Missing our Daddy but having so much fun at MiMi and Pappaw's

Kris has been gone on a 2 week trip for his MBA to Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras. He gets back on Tuesday! Hallelujah!!! I have missed him terribly! We have never been apart this long before and I can not wait for him to get home!

The kids and I came last Monday to spend the week with my parents. I got to get a much needed hair cut and highlight by my cousin, Amy, and had an afternoon of shopping ALONE. Great fun for me!

The kids, on the other hand, have just had a ball. They have really enjoyed the farm. Here are some of the things they have done this week.

My Dad had some dirt hauled in to use on the yard. So, they have played on the dirt pile and in the sandbox alot! They have been some dirty little kiddos!

Mimi and Pappaw got them a little swing set. They have enjoyed swinging and sliding. They have been outdoors alot. This is a good thing!!!!

They have ridden the 4 wheeler A LOT! Lincoln was asking to "Ride. Ride" some more last night after all the family had left, but it was too late. I think he woke up in the middle of the night crying and saying, "Ride. Ride." Seriously! They loved those 4 wheelers!

I have to admit. So did I!!

They have watched Pappaw cut, bale, and haul hay.

Here's Linc sitting on top of a hay bale trying to smile for the camera.

They have watched their Uncle Wes and his silly self, mow.

They have drunk alot of coolaid. Notice the red stuff all over his face. Don't know what happened!

They picked blackberries with me and Pappaw.

Hannah loved doing this. She loved holding the hat and being helpful.

Lincoln got a boo boo, of course--a splinter from the blackberries.

He also ate some blackberries. Hannah had a few and then was done. But Lincoln...

kept eating...

and eating!!!

Other things we've done while here:

Played with the neighbors' dog, Lucy, or "Luty" as Lincoln calls her.

Played with "Jet" and "Wet". This is what Linc calls Uncle Wes and Uncle Jeff. I think these names will stick.

Read a lot of good books. My mom kept all the classic Disney books that we had when we were kids. Hannah and Lincoln have loved being read to.

Swung on the porch swing.

Watched the birds (humming birds in the humming bird feeder especially) and the bunnies.

Checked on the cows.

We have had a great week! I can tell Hannah is missing her Daddy and is ready to see him. Man, I am too!!!

Family Cook Out

Last night we had a cookout with my dad's side of the family. We haven't gotten together in quite a while, so it was so good to see everyone.


My cousin, Marty, and his family were in from Iowa. I had never met his wife and three kids. They are a sweet family. All the kiddos had a blast playing in the sand. They each took turns covering each other up with sand. So cute!

Isabel

Brianna and Jackson

Hannah's turn!



She was loving it! Love this face!




Most of the kids on top of the big dirt pile that was in the yard. This has provided hours of entertainment this week!!!


My Mammaw got to come out from the nursing home. Mom and my aunt Beverly (Dad's sister) had to take her out to see Mom's garden.

My sweet Mammaw. She will be 93 on June 13th! She has really gone downhill this last year. Her mind is not as sharp anymore. She has always been such a strong woman though. I am so glad she got to come and be with all her family!

Mammaw and her kids.

Couldn't get Hannah to come give Mammaw love. But here is Lincoln doing it. So sweet--even if we had to bribe him with a 4-wheeler ride to do it. Old people are sometimes scary you know.

This will be a picture to treasure!

I love my family. It was so good to get to see all of them again.

Arthritis Walk Pics

Last Saturday was the Arthritis Walk. The weather was a little threatening the whole time which I think affected the turnout. It didn't end up raining though, so we had a good time!

Hannah and Lincoln playing some of the kid games.

I was kind of in charge of getting some volunteers this year. Thank you so much to Susan (on left)...

Kenny,

Jennifer (below), and Megan (not pictured) for helping us out!

Back in December, I met Wendy and her daughter Maylee at the Jingle Bell Run. Maylee just turned 4 and she has the same type of arthritis that Hannah has. Maylee was the Honoree at the Walk this year. She is doing really well and I am sooooo thankful to have Wendy to talk to. It is wonderful to be able to talk to someone who knows exactly some of the feelings that I've had over the last few years and deals with her daughter's arthritis on a day to day basis.

Hannah and Maylee together. Anyone who has arthritis got to wear a blue hat during the walk. Aren't they cute?

My mom gearing up for the walk doing some of the stretching exercises! You may notice the yellow bandanas. Since we were team Hannah Banana, I thought we needed something to designate us.

This was the group that was there that has arthritis. We were walking for them!! I also got to meet another family that has a little boy younger than Hannah who has arthritis as well. Unfortunately, his affects many, many of his joints. It is just not fair that these little ones have to battle this disease. WE NEED TO FIND A CURE!

The Walk was a 1 mile walk across the Big Dam Bridge. Hannah's friend, Kenzie, came with her family! They were so cute. They held hands for the entire walk. Thanks Mike and Stacey for joining us!!!

Thanks too to my parents and brother, Jeff. Couldn't have done it without you since Kris was out of town.

I think next year they are going to try to have a 5K Run. Hopefully this can generate more public involvement. It was a good day! Over $17,000 was raised!

Arthritis Walk this Saturday!

Need something fun to do with your family this weekend? I know just the thing. The Arthritis Foundation Walk is this Saturday, May 16th! It is at Cooks Landing at the Big Dam Bridge. It is a one mile walk across the bridge to raise money and awareness for arthritis. It is FREE, however, to come to the walk!!! I, personally, have never walked across the Bridge but have wanted to for a long time, so I am very excited about it! So, if you are looking for something to do with the whole family that is outdoors, I know this will be a fun time and is for a great cause!

The Arthritis Foundation will have games (with prizes) set up for kids as well as a Moonbounce (one of those inflatable bouncing things). This will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the actual walk starting at 10:00 a.m.

We have a team set up, Team Hannah Banana. The walk is free but if you would like to join our team and/or make a donation to the Foundation, you can go to http://arthritiswalkcentralarkansas.kintera.org/teamhannahbanana.

We think this will be a fun event and would love to have your support!

Thank you!

Kris, Jamie, Hannah, and Lincoln

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Hannah and Lincoln want to play...

with their new swing set!!!!!

Their daddy worked so hard on Saturday, even with all the rain, to get it up for them before he left today on his big trip. This rain just refuses to stop!!!

In the mean time...

Lincoln decided he wanted to ride his "donkey". He saw this hanging in his closet and asked me for his "donkey", "boots", and "at" (hat). Ride 'em cowboy!

The COOLEST day ever!!!!

Friday we did something so cool!!!! We went to see Kris Allen from American Idol down at the River Market! I have to say I was kind of giddy! I am a big American Idol fan and while I actually like Danny Gokey as well I am definitely rooting for the hometown boy, Kris.


Carrie and Jack, Leanne and Eden, and Hannah and Lincoln and I all piled in my mini van along with 3 huge strollers and headed downtown. I can't believe we all fit! We had to stand Leanne's stroller up in front of Hannah and Lincoln in the back seat to get everything in! It was funny!

Carrie in front with me, Leanne and Eden in the middle with Jack on the other side of Leanne.

Hannah and Lincoln were in the back with the stroller.

We got there a good hour and a half early and had to sit and wait. The kids were pretty good. I kept giving Lincoln candy and he sat in his stroller the whole time! I couldn't believe it! There was no way I was going to let him get down cause he would have been all over the place!
I loved all the signs we saw. This one was hilarious! Last Tuesday night after Kris Allen performed, Simon Cowell said his performance was "like eating ice for lunch." So, when Kris actually got there, we all starting shouting, "We eat ice. We eat ice." Too funny! I hope they get that on the show this week!

Dixie and Kelly and her mom showed up. We had a crew with all our kiddos!

Hannah was so excited. I think she kept thinking that she was going to be seeing all the people on American Idol.

Her smile cracks me up here!

Me and Kelly.

Yay for Kris!

After the concert, we went to this park nearby. We knew it had these fountains and so we packed the kids' swimsuits. Hannah had a BLAST! I haven't seen that girl have so much fun!

I put this picture on here to show what Lincoln and Jack were doing. They didn't want to get in the water. Couldn't believe it.

Linc had his fun just by running around the fountains.

I am so excited about tonight's American Idol!

Here are a couple of the songs Kris Allen sang!