Whom to Marry?

 Lee Lee has had a rough few nights being sick with a high fever and abdominal pain.  We learned today that its a rough case of adenovirus after some time in the ER ruling out appendicitis.

All that said, a few nights ago, she was crying in her sleep.  Calling out and talking, and in the jumble she said with great emotion and crying, "I don't want to marry you, I want to marry Daddy."

When I awoke from her talking, I talked to her and told her she needed to take some medicine.  She responded that yes she would take the medicine, and then she would marry Daddy.  I agreed and she took the medicine and drank her water.  Then she started crying and asked in great despair, "Where will all the love go?"

The next day, when she was feeling better, she calming explained that she remembered the dream and that everyone was playing a game where they had to choose who they were going to marry, and Mama picked her, and she responded that no she didn't want to marry you (Mama), she was going to marry Daddy.  Somehow taking medicine was looped in there too.

Dreams are so fun.

Cousin Memories

Hubby and I do not live near our nieces and nephews and so we really try to get to know them, have tons of fun, and get to know them better and build our relationships when we're in town.

This trip, we opted for a hotel overnight in St. Louis with Aunt Brooke, Uncle Chris, Memaw and Pepaw and ALL thirteen cousins.  Thirteen came and ate and swam, and played, and twelve spent the night.  We had two suites and the nephews (Howard, Judah, Silas, Hunter, and Brady) slept in Memaw and Pepaw's room, and the nieces (Zivah, Mayah, Tracey, Caroline, Fridah, Lee Lee, Scarlett) slept in Uncle Chris and Aunt Brookie's room.

I'm writing this blog at 10:44pm... so I'm hoping that we all make it through the night successfully.  All children are peacefully sleeping as I write this...

Thank you for the prayers.

Also, when you read this, it will be June 8.  June 8, 2002 is the day that my sister, Tracey, went to heaven.  Knowing that she is an aunt that never had the chance to build relationships with her nieces and nephews makes me appreciate even more this special overnight with so many of my nieces and nephews.

Nine Years Five Months

 All of my girls have to wait until age ten to get their ears pierced... but yesterday was a very big day.

After nine years and five months, my oldest got her ears pierced.

We had a very special day with three cousins and three Mountain Miller girls all getting hair cuts, and hair styles, and manicures and pedicures.  This is an adorable salon specifically catered to little girls.  My kids have been there one time before in 2018 (so five years ago), and then they got to go yesterday.

It would be very special for Tracey to get her ears pierced on her tenth birthday... but it was also VERY special for her to get her ears pierced yesterday surrounded by her sisters, her mama, her memaw, and three of her favorite cousins.  Hopefully she will remember that for the rest of her life.

Of course Caroline and Lee Lee were all ready to get their ears pierced too... so new tradition -- they have to ten, or the trip to St. Louis that is most close to their tenth birthday, and we will go back to that same Sweet and Sassy salon with their cousins.

It really was an incredibly special day with the girls.

St. Louis Fun

 St. Louis Fun

Summer Adventures Begin

 We have started the pattern that every other summer we road trip like crazy... and this year is no exception.

School has been out for a week, and we loaded up SO many things for an action-packed three weeks of family fun, and memorable experiences across America.

We hugged good-bye to our wonderful animals, always with the awareness that they are older pets, and we hope and pray to see them again in three weeks... and spent 1108 miles in the car for our first stop -- St. Louis, MO.

All those miles, and these smiles make them all worth it.

Memorial Day Weekend!

 Our Memorial Day weekend was full of yard sales (EVERY DAY for three days straight)... so I didn't get many pictures.  The kids were in and out of the house, helping with the sale here and there.  Playing in the backyard and riding bikes to and from friends houses.

Here are the two pictures I managed to snap on Memorial Day...

Relaxing