Catalpa Trees

Yesterday we picked up Chick-fil-A for lunch and stopped at a park not far from our house for a little picnic and playground time. It's a shady park, which is always nice since it gets so hot and humid here. While the kids were playing I kept thinking that I smelled a familiar smell, but I couldn't quite place it. Then I noticed white blossoms on the ground underneath two of the large trees providing a lot of the shade, and I instantly remembered the smell as one from the front yard of my childhood home. We had two big Catalpa trees on either side of our driveway. This time of year they were covered with white, popcorn-like blooms that had a sweet smell. When the blooms dropped, I'd put them on my fingers. Later in the year the trees produced giant beans. My sister and I used to gather them up and put them in buckets of water and pretend to cook them. :) I told Alexee about this and had her try it.
Seeing the Catalpa trees yesterday made me think about two things: (1) How neat it is that smells can trigger such vivid memories and "take you back" to a specific time and place...and (2) How simple things in life can be recorded in our long-term memory without us even realizing it until years later. I wonder what little every-day things are forming lasting memories for Rhett, Alexee and Crosby even now? I hope that when they're grown up they have many many pleasant childhood memories, as I do.

Back Yard Visitor

This little guy showed up in the back yard this morning. The kids played for him for a while, then let him go when we left for C's haircut and A's gymnastics. Then this afternoon he was here again, and A & C were so glad to see him!

Crosby's turn to hold it.

C wasn't quite ready for Alexee to take a turn.

Weekend Trip with Grammy & Bobba

Last weekend (Thursday - Saturday) the five of us and Lane’s parents went on a short trip to Branson, Missouri. It was great to spend time together--I think everyone had fun! The kids were so excited when we told them we would get to stay in a hotel again and this time Grammy & Bobba would be with us!

We experienced a small set-back when I had a flat on my vehicle about 2 hours into the 3 hour drive. A warning light came on that said to check tire pressure because one tire was at 8 psi. I quickly pulled over and got out to look. I had a piece of metal in the tire, and I could hear the air leaking out of it. We called Lane, Bob and Rhett to our rescue--they were in a separate car just a few minutes ahead of us. They had us back on the road again very quickly. I’m thankful that the flat didn’t cause any dangerous steering issues and also thankful that it happened when I had someone with me to change the tire instead of a time when it was just me traveling with the kids.

Once we made it to Branson, we checked into the hotel then went out to dinner at Outback. Crosby was very tired after dinner, so we all split up: Rose Mary took Crosby back to the hotel for bath/bed, I took Alexee to the indoor pool and Bob and Lane took Rhett to play mini-golf (which Rhett loves. I didn’t get pictures because I forgot to send the camera with them).

Friday morning we went to Silver Dollar City. We had breakfast there in the park, then had a full day of riding rides (we split up again so that Lane and Rhett could ride the bigger rides, so I don’t have many pictures of them). Rhett’s favorite ride was Powder Keg, which he and Lane rode several times. Friday night we were all tired from all the walking, so we had a quick dinner at Panera Bread, then Rose Mary and I took Crosby back to the room while the others went for two more rounds of mini-golf at another course. Saturday morning we went to Branson Landing and had lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack before heading home. It was a special Mother’s Day weekend!

Here are a few pictures from the trip, but our album is here.

Happy Mother's Day

I've had a great day. Lane got C out of bed this morning, and they came to wish me a Happy Mother's Day. Crosby just said, "Happy!", but I knew what he meant. We had a full morning at church. Lane and I served in the cafe, and Rhett helped us today--he learned to operate the cash register, cleaned off tables and restocked supplies. He worked really hard.

(At church. The sun was so bright--we are all squinting.)

Thankful to be their mom

Rhett, How is it possible that you are finishing 1st grade already!? You're growing up so fast. You came up with the idea this afternoon for you and Lex to record Mother's Day messages on my cell phone without me knowing it. After bath-time tonight you called me in your room to show me the video clips, and I LOVED THEM! It was so cute how you asked Alexee to say things, then turned the camera and recorded your own message. Thank you for thinking of me. Tonight you asked me if I liked art or technology better. I said that I liked both, but I really like art. You said you liked technology because you could live without art but technology makes things so much easier in life--like cars and trucks and for growing food. You're so witty, smart and such a thinker.

Alexee, you are growing up too fast, too! You are so thoughtful and sweet...and FUNNY. In the message that you recorded with Rhett you said, "Thank you for taking me to church", and "Tonight I'll help you with bath time". You are almost always the first one dressed and ready for school or church, and you do things without me even having to ask you. You're very responsible and helpful. You made me these cute flowers and a card in your class today, and I'll treasure them always! I'll put them in the china cabinet with the tissue paper flower that Rhett made me when you were born. :) I always tell you that "us girls have to stick together"--I am SO thankful to have a daughter to share life with.
Crosby, you are so easy-going, happy and fun-loving! You have started talking so much lately...there is a LOT of talking going on between the three of y'all! It makes my head spin sometimes. :) This morning we all laughed because you said very clearly, "Hey, Lexee said poop!" (You heard this from Rhett, no doubt!). You are a little clown--you'll do anything for a laugh. You love to play ball. This weekend you couldn't find a ball so you put your sippy cup on the ground and started kicking it and saying "Soccer ball--kick!" You made this sweet handprint card for me at Mother's Day Out, and I'll treasure it always. You also made a heart-shaped picture frame with your sweet picture inside it. I love those little crafts, and I'm thankful for your teachers that took the time to help you make such a special gift for me. You melt my heart!

You were really proud of the frame that you made and wanted to put it on the table during lunch. I like this picture of you looking at it. :)

Bogart, :) you are such good entertainment and a very loyal companion. We love having you here to greet us every time we get home. You're patient with the kids and protective of them. You spend the majority of your time sleeping, but you are a special part of our family!

*****

And a very very Happy Mother's Day...

to my Mom ("Mo")

and to my Grandmother/"Mo Nina"

and to my Mother-in-law, Rose Mary ("Grammy")

WE LOVE YOU, AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR EACH OF YOU!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Days 1 and 2 of Teacher Appreciation week are done, and hopefully Mrs. H is enjoying her week so far. I think Rhett has liked helping too. I went to the classroom with him yesterday morning, and he went right to work placing a button at each child's desk. Then he turned on all the computers and helped his teacher with the chairs. Give him a task like that and he takes it very seriously (brushing teeth/hair or putting socks and underwear in the drawer...not so much.) :)

Last night I made an artist's palette and brush out of foam board to stick in the teacher bouquet. (It's too big--I realize now that I should have found the vase first, then made to scale--ha!) Since one of the teacher's hobbies is watercolor/oil painting, I did an art theme and tied paint brushes and watercolor pencils to the vase. We made it to school without turning it over in the car this morning! This is Rhett's "paint splatter" note tied onto a flower. I wish I could have seen what it looked like after all the students added other stems and notes.

Rhett showed me the spot by the window where she usually keeps flowers:

*****

While searching for gifts for A's and C's teachers, I ran across several cute things:

I loved these layered cross hand-towels. They used a different stitch for each layer, and I like the unfinished edges. Adding this to my "projects-I-want-to-do-but-likely-won't-get-around-to" pile.

And I think all these frames are cute and would look good in our bedroom once we get the painting/new color scheme completed:

"summer starts in April" made me laugh

Prom Night at Benihana

Last night we met our friends Brad & Leslie for dinner at a Japanese steakhouse. I'm glad Leslie thought to make reservations because it was prom night and very busy. We felt old and under-dressed when we were seated with four "kids" all dressed up for their prom.

The food was great!

We always have fun with the Miles. We wanted to get together to celebrate their recent good news: they are expecting baby #2 in October--we're so happy for them!Thank goodness we didn't have to go to prom after dinner--we got to go home, put on comfortable clothes and fall asleep on the couch! Rhett did ask me today to not visit with the babysitter so long next time. He said he heard the garage door and tried to wait up for me but fell asleep by the time I quit talking and came to check on him! :)

It has rained almost non-stop since last night. Rhett's class is scheduled to have a field trip to this park later in the week, but looks like that might not work out!? The kids will be so disappointed.

And speaking of kids, today was "Senior Sunday" at church. Does anyone else cry during the senior Sunday talks? Every year I try to be strong, but it never works. Especially when the pastor shows an adult shoe and says, "This is how the graduating seniors see themselves", then holds up a baby shoe and says, "But this is how their parents see them. Please pray for these families in weeks leading up to graduation because there is a lot of emotion wrapped up in this event." And then when a senior high boy gets up on stage and shares his testimony....please pass the Kleenex. One of the sweet girls that babysits for us is graduating, and I'm praying for her (and her mom!). I'm really sad to think about her moving away this fall. :( She is one of three kids, and the only girl--just like Alexee! I asked her if she would consider living at home and going to college here.

We have another busy week ahead. It's Teacher Appreciation week, and I have several things to do as the room mom. I've waited until last minute, unfortunately. This afternoon I printed buttons for the students to wear all week that say "I appreciate Mrs. H-". My friend Lianne assembled them for me, and I'm going to drop them off when I take the boys to school tomorrow morning. Two other moms are taking our teacher breakfast tomorrow, and I'm collecting a drawing/poem/letter from each child to bind into a little book before the end of the week. We also plan to do a bouquet on Tuesday--each child has been asked to bring a flower, and I'm providing little thank-you notes in the shape of paints that we're going to tie to each stem and do an art-themed bouquet because one of our teacher's hobbies is watercolor/oil painting. I think we are also going to do a gift card and possibly a basket of home-baked goodies on Friday for her to enjoy over the weekend. I hope it all turns out cute and helps her to know just how much we truly appreciate her! It has been a great year, and I honestly can't believe it's almost over. To any teachers reading this, I really really admire you and hope you have a wonderful week this week! When I go to R's classroom to help with parties, etc., I am a nervous wreck after about 10 minutes, maybe even 5 minutes. Ha! Teachers are amazing people!