Did we really just have a weekend??

Because it felt more like intermission than an actual break. I guess it's because we were BUSY!

On Friday night, I took Holland over to Sarah's to spend the night and then Scott and Payton and I went to Red Robin and to Barnes & Noble, which reminds me of a story I have to share. As Payton and I were walking from the kids area to the magazines where Scott was, Payton was checking out the books along the way. There were some that I'll call "mature", so I was trying to get past those as quickly as possible. Leave it to Payton to stop dead in her tracks and say in her most audible voice, "Why black men love white women!". I did the whole ssshhhhhing thing, but apparently she didn't hear me because she said it again, only as a question this time, "Why black men love white women?" (and in the midst of several people....) like I was supposed to explain what that meant. I passed her off to Scott and made sure he knew that she had a question to ask him.

On Saturday, Holland got to go to her very first Razorback game with her very best friend, Lauren (it may have been boring, but at least they won!). They don't get to see each other 3 times a week like they used to, so they had a great time spending the day together!

I took Payton to Meghan's pirate party on Saturday. It was the coolest! They built a pirate ship out of refrigerator boxes and let the kids all decorate it, and they had a treasure hunt in the backyard. Payton loved it so much that she dresses up like a pirate and carries her sword around all day long now. She even mentioned something about a gold tooth....

We met Jill and Tony for dinner Saturday night, and then Lauren came home with us and spent the night. They had a big bubble bath, and then it was time for bed. Whew - what a day!!

We decided that we needed a project to do on Sunday, so the girls and I painted letters for Holland's room. The wall over her bed has been blank for over a year now, so I got letters at Hobby Lobby and let the girls help me paint them. I think they'll go perfect in her room once we get them finished. (I'll be sure and post pictures of the final product.)

Then Grammy and Pawpaw came over for supper and a movie on Sunday night. It was a nice relaxing end to a crazy, crazy weekend! I'm just ready for the next one....

Lulu & Emma Kate

Holland's most recent school project was to decorate a pumpkin (no carving allowed) and write a story to tell about it. Well, she chose to make hers into a clown named "Lulu", and her story is about how she had always dreamed of making people smile and laugh, and that is why she decided to join the circus as a clown. Pretty cute, huh? Payton wanted to paint one, too. Aren't they adorable? This is Emma Kate (which is apparently Payton's favorite new name because she told me in the car this morning that it would've been HER name if she had gotten to pick). Sorry, Pate - you're stuck!

Hangin' with Aunt Shannon

After what could have been a most memorable trip to Batesville (Holland's near-puking episode and Scott's really close call with a deer), we got to Shannon's Friday night and came back home yesterday morning. Other than the studying I had to do, it was a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Thanks for having us Shannon! We love you!

Holland's telling Judge, "Don't lick my face!".

Typical - the adults doing all of the hard work....

The girls showing off "their" creations. Scott made the large-mouth pumpkin just for Tony.

The marshmallow roast where the girls either caught theirs on fire and threw them on the ground, or roasted them to perfection and then gave them away. Those crazy kids aren't fans of marshmallows. Shannon bought some that were strawberry flavored and they were awesome!

Scott has XM radio in his car and I found the 90's station. It's my new favorite thing. I sang and reminisced for hours!! Here's Holland doing the Macarena in the back seat on the way home. Believe it or not, they actually thought my music was pretty cool....

Star of the Week

Each week Payton's teacher, Mrs. Showalter, draws a name from all of the students and that person gets to be "Star of the Week". It's Payton's turn this week and I think it's the best thing that's ever happened to her. She reminds us each day that she's still the "Queen bee". The bulletin board is filled with pictures and drawings that she's made, and yesterday the students all got to ask questions about them. Payton has a fantastic teacher with so many creative ideas!

Girlfriends

It's funny how the events of our everyday lives are now "rated" as to whether they are "blog worthy" or not. Holland thought this one definitely was (like I even needed to ask...). Since Holland's posse from last year was broken up due to the district rezoning, she was forced to make all new buddies. I've been amazed at how quickly she's made some really close friends. Marley is the one in the red, Emily D. is the blond, and Maggie is in the pink (I must add that Emily M. is not in the picture, but she is in "the group"). Marley had a hayride/sleepover last weekend for her 9th birthday and Holland said it was a blast! She's come a long way from last year at this time when we had to pick her up from I don't know how many sleepovers because she was crying hysterically. Marley lives just one street down from us, so we told Holland that she could walk home if she didn't want to stay. She didn't think that was very funny. Anyway, we're really pleased with the friends she's made and are hoping and praying that they all stay at Shaw next year!

Motorcycles & Makeovers

While I was at work on Saturday, Scott took the girls to Bikes, Blues, & BBQ in downtown Fayetteville (you do what you gotta do when your passion is for anything with an engine and God only gives you girls). They weren't too impressed and kept complaining that it was hot, crowded, loud, and smelly. Makes you wish you would've been there, huh?? Needless to say, they were ready to get home and do something "girlie". They decided to give each other makeovers, and I must say, their choice of color combinations is quite nice....

Last, but not Least

Leslie had her third, and final, little girl yesterday afternoon. Miss Blaire Rose was born a little after 2 o'clock and is 7 lb. 5 oz. and 19 1/2 in. long. I actually got to stay and witness the miracle, and it's something I'll never forget (thanks so much, Chad and Leslie)! She's beautiful, just like her sisters, but with a head full of dark hair. Leslie kept saying, "I finally have a baby with hair!", and Chad kept asking, "WHY do we have a baby with hair?". I recorded it all, and it ought to be quite entertaining. She's a cutie, and I'm gonna steal her every chance I get.