Savannah

On Wednesday my Mom came down from Kentucky and bright and early Thursday morning we hit the road to Savannah for what has become our annual girls trip. Well we managed to get out of the house by 8 a.m. and as soon as we were on the exit ramp by my house to get on 75 South, Ella Ann starts vomiting profusely in her car seat! I couldn't believe it was happening!! I just stayed on the exit ramp and headed back home where we washed Ella Ann, washed ourselves, the car seat, the car, etc. Ohhh it was disgusting! After that delay and a few prayers that she didn't start vomiting again, we were back on the road at 9 a.m. Luckily that was the last time she got sick! She was pretty puny for the rest of the day and wouldn't eat much during our entire trip, but she hung in there with us and was a fairly good child.

After Ella Ann napped on Thursday, we went shopping like crazy in the historic district. It was absolutely beautiful!! The shopping was pretty good too, but on the expensive side. Ella Ann wouldn't sit in her stroller unless she was forced, so we were forced to keep track of her and keep her out the street most of the time. We had seafood at every single meal (even breakfast one morning!) and ate to our hearts content! It was great! We took a carriage tour on Friday morning and got to learn a lot about Savannah's history, which was really neat. Ella Ann's favorite part was being pulled by Bob the horse! She thought that was the greatest thing in the world and was entertained during the entire tour!

Our favorite day would have to be on Saturday because we drove across the bay to Tybee Island, which was 12 miles from Savannah. It was SO pretty! It reminded me of Hilton Head, mainly because it looks just like the beach there. My Mom loved it, as did Ella Ann. She took a little while to warm up to the beach, even though she has been packing around her shovels and pail for a week asking to go to the beach, but once she figured out it was fun she was all about it! We even got to see several dolphins that were really close to the shore. We stopped for lunch at The Crab Shack on our way out of Tybee Island. We all LOVED that place! Mom and I ate 2 pounds of peel-and-eat shrimp!!! We ate right on the water and enjoyed the scenery around us. They had an alligator farm there, cats everywhere (Ella Ann would chase them around), and birds. It was a really cool place and we will miss it.

We also spent some time on River Street, which is on Savannah River. There were several shops and restaurants, which we checked out, and Ella Ann loved the random music that was playing up and down the street.

After an awesome breakfast on Sunday morning we headed home. My Mom stayed with us on Sunday night, so it was nice for Ella Ann and I to not have to say goodbye so quickly. Thanks again, Mimi, for a wonderful vacation....Grandpa too since he probably footed the bill! ha!

I only posted a few pictures, so click HERE to see all of them.

Not Much

This weekend was rather uneventful. The weather was great so we spent some time at the park on Sunday afternoon. Spencer worked on Saturday night and I kept Mara Kate while Kane and Jana went out on a date. The girls had SO much fun together and pretty much wore each other out by running like crazy around the house until their faces were bright red! All they do is giggle, laugh, and squeal! It's so funny to watch! They talk to each other now and can carry on a conversation (a toddler conversation, mind you.). I built them a tent over Ella Ann's bed, so they had fun playing in that. We also colored, made crafts, and read books.

This is probably my last post until next week. My Mom, Ella Ann, and I leave for a girls trip to Savannah on Wednesday, so I'll be sure to post pictures when we get home. We are going to the zoo with a friend and her two little girls on Tuesday morning, but since I already posted Ella Ann's first trip to the zoo I probably won't take my camera...less I have to keep up with! I haven't told Ella Ann we're going there b/c she wouldn't sleep! I did tell her we are going to Savannah with Mimi in a few days because I had to get out her bucket and shovels since we are planning to go to Tybee Island one afternoon. Now all she says to Spencer and I is this: "Me, You (pointing at me), and Mimi are going to Vannah in a few days. We're going to the beach! We're going in a few days, but not today." We are very excited!!!!!!! Can't wait to see you Mimi!

I fed the girls dinner separately and Mara Kate wanted to sit on the counter while Ella Ann ate. They kept playing peek-a-boo and would laugh and laugh!

The girls rolling around in the tent!

The finished product...keep in mind I am sooooo not crafty, but for a toddler some construction paper around the head is just perfect!

Ella Ann has had this drum for a long time, but the other day I showed her that she can wear it so now she just wants to walk around the house all the time banging (loudly) on that drum!

Spencer came out of the bathroom this morning with his new look....nice chops and stash! Don't worry, Gayla, he shaved it ALL off after I took the picture! He just needs some Rayban's in this photo!

A Dream Half Fulfilled

When I woke up this morning, I saw that Al Roker was doing his annual segment of "Today Lends A Hand" right here in Atlanta! He tours the country in one week visiting different charities and donating tons of stuff to them. I absolutely LOVE the Today show and watch it every single morning and if I miss a morning, I Tivo it and watch it during Ella Ann's nap while I eat lunch! One of my dreams is to stand outside of Rockefeller Center while the Today show airs and wave and yell as the camera passes me by and I get to see all the Today show staff! I know, it's silly, but that's me! So of course I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to see one of the co-anchors that was literally 1.5 miles from my house! I hurried and got dressed and threw Ella Ann in the car and off we went at 8:30 a.m.! I was the one and only person there that was not affiliated with the Today show, the charity, or the Atlanta police, but I was right there in the thick of it snapping pictures like crazy! Here are a couple of them!

I also wanted to post these two pictures that Jana sent me. The two of us took the girls to the park yesterday so they could play and we could catch up. It's amazing to see how much they have grown in the last 2.5 years and we are so blessed to have the Barker family as our family in Atlanta. It is evident how much Ella Ann and Mara Kate love each other too. They are two peas in a pod!

This is going in a frame!

A Sunday Afternoon Concert

On Sunday afternoon I took Ella Ann to the The Music Class' annual concert in Glenwood Park, which is right down the road from us. The music played were songs from our first Music Class, so Ella Ann was thrilled to hear some old favorites! The weather was cool and breezy, but Ella Ann kept warm by dancing and jumping around! Here are some pictures from our day!

On our way, we past the Cotton Mill Lofts that were severely damaged by the tornado last month. You had to take a detour around section of the road they are on, but I managed to stick my head out the window to snap a picture of the still terribly-damaged lofts.

Super Fun Saturday

Since Spencer went to Toccoa this weekend, I had to figure out what Ella Ann and I were going to do all by ourselves all weekend long. I always pick up a monthly copy of the Ponce Press, a local news magazine, and this month it featured an article about the Atlanta Opera's annual Family Opera Day this Saturday. Since we all know how much Ella Ann loves music, I thought this would be a great thing for her to experience. Boy was it! It was only $5 for me to get in, Ella Ann was free, and we had so much fun! They had tons of craft stations set up and we managed to make something at every single station and I got to carry all of it around! By the time we left, both of us were covered in glitter and feathers and had glue dried all over our hands...which Ella Ann was not too happy about! She got a heart drawn on her hand at the face painting station. All the other kids had elaborate designs on their faces, but not Ella Ann, she only wanted a tiny heart on the back of her hand. For those of you who don't know, she is a very particular girl and doesn't like anything on her that's not supposed to be there.

She also went to an instrument petting zoo and took a turn at strumming a violin (she LOVED that) and tried on costumes. We got to watch an amazing opera performance and joined in the singing. Ella Ann sat in her chair intently watching the performers and loving every minute of it! She kept repeating to me, "I don't want to go home! We're not going home! We're not going home!!"

I took a few pictures at the Atlanta Opera, but once my hands were loaded down with crafts, I had to stop! I also uploaded an encore performance by the musical talent in our house!

Making her crown.....

tambourine....

and wand. Which she was very proud of, as you can see!

"Petting" the violin.

At the costume station. This is about as dressed up as she would get...a few necklaces and a hair piece around her neck and one of them is from home!

Watching the opera performance with her makeup brush in hand as usual!

Warning! This video may cause intense dizziness!!!! I have sung "Shout to the Lord" to her randomly about 4 or 5 times. I didn't even know she had picked up the words to the chorus until she started singing it to me on her own this morning! In case you can't understand her, here are the words:

Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing,

Power and majesty praise to the King.

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar,

At the sound of your name.

I sing for joy at the work of your hands,

Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand,

Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

I also wanted to post a picture of Ella Ann's new perch! This is where she sits (on our chest in our bedroom) while I get ready in the morning. She will tell me all that she sees outside and will talk to the trees, bees, sky, etc. One time I heard her saying, "Hey squirrel!! Hey squirrell! Whadya doin'? Are you playing? Ohhhhhhh."

A Weekend With Family

On Friday afternoon we headed north to Tennessee to visit with our family. It was our usual too short visit, but we made the most of our time together on Saturday. Ella Ann and Carter picked up where they left off and were best buds again after Ella Ann took about 10 minutes to warm up. After that, they were inseparable all weekend. Poor Seth did his best to keep up with them and wanted so badly to play, but I think he was ignored by them most of the time! :(
We had a good time hanging out on Saturday. I got to do a little shopping with Gayla while the kids slept, so that was fun! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't too great so Carter and Ella Ann had to burn off their energy by running in circles all around the house!

We left early Sunday morning and Ella Ann was not happy about leaving. She, as do Spencer and I, always has such a good time! Thanks again Zach and Mandy!

Everyone is under the table "fixing" it with Carter's tools!

She found Spencer's old helmet that Carter had and kept wearing it throughout the day on Saturday! She would take it off and fix her hair and then put it back on!

The endless reading of books by Nana and Papa during every single visit! They are easily suckered in! :)

Playing doctor with Seth!

Anything Carter did, Ella Ann was sure to follow. He wanted his milk out...so did Ella Ann!

I was trying to put Ella Ann's pj's on her, but she insisted on running around naked for quite some time with Carter chasing her! They really do have so much fun together!

She's at break-neck speed coming around the corner with Carter close behind! By the way, they are squealing and screeching as they run!

Carter would throw the ball and it would bounce off Ella Ann's helmet! It was SO funny to try and watch her hold her head so stiff trying to keep that helmet in place!

Play Ball!

In honor of baseball officially starting this week I thought it would be appropriate to post Ella Ann's contribution as a St. Louis Cardinal fan....

In case you were wondering, she is holding her (used to be mine) eyeshadow brush. She carries it around in place of her horsey and sucks her thumb while working the tip of it. She is so strange!