Our 10 year anniversary trip

David and I took a trip back to Eureka Springs for our 10 year anniversary on May 29th. We wanted to stay at the same place we stayed on our honeymoon, but were unable to locate it online. Instead, we found treehouses. It's the neatest thing. These treehouses were built in 2007 and there are only 10 of them in here so far. The owner plans to expand soon. This is the entrance gate to the treehouses. Yes, that's right...you don't have to worry about every Tom, Dick, and Harry passing through...only treehouse guests! They even have little bears carved throughout. Here's the one just as you're coming through the gate.

This is the waterfall as you're coming in.

I meant to post pictures of the outside of our treehouse first, but just realized that I didn't....soooo, I'm not re-doing it. You'll see the outside last! I can't believe that I took pictures of everything except the little kitchen. There were no separate rooms inside except the bathroom, of course. It was all open. David said it was probably about an 18 x 24 in size. Here's the jacuzzi...it was well used that weekend!! I'm not going to comment on every picture of the inside...just look and enjoy!

This is outside on our deck...of course our view consisted of trees because we were in trees!! On either end of the deck was a privacy wall...so you couldn't see people in the treehouse next to you. OK...here's the front of ours. Each treehouse has a different theme...I believe ours was the Venice!See, it's actually built on trees...how neat!! You can also see the towel hung outside on the hook by the door. That's how you let the housekeeper know that you need more towels and washcloths. The Blues Fest was taking place the weekend we were there. Lots and lots and lots of motorcycles there. These next two pictures don't even skim the surface of the number of bikers that were there. This is downtown Eureka Springs. We walked through and looked through lots of little shops there. We visited a place called Mamma Roux's twice while we were there. We ate there for lunch that Saturday and the waiter told us to come back that night to hear the blues band. We did and enjoyed every minute of it. They were AWESOME!!! We were by ourselves so we didn't have anyone to take pictures of us together...so I did it myself! We spent Sunday in Branson shopping and headed back to Eureka Springs. We had a great time and it was a much needed vacation for the both of us. We definitely plan to visit the treehouses again...we would recommend them to anyone!!

Lauren's Pre-K graduation

I know I'm late posting this so just bear with me. I still have a few more things to post. I can't believe that my baby has graduated Pre-K and will be starting Kindergarten next year :( Lauren attended Monticello Pre-K this year and this was the first year that they had a Pre-K graduation. That's why they don't have on gowns with their caps. The caps were actually taped to their little heads. Here they are on stage performing one of the songs they learned. Here she is waiting to go on stage...you can barely see the tape on the front of her cap...it's taped to her hair! :) This is one of her best friends, Chelsea. I had Chelsea's brother in my class this year. I'm hoping Lauren and Chelsea will be in the same class next year.

Ok...the cap is slowly falling off her head...hanging by the tape!!! She did so good on her songs...I was afraid she would get up there and want to come sit with us, but she didn't. She stood proud and sang her songs and did the motions...just like she was suppose to. Where does the time go? Just five years ago, I was holding this precious little baby. She's still my precious baby, but not so little any more. I still can't believe how fast time flies. Before I know it, she'll be graduating high school. If you ask her, she doesn't want to grow up either. She wants to stay little. She also doesn't want to start Kindergarten. Her reason is quite funny though...no naps and too much work! She wants to stay in Pre-K. I don't blame her...I would want to stay in Pre-K too!

Memorial Day weekend camping trip

This is not our "annual" camping trip that we take. We actually planned this one kind of at the last minute. Our neighbors go to Lake Chicot every year on Memorial Day weekend camping and invited us to go this year. Since we were so late reserving, we didn't get a spot close to them...the "good" spots. You'll see what I mean as you look at the pictures. Anyway, it rained, rained, rained, and rained some more that weekend. This picture was taken the Friday night that we got there. Of course, as you can see, it was raining and the girls were loving it. I'm not so sure about Tiger loving it, but he had no choice. The other little girl in the picture is our neighbors' granddaughter. Now when I say our neighbors, I'm also referring to the people who built the house we bought here in Monticello. Morgan and Lauren doing what they love in our camper...playing on the top bunk.

Here they are roasting marshmallows with the Selman's. Mr. Andy is helping Lauren roast hers. I'm sure it was raining here too. We just stayed pretty wet that weekend. You don't really care when you're camping if you're wet, have make-up on, hair fixed, or any of that stuff.

Mr. Andy and Lauren checking out her marshmallows. Sydney is making a smores for David.

Ok...this is what I mean when I say our camping spot was not the greatest. This is the view from our camper door. We have a brown piece of outdoor carpet that we put out for people to take their shoes off on or wipe their feet. As you can see here, it didn't matter...when you stepped on it your feet would just sink right into the mud. We had Tiger's kennel under our awning to halfway keep him dry. It rained so much, I was afraid he would float away in his kennel. We only keep him in it at night while we're camping. David and the girls are coming back from taking Tiger on his morning walk. Tiger doesn't know what to think about all the water and mud. Neither does Lauren!! I finally told David on Sunday that I was ready to pull the camper home and call it quits. It was kind of depressing with all the rain and being in a mudhole on top of it. We rode the golf cart around the campground and saw a few empty spots close to Andy and Nancy. We were able to get one of them and it was like moving to first class. No mess, no mud...much better. We moved the camper that Sunday and the rain, believe it or not, stopped. It was actually pretty the last two days we were there.

Here's Libby and Nancy making tamales. We had an assembly line going. It was actually fun!! I think we made over 100 tamales. Here's the rest of the assembly line. Sydney is tying them up!!Here's the whole tamale crew!!! Morgan even helped by separating the coffee filters for me. Clean up time! Andy and I were washing up dishes after supper!!

We had a great time camping with the Selman's this year and have already reserved spots for Memorial Day weekend next year. Only this time, we're first class baby!!! We have all 4 spots in the cull-de-sac reserved (there were two other couples with their campers too). Until next year....

Oops...

I thought I was doing good...today is actually our "10 year" anniversary...not yesterday. I got the post all ready last night with engagement and wedding pictures...saved it to my drafts and thought if I published it today that it would show today's date. Well, it didn't...lesson learned. So much for waiting. Anyway, today, May 29th, is our anniversary. Happy Anniversary David!!!

Happy 10 year Anniversary, David

Ten years ago today, I married the person who completes me. I don't know who or where I'd be without him. He has made me the happiest person in the world and has given me the two most beautiful, precious girls that I could ask for. I wish I had met him sooner than I did, but as the saying goes, "better late than never." Thank you David for making the past 10 years the happiest of my life. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you and making memories with our girls that will last forever. I love you!!!

This picture was taken about 4 months before we got married. David was trying to look "sexy" for the camera! I was 26 and he was 23. This is one of our engagement pictures taken in March of 1999. This was a picture taken at my bridal session at the Biedenharn Home in Monroe, Louisiana in April of 1999. Another bridal session picture. Mom took this one...that's why I was laughing!!This is the sign outside the church the day of our wedding. No, that's not the church behind it...you can't see it in this picture. The actual church we got married in is no longer there. They tore the building down and built a brand new one. It's gorgeous!!!
Cutting the cake...I was starving to death!!! I think that was all we did get to eat was cake because we were too busy walking around visiting with everyone and taking pictures. This is us now...10 years later! Here we are wearing our favorite colors...purple and gold!!!!!!! Here we are with our beautiful girls. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!
I love you, David and hope we have many more wonderful years together!!!

Our little Morgan...

I'm not posting pictures this time...but will soon! I just have to share this good news and am ashamed I haven't done it sooner. One week ago today, Morgan accepted Jesus as her Savior right here in our living room. Morgan has been asking lots of questions about being saved and going to Heaven for about a year now. My fear was that she was too young. She first started really inquiring about it last school year when David had already moved over here to work and me and the girls stayed in Prescott. I was just concerned because she had seen a lot of young kids being baptized at our church in Prescott and I thought maybe that's all she wanted to do...be baptized. She turned 8 in February and the questions have not let up. She's always asking about Heaven...what's it like...wanting to meet Jesus face to face and just hug him and tell him how much she loves him...not wanting to go "down there"...just so much to be going through a child's mind. Last Tuesday night (May 19th...I won't ever forget the date), we took the girls to Pizza Hut to eat (their favorite place). As soon as David and Morgan got in the truck, here comes the questions. When Lauren and I got in, he told me that she was asking more questions about being saved. I just looked at him and said, "we don't need to keep putting this off." He asked her if she wanted to go talk to our preacher and she said yes. We drove to his house, but he wasn't home...out of town for the week. So we named a couple others that she may want to talk to and David even suggested trying to call them the next night or so. She insisted she had to talk to someone that night. So as soon as we got home, he started calling around trying to get someone. Ryan called us back (AWANA commander) and was at our house in a short time. He was here for over an hour...talking to her, questioning her...David and I just sat back and listened. He told her that she could pray and ask Jesus into her heart at any time and it didn't have to be right then...but she wanted to do it "right then". It was so precious...we all bowed our heads and waited for her to pray, but never heard her say a word...she was praying quietly and I know the Lord heard every word she said. When she was finished, Ryan asked her if she would share with us what she prayed...and she did. God has been speaking to her little heart for a long time now and she knew it was time. Ryan told David and me that he was very impressed with what she knew and he said "hats off to you guys for answering all of her questions and teaching her about Jesus." I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with such a wonderful family...I could not ask for a better husband or for two more precious girls than ours. Thank you God for your many blessings.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mothers out there. I've had a great Mother's Day. David cooked our usual Sunday morning breakfast for me...cinnamon rolls...love 'em! He got me the most beautiful card...he does know how to pick them. The girls just couldn't wait to give me my gifts. Mom took them Friday to pick out something for me. Morgan picked out a Willow Tree figurine (I've started collecting them) that's an angel holding a rose. They also got me a monogrammed flag with a "C" on it to go in my flower beds with the matching Fleur De Lis flag stand. We had a wonderful church service this morning and topped it off with lunch at Ameca. Now the girls are playing and I think I may take a little nap before I start on some school work.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!