Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend was our big camping trip to Petite Jean Mountain. I made reservations months ago, since a campsite is hard to get on a holiday weekend. We took a half-day on Friday, and got into camp about 5pm. We set up the tent, and made hot dogs over the fire. Don't tell anyone, but we have a portable air conditioner in the tent. This is not "rough" camping!

On Saturday morning after breakfast, we went on a guided hike to the "Bear Cave." Do you really think that we will see a bear? We had lunch back at the campsite, and then went to the swimming pool. The water was freezing, but the kids didn't mind. Danielle and I stuck our toes in the water, and then she took a nap while the other kids played. It was a fun day. Note to self: Don't leave 8-month old in bathing suit, (going commando) sitting in stroller. Let's just say we spent some time in the bathroom getting cleaned up. Brian was helping daddy split wood with a hammer, and he has a great swing and awesome hand-eye coordination, one handed too.

"Dad, is there really a bear in this cave?"


My beautiful Emily



Inside a rock formation, called the "Eye of the Needle"

I Love that the kids are great friends.

We woke up Sunday morning to rain, pitter-pattering on the tent. We decided to have breakfast at Waffle House, instead of trying to cook in the rain. We were also trying to see if it was going to stop raining, or if we were going to pack up and head home. When we got back to the campsite, it was still raining, and the tent was leaking. That made the decision to leave very easy, we were definitely not staying in a leaky tent. We decided to leave behind the tent, tarps and a few other things. The truck was full, we were wet, and maybe by morning it would be dry, and we could still enjoy the campsite tomorrow.

It rained most of the night, and I am glad that we were not in that tent. After breakfast we headed up to get the rest of the gear. It had stopped raining, and we hoped the tent would be dried out a little. The ground was soaked, the inside of the tent looked liked a small pond, and it was muddy. We started gathering things up, and when we took the fly off the tent there were a whole family of daddy long leg spiders that had taken up residence there. YIKES! There was also a cool walking stick insect that Brian brought home, and a bunch of worms living under the tent. Brian picked up one interesting looking worm, and quickly dropped it. Turns out it was a little centipede and it bit him. Gotta love bugs when you live in Arkansas.

Can you spot the "Walking Stick Insect"? Brian loves camo stuff, perfect thing for him!

The kids at the Petite Jean Gravesite and Overlook

Wasp Sting

Danielle is not allergic to wasps. Good to know! I was getting ready for our camping trip this weekend, and I brought in some boxes from the garage. Danielle was getting fussy, so I set her on the kitchen floor to hopefully keep her content while I was organizing food for the trip. The next thing I know she starts screaming (she rarely cries) and then I see I wasp fly up toward the window. I had no idea where the wasp came from, but I pick Danielle up, check her out, and she stops crying. Emily entertained her for a few minutes, while I went and very bravely killed the wasp and when I came to check on them, I noticed she was holding her hand funny. Sure enough, her middle finger was swollen. I called Eddie, checked for a stinger, and put a baking soda paste on it. I nursed her to sleep, and by the time she woke up, it was barely noticeable. I figured it was a sign, and I packed some baking soda in the camping stuff.

I Have A Graduate

The school year is almost over. It seems like yesterday, I was very pregnant and taking a picture of Brian going off on his first day of Pre-Kindergarten. It has been such a fun year. I am definitely ready for a break from the daily routine. I really think Brian has enjoyed his first year at school. I think his teachers are amazing. Brian also really enjoyed seeing Mrs. Freeman in library and Mrs. Williams in music. The principal Mrs. Judy is definitely the "man" behind the plan, and without her, I know the experience would have been different. He likes his classmates, and has lots of friends. Drew has taught him about army stuff, and they love to make guns, rocket shooters, and planes out of paper, sticks, and wood. He has had a "thing" for Georgia most of the year, Olivia Jackson has a crush on him, and at the beginning of the year he liked Olivia Johnson. Recently Grayson has been teaching him to step on bees. He loves to pick weeds (I mean flowers) and bring them home for me. He also collects rocks, sticks and bugs that he brings home in his pockets or his backpack. My washing machine may never be the same.

Today was the official graduation ceremony. The parents were all invited to attend a program the kids presented "Bachelor of Rhymes." Each class went to the stage and recited their rhymes. Brian class, the Kriz Kids did Old King Cole, To Market, To Market, and Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater. They also sang a few songs as a group, and then each student walked across the stage as their names were read and received their diploma. It was really very fun, even though the sound was terrible, and it was hard to understand. The program finished with cookies and punch. I was almost teary-eyed as I realized that my first-born was growing up, becoming more independent, and outgoing. How will I ever survive high school graduation?

Mrs. Kriz and her class


Brian walks across the stage and receives his diploma from Mrs. Judy.

As a special graduation gift to Brian's class, I made these awesome Candy Cup Caps from Bakerellas blog. I took them to school the day after the graduation ceremony and the kids had them for snack time. It was so much fun.

My little candy cup caps all lined up and ready to go.

Mrs. Odom, and Mrs Kriz were almost (not quite) as thrilled as I was.

Brian and his classmates enjoying their candy cup caps.

Brian gave one of them to Mrs. Williams.

"I Love To See The Temple"

The Little Rock Ward Primary Activity this quarter was a very special trip to the Memphis, TN Temple. Since Eddie and I serve in the primary as sunbeam teachers, and we have a small baby we expected that we would be helping watch kids while their parents attended the temple. However, our primary presidency surprised us by offering to watch Danielle, and said they had plenty of people to help, so we could attend a session in the temple. We were very excited, we had not had an opportunity to go to the temple since Emily was a baby. They say there is a time and a season for everything, and right now we are in the season of raising little children.


The kids had fun. They made their own "Future Temple Recommend Holder", the temple president gave them a tour around the temple grounds they sang songs and ate lunch. Then we went to Cici's Pizza before we headed back to Little Rock. It was a fun day, and I am thankful for the opportunity we had to serve at the temple.

8 Months Old

Danielle is eight months old today. She is becoming very verbal, she loves her siblings and other "little" people, she giggles at them. She has mastered sitting up, and will now spin in a circle, lean over to reach for something (everything) and if she leans too far she winds up on her belly. She can roll from front to back too. She will learn to crawl soon (too soon). When she is highly motivated she will also start to pull up. She is very strong and very determined.

Happy's Mothers Day

Mother's Day started on Thursday when I picked Emily up from school. They had made a flower basket and a card. Then on Friday morning all the moms were invited to have muffins and juice for snack time at Brian's school. The table was decorated with flowers and paper plates. Too bad I didn't take a picture. Brian also made a card and gave me a flower pen. Yesterday we had lunch at Ruby Tuesdays, I love their chicken oscar. Eddie then started to hint at a surprise he was making for me. He had to stop on the way home at Hobby Lobby. What could it be? I started guessing but I didn't have a clue. Then he spent several hours in the garage finishing my gift. I was so excited, and didn't want to wait for morning. I woke up to my baby smiling and laughing. What a wonderful gift. The kids wished me a Happy Mother's Day, and Eddie brought in my surprise from the garage. It was my belly cast that we had made when I was 36 weeks pregnant with Danielle. He had made a mold from the cast and sanded it smooth. Now we just have to paint it and we are going to hang it in our room. What a special gift on Mother's Day.

Eddie made breakfast, and we got ready for church. During sacrament meeting the Primary children sang a special Mother's Day song. Brian and Emily went up to the stand together. This is the first time that Emily has been in Primary that they have gone up to sing. I was so proud of Brian, he behaved very well and actually sung the first line of the song. Then during sharing time the kids made a cute Mother's Day Card. Brian is into "camo" so all of my card was colored in camo colors.

Brian's Card

Emily's Card

Here are my best Mother's Day presents:

Brian Edward, September 23, 2003

Emily Rose, October 10, 2005

Danielle Kate, September 12, 2008

Slip n Slide

We went over to Jenna's house to check out her new flower beds, and play with the kids. We brought our Slip n Slide over to play with. The kids had a blast!