Kittens and Wild Game Feast 2013

The kids and I made a quick trip to Flippin last Saturday.  It was time for the annual Wild Game Feast, and Rhett was looking forward to going with Dad again this year.  And Alexee could not wait to see all the kittens at the barn.

Everything was so pretty and green there.

Mom and the kids coloring

The picture on the left is blurry, but her expression sums up her feelings about meeting these kittens for the first time.  She kept saying things like, "Well, aren't you just the cutest little thing!"  :)  Maybe she will be a vet when she grows up--she loves all animals.  Mom brought the (3 week old) calico kittens to the house for a while so that the kids could play with them.  They were curled up asleep in a beach towel in the sink when we arrived.

Alexee also took the guinea pig with her this time.

Lots of cat pictures...

There were more kittens born that very day!  This one was just a few hours old:

(I'm sure Mom will be looking for loving homes for several kittens very soon...if you happen to be interested.)    

I love this picture my sister took of Crosby.  The striped shorts and cowboy boots were a stylish combination.  :)

Cousins

Dad and Rhett had a great time at the event.  Hank Parker was the guest speaker this year, and they said he did such a wonderful job!  Rhett must have really been listening--he told me a lot about it.

R with Hank

And also with his Great-Grandad Forrest and his Grandad

There was a drawing for door prizes, and R won a compound bow and a Spider-Man fishing rod!  I just cannot believe how lucky this child is--he always wins drawings!!  He knew Crosby would like the fishing rod so he gave that to him when he got home.  :)  C was so proud!

Mo, Grandad, 5 grand-kids and 2 kittens after church on Sunday:

When I mentioned wanting to take a group picture after church, Rhett went right over to his briefcase, opened it up and pulled out a camera and a tripod!?  Jaiden said, "Rhett is all about business!"  So true!  He set the auto-timer and took this group picture for us--thanks, R!

We made it back in time Sunday afternoon for A to stop by the park briefly for her sweet friend/classmate's Star Wars b-day party.  The park is near our house, so Lane met me there and took the boys home while I stayed with Alexee.  She had cake and ice cream and came home with a cup full of candy from the Darth Vader piñata.

A fun weekend!

Last Soccer Game, Book Character Day, etc.

Lately...

Crosby had two friends over to play one morning.  They were cute racing cars and having a "picnic" in the playroom.  They played so well together.  I love how Crosby is wearing the sword in the first picture.  :)

L worked a transport shift last Saturday.  He sent us a picture as they flew over the Arkansas river. The kids and I went to the park that morning and stopped at Subway for lunch.

Our azaleas have been in full bloom.  I took A's picture by them after church last week.

Sunday afternoon R & A helped me wash my car in the driveway while C took a nap.  Then Alexee wanted to go with me to the garden center.  I could have stayed there all day!  They had a swing set that Alexee played on while I looked around, and we also had fun looking at the fish and chickens.  We brought home some petunias, caladiums and a lantana.  A also found a caterpillar that she carried home and put in a jar.  She took it to school on Monday, then it made a chrysalis on Monday night.   We're waiting patiently to see what happens.

Monday night was C's last night of spring soccer.  He's had such a great time playing.  We went to Larry's Pizza to celebrate with some friends afterward. 

Alexee and friends

The kids got medals and backpacks

Rhett wanted to have his picture made with Crosby and his medal.  :)  I love these boys!!

B got a haircut

Wednesday night our Community Group had dinner at Bob & Leigh Ann's house.  Their tables looked so pretty and the food was all so good!

Friday was book character day at school.  Alexee went as Ladybug Girl, and Rhett went as Ted from Curious George.  Lex wore her ladybug tutu from her 5th birthday party, and I painted Bingo and George props for them to carry in the school parade.

 In drop-off line:

She received a ribbon for being a class winner and got the 2nd place prize for Kindergarten (a stuffed Pete the Cat).

Soccer Highlights

A few more of C playing soccer...Thank you so much to my friend Emily for sharing these pictures that she took during the season!

 I wonder what they were discussing.  :)

very sweet group of boys

 I really love these last two:

Beyond thankful that we were blessed with this little boy!

Zoo, Awards & Cupcakes

On Wednesday, Crosby and I joined Alexee's Kindergarten class (and maybe every other K class within 100 miles) at the zoo.  The students were split into small groups and assigned to an adult.  Alexee was excited to be in a group with her good friends. They started out very energetic and ran full-speed from one exhibit to the next, barely even taking time to look at the animals.  By the end of our two hours there, they were out of energy, hungry and slightly grumpy.

Our group:  Aubrianna, Alexee, Chloe and Jessica (and Crosby)

The girls liked using their zoo maps.  :)

They had a picnic lunch at the park across the street then played on the playground before returning to school.  I took Alexee with me a little bit early because I had to be at the school at 1:00 for the 3rd grade awards assembly.

Rhett got a math team certificate, a Principal's Award for an all-A report and a classroom character award.  We're proud of him for his hard work!

Thursday afternoon was busy.  Rhett had Recycle Club after school.  We picked him up from there, dropped Alexee off at our neighbor's house for a butterfly-themed birthday party, then went to the boys' 4 and 9 year old check-up appointments with Dr. B.

She had a great time and loved the face painting!

I'm extremely grateful every day for healthy kids!  They are both doing fine.  They didn't want to wear the gowns, but thought they were funny once they put them on.  Crosby did have to get four shots, but he was brave.  He didn't start crying until the third one, and by then the nurse was done.  We treated ourselves to cookies at a nearby bakery after the appointments, and this seemed to make C feel better!

We ate an early dinner then went to Crosby's Cupcake Concert (spring fundraiser) for his preschool program.  His school has a wonderful music teacher.  She even teaches the children to play handbells.  They played several cute songs with the (color-coded) bells on the little stage, then moved to the big stage and sang more!  It was really cute.  Crosby is on the back row, waving, in this first picture on the left.  He waved many many times throughout the program--so cute!  :)

Ready with his bell!

And of course you have to have cupcakes at a Cupcake Concert!

Too much sugar today!!!  :)