Me and my boys

Clang Clang Clang went the trolley

2009-03-24T18:22:00.001-07:00

A trip downtown isn't complete without a ride on the trolley!

Statues....the tradition continues

2009-03-24T18:12:00.001-07:00

Years ago, when I went to DC with friends, we had fun taking pictures mimicking the statues. Today I passed on the tradition to Seth and friends, Maria & Caroline.

Kid's Park at the River Market

2009-03-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Seth's new favorite place is the Kid's Park down by the River Market. As you can see in the pictures he loves climbing the boulders and crawling through the tunnels. Today we invited friends to meet us there for some fun....see next post for their pictures.

Note to Aunties: Please bring cousins SOON!

Fun with Friends....Down by the river

2009-03-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

With threat of ran rolling in today, Seth and I got up this morning determined to make it to the kid's park down by the River Market before the rain hit. I thought it would be more fun with friends so I randomly went down my contact list on my phone and started calling people and challenged them to be spontaneous and me us down there. Here are pics of some of the friends who were able to meet us.

It's about time....NEW Post!

2009-03-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long delay in posts...and this one is a just for fun one.
My friend Emily tagged me on this one. there is a link to her blog if you would like to go read her interview with her sweet little girl Whitney.

Okay sisters....I'm tagging you!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Clean up

2. What makes mom happy?
When I love on her

3. What makes mom sad?
When I hurt her sometimes

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Say a joke.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
A sister

6. How old is your mom?
That’s hard, 45?

7. How tall is your mom?
7 feet

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Read books to me
(ok…I'll fess up....his first answer was watch “The Bachelor”)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Girly stuff

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
To be rich

11. What is your mom really good at?
sports

12. What is your mom not very good at?
football

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Work in the kids building at church

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Meatballs and pasghetti

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Buy me a treat

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Elastagirl

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play one of Conor’s games

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We are not the same because of our heads

19. How are you and your mom different?
We have differenct color eyes

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because she loves me…..just because

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
The place where they cook in front of you (Seikisui)

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T11:27:00.000-08:00

We had Christmas in Little Rock this year. Both of our parents spent Christmas Day with us.
We started our Christmas celebration with a Christmas Eve service at church. I told the story of Jesus birth with help from children at church. I'm hoping to get some pics from one of the other Mom's and will post later. They were precious! Seth played the angel that appeared to Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds. He flapped those wings so good I thought he really would fly!

The rest was low key at home time. Seth put out food for Santa's reindeers. Seth put out pie, fudge and milk for Santa.

Santa was good to Seth. As he put it....he brought me everything I ever wanted. We have a hard time getting him to pause the Indiana Jones game. I think I'm going to have to get a timer for the living room.

Pics from the Party

2008-12-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

The romance continues

2008-10-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

Seth was out of school Monday and I was also off of work so we took the opportunity to take a road trip to see Laura and Madelen. We had a fabulous time just being together. A highlight from the trip was a package Madelen received from her Daddy while we were there. Bill had been on home on leave and just went back to Iraq on Wednesday. The USO had something set up at DFW airport where he could pick out a book for her and they filmed him reading it to her. The package contained the DVD and the book.

As we were leaving to come home Madelen and Seth both said there good-byes with a "love ya"!

Here are the latest pictures Laura and I are hoping we can find when we are putting together the photos for their rehearsal dinner :-)

"i'll pray for you momma"

2008-10-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

On the days I take Seth to school I always try to pray for him on the way. We picked the big American Flag we see as our reminder to pray. When I pray for him I usually pray for him to have a good day, be a friend to everyone, eat all his lunch, learn lots, and be happy when I pick him up.

Yesterday he offered to pray for me. It went something like this....

"Dear God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for Momma. Please help her have a good work day...and help her be good today....and help her be really good....and help her. Amen."

When I picked him up I was sure to update him on what a great day I had and thanked him for praying for me.

Today I was leaving for Chicago for a trip and would be away for a few days. On the way to school I prayed for him and again he prayed for me.

Today's Prayer recap

"Dear God,

Thank you for today. Help Momma have a good work day...and help Momma have a good trip. Help Momma to not get lost and help her to stay safe and in safe places. Please take care of Daddy so he can take care of me....and when Momma gets back we can all take care of each other. Amen."

Yes....I had tears in my eyes.

The trip back

2008-10-15T20:25:00.001-07:00

did I mention that going to the pumpkin patch is exhausting?

Seth's First Kindergarten Field Trip....The Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

Steve and I both got to go with Seth on his first Kindergarten Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch. I think one of the highlights for Seth was getting to ride on a big yellow school bus. (about two weeks ago he asked me if he could change from a car rider to a bus rider)

The sweet little girl with Steve is Lehia. She is at the same table as Seth and seems to take care of him. She wanted to sit by him on the bus but he picked Momma!!!

I used to think the term "momma's boy" was negative but not anymore.

It's Football Season!!!!

2008-09-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

and time for some tailgating! The hogs pulled the game out in the last minutes. It could possibly be a long season.

Aren't they a cute couple?

2008-09-01T17:51:00.001-07:00

I wonder how many times in this world two friends have taken a picture of their kids and laugh and say maybe we'll show this at their wedding someday. The lucky lady in this picture is Madelyn. She is the daughter of my total friend Laura. Laura and I met in college and then both accepted job offers at the same hotel after graduation. And now we get to be Moms together.

Even though it rarely happens, I have friends whose Moms were best friends.
So even though the chances are not great....it is possible....don't you think they look good together?

Rememer when Opie nursed the baby bird....

2008-09-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

I had flashbacks to that episode of Andy Griffith last week when Seth and boys across the street found a hurt bird. They where oohing and awing over it and even dug up a worm to feed it.

To be honest....I don't remember how that episode ends...but I'm sure there are tears. Luckily Joanna, the true mother hen of our neighborhood, got home from the pool and took over bird duty. I was thankful that she took responsibility.

God gives us friends!

2008-08-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

One of Seth's favorite songs from Sunday morning at church is "God gives us friends!"

Well God has given him a good friend at school. Her name is Lehia. She attended Pre-K at Terry Elementary so she is not the rookie Seth is. They sit at the same table and also beside each other at lunch time. Lunch time has been hard for Seth but Lehia has been a good friend and tried to cheer him up when he is sad. She has also helped him find his way around school when he is unsure.

God has always blessed me wherever I have been to have good friends...and he is faithful to do the same for Seth.

New words and New ways

2008-08-28T18:22:00.000-07:00

I love hearing about all the new things that are part of Seth's Kindergarten days.
Yesterday the teacher sent home a note to go over some things with him. One was to ask him about the 3 things to do to be a good listener. He has them down pat.
1. Eyes on the speaker
2. Hands in your lap
3. Ears are listening
Now just to just get him to practice them all.....at the same time!

Seth also used a new word....illustrated. He used it in the right context but when I asked him what the word meant he wasn't sure.

Nice Truck

2008-08-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Seth and I were on our way to Maumelle for some bowling with friends from church. As we were traveling down the interstate Seth noticed a flat bed 18 wheeler full of compacted cardboard trash.

Seth pointed out to me that the truck was full of garbage and that truck must be taking it somewhere. He then added....isn't it nice of that truck to do that.

Wordle

2008-08-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

I saw this on someone else's blog and thought I'd give it a shot. It is a word picture created/generated from my Blog entries. click on the image to view it larger.

It is compliments of the following site: http://wordle.net/

First Day Pictures

2008-08-20T10:01:00.001-07:00

First Day of Kindergarten....the morning story

2008-08-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

Seth didn't jump out off bed singing "first day of school" like Nemo does but I certainly did. But once he did get up and get going I was very impressed how much of his getting ready he wanted to take on independently. While I was getting ready he came to inform me he was going to pack his own lunch.

Once we got to school we let Seth lead the way in the school. That was a little hard because of his slow, take it all in, stroll down the hallway. It took alot of self-control for me not to prod him along. When we made it to the room, Ms. Udouj greeted us and even had a suprise for Seth on his hook. He had left something in the room when we stopped by on Friday night to meet her.

It was tempting to hang around but Seth found his seat and got in it so i grabbed Steve and we exited with no tears from Seth. I was able to hold my tears until we got back in the car.

I will add pictures soon.

We are at Camp!

2008-07-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

I think the best week of Seth's life last year was at church camp. Well we are back again and there is an extra bounce in his step and gleam in his eyes.

One of the parts that is so fun to me is to watch him set up his home away from home. He loves to claim his territory in our cabin. This year our cabin has bunk beds and a double bed. He immediately claimed the bottom bunk and spread out his Bass Pro Shop sleeping bag. However a few minutes later he informed me that the top bunk would be his nap bed. Funny how a boy who rarely naps would scope out a nap bed.

I'll run faster than.....

2008-07-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

Seth and I are attending church camp this week. This morning as we were walking to the pavilion for our church group's meeting and quiet time. On the way Seth said, "Mom, if I see a snake I'm going to run faster than a statue."

Do I grin and let it go or begin a long discussion on statues?

I went for it and mentioned to Seth that statues don't run. Silly me was not thinking about the fact that in the latest TMNT movie (that's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie for those who don't know the lingo) that statues come to life and do run around.

Seth replied, "But if they cracked open and did, I would run faster!"

Long nap or short nap?

2008-07-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

Today Seth asked me if God takes shorter naps than we do?

I told him that I don't think God takes naps which somehow made Seth wonder if the chair is heaven are more comfortable.

Don't know where in the world this is coming from.....just glad he is thinking and wondering about God.

What do you like about God?

2008-07-15T05:21:00.001-07:00

Last week when i was driving Seth to school he asked me, "Mom, do you know what I like about God?"

"No" I replied.

"That He heals people" and after a pause added, "and He helps us"

"And why does he do that?"

"Because He loves us"

WOW.....my heart almost burst open because it was so full of joy.

Famous last words....

2008-07-15T05:08:00.000-07:00

Seth's first words every morning: Chocolate Milk (said in a groggy voice)
Seth's last words every day: Chocolate Milk

Conversations

2008-07-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the things kids say sometimes. My Seth is always bringing a smile to my face. I have a friend that I usually call to share this things with. It recently hit me that I couldn't remember all the stories when a lady I had told one asked me to tell one to her friend. So I am going to try to journal more of them along the way.

I realize that some might be "you had to be there" stories. Nonetheless I will use this space to keep them for me.

yesterday:
Seth: Mom, did we pass McDonalds?
Me: No
Seth: Are we taking a short cut or a long cut?

Seth's Biggest Fans

2008-06-24T05:03:00.001-07:00

Seth's biggest fans were able to make it to his last TBall game and attend the trophy party afterwards. Seth's coached made Grandpa's day by calling Seth a slugger and asked Grandpa if he had something to do with that.

The season's over.... :-(

2008-06-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

There is nothing better in this world to me than a TBall game. I love how the whole team gives it their all......like all running into the outfield to get the ball. I love that everyone gets to bat every inning and touch all the bases. I love that everyone gets to go out in the field and no one sits on the bench except when waiting to bat. I love the freedom each player has to run off the the field at any moment to go tell Mom or Dad something or even go to the bathroom. I love that the best part of getting to first base is getting to play in the dirt.

Please don't get me wrong....I believe that baseball in it's true form of competition is wonderful. But as a Mom of a preschooler, TBall is the perfect introduction into the game without all the pressures. If I weren't already so busy with other kid activites I would have to consider being a TBall Coach.

More Camping pics

2008-05-25T21:36:00.001-07:00

Memorial Weekend 2008

2008-05-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

Wow! After such a fabulous time last year on a float/camping trip with friends on Memorial Weekend we decided to go for it again!

This year we were able to reserve a fabulous camping spot at Blanchard Springs. It was beside a bluff with a cave that the kids loved! They were always on the lookout for a caveman.

Our float day started out questionable. Just as we started to shove off the rain started coming down. The guy who drove the van to drop us off let us jump back in the van and wait it out for about 30 minutes. Once we got on the river it clear up and although still cloudy it was a wonderful day. That evening we went down to the court square again for some pickin' and grinnin'.....I kept my mouth shut this time and did not request a blue grass song of a folk band. I did hear a new song that I will request next year called "Chicken Truck". Can't explain....you'll just have to go to Mt. View and experience it yourself!

We had a wonderful church service on Sunday morning at the ampitheater. Samantha Rangel and her friend Meg Kelley led us in worship and then my Steve lead us in a devotional/discussion time. After that we found a great swimming hole and the kids were happy skipping rocks, catching tadpoles and crawdads, and swimming.

We've already decided to go back next year .....does three years in a row make it a tradition?

We'll get the group camping spot again so we've go room for more friends....come and join us!

Mother's Day at Magic Springs

2008-05-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

I got what I wished for this Mother's Day.....a day with my boys at Magic Springs. Not only that but one other wish came true.....Seth is an official roller coaster rider! Since he was a baby I started him on roller coaster training....tossing him up and down and all around. It paid off....he is finally 42" tall and took on his first real coaster...Big Bad John. It was a little much for him the first time and I wan't sure he would get back on....but he did and the scond time, knowing what to expect, he enjoyed it and even let out a "WaHoo!"

Me and the Shelby girls

2008-05-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hello world meet my newest friend Amelia Ruth Shelby born May 9th. Her big sisters, Victoria and Samantha, keep me supplied with lots of girl hugs.

Mother's Day Tea

2008-05-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

Seth's class had a Mother's Day Tea on Friday. His class worked hard that morning preparing. They actually mixed and baked the muffins we had! Seth made me a plate with his hand print in red. The teacher told me that he is always adament about using "boy colors". When she went to write his name on the back she was so focused on his insisting that his be red that she wrote Red on the back of the plate instead of his name. So he now has the nickname Big Red at school.

My favorite thing that the teachers do every year for Mother's Day is the questionair they do with the kids about their Moms. Here is how Seth answered his questions.....

My Mom's name is Stephanie and is is 15

Her hair is brown

Her eyes are blue

Her favorite color is green

She likes to eat salad

I like it when my Mom plays my brother's game that pops and lands on a number

My Mom can do lots of things but she is best at playing with me

My Mom is so smart she even knows how to keep a promise

I'd like to tell my Mom that I love her

Mom is special because she was born

I love her because she let's me go to her mom and dad's house

Out in the field

2008-05-10T12:19:00.001-07:00

Seth's "ready" stance isn't quite the way the coach taught him....however it caught on and by the end of the game half of his teammates were doing the Seth frog squat. I'm going to have to work on him setting good examples...especially if others are going to follow his lead!

Batting and Scoring!

2008-05-10T12:14:00.001-07:00

Seth is getting some instructions from Coach Mike. He got a good hit and made it safely to 1st base. With the help of his teammates he got to touch all the bases and make it home to score!

First TBall Game

2008-05-10T12:06:00.001-07:00

Seth had his first TBall Game on Thursday. He is having fun and so happy to be on the team with his Trent-buddy. They are the Pirates! Daddy and Conor-brother get to go out on the field and help which is a little hard on Mom. I told Trent's mom we are probably going to have to put a seat belt on my chair so I stay put. It's amazing how those old softball days are coming back and I want to be the one to get out on the field and help.

Momma's new hair

2008-05-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

Well....I turned lemons into lemonade....

I have been neglecting getting my hair cut and just as I was going to put forth the effort to make an appointment to get it done I was reminded of the charity "Locks of Love" that takes donations of hair to make wigs for children who for medical reasons cannot grow hair or have temporary hair loss.

At that time I wasn't quite to the 10 inches you need to have but I finally got there and on Wednesday night during the counsel time message to the Awana Kids at church I gave them the example of loving your neighbor by having my pony tail (actually two pony tails cuz my hair is so thick) cut off in front of the them and my friend Amy who is a hair stylist came and did it and told the kids about the program. It definitely had a bigger impact on the girls than the boys but even more on the leaders.

So here is my new "ponytailess" hair do. Photography by Seth.

A few more pics from Day Four

2008-03-27T15:55:00.001-07:00

One large Chia Pet

2008-03-27T15:54:00.001-07:00

Spring Break - Day Four

2008-03-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

Fun Fun Fun are the words for today.

We went to the Arboretum for Dallas Blooms! I'm having a hard time picking which pictures to post because we took so many and they are all good.

We are going to Fireside Pizza for Patti's birthday dinner tonight.

Spring Break - Day Three

2008-03-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

No pictures for day three.....we spent the day reorganizing Seth's room and getting packed to go see Aunt Patti for her birthday. Should have taken a picture of his room....so we will have a reference point of what his room looks like organized! We left late for Dallas but the bonus was that by leaving late daddy could go with us! We made it to Plano just as the clock turned past midnight so we were the first ones to wish Aunt Patti a Happy Birthday!

Spring Break - Day Two

2008-03-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

Day Two of Spring Break started with a fancy brunch with Miss Anna. Anna was my intern last summer and we are now bound by a friendship. She will become Mrs. Dietrich in May so we caught up on wedding planning, student teaching, and life in general. After brunch we stopped by my office to somewhat clean off my desk so it wouldn't be so scary on Monday.

Zoo Trick

2008-03-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

Crowing like a rooster will sometimes bring the animals out!

Spring Break Day One

2008-03-24T20:37:00.001-07:00

We began Seth Spring Break by spending the night at the Holiday Express here in Little Rock with our friends Tori & Sidney. Sound silly? Not when you can go swimming in an indoor pool!!!! The hotel even let us have a late check out time so we could swim longer! After a late lunch we went to the ZOO!

Raise your hand if you like Cotton Candy

2008-03-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

Easter Pics

2008-03-23T15:59:00.001-07:00

Cadbury Egg

2008-03-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks Easter Beagle!

2008-03-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg Hunt with Sidney

2008-03-23T15:34:00.001-07:00

Easter Party at School

2008-03-23T15:21:00.001-07:00

Another SNO*W***DAY

2008-03-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

Yes....we got another S*N*O*W***D*A*Y!!!!

this time we got enough to make & partake in a Blackard tradition.....Making Snow Cream!
if for some reason you don't know what Snow Cream is, it is making an ice cream like treat out of SNOW!!!

Here is Seth mixing it up!

Seth's Snow Walk

2008-03-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Yes...one more entry from our Tuesday S*N*O*W***D*A*Y.

I mentioned to Seth late Tuesday morning that we might walk down to the church in the afternoon so Momma could take care of a few things. When the time came, Seth held me to my exact words....he wanted to walk. The thought of walking to church seemed doable, being downhill all the way....but thinking ahead to the return trip, I was afraid he would run out of gas and there I would be trying to carry him home uphill in the snow. Okay so the snow had melted....it was still cold and uphill. Therefore I chose to let him walk and I drove right behind him all the way. It was so fun to watch him bounce happily along his way. He actually ran a good part of it and that was in cowboy boots!

Much to my surprise, when it came time to go home he insisted on walking again.

Now my Seth will officially be able to tell his children about walking to church in the snow.....uphill on the way home.

Ready....Aim....Fire

2008-03-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

SNOW DAY!!!!

2008-03-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

We finally got our S*N*O*W****D*A*Y. Thanks to Logan King Seth had the perfect thing to wear....Carhart Coveralls! We made phone calls to let everybody know we were having a snow day and found out that they are too! Seth said it must be snowing all around the towns!

FYI....Seth is on the lookout for soft snow...the snow in our yard is crunchy snow.

Memo to the World....the numbering system has changed

2008-02-28T20:51:00.000-08:00

Seth made an interesting announcement in the bathroom yesterday. He let me know that he was changing the bathroom code....you know the one.....#1 and #2. He has decided that #1 will now be #2 and # 2 will now be #1.

Not sure where this came from.

But looking for a rainbow in this.....I'm choosing to focus on the personality trait that maybe my son will not conform to what the world says is the way things should be and go with what he feels in heart is the right thing.

I just need to focus on making sure his heart is always in the right place!

A Surprise Valentine from Guess Who!

2008-02-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

We had a great time on Wednesday at Seth's class Valentine party. Had heart shaped cookies, cheese, chex mix, and made a valentine finger puppet. Seth gave all of his friends a ring pop for Valentine's Day.

When I picked Seth up from school that afternoon he had his box of Valentines with him and immediately started pulling them out one by one commenting on each one...especially the princess ones. He couldn't understand why someone would give him a princess valentine.

With great surprise in his voice he pulled a ring pop out of his valentine box and exclaimed, "I gave myself a valentine. That was awfully nice of me!"

Love Story....5 year old style

2008-02-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

Monday afternoon:
When I picked up Seth from school he informed me that Mary told him that she was his girlfriend. I asked him how that happened and he told me that Mary had broken up with Caleb. [my thoughts: BREAKING UP? WHAT DOES A 5 YEAR OLD KNOW ABOUT BREAKING UP!] Remaining calm I asked him what does breaking up mean.

"It means you don't play with them anymore" Seth replied. [not to bad I thought]

Tuesday morning:
When I dropped him off at school I asked the teacher what was going on....Mary is Seth's girlfriend? Mary has "broken up" with Caleb? The teacher grinned and started explaining that Mary is a girl in another class who comes down to their class for lunch and nap time. Seth had informed his teacher on Monday that he had to sit by Mary. The teacher said even though she has a boy table and girl table at lunch that Seth sat at the girl table so he could sit by Mary. The teacher also commented that he had picked a "high maintenance" one. [my thoughts: his dad will be able to help him with this!]

Tuesday afternoon:
I pick Seth up from school and he breaks the news that Mary broke up with him. :-(

Wednesday morning:
When I saw Seth's teacher she started grinning and said "I've got to tell you what happened yesterday." The story goes that they were on the playground and Mary started yelling at Seth that she didn't want to be his girlfriend anymore. Seth got a distraught look on his face and when the teacher went to him he stated that "he needed a moment....could he go have a moment". She gave him his "moment". In the meantime the guys huddled around him to lend their support and encourage him that he didn't need a girlfriend and he should just hang with the guys.

Thursday:
I asked what the word was today on Mary and he said he didn't play with her today.

Like sands through the hour glass.....those are the days of our lives.....

Here you go sisters...

2008-01-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

Sunday Morning.....at the beach!

2008-01-27T14:37:00.000-08:00

This is Seth's Sunday School large group story time at church! They were learning that "Jesus wants us to obey" through the story of Jesus fishing with Peter.

WaHoo! Ride'm Cowboy

2008-01-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

These pics are from Seth's friend Trent's birthday party. Seth had a blast and couldn't wait to call Grandpa Pat to tell him he rode a real horse!

Who loves Grandma?

2008-01-27T14:31:00.000-08:00

BaDump BaDump BaDump

2008-01-27T14:28:00.000-08:00

a view from the shark tent

Look Mom! I can do tricks!

2008-01-27T14:02:00.000-08:00

Who Wants a Spiderman Skateboard?

2008-01-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

2008-01-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

TRY THIS!

Loving Christmas

2008-01-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like having a child around to remind you of the magic of Christmas time.

The Cake

2008-01-03T18:56:00.000-08:00

After looking at the Spiderman cake everytime we went to Kroger this year...when it came time to order one for his birthday Seth surprised me by picking the fishing cake....didn't surprise Grandpa Pat, his fishing coach.

FOR ME?

2008-01-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

It's not a birthday without presents!

Happy 5th Birthday Seth!!!

2008-01-03T18:33:00.001-08:00

Seth turned 5 on Friday, Dec 7th. It was a big day starting with getting his own Power Ranger camera that morning. He took pictures all the way to school. At school we had Razorback cookies with all his classmates. We took him to a special lunch at Seikisui....aka the place where they cook in front of you. Then on to the mall for our birthday tradition of seeing Santa and making a friend at Build-A-Bear. That evening we had Trent buddy over for a birthday sleepover party.

Blog Catch-up: OPEN HOUSE

2008-01-03T18:25:00.001-08:00

Seth on stage with his class singing "Must Be Santa"

Blog catch-up: SAYING BYE TO GRACIE

2008-01-03T18:16:00.001-08:00

Seth loved having his cousin Gracie here. These pics were taken the morning we took Gracie to the airport to go back to Hawaii. Every now and then he asks me if we can go to the airport and pick up Gracie...he thinks it is like me picking him up from school.

Blog Catch-up: HOG FANS

2008-01-03T18:03:00.000-08:00

We spent the fall going to football games....Thursday nights were traveling to see Conor and Saturday's were Hog games. The boys made all the Razorback games in Fayetteville and I made most games. I LOVE tailgating....Steve cooks and clean up is throwing it in the trash! We made lots of friends by having the little TV and keeping those around us updated on scores of the games going on before the Hog games.

Buzz Lightyear...To the Rescue

2007-10-26T19:49:00.001-07:00

Here is Seth's costume....Buzz Lightyear.

We are working on doing a special picture booth at the church's annual Trunk 'R Treat. The deal is we take the picture in front of a green screen so then later we can drop the subject in front of a digital backdrop....so that's how Seth, aka Buzz, is out in the universe!

Home Again

2007-10-22T20:31:00.001-07:00

After a busy weekend it was good to be home again and crash!

Cousin Weekend

2007-10-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

Seth got a taste of being the big guy this weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's house. His cousins Gracie (2 yrs) and Grayson (18 months) were there and he got to teach them the ropes, including how to drive the truck.

First Field Trip

2007-10-22T20:24:00.000-07:00

Seth took his first school field trip to the pumpkin patch. The trip included a hayride and picking out a pumpkin. Rain was on it's way so we had to move fast.

Getting ready for Trunk or Treat

2007-10-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

Seth is ready for Halloween. We took his costume to Grandma & Grandpa's house so they could get a sneak peek.

This is what turtles do

2007-08-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

This pic was taken outside our "cabinet" at Siloam Springs Church Camp. As I came down the stairs Seth looked at me and said..."this is what turtles do mom"

Cousin week at Grandma & Grandpa's house

2007-06-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

Memorable Weekend

2007-05-28T19:39:00.001-07:00

We spent the Memorial Day Weekend with friends on a camping-floating-cave hiking-s'more making-folk music listening trip. The menfolk (Steve and Jim Jolley) went up Thursday evening and did some serious scounting for us a campsite (or campside as Seth called it).
Lesson One: We learned that vaulted bathrooms is not referring to the ceiling. Our advice....steer clear of these camp sites.....however if you don't have an option like us....be glad your menfolk pick the site that is upwind of it and not down wind.

The rest of our crew....
car 1: Diane Jolly, son Trent, nieces Rai & Haley, and passenger Seth
car 2: Carol Rangel & daughter Samantha,
car 3: Angie Rounsvall, Ellyane Sullivan, Conor & me.....
drove up on Friday afternoon. Lesson Two: if a trip is a hop...skip...and a jump it requires a stop at a convience store to move from one stage of the trip to the next. We arrived at the camp site with burgers cooked and waiting for us.

Saturday was float day. We skeedaddled our way down to Angler's on the White River and got hooked up with our rafts. Three rafts and the two young studs (Seth & Trent) somehow finagled their way on the raft with all the single girls. Diane & I know that the teenage years are going to be a challenge. We stopped along the way and cooked some hot dogs, skipped some rocks, and enjoyed the cold clear water. We made it safely back to Anglers and after showers and dinner we headed to down Mt. View for some pickin' and some grinnin'. Lesson Three: Be careful when making requests...do not request a bluesgrass song at a folk music center.

We were all treated to pancakes Sunday morning cooked by Chef DiDi. Just as the last pancakes were coming off the griddle a little rain started to fall. We all congreagated in the Jolley tent for a little tent revival....ok....just a little devotional. We got a break in the showers and went to work dismanteling our camp. Once all loaded we traveled to the town of Fifty-Six for lunch and then to Blanchard Springs Cavern. We took the Dripstone tour....sorry no pics...forgot the camera. From there it was back to Little Rock and back to piles of camp laundry.

To all our fellow campers....thanks for a wonderful weekend.

Good Neighbors

2007-05-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

Every day when I pick Seth up from school he wants to go home so he can play outside.
We have lots of boys in the neighborhood.....this is Seth with Will from next door.

Travelers Game

2007-05-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

Seth is running the bases at the end of a Travelers game.

Brothers

2007-05-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

When I look at this picture all I can think of is what Seth says almost everyday...."I want to be big like my Conor-brother">

BOYS NIGHT OUT....with Moms

2007-05-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

Seth and his Trent-buddy out on a Friday night. They were with two hot babes who were too shy to be photographed.....okay they were with their Moms....but it is Mother's Day Weekend.
We saw Meet the Robinsons ....It was in 3-D....which explains the glasses.

Superheros

2007-05-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

Even superheros need their sleep!

Milestone Moment

2007-05-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Daddy teaching Conor how tie a tie.

Conor had to dress up for his entrance exam for high school.

He will be a Freshman, or firecracker as they are called at Catholic High, this fall.

Squeaky Clean Cousins

2007-05-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

Rub a dub dub

Two cousins in the tub

But really there should be three

There's Seth and there's Grayson

But one cousin is missin'

Where could cousin Gracie be?

Wye Mountain

2007-05-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

We don't have an arboretum to go to....but we do have Wye Mountain not far from Little Rock and here it is in springtime

TMNT

2007-05-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

TMNT....the next generation!

Easter Sunday

2007-05-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

Family Easter Picture....missing Conor.

Cowboy or Indian

2007-04-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

Seth at a friend's birthday party.

2007-04-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Blog Practice....I added a photo!

The only pic I have available on this computer was one I took with my cell phone. Just a trip to the post office quickly turned into a photo op! My boy loves STAR WARS!

Keeping up with the sisters...

2007-04-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Well.....I'm going to give it a go and start a blog.....

It will be hard to keep up with the sisters but I have so much fun checking out their blogs I want to join the fun.