Cheap Entertain #1

Ok, so with summer officially here, I am trying to find entertainment for Emma and Mac that is cheap. On Saturday, we went to Sonic and order 2 M&M jr. candy sundaes and headed off to Berryhill Park. The kids had a blast and loved the ice cream. Total = $2.16. If you have any ideas that might be fun, send them to me!! I'd love to try out cheap entertainment!!

Happy 13th Birthday, Hunter

Randall, Emma, Mac, and I would all like to wish Hunter a Happy 13th birthday. Hunter is the son of a friend of mine, Amy, and grandson to our neighbors, Mr. Gary and Mrs. Becky. Mac just thinks Hunter hung the moon. If Hunter is across the street playing basketball, Mac will stand at his bedroom window and yell, "Hunter, basketball" over and over again. We have gone to most of Hunter's baseball games, and Hunter made Mac's day about a week ago when they ran bases together. Hunter just finished 6th grade. Even though I didn't have him in class, my next-door neighbor did, so I saw him on a daily basis. These pictures are some pics I took on our 6th grade skating field trip to the Arkansas Skatium in Little Rock. Hunter, hope you have a great birthday, even if you do have to come home from Florida today!!

Great Summer Project

Emma, Mac, and I made a trip down to Cabot today to go to K-Mart...I really despise going to Wal-Mart, so this was not only to get us out of the house for a while, but to buy a few essentials. I had been looking into buying Crayola Sidewalk Paint for several weeks, and I finally gave in today and bought 2 different "projects" as Emma calls them. Mac was asleep when we got home, so I put him in bed and Emma and I went outside. The paint was for Emma, and one of the "projects" came with chalk, and that was for Mac. It was great having some quality time with Emma. We got all the paint out, and away she went. She had a great time just painting, and then she discovered she could paint her feet and hands and put them on the sidewalk. It was great fun. The clean-up was pretty easy, too. It's all washable, so it comes out of clothes and hair (we know this part from experience!!). Mac did get in on the end of the "project" with his chalk. If you have young children, I would highly recommend this product.

Lazy Morning

Ok, ok, so we are having a very lazy morning today. It's 10:00, and we are all still in our pj's. Emma is watching Mary Poppins (for the millionth time!!) and Mac is wondering back and forth from the living room to the office. Mac got up about 9:00 this morning and Emma got up about 9:30. Next week will be a little crazy due to 2 dr. appointments and both kids going to the dentist, so I figured it doesn't hurt to be a little lazy. Of course, I have already unloaded/loaded the dishwasher and folded 2 loads of laundry. I also have a list of things I want to work on while Mac naps later (so he isn't in the way!!). Not sure what the rest of the day holds in store for us. Emma wants to go to the ball fields tonight, but we'll have to wait and see if the rain holds off!

Emma playing her Nintendo DS (a GREAT birthday present) and Mac watching Wonder Pets (he didn't want to look up for the picture!!) Notice he STILL has his Get-it in his hands!!

Our new pets

As I was opening the blinds on the back of the house this morning, I was greeted by 3 little critters in the back yard, two rabbits and one squirrel. Mac was completely mesmorized by these animals. He sat at the back door for several minutes watching them. When Emma got up, she, too, sat at the door (until she realized we were going to be home long enough for her to watch Mary Poppins). Randall thinks the bunny rabbits live under our storage building because he has seen them run under there on more than one occassion. I am so glad that it's summer and we have time to sit around and watch these wonderful creatures.

Sweet Emma

It's finally here...

Yep, that's right! It's officially summer vacation! I get to stay up late, and then I can sleep in. Today I actually did just that. It's 8:30, and I've been up about 15 minutes. Emma and Mac are both still asleep, so it's still very quiet here. I don't have too much planned for the summer. I am going to check with the library to see when their story hour is, and Emma will be taking swimming lessons for 2 weeks. She has 3 weeks left in softball season. Hopefully we can get some playdates set up, and I told Randall last night that I want to have a cookout for friends July 4th. Today I have to run to the revenue office to renew Randall's truck tags, and I am going to Memaw and Pepaw's house to visit with my great Uncle Clayton and his son-in-law, John. I can't wait!! I am just ready to get the summer underway. After the year I've had, I really need the break!! Hope you all have a great summer!!

Memorial Day

Momma, what's this?

Adorable!!

Getting his football out of the bush

Relaxing

On Memorial Day, we didn't do much. Randall was working, so the kids and I slept in a little. We got up and I cleaned house (with the exception of the office and our bedroom). We picked Grandma up from work a little after 10. The kids wanted to stay at her house, so I finished cleaning the house, went to JCPenney, and fed Momma and Daddy's dogs (they are in Gulf Shores at the beach. How lucky are they?). I picked up the kids and we got ready to head to the ballpark for Hunter's baseball game. At the start of the 2nd inning, a downpour came and they cancelled the game. We came home and it hadn't rained at all at our house, so Emma and Mac played outside. These are a few of the pics I took outside.

My little Cubby!

Ainslee getting her Sparks award.

Emma and Ainslee

I can't believe it! Emma had her LAST program last week for Awana Cubbies. Next year she will be going to Sparks since she will be in kindergarten. Awana is a great program. Emma has learned so much, and she will continue to learn as she attends Awana through the 6th grade. I was so proud of her as she got up and sang the Awana Cubbies song with her group. She then got her bag of goodies including a cubbies cup, her 2nd year book award, and a Lov E. Lamb finger puppet...Mrs. Melanie better get ready, because Emma is coming to Sparks!! I love you, Emma Grace...

Mother's Night Out

Amy talking to Hunter...back at my house.

Kim...back at my house.

My Hibachi Scallops, veggies, and fried rice...it was yummy!!

Amy AFTER seeing her check!

Me taking Nicole's picture taking my picture!!

Lisa and Nicole

Me and Amy

Samantha, Kim, Jennifer, and Amber...what shall we eat?

Nicole and Samantha

For any of you mommies out there who DON'T do this, let me highly suggest that you do. Every six weeks or so, a group of mommy friends and I get together and carpool to Little Rock for a meal WITHOUT children!! It is a wonderful escape. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore and love Emma and Mac, but every once in a while, I need Mommy time with other mommies! On May 16, eight of us headed to Benihana's. It was wonderful!! Of course, what goes on at MNO stays with the girls of MNO. Needless to say, I had much entertainment that night. I was so glad that Amy finally was able to join us. Now I don't think we could keep her away!! Our next plan is to head to On the Border on June 27. I can't wait!!

Mother's Day

Becca and Puddin

Memaw opening birthday/Mother's Day presents

Mommy and Emma

Mommy and Mac

Me and my Mommy!!

Ok, I know this is a little late, but the last few weeks of school are always hectic, so I haven't had time to post lately. We had a great Mother's Day. We started off by going to church. Carrie Dalton, a church member, took pictures of all the moms with their families. The moms got a free 8X10 of the picture. After church and Sunday School, we headed home to change, then went to Aunt Debbie's house. We ate a wonderful lunch of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and dip. We had great family fellowship while celebrating Mother's Day, Puddin's birthday (how old?) and Memaw's birthday. Emma and Mac had a ball playing with Sammo (Aunt Rita's dog). We had a few family members who were missing, but all in all we had a great time. We got updates on my cousin, Kristie, whose twins should be here the end of June. Update from this week...Izzy and Mekhi both weigh 3 pounds, 6 ounces!! Way to go babies!! Way to go Kristie...Randall says you bake babies better than I do!!

My Big Boy!!

Ok, Mac is getting a little too big for Momma's liking! My baby isn't a baby anymore!! He has decided this week that he needs a pillow to sleep on...I have been putting this off because it is pulling away from the "baby" that I want so desperately to keep!! He absolutely LOVES it. As you can see in the picture, he has his two constants with him...his "get-it" and Mater (yes, we FINALLY found him!!). He is talking up a storm, and has finally started putting more and more sentences together. He is becoming more independent and wants to do things for himself. However, he is still a Mommy's boy, and he loves to kiss and hug me! A couple of weeks ago, he went straight into the nursery at church and starting playing. I signed him in and was about to walk out the door when he hollered at me, "Mommy, love!!" Of course, who can resist a chance to hug and kiss on their kids? Not me!! I thought it was so sweet, and I absolutely DREAD the day when he no longer wants to give me love because it's embarrassing!! Can't they stay little forever?

Emma's First Softball Game

Emma's first softball game was Thursday, the same day she was sick. She said she wanted to play, so we let her try...it was NOT the best experience. She went out in the field during the first inning. As you can see, she enjoyed putting her glove over her face. She played 3rd base, and the sun was right in her eyes. It was all downhill from there. I am not sure if she got hot, if she didn't feel good, if she was intimidated by all the people, or if it's just her age. We couldn't get her to do anything once she came off the field!! We did stay for the entire game. Maybe next week will be better!! We took her back out to the ball field last night just to get her used to being there, and she cried when we left because she wanted to stay!! Maybe that's a good sign!Playing 3rd base#9 was Momma's number when she played!! (High School and after!!)

Pre-game face!!