16 months old!?!

I know we say it all the time but I REALLY don't know where the time went...Emma has hit the 16 month mark and that means just 2 more months until 18...and for Emma even more changes. Getting a photo of her with her sticker has become a game of "let me run around and put my back to you while you try to snap a photo" at the Wheeler house. Here are some of the better ones!!

Here Emma is "shaking her booty" as Daddy tries to get her to face the camera. 

And she is on the move again

Michael had drill so Emma and I were home alone with the puppies. We took advantage of the cooler mornings for some dog walking good times.

I was able to get one where they were all almost looking and smiling at the camera.

We swung in the swing with our razorback and teddy bear.

And had our first Chick-Fil-A.

 Sunday we  went to church but our teeth were really hurting so we missed most of the message

It was a passie day for sure and Brinkley looked a little cold so he got to wear Emma's woobie.

Later on there was more swinging and Brinkley was looking particularly regal! 

 Sunday dog walking with shades and a knee pop. :-)

And then off to school on Monday morning

This was a short week for Emma at school because grandmother was coming for a visit all the way from Alabama...more on that soon to come.

Be blessed!
Jill

Bible studies and family fellowship

This month my good friend Elizabeth Smith and I started the summer Siesta Bible study though Living Proof Ministry. This summer Beth Moore is walking us through Kelly Minters Nehemiah A heart that can be broken and from the introduction I could tell this study was going to be a blessing to me.   We were able to meet and talk on my first day of vacation and even though it was warm out we sat outside at Stonemill bread and had a wonderful time of fellowship. It has been far too long since I have been in a Bible study and it seems only right that Elizabeth and I participate in this one together since we both went through our 1st Beth Moore study together! Through the magic of Facebook here is a picture that I really do cherish

My first all girl adult bible study!! 

The photos below were from my last one! (and again with the fuzzy photos) And it really has been far too long!

Me and Elizabeth 

Me, Jamie, Rachael, Alicia. Tiffany, Elizabeth and Crystal! I really miss seeing all of these girls on a daily basis!

Who doesn't love butter on their bread.

 

I didn't know how much I missed this time with my friends in the word until I got back in it! Thank you God, for bringing Elizabeth into my life all those years ago and for keeping us close!

That same week I was able to take some time off of work to go visit my Mom and my MeMe and PapPaw at their condo in Hot Springs. Michael and Dad both had to work so they stayed at their respective homes and watched the dogs and Emma. We had so much fun together and had to get a couple of 3 Generation photos! This is a must any time we are together and now that Emma is here we actually have 4!!

MeMe got us all the same dress this spring and this was the first time we could all wear it together. ;-)

Thank you to PapPaw for taking sooooo many photos to get these two were we all looked good. 

I arrived on Tuesday afternoon and ate some watermelon and then went off to get a massage and a pedicure. It was nice to know that I could relax and not worry about having to be anywhere for a little while. Mom was working since it was the 3rd of the month and any one in the banking business knows that that is one busy day! Once we were all settled in we loaded up and headed out to one of their favorite places J & S Italian Villa Dinner was lovely and we laughed at each other. Mostly me laughing at the fact that when I am around my family I have to play a translator. PapPaw can't hear what MeMe and Mom say, Mom didn't understand PapPaw and MeMe repeats what Mom said to PapPaw. :-D   After a lovely dinner we decided to take in a show. And what show would be appropriate for all in attendance...

Well let me just tell you it was not Magic Mike

Lucky for us when we got there the place was packed and the four of us had to split up. PapPaw had no idea what the movie was about and remember my comment about hearing...well the sound was terrible and so what little jokes there were were entirely lost on PapPaw since he couldn't hear them so basically he was just watching male strippers and bad acting for over an hour and a half! This of course caused us to laugh hysterically when Mom and I saw his face once we exited the theater!! We decided that the next day they could choose their own movie!! 

On the fourth we were able to sleep in until 8!! It was glorious!!! Then after breakfast Mom PapPaw and I went for a little boat ride on Lake Hamilton. 

We road around for almost three hours and even made it to the damn. Again knowing that my little girl was being lovingly taken care of by her daddy allowed me to relax and enjoy the view.

We got home to find MeMe ready for lunch so we changed cloths quickly and came out with everyone in black and white!

Lunch at fisherman's wharf was delish and it reminds me just how much I love to eat fish...and I didn't even order the fried catfish!

After lunch we gals went to shop and I came out with three new bathing suits...but no real plans to be on the water again soon. Oh well they will keep and at least they looked good even after a big lunch. We shopped until we could shop no more and then came home...changed cloths and went out to dinner and another movie! This time Mom and I went to see Snow White and the Huntsman since we are into all things supernatural and it was a much better selection. MeMe and PapPaw left People Like Us disapoinited yet again but at least this one wasn't our fault.

With new suits I just had to go for a swim. Mom and I went to the pool and I swam around for about an hour then Mom and I walked the grounds of the condo. I really miss being able to just sit and talk with my mom. We talk daily but it's not the same on the phone somehow.

The next morning we woke and all went to breakfast at The Pancake Shop One of my very favorite places to eat. If I had my way I think I could eat breakfast three meals a day. We made it back to the condo and Mom and I hit the road back to our respective homes by 10. It was so nice to get away but as always its even better to be home!!

On Friday I kept Emma home with me for some Mommy bonding time and we decided to hit up the splash park yet again! This time with our good buddy Elle and her mom Whitney. We topped of a great day of playing in the sun with some Flying Fish and yes I am wearing my bathing suite and cover up at a restaurant right at the top of the lunch rush! Turns out Emma is a fan of catfish!

 Later that night we went to walk the dogs and pick some blackberries...yep you guessed it...Emma is also a fan of blackberries!

It was a perfect end to the week capped off by a great Sunday service at First Church in Springdale with a little time for a photo shoot on our way out!

This is her "I'm really proud of myself" look!

Well that wraps up another week! See you again soon.

Be blessed,
Jill

July is all about water!

We started out July with water, water and more water!! :-) We looked at an old link that told us the Bentonville Splash Pad didn't open until after lunch so we went down to play in a little creek down from our house. It was actually just what my puppies wanted since this meant they got to come and play in the cool creek water! We started off with a cute diaper cover but quickly realized that wasn't going to work so we switched to just our little swimmer and our cute headband. :-)

 

 

Strike a pose

  One of my favorites! Michael would do anything for this little girl!!

I promise the pups were there too, they just were not as photogenic on this trip. We went home to have our first happy meal. :-)

The picture is blurry but apple juice and french fries were a hit...Emma could care less about her cheese burger.

After nap we loaded up and went up to the splash pad and it was great!!! 

 Looks like someone found a bedit. ;-)

We even had time to visit the large snails to give them a kiss.

Great way to start my week of vacation time. :-)

Be blessed,

Jill

June has come and gone.

Well June has come and gone and for most of the month this was my life -

Hundreds of students and their families came to campus for new student orientation!! There were 16 sessions and out of those 4 weeks I gained 342 new honors students for Fulbright Honors Program! Now we do still have 2 more sessions in August so that number could be even larger before the summer is over!

This proved to be very draining on my physically but we were still able to have a great time as a family! Here are the photo highlights from the month.

With the summer in full swing we did everything we could to stay cool. Michael even made Emma her very own popsicles

We played in the pool...well it was the dogs pool but Emma took it over...along with Brinkley's favorite ball

I moved Emma's outside play area onto our deck where there is a fan and shade and she loved it!

 Enjoying some chair time

And other than looking for birds, Emma's favorite past time is looking for bugs!!

Michael's garden really started producing 

And that meant he started canning 

Even Brinkley was feeling the heat so we got him a little trim.

Father's day was a big success. I am so happy to have both of these wonderful daddy's in my life!

Emma started painting more at home to beat the heat.

We had some pizza and cheered on the Hogs for their win over Kent State

Had some Sunday photo shoots after church in our pretty dress.

And even found time for a play date with Sara Kate and Landry.

Where Emma would only play in the mud puddle

And swing in SK's swing...which we later went out and got one for Emma as a result!

 

That pretty much wraps up the month of June. It really flew by!!

Be blessed, 

Jill