JAMES!!

We had the privilege this week to have our dear friend James stay over on Wednesday night and he was soooo good and easy. For dinner I let the kids assemble their own pizzas. I had hoped that they would want to make the most out of getting to decorate the pizza and add some toppings other than cheese and pepperoni. Only James would humor me by adding some veggies. Way to load up on mushrooms, James!

Trip did put 1 lonely little mushroom on his pizza but that was only because James had mushrooms on his.

Later in the evening the boys got into Trip's chest of drawers and played dress-up. Trippy was onto something with this look- it would be a great way to control his current runny nose.

James decided to take Trip's swim trunks for a spin.

And then it was time for bathtime in the "big tub." What a fun day! BJ & Carina, thanks for letting us borrow James. It was a pleasure!!

Museum of Discovery

This past Tuesday we got a membership to the Museum of Discovery and attended their Wiggle Worm Discoveries for the 1st time. They have story time, a craft, and bring out different creatures for the kids to see close-up each week. And what luck, this was tarantula and millipede day!! Ruby & Trip weren't exactly rushing to get a close-up view of this guy. The battery on my camera died soon after this so I'll hopefully catch more pics next time.

Maumelle FamilyFest 2009

Last Saturday evening we went to the annual Maumelle FamilyFest at Lake Willastein to let Ruby and Trip enjoy some rides and boy did they ever!!

Ruby is Ms. Fearless and is going to be one of those kids like I was that wants to ride everything. I was a little surprised when she asked to ride the mini roller coaster. She was a little too short for the height requirement but they let her go anyway. Trip had to sit this one out though.

We finished off the night with some play time at the park and made the most of the wonderful spring evening.

A Peabody-Perfect Day

Today we went with the Days to see the Marching of the Ducks at the Peabody Hotel, but our morning turned out to be much more special then we had bargained for. ABOVE: Checking out the ducks in their house outside the hotel before their march.
Patiently waiting for the ducks to make their appearance.

And here they are........... and while Somer and I were waiting for the ducks we had a conversation about where to eat lunch. I believe I said to Somer, "I wonder what the hubbies would say if we just treated ourselves to Capriccio for lunch?" "HaHa" we thought and then had a brief discussion about whether it would be the usual Chick-Fil-A and, if so, mall or free-standing, or try somewhere downtown. Well, little did we know, a very kind Mr. Gregg Herning, the General Manager of the Peabody Little Rock, was standing right behind us and overheard our conversation. He suddenly says, "I would love to have you ladies and your 4 beautiful children as our guest in the restaraunt today." Somer and I are thinking, "No you don't. Are you sure? REALLY? 4 preschoolers in a 4 star fine-dining establishment!!" He insists. He even takes us down to the gift shop and lets each of the kids pick out 2 Peabody rubber duckies to take home (which also gave them something to keep them occupied during lunch. smart man!)

Trip put his crisply starched napkin in his lap like a proper gentleman.

Our waiter was kind enough to take a group picture.

After our delish lunch of cheese pizza for the kids, Tuscan chicken salad for me, and mushroom ravioli for Somer, our waiter brought out this super-impressive dessert. They were apple cinnamon, strawberry, tiramisu, lemon, and chocolate.

Yummmm....

mmmmmm.....

mmmmmmmyyyyyy!!

Then everyone got one last look at the ducks before we called it a day.

Thank you sooooo much, Mr. Herning! It truly was lovely...... and, by the way, during the duck march today they were filming for some kind of USA Today contest for best travel experiences which will be on YouTube and possibly national television. Maybe that's the catch with the free lunch- he knows that they caught something horribly embarrassing of one of us on video. Let's hope not!

We were about to get in the van, which was parked in front of The Old State House , Arkansas' 1st capitol building, when the kids spotted the fountain. We went and walked around the grounds of the now museum and, since it has free admission, went inside for a little while.

Trip wanted to go check out the "grapes."

They "danced" in the old ballroom.

Ruby enjoyed seeing all of the 1st ladies' Inaugural Ball gowns. ........What a great day!!

Easter, finally

On Sat. before Easter, the kids and I went to Memphis sans Rex. He had an awful stomach bug and, though I hated to leave him alone, I hated even more the thought of a 2 or 3 yr. old with a stomach virus............ Ruby chose spinach, strawberries, blueberries, and Coke for the Easter Bunny's snack (Trip was at meltdown stage at this point of the evening).
Enjoying some Easter appropriate books with YaYa.

Ruby trying on her new Barbie sunglasses from the Easter Bunny. Ruby said, "These will be perfect for when we go to the beach." Yes, Ruby. What an insightful Easter Bunny. =)

Enjoying YaYa & D-Daddy's swing before Easter lunch.

The kids & Uncle Jer helped D-Daddy put out corn and apples for the deer.

Ruby was thrilled that it was ok to pick these "flowers."

Trip was really into his car this weekend.

Aaawww.... the brother/sister photo opp.

YaYa pulled out all the stops this year and we ate on fine china and sterling in the dining room.

I had to take a picture of my view of Ruby during lunch. There was something humorous about seeing her through sterling candlesticks- just not a combination I see too often.

And we finished the lovely weekend with an egg hunt in the front yard just in the nick of time before the downpour of rain began.

YaYa had filled the eggs with jelly beans, money, and stickers. Fun!

If Rexy could have been there, the weekend would have been perfect. Thank you YaYa, D-Daddy, & Jer!