College Days

This past weekend, I was able to go down memory lane back to my college.  My sorority, Kappa Delta, was celebrating 50 years of being on campus at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS.  I traveled back with my college roommate back to the delta region of Mississippi.  It was fun to relive memories.  I can't believe I spent 4 years living in the delta! College was truly a great experience for me because of the great people & friendships.  I treasure all of those memories.

Entering Delta State University

Where I spent a lot of my time...the BSU

And where I lived & played & spent the rest of my time...the KD hall!

Celebrating Friday night with some of my pledge class sisters

Kappa Delta luncheon

Pledge class sisters

My roommate & I in front of our chapter room door

Go Statesmen!

Pom-poms for the girls

More KD sisters hanging out at the football game

Dinner afterwards

Two sweet freshman KD girls came up to us and asked if they could have their picture with us.  We all struck the KD pose!

Party time!

Brook's birthday theme this year was Lego Friends, which is the girl version of Lego's.  It is a new brand of Legos that has come out in the last few years.  We kept the party somewhat simple this year.  It was so sweet, fun, & full or surprises!

Our day was spent preparing for the party. We rolled out pink bubble wrap on our table to make it look like a Lego.  We had some jars of Legos & colorful M&M's on the table too, & the M&M's were the hit of the night!

We all ate pizza together at the beginning of the party.

Lego covered juice boxes

Next, she opened presents & got some more Legos! 

We played a game of guessing How Many Legos does it take to measure certain items.  The girls really liked this game!

Cake time was next.  I made a Lego cake this year.  It is hard to tell, but the candles are Lego candles. 

Singing Happy Birthday, in English & in Spanish 

Blowing out candles 

Surprise guests all the way from Bogota, Colombia!  Our friends from Bogota are in town & surprised us at the party.  It was great!

Silly, sweet friends.   Missed you Lillian! 

Lego goody bags 

After cake, the girls spent time playing in Brook's room for about an hour before parents arrived.

It was a fun party with Brook, watching her with her friends. 

Eight

Eight years ago today,  Brook was born & our world became a happier place.  I am truly overjoyed with thankfulness at celebrating this little young lady's life today.  She has been such a joy to watch grow into a beautiful, fun-spirited, intelligent, girl.  She has a zest for life & a love for others.  Brook keeps me laughing & my heart smiling.  She had a busy day.  We went to bible study, lunch with friends, she went to her drama lesson, a little time at home, dinner, & then a movie.  It was a good day. Tomorrow, back to school & then decorating for her party.  So thankful for every part of it.                                                                  

We started the day with the tradition of streamers hanging from her door 

Followed by breakfast in bed 

Isabella got her a gift with her own money this year :) 

      Pink legos are the theme this year 

Mommy & Brook

We had lunch at McAlisters with friends from bible study.  She gave her friend, Lucy, her one dollar she received this morning & her birthday cookie.  Brook is a generous, giving girl. 

Brook's dinner request

She wanted steak for her birthday dinner! 

We went to see this movie & all had fun together. Brook had requested this movie, Here Comes The Boom.  It was funny & it always good to find a family-appropriate movie. 

Enjoying her twizzlers & popcorn (she had been rationing her snack intake all day so she could enjoy her movie snacks!) 

I am so thankful for both our girls! 

I love you Brook!  Happy birthday!

Fall Camping

We joined friends for a night of fall camping in Arkansas last weekend.  This was our first time to camp without having a camper.  Avery went above & beyond to make sure I was comfortable :)

We literally slept in the bed of the truck.  The air mattress was on a platform.  It was covered by a canvas tarp & mosquito net.  The only thing I was missing was a bathroom!

Avery set up a cooking station & kept us well fed.

These girls have so much fun together!

We had a sweet new member to our camping group.  She is the newest member of some dear friends family.  We look forward to getting to know her better.  The girls loved her.

So precious.

Field Trip

Last week, I took the girls on a field trip to Parker Homestead in Harrisburg, Arkansas.  It is an old homestead representing life in the late 1800's.  It was a beautiful day to be outside & fun to go on an official field trip!

The girls listening to the blacksmith tell about his trade.

Sharing an old fashioned root beer with friends, Mia & Mallie Ottinger

Mia & Isabella sawing a log 

Brook & Mallie sawing the same log 

The old church building

Brook running to school

One room school house...very interesting 

Abacus (what I use today to teach math for Brook) 

Brook & Mallie on an old-fashioned wooden see-saw, actually, this is like what I had at my elementary school!