Jellystone and emergency rooms- May 8 to 10, 2015.

We planned another great weekend with our friends, the Paytons, at our favorite place on Earth- Jellystone Park.  

Of course, our little accident[prone 4 year old had to make it exciting when she fell in the campfire early Saturday morning.  Mama was trying to sunblock her a good 5 feet away from the campfire ring when Georgie jumped and stumbled backward.  The good news was that the campfire was very small (we were just heating water for coffee).  So there weren't many coals and Georgie's bathing suit actually repelled any fire (the suit wasn't even singed a little).  The bad news was that Georgie burned her legs and arms on the metal ring around the fire.  I think you could hear her screaming through the whole campground.  

 It was a long 30 minute drive to the emergency room.  Poor Georgie was feeling pretty low until the nice doctor came in, cleaned her up and applied the balm of the gods- silvadene burn cream.  The little stuffed Boo-Boo from the camp store helped her spirits too.  

Back at the campground, Georgie was instantly famous (and very recognizable in her heavy bandages).  She proved she was feeling good by dancing like a crazy person at the Saturday night dance.  

The next morning, Yogi came by to say goodbye Sunday morning.  

If you look close you can see a tiny little sliver of Georgie's bottom- a perpetual presence in our life.  I promise her clothes fit, she just prefers to wear her pants that low. 

 We went for a hike, but Bea didn't last long.

After her nap, a smoothie sure sure tasted good.

The only thing better than a smoothie was hanging out with Gracie.

 Another great weekend in the books!  

 Georgie, June, Henry, Grace, Bea, and Audrey.

Birthdays, playgrounds, and naps- May 5 to 8, 2015.

Georgie loves to swing.  Soeties she'll put on her shoes just to go out and swing for a while.  And our kids are not very outdoorsy, so this is kind of a big deal.  Plus, it's really sweet to watch from the window.

On my birthday, we cut out from our usual responsibilities and went out for a beer before Georgie's noon pick up.  Coolest birthday ever.  (I promise Bea didn't actually get any of my beer.  but she sure did try.)

After Gerogie's pick up, we went to a park.  

Bea spent most of her time trying to climb over this edging.  Without much success.

We did successfully wear Georgie out.

With Bea soon to follow.

June brought home school work from Earth Day.  She loves the Earth because "it's the most pretty planet of all."

Poor Georgie is still worn out.

Georgie's last set of school pictures as a Red Bird.  She looks so sweet.

And she loves that dress.

I love this shot of Georgie's school friends.  Fynn, Isabel, Georgie, Isla, and Sylvia.

 

Meanwhile, I was on the side hugging on as many little kids as possible.  I've got Sylvia's little sister, Amelia, Drew, Bea, and Drew's big sister, Katelynn.

Papa loves filming Bea as she wakes up.  Check out this sweetness.

Trip to Indiana- April 29 to May 4.

Bea and I hit the road down to Atlanta.  From there we hopped on a plane up to Indianapolis.  

Once we made it to Aunt Jenni's house, her cousins got right to spoiling Bea with chocolate cake.

It's so good!

Come on, Aunt Jenni!

We visited the girls' mega gymnastics studio to watch Evie practice.  It's so big there's a walking track around the top.  And a pool.

I decided to start wearing earring again when I found these earrings.  I think they look like golden snitches.  Aunt Jenni thinks they look like a fancy version of the Indy 500 logo.

Here's the real reason we went up to Indy.  Annalise had her First Communion. 

Grandma surprised us with pictures of our First Communions.  I'm the really excited one on the right.

Seriously, I was so excited.  I had a veil AND a crown.

And here's Aunt Jenni's First Communion.  I love the knee socks.  And the orange curtains in our old house.

Meanwhile, Bea tried to fit Molly into some shoes.

Luckily, Molly is pretty agreeable.

On Sunday,, we went up to Ohio for Oliver's First Communion.

I promise he wore pants to church.

Bea was not into the car drive back to Ohio.  I think it's because I was sitting BESIDE her and she wanted to be sitting ON me instead.  She's usually great in the car when I'm in the front and she can't see me.  Out of sight, out of mind.

We spent one more day in Indiana having fun with our cousins.

Here's Bea's distinctive crawl.  The ill-fitting diaper only makes it cuter. 

I want to climb that slide too!

How could you not love this to bits?

Back at the airport.

And home in time for supper.

Festivals, galas, strawberries- April 25 to 28.

Prepare yourselves for a long, awesome post.  We fit a lot into just 4 days.

This picture of the girls with Laurel may be one of my favorites ever.

Along with this one of my sweet girl.

Saturday morning was the Central Railroad Festival.  We got there early enough to get a ride on the mini "train" without having to wait too long.

Bea didn't get to ride due to inadequate baby security.  Seriously, who taught this guy how to wear a baby?

On Saturday night, mama and papa got invited to the South Carolina Botanical Garden Gala.  

They had a super fun time with their friends Claiborne and Darren, Glen and Shannon, and Mark and Kerri.

On Sunday, Papa went hiking with Mister Jon.

They hiked to the top of Table Rock, which looks pretty amazing.

And a little sweaty.

 While dad was hiking, June's girl scout troop was at the mall.  They raised a bunch of money for their troop selling girl scout cookies.  Most of the money went to projects for the next year.  some went to charities they chose.  And the girls chose to use the rest for Girl Scout Build-a-Bears at the mall.

The Bears even had little Daisy vests!

Clothes on bears!  That's ridiculous!

 

Georgie's preschool class was visited by some gross butterfly scientist.  At least that's what mama called him.  She likes science, but not butterflies.

Still taken with Jervey Meadows, mama, papa and Bea went back for a picnic lunch.  Bea tried to escape.

 

Skunked again.

On Tuesday, we drove down to the big strawberry farm for some serious picking.

Bea did some serious eating in the traditional tie-dye field garb of her people.  (Tie-dye only gets better when you rub some South Carolina clay into it.)

Another beautiful spring day in SC.

We tried out the huge slide.  Of course Georgie is the one wiping out.

Sylvia and Amelia have a good run.

And Georgie ultimately made it down too.

Back at home, we put those kids to work.

You can tell Georgie is really concentrating.  (I swear I corrected that bad knife form.  It would be so like Georgie to lose a finger in a strawberry cutting accident.)

Beatrice got these cute sunglasses from Aunt Katie.  Unfortunately, she wasn't a huge fan.