We went to Yazoo City this afternoon with the Browns and Hollingsworths. We played hard - climbing the fallen tree, fishing, swinging, and playing with the horses. It was so hot that we thought it would be fun to play on the slip and slide. Charlie and the Brown boys especially loved it. Alice Ann and Jane Gray preferred fishing - they teamed up to reel in a nice three-pound bass. They were so cute shouting and jumping up and down and reeling in the fish at the same time.
The Rutledges invited us over for pizza and Rook. The kids were so excited because each one has a playmate at the Rutledges. After we ate dinner, the kids climbed in Ceci and Bryan's bed for a movie.
It has been a very busy summer, and we really haven't been to the pool much. The Hursts swim at Briarwoods and were sweet to invite us tonight. Charlie loved the slide, and the girls loved swimming together. Meg was so funny - she wears floaties, so she swims very slowly. She kept saying, "Wait for me!"
Jane Gray, Charlie and Daddy woke up before the sun rose, and headed to Louise for a work day. We got to the Delta just as the sun was rising. Soon, we were building a duck blind with Pop, Uncle Will and Ronnie. Jane Gray wielded a mean hammer with Pop, and Charlie was quick with a drill helping Uncle Will. Before we knew it, we were all soaking wet with sweat on this hot, summer morning - but there was nothing but smiles as the juice, snacks and entertainment were plentiful. After everyone ran out of gas building what has become known as "Charlie's Duck Stand" (Jane Gray has a deer stand named after her, so Charlie decided he needed a duck "stand" as opposed to a duck "blind" - may be just humorous to me), we went to pick a few sunflowers before heading home. It was another great day in the country.
Tonight, we took pizza to Nana and Grandpa's and had dinner with Gigi and Momma Stowe. Gigi surprised Meg with a little happy - a book titled The Littlest Angel. It made our littlest angel feel so special!
Aunt Fair took the cousins to see the new movie, Ramona and Beezus, which is based on the book by Beverly Cleary. Ellie Carroway, a cousin and Blue Dolphin teammate, went, too. Sweet Aunt Fair didn't want to leave Charlie and Meg out, so she brought them ice cream.
We braved the heat and headed to the zoo this morning. There is a new tiger exhibit, and it was great! We also enjoyed our usual favorites - the giraffes, leopards, snakes, alligators, bears, otters, pink flamingos, elephants, zebras, monkeys, and rhinos. We also enjoyed cooling off in the water misters!
Jane Gray has been asking for the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker for months. Gigi took the hint and bought it for Jane Gray's birthday. She is thrilled! The Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker is the 2010 version of the Easybake Oven. You mix the cupcake mix, put it in the microwave, and 30 seconds later, VOILA!, you have yummy cupcakes. We tested it out tonight, and Jane Gray gave it a big thumbs up. 
We ended the birthday with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's, Jane Gray's favorite! We ate pizza, hugged Chuck E. Cheese, and played all of our favorite games. We rode a couple of rides, too. We won lots of tickets and got some really neat prizes. It was a great way to end a great day!