Time Gets Away

...time flying because we are having fun!  It seems like we haven't blinked and somehow summer is over.  Our last blog was Memorial Day so the next cool thing we did was Kate's recital.  She had been sick with strep for several weeks prior, but got really bad leading up to it.  She even missed the last practice.  Kate was up most of the night before coughing.

If you know Kate, however, you know that she was not about to miss the recital.  She went. She danced.  She was awesome.  She marched her sick little tooty on to the stage for 4 dances and was amazing.

 Jude brought sister yellow roses...her favorite.  After all, she's a Texan.

Like always, Ginny and Pop were there to watch.

Memorial Day

...a family tradition.

Memorial Day in Arkansas.  Decoration is a term I wasn't familiar with until I married Amanda.  Well, at least not as they use it.  Decoration is more like a family reunion at the cemetery.  A family reunion with both those present and those no longer with us.  A day to remember where you came from, who you came from, and ultimately where you're going.  Its about teaching the next generation how to respect the dead by decorating their tombstones, and maybe telling a couple of good stories about them in the process.  

For our kids it's about Uncle Bud and Aunt Mary, the cabin, and running among the trees.  Its about the river.  Learning that youens is a real word.  And smores.  Lots of smores.

Just cause you didn't know em, doesn't mean we can't be thankful for them.  

Steve and I have both become a part of Arkansas...even if it wasn't in our blood to begin with.

You never know who you'll run into at Decoration, but chances are, you're probably related to them.  Above is Doc Blair, who may or may not be related to Wyatt Earp.  He is however a vet and therefore a legend in Kate's eyes.  Being a vet is still the only thing she wants to do.  Well, a trick-riding cowgirl vet who can dance.  True story.  And yes, we are related to Doc Blair...somewhere along the Rose side if my memory serves.

Like I said, you're probably related to everyone in some way.  Below is Kate and Jude's cousin Dutch.  The circle of life story here is that Amanda and Dutch's mom used to play in the same cemetery while they waited for the grown ups to finish talking too.  

Once Decoration and lunch is over, it's finally river time!  Kate and Jude are one with the Buffalo River.

When in the river, I guess you just have to get your Guns Up sometimes.  Both kids.  Separate pictures.  Unrehearsed.  Lubbock is still in the blood.

I'm sure his wasn't the only naked body in the river that weekend.

Spending time with Uncle Bud and Aunt Mary is also on the kids favorite things about Arkansas.  It's probably their favorite part, and Jude is still asking to "go Bud's house?  Pease?"  By the way, that was Kate and Uncle Bud driving that tractor.

They've got some mowing to do.

Kate and Jude could be farmer kids.  If they got to be farmers with Uncle Bud that is.

Finally...Jude's Birthday

 ...taking WAY TOO LONG to post about Jude's birthday.  It was a wonderful party.  His party was a fishing party and it was a big hit.  I've never seen so many dads show up to a kids party.  I guess the allure of getting to go fishing brought them out.  However, I had to teach some of them how to cast.  Michael was pretty proud that his wife was teaching grown men how to cast a line.  It was a good moment for him.

I digress...I actually made the cupcakes and the cake.  I hadn't planned on it, but Kate overheard a mom at school talking about making all her kids cakes and played the guilt card.  I'm pretty proud of how it turned out.

 Kate decided mid-way through the party to put on dance clothes because I guess she thought she would be putting on a show.  I'm sure Bella would have joined in!

 I think he likes his cake!  Isn't he cute?

 All the little kids were waiting so patiently for their cupcakes.

 Daddy and Jude opening the first present...it was a T-ball set

 It wouldn't be a party without Ian.  We are so blessed to have the Kendrick's in our lives and are thrilled that they drove from Arkansas to be at Jude's party.

 Harper is from church.  They are buds

 Reagan is also from church...another one of his ladies

 Reagan's mom made Jude this amazing pillow.  We share it.

 Me, Michael, and mom actually made this game for the kids to play.  It was huge hit. Each kid got to take home a pole and a fish.

 It was all good until the backlash

 Way to go Jessie!  She's our neighbor.

 Whoa...the kids finally got a Jeep!

 Best buddies fishing....errrr banging their poles in the water.

 I think Jude liked the party

 A view of our friends fishing

And then he rode away with Harper by his side.

Schools Out for Summer!

 ...the last day of preschool for Kate and the last day of MDO for Jude until next year.  That means Kate is now a kindergartner.  I'm still soaking it in, but I'm not doing well with it.  We are going to miss preschool at the church, but I think she is excited for kindergarten.  She will be one of the younger ones, but I think she is ready.

 Jude is really going to miss his teachers, Miss Alma and Miss Brenda.  He really had then well trained this year.  They were such a blessing to him and us as a family.  At the beginning of the year he went in crying.  At the end of the year he walked in, put his lunch where it went, and said bye to me.  These precious women made that happen.

 Kate is also going to miss her sweet teachers, Miss Laurie and Miss Rebecca.  They were just the perfect combination for her personality, minus the OU fan part.  I'm glad we at least get to see one of them regularly at church.  Hopefully Jude will get to have them as teachers when he is in preschool.

Although I'm glad it's summer, I'm sad that school is over because these kids love school, their teachers, and their friends.  What a blessing their school has been to give them a foundation of loving to learn.