Weekend Getaway

So this past weekend, Channing and I went to Branson for a couple of days. My parents came and stayed with Shelby. Shelby loved having Nona and Papa all to herself! We were so thankful that they came to take care of her so that we could have some time together.

We got to Branson Saturday afternoon, checked-in at our hotel, and then went to Branson Landing for the evening. We had dinner at the White River Fish Company, did some window shopping, and saw an incredible light/water/music show. On the way back to the car, we got some yummy Starbucks coffee. Sunday morning we had to go to a presentation for a time-share company. You'll be happy to know that we stood our ground and did not make a purchase, but boy are we convinced that time-shares are the way to go! Maybe someday...hopefully! We spent the afternoon shopping at Tanger Outlet. I spent my birthday money and a little more at a couple of stores. I love shopping in Branson...they have the best deals!! Sunday night we had dinner at BT Bones Steakhouse. Don't ever eat there. It was a terrible experience and I actually ended up getting sick as a result of their food. (Thankfully I didn't get sick until Monday morning and it didn't ruin our trip!) After dinner we saw The Promise, a wonderful show about the life of Jesus Christ. Our weekend getaway was just what we needed...so wonderful and relaxing. I can't wait to do something like that again!

Us at Branson Landing

Light/Water show

Her hair is really getting long!!

Playing with the Water Hose

Getting Daddy wet

Daddy's turn

Daddy said the fun with the water hose was over...time to finish washing the car!

Getting Her Sponge Soapy

Washing Daddy's Car

Shelby had a ball helping Daddy wash his car this afternoon. She loved getting her sponge wet, scrubbing the car, and using the water hose. What a fun day!

New Dresses

Thanks to a great sale, Shelby got some new dresses from my mom a while back. The weather has been unseasonably cool, and she hasn't been able to wear them until today. This one has umbrellas on the collar, quite appropriate with all the rain we've been having!

Date Night

Last night I had a movie night with some of the junior high girls at Downtown. This was the perfect opportunity for Shelby and Daddy to go on a date. Shelby was very excited, and even told Aunt Nunda about it when she called during supper. (Imagine Aunt Nunda's reaction when Shelby said, "I have to go. I have a date.")

For their date, Daddy took Shelby to Hastings and read some books together. Then they went to McDonald's where they shared an ice cream sundae.

Daddy and Shelby had a great time together!

Super cute in her jogging suit, Keds, and fancy pony tail ribbons!

Ready to go...with Kacey, of course!

Tornado Warnings

Last night around 11:00, one of Channing's buddies called to tell us to turn on the news. Good thing he called, because we were about to be under a tornado warning! We went through two rounds of warnings before it was clear around 2 a.m. The three of us took cover in the bathroom. (Well, Shelby and I did. Channing was in and out. He is fearless!) As you can see from the picture, Shelby slept right through it all.

Yikes, this is so not a flattering picture of me! Dontcha just love pictures taken in the middle of the night?!

Sidewalk Chalk

One of the fun things in Shelby's Easter basket was sidewalk chalk. We were outside drawing on the driveway twice today! Shelby had a ball! She'll really love it when she can really draw stuff!

This is so fun!

Drawing great lines!

Trying to draw Daddy

Now it's Shelby's turn!

Second Egg Hunt of 2008

Easter Basket

Coming home from church

Checking it out

How does this top work?

No Great Picture of the Dress

Sorry, but we don't have an outdoor picture of Shelby in her dress. Before church, we were running late. Afterwards, we had to come straight home because Channing had a migraine. We will take pictures and post them as soon as we can.

Dyeing Eggs

Getting started

Making a mess

This is so much fun!!

First Egg Hunt of 2008

This morning was the egg hunt at Downtown. Shelby had fun finding eggs, for a little while at least. After about five minutes, she was ready to play!

I organized the egg hunt this year. I had the fun task of filling just over 500 plastic eggs! If I do this again next year, I'm going to get some help.

Thirty and Flirty and Thriving

Today is my 30th birthday. I honestly dreaded today the whole time I was 29. My friend Jennifer has asked why it was so hard for me, and I really can't put my finger on it. Thankfully people knew how much I was dreading it and were very kind. My sister assures me that the 30s are wonderful. I'm going to take her word for it and think positive!

Shelby was fever-free today (finally) so we actually got to get out of the house and celebrate! The three of us went to lunch at The Cookie Basket. We had two offers from friends to babysit tonight while Channing and I had dinner together, but we decided to celebrate as a family at home. The main reason we did that was because we were afraid Shelby's fever might come back while we were out. It worked out great, though, and the three of us had a great time together tonight. Channing grilled hamburgers and corn on the cob. He also made a birthday cake for me; yellow cake with chocolate icing...my favorite!

Tonight Channing took care of bath-time (as usual actually) and bedtime for Shelby while I went to the library to get a couple books and then chatted on the phone with some family and good friends. He ended up going to bed at nine while I stayed up to blog, and watch 13 Going On 30, one of my favorite movies.

I am so thankful for all the sweet birthday wishes I received from friends and family. Channing and Shelby got me a Gilmore Girls season on dvd. Nunda got me the curtains you can see in a couple of the pictures below. My parents sent me a check and I think I'm going to wait a little bit until it's short-sleeve weather and buy a few new shirts. I feel so blessed to have friends and family to celebrate this day with.

Shelby chowing down on corn

My yummy birthday cake with those dreadful numbers on top

Blowing out the candles
(That reminds me...I forgot to make a wish!)

Shelby LOVED my "delicious" cake!!
(Yes, she said it was delicious!)

Five

Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. What a blessing it has been to be married to my best friend! I thank God for giving me such an incredible husband.

We aren't going to get to celebrate quite like we'd planned. Shelby came down with strep on Thursday and is still running a fever. We are going to go away just the two of us sometime next month.

A Snowy Spring Break in Tennessee

Since so many of its teachers or assistants are Harding students, Carpenter's Kids was closed this past week while Harding University was on Spring Break. Shelby and I went to Tennessee to visit my parents for a few days, and actually ended up getting stuck because of a winter storm that hit both Arkansas and Tennessee. We arrived Tuesday afternoon and planned to return to Searcy on Friday. We ended up staying an extra day though, and enjoyed playing in the snow. Unfortunately, I left my camera at home, and didn't get to take any pictures of all the fun we had.

While we were there, my mom took us to a fun new pizza place. (I can't remember the name of it though.) Not only do they have pizza and fun-themed dining rooms, there were a bunch of games and kiddie rides. We had a great time. Thanks, Nona, for a fun afternoon.

Shelby, Nona, and I played in the snow on Saturday morning. There was about four inches of snow in my parents' front yard! We made two snowmen and several snow angels. Shelby loved all the snow!

Snow in March

We got just enough snow to go play for a little bit. Shelby had a ball, as you can see from the pictures below!

Hooray for snow!

Don't know what gave her the idea to pose like this.
Boy, was it funny...and cute too!

Posing for the camera with her snowball

Nunda and Morgan's Visit

My sister and her son came for a visit this past weekend. John ended up having to work that weekend, and we missed having him here too. Shelby was so excited about Aunt Nunda and Morgan coming, that she couldn't go to sleep Friday night until they got here.

Saturday morning we relaxed and played a couple games of Scrabble while Morgan and Shelby watched Finding Neemo and played in the playroom. After lunch, we got ready and went to Target and the Old Mill in Little Rock. Nunda spoiled us at Target! I got new curtains for the dining room to match my new valance in the living room, Channing got a cool new belt buckle, and Shelby got fun new rain boots and a Furr Real Pets pig. Thanks, Nunda, for your generosity! Come visit anytime! :) After our shopping excursion, we drove to Georgetown and had yummy catfish at the Georgetown One Stop. We'll have to go again next time so that John can experience the goodness of Georgetown.

We sure did enjoy Nunda and Morgan's visit. We look forward to their next visit...when John can come too!

Morgan and Shelby waiting for breakfast casserole

The three of us at the Old Mill
(We should have had someone take a picture of all 5 of us!)

Cracking Shelby Up

This is what happened after Mommy talked to Shelby in one of her silly voices...