Hog Heaven (Not Exactly)!

James and I had a weekend with no kids!!  It has been a long time coming.

We met some of James' friends (and fellow Aggies) down in Fayetteville on Friday afternoon.  We started off the weekend with a little Pat Green.  So much fun!

The next day we got an early start to get to the stadium for the game that night.  Our friends wanted to see the stadium and hang out before the game started.  Well, the theme of the day was rain and more rain.  We parked at the stadium to tailgate and maybe even hang out downtown. 

We got about halfway through the parking lot and the sky opened up, and the rain did not stop for hours.  Oh well, best laid plans!

We hung out under several overhangs - doesn't that sound exciting?  We were great hosts!  And we finally made it into the stadium 3 hours before the game started.  At least our seats were covered. 

It was a bad hair day for sure.  As for the football, we (the Arkansas fans in the crowd) were not realistically expecting a win.  At least those of us with some sense.  I was just hoping for something a little less embarrassing than last year.  And even though the outcome wasn't one we wanted, I thought the Razorbacks played a great game, and I have high hopes for them.

I was definitely proud to be a Razorback fan that night. 

(I already mentioned bad hair day, right?)

Happy Places

The other night I was in Sam's room talking with him before night time.  He was telling me he couldn't sleep because his brain was working too hard.  For the record, I am so exhausted lately I have completely forgotten what that feels like.  Literally the second my head hits the pillow I am out. 

Anyway, I was trying to help him.  I asked him to think of something nice  that made him really happy - that might help his brain.  I was giving him ideas.  Can you think of superheroes? No.  What about cars?  No.  Um, Transformers? No.  I gave up and asked him to tell me what he could think of.  He said, "you."

I am tearing up a little writing about it.  It was such a sincere moment.  It was one of the kindest things that anyone has said to me but also one of the most humbling.  I hope that I give him good things to think about as he goes to sleep, and I am sure most days I do.  But there are those days that I am tired and I rush through dinner,  bath, stories, etc. because I want a minute to myself.  There are those times when I lose my cool and say something that I don't mean to the people I love most in the world.  We all have those days and moments, but those words form my Sam put things in perspective for me.

I am so glad to be his happy place - he is mine too.

Kids Say the Funniest Things

I always think I need to write down some of the funny things that Sam and Ava say.  And I never do.  I never want to forget their innocent little minds and the things that come out of their mouths.

Ava has said some funny things lately, and I thought I would share.

A couple weeks ago Ava started a new dance school.  When I picked her up the first day I wanted to hear all about class.  Ava was SO excited!  She said, "Mom I have the most exciting news.  There are big boys in dance.  Really big boys.  I read about that in a book one time, but I never thought that would happen to me." 

Last week I picked Ava up from school and we were talking about what she had for lunch that day.  She said (in an exasperated voice), "Mom, we had Domino's pizza for lunch.  But it is very confusing.  There are not actually dominoes on the pizza.  It is pepperoni.  I think they call pepperoni dominoes."

And finally a couple weeks ago I was dropping Ava off at school.  She comes up to the front of the truck so I can give her hugs and kisses before she gets out.  This particular day I was giving a tight squeeze and Ava said, "Mom you are hurting my nuts."  What??  She said, "(sigh) Mom, you are hurting my nuts.  That is another word for booty.  Daniel told me."  And then I got the look like I don't know anything.  Then the principal opened the door and Ava was gone for the day!

Horsin' Around

We had Sam's 5th birthday party at a local ranch here in Conway.  I have never had a birthday party anywhere than our house, so I was pretty excited about this one! 

We invited Sam's closest friends and our family, and we just spent the afternoon riding horses and eating cupcakes.

 

 

Sam came with me to decorate our space.  It was the two of us and such a sweet, precious time.  He was SO excited!

 



After our chores were through, Sam spent the rest of our time perched on this gate watching the horses.

 

 

Time to ride.  We did not invite a whole lot of kids, so each one got to ride as much as he or she wanted.  This, of course, was the highlight of the party.

 After riding, the owner took us back to the stalls to visit with the other horses.  The kids are standing on some contraption used to massage the horses.  It made them vibrate, and they were all giggling pretty hard after this one.

 

 

Sam and his buddies--



 

It was the perfect party for our little cowboy.

 



A Few of My Favorite Things

So, I am starting something new every Friday.  I want to share some of my current favorites - anything from books to fashion (don't hold your breath for this one) to gadgets.  Just anything that I am loving right now.  Think of Oprah's favorite things (I wish)!

Here goes--

 

 

James and I pick a series to go through about twice a year, and we watch a couple episodes most nights.  We are currently on West Wing, and I love it.  I did not appreciate it way back when it was on TV, but I am completely involved with the lives of these guys.

 

 

 

 

Old Navy yoga pants

 

They are so comfortable and stretchy and they have never stepped foot into a yoga class.

 

 

 

I downloaded the Artkive app for my phone and love it. It saves all the kids artwork from school and home in one place.  I never now what to do with all that stuff.  I can eventually make a book with all of the saved images which I plan on doing soon.

 

I can't download the image, but I recently finished Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle.  It is not a all like the books I normally read, so I was reluctant to try it.  I loved it.  I rarely laugh  out loud at TV or books, but I could not help myself here.  It is totally enjoyable and completely relatable.

 

Have a great weekend!!

 







Times Are a Changin

Check out this big boy - no more high chair!

Birthday Boy

Our Sam is 5 today.  It is hard to believe.  I used to love when Ava and Sam were so little and people would ask me how old they were and I could answer, "They are 1 and 2."  It made me feel like I should get an award or something.  Then I blinked and they are 5 and 6.  What??!!

Where do I begin about Sam?  He is our funny child.  You never know what is going to come out of that mouth.  He makes me laugh all day!  He is sensitive.  He is one of those kids that will take a while to get to know you.  But once you are in, you are in.  He will be loyal forever.

Sam is a rule follower.  You have to watch what you tell him because whatever you say is the law.  He will remember.  He brings new meaning to the word stubborn.  He really didn't have a chance with James and me as parents, but oh my goodness he is stubborn.

He has the best laugh, and he laughs a lot.  He loves his daddy.  He and Jack are becoming best buddies.  And he really wants to be Ava's protector.  The other day he told her he would stop all those boys from chasing her on the playground.  She said, "Uh Sam you don't have to do that - I really like it." - ha!

We are so blessed by Sam and count ourselves as the luckiest parents to get to love on him!

We are actually going through a little something with Sam.  He is not one to adjust to new situations real easily.  So, we started him at a new preschool which is the same place where he will go to kindergarten next year.  We thought it would be easier to transition him this year instead of next.  Well, he is having a HARD time.  He starts crying the night before he has to go and is crying when I drop him off.  Not actually crying but tearing up, which is worse to me.  It is so hard to watch.  We know he will make friends and be OK, but it is so hard to explain that to a five year old.

I will continue to pray for and love on him.  While Sam was at school today I was reading about a zillion books to Jack and he brought me Oh the Places You'll Go to read.  It is funny how when you are struggling with something sometimes an answer or a bit of encouragement will just pop up in unexpected places.  

As I was reading this to Jack, I felt like I was meant to read this today.

"But on you will go though the weather be foul.
On you will go though your enemies prowl.
On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.......

On and on you will hike.
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are....

Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So get on your way!

Sam - you are strong, funny, kind, loyal - really all the things that people love in friends.  Growing up is like climbing that mountain. I have no doubts that you are going to get to the top of any mountain you want and make us proud doing it.

I love you buddy!