Camping-for-a-day with Scarlett and L.

 July 16

I hung out with Scarlett and Ellis for a few days while Britt and Austin left town for a babymoon. First up we went camping-for-a-day with some of the Goldsberry clan. Bill had to leave for CO the next day, but was able to come and enjoy our camp day. It was so much fun, and we definitely crammed all things camping into the day.

We enjoyed each other's company.

We fished for crawdads. 

Larkin and Sookie helped Scarlett, Matt and Rob helped L. Bill and I enjoyed watching, and left the helping to the crawdad-catching experts.

We picnicked. {Or lunchabled.} 

We hiked the loop around camp with the dogs.

We went boating around the lake.

**The weather was perfect and the scenery was beautiful**

We did a crawdad boil.

(we did not partake haha)

L climbed trees.

Scarlett and L made a new friend.

We snapped a group photo.

**Everyone's favorite camping activity**

We enjoyed the wildlife... up close.

We built a fire.

We made and enjoyed s'mores.

We roasted Starbursts.

We were silly and had fun.

**Scarlett and Ellis LOVED Katie**

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We drove back home as the sun set... dirty, tired, and so glad that we came.

Wednesdays with V + a little NJ.

I want to remember my last few Wednesdays with Evie. I knew it was going to be hard to move away from V and NJ, so I wanted to make sure we had a little time together before the big move.

June 23 

Evie brought her tea set from home. We tea partied the entire day away.

You can't have a proper English tea party without sweets, so we made some microwave s'mores.

When V got tired of the inside party, we took it outside.

NJ was at home obviously enjoying her one-on-one time with her mama and papa.

June 30

This swing and ladder rope saw lots of use from V over the 10 months we lived in our basement apartment.

She also enjoyed the large backyard and trampoline.

Our landlords were out of town for an extended time, so V and I decided to pick the peas that were ready, and we ate them for dinner. Yum!

July 7

I met up with Nae at the beauty supply before taking V for the day.

Then we headed back to the apartment for more rope ladder antics.

It's been crazy to see how much V has grown in the year+ we've had fairly regular weekly dates. From rope-ladder climbing to puzzles, she learned and improved quickly. 

We spent a chunk of the day in the backyard. V was dancing and singing as I sprayed the hose around in circles and she ran through it. It was the sweetest thing watching the freedom, innocence, and joy of childhood.

I have loved our days together and will always cherish them.

July 10

Bill and I babysat V and NJ so their mom and dad could have a date night.

We walked to the park by their home to play for a bit.

We had forgotten to take water with us, and it was a hot day, so we walked across the street to McDonald's for a little refreshment.

This pic was taken right before NJ **almost** hit her head on that tile after slipping off that stool. Thanks to my quick reflexes developed over years of being a mom, I grabbed her just in time. She was still a tad startled, and may have shed a few tears, but there were no bruises or blood. I call that a success.

NJ has not fallen in love with her Gigi just yet. She is cautious and uncertain. I look forward to her realization that I can be pretty great {wink}.

I have LOVED having these precious girls nearby. I will miss them so much when we move. I hope they will live near me again someday, and I hope to be able to maintain the relationships I have developed with them.

Gigi loves you, Evie and Nora Jane!