Love Those Hogs

Ah.....it is fall and with that comes college football.  Arkansas football to be exact.  Growing up I was never a huge football fan but once I moved to the South I realized that may change and once I married in to a Southern family I knew that would change.  Rhonald and I moved to Hog Country about 7 years ago and have really enjoyed the college town experience.  This year we decided to take Cole to his first football game.  Due to schedules we decided on the 1st game of the season and looking back that may have been a mistake.  It was soooooo hot!  And the sun was setting on us for most of the first half...or at least it felt like it.  After the fun and excitement of being there wore off and after he had eatten every bit of junk food his belly could handle Cole was done.  And honestly, as much as I love the Razorbacks, so was I.  It was about 98 degrees at 8:00 so we decided to change plans a bit and go out to get some real food and spend some time inside with Cole.  Where else would we do that but the brand new Cabela's.  Cole and Rhonald had been before so they had a blast showing me around and showing me everything they would love to have one day.  Rhonald's was a fishing boat and Cole's was a dog bed...and a dog to go with it.  It was so much fun to spend an evening with Cole and make special memories with him.  Even though we only stayed for half of the game we had a blast!  Woo Pig Sooie!

The First Day of Preschool

Cole began his first day of preschool the Wednesday after Labor Day.  To say that he was excited is a total understatement.  He loves learning and he loves being a big kid so school is perfect for him.  Cole was so brave, although a bit on the shy side, on his first day.  He found his cubby and put his things away without any problems.  He walked right in and found his seat and was so thrilled to be sitting with "school Jackson" who has been his buddy in Mother's Day Out since they were 18 months old.  I love his teacher and I love how she is truly preparing him (and us) for Kindergarten.  She is sweet and kind and all business when she needs to be.  So far he loves everything about preschool!

On the same day sweet Lily Kate had her first day of Mother's Day Out.  She thinks she is 4 as well so she was very ready and very excited for "school."  She is in a cute classroom right down the hall from her big brother and she gets to see him in Chapel on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Since Lily still isn't saying very much I rely on Cole to fill me in on if she was happy or not in Chapel.  He always says she is smiling and sitting in her teacher's lap.  Lily is still shy upon meeting new people but she did so well going to class.  She has never cried when I have dropped her off but does like to be handed to her teacher for some snuggles.  She has gotten a good and happy report every day that she has gone.  Her only struggle is eating lunch at school.  I think she is so distracted that she is not interested in sitting down to eat. 

We have all been so blessed by this experience.  I cannot wait to see what the year has in store for us!

Destin 2012 - Fun In The Sun

We really did have such a fantastic time in Destin....and we have had such a great time being home that I have not had much time to blog.  Sorry-I'm sure it seems like the vacation that never ends.  The best part of a beach vacation is simply being....being quiet, being silly, being sandy, being relaxed and the most important...being together.  There is nothing better than forgetting all of your worries and watching your kids run through the waves or play in the sand.  There is nothing more refreshing than spending a whole week together enjoying the beauty of God's creation with your favorite people.  There is nothing that reminds you to slow down more than being together at the beach.  As you can see from the pictures, we had a fabulous time....being together.  Oh how I wish I was back there :)

Destin 2012 - Seaside

One morning we decided to take a little break from the beach and check out a little (and very quaint) town nearby called Seaside.  It was the town where the movie The Truman Show was filmed because it is so idealic and perfect.  There are sweet little shops and beautiful flowers and the best food ever!  There are small little restaurants hidden around every corner and then a street lined with airstream trailer food trucks.  We devoured several tacos at a taco stand and then enjoyed a few tasty sno cones from a sno cone truck.  Lily loved hers so much that she began shoveling it (literally...scooping her hand in the bowl) in to her mouth.  Ben and Cole bought and exchanged friendship bracelets and we all enjoyed some nice, quiet time together. 

Destin 2012 - Crab Hunting

One thing that Cole found totally fun and exciting last year in Florida was hunting for sand crabs.  I think there is something exciting about it because you have to stay up late, go at night with a flash light and be on your toes - those crab are fast!  We actually went out to dinner one night and while we were there the grown ups decided it was the perfect night to go "crabbing."  We honestly did not think that the little boys would be able to do it.  Last year Cole had fun but my dad and Rhonald did all of the work.  We were pleasantly surprised when Cole and Ben each spotted and caught 4-5 crab each on their own!!!  They were so proud....so very, very proud.  Lily absolutely loved the experience as well.  She ooo'd and ahhh'd over the crab and really loved running around at night with a flash light.  She would pretend to spot a new sand crab every 5 seconds and then laugh and move on.  It was such a fun night - and such a confidence builder for these 2 boys.  They loved it so much that they convinced their daddies to take them back out on our last night while Emily and I packed.  Again, they each caught several crab!  Such a fun memory to hold on to!!!!

Destin 2012 - Deep Sea Fishing

 

We just returned from a fabulous week in Destin, FL.  We traveled with our dear friends, the Burrow family.  There are so many stories to tell and so many pictures to share...750 to be exact...so I decided to sort through and post by "event."  Smallest to largest...or something like that.  So, here goes....

 

The Tuesday morning of our trip Emily was kind enough to stay home with all 4 of our kiddos so that I could get a chance to go fishing with Jim and Rhonald.  She had been before and said I had to experience it.  The guys go every year and I had heard so much about it that I had to check it out for myself.  Since the guys had been and had fished for many different things the guide insisted we try something new...Grouper fishing.  Ah, Grouper, we have learned that we love to eat it but we hate to fish for it.  We hooked several (Rhonald especially) but we only brought 1 into the boat.  Those suckers are fierce and smart and strong.  Jim caught several Red Snapper, which are out of season and had to be thrown back.  I caught a Red Snapper as well as a King Mackerel (the largest fish of the day in case you were wondering).  It was a very fun time and I am so glad that I got to experience it and share this memory with Rhonald.  I hope to do it again....my goal is to catch a Sailfish....maybe next year!