Bribery Will Get You Everywhere

This man has been known to bribe my baby with all manner of candy, chips and cookies. Anna Fair's love has been quite successfully bought, she thinks he is the bee's knees. Thank you, Granddaddy! Though it does have one small upside, I have seen her eat foods from him that she would normally not touch. I guess it's that theory of conditioning. He always gives me good stuff, I expect him to give me good stuff, so these collards must be good. Right?

The Love and Rejection of Emma

While we were at the pool one morning, we began noticing Laurie had befriended a little girl and they were buddying up fast.

Me: Laurie, who's your friend?
Laurie: It's Betsy Ball!

Which I found odd that this blond headed child had the exact same name as another blond headed friend we left in Jackson. After investigation, we found from her grandmother that she was Emma and 6 years old. Emma was so sweet to young Laurie, they were sliding, jumping, Laurie even ditched us at one point to hang with Emma and her family in the hot tub.

All was well, until Laurie gave Emma a stranglehold down the slide with a slight drowning at the bottom and Emma cooled a little on the friendship after that. Poor Laurie, she was devastated and bawled over her loss. We whisked Laurie off to the lazy river and have never mentioned Emma again.

Beach Trip - The Beach

Laurie did love the swimming pool, but we did manage to drag her away a few times. I love watching the waves and the ocean smell in the air. Could do without all the sand in my suit.

We built a super awesome castle complete with moat and seashell decor. I can't believe I didn't get a better shot than this.















How do they manage to get so much sand on them?
















Jumping waves.
















I love that when we divvy the children up, I quite often end up with Anna Fair. My little lamb that loves to stay near. Exhibit A, cuddling in my lap while Will and Laurie play in the waves.
















Exhibit B, playing in the shade with her tractor.
















We risked the horrors of staying up late for a little moonlight stroll one night. It never even occurred to Anna Fair to leave Daddy's shoulders, while Laurie ran the beach like a madman. There were jellyfish everywhere and it is only by God's grace that she wasn't stung.
















We spied little crabs with each sweep of our flashlight and we managed to catch one. My fearless child was terrified he was going to jump up and get her.

Beach Trip - The Pool

There are basically two things we did on vacation, the beach and the pool. We thought we might shop more, maybe the zoo, find a playground, but nope, we did the beach and the pool. Here's the pool.

Laurie started the week really struggling in her swimming, but by day 7, she needed very little assistance from Will to make it from the slide to the ladder. So proud of our girl!
















The lazy river was a failure last year, Laurie was furious she couldn't fit in her own tube. She loved it this year and Anna Fair was furious she couldn't fit in her own tube. So, there ya go.






























I can't imagine how many times Laurie went down the slides. She has always been fearless and was definitely the youngest and one of the few wearing a floatie. She loved to boast, "I slide with the big kids!" Anna Fair wouldn't touch a slide with a ten foot pole.
































Laurie may have ruled the slides, but Anna Fair was queen of the shallows, so dear splashing and swimming in her own little area. After chasing fearless Laurie, it was a pleasant change to lounge beside Anna Fair while she sweetly played.
































Ah...the Dora Kickboard, loved by both girls. Good story, I believe we forgot the Dora board at the lazy river, despite looking, thought it was gone. While I was relaxing on the balcony one day, I thought I spied it floating in the pool, even confirmed with binoculars. Will retrieved it, even had a little boy swim out to get it for him. He returns triumphantly, only for Laurie to ask, "Where did the fish go?" It was not our Dora board, though it did sport the same mermaid Dora. We had to sneak it back down to the pool and hope no one witnessed our thievery. We are still wandering who stole ours.















Nice legs.
















Anna Fair was super excited about her donkey float.






























Laurie singing and twirling in the pool.

Beach Sneak Peak

I am uploading and sorting our beach pictures. All 150 of them. And that's after I already deleted all the duds. Who takes that many pictures?! Here's a couple of shots we took of the girls on the beach in their sweet dresses. Aren't they adorable?

VBS - 3 Year Old Style

Loving Vacation Bible School this week. Three year olds are super busy, but they are so dear, so eager and interested to learn more about Jesus. I want to take them all home with me. But I won't, because I'd go crazy and their Mammas would come looking for them.

Phoebe Kruger has been amazing as our bible teacher. She has more energy than the 3 year olds do. We are studying the life of Joseph and her skits have been perfect for us.















At the start of each lesson, Phoebe asks them to pull their Bibles out of their pockets. You can see all these sweet little hands still holding their Bibles.






























A brief break between activities gave me a chance to photograph all my little lambs. We have loved hanging out with Cousin Meg and Cousin Katherine.















While waiting for all the mommas to come, Mrs Bartling has been a life saver playing songs for us. By the end of the day, these little people are ready to go home!

Rapid Fire

I'm not sure when the last time our computer was working, but it's been a long time. So, here's what we've been up to so far this summer.

Visiting Baby Jasmine at the zoo.














Being the cutest 18 month old ever.
















We spend a lot of time in Yazoo City, fishing with her baby fishing pole. She was mad she didn't catch anything with her plastic worm. Daddy wouldn't help a girl out and give her a cricket.















Wearing our life jacket while on the pony.
















We took swimming lessons from Ms Lu Lee. Laurie absolutely adored her and is still asking when we are going back to see Ms Lu Lee. Laurie was great at doing everything Ms Lu asked and she is going to be a great swimmer! Anna Fair was not a fan and cried at the sight of her.































We dress up a lot. Laurie wears the same 2 costumes every day. And can talk Anna Fair into it on occasion.

Part II

In nothing but shoes and a smile

And a diaper. This one is obsessed with shoes.