It Takes A Village: Part I

This past weekend was our family reunion and it was one of my favorites yet!  The girls were at the perfect age to have so much fun.  Here are the cuties as we arrived.  Amelia wanted to go to Target to, "Pick out matching, twirly dresses for the reunion."  And so, here we go...

 

We hadn't been there any time before she wanted to swim and her Daddy jumped at the chance to take her.  Ross was on call the whole weekend and drove down just for a few hours so that he wouldn't miss out on all the fun.

She did awesome in her brand new puddle jumper from Gammy and Gampy.  She could swim all over the whole pool without any help and even put her face in a tiny bit! Everyone needs to invest in one of these miracle swimmers.  It was such perfect weather, too. Bliss :)

Favorite Amelia Saying #1- "I just LOVE having fun in the sun. Mom, that rhymes you know."

Elise loved the water coming off the slide.  It was harder to convince her to stay in the pool because she really wanted to float around WITHOUT anyone holding on to her.  And, that definitely wasn't going to happen. :)

 

Then it was back to playing at the water table and dragging DD around in the lake.

 

 

I loved the laid back no texting, no list making, no planning mentality of these two days.  It was just a lot of playing and lounging and loving.  I was reading an article on being a Hands Free Parent and this weekend gave me a look at what that is like.  I know it isn't a reasonable goal for me to never have my phone in my hand, but I could definitely be texting less and listening to my girls more.  I could be checking Facebook less and be playing Break the Ice more.  Goals, goals.  Love this girl and the view behind us as we headed to dinner.

After the big group dinner (in which I took NO pictures of any other family at the FAMILY reunion because I was feeding the girls--but I promise, there were a lot of people there) Amelia got to take her first boat ride.  I asked if she was scared and she said, "I'm pumped." Jamie was so sweet to take her and even though I was a nervous wreck, she loved it to pieces.

 

We woke up (at the absolute crack of dawn because four babies three and under don't sleep in) and had donuts and cinnamon rolls while we watched the boats on the lake.  Liv is sitting at the picnic table alone here!  She is getting so big and was just a peach the whole time.

The girls played with a little rolly polly in their nightgowns.  Simplistic fun and squealy giggles.

Kaci and Steph are so gorgeous and so sweet and precious.  Kind of like me.... Anyway, Amelia was telling me that she thought Kaci talked funny.  She said, "I love the way she says my name all slow..Ammmeellyaa."  I laughed so hard.  Kaci has a southern belle drawl and Amelia wouldn't stop talking about it.

I'm going to stop for a minute and talk about how much help I had with my babies.  Water and cabins and driveways and boats and rocks and stairs can all make for a nervous mom.  Mom and Dad helped out so much with the girls doing everything and anything- especially since Ross wasn't around.  Meme and Pop and Jen took Elise on walks and to the playground if she got restless.  DD helped catch Amelia on the water slide so she wouldn't go under.  Steph read books to the girls in the "playroom" upstairs.  Shelb and Kaci helped Amelia and Elise walk around in the lake on the big rocks.  I'm not a superhero and I never want to portray myself as one on this blog.  It takes a village to raise these girls.  And, I am ever so thankful that I was born smack dab in the middle of a loving and generous village.

They may change their tune if I have another tribe member...

Part II to come.

More Graduation Pics

The gang at Cracker Barrel before the big event

Jessalyn walking in

Dr. Jessalyn Halsted on the screen

The whole crew

Doctor Halsted and Doctor Halsted with their sweet Mammaw

So proud of her

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On a side note, the other day Amelia asked if they could have their snack in Elise's room by themselves.  I said that they could try it.  Of course I lurked in the hallway awaiting a disaster and I peeked in and Amelia had put Elise on her lap and was feeding her.  Precious.

Then, they saw me :)

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On another side note, I made a new chicken dish that made Ross and I sickkk the first two days this week and the remaining three Amelia has had strep throat and Elise hasn't been sleeping.  Fabulous week.  Hoping the weekend brings on some FUN and GOOD HEALTH.

Weekend Wrap-up

We went to Memphis this weekend to see Jessalyn become a Doctor of Optometry.  I was so proud of her!  We had a great lunch before graduation with her and Greg and the whole family and then a nice ceremony to celebrate this huge accomplishment.  Here are the two doctors of the Halsted family.  I would say that Darrell and Barbara definitely did something right!

 

It was a long trip there and back, but we made the most of it along the way.  Here we are waiting on Adam and Joanna to eat breakfast in Little Rock.  It was so nice to see them and I am so proud of how they are walking in faith through this heartbreak of losing their baby.  Please continue to pray for them as they had to return home to Fayetteville, away from their family and Adam has to return to work.

The night before, we also met up with JJ, my old teacher partner from Pulaski that I still keep in touch with and we had a blast eating at Cozymels and catching up on life.  I am thankful Ross realizes how important it is to me to maintain those few friendships that have been important to me.  He was a good sport joining in on our girl talk.

We also got to see Brandy, Nathan, and Lily as we drove back home on Friday evening.  I was so excited it worked out because we just love this family to pieces.  Here is a picture of us from last weekend when we went to the funeral.  So grateful they let us stay with them and that we got to play with sweet Lily.

Then we rushed back to get some sleep and head back to Ozark early the next morning for Amelia's first pool party.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for keeping the girls for us while we were gone!  We never have to worry about them because we know they are having a blast.  Amelia was so tickled to go to Kinley's party.  She is one of her favorite little friends from school.

 

  

As soon as she got to the pool, she rushed to Kinley and hugged her and the hugging continued the whole party.  The funniest thing is that I thought all of the kids from her class were invited and I had even told Amelia they would be there, but it was just her and some cousins and family friends.  Kinley had only picked to invite Amelia, ha.

The party was at an indoor pool here in Ozark and I can't believe we have never been.  The pool was AWESOME.  There was a lazy river and a slide and a tunnel and water falls and water guns and we had an absolute blast!  I can't wait to come back with Ross and Elise.

Then we had a great morning at church where Elise made it through all of Sunday School without crying in the nursery!  This was the first time ever that this has happened and we were all celebrating.

Big Hits

 Here are some random things that we love at our house :)

We checked out this book from the library and it was a huge hit!  Amelia had so much fun with it and I got so tickled guessing her "Eye Spy" clues.  Elise and Dad had fun with it just being silly.

  

 

Steak N Shake.  Ross and I love their food and so do the girls.  We never go out to eat and this is one place we can go and get food fast and feel a step above the dreaded golden arches.  YUM.

Cowboy boots. Amelia is VERY upset that the last few days seem to be fading away because she loves wearing these pink cowboy boots.  They were such a big hit this fall/winter.  I'm afraid they will be too small after this summer, so I am on the cowboy boot search.

Wagon rides are still a grand love around here and the other night the girls were riding like this and giggling all the while.  Amelia said, "We love to hug while we ride."  Ross and I melted. 

Pancakes.  The deal is we never go to McDonalds unless it is for breakfast.  My picky eater can throw down some pancakes like no one's business.

Train tables.  Barnes and Noble and Toys R Us both have train tables for the kids to play with and my girls could stay and play for hours.  Santa is most likely bringing a nice train table this year for Christmas.

Mothers Day

Amelia and Elise,

This day is about honoring mothers, and yet, I feel like I need to honor you. 

Because of you, my sweet babies, I have this priceless title of Mom.

Because of you, my cuddle bugs, I have had the privilege to rock you to sleep many hours. 

Because of you, my joyous children, I have the opportunity to relive childhood!

Because of you, my curious angels, I have been able to be a teacher every day.

Because of you, my strong-willed kiddos, I have been called to lean on the Lord for wisdom.

Because of you, my needy ones, I have been allowed to become more selfless.

Because of you, my high energy tots, I have the chance to exercise patience and stamina.

What I am trying to say is that because of you I feel loved and wanted.  Because of you I feel beautiful and young.  And so on this Mother's Day, I want to say thank you.

And, as I try to articulate often on this blog, I am forever trying to live up to the amazing compassion and love of my own mother. The one woman who has patience, stamina, and selflessness down to an art.  Happy Mother's Day to a fabulous mom.

Here's the Dirt...

Elise loves to get dirty. 

Amelia doesn't mind it, but she definitely doesn't purposefully get disgusting.

Elise does.  She gravitates toward anything that is dirt or mud or soil or...you get the point.  Some documentation.

Selecting wood chips for me at the park and then taking them back and throwing them all over herself.

Running her hand all over some moss she found trying to get it "PUP" (up)

Checking out the rain water coming down the drainage spout and then playing in the puddle it made.

Filling the perfectly clean water table with tons of mud and soil.

Insisting on swinging with a handful of grass.

Different day, different park, same woodchip/dirt game

I love you Elise Mae and the way you play and get messy with reckless abandon.  You have helped me realize that there is nothing wrong with being covered in dirt from head to toe, especially when it brings you such big SMILES.  Hugs from your Mom-- the one who follows you around with a wet wipe and hand sanitizer.