4th of July Weekend

Saturday morning the kids and I drove up to meet Mom and Dad at the cabin.  I'm so glad we live close enough to do that with very little planning.  It was well worth the drive to spend time with family and hang out at such a beautiful, quiet place.  No traffic, TV or cell service...I love it! 

Dad and Rhett looking for crawdads...

...found one!

We went out in the boat and Rhett caught one fish after another!  Dad didn't have time to fish himself--Rhett was keeping him busy with the net and bait!  

Crosby went out with us for a little while, but for some reason he was nervous about the boat "tipping".  It didn't bother him at all on Spring Break, so I'm not sure why it did this time.

She fished briefly, but mostly enjoyed dipping her toes in the cold water.

That evening my Grandparents drove down to eat with us.  Dad and Rhett fried fish and hushpuppies and Mom made cole slaw and baked beans.  Grandmother brought tomatoes from her garden.  What a great meal!  

Crosby stayed on land with Mo this time.

Nothing says summertime like catching fireflies, right?  They were everywhere!  A & C put some in a jar, but then the jar got broken and they escaped.  Oh well--it was fun just to chase them!

Monday a.m., getting Banner's hay ready for him to eat.

On our way back home we stopped at Mic's house to borrow something and pick a few vegetables.  Her garden looks pretty. We gathered squash, onions and lettuce.  I'm ready for the row of sunflowers to bloom (at the back).

It was a great holiday weekend!

Zoo & Heifer Village

One morning last week we met our friends Holly and Reid at the zoo.  Everyone wanted a map and everyone wanted to go different directions, but we decided to visit the penguins first.  The elephants, giraffes and rhinos were outside eating, and the kids shared cotton candy, played on the new playground and rode the carousel.  A fun morning, for sure! 

 

We had a quiet 4th of July.  Lane was off work that day but had just worked several night shifts in a row so he was happy to hang out at home.  We had burgers, slaw, potato casserole and strawberry shortcake for lunch then took the kids swimming late that afternoon after C's nap. 

On July 5 we went to Heifer Village then had lunch at the new Mellow Mushroom.  (It took 45 minutes to get a pizza, but it was good when it was finally ready.)

Looking at a turtle in the water below

We're always happy to get new restaurants in town!

Residency-Yr 3

We tried to take advantage of the cooler temperatures last week.  It was so nice.  I'd be fine with 80 degrees (or less) all summer!  Monday morning Rhett and I pulled weeds from the flower beds while the A & C made a tent with the patio chairs.  

That afternoon we made star-shaped sugar cookies with red, white and blue icing.

(Made my day when I found this note stuck in the pages of the cookbook.)  :)

July 1 was a big milestone for Lane and for our family.  I took the usual "First Day" (of med school/residency) photo on the front steps, but the exciting thing is that this was the LAST "first day" photo.  He is now in his third and final year of the Emergency Medicine residency program with graduation only 10 MONTHS away!

Rhett was a baby when Lane went back to school to finish the pre-requisites for medical school.  It seemed like it would be such a long journey.  Now, looking back, I'm amazed at how fast it all went. 

2007--Yr 1 School, Alexee was 6 months old and Rhett was 3 yrs.

2008--Yr 2 School

2009--Yr 3 School, Crosby was tiny and Rhett was starting Kindergarten

2010--Yr 4 of school

2011-2013--Yrs 1-3 of Residency

We're proud of you, L!!

Tuesday morning Alexee and Crosby had been invited to play at Kylie & Cole's house so Rhett and I had a little time together, just the two of us.  I asked him what he'd like to do and he said he wanted to go eat breakfast at Mimi's Cafe.  We had a good time!  There was a little girl eating with (what I assumed to be) her grandparents at the table next to us, and the girl was talking to the man about technology.  I could tell Rhett was tuned in to their conversation, and he kind-of smiled and whispered, "she's trying to explain FaceTime to him".  I think he would have loved to pull up a chair and explain it to him in more detailed, technical terms.

One afternoon my sister, niece and nephew met us at the pool.  The water was actually a little bit chilly because of the cooler weather, but they had fun anyway!  They always love spending time together.  For some reason I didn't pack any drinks or snacks, and the pool always makes the kids hungry and thirsty.  Luckily Micaela had two packages of peanut butter crackers in her car so they split those five ways. I know better than to leave home without snacks!

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!