Memorial Day Fires

Memorial Day began with the Allred boys coming over for a morning play date. These are great kids and they play hard and creatively with my kids. They started off with a bonfire and ceremonial burning of the school papers. Good riddance, literacy bingo! Until next year, social studies!  They roasted s'mores for "breakfast", rode scooters, played basketball, and had an exciting round of Clue out on the island. And then the sky grew dark very quickly, and we gathered our things and dashed indoors just in the nick of time before the clouds opened and poured buckets of rain! 

Indoor fun continued and the kids are already planning their next adventure. 

We had a lazy afternoon of naps and movie watching while the rain came down outside. There was a break in the weather and we knew friends were at the lake, but none of us had the motivation to make it happen and get over there. So we schlubbed around the house instead. It was really nice, actually. 

At 5, we went over to the Davis' home and joined the Chandlers, Blakes, Glovers, Sandersons, Klackrings, and Gulbransens for weenie roasting and a potluck picnic. I kept thinking, "man! I miss our metfield branch friends!" And then I got home and saw fun videos of friends jumping in the lake at Camp Petersen and regretted napping the afternoon away and thought, "man! I miss our Bella vista friends, too!" 

The double dose feelings of missing these great people birthed these goals: 

1) create stronger/deeper bonds of friendship within the sugar creek ward, so I'll have a reason to some day say, "Man! I miss those sugar creek friends!" 

2) call up my metfield and Bella Vista friends more often, instead of waiting for Memorial Day to roll around. I had some great conversations today, and the kids? There was a friend for everyone! It rained and rained and kids got drenched, and jumped on the trampoline and sat on the rope swing anyway. We adults somehow had decent protection from the rain under the thick tree branch covering overhead. I love how green Arkansas is. Where else can you keep a fire going in pouring rain, and still stay pretty dry? What a nice day. I thank and honor the many who have sacrificed all so I could have the freedom and luxury of a day with family and friends and need to make gatherings like this happen more often! 

Kickin' Off Summer

The first day of Summer was wonderful! I am SO happy to be done with school and just have my children mine mine mine. Friday came and we played hard! 

First stop: the Amazeum. There is a new exhibit on how things are made inspired by Fred Rogers. The children played with a huge die cut machine and folded paper boxes, pressed and stamped pennies with a hand cranked roller mill and lever, and built wooden trolleys on an assembly line. My favorite new thing at the Amazeum is this giant lite brite wall. 

After the Amazeum we hit up the Bentonville Library for new books. Corbin has already finished both a magic treehouse book and an I Survived book that were both about the Titanic. I told him I would find some video footage online of divers and machines exploring the real titanic at the bottom of the ocean. He's very interested to know what the found in it. 

One of my preschool parents gave me a super thoughtful end of the year gift: 16 homemade crepes, individually packaged and ready for the freezer. 

I pulled them out last night and we stuffed our faces with delicious crepes, filed with everything we could think of. What a fun dinner, and a fantastic teacher gift! It made for an exciting evening to have a new treat to try at dinner time. Long live summer break. 

These neighborhood kids could play from sunup to sundown. Here they are  all camped out on Laura's driveway searching the sky for Venus and the space station. 

I taught the children how to play Clue after church, today. I played 3 games, and they kept the fun going with game after game until 7:30 tonight! I used to play Clue for hours with my friends when I was Reese's age, so I'm thrilled my children enjoy it, too. 

I'm sitting here, soaked from head to toe after a friendly visit on the porch with our neighbors after I tucked my kids into bed.  What started with a splashed water bottle between a couple of the neighbor kids escalated into a full blown unforgettable water fight with hoses between the adults with in the driveways. It was unexpected and indescribably funny. I called it quits and headed in shortly after getting sprayed, but I think I hear Ryan carting one of his kids over the pool and threatening to dunk em.  Laughs never stop on this little corner of heaven. I was reminded tonight of the time my dad kept getting my mom with the hose, so she put a kink in it, dragged the hose with her and followed him right into the house and hosed him back, carpet, furniture, and all. 

Tomorrow we will hang our flags out front, hit the lake, swim, BBQ with friends, and enjoy a day with daddy home. I know we are only a couple days in, but Summer 2016? So far, so good.  

My Summer Office

My front porch is such a place of happiness for me.  The other day it was pouring buckets outside, and the neighbor kids got out their Star Wars toys and lined the railing with action figures. They played under the awning for an hour and it brought me joy. 

I picked up this cute doormat as a total impulse purchase last week, while shopping for a wedding gift for a friend. I have no regrets. 

A cast iron dinner bell was my birthday purchase and it already brings me all kinds of happiness. I can't wait for the next sunny evening that I can rattle it and call everyone in. "Kiiiiids! Dinerrrrrrrr!!!!" 

On Sunday afternoon, we just sat and rocked and talked the evening away. I have been waiting all year for easy living summer days, and even though the "slow" days are sparse, Sunday evening was restful and rejuvenating. I told Aaron a dozen times, "I know I should get up and make dinner, but I can't move. It's too comfortable to just sit without the pressing need to be somewhere. We eventually grilled hot dogs and ate outside. 

Can you blame me for not getting up? Look at my view. Good company. 

You know you live in the south when you come home on a Thursday night to this happening out front in the neighbor's yard.  Sly Fox better check himself. 

Before anyone freaks out since this is the Internet, after all, (simma!) I feel like I should clarify that it's a pellet rifle and our children were indoors, in bed. 

Also on my porch, more underwear in the collection box! Woot! The kids are up to 285 pair and more arrive every day. 

An epic nerf gun battle took place the other day. I'm still finding foam darts in corners and under furniture. Reese's battle armed was clever...and really dirty when she came in. 

Oh honeysuckle. You smell so so good. Primrose lane is lined with this good stuff and the aroma has wafted up on our porch all month long. 

A happy sight of busy worker bees. 

Sloane loves her some Miss JJ. 

It's the first day of summer break. We made it, you guys. Time to release a deep sigh of relief and get outside. No bedtime looming, no homework to be done. Hooray!

Corbin's Birthday Party

Corbin is 7! 

Boys are so fun. We had a party with friends, Sully S, Brody S, Cole G, and Connor L. The boys came to the house for pizza and little boy shenanigans (running around wildly for 15 minutes), then loaded up in the van for a trip to the movies. 

We saw the Angry Birds Movie and it was funny and clever and had just enough silliness to keep 5 boys on the edges of their seats the whole time. 

After the movie we drove back to the house for presents and cake. Corbin has been drafting a BB8 cake for weeks (months) and all of his wildest dreams came true, thanks to my friend, Jill, who loaned me her 3D cake pan and decorating tools. We had a cake decorating activity at enrichment the night before and I came home confident enough to pull off a recognizable BB8. Thanks for teaching and sharing your talents, Jill! Corbin was blown away with pure glee.  

Corbin received Star Wars diving sticks and an inflatable shark pool toy, a Lego set, a nerf style football, and a Star Wars hero masher action figure from our family. He received wonderful gifts from his friends, too and is now obsessed with Star Wars micro machines. He even exchanged his her masher and pooled his birthday money from a friend and grandma to buy the other two micro fighter sets available so he could have all 4. Corbin is more of a physically active child with his play time, so it is a treat to see him so excited about an actual toy. 

I love you Corbin! Happy Birthday! 

Old High Science Showcase

Monday night I attended the science showcase at Old High with Reese. She did a nice presentation and provided solutions to preserve the hydrosphere with her group, "TWDD", or "team don't waste water". 

Madi and Juliana were also at the showcase. Reese is the only of the three who has been rezoned for a new middle school, next year. She will miss her close friends, but I have no doubt Reese will meet more friends and still maintain friendship with these lovelies over the summer. Nice work, ladies! 

Reese makes Honor Roll

Reese worked very hard in 5th grade. She gave up many PE and recess hours to retake tests, rework math problems, and rewrite class assignments with teachers. This hard work earned herself a spot on the Honor Roll the entire school year. She worked harder than I ever could have asked, and learned that hard work pays off. I know that her determination will take her far. Those grades came with high sacrifice and with diligence, she turned a weakness into a strength. I am so inspired by her. Way to go, Dolly! You did hard things! 

This kid

Soren has started talking to himself while he plays with his toys. It is super cute and the dialogue his hilarious. I could listen to him all day. 

Fun and Field Days

Fun and Field Days are here!  We visited this little cupcake first. I tried to convince her to let me check her out for lunch time, since they were headed back to their classroom for the day, but I was rejected in favor of an in class movie with her friends. Burn! 

Outside, the first graders were released like a tidal wave over the yard.  Corbin ran wildly over to greet us, then quickly moved on to the games. It was chilly and drizzly, but the kids didn't care. 

I love this pic that JJ took of Finley and Corbin. Those two are a good matchup! 

Drop Your Drawers Here

A service opportunity presented itself to my family, this week, and the Willy kids jumped on board. 

Did you know that in some countries, girls drop out of school once they start menstruating because they have no access to feminine hygiene products?  In many of these cases, the girls only have one or two cycles a year, so a small number of missed days is all that sits between them and receiving an education. 

daysforgirls.org is an international organization that provides reusable feminine hygiene kits for these girls and women to help them stay in school.  A local chapter has recently formed in NWA, and WE are going to help them collect items for the kits! 

Drop Your Drawers Here! The Willy kids are hosting an underwear drive this week and next!  Their goal is to collect 100 pair of underwear by May 30th. 

Each Day's for Girls kit includes 2 pair of girls underwear (sizes 10-14), so 100 pair would help provide 50 girls with an opportunity to stay in school. I've posted the link to the Days For Girls organization below if you'd like to check it out. 

We will have an underwear "drop box" on our front porch until May 30th.  So run to Walmart, pick up a pack, and drop your drawers here! 

Isn't that the cutest donation box you have ever seen? I'm getting excited for the kids to see it get filled up. 

Non locals (and local people who like an easy button) are invited to have underwear shipped directly here via Amazon. 

Are you a high school graduate?  You can pay it forward! 10 bucks buys a 12 pack of underwear.  Help my girls help other girls.

Side note, I really love the conversations and openness this has already sparked between the girls and I. Reese confidently and comfortably explained the project to Aaron yesterday. Serving other girls is creating a lovely transition into young womanhood for my daughters. It's beautiful for them to learn that they do not have to resent or renounce femininity to become  empowered young women. 

Corbin turns 7: Birthday Interview

My friend has a fun tradition of interviewing her kids on their birthdays. I loved the idea so much I thought I'd try it out with my own children. It will be fun to have a time capsule of their thoughts at each age. 

Corbin Mac Willardson: Age 7

Favorite colors: yellow and orange 

Favorite sport to watch: basketball

Favorite sport to play: soccer and basketball 

Favorite clothes: Star Wars pjs 

Favorite book: Star Wars 

Favorite foods: pizza, watermelon, and turkey.

Favorite Movie: Star Wars

Favorite tv show: Mario

Favorite game: Wii Lego Star Wars 

Friends: Sully, Landan, Cole, all my boy cousins, especially Tyler and Steven, and all the neighbor boys, especially Conor. Mostly just boys. 

Favorite board games: chess and checkers 

Foods Corbin does NOT like: broccoli or potatoes  

Favorite song: the hokey pokey 

Favorite place to go: high rise, bowling, movies, and sonic

Favorite restaurant: AQ chicken

When he grows up he wants to: be a police officer, go on a mission, buy a Wii and get married. 

Favorite toys: Star Wars figurines, Legos, and his light saber. 

Some good things that happened when Corbin was 6 were: learning to ride a bike, going on field trips, and meeting Santa Claus

Talents: sports and school 

Goals: learn how to drive and learn to swim all the way across Mrs JJ's pool. 

Let there be color!

If I could afford to, I'd buy like 6 more and fill that entire front flower bed with these lovely pops of colorful cotton candy. I still need to pick up a couple yards of mulch and fill everything in, but I doubt I will get around to it. Hopefully these addditions to the front yard will stay alive. They're so bright and beautiful, I sit stare at them every time I'm out on my front porch.  Happy birthday/mothers day to me.