Visiting Grandma

I have forgotten to mention that Jimmy and Tom came to little Rock on Wednesday afternoon to join us. Stephen was taking Lanie, Kate, and DanMan to Grapevine, Texas on Thursday to play at Gray Wolf Lodge for a few days and Bo wanted to be there to wave bon voyage. Tom and I were going to babysit on Thursday because Lucy was out of school for Spring Break. After the trip to Build-a-Bear, it was time to visit Grandma Johnson before Jimmy and Hannah left for home. I just couldn't decide which picture to post so I will upload two.

Both ladies look so cute and happy that you can see why I had trouble choosing!

Building-a-Bear (Rabbit) for Hattie's birthday!

On Wednesday morning, Lucy, Hannah, and I hatched a plot to go to Build-a-Bear the next day to create the perfect birthday present for Hattie. Naturally, when we got there, Nannah could not control herself so EVERYONE got a new stuffed animal. (Everyone = Lucy, Hannah, and Hattie.)

Lucy installed the hearts in all three bears. Here she is pushing the pedal to blow the filling into her rabbit.

Now Hannah is filling Hattie's rabbit.

Lucy had no problem deciding on an outfit for her bunny; a Cinderella dress jumped right off the rack into her arms!

Hannah is holding Hattie's birthday bunny, Sunshine. Her shirt has a cupcake with one lit candle on it. We knew we would be creating a rabbit for Miss Hattie. Since the Easter Bunny delivered her last year, we all agreed it was the only appropriate choice! (WHEW!!! We could have been there all day. Build-a-Bear has some truly adorable toys to choose from!) P.S. After this picture was taken, we found some "glass slippers" for Cinderella to put on her little fat feet!

Pulaski Heights Elementary playground

On Wednesday, March 23, Hannah, DanMan, and I drove to Little Rock. We made connections with the Fussell girls (plus one - a friend of Lanie's, named Sophie) and Lucy. All of us went to the playground at Lanie's school. As you can see, Powder joined us too.

DanMan had girls chasing him from almost the minute we arrived until the minute we left.

It was a fun afternoon. We were sorry Maddy wasn't running and playing with us but we knew she was having even more fun that we were because she was in Hawaii. Hattie would just have been jealous of the big kids because her mean old Nannah would have made her stay in the stroller.

Hannah played hard but took a minute to pose for me.

Kate and Powder decided to take a break in a shady spot under a slide.

This entry, plus the next two, had something strange happen. All my pictures disappeared - but the text remained. When I reloaded the pictures, they were in a different order than last time. I rearranged the text but things don't flow as smoothly as they did originally. GRRR!!!

The Nolans ready for take off!

Now it is the Nolans' turn to visit our family in Hawaii! It is so funny that, no matter how we talk and talk and try to explain the wonderful sights awaiting her, Maddy just has no clue what is in store! I can't wait to hear the tales she has to tell when she returns to the Eldoplex!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Meet "the crazy haired leprechaun from central Arkansas"! (Her mother gave her that title so I am not worried about hurting anyone's feelings!)

I sent this picture to my sisters in Hawaii; here are their responses:

BARBARA: "And what mischief is she going to be up to today, I wonder?"

JANE: "Is that a darling munchkin or what? She does look like the next photo would have her getting caught with her hand in the cookie jar! Precious!"

Both sisters included Jenny in their reply and this is what she answered: "Or chewing on a banana peel... 'cause that's exactly what she did this morning. Before she brushed her hair with the hand broom and crawled around the house with a rubber ducky in her mouth... little duck body poking out. She is a mess!"

Yes, Hattie is fitting right into this family!!!

Amber checked in from Okinawa

I mentioned in my last entry that I was still concerned about our niece (to be honest, our GREAT niece) who lives with her husband, Jeremy, in Okinawa. All is well with them. She is getting into facebook and she sent me a friend invitation. I just had to copy her profile picture to share. I can't wait to show this to Lucy, who is a prolonged Cinderella stage!

Tsunami watch in Hawaii

I have talked to my dad and gotten e:mails from both of my sisters so I know my family in Hawaii is safe. I almost hate to turn on the news tonight. So many tragedies - in so many locations!


I have called my brother-in-law to check on his granddaughter and her husband, who are stationed in Okinawa. He knew no details but had been told they were safe.


I am sad to report that La Mariana Sailing Club, a restaurant that I posted two pictures of during my Hawaii travelogue entries, was destroyed by the tsunami today. I am not at all suggesting that the loss of a business compares to the loss of life we will be hearing and reading about but it does merit mention since I had just told you all about the place.

3/17/11 Just saw a news clip, forwarded by my sister, Jane, reporting that the restaurant at La Mariana Sailing Club was NOT damaged - just the marina itself! The video showed an interview with a tearful employee guiding the TV camera through the restaurant. I learned some interesting things about "artifacts" I had seen but not fully appreciated. Thank you, Jane, for sharing this good news!