November 16, 2014

We all scream for ice cream!

(click here for today's pictures)

• For some reason, we were scurrying around this morning a bit.  We did make it in plenty of time for church.  My Reagan has new boots (red and black pairs) from her friend and she had on a cute little red sweater that she wanted to wear her red boots with.  She was the cutest little thing but after looking at the boots, she decided she better stick with the black boots.  Both looked really good with her clothes but I spent a bit of time watching her make her boot decision-they are just growing up before my eyes.  And my Campbell was wearing the cutest little grey dress.  I hate we didn't get a picture of her but she just looked adorable today.  
• After seeing all the grands at church and making sure that the kids had hit up everyone old man that passed out candy, it was finally time for church to start.  When we did first walk into church, Keaton spotted candy man #1 and walked toward him grinning.
• Next up was Sunday school for everyone.  Anderson's Bible reappeared after leaving it last week at church.  Both boys got to go up on stage to play a round of musical chairs (this is a big deal).  And most importantly, Reagan and her Sunday school teachers, that would be us, had doughnuts in our class.  
• Then it was time for lunch at Nonna's house.  The kids gobbled up the Mexican food-my Whitman loves refried beans.  You can always tell how much he enjoys food by how messy his clothes are after he eats.  The kids had some time to play for a bit (and Robby had some time to nap) before we headed home.
• I was secretly hoping for some type of winter weather to fall or threaten falling so they would cancel church tonight.  I do love Sunday night church but a long afternoon nap would have been much better than our short afternoon nap.  Campbell was asleep before I finished looking at my phone-she quickly found her spot beside me on the couch upstairs and we would have slept until midnight if it wasn't for my alarm buzzing to stir us to get ready for church.
• I went to my prayer group while Reagan, Anderson, Graham and Campbell went to choir. Keaton and Whitman went out with Robby to buy some bread and milk-not because of the weather but because we were out of milk-we had even borrowed some from Nonna so we could have a successful afternoon nap time.  My shoppers did well except for Keaton having an accident which caused Robby to have to leave the long Walmart line and then rejoin it later. 
• Campbell really does well in big church but she is much better on Sunday mornings than Sunday nights.  During the songs tonight, she was singing her heart out which I love (she knows Amazing Grace by memory) but her loud singing voice caused me to become quite tickled.  More tickled than when she leaned over to me and told me that she was going to be a drummer when she grew up.  I am sure that the preacher thinks that I am shushing him because during most of my sermon, I have my fingers on my lips telling her to be quiet.  And then to top it all off, at one point I had to say to her "we do not lick our Bibles."
• After church, we hurried home to have our ice cream truck-I think it is a bit too cold for ice cream but the kids sure don't seem to mind.  I think I will cap my evening off with some hot chocolate instead of an ice cream sandwich.  

November 15, 2015

(click here for today's pictures)

Celebrating Kaleigh's Birthday!

• After Robby and I stayed up until 2, we were not too ready to see gaggle of children running into our room at the crack of dawn (7:02).  What were we doing up until 2, you ask-absolutely nothing at all.  We watched some tv, read some magazines and talked about how we should be going to bed and not lollygagging around.  Anyway, the kids were loud and noisy-gracious me, I decided that we need to work on our being quiet skills.
• And the kids continued to ask for food-like they were hungry.  Robby and I did have big plans of staying in bed until noon but we finally relented and got them some food. Before breakfast we had already decided that since the kids were awake and fed, we better take them out of the house.  
• This was a big day for us-3 stops.  We started out at Savers to pick up some jeans for Campbell (get ready Grannymom they will soon be coming your way to hem).  We also found some shoes for the boys-well for Anderson since he will be the first to fit into that size.  Then we ran into Walmart to pick up some leggings for the girls and why did they not have any of the sizes that I needed?  I finally did just settle on the nearest sizes crossing my fingers that they will fit.  And Walmart is where we found shoes for Graham.  The poor child decided that his shoes that fit (they really did) didn't fit anymore so he took over Anderson's too big shoes that had a hole in the bottom.  So shoes for Graham were necessary today.  
• The third and final stop was Sams and this stop caused Robby to decide that we need to finish our Christmas shopping sooner rather than later-there were zillions of people in Sams.  I had never seen anything like it.  We had to  fight to get a table to sit everyone down for lunch at. As we were waiting on lunch, Whitman almost fell asleep and if I would have waited a few minutes longer, I probably could have laid him down in the shopping cart for him to snooze. But I tried to do this too early and he woke up.  But that was fine because he needed to have a bit of pizza for lunch.
• A bit later, Graham was trying to get into the shopping cart and instead of asking for help, he just climbed in and thankfully he fell IN the cart and not out.  He must have hurt himself pretty bad because he was very upset-but that sweet boy never made a noise as he cried.  We were not too worried about him being too hurt since our pediatrician was doing her shopping on a few aisles down.  We ordered Anderson's cupcakes but we didn't dare buy anything because of the crazy lines.  
• Then we made it home and drew names for Christmas.  The kids all draw names for everyone so with a bit of rigging, it worked just the way I wanted it.  I knew who Whitman and Keaton needed to have and other than that it didn't matter.  Since we had our names drawn and since I had seen the crazy crowds, I loaded up Campbell and Reagan to do their shopping.
• We went to Target and had about 15 minutes to find the perfect presents.  Reagan quickly picked out Keaton's present and then Reagan and I picked out Graham's present for Campbell to buy.  The rest of the time was spent trying to convince Campbell to buy the gift we had picked out.
• Then we headed to party 1 in Benton to drop Reagan off.  It was Kaleigh's birthday and Reagan couldn't wait-mainly because she was able to take her camera.  On the way home, Reagan mentioned that one of her friends kept photobombing her pictures-I thought that was funny.  And when she was telling me about a skit they did, Reagan mentioned someone "coming out acting like they were from the 70s."  Then she added "they had a big cell phone that hangs on the wall."-think she means a land line.  
• After dropping off Reagan, I left Benton and drove to WLR to take Campbell to Aiden's birthday party.  Campbell enjoyed playing on the tubes and I even had to climb up and rescue a kid that was at the party with his grandma.  After my climb, I should have gotten another piece of cake!
• When her party was over, it was back to the casa for a few minutes.  Campbell had a shower, I had supper and then I loaded up Keaton and Whitman to go and pick up Reagan.  The boys were watching football and I knew better than to disturb them!  Once we had Reagan back home, then it was shower time for her and we watched a bit more of the ball game before putting the kids to bed.  It was another busy Saturday-maybe we can all get a nap tomorrow!

November 14, 2014

(click here for today's pictures)

Go Hogs Go!

• Well, Tara was off to a field trip (kid-free) this morning so this post is written by Robby.  For a full write on Tara's field trip to Moss Mountain Farm, click here.)
• Before she left, Tara did get up for a morning run so I felt guilty and ran soon afterwards and she fed the kids breakfast before sneaking out.  (Well, she didn't really sneak out but not big good-byes for Whitman or that might have set him off to know Mom would be gone all day.)
• I took a day of vacation from work to watch the kids and for the most part managed to not even check email --- because I was busy being school day.  It's probably a good thing for a dad of home school children to do every once awhile - the appreciation meter for your wife will go through the roof.  
• The kids actually do school on their own pretty good.  They were working their way through the boxes sooner than I could tell them do another box.  Although, the boys would ask every once in awhile, "Are we going to have to do every box since Mom is gone?"  Now Tara had told me this was on the calendar as a 'free day' but I figured it was best we had somewhat of a normal schedule since she would be gone all day.  I was checking answers on math sheets for every one -- I did sneak out the calculator a few times to double check. The kids worked through their math, phonics, typing, reading while Campbell and Keaton were making birthday cards for anyone they could think of.
• Whitman went down for a nap around 11:00 and we finished up most of the school work by noon and then it was time for lunch. I told Graham he could pick the lunch menu today and he picked grill cheese.  He asked if I had the secret sauce. Unbeknownst to me until a few years ago, Tara's mom has always made grill cheese with a bit of mayonnaise. Well, we were out of mayonnaise today so I picked the next closest looking condiment -- ranch dressing. Guess what?  No one noticed.  But maybe because i used a stick of butter to make six sandwiches. 
• Meanwhile, Tara is sending me pictures of her Sweet potato salad with grilled chicken plate and pecan pie with fresh whipped topping. So the kids and i decided we would send her a picture of our grilled cheese, grapes and Ruffles potato chips.
• Whitman and I were still finishing lunch when we heard Grannymom and Grandpa come in -- and they even came with dessert!  Grannymom said Grandpa said he wished they had an excuse to come see the kids (BTW, they never need an excuse) but Grannymom said she could whip up a dessert.  The kids sure enjoyed the treat plus they even talked Grannymom in playing a game of dominoes and read a book.  Whitman did not want Grannymom to go but it was soon nap time for he and Keaton.
• The big kids played their kindles during nap time and right before movie time, Keaton decided she was ready to get up and join the big kids for movies. Actually, she and Campbell only watched movies until snack was over which was during the second movie. Then they decided they would follow me but soon they decided that wasn't fun as following mom around so they headed upstairs to get the tent out.
• Tara called and said she was on her way home - so we had to kick it in gear to pick up our mess. Plus, we all had to change from our pjs to clothes for our tailgate party tonight.  We did get the downstairs picked up but Tara discovered tonight that we didn't make it upstairs.
• Soon we were all loading up for dinner out at the Penningtons with the McGuires.  We started the football weekend a bit early with an indoor tailgate party since Jaymie was cooking up a big pot of gumbo along with cheese dip, hot dogs and Razorback macaroni and cheese. Everyone wear their Hog gear and we watched a previous Hogs vs. LSU game before the kids took over with the Wii.
• The kids changed into their pjs and then we headed home in time for Bible story and then it was lights out!

My Visit To Moss Mountain Farm (11.14.2014)

(click here for my pictures)

Today I had the chance to go to Moss Mountain Farm, home of P. Allen Smith.  I was invited with many other Arkansas Women Bloggers and it was quite a treat.  I had heard of P. Allen, unlike my friends tonight, and I had even heard about his farm lately so I was pretty excited.  
I left in plenty of time since I had no idea where I was going.  It was just a few miles past our blueberry picking stop so I was quite early.  But thankfully, I wasn't the first.  I wasn't too sure of where to go when I arrived but walked into the first set of inviting doors that I saw and was in the right spot.  I was handed my shirt for the day and my name tag.  

I found my seat and soon things got started.  Before things did start, there was plenty of time to look around the room we were in.  It had table after table made of barn wood.  There were 3 rows of tables-one was set for lunch, one was for serving the food and the other was empty.  It was empty except for the layers of burlap filled with flowers and pumpkins.  The walls were filled with large pictures of gourds and pumpkins painted by P. Allen.  I could have just gone home then and been pretty happy with my trip.

The first real event was a quick ice breaker so all of the bloggers could get to know each other.  Not too surprising-most everyone had kids (I had the most but there was no prize for that!) and most everyone was from central Arkansas.  

Next up was a tour of the home led by P. Allen.  He was around most of the day and sat nearby at 
lunch.  The home is built in the Greek revival style and I tried to take many pictures since I probably won't be back.  

It is a gorgeous home and decorated beautifully.  I did fall in love with his kitchen-windows on all 3 sides with a huge island in the middle.  The cooking area was probably about the same as mine but the kitchen was just so inviting.  Unfortunately, my kitchen pictures just don't do it justice.  

The other awesome thing about the house was the sleeping porch filled with a bathtub and 3 beds out on the porch.  How awesome would that be-you would never have to take your kids camping.  You could just say "go sleep on the porch."  Now the house was pretty perfect but I do feel odd about snooping around a man's home...but oh, I so wanted to open his refrigerator (I didn't but a docent did show me his pantry-lots of canned tomatoes and chicken stock in there.)

After the house, we had time to roam around the house and gardens.  It was cold, cold, cold-even with my gloves, coat, long underwear and 3 shirts on.  But I still was able to wander around some.  I was however careful because I had this fear that I might just get lost on my walk around the gardens-I didn't!  

Then it was my favorite part of the day-lunch time.  We were served roasted sweet potato and feta salad topped with grilled chicken and buttermilk pecan pie.  (click on the food name for the recipe). The sweet potatoes were so good that I thought that my crew might even eat them.  Then the serious business started.  We were all invited so we could help spread the word about the GIFT College Investing Plan, a 529 program offered by the State of Arkansas.  It didn't take too long for me to text Robby (oh, no it wasn't rude for me to text during the first speaker-I was in a room full of bloggers-there were computes, phones and cameras being used at all times today.)  Anyway, I text Robby that this event was going to end up costing him a lot of money....

I was talking about saving for college.  We should probably save more than we are now (nothing currently) and even starting is pretty overwhelming to think about.  With the AR529 you can save as little as 15 per month and that is probably where we would be!  But the lady said, "Every dollar you save for college will earn you money, and every dollar you borrow for college will cost you money." That did stick with me-so we are now accepting donations to our kids 529 plans (which I plan on opening up very soon.)

Next up was a Family Feud game hosted by P. Allen-my blue team lost but everyone was rewarded with Starbucks gift cards -- so that was fun.  Then my favorite speaker spoke-the president of Pulaski Tech.  She talked about how important career education is which is so true.  In college, I ended up studying speech because someone said that had "fun" in those classes and Robby has said many times he would change his major if he had it all to do over again.  Though I don't know how to go about exposing your kids to the plethora of different jobs that there are in the real world.

Then she talked about how important financial literacy is.  Very true and we do try to teach the kids about money even now.  One reason that I chose the math I did for school was because they have a stewardship course.  That is grades and grades away from now but it really drew me in.  
The Pulaski Tech president made perfect sense when she said that we need to teach our kids the value of money and help them know what they want to do so they do not waste their time in college. 
And then we need to consider a 2 year school so we can get more with the money that we have saved for them.  

After these speakers, we had one last speaker who discussed the nitty gritty of the plans.  But by this time my mind was only on the appetizers that were coming soon.  The band, Salty Dogs, played as we did eat those appetizers-a stuffed potato and chicken on a stick (sorry, I am sure that they have fancier names but it is late!)  

I stayed to hear the band play for a bit and then I headed off to meet my crew before we turned right around and headed out again.  It was a fun, fun day and now to decide where I am going to build my pumpkin house....and to start completing that 529 application!

November 13, 2014

(click here for today's pictures)

Stay warm by the heater on a chilly day!

• This morning the kids all ended up in the bonus room bright and early.  I wasn't up there this morning because I opted to spend my early morning in bed rather than on the treadmill.  I should feel guilty about it but I do not one bit!  
• Soon though I was up in the bonus room too but not for the treadmill but to help the boys.  Anderson was working on his knex.  They have always been kept in the bonus room and he has never really been to interested them but lately, Robby printed out some step by step directions and that has increased his interest in them.  So I was called to help him with a few of the steps to build his crane (it didn't get finished though because Campbell was leaving and that meant school time)
• And up there, Graham found his legos that he has never completed from his birthday.  So he started working on those which I was also able to help him with.  I guess that I am glad that I do not mind working with legos/building things-those I can do but please don't ask me to help with rainbow looms.  Actually, yesterday Reagan pulled out her knit a scarf kit.  We were able to figure out how to cast on but then when it came to actually knitting-I had not a clue despite watching a few videos.  Reagan eventually told me that it was okay and she just wanted to sew on the sewing machine.
• Once my sweet Campbell left, the rest of us tried to figure out what to do with Robby gone on a Thursday.  I won't be home tomorrow so Robby will be here to hold down the fort so he didn't work from home today but went in to the office.  We had our breakfast in the school room as we worked and I rushed the kids to finish-but they were in quite a hurry because I told them if they were done with school then they could go and play in the snow.
• This morning when I woke up, I told Robby there was snow outside-he asked me what I said about 10 times before he realized that I was talking about.  All of the kids had noticed and for about 8 minutes before we left to pick up Campbell, everyone was outside playing.  They probably would have had more time to play if they would not have continued coming in to get hats, gloves and scarfs.
• We picked up our sweet Campbell and as soon as I pulled into the driveway, everyone wanted out of the car.  They all played outside while I unloaded the car and made lunch.  Reagan was the first to come inside and huddled by the heater as she read her book.  Robby pulled out the heater last night and I told him that I would never see Reagan again in the school room-she just sits right in front of it doing her school work.  
• So Reagan was inside and everyone else was in and out.  I had brought Whitman in and he had been in the kitchen with me but then, I realized the door was open and I didn't know where he was.  I called his name and he usually does make some noise when he hears his name but there was nothing.  So I went outside and he wasn't in the garage and the kids were on the other side of the house on the tree house.  I looked down one side of the house and then the other and no Whitman.  I ran back inside asking (nice term for yelling for) Reagan and Graham who were both inside to help me look for him.  I was nearing the panicked stage and zoomed up to the toy room to see that boy happily playing with the Little People farm.  
• Whenever Whitman thought someone else was upstairs today, he would climb those stairs and sit down in front of that farm and play and play.  I am quite surprised at this.  I even heard him pick up a horse and neigh.  My baby is growing up.  
• More in and out and eventually, I did serve up lunch.  I figured since Graham was outside with a hole in his pants and a hole in shoe and since Anderson had socks on his hands as gloves (don't buy us gloves for Christmas-we have plenty) that I should probably go ahead and call them into the warm house.  I had thought a yummy bowl of soup would have been perfect for the day but a sandwich is what we had!  
• After lunch, we cleaned some and then a few kids even headed back outside for a bit.  Then there was kindle time and even science time.  I have been lacking in my science doing.  Our science this year is really good and probably a bit too simple so I do feel like Campbell needs to hear it.  But she is home late on Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesdays are just tiring and by Thursday I am getting lazy so Fridays have been the only days we have been doing science.  I still should be able to finish by the end of the year...I hope!
• After our science and reading, the kids watched movies while Keaton and Whitman napped.  Nap time was late so I had to wake both of them up for supper.  Robby was still gone so I read during supper and then my crew helped straighten the house again-that would be our 432nd time to straighten today.  
• We watched a tv show and then it was teeth brushing time.  Robby made it home just in time to read the Bible story and then it was bedtime for all!

November 12, 2014

(click here for today's pictures)

Winter is here!

• I was up first this morning but Graham was the one who was the busiest.  I am not sure why he felt the need to start cleaning the potties (Wednesday's chore) before 7:30.  Everyone usually picks one potty to clean but he cleaned them all and then started on emptying the trash cans.  I had to stop him from doing this because the trash is a day late this week.  Personally, I think that he had grand plans of finishing everyone's chores, getting ready and us letting him play his kindle while he waited on breakfast (it worked).
• We braved the winter weather for Bible study and shivered as we walked in.  After Bible study, we had our crackers in the van and then went to see Beebee.  She was in a good mood and was waiting on us with the candy sitting in her lap.
• Everyone just loves Bible study and Campbell does too but for some reason she is utterly exhausted when we get home from Bible study and Beebees.  Today, like the past few Wednesdays, she cries and cries as soon as we get home.  I am not sure what it was about today-I probably wouldn't let her do something.  But it is always the same "I miss Daddy" over and over again.  Often I think that I should just drive back for LR from Bryant to drop her off with her Daddy on Wednesday afternoons.  This day she was having her meltdown in my bedroom so I just shut the door until she was done-and then she was back to her normal self.  
• I couldn't devote much time to Campbell right then because I was having another crisis upstairs-Keaton.  She was refusing to take a nap.  I finally just let her do her own thing upstairs while the rest of us read our science and read a few books (finishing The Hoboken Chicken Emergency).  
• The afternoon seemed to drag a bit but I did convince Campbell and Keaton, my constant afternoon shadows, to sit down and read a few books with me.  And when our books were finished, I tried this sneaky idea "let's set the timer and see who can go to sleep the fastest."  It shouldn't be a surprised that I was the winner.  
• Robby arrived home with supper and then we quickly got into the car to head to church.  After 4 puppet shoes, it was then time to turn around and come home.  We had a snack in the car and then a drink once we got home.  Tonight during Bible story, there was lots of excitement when the kids heard that tomorrow is going to be the story about Namaan-the same story that Graham, Campbell and Keaton talked about today in Bible story.  They are beyond excited about this-and I am too.  How fun that they are hearing the same story over and over again.

November 11, 2014

(click here for today's pictures)

Official Egg Cracker for brownies!

• I was determined to get up first this morning and exercise - so I changed the sound of my alarm.  Not sure it will work tomorrow but I can check off exercise today.  As I was coming back downstairs, the first round of kids were coming to look for me.  Everyone was up except for  Reagan. (She's our sleeper.)
• Yogurt and toast were on the menu this morning - everyone finished up and then wandered back upstairs to see who could build the tallest tower. It was time for Campbell to leave before they left so she asked me to call Robby to let him know if the girls or boys tower was the tallest. (Girls won - but I might have helped a bit.)
• School was next and everyone plowed through their work.  One of Reagan's writing exercise was to write 4 or 5 sentences.  She chose to write Robby and I a pretty convincing story of why we should change assigned seats in the van. (Not surprisingly, it would place her next to Whitman - everyone's favorite place to be.)
• After lunch, everyone took care of their chores.  Nonna brought Campbell home just as Keaton was heading to nap -- but Campbell headed right upstairs to tell her not to go to sleep because Nonna was here.  So she skipped her nap and played with Campbell. Between snack and movie time, the afternoon passed quickly and soon Robby was home.
• My plan tonight was to head to Conway for a Bunko-night out supper at Tacos for Life But soon plans began crumbling as different folks couldn't come - I quickly text the remaining ones and pleaded with them for a night out.  (Well, it didn't take too much convincing.)  Plans did change a bit - we ended up at Bravo (which meant no drive to Conway although i was looking forward to trying something new).  Then after supper, had enough time to visit HomeGoods for the first time since they opened in Little Rock.
• Back at home, Robby cooked up supper (and for some reason decided to clean out the freezer. It is nice and tidy now though.)  Fish and corn on the cob were on the menu. Then everyone picked up, took showers, helped make brownies and settled in for another episode of Shark Tank.  Whitman stayed up to watch almost all of it as he munched on cereal (probably since he didn't eat too much of his supper.)  Robby made the kids wait until Whitman went to bed before serving up the brownies. I don't think he wanted to give Whitman another shower tonight.
• Of course, the brownies were devoured and everyone shared a can of Mt. Dew (sure they will sleep just fine.) Teeth brushed and Bible story time -- still reading about Elisha. Everyone was in bed by 8:45 and sounds like they went  to sleep quickly.