Springdale Aquatic Center

The older the kids get the more I am learning about what fun things there are to do in our area.  The Springdale Aquatic Center was a huge favorite for us last summer and I was really excited to get the chance to take Cole and Lily Kate this year.  It is a place that I don't feel comfortable taking them by myself so we had to wait until we had a free afternoon when Rhonald could go.  It was his first time there too and I think he was pretty impressed.  It is a huge water park with 3 pools - a big normal pool, a toddler area with sprinklers and a pool for all ages with slides and different fun things.  Cole had us moving from pool to pool the whole time we were there and it was so much fun.  When we would get tired in one area we would move on.  The hardest part was that Lily wanted to be on her own and there are only 2 areas with water shallow enough for her to sit without being held.  So, we just kept swapping her between the two of us and finally she was content to be anywhere while she played with my sunglasses and wet hair (that seemed to be a really strange thing for her - she kept touching it and staring at me).  We ended the afternoon with yummy sno cones on our way home...it was heavenly.  Even sweet Lily loved tasting my sno cone.  It could not have been a more fun family afternoon!

A Visit With Grammy and Pops

It has become a tradition of sorts to spend Easter at my parents' home in Tennessee.  This year was not different.  We actually spent nearly a week there which was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of home life.  They have just moved into a nice new home and this was our first chance to see it.  Their subdivision has a great playground which we enjoyed.  My mom and dad are known for their flowers...they have always been able to grow anything and love to do so.  Cole had fun learning the names of all of the plants and flowers as well as watering them every day.  It was so nice to sit back and relax and enjoy time with family.  The weather was great every day and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.  We were able to go hear some live music in Nashville and have a date night which was much appreciated.  I think the kids' favorite place in my parents' house was their king size bed.  They both rolled around and played in there every morning and evening.  It was truly a nice break and we can't wait to go back!

The Nashville Zoo

Over Easter weekend (yes, I know it is July) we went to my parent's house in Hendersonville, TN.  On one day, before the rest of our family got there, we took a trip to the Nashville Zoo.  Rhonald and I are "zoo people"-seriously, we love a good zoo and this one was seriously one of the best we have been to.  The kids had a total blast and I think my parents did too.  This was their first time to go there as well.  While at my parents' house Cole found an old pair of binoculars that he insisted he bring to the zoo (and that he insisted he use every day all day while we were there).  It was a good thing too because we all used them at one time or another to see the animals.  We had beautiful weather and yummy junk food.  We spent all morning there and some of the afternoon but by about 1:00 we were all pooped.  Cole and Lily Kate were sound asleep before we were even out of the parking lot.  Cole really loved the petting zoo and brushing the goats.  We basically had to drag him out of there!  It was a wonderful day and I really hope to take the kids there again next time.

Boingo Bounce!

Boingo Bounce has to be one of our absolute favorite indoor play places!  1-2 hours there and everyone is ready for a nap!  We were lucky enough to be able to meet a group of friends there and play for a couple of hours to beat the heat!  The kids had such a great time bouncing and running and chasing one another.  And the moms had fun talking and chasing kids!  Even Lily Kate and Ethan had fun!  Poor Keisha, Ethan is walking now and I think she did more chasing than anyone!  It was a total blast and I hope we get to go again soon.

A Family Tradition

Rhonald's parents live in a cabin on the Little Red River - it really is one of the most beautiful places in Arkansas.

Somehow Rhonald got Cole to kiss this fish...yuck!

So, this is on the country road where Rhonald's parents live...from one driveway to the next...but to Cole it was like the Indy 500.

Fishing with live crickets...a 3 year old boys dream!

In a word, the Searcy men are fishermen.  It began a long, long time ago and continues on to the youngest of Searcy men.  The first time that Rhonald and I spent time together alone (11 years ago) we went fishing.  When Rhonald or his dad need time to think or relax they go fishing.  Rhonald's grandpa used to take him to school every morning when he was growing up but before school they would go look at the river.  Rhonald's grandpa held the state record for the largest catfish caught on rod and reel for many years (86 lbs).  Fishing is apart of daily life.  I knew when I found out I was having a baby boy 4 years ago that I was also giving birth to a fisherman.  It is in their blood.  When Cole could barely walk he would toddle in to Rhonald's office and look at his fishing books or watch Rhonald tie flies for fly fishing.  He knows every kind of fly Rhonald uses and loves to help Rhonald organize all of his fishing gear.  It was never pushed on him or taught to him...he gravitated toward it.  For Father's day we bought Rhonald some new things for fishing.  When we were in the local fly shop Cole said to the store owner and salesman, "When I grow big like you I'm going to work here and drive a cool car."  To which the owner replied, "Cole, I may just sell you this place."  Cole loves to fish any chance he gets...and he really loves to fish with his Daddy and Paw Paw.  Most 3 year olds wouldn't have the patience but Cole will sit out there for hours.  It is so amazing to see the bond they all share.  My only regret is that Rhonald's Grandpa is not here to witness it.  He would have adored fishing with Cole, just as he adored fishing with Rhonald.  Who knows where it will take him but the love Cole has for the river and the outdoors is unlike any I have seen in a boy his age.  I know it makes the older Searcy men very proud!

Paw Paw's Garden

We have 2 sick kiddos right now so I am taking this opportunity to post some things that are way overdue...like this trip to Searcy in May.  This is one of Cole's all time favorite places in the world (and one of his favorite people in the world) - his Paw Paw's garden.  As soon as the weather starts getting nice Rhonald's dad begins talking with Cole about what will be in the garden and Cole so looks forward to going to see it.  We were in Searcy 3 days during this trip and I think he spent half of his time working in the garden (and the other half fishing of course).  We learned last year that, if given the chance, Cole will pick anything and everything so Paw Paw had him help pick the weeds this year.  The veggies were not quite ready to be picked yet.  It did not matter to Cole...he followed Rhonald's dad around and picked every single weed that was in the garden.  And a few onions too.  He is still talking about that trip!  The best thing about Paw Paw's garden for me is that Cole will eat anything that comes from it (except tomatoes).  I will admit that I use this to my advantage and throughout the year will say something is from Paw Paw's garden when it really isn't just so he will try a new veggie.  His favorite item from the garden...Purple Hull Peas...he loves them!  I hope to have our own garden one of these days so that he can enjoy it all throughout the season and not just during our trips to Paw Paw and Grandma's.

My Bathing Beauty

Lily Kate totally loves the water as much as her brother.  It doesn't matter what the temperature of the water is - if she is in the pool she is happy!  It makes taking Cole swimming so much more fun and easy because she enjoys it so much too.  Lily is happy to hang out in her floaty most of the time but once I take her out she will not go back in.  In this last picture of her and Ethan she was splashing him so much - poor Ethan...I think if he could talk he would have had a lot to say about that.  She just laughs and laughs while she is watching the older kids playing.  She doesn't even care if she gets splashed in the face - she just goes with the flow.  I have loved watching her as well...I know she will be just as much of a dare devil as her big brother as she gets older!  Man, we really will have our hands full.