Trip to Memphis

I took the kids for our annual August trip to Memphis. Our plane flight left on the day a terrorist plot was foiled in the UK and there was a major shakeup at the airport. It really didn't affect us one bit, other than we couldn't bring our water bottles, and we ended up on the local news!!

This year my cousin Leah, from New Mexico, was able to come and stay a long weekend at Liz's so we could spend time together. My girls loved her daughters, Kaylee and Kelsey. They did a lot of hide and seek with them at Liz's, did some acrobatics and cheerleading moves (see Kelsey tossing Corrina and Rene around her body in the pics below), and I taught Kelsey, Kaylee and Sarah Ann how to make origami cranes...and they made HUNDREDS!

Leah and her girls also went with us down to see Uncle Bits in Mississippi. His place is out in the country. They all had a ball when he took them out for rides on his 4 wheeler and "mule" tractor. And they loved getting to feed Lori's peacocks and turkeys.

Corrina brought her new fuse bead set to Memphis, and all the kids had fun using them. You place different colored beads on a form (freeform, flower, heart, star, dog, horse, etc) , and then use an iron to fuse them together so they make a plastic "picture".

The kids also had a lot of fun at the playground near Nee Nee that has a sprinkler area. The first day we went to it, it was malfunctioning and the water wouldn't come on, but we hung around and somehow it started back up. Lots of different types of sprinklers on a nice rubber surface.

We spent a day at the Memphis Zoo. Nee Nee took us to see the new polar bear exhibit where you get an underwater view of the bears swimming. We also watched a sea lion show. The zoo was so nice that I took the kids and spent a whole day there. They loved a restaurant beside the monkey exhibit where the monkeys were right at the windows watching you eat. We rode their tram that gives you a tour of the zoo. We spent a lot of time in the farm animal area. And they loved a water feature at the entrance where you are allowed to wade.

Nee Nee had her pool set up and they spent many hours in the pool. It had a leak, so Nee Nee spent a lot of time trying to keep it inflated and clean. They also spent a lot of time with Nee Nee's cats - Kee Kee and Blackie, and dogs - Polie, Candy Ann, and Crystal. Hank especially seemed to love being around all the animals.

Click here to see the whole slideshow of Memphis photos.

Here are some highlights: