A Week to Ourselves

A few weeks ago, Andrew left on a "business trip" with work (I quoted that only because he went trout fishing on the White River and only met to discuss business a few hours during the entire trip).  Anyways, this was the first time I had been left alone overnight since I've been married! Usually mom comes up to stay or I go and visit friends, but this time it was just me and my little Hunter man - for 4 days!!

I laughed at myself later because during the first day - I did exactly what I wanted to do - NOTHING! I didn't clean up Hunter's toys, I left dishes in the sink, we played outside and swam in the pool from early morning until late that evening, then cuddled up & went to sleep next to each other in that big king size bed... Needless to say we had a great time! Day 2: started out the same way!! Then Hunter's nap time rolled around and I realized that I couldn't stand it anymore - HA - only made it a day & 1/2!! So I spent the next couple of hours cleaning up toys, dishes, laundry, & messy floors!!  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted...

.

We feasted on PB&J sandwiches, watermelon, and 'take' all week..

...my little plumber helped me keep the pool clean and the yard beautiful for Daddy!  

We played with our friends Abby & Ava at the water park! 

It was a beautiful day and we had so much fun until I did the UNTHINKABLE - I stepped in POO! And not from the visiting Ducks!!  It was absolutely disgusting... 

At least Hunter had a fantastic time!

I was offered a lot of support when I decided to start - 'Couch to 5K'

Even at 2, my little man still 'sucks' when he is sleeping like he's done since he was a tiny baby...  Maybe it's just a mommy thing, but I always think it's so precious.

This funny guy keeps me laughing every day!

On this particular evening, I asked him to brush his teeth first, before mommy would... When I realized what he was doing, I cracked up!! I guess he thinks he has to lay down on the carpet in the closet to brush his teeth, since that's where I lay him down (aka - sit on his arms and legs to hold his head still while he screams hysterically).  I love how their little minds work!

What surprised me the most about this week?? 

I had SO MUCH FUN hanging out with my little man. I realize that I do this daily, but there was something different about this week. We truly enjoyed each others' company! It was very relaxing & calm; I guess partly because I could give him all of my attention. Anyways, I told mom this after she came home from her honeymoon, and she said that she felt like 'God had given me this week.' I couldn't agree more... I believe God showed me that even as life changes, true happiness & joy is continuously awaiting us!

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall praise him.

Psalm 64:10

The 'Papaw' Truck

Our summer has been totally consumed by a certain somebody's birthday gift to Hunter (hmm hmm . . . Pa! ) - enough so, I felt it only necessary to have a blog entry all to itself!  On Hunter's actual birthday, Pa came up to visit and brought his Hunter Bear a 'Big Truck' - a Black F150 to be exact.  He said he couldn't resist because he knew how much Hunter would love it!  And LOVE IT, he does!  Hunter's big brown eyes lit up with excitement the second he saw it, and without any hesitation he jumped right in and started driving off - which completely surprised Mommy and Pa!  He knew exactly what to do, though his big toe barely reached the pedal and his steering needed constant correction.  I have to admit, the truck is really neat.  Besides it's size and power, it has a built in radio that plays local stations and (Hunter's favorite) a truck bed with a functioning tailgate!  Our little man was beyond excited and stayed in his truck for 6 hours straight that afternoon (no, there was no nap that day)  We finally convinced him to get out by offering birthday dinner at McDonald's, which he was all for, but begged to ride there in Papaw's Big Truck!  

(** Funny side note: After chicken nuggets, french fries, and a Sprite; plus an hour playing in the tunnels & slides - Hunter crashed by 7 and slept until 5 am. When he woke up, he insisted that I put his red tennis shoes on . . . which I did, He then went right back to sleep and slept til 8!  HA!)

Here's the thing, unlike all of his other toys that have been well loved and then tossed aside - 'the Papaw' (which is what he so lovingly refers to it as) never gets old . . . to Hunter that is!  Mommy and Daddy are quickly getting tired of the tortuous heat and constant following along side to assist steering - Because at 2 years of age, there is no concept of steering away from curbs, mailboxes, neighbors cars, etc.  (most likely the reason for the 3+ age requirement on the box)  Mommy has even unplugged it a few times because 'the papaw' needed to rest and be played with in the drive way!  LOL

We have discovered many ways to play with this big truck.  One day after Hunter abandoned it down the street and mommy was left trying to drag it back home. . . I learned that it did in fact carry my body weight just fine!  Hunter loved the idea and now takes his mommy cruising - I realize it'll probably be the only time in his life this will be cool.  He also loves loading & unloading, and hauling around anything & everything he can fit into the bed of that pick-up.  I guess it's a man thing!  

Regardless, Hunter loves 'the papaw' and we talk about it now like it is apart of the family.  We reserve a special time (sometimes 2 or 3) EVERY DAY to play in it, usually in the evenings if I get my way, but then there are those days he wakes up asking about it!  Hopefully Pa won't try to "top" this year's birthday gift, because I can't imagine Hunter ever enjoying something more.  So, Thanks Dad aka Pa!  You made my little man happy . . . (at least it wasn't a puppy right?)  HA!

"Hauling" Lily . . . Hunter thought Lily wanted to ride with him . . .

'Thank You' - No Sweeter Way to Say It!

One generation shall praise Thy works to another,

And shall declare Thy mighty acts. 

Psalm 145:4

Hygiene Class Reunion!!

5 Years!! What an excuse to CELEBRATE with the girls!!

I was so excited when all of my hygiene girls decided to get together for a reunion!  I can't believe it's already been 5 years since we laughed, loved, joked, and endured long nights of studying (or early morning cramming) and of course the wrath of crazy instructors together.  And now to see how our lives have evolved is just so amazing.  Most of us were single girls just enjoying each other and college life - now many of us are married and several have children (or several!)  The two years I spent with these girls will forever be cherished and just thinking about them makes my heart smile.  

First on the agenda for the weekend was a mommy-and-me play date at The Wonder Place in Little Rock.  I really didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised!  Hunter thought he was in Heaven!!  There was a water table the length of our living room, a large jungle gym with a slide, a fully stocked super market to shop at, with a little diner next door to do your cooking!  Hunter also enjoyed the wall of tubes that sucked/blew out balls and handkerchiefs and a large sandbox full of toys to play with (possibly his favorite)!  The mommies had a wonderful time too, enjoying the air conditioning non-interupted visiting!  It was great to catch up, swap mommy stories, and see everyones beautiful children!

Mo' Brother's Live at Cajun's!

That evening 17 out of the 32 girls we graduated with, showed up out on the patio to celebrate like the old days!  Dr. Roberts (and Mo Brother's) provided a spectacular performance and brought along a sweet surprise - Dr. Goral!!  We couldn't hardly order or eat dinner for all of the wonderful catching up.  I wish more could have made it and that the evening could have lasted longer, but it was absolutely wonderful and I was SO GLAD to be with everyone again.  I truly love these girls!!

"Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted."

Psalms 89:15,16

1st Baseball Game - Arkansas Naturals!!

Hunter has finally grown to an age that now allows ALL of us to enjoy certain activities!  This new stage in life has been so much fun - we love showing and sharing the world with him!  This beautifully hot summer evening in June, we went to the Arkansas Naturals baseball game with our good friends Mark, Abby, & Ava! (we scored a bargain on $$Deal Piggy$$ that provided great seats and wrist bans which allowed the kids to have free reign of all the fun inflatables!)  Hunter was deep in the action . . . for about 20 minutes! HA HA  Then it was off to burn some energy and find a snow cone - IT WAS HOT!!  The game itself was pretty pitiful (in fact, we had our worst loss EVER).  
But it didn't stop us from having a FANTASTIC time!!

 At first he wasn't too sure about the huge inflatable slide, so Da may have offered a little "nudge"  - which was all it took - HE LOVED IT!!  

 The park had a really great playground!  Hunter & Ava, along with about a hundred other kids, loved all the slides and climbing equipment it offered.  Though after watching our son in action 'put his shoulder' into another child, at least twice his size, who was trying to go up the ladder before him, we learned that he can definitely stand up for himself - but may need more work on how to do it a bit nicer . . .

He learned how to 'swing' from a monkey bar - it was so cute!

Hunter was trying to be the 'boss' and make his friend stay still for a picture - While Ava was showing us how well she can say 'CHEEZE' 

 Already a 'Ladies Man' - Guess his Daddy has been teaching him his moves . . .

The evening ended with a magnificent fireworks display!  Although Hunter sat with his hands over his ears, buried under my hair and Ava kept repeating, "All Done!"

I found this the other day and thought it was too cute - Maybe Baseball dates back to further than we once thought? LOL

And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men…arise and play before us” -- Samuel II 2:14

…and all the people rose up… -- Exodus 33:8 

And Juhoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; and Sheva was the scribe…” -- Samuel II 20:24 

And they said unto Jephtha, “Come and be our Captain” -- Judges 11:6 

...and he measured two lines… -- Samuel II 8:2

...and he set the bases… -- Kings I 7:39

And they stood every man in his place round about the camp -- Judges 7:21

Behold, Rebecca came forth with her pitcher… -- Genesis 24:45

Ehud, the Benjamite, a man left-handed… -- Judges 3:15

The children of Israel asked,…”Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites? -- Judges 3:15

...Seek out a man who is a skillful player… -- Samuel I 16:16 

...Judah shall go up first… -- Judges 20:18 

And Judah took… -- Judges 1:18

Three times… -- Exodus 23:14 

...and it was good… -- Genesis 1:4 

And Abram went down… -- Genesis 12:10

...out at the base… -- Leviticus 4:18 

And Moses …smote… -- Exodus 7:20 

...and (it)…was foul… -- Exodus 7:21 

And Moses went out… -- Numbers 11:24 

...and none came in… -- Joshua 6:1 

...and there was not a man left… -- Joshua 8:17 

And Miriam was shut out… -- Numbers 12:15 

And the children of Benjamin went out… -- Judges 20:31 

...and went into the field… -- Numbers 22:23 

...and Aaron waved… -- Leviticus 9:21 

And he looked this way and that way… -- Exodus 2:12

...and he delivered up… -- Numbers 21:3

...and they ran as soon as he had stretched his hand…And they fell on their faces to the ground…          --Judges 13:20

Get thee up; wherefore liest thou upon thy face? -- Judges 7:10 

...for it was an error… -- Numbers 15:25

...second and third… -- Genesis 6:16 

And Joseph spoke… -- Genesis 45:3

...concerning the error which he had committed… -- Leviticus 5:18 

...make an atonement for thyself… -- Leviticus 9:17 

Thou shalt fan them… -- Isaiah 41:16 

Then Joseph commanded to fill…the…sacks… -- Genesis 42:25 

...and all the people saw this and they shouted… -- Leviticus 9:24 

Who can stand before the Giants? -- Deuteronomy 9:2 

...and Aaron waved… -- Leviticus 9:21 

...and pitched on the other side… -- Numbers 21:13 

And suffered not a man to pass… -- Judges 3:28 

...but…the seventh… -- Exodus 31:15 

Gideon… smote… -- Judges 8:21

...Israel…at first… -- Joshua 8:33 

And Noah went in… -- Genesis 7:7 

And the young man ran… -- Numbers 11:27 

...he turned and went back… -- Judges 18:26 

...unto the base… -- Numbers 8:4 

Noah walked… -- Genesis 6:9 

Let us go and sacrifice… -- Exodus 5:8 

And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote… --Numbers 20:11 

...the hide… -- Leviticus 9:11

...a long blast… -- Joshua 6:5

...outside the camp… -- Judges 7:17

for an ‘omer… -- Exodus 16:36 

And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted… -- Samuel I 17:52