Someone found Aunt Angie's sunglasses and thought they'd try them on.
It was nice to catch up with Angie (who stayed with us a few nights at the resort) and the girls loved the play time. One big positive of being stationed in St. Louis is the proximity to Tennessee. Having a long car ride is more realistic for a family of four than 4 tickets by air.

This weekend I heard a couple of times Suz saying "I need my baby" (referring to Ella).

I've heard it time and time again...that I've got myself a mini-me. What do you think?

If you are ever over at our house and hear the girls giggling like crazy, it's probably the choo-choo train. Ella grabs on and Suz goes faster and faster until she drags Ella behind her for a few feet and they both fall over laughing. Really cute!

Once a 5.5 hour drive down to Tennessee has turned into a little over 7 hours. Ella took it the hardest this time down, I'd say almost the entire trip was difficult on her other than her hour nap. We didn't get a break, either you drive or sit in the passenger's seat and calm the rage.
Sweet little girl, sweetest asleep this trip back and forth from IL to TN.

One of Casey's favorite childhood places to visit. It's the beautiful National Park down the road from where he grew up. The leaves hadn't turned yet this Fall, but it was still an enjoyable day to visit the Park. I must say, my favorite times to visit Tennessee is the Fall. Mimi getting some one-on-one time with Ella. Both girls seemed to remember Mimi this visit and warmed up immediately to her.

We spent some time with the Great Granny's. Granny Juanita made us some good old country breakfast. I'm getting use to eating chicken for breakfast, and the gravy you put on top of it. She still offers me some jelly....but I'm bonafide, I can do without the jelly. I'm going on 5 years being apart of this Clan, I need to step it up.
Granny Betty and the girls.

So, I've got a twin in Tennessee. Well, we don't look that much alike but mannerisms, style, and choice in husbands are very similar (we married brothers). Yes, it's Kristy (also known as "Kiki" by my girls). We are both having boys (as far as we know) and in fact our due dates are within days of one another. Here the girls are, 8 months pregnant.
Here we are, and in two months we'll be adding two baby boys to the clan.

Did you notice the p.j.'s? Well, that one wasn't an coincidence....nothing better than a nice pare of p.j.'s to slip into at the end of the day, aye?

We stayed at Lake Tansi in Crossville. We couldn't have picked a better time to go! It was off season (thus the great deal) but to us the best season to be there. The weather was in the 70's, blue skies and calm wind about you , just a great time to be with family. What a perfect way to end two 4 month deployments back to back.
Just think, in 2 months we'll be joined by another wee Shockley.Aunt Angie braved a few nights with us on the hide-a-bed upstairs. The girls loved waking up Aunt Angie and the outings we took. I think this is the most time we've spent with her of all our visits. Lots of laughs, smiles and late nights.....well worth it!

We ended this evening with a game of Apples to Apples....thanks, Alisha for introducing it to us, we couldn't stop laughing we had such a great time! The next night we played it with everyone and got the same results.
Love the little footprints in the sand.

We're at the end of our week. This much needed Holiday was very pleasant. The best part of all was spending a full week with Casey by our side. Let's work on no more TDY's or deployments at least for the next few months! We need as much Tehee as we can get!

The girls really took well to put-put.
Mimi and the girls.

We finally made it to Tennessee in 7 hours. It's the first time we've made it under that time since Suz has taken to big girl undies. We don't have Internet where we are staying, so we'll update everyone once we get home (Saturday), unless we can use Uncle Dean and Aunt Kristy's computer again soon. :)

I am like a fish in water. Crisp cool mornings and moderately 65 degree days. As I did laundry today I washed for the first time in almost 6 months little socks. We've been so accustomed to sandals and dresses. If only we could keep this Fall weather for more than a month and we'd all be thrilled. Oh, those cold days are coming ever so soon. I love Fall time. The transition from super hot to super cold. I love the chilly mornings, dew on the ground, change of leaves and the upcoming holidays. Now, this 8 months pregnant Mama is still wearing short sleeved shirts and capris....and I must say I'm very, very comfortable!

Funny picture of the day. Suzanna many times during the day will go off and do her own thing. She'd tried to put up her tent and managed to semi open it up. This made me smile.

We found a lot of fun things to do in an empty garage as we waited for a friend to pick us up to go and visit teach. It's amazing how big the garage feels when it's empty. Ella enjoyed climbing in and out of Suzanna's car seat. Getting pretty good at the bike, I might say Suz! Maybe the next step will be to ride it on a walk.

It's back.....we haven't had it in months since he'd deployed. Now it's back to Sunday night dinners. The girls are thrilled....Mama not so much as the cleaning is horrendous! Casey must have seen the look in my eye (the "oh, that's messy") and as I took a picture of messy Ella (and didn't think it could get worse).....
he ecnouraged her to do peak-a-boo. The girls eat up every noodle in sight, I guess I'm out numbered in votes as to the return of the noodle dinner.

Stroller races are very popular in our house. The lap around the kitchen into the breakfast nuk to the living room is the most popular track they go. Ella surely can keep up with Suz running around like a wild one.

Each year Casey's work (NGA) allows all us unclassified folks and families to come on the facility and see a small section of the building. Also the agency really puts a lot of thought into the entertainment for the kids and also the food provided. We're going on three Family Day's, can you believe it?

So, each year we get a picture of Suz standing next to the Black Hawk. By the end of our St. Louis tour, I'd like to make a collage of her each year standing there. This year was no different, but for some reason the pilot for some reason just stood there, in our picture. I gave him a few seconds to get out of it, but he just stood fast.
Next he started working on the bird....which made both Casey and I laugh because wasn't really interested in standing there (next to the girls) until we approached the Black Hawk. So, there you go HOOAH solider, you made the Shockley Blog!
Out for a ride....see Army in her future?
Each year is no different, sticky humid weather, but this year we had a nice breeze. I'd say this was the best Family day yet!

I was in the family room and didn't hear any noise from their room.....a bit worried I looked in to find them like this. Lately the girls have been playing the majority of the day together by themselves. Ella will often find a quiet time to go read by herself and soon Suz will join her. I love hearing Suz say "Use your voice Ella, I can't hear you" or "Look, Ella". It makes me happy to see how good of buddies they are.

No matter where you are in the house, this little one will track you down to read her a book. Her favorite book is Leap's New Potty (one we happened upon at a 2nd hand store when Suz was being potty trained). Ella loves it, you couldn't read it enough to her.