Daddy's basketball game

Daddy has been playing basketball in the Prep Alumni league. The big kids have loved going with him and watching his games. Mommy and Meg went tonight because it was a semifinal game, and it was in the Prep air-conditioned gym (the other games were not, and they were too hot for Mommy and Meg). Daddy's team won, so they play again Thursday night in the championship game. We'll be at the beach, so they'll have to win without Daddy.

Fun with the Jacksons

The kids (and Mommy!!!) love it when the Jacksons come to town! We had them over for dinner tonight, and we had so much fun together.

Neshoba County Fair

After church, we drove to the Neshoba County Fair. Our sweet neighbor Carter Smith's family has had a cabin for over 30 years and invited us to come see what all the fuss was about. Well, we LOVED the Fair. The weather was amazing (upper 70s/low 80s and overcast). We were greeted at the gate by two men who escorted us to the Smith cabin and from then on, everyone treated us like family. It was amazing! And, so fun! We saw the horse races, rode the carnival rides, petted every animal at the petting zoo, and hung out on porch swings throughout the fairgrounds. The children made themselves right at home, playing with every child they met and even pulling up chairs for themselves at the cabin across from the Smiths to listen to the bluegrass band. Charlie said that the Fair was more fun than the beach, which, in our family, says a lot! The last picture says a lot, too - Meg fell asleep in the stroller with a sucker in her mouth. We were exhausted after a fun-filled day at the Fair!

Swimming with the Hurst girls

Mommy picked up the girls from Sayley's birthday party this morning, and Jane Gray immediately asked if Liddy could go swimming with us this afternoon. So, we picked up Genevieve and the rest of the family and headed to the Bridgewater pool. The kids took their noodles and swam all over the place. Meg was so cute in her floaties! She is really trying to learn how to swim. She "jumps" in to Mommy and Daddy from the side and kicks like crazy all over the pool. She kicked so much this afternoon, she wore herself out, so she hung out with her Daddy on the stairs while the "big kids" finished swimming.

More pets

Christian Martin had his 7th birthday party today at the Natural Science Museum. He is Jane Gray's "boyfriend." When we planned Jane Gray's cowgirl party, she was fine with not inviting the boys in her class, but she insisted that Christian be included. Christian's party was really cute, and for party favors, Christian's mom, Heather, gave Jane Gray and Charlie goldfish. Yep - ANOTHER pet! The kids were thrilled! They loved showing off their new pets (notice Charlie's nametag - he has "changed his name" to Charles, so his sweet Daddy gave him his nametag from today's discipleship group luncheon).

Saying good-bye to Boxer

Tonight, we said good-bye to Boxer, the box turtle. We dropped him off in the woods at the end of Wild Valley. He was thrilled!

Pets

Rachel Rutledge gave Charlie two frogs for his birthday. The kids have loved taking care of them and watching them swim. Today, Jane Gray and Charlie found a box turtle in the driveway and wanted to adopt him/her as a pet. Daddy wisely convinced them that we should return the turtle to the woods where he/she belonged. The kids were a little sad; they really enjoyed having a pet turtle, if only for one afternoon.

Dr. Brown

Jane Gray and Charlie love going to their sweet dentist, Dr. Mary Tison Brown. She is one of Mommy's friends and is so kind to Jane Gray and Charlie. She lets them assist when the other is getting her/his teeth cleaned and gives them lots of gloves, masks, toothbrushes, and toys. Jane Gray and Charlie adore her!

Jane Gray's 6th birthday

Jane Gray had a fun-filled 6th birthday. She opened her presents first, and was thrilled to receive the much-asked-for sewing machine for her birthday present! Daddy took Jane Gray and Charlie to the bank to open savings accounts for their birthday money and then out to lunch at Chick-fil-a. After lunch, we picked up two of Jane Gray's best friends, Sayley and Rebecca, for a playdate. The girls played, ate popcorn, watched a movie, and decorated cupcakes. After the girls left, we headed to Chuck E. Cheese's for pizza and games. The kids had so much fun winning prizes and riding all of the rides; Jane Gray's favorite was the horse race, Meg loved the Stuart Little car, and Charlie had fun playing all the games! They even got to get their picture made with Chuck E. Cheese himself! After Chuck E. Cheese's, we came home and ate birthday cake. It was a wonderful day!