We went to eat dinner at Cracker Barrel with Nanner and Poppy and had a blast playing with all the store goodies. Ella loves dancing toys and you can always find one at Cracker Barrel. Sure enough, she found the dancing turkeys. Nanner helped her pull them all out and line them up. Then she got them all going and danced along. Nanner danced too.
My Ella is terrified of bugs. She is actually a little better now than what she was! If she sees one you have to go get it immediately. She isn't my dramatic child but is very animated when a bug is present. All bugs have this effect on her - flies, mosquitoes, spiders, grasshoppers, ladybugs... all of them. When she sees one, she will freeze and start yelling, "A BUG, A BUG..." Well, Eva Grace found a bug at the pharmacy and wanted to get for Ella. It was hilarious. She wouldn't go near it! It worked well for keeping her out of things though. All you had to do was put the but in the area you didn't want her to go and she wouldn't get close!
August 7th, Burt and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. He surprised me with a beautiful flower arrangement of large pink flowers. They were beautiful! We spent the weekend in Memphis and ate at Ruth Chris Steakhouse. It was a fun and relaxing trip. We plan on going somewhere alone next year for a longer trip....if I can leave the girls. ha.
They had so many bubbles in the tub they were flowing over the bathtub edge and up the bathroom wall. I think there were as many giggles as bubbles.
We finally aren't too girly to touch/hold a frog. The girls, anyway. I'm still not picking one up nor touching it! THanks to our neighbor friend, my girls caught and held their first frog. 
My girls LOVE their Uncle Adam and here is one of the many reasons why!
He was ok with the Princess wig... 
He was ok with the earrings... 
He was ok with the hairdryer and hairspray...
He was hesitant on the deoderant but Ella took over with that anyway...
He drew the line with the body spray...
Our church had a men's softball team this year and it was a lot of fun. The mom's and kids had fun anyway. Our team wasn't that good - but it was our first year, next year will be better...hopefully! I think our team, by far, had the most kiddos! There were always several at each game. They loved the dirt and anything else the mommas could find to entertain them. 
Burt batting
Some of the younger fans.
They took time out of playing in the dirt to play with Playdoh.
The guys ended each game with a group prayer with both teams.
I love this group of girls, we call ourselves the Yaya's because of some hard times we went through together. We all connected in a bible study and the bonds that were made will last a lifetime. Our group name (Yaya's) came from the movie - Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood - because we thought we related to them. Each of us was a character from the movie. Corny, I know, but it fit. (I, of course, was the sweet, naive one! haha) Well, over the course of time we have been separated by time and distance. BUT for one weekend Angie, who is about to move to Germany for 2 years, and Aven came to Jonesboro and we were all able to hang out together! We had a blast just being together and so did our kiddos. Emma and Paige were best friends when Angie lived here so they enjoyed playing together! We spend most of the time at Sonya's house by the pool but were able to get away for a girls night dinner at Brickhouse. We also visited the park. I dearly love these girls.
All our kiddos swimming at Sonya's. That's a bunch of kids - all great, of course!
Ella was determined to jump off the diving board.
Thanks Jason and Julia for helping her. 
Girls' Night Out at Brickhouse. We were missing Pulliam.
Ang, Me and Sonya
Emma and Paige.
Emma and Paige.
More swimming at Sonya's. Goofy girl!
July 4th is a big holiday with the Barrett Family. As long as I have known Burt we have always spent the afternoon/evening in Senath, Missouri eating delicious food and running for your lives from Fireworks (literally). This year was a little tamer than some. One year they had a bottle rocket fight (all adults) in the back yards. This year they enjoyed putting grosses of bottle rockets in a paper bag, soaking it in gasoline and lighting it up. ...see what I mean by literally running for your life! The girls and I hid inside for this part but when it was dark and the real firework show started, it was beautiful as always.
Burt lit some fireworks with the girls Friday night. They loved it. Emma was able to carefully light most all of them. Eva Grace had to stick with the smoke bombs, which were her favorite! Ella's favorite were the pop rocks. Saturday for lunch my dad fixed ribs and the fixings for my family. Then Saturday afternoon, we met Lynette and Hunter in Kennett for some swimming before the Senath festivities.
Ella Bella looks so big here...
Ella really loved the pop rocks when Mr. Mike showed her she could stomp on them and make them pop!
Preparing the paper bag and bottle rockets. What is it with men and danger... or men and blowing stuff up?
Emma and sparklers
Eva Grace with sparklers .... This was very dangerous to be around.
Eva Grace, Emma and their cousin, Hunter
Ella and Poppy enjoying the show!
Eva Grace tuckered out!
We all had a great time and were very grateful for Mike and Terry Thomas for having us over. The food was delicious and it was fun seeing everyone again!
Haley J, me, Erica C, Amy R, & Courtney S at New Kids on the Block! The concert was fun, the company was more fun. I will never be able to eat at a Waffle House again without thinking of you all!
Last week we did our annual summer swimming lessons at the YMCA! My girls always enjoy these! Emma was in the Guppy class and learned how to do the Freestyle stroke and Backstroke. She is now even brave enough to jump off the diving board without a spotter!!! She is very excited about this! She also met a new friend, Anna Marie. Emma is looking forward to seeing her again at WOW VBS.
Eva Grace was in the Skipper II class. She knew everyone in her class and most of them were all in the same class last year. I love this group of girls and it was fun seeing their mama's everyday too!
