The girls at my Aunts in Warren, AR

Pickin and Grinn

Singin, pickin, and grinin at the fish fry.

4th of July block party

We had an awesome 4th of July block party. Great food...great friends...unbelievable fireworks...and fun water slides.

You might be a redneck if....

you have to be attached to you neighbors for electricity by a big cord. On July 3rd...Marks 39 birthday...Happy Birthday...our electricity went out. No one else just ours. After much deliberations by the electric company at 9:00pm, they decided that the electric lines to our house were not working. So...we had to be hooked up to our neighbors house with a BIG Electrical cord through the 4th of July weekend. It was finally done by about 1:00 a.m.

Next Stop...Arkansas

We were in Arkansas from June 15 thru June 25. We traveled around Arkansas seeing family...usually we make in up to NWA but we are making in a separate trip this year. First, we spent some time with mamaw and papaw...the kids enjoyed following papaw around doing projects and learning about herbs. They took us picking blackberries, strawberries, and nectarines. The big girls helped mamaw make preserves. The girls also enjoyed going to the park where I use to play...however it's all new from when I was little.

Went we out to my Aunt Patsy and Uncle Don to swim with their cousins. My cousin Shelly is expecting her first child in October.




We had a fish fry with some of our family which was great...It is nice to several generations get together. They girls have 6 Great-Grandparents still alive...5 of which are my Grandparents that they got to see and spent time with while we were in Arkansas. We also had some pickin and grinnin with karaoke going on.


The girls with Granny Mangum...

Papa Martin...

Ninnie...

my mom teaching the girls how to play the guitar


Ray and Yale took us to down town little rock where we walked across the Arkansas River on a new walking bridge, shopped at the farmers market, went to the kids discover museum, rode the trolley, made bath soap at Bath Junkie and had lunch at the best fish place ever...The Flying Fish.
Ray,Yale, and the girls...
Mara doing surgery on a knee... Ray and Jema making electricity Making bath soap


I took them down to Leann and Jim's house twice to ride horses...this is where I learned to rodeo. Jema wanted to go back several times. Leann has a school where she teaches and trains kids... Jema enjoyed watching the kids rope and goat tie. She could not believe that mom use to do these sorts of things. Mara was not sure at first but once she got on she loved it. Jema wants to quit gymnastics and start rodeoing...I don't think she knows what she would be getting into. Jema and Mara played with some other cousins there and loved running around the big yards, swinging on the tire swing and feeding the goats, besides the riding.












We also went down to South Arkansas to see Big Mamaw and Big Papaw (Great-Grandparents) and some other family. We were sad that we could not see everyone but it was during the day and they were working. They nursing home that my grandfather is in is really nice...he has his own room and they have a big lounge room to go to which was nice for the kids. Jema read a book to everyone...she was so happy.


Big Mamaw, Big Papaw, with 4 of their great grand daughters

We were sad when we had to pack up and come home. Just look at the map and see where our 1800 mile trip took us...a big circle. Of course, Mara had to spike a fever on the way home. It seems traveling does not agree with her kidneys. When we returned home she was running 105.8...went to the doctor and yes it was poly nephritis (kidney infection) after two shots of rocephin, augmenton, ceftin, and macrodantin we thought it was over. More to come...

Thanks to everyone in Nashville and Arkansas for such a great vacation.

Part 1 of Trip...Nashville

We left Saturday the 14th to meet Mark in Nashville. He was playing in a member/guest golf tournament. Congratulations Mark and Jeff...they won their flight. Cha Ching...money in our pocket and new golf clubs for Jema. They girls got to play with the Somthers brother and then stay with a sitter so that Mark and I could go to the golf dinner. Yes...dinner...dancing and friends it was awesome. Sunday Happy Fathers Day!... we told they girls that we would take them anywhere for breakfast, they chose...Waffle House. We took them swimming then the girls and I left for Arkansas and Mark left to go back to Georgia.

We're back from our southern adventure

The girls and I have been taking a trip around the south visiting family and friends for the last 13 days. We are home now. I could not post while we were gone since...we were in never never land. Well...dial up on a computer that is 12 years old. Also, some places we visited my cell phone would not even work. I have lots of pictures and video of the trip and will get it all up this weekend. Can I just say...one me...three little girls...one suburban...1800 miles...and driving around or thru 5 states was an experience. The girls were awesome for me on the trip. We have the best girls ever... they are troopers.

I'm officially a Georgia Resident

Today, I got my Georgia license and tags...just a little secret not a good idea to do it on Friday the 13th. I had everything that I need but someone at the license office missed up my birthdate that took an extra 45 minutes. Then, I was breezing through at the registration and tag office til... the guy at the emissions test entered a wrong vin #. I had to go back to the emissions get that fixed...back to the tags office then...whala I am officially a Georgia resident. It was not as bad as I thought...even with the mix-ups it only took about 1.5 hour at both offices total. Now Mark just has to get all of his stuff done.

Golf...Friends...Watermelon

After a morning at the pool...nap for the little ones..afternoon of Jema/Mark playing golf with another daddy/daughter team...then we had a cook out with..The Bakers. It was a blast...we were all up til...12:00 ish. The girls had so much fun. Mara had been asking for two days when we could eat the watermelon...I think she ate three BIG pieces just that night.

YUMMM...Watermelon...More please!!!

Our Pool Life...

We love our pool...the slide...diving board...just hanging around with friends. Jema is attempting a front tuck off the diving board...Mara's first time to jump off. They have not fear...that's bad...no...that's good..their gymnast. Jama in her porpoise pouch...a life saver at the pool...I just pack her on and....whala my hands are free. She usually sleeps if she's not splashing. A day in the life of us at the pool.