Around Jonesboro: Allen Park Community Center

So I was a bit slow about finding a park for the kids to play.  But when I finally got it together and checked out the town's website I was pleasantly surprised to see that there are a ton of parks in our area.  Seriously, I have a list of at least 10 parks that the kids & I want to try over the next few weeks.

This past Monday was windy and a bit chilly but I had told the kids we would visit a park so we headed out to Allen Park.  We stayed an hour and the kids would have stayed even longer if Shiloh hadn't needed a nap.

What I didn't take pictures of where the tennis courts and the skate park.  The skate park was awesome and even had hills and ramps to the side.  Hopefully Sammy will practice and become good enough to enjoy this part of the park.

Shiloh especially enjoyed the swings while Hannah & Sammy enjoyed the "american ninja warrior" area.

Around Jonesboro: Craighead Public Library

One of the first things the kids & I did upon arriving in Jonesboro was to find our public library.  As luck would have it, it's only 3 minutes down the road from our house.  And we were completely in love the minute we walked through the doors.

First of all, it's huge.  When you walk in you pass the check out desk and an information desk.  The adult section is right there and well lit so I don't feel like I'm walking into the abyss to find a book (like our old library where you wonder through the darkish, dusty no-mans-land to find what you want).

Then there is the  movie section.  It's like being at a movie store remember those?!  Sammy and I love wandering the aisles and picking out fun movies for rainy days.

There's a back section with public computers, comics, newspapers and an indoor bookstore.  We love the bookstore.  We recently visited and scored children's books for 5 cents each.  We got eleven books for 55 cents!

They offer fun free programs as well.  So far we've enjoyed Art-O-Rama (Hannah loved this, she learned about a different artist each week tried to replicate their work) and PiYo (I LOVED this class and was sad when it wasn't continued in the new year).  Hannah is currently learning to Knit and on Wednesday's she & Samuel are having a blast with Mad Science.  Last week they learned how to make gummy worms and they actually tasted good.

But best of all is the children's library.  It's an entire room.  The kids were amazed the minute we walked through the doors.  There are computers for the little kids to use, computers for parents & older kids to use, books galore, a train table and basically a small playground for littles.  There are fish tanks throughout entire library and one contains "Find Nemo" fish.  Amos loves this one and always looks for Dory when we visit.  The check out desk is the perfect level for kids to walk up and check out their books and every child is given a library card no matter what their age.

Just Some Random Cuteness

On February 11th, our sweet little Shy Guy became a WALKER!  He just stood up on his own and started taking steps.  It was so sweet to watch and all of the kids were so excited for him.  I felt like my heart would burst.  Time slow down.

Shiloh @ 1

Favorite food:  rice (just like his big sister)
Favorite drink:  Apple Juice

Favorite color:  let's just say navy blue & green 
Favorite movie:  who has time for movies?

Favorite tv show:  AFV - just because he laughs when someone else laughs

Favorite book:  Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Favorite song:  Jesus Loves Me

Favorite game:  Peek-a-Boo

Favorite sport:  learning to walk of course

Favorite person:  Mama

Favorite hobby:  opening the snack cabinet and pulling out all of the food

Sammy @ 8

Not to be forgotten....

 Favorite food:  mashed potatoes

Favorite drink:  Big Red

Favorite color:  blue

Favorite movie:  Goosebumps

Favorite tv show:  Teen Titans Go!

Favorite book:  Diary of a Minecraft Zombie

Favorite song:  ????  

Favorite game:  Old Testament/New Testament (from AWANA)

Favorite sport:  basketball

Favorite person:  my family

Favorite hobby:  playing with your brother

Hannah @ 10

Not to be forgotten....

Favorite food:  Rice  (some things never change!)

Favorite drink:  Root Beer

Favorite color:  Aqua (we're moving away from pink!)

Favorite movie:  maybe Tangled?  She's unsure apparently.

Favorite tv show:  AFV (she's like her Mama and loves watching people fall...)

Favorite book:  the Critter Club series

Favorite song:  Sitting, Waiting, Wishing by Jack Johnson

Favorite game:  Disney Infinity 3.0

Favorite sport:  basketball

Favorite person:  family

Favorite hobby:  drawing/painting/coloring

Birthdays

Early December Hannah, Shiloh, Amos and I went back to South Carolina for the holidays.  A week later (and after a trip to the cinema for the new Star Wars movie) Bobby & Samuel joined us.  We spent the last three weeks of 2015 with our family and friends.

Until Bobby arrived we stayed with our friends, the Morgans.  We went to AWANA at our old church and at the end of the week Holly, Melissa and I took all of the kids to Gravitopia (then we went again after Bobby & Sammy arrived!!)

 Hannah & Summer are ready for crazy hair night for AWANA.

 I was able to relax and spend a little more time cuddling this fellow.

I thought this picture was so precious.  Sammy & Amos shared a bed while we were home and they would snuggle so close to each other!

And we celebrated three birthdays with one big party.

Shiloh turned one on Christmas Eve so we had a quiet supper with my parents and he devoured cupcake after cupcake.  Then on New Years Day we had a real party.  New Years Day Hannah Banana turned ten years old.  And since Sammy would be turning eight just a few weeks later we went ahead and included him in the celebration.  Bobby & I knew that the kids would much rather have a party with their friends from home since they've not really had time to make a lot of new friends.

Our empty house was full to overflowing with family, friends and kids galore.  It was so much fun!  When the kids opened their presents I realized there was no way to keep track of who received what, much less who it came from!  Guests also felt that Amos shouldn't be forgotten and brought gifts for him as well (though no one seems to remember that he had a big party to himself back in July!)

I didn't do a theme or food this time.  We kept it simple with cake and ice cream.  I was a little worried about getting a cute cake to suit all three kids and their interests.  We have friends who own a bakery and I asked them if they would be willing to accept the challenge of making a cake for a 10 year old girl, eight year old boy and one year old boy.  They were excited to help and the cake was awesome!!

Every year I feel excited and sad as the New Year rolls around.  I love looking forward to a new start and seeing how the Lord is going to provide for us and lead us but I hate that it also means that my children get one year older.  They really do grow too fast!  I have a ten year old and a one year old!  How is that even possible?!

Hannah loves the Vera Bradley back pack I bought her.  I love it too and may just have to borrow it from her sometime.

Just LOOK at how beautiful she is!!!!