlett, and enjoyed some good food. We then met back up with them at the zoo.

Ellie and Ray looking at the armadillo

Baby giraffe...

Ellie on her favorite ride

Ellie and Ray holding hands...

Dancing

'Night, croc-a-dockal!

Sunday @ Mud Island

At the headwaters of the Mississippi River...

Dozing under the shade of her huge flower headband :)

At the fountain...

The long walk back...