~~PHOTOS from ARKANSAS~~

Just a few photos of Arkansas kids. It is a really beautiful time of year, the leaves are starting to turn colors and it's just pleasant to be outside and walking around the park or neighborhood.

~~My APRON CAME~~

My apron was here when we got home!! The lady's daughter had her best friend die and so she was late getting it sent. Poor girl, that would be hard. I really like my apron and the little teddy bear, even the bag of Moose Poop!! It was worth the wait.

~~Baptism~~

Saturday was Isaac and Sadie's Baptism Day. It was a perfect day, the sun was shining and it was warm. Shawn and Bekah had a little program planned and everything. All of their friends and co-workers were there and the kids Primary teachers and the President were there. I felt bad for Bekah, her Dad's talk didn't get there as planned. She read her Dad's talk though and it worked out well, but I could tell she misses them.

Grandpa took care of Silas for most of the program, he really was delighted that one of his grandkids would go to him. (The others will like him more when they get older I'm sure).

All in all it was a perfectly wonderful day !!!!

~~ARKANSAS TRIP~~

We made it back to Delta in one piece on Tuesday at 4 o'clock. And Delta was still here!! Talula was excited to see us and she "meowed" for an hour! I think she was cussing us for leaving, I haven't heard her meow like that before?...

We had great fun in Arkansas with the kids! Silas is growing and says a lot of words. Like "I don't know", What's that?", "Okay" , "no", Sadie was plain but I couldn't understand Isaac or Phebe. Silas is definitely the King of the house. Sadie is a young lady and still a little shy, but she can get the other two to do things her way. Isaac is a young man and very smart, still has quite the imagination and he CAN tell a story. He can enunciate and add the drama in all of the right places! Phebe is Phebe, she can make you laugh and she can make you cuss all at once! She was definitely named after the right Grandma(Jan). Very stubborn, but very soft hearted when someone it hurt or hurting. And we loved our time with them. We found out they would be in school Wednesday but only half a day on Thursday and home on Friday. So Thursday we figured we could handle taking them to McDonald's or Sonics, and it went great. So after McDonald's we ventured on to Walmart to get a couple of videos for them. Sadie and Phebe got the new Barbie video "Diamond Castle" and Isaac and Silas got "Underdog". Then I had to get wrapping paper and gift bags, it was a record trip to Walmart!! We were in and out in 25 minutes. Silas was thoroughly bored and wanted down. Of course you all know what happens when you put a 1 year old down in a store? They RUN!!! Just as fast as two short little legs can carry them, even with one shoe on and one shoe off!! Hilarious !! Friday we watched the movies and when it warmed up, the kids went outside to play in the back yard. Grandpa took Silas for a stroller ride and the girls went with them. Later we decorated a haunted house that Sadie and Phebe got at a birthday party. What a fun mess!! Have you ever decorated with BLACK frosting??? (See photos) Isaac had a very black mouth from the big spoonful I put there. Sadie had it all over her hands and was drizzling frosting on the roof. After, her and I had a black hand battle, it was fun until I tried to get her nose black and then the fun was over!! I thought she would have to get baptized with gray hands! But it finally came off with lots of soap! Oh, but what a house they made! Friday night Shawn and Rebekah came home and the kids missed them and were so glad to see them. Silas especially missed his Dad, he is a Daddy's boy. (Which means he really liked Grandpa) I think me and grandpa were just a happy to see them.!!!

~~ OUR LIFE ~~

Just a quick up-date on "US". Darwin is doing great. He took prednisone for his knee and that seem to help him so far. He found out he has osteoarthritis in his knee also....(I thought he knew that?) He is still the Membership clerk for the Ward, has been for 13 years now. I was just put in over Visiting Teaching....(Katie, give me some ideas come spring)
We spent 4 days in Reno, helping Tara & Jake. Jake is in the hospital with bladder trouble.
Tara said he is doing ok. We got home Friday night. While in Reno, Eli was sick. I got it and when we got home Darwin got it. Tara had it. Not really fun, I felt so sorry for little Eli, he had dry heaves and it sounded like it hurt. However, it did not slow him down very much!
Next week, we are flying to Arkansas !! We can't wait to see the Bills Bunch there. I can't believe how grown up Sadie looked on the blog. I just hope Silas will like us. Sadie and Isaac will be baptized while we are there. Our little family is growing up. Next will be graduation, then missions!!
BTW= We thoroughly enjoyed having Sawyer for a couple of days (at the First part of the Month)(I think). He is quite the character, and he knows how to get around the NO's. I think he had fun, he just meandered around and played. Fun times, next it's Lincoln's turn.
See you all when we get back~~