Monday, May 11, 2015

Zoo Field Trip

Last Wednesday, May 6th, I went to the zoo with Alexee's 2nd grade class.  It rained all the way there, and it was raining as the bus unloaded but then it stopped just as we got inside the entrance!  

We first stopped to see the kangaroos.  You can barely see it, but there is a little joey in the pouch of this kangaroo--so cute!  The peacock seemed to follow us around everywhere (or maybe there were several of them), and we finally saw it spread its beautiful feathers.  
 The giraffe barn is really neat--you can get very close to them.  They are such pretty creatures!
Alexee and her sweet friend K
 Reptile house, a swan sitting on its large nest, and monkeys:
This has been a very fun class for Alexee.  I'm sad to see the school year end!

Thursday, April 30, 2015

April Catch-Up

April was busy, and I didn't keep up with it here so this is a long catch-up post...

April 11--I took Rhett to the regional math competition.  Several students from his school were there too.  He was really excited to win three ribbons including 2nd Place Overall for 5th grade!  It was also great that two boys from his class got 1st and 3rd, qualifying the three of them for the state competition.  We're really proud of him and thankful for the math team teacher who has worked with the students this year.  On the way home we celebrated with frozen lemonade from Chick-fil-a. (Have you tried one?  Yum!)
This made my day when I found it in Crosby's school folder.  I think he wrote it around Valentine's Day, and it had been hanging up in the classroom.  "Love is...My family and kissing my mom :) and playing in my room with my friend.  Love, Crosby"  Doesn't get any sweeter than that!
I love this window in our kitchen/dining room and the pretty morning views.
"...Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  -Lamentations 3:21-23
I just thought this was funny...Bogart wishing he was taller so he could reach that PB&J sandwich.  :)
April 14--Crosby showed me that his top tooth was very wiggly and asked me to try to pull it.  I was sad to see that sweet little baby tooth go.
But he's so proud of his new smile and he looks super cute!
April 16--A & C trying to catch a lizard in the yard.
(They never caught him, but we took a picture of him.)
And sometimes they like to play "spies".  Their spy outfits are always funny.
 April 19--a bright, beautiful rainbow across the back yard
On Monday, April 20 I made a trip to Little Rock for a very sad occasion.  A dear friend of mine lost her husband unexpectedly on 4/16.  He was only 47.  I have been so heartbroken for their family, and think of them numerous times throughout every day.   The service was such a beautiful celebration of his life.  He truly lived it fully devoted to Christ, and everyone who knew Scott considered him a friend.  
Although it was under such difficult circumstances, it was good to see familiar places and faces.  As soon as I crossed the Arkansas River bridge it felt like home.  I got to see Ali, Lianne and Cameron before the service and many others at the church.   I'm thankful for that special group of friends that I met a decade ago, and thankful that even though I don't see them often, things seem just the same when we are able to get together.  
 April 21
Wed. April 22--Gifted Showcase night at R's school.  He did a good job on his display board highlighting his year as a "math major".  The students earned credits toward their majors by completing certain requirements.  
Thurs. April 23--Show & Tell Day for Alexee.  She asked permission from her teacher to bring Joey, and she was excited when it was approved (Thank you, Mrs. S!).  I put him in a laundry basket and took him by that afternoon, along with a bag of veggies and her guinea pig book.  She read the class some interesting facts about guinea pigs and they had several questions.  :)  So now Joey has been to Kindergarten and 2nd Grade!
April 23 was also the 4th-6th grade production of Peter Pan.  Rhett played the part of Great Big Little Panther and had a lot of fun being in the show.  He was originally a stage hand, but the boy playing Little Panther had to quit for some reason so R's teacher (also the drama club sponsor) asked him if he'd take the part.  He was nervous about doing it at first, but he was so glad that he did.  He said he would like to try out for a part next year.  All the kids did great and we enjoyed seeing it!  
After the show:
R & his teacher (just weeks away from her due date)
Little Panther & my parents--it was great having them here
And our family
Friday the 24th the boys and I went on an overnight trip for the state math competition. It was held at a college about 2.5 hours from here so we drove up Friday night, met two other families at the hotel, had pizza and the boys all went swimming.  The boys were ready to go early on Saturday morning.
While the big brothers did their testing, Crosby and two other boys went bowling at the college bowling alley which was a lot of fun.
Then Rhett and his friends joined us, had Chick-fil-a and bowled a couple of games before we drove home.  It was a good trip.  We're proud of the boys from our school making it to state!
Meanwhile on Saturday, Lane took Alexee to compete in the regional spelling bee.  She won first place!!  Awesome job, Alexee!  I wish the two events hadn't overlapped--I really missed getting to see her in the spelling bee, but I'm so proud of her too!  We gave her flowers and candy for good luck on Friday.  She and Lane went out for dinner Friday night, then they had lunch and went to the zoo Saturday afternoon.  They had a really good weekend together, too.  :)  She called her teacher to tell her the good news, and Mrs. S asked her to bring her trophy to school on Monday so they could celebrate as a class.  She loved that!
Lane sent me this funny picture of the donkey at the zoo!!  He said the donkey "smiled" like this every time he held up his phone for a photo.  Ha!  
On Sunday it was nice to have an afternoon all together at Silver Dollar City.  A new area opened this season with some new rides, so we were excited to see that.  A & C rode the elephants, tea cups and fire wagon together, R & A rode the swings, then R & C rode the mini roller coaster.  
Alexee and I admired the flowers while Lane and the boys rode Fire-in-the-Hole.
On April 28 Rhett's class had a small surprise baby shower for their sweet teacher.  We had cupcakes, punch and chips and dip, she opened gifts and the kids played a few shower games.  I haven't made a hair bow holder in a long time, so I enjoyed getting to make one for baby Reagan.
It has been fun to share this exciting season with Mrs. H!  Only 4 weeks until her due date!
Cardinal nest in our back yard--so neat to see!
April 29 was the Kindergarten field trip to the local zoo.  I didn't get to go because they only took 5 adults per class and gave priority to those who did not attend the fall farm field trip.  I really missed being there, but Crosby said he had a great time with his friends.  After the zoo visit they had a picnic lunch at the park.  It was a beautiful, 75 degree day--perfect for a field trip!
He said he touched this snake.  Maybe it's best I wasn't there!!  GROSS.
And finally, we ended the month on a good note with a much-needed date night!  We had a great dinner and went for a walk afterward. 
So that was April.  I can't believe school will be out soon--this school year has flown by.  May is going to be another busy month!

Friday, April 10, 2015

Easter Weekend: He Has Risen!

I love spring and especially Easter!

We had a great weekend.  The kids were excited to find their Easter baskets on Saturday morning.
Crosby read his new book "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick" and also wrote in his new football notebook.  (Alexee didn't think his note was funny though.)  :)
We wrote an Easter verse on our kitchen chalkboard.  The redbud and pear trees have been so pretty this week.
Then we dyed eggs.  That's always a messy project, but they had fun!  
Saturday afternoon we were invited to attend an egg hunt at a new friend's house.  The weather was nice, and it was a lot of fun. While all the Dads hid the eggs outside, the kids waited inside and heard about the true meaning of Easter.  There were a lot of kids there!  Heather, the hostess, gave each family a silver egg that contained a cross, a stone and a wooden heart along with verses about the Easter story--so nice!
Ready...Set...
GO!!!
Rhett and Crosby both knew some boys there from school, and Alexee made a new friend.
Sunday morning we went to my parents' church.  It was great to be there!  We had not been to church with them on Easter in many years.  We needed to leave our house by 8:30 to make it there on time, so pictures were at 8:15.  I am so glad that family photos have gotten a little less stressful in the last year or two--everyone tries to be cooperative so we can just get it done and move on.  Finally!  :)
Thankful to get to celebrate this special holiday with my family!
These are the only pictures I took at church and lunch--I wish I would have taken more.  I guess it was just such a quick/busy trip, and it was also chilly and rainy outside so we never really had a good opportunity to do any outdoor pictures.  Left:  Mom and Dad with the five grandkids and two sweet great-nephews; Right:  me with my Aunt Linda.  It was so nice to have lunch at her house and  wonderful to see everyone--I didn't count but Linda thought there were 53 people there.  Lots of good food and lots of loved ones to share it with!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter as well!

"The angel said to the woman, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID.  Come and see the place where he lay.'"  
Matthew 28:5-6