Faith-Full

Our women's ministry had a retreat in Fayetteville this weekend at Mount Sequoia.  This is a campground that has been around for about 100 years.  It's REALLY pretty.  It's up on top of a mountain and you can see out over all of Fayetteville and the U of A campus at the edge near this cross.  This cross lights up at night and is a landmark.  I love it there! 

I'm on women's council so I got there early to set up and be ready for everyone! 

We had almost 100 women come.  They came Friday afternoon.  We had a really great dinner by a chef that used to be at a restaurant in Bentonville.  Then we had a worship service.

We were in one building and in the building next to us was some kind of fraternity initiation or something.  We saw all of these guys in suits and decided they were too old to be going to prom and too many of them for it to be a wedding.  It's right near U of A so we finally decided it was a frat plus there was some guy in a monk robe looking thing and it all looked straight out of a movie.  Their building didn't have a bathroom so the boys kept coming over to use our bathroom and I would get tickled when they came in and looked a little nervous to see a bunch of women singing and praying! 

Some of the buildings are super old but so pretty.  We had a great time.  We went to bed around midnight.  I heard some houses stayed up a lot later but I'm old and tired. ha! 

Saturday morning we had a time when you could choose from making a craft, learning some hospitality tricks or taking a trail walk.  I picked the walk and it was great but it was totally in the woods and was super muddy so it was trickier than I expected.  But we had a great time and managed to take a selfie in the woods! 

Our speaker for the weekend was Darla Baerg.  She is a GREAT speaker and was so full of laughter and wisdom.  We loved her.  I had met her the last time she came and she's so sweet! The theme of our weekend was Faith Full.  She spoke on Hebrews and living a life of faith.  

Laurie and I actually were on her podcast last year talking about friendship! 

I came home Saturday afternoon and we spent the rest of the day just hanging around the house.  

Yesterday  morning we headed to church.  As we were walking in, Harper said "my stomach hurts".  It's not that uncommon so I sent her on to children's church.  And just as I sat down in church, my phone rang and it was my friend who worked in children's church.  Harper threw up.  Bless her.  So since we were all in one car - we just ended up leaving and coming home.  She was totally fine the rest of the day.  

I had to go to a meeting for VBS in the afternoon and Hollis went to get ice cream with the GA's.  And then we were all about getting ready for a new week.  Just four weeks of school left and we are ready for it! 

Life Lately

The countdown to the end of school has begun! We have 4 weeks left. When our school has 26 days left - they assign each day a letter and do something fun each day with that letter. So we started with of course A for Arkansas day. It’s a fun way to celebrate the end of the year. Thursday was D for dance party at recess. Just little things like that!

We are having such great spring weather. We try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Everything is green and blooming! 

Tuesday we went to our last Bible study for the season.  We have been doing "Job" by Lisa Harper.  I HIGHLY recommend it.  It was SOOO good.  Especially if you have been through any kind of suffering.  Or even if you haven't.  I was in a group with women who have lost children and husbands and have had a lot of hard things.  I often felt guilty that my "hard" wasn't all that hard and maybe I shouldn't be in there or speak.  But God is always preparing us for suffering we are in or will be in and is ever present and I learned so much.  Lisa Harper is a WONDERFUL teacher. Maybe my favorite ever.

I had to take a pitcture of Will Holden and Millie Mae in the nursery.  This is Caroline's daughter if you have followed me a long time.  Aren't they cute? BRB - scheduling their wedding now! 

There is a sweet older lady named Jenny in my group and we had met at a coffee shop.  She went to the counter and came back with a sack of 3 cookies she wanted me to give to my kids.  She is always so sweet and tells me how much she loves seeing my kids on facebook.  She comments on every post I make.  She recently lost her husband and has been through a tough time and yet she is always SO joyful.  She is a real inspiration to me.  And she blessed me so much with that gesture. 

We are having the best soccer season.  I will be sad for it to end.  Hollis is on such a good time and she has really improved.  

My parents came yesterday to see Will Holden and bring him birthday presents.  They took us to lunch and then stuck around to see the girls after school.  My dad just had shoulder surgery so he's in that sling and can't drive and is in a lot of pain but he isn't letting him hold him back.  His sling does have a handy phone pocket so there is that.  ha! He has to wear it 24/7.  

Harper has declared she wants to be a teacher.  She's just SO good with little kids.  We have some new neighbor boys who WH is obsessed with.  He wants to play outside with them every single chance he gets.  He sobbed when I made him come inside last night.  Harper had one of them yesterday in the drive way and was teaching him to read. ha! She's so kind and patient.  

If you have any teachers you need to buy end of the year gifts for or teacher appreciation - Life and Laundry has the CUTEST teacher shirts.  And you can get 30% off with the code MRSKELLYSTAMPS which makes them around $15! It's a perfect gift! 

Happy Birthday Will Holden

My baby boy is FOUR !!!! He always says he “wants to get big like a brother”. Which I tell him he IS a brother but I think he is thinking of his sisters who are big. He has to start every morning with chocolate milk and snuggles with mom. He’s never met a stranger. He makes everyone we see his friend. I get tickled at how kids everywhere yell “WILL HOLDEN” in their little voices at him. He dances all over the aisles of Walmart while I try to shop. He’s obsessed with robots. He loves going to school or church or anywhere he can be around people. He adores his sisters and one of them sleeps with him every night. He is full of energy and NEVER stops talking. I can’t imagine life without him. Well I imagine it might be a lot easier but it wouldn’t be near as much fun. I love you Will Holden - you are my best boy forever.

He had a great birthday yesterday.  He went to school and was excited to go despite his face here! 

I always think back to the day the kids were born on their birthdays.  Will Holden's birth day was one of the best of my life.  I love this first picture of my three babies all together.  What gifts they are to me! 

Will Holden got to go on his very first field trip today.  They walked downtown and had ice cream cones.  They wore tie dyed shirts they made recently.  

Will Holden wanted a chocolate cake.  He wasn't having a big party this year - just our family so I picked up one up walmart.  I should have had them personalize it but I thought maybe I could just do it.  The candles on the cake were already there.  I know.  I know.  I'm probably not going into cake decorating any time soon.  But he loved the cake so I guess that's all that matters.  

Will Holden wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday.  Instead of a party this year - we decided to just go as a family.  The girls may have had as much fun as he did.  He also wanted to eat pizza but I didn't want CEC pizza so we went to a different place beforehand.  

I actually really like CEC.  Especially on a week night.  It  wasn't busy and they have a great deal now - instead of tokens or cards that you get a set amount of games - you can buy cards for a time frame.  We bought 2 cards that each had 45 min on them and we shared them.  We could do all the games we wanted and 45 minutes was PLENTY of time.  

Will Holden had the best time! He was a happy boy! 

Our cards ran out literally the minute Chuck E came out.  Will Holden danced with him and then we cashed in our tickets for those high dollar prizes! ha! 

We came home and he opened his presents.  He was thrilled with what he got! 

And then he ate his fancy cake. He told me "I've had a good day".   

When he was born I was a little nervous about going through baby and toddler days again.  Those are not my favorite years.  I kept thinking "if I can just get him to four.........".  I feel like 4 is a game changing year.  And he really has reached a good place.  And it really did come quickly.  He's a sweet, loving little boy and I'm so glad he's mine! 

What I shop for the girls

I always get a lot of questions about where I shop for the girls - especially Harper.  She wears a bigger size but is only 10 so finding age appropriate clothes that are cute and stylish and not crop tops can be tough.  So I thought I would share some places that I have found that work out great for us - especially if you have a tween girl or girl that needs bigger sizes.

One of my newest favorites is Hayden Girls.  They have REALLY cute clothes from about size 6-14. They tend to run a little on the small side so keep that in mind.  They often have sales and are fairly reasonably priced.  

One of my favorite places to shop for myself is Zara.  And they have really great clothes for girls sizes 5-14.  (and younger and also boys).  I have found they run TTS and we have had a lot of luck with their line! 

I love Dillards for girls 6-14.  My two favorite Brands are GB and Chelsea and Violet.  I think Chelsea & Violet is adorable but it runs small.  

The Crown & Ivy brand at Belk is super cute.  It has a Lily Pulitzer/J Crew vibe and runs on sale a lot.  It's for sizes 7-16.  And seems to run TTS.  

Roolee has cute clothes for women but also for girls! I haven't ordered anything from them but I love the styles! 

I love J Crew Crew Cuts.  They have cute clothes - and they are always having sales.  These shorts are $20 on sale and so cute! and they go up to size 16! 

Old Navy and Gap are always good standards too! 

I love Cat & Jack from Target! It runs TTS and they have such cute stuff! 

And who would I be if I didn't say that Walmart actually has cute kid clothes too? The new Wonder Nation brand is really great! They not only have cute clothes but also cute shoes for kids! I've been real impressed! And it's super cheap! 

Another thing we have had a lot of luck with is Stitch Fix for kids.  They send 8-10 things and there is always at least one thing that works great for us.  And the prices are pretty good! You can set the price points.  And sometimes if nothing works for Harper - something works for Hollis instead - like the jumper/romper she loved! 

These are just a few of the places that have worked for us! I also love hitting up resale shops for the kids! I hope this gives you some ideas!! 

Easter 2019

Our Easter weekend kicked off on Friday.  Our schools don't get out for Good Friday.  I guess most places do - but we don't.  Our preschool does so Will Holden was home and Scott had the day off.  Harper had the stomach virus most of last week so I kept her home on Friday just to keep her germs away.  She was totally fine thankfully.  

Hollis had a fun field trip on Friday.  They got to go to a lot of businesses downtown and hear about what they do and meet the mayor.  She loved it.  

Mean while the rest of us went to lunch and to Cabela's.  This was me at Cabela's.  I had to sit down while the others looked.  I can only look so much at hunting and fishing gear. ha! 

We picked up Hollis from school and went to see Dumbo.  I loved it.  I have heard people saying it was sad but I didn't really think it was.  I didn't cry.  It was kind of sweet sad but just well done.  

We are spoiled by the theatre with recliners - you can't get us to go to any other theaters anymore.  

Hollis always wants to be my "movie partner" and sit by me and I will always take her up on that! 

Our church had Good Friday services but we decided not to go because Will Holden would have never sat still during it and it didn't start until 7 and would have just been a disaster with him.  

Saturday was a GORGEOUS day.  It was sunny and warm.  We got out and went on a family walk.  Then we got ready and went over to our friends' house.  They always have a big dinner and Easter egg hunt the Saturday of Easter weekend.  

The kids have so much fun hunting eggs and playing with each other. 

We were missing two of our regular families this year but we had the best time! 

We had the best dinner and it was the perfect night to eat outside.  My friend Marci lives on a hill on land and it's GORGEOUS.  

And they have a heated pool so after dinner, the kids swam for hours. They had the BEST time! And we parents just sat around the pool and got to visit.  

Every Easter that I can remember has been cold and rainy but this year God just showed off! It was 82 on Sunday and Sunny and beautiful.  

We went to the early service yesterday.  And then we headed over to the Ormon house for our traditional KFC lunch.  

Happy Easter from Laurie and Frisco (Krsiten was hiding thank goodness).  

After lunch - they all lined up and played video games.  Laurie and Steve are getting new floors and new furniture this week so we were sitting on kitchen chairs.  Laurie also said we could throw down anything we wanted on the carpet but we resisted.  ha! 

We have spent every Easter lunch with the Ormons for the last 13-14 years.  It's a tradition I love.  It's so hard to believe that we once had these tiny girls on our couch.  

Back when the heads were full of big bows. 

And more bows.  

Somehow they coordinated this year.  Emily is a teenager and Will Holden is the sole boy but he runs the place.  I'm so thankful for this FRAMILY.  And I'm thankful for a risen Saviour.  

I hope you had a good Easter!