Quick trips - one long planned, one completely spontaneous!

Wish these pictures had posted in reverse order!



On Saturday, after one in the afternoon, a decision was made to make a quick trip to visit Grandma. Since the females from the Junior Johnson home were missing, Bo and DanMan decided to ride along. Texts were sent to Julie, Stephen, (Jill was in Chicago), and Jenny. Turned out Julie was already in Monroe but the Fussells and the Pauls had nothing planned. Jenny's family met us at the nursing home. Grandma was so happy to have the company. Next stop was the Buffalo Grill for an early supper; the three Fussells joined us there. Then we all (six adults and five children) went to watch the Arkansas Travelers (Little Rock) play the Arkansas Naturals (Northwest Arkansas). Lucy was so excited because "The Arkansas" were going to win. We could safely assure her that her prediction would be 100% correct! There was an hour and a half weather delay before the game began but the rain was never heavy and there was plenty to see and do to keep the kids occupied. I was so grateful because the weather cooled off and it was so comfortable outdoors. (My enthusiasm for the plan initially was a tad weak because I was expecting to swelter the way we have been at DanMan's recent games!) Before the game got started, Shelli (Shelly, Shelley?) plunked himself down beside DanMan and the girls rushed in to pose.

I mentioned back in May that Hannah had been given a trip to New York City as a 16th birthday gift. Well, this is the weekend! Tanya sent this picture just before take-off. Last night, while we were being rained on at the ballfield, they were at the Majestic Theater, on Broadway, watching PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!!!!

Nannah "watches" DanMan pitch!

Found this on a friend's Facebook page. You can't tell how hot I am but you can tell how nervous I am!!!! DanMan pitched seven innings over the weekend and I watched them all just like this! (I think my eyes are closed under the hand and the sunglasses!) This is my position as he bats too! I can promise you, I did not have a nice, shady spot like this for all five games! I did, however, have my birthday present from Julie, a chair with an attached umbrella!

Two sides of DanMan!

Tom came running to get me so I could catch a picture of this sweet scene! As you can well imagine, this librarian's heart almost overflowed! I think I have posted pictures in the past of Hannah and/or DanMan reading HENRY AND MUDGE books to Lucy before Hattie was even born. Not sure which title this was but Henry and his big dog, Mudge, are still favorites!

Most of our Memorial Day weekend was spent at the the ball park. The Power Cats, with 8 of the 10 players shown above, made it to the semi-finals of the Wally Hall tournament held in Bryant, Arkansas. DanMan, the player with the bat, played well. He pitched more than his grandmother was comfortable with - but, when he isn't pitching, he is catching; I don't like that either, when the temperatures are soaring! The gear is HOT and HEAVY! The team really played some BASEBALL - like the big boys do, over the weekend! It is kind of sad in a way to have them be so grown and capable but I am proud of every one of them. They are all nice young men, who are turning into good ball players!

Maddy graduates from kindergarten!

Miss Madeline Rose Nolan graduated from Hugh Goodwin Elementary's kindergarten on Friday, May 27, 2011! Here she is with her proud parents after the ceremony. (Her proud grandmother took the picture!)

Happy 16th birthday, Hannah, and Lucy as Annie

Yesterday was a BIG day! My precious Hannah Banana turned 16 and my precious Lucy was in her very first dance recital!





Lucy's class danced to TOMORROW from ANNIE. She did an excellent job - no stage fright at Robinson Auditorium! Both Jenny and I cried a good bit as she was finishing. Jenny is my dancer. I am not being biased one bit when I say that she is very talented. Dancing was such a large part of her childhood and youth; she even managed to take a dance class while she was in medical school. To have her little girl begin dance, and so obviously enjoy it, has made my Peach very happy! Lucy's dance was the second one in the recital and we all thought she would be ready to bail as soon as she finished; not so, she sat mesmerized watching number after number, when she was through. We grown-ups had to say it was time to leave. I took this picture on my phone on the way out of the auditorium. I decided this is what Grace Kelly would have looked like if she had modeled an ANNIE costume as a child.

I don't have any pictures from Hannah's birthday but I need to tell about her huge surprise present! Tanya got the idea a few weeks ago to take Hannah to New York City to a Broadway play as a 16th birthday gift. First choice of a play would be Phantom of the Opera because Hannah absolutely loves that musical! Well, things have fallen into place and the two girls will head out on June 11. Hannah knew nothing of the plan until after ten last night. I still don't have all the details of the delivery of the news but I understand it was very exciting.

Terrible weather in the South

All of us have been blessed to escape the dangerous storms hitting the South in recent weeks. Our families in Little Rock spent a large portion of a two week period hidden in their shelters. Here we see the Pauls staying safe in their tiny powder room.

Kate Kate wins gold at the Special Olympics!

I am so frustrated!!! I posted this picture and the information about it yesterday and it has disappeared!!!! I know I won't be able to word it as well today. What is up with Blogspot?!


Here is my precious Kate Kate with the gold medal she won in the Special Olympics. Look at that proud, happy girl! I am not positive which even she won but I know it was a dash of some sort. She also took the silver in the long jump. She was so cute demonstrating her form for us last week, explaining how she used her arms.