The Great Trip Part 2 (Yep. Part 2 is finally here!)

So....from the Whiddons on to Arkansas and Missouri!!! Ohhh Yeeeeeeahhhh!!!!!! :)

Two excited (and tired!) little girls getting ready to bed down for the night after a long day of travel.

The next day, a stop for lunch (in the RV-eating is a wonderful feature of RV's!)

Markie's Travel Shot

The Train bridge going over the Mississippi

Emma playing around with someone. She always enjoys a trip! :)

Playing an animated story with her Parrot.

Nearing the journeys end...excitement builds and is suppressed...

"Mother...do you have any idea what that word can be? It has a 'V' and the clue is..."

Sometimes sleep makes the time go faster and it revives your energy!

Here is the Bag Boy, or Luggage Hand, or Slave Boy (or whatever his latest title is) resting before the Big Unloading Session.

Paul travelling First Class

Well...another one is out.

WE have a THIRD! Do we have a FOURTH??

NOPE, but at least he's happy and quiet. :)

Yes...you DO see what you think you see.....a Cheeto stuck into the toes of a sleeping traveller.

Gmama and I were......well.....needing some excitement? :) She came up with the idea and I committed the dirty deed. (No pun intended...)

See? Gmama is still laughing!

Paul meeting his Aunt Ashley for the first time.

Isn't it beautiful!!??!!

Ahhhh!! I love it! :)

And the "Howdies" begin!

"The Incredible Hulk grabbed the innocent gentleman, and in one moment..." oh sorry. Wrong story. (Blew your cover Hul...er....RG.)

Gma Harris couldn't believe how much they had all grown!

In Daddy's arms again...

Andrew even gave a small ghost of a smile as he hugged Gma

Enjoying the wonderful noise and chaos of such a meeting...

Lil' Sam taking it all in.

(Let's see if I can get it right this time...no Hulk, just his cover name....right!)

Here is....RG giving us one of those knock-out smiles he loves to flash around.

Daniel is being initiated into the "No We're Not Brothers, We Just Look Like It" club along with Matthew and Pete, who founded the club many years ago and have managed to keep it going ever since....

"Why, yes...I am the Hulk's mother, thank you! He wasn't always like this you know..."

Sweet girls, just happy to be together again.

Great picture. No caption.

How 'bout - "We're proud of our garbage bags - nobody does garbage bags like we do garbage bags!"

(They're not actually garbage bags, they're just storing things until A.Ashley and U.Jay move to their permanent home)

Our beautiful Jr. Hostess

The Smile shows itself again as our mysteriously named man enjoys visiting with Gma again.

Aunt Katie, Sam, and me (looking like I just crawled out of bed...which I probably did...)

And the War for the Toys begins...!!!

Old pals (or was it rivals?) greet one another affectionately (or is it that they give the Peace Hug?)

Sarah took about 4000 pictures of the hummingbirds. (They were also up and about to greet us when we arrived) I've put one of the pictures up for you Humming Bird Lovers of the Stricklen Family. They move too fast for our camera :)

Aunt Katie meeting Paul for the first time.

"Sisters....Sisters....Never were there such devoted sisters...."

Grandadddy and Vannah

If you look carefully, you can see by Uncle Jason's cheeks that he has just said something witty, or to get under his big sister's skin... :-D

Smiling class

Paul is receieving instruction from his big cousin on smiling techniques.

Mama and Lil' Joe

(another creative caption)

Part of the Kitchen Crew

Catching up....

I wonder if Daddy knows who he's really talking to??

The squirts have started already....no, just kidding. They were playing very nicely together when I took this picture.

Hey, Rachel. What a beautiful smile!!

Hmm.....the Hulk must have a sense of humor...or is he trying out that smile again??

The Secret Meeting of The Three Brothers

("We part in radiant contentment...")

(Nice hairdo, Pete)

They were posing an advertising shot for Slumpers and Scowlers Anonymous

Uncle Jay was grateful for some strong arms to help move the wood pile. This was a very entertaining operation to watch....

Muscles takes a log from Legs

Legs and.....Legs?

Markie introduces Paul to his someday-to-be home

Sweet Rachel bringing Gmama some "Welcome" flowers.

Vannah giving Gma a flower that she picked

Gathered together for prayer. Thank you Lord for a wonderful day!!!

"Almost Heaven, South Missouri....Ozark Mountains, Missouri River..."

(for all you John Denver fans out there...)

Thats all, Folks!

(for now...)