Blueberry Picking

Wednesday, June 7th

Third annual trip to Persimmon Hill Farm in Lampe, MO

Their kitchen is so neat!

Lane was able to go with us for the first time this year.  We had Thunder Muffins and a blueberry cinnamon roll (Rhett) for breakfast before picking.

Just a few of the many, many pretty rows of blueberry bushes!

Cute berry pickers!

We saw friends there, which was fun!  These girls were off to basketball camp right after the trip to the farm.

We were happy that Lane could go!

They said this was a great crop this year because of all the rain we've had.  They looked really pretty and they taste great!

So here was the not-so-fun part of the trip...the big rat snake living under one of the blueberry bushes.  Ahhhhhhh.  I hate snakes, and I hate when they ruin the fun.  It was one row over from where we were picking.  We heard a lady gasp (much calmer than I would have been) and point it out to her daughter.  She and her grandkids had stepped right over it.  The boys were kind of done picking then...they were more interested in watching the snake, but that was fine with me because I wanted to know it wasn't slithering my way.  I'm glad they kept an eye on it for us.  They watched it go into a hole.  I'd like to think that was the only one on the property.

a beautiful day at the berry farm!

Here's one recipe that I tried with the fresh blueberries:

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Easter Weekend

I love Easter weekend!  Easter is my favorite holiday!

We were out of school on Good Friday, so the kids and I made a quick, one-night trip to my parents' house to see them, my grandparents and my sister and her kids.  The weather was perfect.  We had burgers and hot dogs and ate outside Friday night.  

Mom gave the kids chocolate rabbits for Easter.  

It was also warm enough for the first swim that weekend!  And Crosby spent the night with a friend/classmate (Thurs. night) for his friend's birthday.  They had a lot of fun coloring Easter eggs and going out for donuts the next morning.

Looking forward to a fun summer of swimming.

We made cut-out sugar cookies Saturday afternoon.

Easter baskets Sunday morning.

It was raining and we were running late so our photos were indoors and rushed.  Rhett-13, Alexee-10, Crosby-8.

Our only family photo from Easter 2017

Church parking lot, only Alexee's bow made it into the picture.

Lunch was ready when we got home.  We had pork tenderloin (a recipe my friend Heather sent to me to try), potato casserole, baked pineapple casserole, grape salad, rolls and banana pudding for dessert.  Rhett also made lemonade.  

I got these cute blue egg dessert plates at Target.

The Grinch & School Parties

Trying to catch up again...

12/16-Crosby's class Christmas party was sweet.  I loved getting to be there with him--he is such a joy to me.  They made cards, played games, did a craft and had a snack.  Second grade is a cute age.  

Dec 15 & 19-Drama Club presents How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  The kids did GREAT!  Alexee had a wonderful time doing it.   A huge "thank-you" to the amazing drama club instructors that put so much time into helping the students do this!

So proud of Alexee for trying out and getting involved in something new!  It's super fun to watch her grow!

Mom & Dad drove up of the evening show on the 15th, then they came over for dinner afterward.  I tried this recipe for a gingerbread cake for dessert.    

The second performance of the Grinch was during the monthly awards assembly.  Alexee received a math club award for scoring in the top 50% on a nation-wide, online exam.  Way to go, A!

Rhett is becoming a great cook!  I look forward to letting him make all the meals around here soon!  :)  He made these peanut butter bars for a class party with no help at all.  He let us share the leftovers, and they were delicious!   The last day of the semester was PJ day for C & A.  That day was also A's class party.  Her teacher asked all the girls to plan the winter party, and the boys will get to plan the valentine party.  They decided to have a hot chocolate bar, photo booth (Alexee is working at that station in the photo below), paper snowflake craft table and a snack table.  It was fun to celebrate with her class.

C's sweet teacher gave each student a Humphrey book for Christmas!   So thoughtful!  It's hard to believe we are half-way through this school year.  Time for CHRISTMAS BREAK!

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Potpourri, Peanut Clusters & Other December Fun

On December 5th we had our last women's Bible study meeting for the year.  I don't even remember now what I cooked!?  I made these little Christmas potpourri bags for the girls in my group (printable tag here, contents: an orange, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, whole cloves, bay leaves and a dash of nutmeg).  These girls have been such a blessing to me this fall--I always enjoy the time with them.  The potpourri was super easy and made the house smell really good.  Unfortunately my rosemary plant shriveled up and died right after I made these because I let it freeze on the porch.  Sad!  It had been so healthy all summer and fall.  :(  

One evening Alexee and I made the annual batch of peanut clusters.  I think of our Little Rock neighbors when we make these because we used to deliver them to everyone on our street.  We still miss them!  This year we shared with the kids' basketball coaches and our next-door neighbor.

December 10th we made a quick overnight trip to Flippin to help my parents with a few things.  I went to feed hay with Mom that afternoon.  She has a lot of mouths to feed every day!  This picture on the bottom left is home to me.  I spent so many hours of my childhood playing in that barn that you can see in the distance, and just across the road from it is the house I grew up in.  We lived there until I started 11th grade (then we moved just a few miles down the road).  I'm glad my kids can play in these same places that are so special to me.  

 Mom had a bottle calf in the barn, and the kids loved helping with her.   They named her Maggie.  

Crosby & Bogart tucked in for bed that night.  :)

Rhett and Grandad shot this mistletoe out of a tree.

We had a COLD few days where the temperatures were in the single digits.  It was miserable!  We got a very light dusting of snow the night of the 17th, but it wasn't enough to play in.  On the 18th we had reservations for the Christmas brunch at the Keeter Center.  The restaurant looked pretty with all the Christmas decorations.  I liked the white churches above the fireplace.  

Great holiday meal with my family.

That evening Lane and the boys went to see the new Star Wars movie, so Alexee and I had a girls' date.  We did some Christmas shopping and had hot chocolate at Starbucks.  She's so much fun!  The boys all had a great time at the movie, too.  

And because it only blooms once a year, here are a few more pictures of our Christmas cactus.  Some of the blooms are a peachy color and some are a pale pink/almost white.   So pretty!

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Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family in Flippin.  My sister's family was in town, and Lane's parents drove up and met us there this year, too!  It was great to all be together. 

We stayed at the river house (and had our Thanksgiving meal there also), so I tried to do all the grocery shopping and most of the cooking at home before we left town.  

I burned the first buttermilk pie so I started over and made another one.  The "bad/burnt" one actually tasted fine (we ate it Wednesday night) even though it didn't look very nice.  I thought these cranberries looked so bright and pretty getting ready to go into the cranberry fluff.  I always think of my Great-Grandmother Wood when I make it. 

We picked up rolls from a local bakery on our way out of town.  We were loading the car to leave on Wednesday when the bakery called (at 12:50) and asked if I was still planning to pick up the rolls.  They told me then that they'd be closing at 1:00, but someone would still be there to let me in.  Oops!!  It was a crazy busy morning and a cold and rainy afternoon, but as soon as we made it to the river and got everything unloaded Lane built a warm, cozy fire and we had a relaxing evening. The kids played cards and chess, and I made veggie soup and cornbread for dinner.

Getting everything ready for lunch on Thursday:

Mom brought my (belated birthday) red velvet cake!  We forgot to take a picture before the kids got into it.  :)

One of the many things I'm thankful for this year is this precious baby nephew!  We love him so much!

Thankful for everyone in this photo--what a blessing to be surrounded by a loving family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My sister brought me this for my birthday.  I love the mug--I've been using it almost every morning!

So after lunch it was time to get ready for the next family gathering with the Hoppers!  We had about an hour drive to my aunt's house, so I made a grape salad that afternoon, we rested for just a few minutes and then left for her house!  The two new 2016 babies were very popular at the party.  :)

J is growing so fast!

This November would have been my Papa Hopper's 100th birthday, so my Dad and Aunt Judy put together a very special photo memory book for each of his children and grandchildren.  It's such a treasure to me!

Judy also had this neat display table in her living room.  I loved looking at all the photos, letters and keepsakes.  I was blessed to have a lot of time with my Mama Hopper, and I have many wonderful memories of her.  I wish I could have known Papa, too.  I'm really thankful we were able to remember him together this Thanksgiving.