Pop Pop Pop!

Happy Birthday to our Pop!  He flew from Birmingham to Waco on his birthday...and that was a long day for him.  His request--to not go out to eat.  Ha!  So, we cooked some fish (his favorite) and had some cupcakes from Simply Delicious Bakery.  Oh my!  Those cupcakes were divine!  And if you can see the two on the back left...those are sugar cookie cupcakes.  Too good for words.  So good that I got another dozen just last week and we devoured ate them all at once over the course of the week. :o)  Ha!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POP!

Gramps also celebrated a July birthday...the 24th!  He and RahRah went out of town to celebrate--wish we could've spent it with him and hope he had a super duper day!

Actual Date: 07.26.11

No Words

OK...so I have a few...how about old, crotchety, and ornery? :o)

That's our Charley!  We were just trying to make sure he was wearing his helmet the next time he took Hallie's tricycle for a spin. :o)

Actual Date: 07.25.11

Rain, Rain...COME AGAIN!

On this particular day, July 18th...it was fairly cloudy.  But we hadn't seen rain here in the Heart of Texas since May.  With temps in the triple digits, a little rain could do a little good.  Yards aren't a gorgeous summer green as they usually are...and the only upside is that Jonathan doesn't have to get out and cut the grass every week.  Those clouds brought a really good evening shower...for about 15 minutes.  This is a complete 180 from what we experienced in Alabama--rain *every single afternoon*.  We were so excited to get some rain that Hallie wanted to play in it!  I don't blame her...it's fun to sing in the rain. :o)

Actual Date: 07.18.11

Lions and Tigers and Bears...oh my!

Um, not really.  More like elephants, and horses, and dogs and cats...oh my!  While it was extremely entertaining and Hallie *loved* it, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus has come a long way since I was a kid.  It has gone from a three ring circus to a one ring circus (at least at our venue), and I suppose all the protesters have claimed that the circus was being cruel to all the exotic animals...and those exotics have turned into horses, dogs, and cats.  Oh, and a bird.  haha. But there was a lot of acrobatics and lots of entertainment. It was a really good show!  We'll definitely go again if it comes back to town. :o)  And next time we'll try to catch the circus train coming to town!  Here are pictures from our circus adventure...ZING ZANG ZOOM!

 We had great seats thanks to Gramps and RahRah!

We got to visit with some sweet friends during intermission. These two together make my heart smile!

We all *loved* the elephants!

Show's over. I didn't know that you could see the entertainers if you got to the show early...next year we'll be on top of things!  They start breaking down super fast when it's over.

Actual Date: 07.16.11

Fourth

 We spent a rainy fourth of July in Graham, Alabama by the river at my Aunt Amanda's and Uncle Mike's place.  I was hoping it wouldn't rain because we were going to cook out at my parents' house and swim.  But...the thunder and lightning prevented us from swimming.  My brother graciously cooked the burgers and dogs in the rain--we stood around him with umbrellas.  Haha.  What a memory we made.  The rain did hold off for just a little while when we got home from the river, so we were able to pop some poppers.  They were a hit--we all loved them!  The sparklers had to be sparkled on the porch, though.  And we caught the tail end of the Heflin fireworks (they totally changed the time without letting anyone know...besides the people who had already been there all day for the fourth celebration).  Overall, even through the rain, it was a nice day with friends and family.  And I saw my cousin, Stephanie, again.  Steph--I refrained from posting the picture of you and me...it was horrible.  lol.

Hallie and Shane & Erin's puppy

Uncle Kelly taking the girls for a ride in the ATV.  Hallie *loved* it!

Some of my cousins took a spin on it...

 Jonathan and I took a turn...it was *so* fun...and we laughed (and I screamed the entire time)!

The annual 4th of July game of volleyball.  I didn't participate, but Hallie did.  Ha!

At Nonna and Pop's house--popping poppers!

Sparklers!

I believe it was this time that a chunk of the sparkler broke off and landed in Jonathan's Sperry flip flops and burned a hole through them.  His words, "These shoes will never be the same."

Actual Date: 07.04.11

Cute American Girls

One of the many highlights of Hallie's visit to Alabama was getting to go to the American Girl Store and Bistro.  Whenever someone asks her what she did in Alabama, she says, "I went to the American Girl Store and I ate there!  With my cousins!"  Makes my heart happy to know she's making sweet memories.  Our reservations were at 2:15 EST, so we got there a little early and decided to ride the carousel before heading to the AG store.

Carousel

Waiting, waiting.  

(Honestly, we did a lot of waiting.  The girls had fun, but overall, I can't say this was the best experience I have ever had.  I expected the service to be much better than it was...but it was worth it to me to see the smile on Hallie's face. :o)

 Hallie's *favorite* part--feeding her Bitty Baby, Mollie.  They give each doll a little chair to sit in and then they give each doll a cup and saucer and a pitcher of water (too bad they don't give actual people pitchers of their drinks...lol).  It was *very* cute to watch Hallie mommying Mollie.

Hallie and Mollie

Abby and Ruthie

Hallie got chocolate ice cream!

The girls and their desserts--HG, Hallie, and Abby (Abbs didn't get dessert, she ordered hot chocolate--in the summertime!).

Abby & Ruthie

Hallie & Mollie

Hattie Grace & Abby's Kit

Girls with their purchases--thanks, Nonna!

Nonna and her girls!

We shopped a little bit at North Point Mall...afterward we got a little snack and the mall train (!) drove by.  The girls insisted on riding it.  And they wanted Nonna to ride with them!  So, they all climbed in and took a tour of the mall! :o)  I love the looks on their faces.  Nonna, you were a great sport!

Actual Date: 07.01.11

TuTu Fun!

Actual Date: 06.30.11