Wordless Wednesday

This picture is too precious not to share...Arden snuggled up with her Uncle Doug last week while we were at his house.  She was as happy as she could be and her hand on his leg really makes me giggle.  I think he was loving every minute of this and I was too :).

What at Weekend!

Who says January is a boring month?  Well, actually I do...the whole post-holiday let down really puts a damper on me.  It just seems that everyone dreads going back to work and back to the routine and I, admittedly, am one of them...but this weekend was a blast!  We had lots of good quality, family time with just the right mix of relaxation and entertainment.  It all started Friday night with dinner at La Huerta with the Oliver's and Hillis's and then bowling, or as Morgan said "BOWWLLLL!!" (it was the best line of the night, super cute!).  Even the munchkin went!  Of course, she didn't bowl but for the most part she was amazed by the action.  The kids were really good and we all survived one whole game...Kevin even won out of the adult group :)!

Attempt #1 at a group shot of Morgan, Arden (running off!) and Leah Kate

Attempt #2 at a group shot...this time we lost Morgan too!  Too much going on for a picture!

LK was SO pumped to bowl!

What is this place?

Arden: "This is like my Elmo ball, I will just pick it up and throw it like I do at home!"

Morgan and LK watching the other bowlers.  I am pretty sure Morgan was saying "BOWWLLLLL!"

Michelle and LK...go girls!

Nice form Kevin!!

William: "Why won't they let me bowl?"

In the end, the vending machine was as exciting as bowling!

On Saturday we all slept in...and I mean SLEPT IN.  Kevin and I went to Arden's room at 11:00 to wake her up!  She had already started stirring but hadn't been for too long.  On the weekends we rely on her waking us up but the past two Saturdays she has slept in until 10 or 11 and to be honest Kevin and I have too!  It hasn't bothered us one bit.  So essentially she is taking her morning nap before she even wakes up to eat breakfast!  Once she was up and fed we all got dressed and headed to the Razorback basketball game.  This was her first Razorback sporting event.  She had become quite the tailgater before football games but we had never been brave enough to actually take her into the game...plus her dad is a passionate fan (as I like to say) so it is really better for all of us if she hangs at the house!  Anywho, we made it to the basketball game with about 10 minutes to go in the first half.  Yes, we were late but remember we slept in so we weren't complaining, plus we knew she wouldn't last an entire game anyways.  We didn't have tickets but it was our lucky day, some nice person had left two outside near one of the entrances for someone to use (once we were inside we were surprised they hadn't sold, the crowd was way better than we expected).  After buying our third ticket we went inside and assumed we could sit anywhere but as I said the crowd was better than expected so we went to the section on our tickets.  We quickly noticed that the rows were all numbered and our tickets said Row A...hmmmm?  Kevin asked the usher and she said "those are the best seats, they are on the floor!"  Kevin and I looked at each other surprised and I think for a minute we both thought "let's try it" but then we came to our senses and laughed that we got the tickets free but took 3 seats on the back row at the end of the row.  This turned out to be a good thing.  Arden was pretty entertained but I could tell by the time we set down we were already testing her limits and a nap was  in her near future (even though she had only been up a few hours, yes, she is my child!).  Her interest lasted only a little while and then it was up to us to keep her entertained and prevent any melt downs.  After a few walks and bribing with food throughout the game I took her for a diaper change with about 5 minutes to go and that was the end.  She lost it.  I managed to get her diaper changed (all while apologizing to her for having to lay her on one of those things in the bathroom, yuck) but as soon as Kevin saw us he offered to go (what a great hubby/dad...really how many guys would do that?!).  I tried to put up a debate but knew I shouldn't.  We packed up and made it to the car to hear the final few minutes and get out of the area before the crowd let out and traffic got crazy.  She fell asleep as soon as we were in the car!

Arden and Kevin when we got to the game...this was when she was interested and too busy to take a picture ;)

This is so exciting...GO HOGS!

Checking the view from her own seat, she was so proud!

Arden sitting in Kevin's lap during the game...the baby doll only bought us a short amount of time!

Arden Post-Game

Saturday night ended with all of us in our pajama's vegging around the house.  Arden has learned that she can watch Backyardigans in our room while sitting in her chair so at one point after her bath that night she walked out of the kitchen and we followed to see what was up.  Once we caught up she was in our room, sitting in her chair pointing to the TV...how could we tell her no she couldn't watch Backyardigans?!  She caught the end of a show and went to bed...and yes, slept until almost 11:00 AGAIN!

What a weekend :)

Nawlins Y'all

What a way to start the year!  Kevin and I went with my Mom, Dad, Doug and Mary Beth (the munchkin stayed with Kevin's parents...thanks Gran and Poppy!) to New Orleans for a mini-vacation and of course for the Razorback football game.  Arkansas played Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl and despite the outcome of the game...Kevin still wakes up every morning saying "we should have won that game" AND he watched the game again (of course he recorded it) once we were back in town, I couldn't put myself through it again but he said he feels much better after watching and it seeing that we really "overmatched" them ;)... anyways, as I was saying, despite the outcome of the game it was a GREAT time!  I think we are all still feeling the affects of lack of sleep and over-eating but we aren't complaining because we wish we were still there doing it all over again!  We have already said that we will definitely go back next year if our Hogs get another trip to the Crescent City...CAN'T WAIT!

These people amaze me at how still they can be but I think I am more amazed at how perfectly painted up they are!

Kevin and I with Jackson Square in the background

Dad and Mom - great picture!

Kevin and Doug Day 2 - they had never been to New Orleans!!

Waiting to eat at The Camilla Grill in the Garden District.  This was an old school restaurant with barstools and low counters only for seating and the waiters/cooks were pure entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment this was Doug, Kevin and Dad's waiter Marvin...he kept the place loud and laughing!

New Orleans street band...they were GOOD!

Day 3 Game Day - I think the flash was a little bright for him that morning but Doug was never without his game face!

We walked through a cigar shop and watched them hand roll cigars

This little man was a regular at the cigar shop (I didn't ask, I could just tell) but he saw me taking pictures and wanted his taken (again I didn't ask I could just tell with his hand signals)!  We later saw him on Bourbon with his cigar of course :).
 (I was just relieved to know he left the cigar shop every now and then!)

Game Day!!

Sweet MB and I...my brother roaming in the background

Basically in NO you just have to dress up and let people take their picture with you and you can make money.  That is what this lady did, she teaches "cultural New Orleans dances" but I am not sure why she was dressed up like this!

Kevin was so impressed he actually tipped her so he could have his picture made with her!

Mom and I on Game Day

Mom, Dad and I on game day waiting to eat lunch

Football toss for Taco Bell taco hats.  Think Kevin was excited to play?

I took a turn too!  We gave the hats to Derrick and Kristin's twin boys Jackson and Clark for souvenirs.  

Going into the game...GO HOGS!

ESPN stage (it was below us!)...I was impressed with how much they actually watched the game, I figured they had people write their notes for them!

Here come the HOGS!

Wooooooooo PIG SOOIE!

2010

I have always loved looking at magazines that have a "year-in-pictures" or even a major event that the news has covered with a recap of pictures from the scene so I thought it would be a good way to show our 2010 year.  I am definitely NOT the professional photographer that major news networks have on staff but I think you will get the idea :)

Kevin's knee surgery #2 - January 2010

Liberty Bowl - Arden's first bowl game!  Thankfully we won (in 2OT)...

Arden's first day of day care - 1.13.10

Arden's first Valentine's Day - how could anyone turn her down on Valentine's?!

Snow Days!  Arden's first Christmas was a white one and then in March we got another big snow!

Arden's first Easter!  We went to church and then lunch at the Country Club.  Arden sat on the bunny's lap but she only wanted to eat his costume so we don't have any good pics.  There was also a petting zoo so I picked up a baby duck for her to see and she tried to grab it like it was a toy so we had to put the little duck back with his friends.  This family pic is the best we have, it was super windy that day!

Arden and the Razorback (Ribby maybe?) at a baseball game

Arden's baptism - this may be my all time favorite picture of her (thanks Jessica Ritchie!)

Arden's baptism - 4.25.10

Kevin and I got to spend one night in NYC when we were checking out living in NJ.

First Mother's Day!

This is the night we found out Carter and Alicia were having a GIRL!  We had to eat cupcakes to get to the center and see what color icing was inside to know boy or girl.  I cheated and tore open the cupcake while everyone else actually took a bite or two, I couldn't wait to know!  This was 5.14.10, Ellison was born 10.13.10 :)

5.21.10 - our 5th wedding anniversary. Kevin and I had a date night at Theo's!

Arden's first boat ride in Hot Springs.  She was NOT a fan this trip but grew to like it!

7.11.10 - Moon Lake.  We went to visit our Mississippi friends at their lake house on Moon Lake.  Arden got to meet her "Ole Miss" boyfriend, they were pretty smitten with each other!

Arden's first tailgate!  Go Hogs!

10.2210 Arden's 1st Birthday!  It was a great day.  I took off of work to hang with her on her big day and we had a little get together that night.  She could have cared less about the cupcake!

10.31.10 Arden's 1st Halloween - wasn't she a great duck?  Maybe this is my all time favorite picture of her?  (I think I have already said that!)

Thanksgiving 2010.  This was Arden at the end of a long day, still smiling!  (see full post here)

Christmas 2010.  These pics were just the beginning of a fun holiday.  (see full post here)

As you can see, we had a big and blessed year.  We wish you and your family all the best in 2011!