Keepin' up with the Joneses---Robbie, Rachel & Edmond

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, 2011!!

We had a great holiday with all of our family. The Christmas season snuck upon us and flew by, as always.

We are so thankful for our many blessings, especially our health and family.

Birthday Boy

2011-05-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th Birthday, Edmond!!!!

I can't believe my little man is 4 years old! He is growing so fast and there are many days he's 4 going on 14!!! No matter what he'll always be my little boy. We celebrated over the weekend with a party at the park. We had a great time even though many were unable to attend. Oh well,,,,,4-year-olds aren't worried about how many are there! ;)

Edmond got to choose the restaurant for his birthday lunch and he chose Longhorn Steakhouse! They just opened about a month ago and they're right next door to Red Lobster, which opened on his actual birthday. I couldn't convince him to let me treat him to Red Lobster, he's been talking about a steak for 3 weeks. He also got to choose a dessert!!!

Momma likes his choice for a dessert!!!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a visit w/ The Mulhearn's. On Friday we took the boys and twins (Su's kiddos) to the Pumpkin Patch in Mayflower. We had so much fun. I was especially excited because the nearest patch to Jonesboro is an hour away. Going to the PP w/ Edmond and Setler had become a tradition for Susan and me, so it was nice to go again. The boys each picked out a pumpkin to remember the trip. Susan took some great pics for me, below.....

Edmond attempting to swing on the rope
Tunnel slide

Pondering in the Pumpkins

Back to the Blogging World....

2010-10-17T17:59:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's been almost a year since my last post! How awful!! Our home computer crashed, which was a major setback and I discovered Facebook. It's so easy to automatically post pictures on FB from virtually anywhere but I have missed blogging and have had a few complaints regarding my laziness. So, I'm back at least for now. I can't promise that I will be as diligent as I once was when I first blogged but I will do my best. Enjoy.....

More Christmas

2010-01-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

"Twas the Night Before Christmas"

It was a tradition on Christmas Eve that my dad would read this book to us kids. We started our own tradition this year with Edmond; he really enjoyed the story! Here's to more family traditions!!

Uncle Jonathan w/ The Boys

The Rhodes Family

Merry Christmas--2009

2010-01-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

The Jones Family

Gran and Grandaddy w/ Grandsons

Robbie and Edmond

"The Boys"

Christmas Cocktails

2010-01-02T09:05:00.000-08:00

Mom, me and Dad in front of the spread

Mom and Dad had a few friends over before Christmas to share some spirits and snacks. They wanted to see Jonathan too, since he lives overseas. We had a good time visiting and of course, eating! That's what I enjoy most about Christmas; being together with close friends and family!!

Happy Birthday, Mammaw!!

2010-01-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

We went to the nursing home, Dec. 23 to celebrate Mammaw's 86th birthday w/ her. We had a good time visiting, eating cake and opening presents. She was in good spirits and was quite fond of her birthday cupcake. Happy Birthday, Mammaw! We love you!!

Structural Damage!

2010-01-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

Uncle Jonathan and Camden had issues with the Gingerbread House! We helped with the decorations but had trouble completing the project because of a roof collapse! It was fun; the first Gingerbread House Edmond and I helped build. Oh well,,,,there's always next year.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

Kendall-Dinosaur; Camden-Football Player; Edmond-Chick-Fil-A Cow

We trick-or-treated in CV this year since my parents stayed in town. They have been out of town the past couple of years so we were very excited to all be together. I was so glad the weather held out for us since it usually rains on Halloween. I took a more traditional approach to Halloween this year and took Edmond around to some of the houses/people I went to when I was a kid. We found out from most of the people we visited that we were one if not the only trick-or-treaters who came by. I guess people don't really "trick-or-treat" anymore; there are more parties and events. Oh well, we still had a "SPOOKtacular" time!

Chick-Fil-A Character Day

2009-09-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I picked E up from MDO and ran by to pick up Robbie so we could go to Chick-Fil-A to see some cartoon characters in person. I knew Edmond would love it b/c we were doing 2 of his favorite things, going to Chick-Fil-A and getting to see Elmo. He loves Elmo and he loves to drive by Chick-Fil-A to look for the cow (daily)! The cow even made an appearance!! Edmond's latest saying is "Eat more chicken"; wonder if they need any help advertising??!!

It took Edmond a bit to warm up to the characters but he finally stood by Elmo with me and got his picture taken. He was pretty star-struck, though. **My high school math teacher was there taking snapshots and said she would send me a CD with our pics, so I'll post those later. She was able to take many shots, much better than mine.

Winnie the Pooh was also there but I wasn't able to get a picture of him.

Daddy, Edmond & Nemo

Me and Elmo

Tigger

Nemo

HOWL!!!

2009-09-07T07:56:00.001-07:00

Saturday night we went to Edmond's first ASU Redwolf football game. We were so excited!! We were all decked out in our red/black to show our support. We began at the tailgate with friends and family and unknown to me an early 30th surprise birthday get-together!! Thanks, mom!

The weather was a little muggy but didn't stop 20,000+ fans to cheer on the Redwolves to VICTORY!! Edmond had a blast and did real well...we're already looking forward to the next home game in a few weeks.

During the second half, eating popcorn and cheering on the Redwolves!!

I love this picture!! Grandaddy was holding him up so he could watch the Redwolf and the team run out on the field. The Redwolf rides out on a motorcycle, which thrilled Edmond!! Can't you just see the anticipation in his little face??!!

On the way to tailgate (Thanks Grandaddy for the new Redwolves cap)!

Birthdays

2009-08-16T10:43:00.001-07:00

I know I'm so far behind on my blog but I am making a special effort to catch up. We've celebrated several birthdays this summer and I'm posting a few of the recent ones we've celebrated. Glad to be back to the blogging world!!

Robbie had a birthday, August 15th

**Also, Happy Birthday on this same day to my very good friend, Susan!! I don't have a recent picture of her to post; sorry, Su.

Grandaddy's Birthday, August 11th

Gran's Birthday, July 22nd

Edmond has learned how to sing the "Happy Birthday" song and loves to sing it to the special birthday person! I'll have more birthdays to post very soon.

Beach Bums

2009-06-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

Kendall and Edmond loved "the beach", you know the term for vacation, even though they spent the majority of their time in the pool. Aunt Jamie brought the small pool that has a cover over it, which was perfect for the little boys. They had a blast playing and splashing around and getting in and out, in and out.

Kendall did great; by the end of the week he was jumping in the big pool and balancing on his own in his "Learn To Swim" bathing suit. We're gonna have to get one of those for Edmond eventually. Edmond likes the water but he'd rather play in it as opposed to swimming. Playing--that's what vacation's all about any way, right??!!

The 3 Amigos

2009-06-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

These 3 Amigos were hanging out on the porch during our beach vacation a couple of weeks ago. They looked too cool in their sunglasses and I just couldn't resist a photo op. We were getting ready to head to the beach!

We had a great time in Destin as always. We received a great surprise this year. My bro who lives overseas flew in and spent the week with us. He's missed the last 3 years since he lives so far away. We were all excited and couldn't believe he was there in person to enjoy our vacation....it's not the same without all of us there.

My dad was the only one who knew he was coming. What a great surprise!!

2009-05-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

We gave Edmond a shaving kit for his birthday because he loves watching his Daddy and Grandaddy shave. He loves it!! This picture was taken the night of his birthday; he's already a pro! The shaving cream is blue, which makes him look a little like a Smurf!!

Paci Free

2009-05-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

Just want to let everyone know that Edmond is officially over the pacifier!! He absolutely loved it and at times would have one in his mouth and one in his hand. We've been staying at my parents' b/c of remodeling (post to follow) and one day before we left the house to run errands I realized I got in the van w/out a paci. I told my mom and we went back in the house to look for one. We never found it so we just figured this would be a perfect time to "test" Edmond. He did great; way better than any of us ever expected. He did not cry one time for his paci and he rarely asked for it. It's been over a week so I feel we're completely over it. The funny thing is I wasn't trying to wean from the paci that particular day; we truly lost it and never found it!!

Next up: potty training! I hope this milestone goes as smoothly as weaning from the pacifier.

Our Little (Outstanding) "MAN"

2009-04-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

Robbie and I think E looks so grown up in this picture. He really looks like a little man in this outfit. It's so funny!! This was taken at Hendrix College a few weekends ago. We all went down to honor my bro, Jonathan. He was nominated Outstanding Student Alumnus for 2009!! More pics to follow from that weekend....we are so proud of him and were glad we could share this "Outstanding" accomplishment with him. Edmond won the "Outstanding Argyle Sweater Vest" award!! Way to go, son!! ;)

Future Car Enthusiast

2009-04-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

As you can see Edmond is just like his daddy!! He LOVES cars, especially blue convertibles (who doesn't)!! We are fortunate to be able to visit Daddy on a daily basis since he works in the same town as we live. This particular day we decided to "get out" and go inside the dealership and what do you know....there was a Blue S2000 on the showroom floor. By the picture you can guess what happened next. Now every time we pull up to Daddy's work Edmond says, "Boo car, get out!" All I can say is, I've got my work cut out for me!!

A New Record

2009-04-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you that know me well you know I rarely wear my hair down or at least for a long period of time. My dad used to ask why I spent so much time on my hair if all I was gonna do was put it back in a ponytail. I don't know if I really had an answer for this question or if I ever will. I do in fact know that I can go a long period of time with my hair down. Case in point: I just got my hair cut/highlighted on Wednesday so I was feeling pretty cocky. Thursday, my mom and I went to Conway to finish some business and I went over 12 hours without putting my hair back for a single second (sunglasses on top of the head doesn't count)! I have to admit that this major accomplishment didn't occur on purpose....I looked for a ponytail holder more than once throughout the day and much to my chagrin I came up empty handed!! Oh well,,,,it's nice to know I can weather through such a challenging fete! ;)

Update

2009-04-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked if I've left the blogging world...the answer is "no". I've just taken a break for a couple of reasons; I can't find the battery to charge my dead camera and we're still settling in our new home in Jonesboro. I hope to post some pics soon because we've been doing other things besides settling in.

We miss Conway and all of our friends but the transition has gone quite well. Robbie has been swamped at Honda of Jonesboro (thanks to all you people that are buying from us, esp from Faulkner County)!! Edmond has enjoyed the new house and now says "haus" every time we're driving towards it. I was afraid he was going to be quite confused since we lived w/ my parents until we moved here. He's been a trooper. Our families have been more than helpful with our move as well and without them we couldn't have gotten through it.

Stay tuned because I plan to get back on track very soon!!

Jones = Jonesboro

2009-02-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

I have been slacking (once again) on blogging but this time I think I have a pretty good excuse. For those who haven't heard; our family is moving to Jonesboro. The company Robbie works for has bought the Honda dealership, formerly run by The Landers Bros. The dealership is now called "Honda of Jonesboro" and Robbie will be running it. We both grew up near the Jonesboro area so this means we are essentially "moving home." While we are very excited about this awesome opportunity we are definitely sad to leave our Conway life behind. We have thoroughly enjoyed Conway and have been blessed with many friendships, many that will last for a life time.

We have sold our house and just this past week bought a house!! We are due to close on our Conway house this next week and will roll out of town sometime Saturday. I'm still in some sort of shock even while typing this. I will do my best to keep everyone updated as frequently as I can...please be patient!

I am asking for any prayers during this transition. I think I've had somewhat of a tougher time processing it all compared to Robbie. I tend to take longer when embracing change, especially one of this magnitude. Thanks for all of your support and love!!

The Jones Family

My Boys

2009-01-25T19:31:00.000-08:00

I thought this was a good picture to share with everyone. It was taken at my parents' during a family birthday party. Edmond is crazy about his Daddy and Robbie is crazy about his Baby Boy!! It's so sweet and they are already BEST BUDS!! I am so proud of MY BOYS!

HOT SHOT

2009-01-25T19:21:00.000-08:00

Way to go, Corbin!! He placed 2nd in the Elks Hoop Shoot (held in our hometown) a couple of weeks ago. He previously won out of ALL the 6th and 7th graders from his school to compete in the District Shoot-Out. We went and watched him and he did a fantastic job! He made 18/25 free-throws and he was the only 12 year old out of all the male participants. He is an alternate for the State competition. We are so proud of you!! Keep up the hard work!

Pizza & Playtime

2009-01-13T19:48:00.000-08:00

Monday, we went to Susan and Setler's to hang out and play. We decided to go to Razorback Pizza in Maumelle for lunch. It was a great idea because the boys could run around in the arcade part and not disturb anyone else and Su and I got to eat our lunch in relative peace. The boys had a BALL!
Edmond trying the car game even though his legs aren't long enough.
The boys didn't even realize the games weren't going w/out money...it won't be long before they figure that one out.

Setler's really concentrating. He knew just what to do w/out any instruction.

Cool, a 2-seater!! It looks like Setler's telling Edmond to "hang on, man!"

Future air hockey champions. Again, they're satisfied to play w/out a puck.

What a fun day! Thanks Susan and Setler for letting us hang out w/ ya'll.

Jammin with Jelly

2009-01-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

Edmond's become quite fond of jelly lately when he has biscuits. We don't have biscuits often but when we do I bring the jelly out at least for a funny picture.

*Also note the "bed-head"; it looks pretty tame compared to some mornings!

Read Between The Lines

2009-01-13T19:01:00.000-08:00

Edmond loves to "read" or at least act like he is. I am an avid reader and Robbie thinks he's picked up the habit watching me. My mom was sitting in the recliner behind him reading and he took it upon himself to sit in Grandaddy's chair and read the sale paper. This is pretty typical behavior around our house but my mom thought it was perfect for a photo op.

Merry Christmas To ALL!!

2009-01-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

So, I'm a little behind on the blogging business....we used this picture for our Christmas card this year. Edmond was a little nervous (notice folded hands and quivering lips) sitting on Santa's lap. This picture was better than the first 2; he was bawling in the first one. The photographer was nice to snap a few shots instead of taking only one. Santa was more than generous on this particular day because we were headed to The Gullic's for a cookie exchange, which hosted Santa Claus. We were running way behind because of all days Edmond took a later nap. As I was pulling up to park I noticed Santa walking to his car/sleigh...I began to panic realizing Edmond wouldn't get to see Santa or get his picture taken with him....so I did what any other desperate/crazy mother would do and I rolled my window down to stall Santa (some may refer to it as "begging"), he told Edmond and I that he had to get back to the North Pole. I was close to tears when I looked in Santa's eyes and saw him peek back at Edmond (which seemed like an eternity) and he told me he would go back and take a picture with Edmond. I didn't want to press my luck or send the wrong message but it took all I had to not jump out of the car and give that jolly ol fella a great big hug! So, as you can see my wish was granted and Edmond got to sit on Santa's lap and have his picture taken; obviously I was more excited about it than anyone!! Thanks Santa!! Edmond must have been good this year! ;)

Date Night

2008-12-06T14:46:00.000-08:00

Robbie and I went on a date night last night (2nd one in 2 years)! We have made CARTI's Festival of Trees a tradition the past few years but we've never gone to the Friday night function--Festival After Dark.

It was fun! You can view all of the decorated trees as well as the silent auction items. There's a live auction and the entertainment was by Jason D. Williams, the piano man. There were so many people and the line to get food was unbelievably long, so we decided to re-direct downstairs to Capriccio Grill Italian Steakhouse to have a romantic dinner. Robbie thought that was the best idea I had had in a very long time, especially since he went on a date with me to primarily eat anyway! Oh well,,,things change when you get married and have a baby. I'm not complaining one bit. We had a good time and enjoyed our adult conversation. Thanks for the good company, honey!!

Shop & Sip

2008-12-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

I helped host a Shop & Sip Party at Moravia (a local boutique in downtown Conway) this past week. It was so much fun and a nice way to spend a Girl's Nite Out! We had appetizers and sips and guests were able to browse and shop tax free!! We had a great turn-out; I missed the opportunity to take lots of great pictures. If you've never been to Moravia, you should stop by. They carry unique clothing plus handbags and fabulous accessories!!

Thanks for a great night girls!!

The Hostesses: Jamie, Christi, Shannon & Me

Don't you love Christi's purple jacket?? She bought it that night.

Kim (owner of Moravia), Tabitha & Crystal

Mandy & Jamie

Edmond's Got Talent

2008-12-05T21:06:00.000-08:00

The other day Edmond thought it would be cool to not only have 1 paci in his mouth but 2. He was gracious enough to let me find my camera and take a picture. I wonder if he could audition for "America's Got Talent",,,who knows; they might be impressed!!

Hung on HATS

2008-11-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

Edmond loves to put on hats, especially someone else's. He always gets into Grandaddy's hats when we go home and has started putting on mine and Robbie's. I think he looks so old in this picture! He's growing fast and really developing a personality of his own.

Notice this hat doesn't lack too much from fitting him. This boy has a big head; or maybe his momma has a small one!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-04T19:59:00.001-08:00

I said the day before Halloween that "it always rains on Halloween" but I thought this year was going to be the first one that it didn't rain......and what do you know it started right before we left our house. Oh well,,,that didn't slow us down (this was disappointing to Robbie)!! We met The Bakers' at Best Buy parking lot for Trunk or Treat, which was perfect for Edmond to run around and expend some energy. He really didn't trunk or treat much but he sure enjoyed seeing all of the people and running around!

After we left Trunk or Treat we headed to The Ryan Home to visit and let the kiddos play. Needless to say Edmond fell asleep on the way over there but soon woke up when we changed him out of his wet costume into some borrowed dried clothes from Noah (thanks so much)!! We had a great time and I think Edmond did too,,,at least we made an effort to participate in the festivities.

We borrowed this fabulous costume from Landon and I had been calling it a Dragon the whole time until Robbie pointed out that people had commented what a cute little Dinosaur we had. So, I decided to settle on DRAGOSAUR!! ;)

Carnival Ride

2008-11-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

Carnival Ride is the name of Carrie Underwood's tour.

Did I mention one reason I went home for a visit was to go to the Carrie Underwood/Little Big Town concert? Well,,,as you can see I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Underwood. I know the picture isn't very clear but I forgot my camera (I know you're not shocked) so we had to use my dad's Iphone and I don't think the woman taking the picture really knew what she was doing! Anyway,,,she's just as cute in person but she was really quiet. My mom and bro wondered if it was because she was "trying to save her voice" since it was before the concert. I guess I was expecting a backstage experience like you see in the movies; me and Carrie "chillin out, talkin, singing a few lines..." yeah right! I was disappointed she didn't comment on my cowgirl boots; maybe she was envious! ;) Oh well, it was still cool. She signed my ticket stub too.

**Phillip Sweet who's in Little Big Town is from Cherokee Village and graduated w/ my older bro, Jason. It was so cool to see him perform and make it big! We were hoping we could see him but their band didn't hang around to meet folks.

Busy Boys

2008-11-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Edmond and I went home for a visit. We had a BUSY weekend! We went to Corbin's 6th grade football game on Saturday. They had a wonderful park where the game was held, so that's where I spent the majority of my time watching the little boys. Corbin's team won!! I can't supply any more details since I was on the playground.
Kendall & Edmond swinging...we thought Kendall was gonna swing himself to sleep at one point.

My mom spotted this sweet shot so I had to share it. Grandaddy with his 2 youngest grandsons...never mind the fact that it's a behind shot; it's still sweet. Kendall and Edmond are crazy about their Grandaddy; Kendall is even saying "grandaddy"!

The results of playing hard! Need I say more?

Golf cart ridin'

2008-11-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

This has become a tradition for the youngest grandkids and my parents; to ride on the golf cart. The little boys absolutely love it and to tell you the truth I think it thrills Gran & Grandaddy too! They just cruise up and down the golf course and Edmond and Kendall are as happy as can be. Grandaddy even let's them "drive" from time to time. I told my mom and dad they've created a monster w/ Edmond and the golf cart b/c every time we pull up to the garage Edmond points to the golf cart and starts making a VROOM VROOM sound. ;)

Belated Birthday Blog

2008-11-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hopefully Kendall will forgive me for being so late to wish him Happy 2nd Birthday via blog! We were there in person to help him celebrate, so maybe that will get us off the hook. He had a brownie/ding dong cake. It was delicious!! He and Edmond have become big buds since they're only 8 months apart! Happy Birthday to my youngest nephew, Kendall!

**Look to the right of the picture at Camden's face---we were in the middle of the "Happy Birthday" song...we really get into the music at our house!

Silly Scarecrow

2008-11-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know I've been way behind on blogging.....I'M BACK!! This picture was taken at my parent's home a few weeks ago (maybe longer). We'd just returned from church and thought Edmond should get his picture taken beside the Scarecrow, which I'm proud to say Edmond IS NOT SCARED OF!! He's pretty proud of himself, can't you tell??

Pumpkin Patch

2008-09-29T20:55:00.001-07:00

We went to Johnston Pumpkin Farm, which isn't too far from our house, yesterday. We went early evening and were the only visitors there. We mainly went to show Edmond the animals and let him run off some energy. We all had a good time spending quality family time together!! We'll have to go back to "pick pumpkins" another time. I want to try the patch in Mayflower,,,never been to that one but here it's a dandy.

Brunch Buddies

2008-09-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

The other night at my birthday dinner Shannon was telling us girls about a fabulous brunch Michaelangelo's has every Sunday. It sounded so good that we decided we'd all meet up and just see how good it was or maybe it was the fact that she mentioned all you care to drink mimosas are included! ;) Anyway we met up with The Wilcox Family, The Ryan Family and The Baker Family this morning and had a wonderful time. The brunch is pretty good too! The kiddos did great and we had a good time eating, drinking and visiting. You can't beat it when you can have breakfast, lunch and dessert all in the same meal!! Let me just mention that I had such a good time I didn't even sample one bite of dessert...guess I'll have to go back and try it again!

The Jones Family...a rare photo op (at least rare in the sense that we're all looking the same way w/ open eyes and smiles)...Edmond's curls are outta control, they're taking over Robbie's forehead
Shannon and Jamie cheesin'
Baby Brendan,,,isn't he a doll!!
An even more rare photo op of me and my hubby and....his eyes are open!

Birthday Dinner

2008-09-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

Shannon, Me & Jamie,,,Christi is taking the picture

We've made it a tradition to let the Birthday Girl pick the place to have her birthday meal. As most of you know I am a FAN of Mike's Place so I chose it to celebrate my belated birthday. Me, Shannon, Jamie and Christi have been friends for several years now and we always look forward to getting together. Everyone chips in and gets the birthday girl a gift; most of the time we give a gift card to somewhere fun and special so that the birthday girl will spend it on herself. We don't beat around the bush when asked where the gift or gift card comes from. This year I requested money so I could put it towards a new top to wear to The Eagles concert (earlier post). I wore my new jacket/top to my birthday dinner so the girls could see what I spent my birthday money on. Thanks to a wonderful birthday and for some great food, drinks and many laughs!! Love you girls!!

4 Wheelin' Fun

2008-09-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

Robbie's been telling me that Edmond needs a "riding toy" and since I thought it was a little early for the real thing we settled on this inside toy. It's a Kawasaki and it's battery powered (for noises/sound effects only). It didn't take Edmond long to warm up to it; he could only go backwards for the first hour or two but now he's a pro. He also enjoys pushing it around the house! Robbie said we'd probably been better off to get him the play shopping cart since he has a habit of pushing things. VROOM, VROOM...

Howdy!

2008-09-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

This was taken last weekend after we visited the County Fair to catch a glimpse of the animals. Edmond wasn't too impressed with the pigs, roosters, cows, and goats. I thought he would be so excited since he loves animals; we read about them and watch them on videos and he can imitate a lot of them very well!! We strolled him around and encouraged him to make the sounds along with the animals but he wasn't too interested. Oh well,,,at least we made our appearance and then headed to Pia's for a late Italian supper. I think the bowl of spaghetti was a bigger hit than the fair animals,,,until next year!!

Bobble-Head Brave

2008-09-18T11:56:00.002-07:00

I know you've seen those figurines that are a big head on a little body and the head "bobbles" from side to side....well...this particular day I was trying to put Edmond's Braves cap on him and it just wouldn't fit so it's pretty much sitting on the top of his head and I couldn't resist snapping some pics. His daddy and I think he has a reasonable sized head (this comes from the Jones side),,,,you be your own judge...

Future Atlanta Brave!
it fits better when it's backwards...gotta love that expression
water break

"Life In The Fast Lane..."

2008-09-18T11:56:00.001-07:00

So,,,my dad and I went to see The Eagles on Tuesday night! This picture was taken right before we left. I can honestly say that it was "THE BEST" concert I have ever been to and I have been to several good ones. They played lots of their well-known songs and several of their new ones. My dad's and my favorite song is "Hotel California" and they played that pretty early on, which was surprising.

This band is so impressive because they played for a solid 2 1/2 hours with only one 20 min break and the only times they weren't playing was when they were switching instruments and introducing the band. I can't say enough good things about this experience!!

On a disappointing note...Robbie was supposed to go with us but he got sick that morning and my mom watched Edmond since Robbie was under the weather. Needless to say we have an extra ticket that wasn't used, so I guess it'll be our souvenir...probably one of the most expensive ones I've ended up with.

Thanks, Dad for a great memory!!

Happy Grandparent's Day!!

2008-09-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being ~Margaret Mead

Happy Grandparent's Day! We are so blessed to have wonderful grandparents and we hope you all have a wonderful day!! We love you!! xoxo
Mammaw, (my grandmother and Edmond's great grandmother)

Memaw Bettie w/ Edmond on Easter
Gran & Grandaddy w/ Edmond on Easter

Edmond Update...

2008-08-20T15:22:00.001-07:00

We had our 15 month checkup today.....the diagnosis was A GROWING BOY!! He had 1 shot and "took it like a MAN". He does worse w/ the weigh-in and the stethoscope than he does w/ the shots. I think he inherited some of the "white-coat syndrome" from his father! The pediatrician recommended purchasing a Fisher Price Doctor Kit to start practicing with at home even though it may not make a difference when we go to the doctor. She reassured us that most children his age "freak out" at the doctor and won't "grow out of it" until around 3 years.

Statistics: Height--33.5 inches/97th percentile; Weight--26.5 lbs/80th percentile; Head Circumference--19

I've tried to warn Robbie that we may need to budget more for groceries than we have been in the past,,,I grew up with 2 brothers and we made many trips to the store!

"It seems like yesterday that I was just born..."

Birthday Celebrations

2008-08-20T15:03:00.001-07:00

Robbie and Sarah
Uncle Rustie and Aunt Karla w/ watermelons in the background that were given to us by Bettie's neighbor
The Rhodes boys bringing in Uncle Robbie's present...a mini fridge for his office (the exact one he's been wanting)!
Grandaddy recovering from partying w/ his blankie and bottle
Edmond raiding Gran's pantry...all of the grandkids know right where Gran keeps the snacks. How can he be hungry?

We went home this past weekend to celebrate August birthdays on both sides. Robbie, my dad and Robbie's niece, Sarah. Sat. evening Memaw Bettie hosted the celebration at her house for Robbie and Sarah. She fixed fried chicken (Robbie's favorite) and tons of other Southern fixins'. Aunt Jennifer made a BIG bowl of banana pudding (another one of Robbie's favorites). We had a really good time but nevertheless ate way too much!!

Then on Sunday afternoon my mom hosted the celebration for my dad and Robbie. She had already planned on making fried chicken as well, so we basically had a repeat of Sat's meal even down to banana pudding for dessert. I guess you could sum up our weekend by saying we CLOGGED SOME ARTERIES! ;) It was all worth it. Thanks Memaw Bettie and Gran for the delicious fried chicken.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!

2008-08-15T08:16:00.001-07:00

I couldn't resist putting this picture up b/c of the "festive" hat! Looks like Robbie's ready to celebrate, doesn't it? Anyway, Happy Birthday, Daddy....we love you and hope you have a good day!

Robbie's birthday has always been easy to remember b/c it was the same day as my Memaw's (my dad's mom)!

Happy Birthday, Susan!

2008-08-15T08:13:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Susan!! Hope you have a good day! I just love this picture of you in your blue sweater--so pretty!

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand..."

2008-08-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

Tues. we met Susan and Setler at Don Owens Complex to walk. We used to meet up more often esp when the boys were younger and sleeping more often. They didn't sleep this go-round but they were awfully fond of each other. They started holding hands on their own....isn't it sweet? They're the BESTEST of BUDS!!

They just wanted to be close to one another, which created quite a challenge for the drivers of the strollers!!

PlayWorld

2008-08-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

Check out that perfect form! His daddy would be proud.
Getting ready to take the shot...eyes on target!
baby in the balls...
here Dad,,,you're supposed to put the balls out of the ball pit!
Edmond and Robbie playing

My oldest nephew, Corbin, stayed with us last week to attend basketball camp at Hendrix College. His last night here we went to PlayWorld so he and Edmond could let loose. This was Edmond's first trip there and needless to say he enjoyed himself. We were practically the only ones there, which was nice.

Corbin went through the maze several times and played games while Edmond spent the majority of his time throwing balls out of the ball pit and wandering around. Robbie took the day off, so we got to spend some quality family time together!

We really enjoyed having Corbin down--he's such a great helper, esp w/ Edmond. Edmond loved having him here too!

Happy Birthday, Grandaddy!

2008-08-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my daddy today! This pic was taken this past weekend while in CV at my parents'. Gran and Grandaddy took Edmond on a golf cart ride down to Raccoon Springs.

Safety Town

2008-07-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

This past week I volunteered as a teacher with a program called Safety Town. The program is organized by the Junior Auxiliary of Conway and funded by Conway Regional. Safety Town is offered to local children who will start kindergarten in the fall. Throughout the week the children are taught various safety rules such as dialing "911", fire safety, stranger danger, ambulance and police safety, seat belt safety, etc. We also worked with the kids frequently to learn their phone numbers and addresses in case of any emergency. Our class was known as the Yellow Ducks. The kids were great and very eager to learn! Although I had a great time getting out of the house and being around other adults, one thing is for sure......I have no desire to be a kindergarten teacher! ;)

Edmond stayed down the hall in the "Tiny Tots" class. He did a lot better than I expected and I was able to check on him periodically. This will hopefully help prepare him for Mother's Day Out.

Check out the article that was in the Log Cabin Democrat regarding this wonderful program!
http://www.thecabin.net/stories/072408/loc_0724080006.shtml

Happy Birthday, Gran!!

2008-07-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Gran!! We just returned from celebrating my mom's birthday this past weekend at my parents'. Her actual birthday was on Tues. We had a good time grillin' and hanging out with everyone and I hate to admit this but I didn't take 1 picture of the festivities. YIKES!! This picture was taken almost 2 months ago.

Giggle Box

2008-07-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Edmond was so tickled this particular morning and I can't remember why. He was showing his full "grill"! Sometimes he just cracks up over the funniest things. Sure is good to hear that sweet laugh! Sure does make mommy and daddy HAPPY!!

Where's Edmond?

2008-07-19T09:52:00.001-07:00

Can you find Edmond? Look closely... I took this the other morning after he had gotten up. He loves to look out the window! He goes back and forth from the back door window to the living room. He beats on the glass too; love those tiny, wet hand prints!

Pool Party

2008-07-16T19:13:00.001-07:00

These are pictures that were taken when we were at my parents a couple of weekends ago. This little pool was given to Edmond by Landon B. for his birthday (thanks Landon!) and I thought we'd take it to Gran and Grandaddy's so the "little" boys could play in it. Needless to say, they LOVED it!! I too loved it to cool off my feet for a bit! ;) I also took a Beach Ball Sprinkler for the bigger boys to play in. It's a little big for the younguns right now. It's a lot cooler than the old school sprinklers we used to play in as kids.

Kendall is wondering why Aunt Rachel's feet are in the pool...
" I said, NO PAPARAZZI!!" "Can't a fella go for a dip in the pool w/out cameras following him around?"
"What,... I'm just gonna help my cous get into the pool....???"

"Nah, I wouldn't dare dump this cup of water on Cousin Edmond's head..."

Unplugged

2008-07-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

Cousin Heather and Kelly came to visit over the Fourth and brought their guitar along. Boo loves music!! He had a front row seat. He was mesmerized. They even let him hold the pic and strum a few notes. We may have a future musician on our hands.

Heather and Kelly play in a band called "Social Remedy" out of Memphis. They're good!! It's the 2 of them plus another girl. I'm trying to recruit them to play in Central AR at some point. Check out their myspace page www.myspace.com/socialremedy

Thanks Heather and Kelly for the "Unplugged" concert!

Happy Fourth of July

2008-07-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated Fourth! We had a good time despite a few showers. We spent the weekend in CV with our family. Robbie and I went to Corning (my dad's hometown) with my parents for a BBQ while Memaw Bettie kept Edmond. Then we grilled out at my parents' that evening.

Robbie showing our patriotism w/ our red, white and blue!
check out the shirt....I think he was in the middle of "itching" his nose when I busted him with the camera.
looking for deer or golfers or anything...

BRUSHA, BRUSHA, BRUSHA...

2008-07-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Boo loves brushing his teeth even though he only has 4 of them! Okay, so maybe he sucks/chews on the toothbrush most of the time. We try to brush them after bath time right before bed time.

Water Baby

2008-07-09T09:34:00.001-07:00

We joined some friends a couple of weeks ago at the Conway Country Club for a swim. Edmond loved it!! He didn't mind the chilly water at all! He even walked the width of the pool! We had a great time!!

Bathing Beauty

2008-06-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

"Excuse me, Mr. Jones....Hugh Hefner called and he would like his robe back."

Aunt Jamie gave us this robe before Edmond was even born and I've never put it on him. It's a little small but I thought I'd put it on him at least one time before it's packed away.

What a charmer! Check out that smile! Trying to show a little chest too.
sure hope there isn't a sudden draft of air!

Eddie's First Spaghetti

2008-06-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

"YUMMY IN MY TUMMY"

So, I cooked spaghetti last night and since Edmond's pretty much eating whatever we eat I decided, why not? Robbie started out feeding it to him and then I suggested he put it on his tray and let him have at it. Boy, did he ever...thank goodness his bath immediately followed supper. I think he liked it pretty well!!

Happy Belated Father's Day!!

2008-06-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know I'm REALLY behind on blogging. I know this is a Belated Father's Day, but better late than never, right? Anyway, we left for Destin, FL, Father's Day Weekend and this picture was actually taken on Father's Day evening at our favorite restaurant, Elmo's. It's become a tradition when we go to Destin that we eat here twice; Sunday nights for all you can eat shrimp and Thursday nights for all you can eat snow crab. It's family-friendly and they have a "Jimmy Buffet" wanna-be that plays the keyboard and sings while the kiddos dance along! It's a fun place and only a couple of miles from the house.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Robbie, Jason (one of my older bros) & Dad

Sunday Sucker

2008-06-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

A Serious SUCKER! (look at that concentration)

My FIRST Sucker!! It was a grape Dum-Dum and he loved it until he started rolling it on the wooden floor. Somehow it "disappeared" and ended up in the trash can.
Edmond & Gran
Grandaddy, Edmond & Gran

Last Sunday Edmond went to church with Gran and Grandaddy because I didn't get much sleep the previous night. They said he was good and slept for most of the service, which has become a habit for him. We joked that our preacher puts him right to sleep! Anyway, he got to spend some time with the grandparents and mommy got to rest for an hour. Thanks so much!

Mammoth Spring State Park

2008-06-05T21:04:00.001-07:00

Mom and I took Edmond a week ago to Mammoth Spring State Park to "see the ducks" because that's what you're supposed to do when you're a kid in our part of the country. I thought it would be a good time to go since Edmond's showing a real interest in animals, especially ducks! We go around the house 'quacking' all of the time and it seems that ducks are around us daily and not just during bath time. E really enjoyed the visit and he got a kick out of all of the pigeons as well. We fed them corn and discovered that ducks don't like corn. Who knew?

My Little Helper

2008-05-27T13:44:00.001-07:00

I bought this mop (specifically for the tubs) and bucket the other day so I may not have to strain so much when I clean the tubs; I know pitiful isn't it?! Well,,,this morning after Edmond ate his oatmeal and applesauce he decided to help mommy out....I guess his breakfast gave him a burst of energy! Wish I was that eager to clean!!

"Whistle While You Work...."
I don't know where he learned how to hold a mop but not bad for the first time! I hope he's always this eager to help me...I may have to use these pictures for blackmail later on when he's not so eager to help out around the house.

Setler's Birthday Party

2008-05-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

I just love this picture,,Su took it. Setler got this from Su's parents for his birthday. I think Setler is asking Edmond if he wants to ride...or Edmond's commenting on how cool his new ride is! Chase, Setler's cousin is walking behind the boys.
Me & Edmond...I didn't participate in the hat-wearing, although I love to wear a hat (ball cap). I have a headband on, does that count? ;)
Susan and Setler,,,doesn't Su look cute in her hat and dress? People kept saying she looked like Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" when she's at the horse races in her straw hat!
We went to Setler's First Birthday party this past Sat. at the Mulhearn Ranch. It is so nice out there--lots of land and pretty scenery. The theme of the party was "Hats" so we donned our Braves ball cap (Robbie is an avid Braves fan, Aunt Karla and Uncle Rustie gave E the hat for his birthday--thanks guys!!) We had such a good time!! Edmond loved being able to roam around outside w/ his best bud!! Thanks for having us out!!

Happy Birthday, Best Buddy!!

2008-05-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

Edmond wanted to tell his best bud Happy 1 Year Birthday!! This pic was from his party we went to Sat. Happy First Birthday, Setler!!

Set is climbing onto the picnic table while Edmond is scowling in the background!!

Margaritas, Por Favor!

2008-05-22T08:05:00.001-07:00

L to R: Keitha, Amanda & Shannon

L to R: Me, Susan & Carrie

Shannon hosted Ladies Night at El Chico last night for margaritas and Mexican food! It was so much fun even though the waiter spilled water all over Shannon's left side...she was a good sport about it! We figured it was because he was distracted by all of us women!! ;) Good food, drinks, and conversation. Stay tuned to next month; it's my month to plan!

B-I-G DAY!!

2008-05-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Miss Haley gave him the "hair duster offer" (don't know what it's called) to occupy him.

I wasn't able to get an AFTER shot b/c my batteries were depleted on my camera!

His BEFORE shot....doesn't Robbie look good in his yellow cape?? He had his hair cut right before Edmond.

Bye, Bye Comb-Over!! Edmond got a BIG BOY haircut today!! He did wonderful. We didn't go too drastic. We're still holding on to those curls but we did manage to shape up his comb-over quite a bit. Miss Haley did a great job and I think Edmond was too busy flirting to worry about what she was doing with the scissors.

We also went for his 1 year checkup where he got 4 SHOTS! YIKES!! We're used to four shots but usually they are mixed so he only gets stuck twice. These vaccines couldn't be mixed so,,,...he got four sticks! He only cried for a sec and then was back to his normal self.

STATS: 23 lbs.=55%
31 in. =85%
18.5 cm.=70% (head circumference)

He's growing daily and really developing quite a personality. He's getting to be a B-I-G boy!

Edmond's FIRST Birthday

2008-05-20T10:26:00.001-07:00

I know I'm a little behind but I just got Edmond's pictures from his birthday party compiled. We birthdayed for over a week. The first set is from his actual birthday party and then Robbie's family had a little get-together at Memaw Bettie's house on Mother's Day and finally a few from his ACTUAL birthday. We were leaving CV to head back to Conway that day. I'm sure none of this makes sense to most of you but just thought I'd explain. We had a grand time and I think Edmond enjoyed all of the attention (esp. since he NEVER gets any)!! ;) Thanks to everyone!! Enjoy the photo show below. Also, to all of you who told me the FIRST year flies by....well,,,YOU WERE RIGHT!!

TOADally Awesome!

2008-05-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Toad Suck Daze 2008

Our fam at Toad Suck Daze. I was determined to take Edmond at least to make a lap and show that we made an effort and that's just what we did....we made one lap while sucking down some lemonade and then ended at Mike's Place for a late lunch! The Mike's Place was a bribe so that Robbie would go!! LOL!!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!

2008-05-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

One Year Ago A Star Was Born...Our little Edmond is 1 year old today! Boy, how time flies!! We can't remember what our lives were like much before this little rascal came along; maybe it's from the sleep deprivation or just because we love him so much!! We love being parents and are so blessed! We love this little man so so much! Happy Birthday, Boo Boo!! Love, Mommy & Daddy

Bloggin' Break

2008-05-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering why I haven't posted anything in almost 2 weeks...well--I am at my parents' and forgot my camera cord. I have plenty of pictures to share from Toadsuck, Edmond's First Birthday Party, Kendall's Baby Dedication and more. It has been a busy 2 weeks and I look forward to sharing with everyone what we've been doing. Edmond will turn 1 year old this Friday!! Be patient with me...I will do my best to catch up this weekend with more pictures and posts.

Busy Body

2008-05-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

Edmond will be 1 year old in 2 weeks and he's finally decided to crawl! We just figured he'd skip this milestone and go straight to walking but he fooled us. Sometimes his left knee gets in the way but for the most part he's doing great. Maybe he hasn't crawled much since the majority of our house is tile and wood floors. That would be reason enough for me. Guess I should've bought him some knee pads. :)

Playtime w/ daddy
Full-fledged crawl!
Got to get some push-ups in while I'm at it!
BUSTED...notice what he's looking at...Victoria's Secret magazine

Sorry for the blurriness...finally figured out there were smudge prints on the lens.

Wedding Bells and Worry Warts

2008-05-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Edmond after the fever virus...he's feeling so much better and he's back to being up to NO GOOD!
After the wedding Edmond and I headed back to CV w/ Katie and mom to stay for a few days. Mom said Edmond wasn't acting himself why we were at the wedding, she thought he felt a little warm--foreshadowing for the fever virus that we dealt with for the next couple of days. It was awful! Edmond's never had a fever to speak of so I was a little concerned/Worried, especially when it was 103.4 when we arrived in CV Sat. night. We began alternating Motrin and Tylenol and that helped immediately. The highest it got was 104.1 but he never had vomiting or diarrhea or fussiness; he was just lethargic. I felt so bad for him but he was such a trooper. We continued with the meds and his last fever was Monday early morning. He still ate and drank like he always does and he even played. We could tell when his fever started back up because he would crawl over to me or mom and want to be held. Poor little fella!

Mom and I went to Jonesboro Tues. to get our hair done and shop while Memaw Bettie kept Edmond. We had a great time and we both needed the break!

We wanted mom to get a picture of us dressed up when we returned and Edmond wanted in the picture too! Check out my roots! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Katie posing by a statue in one of the beautiful gardens...look how much taller that statue is than her...sorry girl! (Katie always comments about how SHORT she is)
The hitched couple "hitching" a ride in the carriage
Joni and her father walking down the aisle--a horse drawn carriage dropped them off before they began their walk....the perfect fairy-tale wedding! Her dress was gorgeous!

My mom and best friend, Katie came down last Sat. and Katie and I went to a high school friend's (Joni) wedding in Scott at the Marlsgate Plantation Home. I've always wanted to go there because I've heard how pretty it is..., which it is. The house was beautiful with a lot of antiques and perfectly manicured gardens. As you can see the weather was absolutely perfect as were the surroundings for an outside wedding. It was a nice outing and Katie and I had a good time (somewhat adventurous on the way there)--long story!! ;) Good to see Joni and meet her new husband, John. Congrats you two!!

King of the Hill

2008-04-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

TA DA!!! Look at me...I'm King of the Hill!! He's really thinking about going down the other side at this point.
had to take a break and look it over...
the climbing begins...
Look how BIG the pile is!

Robbie had a dump truck load of sand delivered on Wednesday, so naturally we HAD to let Boo "play and climb" in it! He loved it, which I'm hoping means he'll love the beach just as much this summer on vacation. He loved sticking his feet in it and he really loved climbing to the top! By the way the sand/dirt is for landscaping purposes instead of a sandbox.

"Say Chee..."

2008-04-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

Edmond and me "cheeing" it up at Cheeburger Cheeburger!
Whitney, our waitress. She was really sweet and patient with all of the Cheerios Edmond threw everywhere!
Christi, Brendan and Jamie at Cheeburger Cheeburger.
Edmond didn't get a morning nap before going to LR and he didn't sleep on the way down so he finally crashed in Belk before lunch. Shopping wears him out!
Robbie and Edmond--Edmond is distracted by some noise; cars maybe..??

On Tuesday Christi and Baby Brendan and Edmond and I went to LR to do some shopping before meeting up with Jamie for a late lunch. We went to Pleasant Ridge in West LR. I had never been so I was very excited to finally go. We had a great time and the boys were great! Pleasant Ridge has a lot of neat shops; Posh (a really cool furniture store w/ lots of contemporary pieces), Faux Pas (a fun jewelry store w/ lots of costume jewelry, purses, etc.), several children's stores and Hallmark and Belk,,,there are others I didn't mention.

They also have the eating place Cheeburger Cheeburger where we met Jamie for lunch. It was good,,,kind of like a diner-type setting. Robbie came over to say hi and grab a bite of lunch earlier in the day. He said he'd never seen so many strollers!! Guess this place is popular for stay-at-home moms!

Edmond Update...

2008-04-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

Edmond is really becoming independent. He wants to walk soooooooooo bad but he needs at least one hand to hold onto for reassurance. He loves this little walker; as you can see he pushes it around with one hand most of the time. He'll be a year old in 3 weeks! I can't believe it,,,it really is true when people say "how time flies"!! His hair has become extremely curly in the back (which is a Rhodes trait); thank goodness,,,at least he'll get something from my side! ;) Robbie and I love the curls and even though we have his first "haircut" scheduled we're not gonna get much cut off--maybe just a trim! They're too cute and everyone I've talked to says to leave em' as long as we can. You should see his hair in the mornings!! YIKES!

He's a good boy for the most part even though his onesie says "Mommy's Little Monster"! He has his moments just like the rest of us. :)

He found this bag in his closet and was toting it around like he was going shopping...Robbie said, "uh oh, you've been hanging out with your mommy too much",,,,BUSTED! Hey, I've gotta pass the time somehow day in and day out.

Happy Birthday, Karla!

2008-04-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Karla!!
Maggie, Sarah & Edmond.....The girls gladly walked Edmond around, which he loved!
Jennifer and Karla
He sleeps like his momma.....

Robbie took his first weekend off since he's been at Riverside Acura so we headed north to our parents'. My mom and Uncle Frank sold my Mammaw's house so we had a yard sale there on Sat. The weather was perfect, not a single raindrop all day. I made a measly $16.60...go ahead and take a moment to laugh right out loud. Pretty pitiful isn't it. Oh well,,,at least I didn't come back with any junk. The remaining "stuff" was donated or sold to a local business up there.

Sat. evening we went to Jonesboro to celebrate Karla's birthday with all of the Jones Clan. We ate at Ed's Fish House, which was good! Edmond enjoyed it as well eating black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes and rolls. We thought it was a little early to introduce him to crab legs and shrimp. Maybe next time...

Weekend Warriors

2008-04-16T21:01:00.001-07:00

Weekend Warriors

2008-04-16T19:59:00.001-07:00

This past weekend we hosted the Rhodes Bunch in Conway. It was alumni weekend at Hendrix College so we had the weekend planned with lots of activities. My parents and my youngest nephew, Kendall stayed at our house while Jason ,Corbin, and Camden stayed at a hotel so they could enjoy the indoor pool. Jamie stayed behind in CV for some R&R; we missed ya!

They all arrived Friday afternoon and headed out Sunday. Friday night my dad and Jason went to the Hall of Fame banquet while we "babysat". Saturday morning my mom and I shopped a little around town while the boys "babysat". Saturday afternoon we headed to the new Wellness Center at Hendrix for the alumni game and to see some fellow Warriors. There is a rock-climbing wall in the center and Corbin and Camden got to try it out (the pictures turned out real dark for some reason).

Saturday evening we went to a lovely dinner at Michaelangelo's. My family are Mike's Place fans (go figure) so Robbie and I wanted to introduce them to their sister restaurant. We had some friends join us as well. Sunday morning we ended the weekend by having a family breakfast at good ole' Cracker Barrel, which is a tradition after a weekend visit (I know you're jealous Jonathan)!! Then it was time for the goodbyes. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of my parents,,sorry mom and dad!

We had a great time having them here for the weekend. Edmond had a blast hangin' with all of his cousins, especially Kendall. It was so quiet after everyone left! It was a busy but fun weekend and you can only imagine what my house looked like after 4 boys got through with it...let me quote Robbie, "We should contact Gov. Beebe and see if we could get FEMA assistance because I think a tornado has been through here..." (I hope no one takes offense to this statement, he was only joking) But how true that statement really was!! ;)

Baller'

2008-04-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last week during Robbie's day off he and Edmond played a little pass with the basketball (notice the ball is Edmond size). I thought these were cute shots and just wanted to share them with everyone. Robbie is in front of Edmond catching and throwing the ball back and forth to him.

Park Playdate

2008-04-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

He's holding on...in mid-swing. He was distracted by the cars passing by...
Rhonda and Owen Blue. Rhonda is expecting her 3rd boy in June!! Love those boys! Isn't she too cute??!! I think the sun was in Owen's eyes.
My little swinger...he's such a big boy! He knew to hold on all by himself.

Rhonda and her son, Owen invited us to play with them at 5th Avenue Park (behind Roller-McNut Funeral Home off the interstate) yesterday. The park is real nice; I wasn't even aware that there was a park there. It was Edmond's first time to go to a park and his very first time to swing! Thankfully he loved it so now we can add this to our summer-time activities list. It was so pretty and warm; a great day to be outside! He's a typical boy because he wanted to eat everything off the ground, including mulch and sticks. I think today was the first day he got dirt under his fingernails as well--Susan don't make fun! ;) Anyway, we had a good time and I enjoyed getting to visit with Rhonda as well.

Recap of Weekend

2008-04-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

Edmond and I took Memaw Bettie home Friday and stayed the weekend with my parents. We were sad to see Memaw go especially since I got a lot of cleaning done in my house that was way overdue! I know Edmond enjoyed her visit as well! We had a good time having her here. Thanks Memaw Bettie!!

We hung out with my bro and his family Friday evening while waiting for my parents to return from Destin. Edmond had fun playing with all of his cousins and with all of their toys. He was in amazement. Jamie cooked a wonderful supper and we enjoyed our visit with all of them.

Saturday and Sunday we just hung around the house and I went to see Mammaw out at the nursing home before heading back to Conway. A nice weekend with family!!
We have one of these walkers at home and Edmond's really starting to use it. Every time he started walking behind it Kendall thought he would help him by hanging on to the side of it...it was so cute! We stopped the boys during their walk for a photo op. Kendall, Camden and Edmond
Edmond at Grandaddy's office...we thought we'd take a break from running errands and change a diaper and let Edmond see Grandaddy. He's so proud of himself!

Garvan Woodland Gardens

2008-04-02T20:32:00.001-07:00

Garvan Woodland Gardens

2008-04-02T19:42:00.001-07:00

We finally we made it to Garvan Woodland Gardens today, which is in Hot Springs. We thought today would be the best day since there was only a 20% chance of rain (at least that what the forecast said last night; we forgot to check it this morning) plus Robbie took off work. Not too far outta Little Rock it started pouring down rain and never stopped until we almost got to the gardens. We took a detour to Malvern (where Robbie lived when he was a little boy) to take a walk down memory lane and buy some time.

It was so cold but at least the rain had stopped; or so we thought. Needless to say we saw some of the gardens (the "Asian" inspired-botanical side and didn't get to see the flowers, which I was super excited about. Oh well,,maybe next time. The lady in the gift shop gave us a free one day pass to come back when the weather is more predictable--like that ever happens in Arkansas!

On our way to the car, we stopped by to admire the Anthony Chapel that includes "50-foot-tall glass walls and oversized skylights open to the surrounding woodlands..."it really is a magnificent sight. I know several couples that have been married here and I can totally understand why. I can hardly put into words what beauty we saw today and we didn't even see half of it. Visit www.garvangardens.org to find out more.

Purple Cow

2008-03-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Memaw Bettie is in town and today we had planned to go to Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs but had to cancel because of the lovely rainy weather. So, instead we drove to West Little Rock and ate lunch at The Purple Cow, which is known for their purple milkshakes. I swear, this isn't made up. Robbie and I used to eat here quite a bit when we were dating and I hadn't been in a couple of years so I was super excited. It's very family-friendly and the food/milkshakes are delicious! Edmond loved looking at the all of the people flowing in and out especially since the majority of them were under 5 years old! What a nice way to pass the time on a rainy Sunday. Afterwards we took Bettie by Riverside Acura (where Robbie works) to show her around and then headed back to Conway.

"Chutes and Ladders"

2008-03-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

Saturday we went to Landon Baker's 4th birthday party. We got to tour the Conway Fire Station!! I had more fun than Edmond did (as you can see in the picture below); I hadn't toured a fire station since I was little bitty (gee, can't remember that far back)! Anyway,,we had a good time seeing all of the fire station "stuff" and then eating cake and ice cream...I took more pictures but they were too dark to post...shux!

Edmond's not too keen on the fire hat but we sure loved it! Great photo op!
The Baker Family minus the newest addition, Brendan,,,he was asleep in the corner somewhere! Sorry buddy, didn't mean to leave you out!
The Birthday Boy!! Cool t-shirt isn't it??!! You didn't plan that did you Christi?? ;)

Hoppy Easter

2008-03-24T19:10:00.001-07:00

We spent Edmond's First Easter in Cherokee Village at my parent's home. We went to church w/ them Sunday morning and then mom cooked Easter lunch. The day couldn't be complete without an Easter Egg Hunt, which was fun even though it was a little chilly and windy. I think Edmond had a good time even though he wasn't completely sure what the fuss was all about. View the slideshow below and you can see how much fun we had!!

More from Camden's Birthday...

2008-03-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Papoose Park

It was always a big deal to climb these falls when we were kids. I think at one point there were signs up that said "No Climbing" but what did everyone do; climbed them, of course. Random boy (in the yellow shirt) at the bottom--don't know who he is.??
too much excitement=tuckered out
2 other "special guests" were at the party too
Busted! Caught you chewing on your shoe,,,that soft leather is just too much to resist!

Camden's Birthday Party

2008-03-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Kendall took Grandaddy on a tour of the playground! He says, "Look how BIG I am!!"
Edmond watched everyone from the stroller all bundled up...
Jason cooked out hamburgers and hot dogs while Judy (Jamie's mom) helped.
Birthday Boy!! Jamie made 2 cakes so people could choose which flavor they liked; strawberry or chocolate.

Even Spider Man came to the party!!

Camden (my nephew) turned 5 March 12th and we went home last weekend to celebrate his birthday at Papoose Park (a park in Cherokee Village). It was a little cooler than everyone expected but we had a good time, especially Camden! Happy Birthday, Camden!!

"What a PRETTY complexion"...

2008-03-10T20:13:00.001-07:00

Okay,,,,so my son has an ORANGE nose. Orange is the NEW RED, haven't you heard?? Eat your heart out, Rudolph! Apparently he's taking in too many orange-colored foods (sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, peaches, mango, etc.), the child won't eat green unless it's concealed by an orange color! Of course, it's not as noticeable to me since I'm with him every waking minute but I'm finally developing a complex about it, so I've started cutting back on the orange goods--thanks for the advice Dr. J. Sorry, son!

I don't know why it's never dawned on me when people say how "dark complected" he is or what a nice "tint" his skin has.....good grief!! Spell it out for me people!! YIKES!! :0

**Let me guess,,,now you're gonna zone in on the nose from here on out......we'll get it back to normal one of these days.
Busted,,,pulling up while in his crib...we'll see if he chews on those rails (rod iron)!
Check out that tooth! No, it's not slobber; okay slobber and a tooth.....it's a sharp dude too! He's had it for about a month but I can't ever get a good shot of it, he's pretty "closed-mouth" about it.

More pics from Gran's...

2008-03-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

More pictures from our past trip to Gran's; still more to come---there are some great pictures on my parent's camera. We were at my mom's when the snow hit both times,,,they got considerably more than Conway. It was so pretty, especially since the woods surround their house. I was so excited "Boo" got to experience a "full" snow!!

Grandaddy and Edmond--they just stood on the back deck since we didn't pack snow attire. He wasn't too impressed; we were more excited than he was.
Playing peek-a-boo through the stairway rails (Gran is in the background).
Kendall was pulling the yo-yo around like a puppy when he became distracted by the fire...
Big Buds,,,the cousins playing nicely at Kendall's house...notice the white shirt and dark socks on Edmond.....his Risky Business outfit!

Welcome Baby Brendan!

2008-03-06T19:18:00.000-08:00

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW,,,

Brendan Baker arrived Wed., Feb. 28 weighing in at 8lbs; 8oz's. Congrats Christi, Damian & Landon!! We are so happy for you and can't wait to see the little guy in person!!

Goofin' off at Gran's

2008-03-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

We've been at Gran's for a few days and obviously snapping pictures is protocol. Here are a few shots we captured during our visit. We are due back in Conway either tomorrow or Thurs. It's been fun!!

Edmond showing us his "fake cough" impression...anytime he hears someone cough or even sneeze he feels the need to join em'!
Lil' Robbie,,,notice the Empire Strikes Back sleeping bag he's laying on (my brothers had identical ones and my mom held onto them) wonder how much they'd go for on EBAY?? :)
Our Baby Bear,,,just got finished w/ his bath and now Gran will take him and sit in front of the fireplace so he can stay good and toasty before lotion and pj's (our bath time ritual at Gran's).
Patiently awaiting the next bite... Trying out the new chair...it's like a booster seat and it screws onto the table (from underneath)--the screws don't actually puncture the wood. Pretty cool,,he really seems to like it and it's portable as well. I got this for traveling to grandparent's homes and other places. Thanks Dr. J for the idea!

Bubbles...

2008-02-27T12:52:00.001-08:00

Checkup

2008-02-27T07:48:00.000-08:00

We went for Edmond's 9 month checkup yesterday; the only one that he didn't have to get shots! He did well,,,was a lot more "talkative" and outgoing @ this one. He's up to 19lbs, 12ozs,,,,gained almost 2 lbs since Jan.! Won't have to go back for another 3 months...yea!!

As you can see below he was tuckered out by the time we got home....

"Doctors wear me out..."