Vacation, Part 1

On Saturday, July 31, the kiddos and I left home to drive 12 hours to Alabama to visit Granny and Grumpa. Along the way, we picked up cousins Berni and Kells and LT. Me and 6 children ages 4 1/2 months to 10 1/2! Everyone thought I was either crazy or very brave. I think it was actually easier to have all 6 than to have just my 3 little ones because the older ones were able to help take care of and entertain the littler ones, which made it much easier for me to focus on driving. And, yes, I did survive. ;) We, of course, had the moments of "Are we there, yet?" or "How much further?" or "What state are we in?" followed usually by "Arkansas" followed again by "Still!" I tried to keep them entertained with little road trip games, coloring books, sticker pictures, foam sheets and stickers and a movie. I think that lasted all of about 2 hours. ;) By the time we got to Granny's house, we were all ready to be out of the van.
I honestly didn't do hardly anything the first week we were there due to the fact that I had a nasty cold that I was trying to get rid of while also trying not to give it to everyone else. Unfortunately, that didn't quite work as well as I originally thought it had. I got better just fine, however, I ended up getting Granny a little sick and Grumpa really sick. Sorry! But at least they didn't get sick until we were getting ready to leave. Good timing, right? ;)
Monster LOVED being at Granny and Grumpa's house because he was able to go outside and run around whenever he wanted. In case you don't already know, he would live outside if I let him. He always wants to play outside, and he doesn't just want to sit and color on the sidewalk for hours--he does color occasionally, though--he wants to run and explore and see everything and go everywhere his two little eyes and legs will let him. He is pretty much all boy. :) It really makes me wish we had a house and land or at least a fenced in yard or even a yard of any sort would be nice. It's difficult to enjoy just the grass around the apartment buildings.
I also enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to be the one suffering in the sweltering, sticky humidity and heat that  is Alabama. ;) It is absolutely gorgeous there, and I'm sure that if I lived there, I would eventually get used to it. But, it is definitely not my favorite climate--95-100+ degrees plus 90-99% humidity equals kinda yucky. Although, I will say that it was nice to escape the two weeks of over 100 degree weather in Texas. Even if it is drier, it's not any more enjoyable when it's that hot.
Some of the activities that we were able to participate in included swimming in the pond (the kiddos did that, not me ;), swimming in and helping put up the swimming pool, swimming in the lake, visiting Amish country, hay ride, getting more chickens for Granny (kiddos did that, too), collecting chicken eggs, playing with the new puppies, going for walks, catching butterflies and bugs (kiddos--I don't like bugs. ;), canning tomatoes (ME--Granny taught me a little bit about canning. It was really fun to spend time with her and learn something new. I really want to start canning our own things.), playing, swinging on the tire swing, etc.
Here are some pictures of our adventures:

I put this picture on here to show you how humid and hot it really was. This is what happened to my camera lens when I took it outside to take pictures. It started fogging up and I had to wipe it off numerous times before it adjusted to the weather.

My cute little Monster Man

Polly, one of Granny's new puppies, absolutely adores Chicky. She was constantly trying to lick her and be near her whenever we were outside. (FYI: Teeny started calling Baby Sister Chicky while we were at Granny's, and I think it's a pretty cute nickname for now.)

Trying to decide who should get in first

Monster and Teeny playing in the kiddie pool--If you can't tell the water is super cold!

I have to tell a cute story about Teeny. One of the days we were at Granny's, Teeny and Kells were playing in the kiddie pool. Teeny came up on the porch to see me and decided to pick up Bear, one of Granny's cats. She took him down the steps and into the yard. A few minutes later, she came back up covered in cat hair and whimpered, "Mommy, Bear scratched me and it's bleeding." I asked why he scratched her, and she said, "Well, I tried to put him in his pool, and he scratched me." I told her that kitties don't like to be in pools. As soon as I said that, it dawned on me what she had just said. Then she said, "But it's his pool!"

My cute little Chicky :)

Teeny catching one really big bug: her little brother LOL

Berni and Kells chasing butterflies...and other various bugs

Granny bought Monster some play tools, and, of course, Teeny wanted to play with them. Since she didn't have a real tool belt, she ended up making a tool belt. I hope y'all get that! ;) 

The fort/tent the kiddos built to play in. It kept falling down because everyone had to try to step over it to get outside or go to the laundry room.

The tent/fort that Granny helped build for the kids to sleep under.

Sleeping--sort of--kiddos in the tent

Finally, the kiddos get to go swimming in the new pool. They were super excited!

Monster trying to keep up with the big kids running to the pool

Teeny on the pool ladder

Coloring with sidewalk chalk (Yes, Monster is missing any and all clothes. He had a swim diaper on but at some point in time, had decided to take it off. I just decided to let him run around "free" for a little bit.)

They're so sweet and adorable especially when they sleep. I couldn't pass up a chance to take this picture.

Having a "Tea" Party with mini Oreos and water and milk

Monster and Grumpa played cars while the older kids had a Tea Party

Monster and Grumpa playing with Lil Chicky

Just a couple of cute faces of Chicky that I like. :)