Weekend Getaway...Part 2

Conway has changed a lot since we were last there. We made a stop at Rocket Fizz for some sodas to go. 

Dinner at David's Burgers...it used to be Fazoli's.

McKenzie and Houston had a beautiful wedding and I'm so glad we made the trip to be there. 

We had to eat at Market Place. Angela met us for dinner and it was delicious!

We went to worship at Vilonia and drove around town. We took the kids to Bass Pro Shop before going home. It was a great weekend and I hope we can do it again next summer!

On This Day 30 Years Ago...

Prince Charles married Lady Diana at St. Paul's Cathedral.  Over 700 million people in 74 countries tuned in to watch the fairytale wedding. 

I was born!! 

That's pretty much it.  With me coming into the world on this day, I can't believe that the royal wedding was so captivating.  However, as long as it took me to get here, it's a good thing the parents and grandparents had something good to watch on the telly. 

Happy birthday to me!  Have a great day!


Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.  ~Ronald Reagan

Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born.  ~Ronald Reagan

Freedon is never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.  ~Ronald Reagan

Lydia's Wedding

We had our third and last wedding of the summer last Friday.  Lydia and Brad got married in Mountain Home, Arkansas at Lydia's Weddings.  It was beautiful!  It took forever to get there but it was a nice wedding.  J was one of the ring bearers so we left Thursday night when B got off work.  We stopped at Marketplace in Conway for dinner before making the second leg of the trip.  J and K did great until Marshall.  From Marshall to Mountain Home, K screamed!  J finally went to sleep but kept crying out in his sleep because of the screaming and winding road.  But we made it! 
Friday morning J had rehearsal.  He met his flower girl partner, Mollee.  She was adorable!  He was in love and told everyone they were getting married.  She was very sweet and they got along great.  After lunch and a nap, it was picture time.  Jenna Thomas Photography did the pictures and I can't wait to see them.  She does great work!  It was super hot and the sun was beating down but the kids all did great waiting their turn for pictures and staying out of the infinity pool.  We tried to keep them in the basement where it was cool and they wouldn't get too sweaty for the ceremony.  J did a good job during the ceremony.  He talked to Crystal a little but for a three year old in his first wedding, I thought he was super!  He left Mollee coming down the aisle but when they were leaving, he made sure to hold her hand. 
K was so good!  She tagged along and took naps throughout the day.  She was so hot and tired but didn't cry.  I was glad!  We did have to sit in the grass during the wedding but she was happy.  And on the way home, she only cried during that same hour of winding road from Yellville to Marshall. 

Little ring bearer

J and cousin A

Sleeping during picture time

Pretty K in her new dress made by Mamaw

Hot boy!

Talking to Mrs. Crystal

J and Mollee...there really is a ring on the pillow

Precious babies!

It was a long, tiring weekend but we had fun. Lydia and Brad had a wonderful wedding. I can't believe little Lydia is married!

Sweet baby Lydia

Lydia and Brad Hardin

"What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow."   ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

A Trip (A Long Post)

Since K was born, J has been begging to go on a trip.  He loves to travel and now that B is home all of the time, we are going less and less.  I have been telling him that K needs to get a little bigger and every day he reminds me "She is bigger now.  We can go on a trip!"  So...this weekend we went on a trip! 
Friday morning we headed north.  We stopped in Little Rock at Babies R Us to stock up on baby food for K.  (I am a baby food snob and they have a good selection!)  We ate lunch at Panera then drove on to Vilonia.  I was very excited to go back.  J and I haven't been since last February and B hasn't been back since we moved over 3 years ago.  One of my former co-workers is retiring and her retirement reception was Friday after school.  We got to visit with a lot of my old friends and show off baby K.  I forget how much I miss being there.  I love living close to my family and being able to stay at home but I wish Vilonia and my town were closer together.  It was fun seeing everyone again!  I got a cute picture of Mr. C, my former boss, holding K.  She didn't even cry!  I have one of him holding J at about this age too. 

Mr. C with J in 2008

Mr. C with K...the mustache is still the same but no more hair!

Of course, the best reason for going to Vilonia is Tammy!  Tammy and I taught first grade together.  She is WONDERFUL!  She is one of those friends that when we are together it's like we were never apart.  It doesn't matter that we see each other once a year and don't talk on the phone much.  We picked up right where we left off.  I love my Bama Tam!  J was rather taken with her too!  He really wanted to go with her to her house while B and I checked into the hotel but we convinced him to come with us instead.  We met Tammy, her husband Randy, and her youngest son Cole at Old Chicago in Conway for dinner.  Dinner was delicious.  J had a great time playing with Cole.  It was a great night with our friends. 

Cole and J

Tammy, Cole, J, and Me

Randy and K...she really liked him

Tammy and J

J climbing the wall outside the restaurant...he really didn't want Randy to let him go!

J with Tammy's boys in 2008...Clay and Cole

Saturday was Caleb and Brooke's wedding.  It was at Harding University.  The wedding was beautiful!  Brooke and Caleb were beautiful!  We got there early for the family picture.  We were all standing around talking.  Bernie's family had their picture.  Brooke's family had their picture.  Then they called us in.  It sounded like a stampede!  We just kept going and going and going.  No photographer even tries to place us anymore.  We are actually getting pretty good at it on our own.  I am especially good at being in the picture but not being seen.  Just try and find me! 

J and Ashley paired up after the ceremony.  Those two are like a television talk show!  I love getting together with the family so J and K can be around Brittany and Ashley and the other cousins that we don't see much.  I don't want them to be strangers to my kids.  And I'm pretty sure that if Brittany would get on board, I could send J to stay with her for a weekend or two this summer.  Waylan invites us to come stay with them every time we see him but he really just wants to hang out with J.  All Britt can think about is all the questions she would have to answer and I don't know if she is quite ready for that!

I can't believe this big guy...

was this little guy!  Such a cutie!

Sunday we went to church at Vilonia Church of Christ.  It is a new congregation that started right before we moved but a lot of the members used to attend R&C.  Two of the families we especially wanted to see so we surprised them by showing up for worship.  Lucky for us it was potluck Sunday so we got to stay a little longer and catch up with our old friends.  Of course, my brain quit and I didn't take one picture.  I feel so old when I see all of the kids.  One of the girls is about finish her sophomore year of high school.  She was in third grade when I was an aide at Vilonia Primary.  I remember taking her and a friend shopping!  Now she is a beautiful teenager who is taller than me.  Ugh...where does the time go?!?!

We had a wonderful weekend!  We were very glad to get back home but it was SO nice catching up with friends we haven't seen in a while.  Next time we will try not to wait so long. 


"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival."    - C. S. Lewis

"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships."   - Abraham Lincoln

A is 1

Cousin A turned one Wednesday and his big family party was tonight.  When I say big, I mean 40+ people!  It's always fun when the whole clan gets together for birthday parties and holidays.  Some of Morgan's family got to come up from Houston as well so it was good fun.  It was a Dr. Seuss themed party and Morgan tackled a big first birthday cake...the cat's hat.  She enlisted help from several people but Mom helped with the baking and decorating.  She is a pro at cakes.  The cake turned out super cute!  A had a little smoosh cake that was cute too.  He licked some of the icing but I think the festivities were a little tiring.  He was moving in slow motion by cake and present time.  It was a big day for the little man!

Cute birthday boy with his Thing 1 shirt

The cakes

K wants a bite

J had fun playing with different toys

Before the party was Georgina's wedding.  Granny, Jacque, Jules, Mom, J, and I went to the wedding at 3:00 this afternoon.  It was at the Catholic church and was very different to what we are used too.  The fact that the entire ceremony was in Spanish made for a very interesting time.  I could pick out a few words and got the gist of the wedding part of the service but the prayers and songs were beyond me.  But Georgina and Jose` looked beautiful!  She wanted a "family" picture with us.  Granny and I were taking care of some flowers and missed the picture but J got in it and got to hug Georgina goodbye. 

Not a good picture...I know

I know you are wondering about K.  She stayed home with B during the wedding.  I fed her and got her down for a nap before we left.  I have never left her before and B was a little worried but they were fine.  She slept most of the time we were gone and woke up happy. 

It's been a busy weekend.  I am exhausted!  It's off to bed now so we can go to worship tomorrow and hopefully catch up on the laundry.  It never ends.  Have a happy Sunday!


"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
— Dr. Seuss (Happy Birthday to You!)