Our Little Ladybug

After playing in the sandbox, riding the kid bikes, and playing with Play Doh, we came across the face painting booth! I tried to convince Sofia to do a full face painting of a frog, but she wanted a ladybug. So, the artist said he could do a full face ladybug - it turned out to be amazing! I took a bunch of pictures while he painted, and it's fun to watch the ladybug 'emerge' on Sofia's face. She was such a sport at sitting still and she kept her eyes on the artist the entire time.

Looking at the different options


Getting started....


The outside of the ladybug...





Half of a ladybug...





This is my favorite picture - I love how she's watching the artist...


The full ladybug! (It was about this time that I started thinking about how to get all the paint off of her once we made it home....)


Ladybug spots...





And a little sparkle....


Looking at herself in the mirror...


The finished product!! ADORABLE!!!

The crazy storm!

On Wednesday September 15th we got hit with the crazy storm which was actually the remnants of the tropical storm Hermine. It rained very hard all night and continued until around 1pm that day. Of course, Sofia just had to go out and play in the water before we headed to school. So, she put on her cow boots (that barely fit anymore) and her frog rain jacket and ran out to play in the massive amounts of water. She loved slogging through the drainage that was at the far end of our driveway. After a few minutes, we headed to school and I had to take a different route after the main road was flooded, and then had to drive through one are that was at least two feet under water! Luckily it stopped before I picked Sofia up from school and was soon clear and sunny.

Once home, we wanted to check out our neighborhood lake and check out the surrounding area.

With her very snug cow boots (and her Spanish Schoolhouse dress)


Out in the rain


Across the street from our neighborhood - the entire area was flooding over and dumping into our neighborhood pond


The river near us - it's usually a narrow stream


The horse farm near us - completely flooded!


Ready to explore!


The water flooding out of our pond


Watching the water


Picking very soggy mushrooms


Our bridge - Our neighbor said that it was nearly completely under water during the peak of the rain


Walking on the flooded walkway


Posing by the spillway


"Tucking" Chocolate Kitty under a blanket.....that cat is a saint!


Chocolate Kitty and Green Beup Beup cuddle

Visiting Alice and Joe

Over Labor Day Weekend we flew to Gulfport, Mississippi to visit Alice, Joe, Grayden, and Audrey. We landed near a town called Ocean Springs, MS, which we visited for lunch. It was having a really great festival that day, so we walked around and looked at all the artsy things for sale, the kids got their faces painted, and enjoyed snow cones and clowns. It was a really cute place and a great introduction to Alice and Joe's new surroundings. After, we headed to the Children's Museum so Sofia and Grayden could burn off a little steam. They both had the best time, especially at the train table. Sofia ended up spending nearly her entire time playing with trains.

We left when the museum closed and headed to Alice and Joe's home, which is so comfortable and cozy. Grayden opened his belated-birthday present from Sofia - a parking garage (Sofia got the same one for her birthday and loves it). Then the kids "helped" Joe make his outstanding pizza. They had a fun time punching down the dough and adding their own toppings. Of course, the pizza was amazing! It was a great first day!

On Saturday we headed to New Orleans and visited the zoo (like everyone else - it was packed). The New Orleans Zoo is one of the most beautiful and largest I've ever visited. It was fun exploring the zoo and we watched the elephant exhibit, rode the merry-go-around, had lunch, road the train and enjoyed all the animals we saw. On the drive through New Orleans and on to Alice and Joe's house, I think we nearly all fell asleep! The kids were out immediately!

The adorable town of Ocean Springs, MS


Grayden and his dinosaur


Sofia gets painted


Ribbit!


Sofia gets a balloon animal (it was either a dog or a lion, I'm not sure)


Enjoying a snow cone. We added condensed milk to our orange flavor, which was surprisingly good!


The only picture I have from the Children's Museum - Sofia playing with trains, of course!


Making pizzas! YUM!


Just out of the oven!


Two very happy kids! YUM!


The entrance of the New Orleans Zoo


On the dinosaur with Grayden


Merry-Go-Around with Papa - Sofia is on a frog, of course.


Looking at the leopard together.


Three tired and hot zoo goers.

Visiting Alice and Joe

On our final day, we woke up for a relaxing breakfast outside (we enjoyed several meals outside and had great weather during our visit). Sofia and Grayden played with Grayden's train set, as usual. Grayden would normally play with his new car garage while Sofia played with his train set - so they were both happy. After breakfast, we headed to a nearby park that included a kiddy water area. Sofia and Grayden had a great time and Sofia ran around and enjoyed every minute! After playing on the park playground for awhile, we headed out for lunch. We found this great little hole off the road that had fantastic fried fish, shrimp, clams, etc (we are in the South after all). It was outstanding and a real find! With very full bellies, we took a few group pictures before heading to the Baron and taking off for Dallas. Sofia and I slept most of the way home, so it was a very quick trip!

It was such a great weekend and we had a very fun time seeing our friends. We can't wait to see them all again!

Breakfast outside - the start of a great day!


My homemade cinnamon raisin bread, which we used to make french toast.


Sofia and Grayden playing together. Sofia spent every minute at his house playing with that train set. We ended up buying her one when we got home.


Reading together.


Sofia and Audrey. Sofia loved holding Audrey, or "petting" her as she'd say when she would stroke Audrey's hair. She has really loved babies since we saw Jillian.


Playing at the water park


Happy Girl!


The group in front of the bayou.


The happy family.