More June Fun

Catching up...

Tuesday night Rhett had two of his best friends spend the night.  I think they had a lot of fun.  These three have been buddies since they were just toddlers...and now they are ready for the 4th grade!  I can't even type it without crying, but G's family is moving to Texas later this summer.  While I know we'll stay in touch and see them from time to time, we are really really going to miss having them here as part of our every day lives.  Change is hard.  I enjoyed having the boys at our house and hearing them laugh and be goofy together...and I wished it could just stay like this.  

Wednesday night Lane and I went to the Travelers baseball game with our community group from church.  I didn't take very many pictures, but we had a great time catching up with everyone.  I don't know what the final score was--I wan't paying any attention to the game! 

Lane was off work on Thursday, so we decided to try Chuy's for lunch.  It just recently opened, and we haven't been willing to wait in line to eat there.  I thought it was okay.  I'd definitely give it another try, but based on my first visit there, I'd have to say that I like Cantina Laredo, Local Lime and Señor Tequila better.  These three did approve of the push-pops that came with the kids' meals!

Lane had to work last night, so the kids and I went back to the pool for another evening swim.  When we left there, it was getting very close to 8:00...time for 1/2 priced shakes at Sonic!  We ended a fun Friday night with Oreo and chocolate shakes.

C always wants me to play fire fighter with him.  He looks so cute dressed up in his uniform, complete with Ladybug Girl boots and a stuffed snake which serves as the "fire hose".

Saturday morning I took the kids to the Museum of Discovery.  It was not crowded at all--I was so glad.  It's much easier to keep an eye on everyone that way.

(Rhett didn't have time to pose by the statue.  He was ready to get inside.)

Lots of interesting experiments...

electricity

pulleys

pendulums

learning about rainfall in Arkansas

gravity

This was neat--R & A were reporters on the weather channel!  

Of course Alexee loves the animal exhibit.

last stop before lunch:  the human body room

She was interested in the skeleton

This part explained sneezing.  The doors on the kids' faces opened and a puff of air sprayed out like a sneeze.  Crosby thought this was so funny and opened it many times.  :)

Lunch @ Purple Cow

My niece played basketball in town last night so my parents decided last-minute to make a trip here for the game.  We met them there and had fun watching Jaiden play!

Mic, Mario, Jaiden & Jeryn

 I love this picture of Mom & Dad and all the kids after the game!

It seems like June has been busy and fun--it has gone by very fast!

Sunday Swimming, Bogart's Birthday

After church on Sunday Crosby asked if I'd take his picture.  :) I'm always trying to get them to cooperate for photos so this was a nice change.

Then everyone wanted a turn to be the photographer...

The boys were really needing haircuts--glad they had appointments yesterday.  I think it's cute that C says he has to "take a haircut".  Before we went yesterday he got a lunchbox out of the pantry and packed himself a container of yogurt, a spoon and an ice pack.  I guess he thought we'd be there long enough that he'd get hungry.  :)

Lane worked Sunday night so we ate an early dinner with him then I took the kids to the pool for an evening swim.  I thought it was a great time to go because we didn't have to use sunscreen, and the pool wasn't crowded!  We'll have to do that again.

Rhett decided he was going to swim laps for exercise every time we go to the pool this summer.  He did 6.5 laps that night and 7 laps today.  He said he thought he should increase his number by .5 each time.  I love this serious, analytical boy!

*****

If you are not a "dog person" (or maybe even if you are-ha!) then you'll probably think this is totally silly, but yesterday was Bogart's 10th Birthday, so we celebrated!  :) He is definitely a special part of our family.

He had a can of food for breakfast instead of the usual low-fat dry food.

The kids made a few decorations for him.  :)  R & C made a paper chain, and A made a giant card and drew a picture of our family.  He slept beside them while they worked.

The card Alexee made and had everyone sign:

He got a variety of new treats

And he got to eat his favorite:  ICE CREAM

(We all ate ice cream too)

Fresh Blueberries

Last Thursday afternoon Micaela and I took the kids to pick blueberries. Crosby wanted to stay with Mo, so he's not in these pictures.  The other four seemed to have a good time though.  Rhett complained about having bugs buzzing around his ears and finding three ticks crawling on his leg, but otherwise it was fine.  It was nice that, unlike blackberries, there were no stickers to deal with.  We filled two buckets really quickly, and the blueberries were very tasty!

Aunt Kala, Alexee and Jeryn

Rhett & Jaiden in the shade

This picture is funny to me--The girls smiling sweetly, Rhett's red face and Jeryn eating the berries.

Now what to do with all these!?  Do you have any great blueberry recipes to share? :)

Busy Week: Father's Day, VBS & Residents' Dinner

Last week was BUSY but full of fun!  On Saturday the 15th, I took Alexee to a swim party for the b-day of a kindergarten classmate.  I enjoyed having a little outing with just Alexee.  After the party we did some quick Father's Day shopping for the following day.  That night I made an Oreo dessert for us to enjoy after lunch on Sunday.

Father's Day photo at church

We love you and are proud of you, L!  The kids are extremely blessed to have such a great Dad!

Sunday evening we picked up my niece and went to Flippin for VBS week at my parents' church. This was Rhett and Jaiden's 5th year to attend, Alexee and Jeryn's 3rd and Crosby's FIRST!  C was super excited when he found out that he was old enough to go this time!  It was great to get to see my Dad on Father's Day, too.  I don't think that has happened in several years, but it was nice to be home.  I'm always laughing when I'm with Dad.  It took several tries to get a "normal" picture (see bottom right).  :)

Monday morning we did the usual first day of VBS photo on the front steps.  We missed having Jeryn there early in the week, but due to his allergy shots he had to wait and come up on Wednesday.

Alexee, 6; Jaiden & Rhett, 9; Crosby, 4

Mom taking A's picture :)

The VBS theme this year:  Colossal Coaster World

Motto:  Facing Fear!  Trusting God!

Verse:  "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love and sound judgment."  2 Timothy 1:7

Our kids look forward to this all year long.  We truly appreciate everyone who worked so hard to make it such a wonderful week!

excited to hang out with Grandad when he got home from work

Monday afternoon Grandmother and Grandad were so sweet to bring us a loaf of fresh homemade bread--yum!  They sat outside and visited while the kids played in the sandbox.

Jaiden braiding A's hair after baths.  Love these girls!

Ready to go on Tuesday a.m.

After dropping them off at church on Tuesday, I drove back home so I could attend the annual residents' graduation banquet with Lane that night.  Next year he will be in the graduating class!!!  The event was held at the Governor's Mansion, which was such a treat!  (I should have taken more pictures.)

It was getting too dark for pictures after dinner, but here are a few by the fountain as we left.  It was a fun evening out together!

Since my sister was taking Jeryn to VBS on Wednesday and would be there to help my parents, I decided to wait until Thursday to make the drive back.  Lane was off on Wednesday, so we had a whole day here by ourselves--it was great!  I don't remember the last time that happened...maybe not since C was born!?!?  I went to Target by myself to get new pjs and underwear for the kids (exciting, I know), then we went to lunch and saw Man of Steel.  We also got some things done around the house.  I changed all the kids' beds, Lane hung the world map that I (finally) had framed for R's room and we completely cleaned out the storage unit and canceled that monthly bill!  

R's room

Of course we needed another group photo once Jeryn had joined in on the fun!  Mic sent me this picture from Thursday a.m.

And I loved getting these pictures of the kids enjoying VBS activities from Jacquie:

Crosby played hard all week.  I think he was exhausted by Friday!

Alexee collected grasshoppers in a jar.

Thursday afternoon Micaela had the idea to take the kids to pick blueberries at a place not far from my parents' house.  I've picked a lot of blackberries, but this was my first blueberry picking experience.  It was a fun thing to do.  I took a lot of pictures there and will do a separate post on that.  We had the kids bathed and ready to go to Yoshi's for dinner at 5:30 that night.  They all love the food there, and the chef keeps them entertained during the meal--always a bonus!  We had a great meal and got home in time for eager fans to watch the NBA championship game.  (This didn't include me...Crosby, Alexee and I went to bed early).

Friday morning Micaela and I took the kids to church and stayed to watch the closing program.  What a memorable week for them.  They'll be singing the songs they learned for months!

Mrs. Judy, Jaiden & Alexee

Crosby had fun in the 4 yr old class with these sweet little boys, Landon & Luke!

And on Friday they get to bring home their crafts, etc. from the week.  These cute frames are on the fridge now:

Our last stop for the week was lunch at Pizza Hut before getting on the road back to our house.  I realized that I didn't have a picture of my parents with all the kids from the week.  Dad wasn't there, but we took a quick pic of Mo and the kids in the restaurant parking lot.

Mom and Dad, THANK YOU for letting the kids all spend the week there.  I know it was very busy and created a lot of extra laundry, etc., but sweet memories were made that they will treasure always.  We love you!!  Thanks again for everything!