June 16 until July 4th

I've been trying to spend as much time as possible at the lake and with the boys, before I start my new Job as Department Chair on July 1.   Evan at the park at Lake Atalanta:

 Playing with the messy stuff:

 Buying Kyler a new Bike

 More playing at the creek at Lake Atalanta

 Don't worry, he doesn't have a razor...just my nail clippers :)  He's starting young with the shaving routine...

 Playing on the swingset...

Sidewalk art:

 Yes, we stay in our PJs and play outside all day:

 A little creative time:

 Playing in the sand:

In case you have noticed that I don't have many pictures of Jayden in this post, its because Jayden and Melissa are at Ole Miss so that Jayden can attend a football camp.  Melissa posted about it here.

 After all that playing we've got to bathe before we can even eat dinner!

 It wouldn't be summertime without making pallets and sleeping all in one room....

They've opened a new restaurant at the Marina...JJ's.  They have bands on the weekend:

Our first breakdown in the Bronco...I know that Phillip is glad that I had my camera to document the event :)

Phillip and I have enjoyed going out almost every evening to watch the sun set:

 

We love how the people on Beaver Lake "get into" the 4th of July. We saw fireworks 3 nights in a row. The first night we boated over to Ventris Point and enjoyed their fireworks....

 

Then we boated just down from our place to watch the fireworks in the cove:

Then on Monday night we just sat out on the deck and watched the fireworks going off all around us.  When we got up Monday morning, Phillip found a rocket (about 12"long and 2" in diameter) on our back deck, right under the chair where he was sitting!  Its a good thing we didn't stay up late....

I knew this time would come....

I knew the time would come when the boys would realize that Pop knows how to do all kinds of cool stuff and they would want to hang out with him all of the time.  Until now, they've been interested in playing with their toys, hiking, riding bikes, crafting, swimming, and cooking with me.  But that changed on Thursday.....  Phillip kept Jayden while I was working and they hung out in Pop's shop and began taking apart an old motorcycle (that Phillip plans to restore).  I walked into the shop after work and Jayden was covered in grease....But, he did agree to go bike riding with me that afternoon and we rode our bikes to Sonic.  We all headed to the Lakehouse on Friday evening and were discussing our plans for Saturday at the lake....my plan was to float in the water on a noodle...Pop's plan was to do some work on the Bronco....Jayden says he want to work on the Bronco.....

Happy Birthday Evan!

Evan is FIVE!  We celebrated with a little party at the Pitts Condo on Saturday.  Melissa set up the party in the party room by the pool...decorated with Transformers!  Since I spent most of the day IN the pool, I only got a few pictures by the pool.   Fun day....

First Days of Summer

This is the second year that we have attended the Wal Mart Shareholder's meeting. We were there by 6:15 am and the place was already packed. It is at the basketball stadium at U of A, so it holds a lot of people. This year Will Smith was MC and we were entertained by The Four Tenors, the winner of American Idol (I don't watch that show, but it was a 17 year old young man singing a country song), and....Alisha Keys and the Blackeyed Peas!

I have tried to spend as much time as I can at the Lakehouse.  I will begin my year as Interim Department Chair July 1, which will cut into my "lake time."  Phillip and I both love it at the lake - it is both relaxing and exciting because there is so much to do up in NWA.  The boys enjoy their time at the lake as well.  We all love hanging out on the deck...there is always a cool breeze blowing because it is up so high...and then there is the view....



Catching up

Blogging does not necessarily take a lot of time, but if you get behind it becomes overwhelming! I have gotten behind and the thought of trying to catch up is so overwhelming that I end up not doing anything.   But....I've got to catch up! 

We've all been busy since our Spring Break trip with the family. Mim came to Arkadelphia on the Thursday before Easter and on Friday we headed to NWA for Easter weekend. Melissa and Kerry played host and hostess and we enjoyed Easter dinner at their house after church. It was rainy which meant no outdoor egg hunt, but Melissa had indoor games planned and we had a great time.

 Kerry made a GREAT smoked Turkey....he's got a new job this Thanksgiving.  He has been in charge of the rolls, but we were wasting his talents!

 Yes, that is Evan and he is in his PJs...he came in from church and put on his PJs...

Mim had planned to go home on Monday, but things didn't work out as she had planned.  She took her car to get the air conditioner repaired on Thursday before Easter (thinking they could get it done in a day) and it wasn't ready the Monday after Easter....in fact, it was another week before it was ready!  Plus she twisted her ankle on Easter Sunday and was having a difficult time getting around (and we have stairs everywhere).  PLUS this was the week that we had CONSTANT tornado warnings!  A crazy week and she was glad to get back home. 

We all headed back to NWA the weekend after Easter (Mim too).  The girls and I did the race for the cure 10K on Saturday

 and on Sunday we got to see Kyler get his Bible at church. It was so special to be able to be there...seems like just yesterday his mommy was getting her Bible at our church!




May is always busy with end-of-year activities and this May was no exception.  I did get away for a little "girl" time on the 14th and 15th.  The son of a friend of mine from Shreveport (Sandra - we've known each other since we were 4!) was married in Dallas.  Two other life-long friends were also there.  It was so much fun to spend time with my girl friends.  I felt like a teenager - laughing and having a great time!  In fact, having such a good time that I did not take a single picture....

Pop Williams Elementary always has Grandparent's day in the Spring.  This year it was on a day that I had class, so I did not get to go. :(    However, I volunteered to help with career day at the schools and through a program with the Arkansas Society of CPA's, was able to give away piggy banks to every child at the school...that is 440 children!  It was so much fun!  Kyler and I had lunch and Jayden hung out with me in the afternoon....according to Jayden "so everyone will know you are my Grandmother."  OMG I love those little boys :)