Bittersweet Memory

While at the convention, I (Ashley), ran into some friends that are near and dear to my heart. This is Kathy and Jay Shafto. These are the missionaries that I worked with while I was in Africa back in 2003.  I loved working with them, the African translators, the rest of the team, and sharing the love of Jesus with the Bisa people.  Seeing them brought back such great memories but also broke my heart with my longing to go back and share, taking Brian and the girls with me.  One day we will, one day we will! 

Fun Times at the Aquarium

Bella and the fish

Fun! Fun!

Lilly enjoyed the aquarium too!

Ha! Ha!

Bella and Lilly both enjoyed looking at the fish, seals, and penguins! Bella also enjoyed sliding in the giant snake!  Mama and daddy found the penguin talking about the different kind of bird poop funny and weird!

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde and the Riverfront

Bella loved eating the beignet and drinking chocolate milk. She also enjoyed putting powdered sugar on daddy and he enjoyed putting it right back on her!  Here's Lilly wishing she could have one!  Bella loved watching the steam boat on the Mighty Mississippi River.  We sure did enjoy our time in New Orleans!

Riding a street car

Lilly enjoyed riding in her carrier and riding on the street
car! She loved being able to look out the window!

  

Bella Grace was hesitation about riding at first,
but once we got going, she loved it!

Grocery Shopping

The mini grcoery store exhibit at the children's museum was Bella's favorite. She loved picking out groceries (mainly fruits and veggies), having them scanned, and scanning some herself.  The machine even printed her a receipt!  Mama thought the mini grocery store was neat too!

Children's Museum

Bella Grace had a lot of fun putting the magnetic letters on the board. 
She loves learning the letters, their sounds, and the motions that go with them!

Bella loved playing in the bubbles!

Bella Grace loved pretending to cook over the open fire and ride in the boat at the cajun cottage!

Plane Trip

Bella could not wait to get on the airplane.  She loves to ride on them, she has rode on them since she was born.  It is always a nice treat for her during the summer.  Although this time, she got scared. She held mama's hand the whole time, did not want to watch a movie, and even screamed out when the plane hit a little turbulance.  She did use the bathroom on the plane which was a surprise to mama.  Thankfully she seemed to get comfortable toward the end of the flight. 

We took a plane from AL to New Orleans to meet up with Brian at the Southern Baptist Convention.
This was Lilly's first plane ride and she did great!

Thanks Grann and Papa

We had a fun filled week in Birmingham! Thanks Grann and Papa for the fun times, great food, and the precious memories that we made!  We all had a lot of fun and were so glad that we get to come and spend a week with you each summer!  Love you!

Random Birmingham Pictures

Papa loved holding all the grandkids at one time! Can you believe we got one while they were all looking?!

Bella loved sitting in Jo Jo's lap at the resturant on our last nite in Birmingham. 
Aunt JoJo had her hands full that nite!

We ate at an authentic Mexican food resturant. The sauce reminded mama of the sauce she will get in NM, and Bella loved watching the woman make tortillas.  The lady even gave her some dough to make her own tortilla with.  The waitress brought Bella a push-up and she ate it all up!

Bella and Grann had a blat making Rice Krispie treats.  We also had a blast eating them:)!!

Fun at the Birmingham Zoo

We went to the zoo on Friday and had a lot of fun.  Again, it was hard to get pictures with the animals, Bella would leave too soon. We saw the elephants getting fed lunch, tried to feed the giraffes but they were already full, and had a blat playing in the splash pad.  Bella's favorite was watching the seals and riding the carousel.  Animal of choice-the ostrich!  Everett, Zoe, and Bella were wiped out after such a fun day!

Patio and Piano Fun

Bella loved riding in Everett's truck that he was nice enough to bring over to Grann's and share with her.  She would pretend to ride to daddy's work, say hi, and then ride back to blow the bubbles and have more fun at Grann and Papa's. Bella and Everett also played in the wimming pool on the patio and had a blast. Lilly enjoyed sitting in the Bumbo seat and playing the piano.  She would play such beautiful music! She also enjoyed seeing the key light up and the sunshine move back and forth.

Lilly's Favorite Activity

Lilly loved being held by any and everybody who was willing and wanting to hold her!  She enjoyed meeting Mrs. Janie for the first time, eating some rice cereal with Grann, and loving on Papa.  In case you can't tell, her favorite activity is being held:).  Everyone was more than happy to complete this activity. Who could resist such a sweet and precious little one?!

Fun at the McWayne Center



 At the McWayne center, both Everett and Bella had a blast.  There was a huge Dora exhibit which Bella loved.  She enjoyed climbing the rock wall and having help on the monkey bars the most.  She would never stand still long enough by Dora for me to get a picture though.  Bella and Everett loved playing in the water and in the sand exhibits as well.  Who wouldn't love pretending to navigate a bug through a maze? Bella and Everett loved sitting in the front of the bug and pretending to drive it.  The adults had just as much fun as the kids!

 

Birmingham Fun

Everett and Isabella had a blast playing with each other.  Overall, both cousins played great together!  Zoe and Lilly enjoyed looking and touching each other too!  Thanks Zoe for sharing some of your cool toys with Lilly!  She enjoyed playing with them!  Mimi of course enjoyed the week long visit with both girls! Bella Grace would help get Mimi to the bathroom, make sure she washed her hands, and also make sure she took her medicine. The sweetest mot memorable for many was how Bella Grace would sit in the rocking chair in Mimi's room and sing Mimi songs when it was time to go to sleep.  She would sing Mimi four or five songs and then say good night Mimi and shut her door.  Makes mama smile-I love that girl!

Monroe Zoo

 

We had a blast at the zoo in Monroe at the beginning of this month.  We met Aunt Suzie, Erica, and Zanna.  Bella loved riding on the boat and seeing all the animals.  She also loved loving on her cousin Zanna.  Lilly enjoyed napping in the stroller and riding in the boat as well.  Bella Grace loves to ride any carousel that she sees-the one at the zoo was no exception.  Monroe has an awesome zoo! I recommend it to anyone in the area:).  Bella Grace also loved watching the pelican go after a fish and eat it.  That is what she is watching with Aunt Suzie.  Of course she got to feed the fish too!

Yummy!

Bella Grace loves corn any and every way, just like her Mama!  Thanks Aunt Suzie for all the fun!

I love Mimi and Aunt Suzie

Lilly's favorite activity is to be held.  Mimi and Sunt Suzie were more than happy to oblige to this activity:).