Eye Color Discrepancies Among My Children

We thought this was fun. :)

Campfire Party

After our fun trip to Arkansas, we were kind of addicted to campfires, and so we thought it would be fun to plan one for Audrey's 12th birthday. The weather was chilly and wet all day, but it made for a cozy night around the fire with 12 of her friends!

We worked hard in the days before the party, weeding the yard and bringing it back from winter conditions into pre-Spring outside-play conditions.

Her friends arrived, donned beanies and coats, and cooked their own hot dogs for dinner.

After hot dogs, it was time for s'mores. These crazy girls all liked their marshmallows blackened. They all talked about how eating burned things can give you cancer, but then proceeded to do it anyway. Eew!

We played some games waiting for the dark to settle. Thank goodness for Audrey's friend, Kaitlyn, in the pink sweatshirt; she was the campfire games expert! Once it was dark, we headed out into the neighborhood to play "Night Games," which included "Soldier" and "No Bears are Out Tonight." There was lots of squealing and a few tears by the end, but all-in-all, the Night Games were super fun!

Back around the fire for cake!

Group shot before sunset. 

Group hug after gift opening!

Silly girls.

Sportses

The boys are full-swing in Sports mode again now that baseball is back on the calendar. During the winter off-season, the boys started karate and they completely love it. They are both gold belts, and it is becoming challenging to get them both to class twice a week, but we are attempting it for now. Miles was looking particularly tough the other day, especially in his new "sparring gear."

Parker is on the Angels, and was looking particularly FREEZING after a 30 degree practice a couple of weeks ago. Kids here have to be able to play in extreme cold and extreme heat. They are tough Texans! 

Miles at his first game with the Tigers.

At Parker's first game, he played first base, his favorite position. When it was his turn at bat, he let the count go full and then hit an in-the-park home run! It was awesome and I'm sure he'll never forget that moment. Next at-bat, he did the exact same thing. This dude can play! My favorite part of both runs was watching him cross the plate. My not-very-expressive boy was completely thrilled and watching him experience that was so fun! I love baseball.

Audrey's Birthday

Our beautiful girl turned twelve yesterday, and we had a fun day to celebrate. Normally, Audrey's birthday falls during Spring Break, but this year, she had to go to school on her birthday! I offered to let her stay home, but she didn't want to miss her Art Class, which is held on even days, so she went off to school. I did bring her lunch, though, and we enjoyed it in the courtyard with  her friend since second grade, Makayla.

After post-school piano lessons, and Daddy's arrival home, we let Audrey open her gifts. She was completely surprised to get a little flip phone that has already come in quite handy now that she is twelve! It is quite rudimentary, which is great. She got a cool pocket knife, a cute owl from Bramma and Pa, a nice letter from Aunt Joojie, and a warm jacket that makes her look all grown-up. :/

After gifts, we went to Kobeya for dinner, the spot our kids always choose. We don't complain; it is delicious!

We came home for cake and lots of happy times. We love this girl!

I thought I would be more alarmed at Audrey turning twelve and joining Young Women at church and everything. However, I have been really ready to accept it all; maybe because she just seems ready, and I am loving the girl she is becoming. Also, since I have been serving in Young Women, I have come to realize that it's not that all these girls are suddenly mature and scary once they are twelve. They are dear, gentle spirits who still need lots of guidance and mothering. And that has been comforting. They are still little girls in so many ways, and I am happy that ours is sticking around for a few more years. Happy Birthday, Audrey!

Camping in the RV

We have always wanted to take an RV trip. We love road trips, and the kids love camping, so we chose a relatively short trip to try this idea out. We rented an RV from a place her ein Dallas and hit the road for Arkansas on a Wednesday afternoon.

It was fun from the minute we started. Audrey made herself comfortable at the table, which later converted into her bed. We drove to Texarkana, right on the border, the first night. Found our campsite, which I had reserved a couple of weeks earlier. We settled down, did some late night reading, and nodded off.

From my bed.

The next morning, we all snuggled in the master suite for a bit before hitting the road for Murfreesboro, AR.

We spent two nights camping on location at the Crater of Diamonds State Park. We had lots of fun and enjoyed the scenery and quiet.

Miles giving Neal "panda ears."

S'mores galore!

Breakfast and hot cocoa.

After our time at the park, we headed north a bit to the cute little town of Mt. Ida, on the shores of Lake Ouachita, in the Ouachita Mountains (the oldest mountain range in America, and the only one to run East/West, or so said the old miner guy at the crystal mine).

Pretty lakeside camping.

Parker with his crystals.

Me cooking dinner. We ate a mish-mash of campfire and "kitchen" food. It was pretty tricky cooking in there, I must admit. We woke up early the next morning and headed back home.

Miles and Bear, cruising down the road.

 

RVing was SO fun. We can't wait to do it again!

Mining

This was our second visit to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. It is a pretty, peaceful place with lots of quiet and lots of hopeful thoughts floating around. Everyone is hoping for a diamond, however small. Last time we came, thirteen people found diamonds in one day. This time, there were no more than 3 found either day. Alas, we searched anyway.

Arriving.

Looking closely at something sparkly.

A bunch of non-diamonds in Miles' hands.

After a while, Audrey just decided to dig to China.

Possibilities at the washing station.

The next day, we tried our luck at the Wegner Crystal Mine, near Mt. Ida. We were much more successful here. Crystals everywhere for the taking, no digging required! We were trucked up to the mine with a bunch of other people. This is Audrey and me and on the bumpy ride up!

 

Miles in the Rock Shop at the mine headquarters.

Washing, investigating, and sorting our best crystal finds later that night in the RV.