Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a shout out to all of the wonderful Mother's in our lives!! I'm glad to now be a member of such a great group of women. G Boo and B-man did a great job showering me with praises and certificates for a mani/pedi and a massage!!! I can't wait to use them!

Thanks again, to Granny, Grandpa and Kirstin for babysitting so that B-man and I could go to church this morning. It was so fulfilling to be back in church.

Have a great day ladies!!!! Love you and miss you all!

Family, A Day at the Park, and Date Night!

We've been busy here in Fayetteville this week. Granny, Grandpa (B-Man's parents) and Kirstin (our niece) arrived on Tuesday to see the newest addition to the family. Yesterday we went to a local park and the weather was just PERFECT!! G Boo has been putting on quite a show for his family. Sometimes the show is more of a comedy and sometimes, a tragedy! :)

We send out a HUGE HUGE thank you to Granny, Grandpa and Kirstin for babysitting last night so B-Man and I could go on a DATE!!!! It's been our first alone outing since G was born. We went to a local Italian restaurant that was featured in Southern Living Magazine this month. The pasta and bread was homemade and super duper delicious. We also went to Cold Stone Creamery for dessert. We can't thank you enough for our reprieve from parenting.

Here are some photos we've taken this week.

Boo at the park.

This is fun, let's come back tomorrow!

Hi Granny, I'm so happy to finally meet you!

I love my cousin Kirstin so much. She's such a fun gal.

Holding on to Grandpa's finger. Maybe my hands will be big like his one day.

For the Grand Ps!

I know Boo's grandparents are just about to have a fit that the last 3 posts I've made on this blog have not had any photos or videos of their grandson! So...here ya go! Have a great weekend!!

Aren't I the cutest thing ever???!!!!


Hey Dad, wanna play?
(look how small my onesie is...it's half way down my chest!)

I know it doesn't promote good sleeping habits, but sometimes a boy just needs to nap with his Mom, or is that the Mom needs to nap with her boy?? You decide! :)

Very intrigued by the mobile! Thanks BeBe and PawPaw!

Getting ready for the Arkansas spring football game festivities! Woo Pig Sooie!

Video: Too bad my fist isn't an icecream cone!

Cypress Campground

Where do I begin? Cypress Campground is a special place to many people in our community in South Carolina. There are just over 50 (I can never remember the exact number) wooden tents assembled in a circle fashion with a large open air tabernacle in the middle. Our home church, Cypress UMC, is also located on the property. Each October, the families who own tents, live there for a week of worship and fellowship. There is no electricity and the only running water comes from a few spigots located in various locations on the campground. It truly is a rustic experience, outhouse and all! The tents have been passed down within the families from generations before. I believe the Campground has been in operation since sometime in the 1700's as a meeting place for worship along the circuit rider's route. I believe Francis Asbury was a prominent circuit rider to this campground. The worship services are very much like a revival. There are 3 services a day under the open air tabernacle, with the evening service being most heavily attended.

The fellowship is just awesome, with families visiting with other families, kids running and playing, you can always watch a pickup football game, and the food is outstanding! It's like having a big Thanksgiving supper every night. All of the meals are cooked on a wood burning stove. It truly is just a special time of the year. Our family does not own a tent, but our friends and neighbors have made us feel like we are in fact part of their families. We are always invited for a great time. I have been attending almost every year since our family moved to Lebanon (our community name) 21 years ago! I have not attended the last couple of years and I'm always saddened that I'm missing out on Campmeeting when that week rolls around in late October! I often call my friends and my Mom while they're there just to see what's happening.

I write all of this because early Tuesday morning there was a fire at the Campground. Five tents were destroyed, including the tent of the Hilton family, who are great friends of ours. Fire has ripped through the campground before, but it is always difficult because there is so much history and tradition wrapped up in this sacred place. Although I'm not there right now, I know what's happening back home...the community is coming together as they always do when something tragic happens, helping each other pick up the pieces and are planning to rebuild. Nothing can keep them down. That's another great thing about living in a small community...it's one big family (and in the case of Lebanon, it's really true...so many people are in fact related!). I have been truly blessed to grow up there.

Please keep these families in your prayers as they set to cleanup and rebuild.

The following photos come from the Post and Courier's website.

Mrs. Hill surveying some of the damage

Some of the tents untouched by the fire.

A family posing in front of the old Cypress UMC church a long, long time ago!

A letter to Mommy

This is what I got in the mail Friday addressed to "Mommy Faye"!! It's a sweet handwritten letter from our Lil Boo. I'm pretty sure he had some help from his Dad in the writing and mailing of it. What a sweetheart!!! The translation is below.

Mommy,

Hi! I wantting too send u a not to thanc you for all that u r doing. Because I luv yu.Yur doing grat. Mi dogs luv yu allso. My dipers ful end you change me! Today is Tusday. Daddy adoors yu too. thanc yu 1 mor time.

Love,

G

What a sweet boy and husband I have!!! This totally made my day!

Fishing Trip

Yesterday, B-Man and a friend from school, Winchester (yes, that's his name and yes, he's named after the ammunition company!) went fishing on Beaver Lake here in Northwest Arkansas. Catch of the day...striper!

B and Winchester

Two of the fish B caught. He caught 4 in all (2 ten pounds, 2 eight pounds).

Supper! B cooked up some fillets for us last night.