Spring Break Lake Trip 2012

This was our 5th annual trip to the lake for spring break!  We headed up to Branson this year and stayed at the D'monaco Resort.  It is off of Highway 86 and is RIGHT ON the lake.  A very fancy yet cozy place.  I wish we could go in the summer but it's $900/night.  Wow!  It was much cheaper in the off-season.  I can't believe it's been five years since our first SB trip and I can't believe we have continued the tradition.  It is always a fantastic weekend full of shopping, eating, relaxing and fellowship with friends.  I love that we have kids all around the same ages so they can grow up always looking forward to this getaway.  We need the Kirbys or Walkers to add some boys to this mix, though...we had 4 baby girls between the three families!  Anyway, on to the pictures, I'm sure that's what you really came to see.  :)

Hot tub time with the daddies...

 SJ loved the warm water!

 Reese and Kate

 Becca and Blair

 SJ checking out the lake.

 Blair with her daddy, Kevin.

 Sweet Walker family...maybe there's a boy in Kate's belly?!

 She's now working on a sippy cup.  So big.

When did SJ go from baby girl to just little girl?  

 The three different looks on these three guys crack me up...I think they called this their Prom picture?! Ha!

 Aunt Betsy with Caroline.

 Dinner on the veranda (I decided that's a fancier word than patio).

 Look at that sunset...gorgeous!

 More views from the veranda! 

Caroline talks!

Okay, not really, but she sure says mama. Maybe not with recognition but it's music to my ears. :)

Spring Break...

I'm a little bummed that I don't get an actual spring break like I used to. I always anticipated that week because I could be as lazy and unproductive as I wanted and nobody could make me do otherwise. Now, I do lazy for a living. Ha! Okay, not really! I love my current occupation and wouldn't trade it for anything. I don't have much to say in this post so here are a couple of cute pics from this week.

1-We had a date night last night and tried out the newest restaurant on the Bentonville Square, Flying Fish. Excellent fried catfish and hush puppies!
2-My "big girl" baby! She can pull herself up on things now. Boo!
3-Ellie Harris reading C a book. Is that not stinkin' adorable?!
4-And the lovely food coloring accident.

Rainy Day Fun

I stripped Sarah down and let her play in the cold rain for a few minutes today. She wasn't a huge fan but she eventually got into it. Poor C just sat at the window wishing she could join big sis. SJ was so cold when she came in so we followed cold rain with a warm bubble bath. We have been spoiled with the warm temperatures lately so we are missing our outside time!

9 Months!

Caroline, that sweet chubby girl!  Can you believe we are 9 months into this little life with her?!  I'm just thankful that I'm not prego...when SJ was 9 months old, I was 4 months away from having little Miss Caroline. Oh, how much difference a year makes!  Our sweet chubs is doing so many new things as of late.

-Weighs 18 lb 6 oz...only 50th percentile.  But the way she puts food in her belly is crazy!  She out eats Sarah daily.  Really!
-28.5 inches long...80th percentile.  Growing chica!
-Totally crawls on all fours.  She's a big girl!
-Pulls up on whatever she wants and balances on her knees.
-Have I mentioned that she can clap?  Oh my goodness, the smile that comes with that clap is heart-melting!
-LOVES sister Sarah.  (Sarah has recently found out that Caroline is a great step stool...ha, don't ask!)
-Eats whatever and however much I put in front of her.  Ate nearly an entire hamburger from Mickey D's today.  Yes, Mickey D's...don't judge me.  She also ate pureed cauliflower...that counters the burger, right?
-Still sucks her first two fingers as her soothing tool.
-Sleeps 12ish hours at night and a couple of hours during the day.
-I'm repeatedly told that she seems like such a happy girl.  That is true unless she's teething...wow, rough week a couple weeks ago!
-Loves her daddy.  This girl's face lights up at the sound of his voice or seeing his face after work.  Ahhh, so cute!

We love you sweet girl.  You continue to amaze me with your super sweet and social personality.  I praise God for bringing you to our family (and blessing you with that cute red hair)!

Hello pretty weather!

I know it's been said everywhere and by everyone but this weather has been amazing lately.  We have wasted no time being outside as much as possible.  I added up the hours and I spent close to 8 hours outside yesterday!  Love the sun! Beware of picture overload...

Weekend in McAlester!

Took a little trip to southeast Oklahoma to visit my dad's side of the family.  We had a good time visiting with my granny, dad, stepmom, great-grandma, aunt, uncle, cousins and of course my sister and her family.  Enjoy the pics.  

 My great grandmother, Grandma Tat, is about to turn 101! Wow!

 Aunt Paula and Granny in front of Aunt Paula's beautiful new house!

 My little Carter-bear!

 These two sure are starting to be best buddies!  

Caroline's face makes me laugh here!

White Rock Mountain

We spent the weekend with the Woody and Smith families at White Rock Mountain.  Melanie's brother rented a couple of cabins and invited all of us to tag along.  It sounded great so we said sure!  There were a few things that turned out to make it a little more work than I had anticipated.  Caroline having a fever off and on due to teething, Daniel being scheduled for an unexpected business trip having to leave on Saturday morning.  A 16 mile rough dirt road IN A MINIVAN! Ha!  And then, signs like this...

Watch your children?  Yikes!  We were about 30-50 feet away from major drop offs on the bluffs!  There were even signs in our cabin that said watch your steps outside.  We also thought we were getting a two bedroom cabin but turns out it was a two room cabin meaning one bedroom and a living room.  Hmm...three kids and four adults....how is this going to work?  We threw all three of the girls in the bedroom and the four adults slept in the living room.  It actually worked great except for C waking up at 2 AM.  :(  Sorry Brooke and Bryan!  It was also super cold so we didn't get to spend much time outside.  We did go on a short walk Saturday afternoon and this is what we got to see!

                                    

Brooke and Bryan went on a walk to catch the sunset and caught these great pics!

                                                                

                                   

The kids loved jumping on the mattress in the living room. Aren't they cute!

On my drive home Sunday I decided to take my time and get some landscape and road shots.  

 That is downhill and super windy...most of the 16 miles were like this!
 And below is my not-so-great attempt at a landscape picture.  The sky was really grayish blue and the mountains were so pretty in person.  Wish I could have captured it better.

It was a really fun time to spend together with the Smiths, Woodys and Alex.  I just vote for a comfy nice house that we can all stay in next time...possibly in Branson with some shopping?  What do ya say girls???