Catching up on pictures

Here are some random pictures taken throughout the end of February and today. Today after school, I took Hadley to get her hair cut. Although her hair was getting quite long, she would not let me put it up. So it was looking a little straggly.
So we got it cut short today. It already seems thicker. Take a look. I also think it makes her look a little older, not exactly what I was going for.



Here are some pictures from Valentine's Day. Actually they were taken a few days after. We were gone to Auburn the week of V-day, so she missed her school party. The next Tuesday she had a cubbie full of special treats, including this Texas-size sucker.

I ordered her a new bathing suit online. It arrived just before she took her bath. Once she got out, she wanted to try it on. We are ready for the beach/pool.

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!

Well, today is mine and Brent's 9th Anniversary. So I thought I would take a little walk down memory lane. Brent & I met while we were in college. He was a silly baseball player and I was a sweet little Phi Mu girl. Back then,I thought he was a bit of an arrogant horse's behind, so I was certainly not interested. Plus he dated two of my best friends. Then during the spring semester of his senior year (my junior), we had two classes together, Anthropology 101 and the History of American Economics. It was then that I began to get to know Brent. We worked on this big class project together as we were preparing for a debate in our Economics course. Brent sat in the corner and seemed to be paying no attention to our team's conversation, yet he had volunteered to be our main debater. Oh man, this guy is going to really mess up my grade in this class! When it was his turn to take the floor, I was dumbfounded. He was prepared, articulate, and delivered a very intelligent defense. Who was this guy? Okay, so maybe I needed to get to know this guy just a little better. He seemed to have more depth than I had previously given him credit. After that we did talk, hang out, study together and I began to have a real respect for him. Then he graduated and went off to law school. He was a sharp guy and I knew he would succeed. It was nice getting to know him.

Fast forward 5 months- I heard from a friend's little sister that he was dropping out of law school. What?!@ For some random reason, and so unlike me, I just looked up his number and called him to see if this was true. So this is how and when our story started. We would just talk on the phone, nothing romantic, just like old friends. Later he did leave law school, moved back to Batesville, and we started dating. Within months, I knew he was "the one". We were sitting at US Pizza in Newport and I remember looking across the table and thinking, "I'm going to be sitting across the table having dinner with him. . . as long as we both shall live."

In September of 1999 he proposed and we set the date for March 4, 2000. Over the last 9 years we have grown sooo much. I know we were happy and in love when we got married, but that love and happiness has just continued to grow and mature. Look at those two silly kids! They had no idea where God would take them and how He would use them.
Dr. Brent Williams, really? Fayetteville; Fort Worth, Texas; Auburn, Alabama; what? It has been a fun and exciting journey and I'm proud that I'm living it with my best friend, Brent.

Mini-trip to Grapevine

Each year, Brent attends a retail conference. The past few years it has been in Orlando. This year it was just up the road at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine. We have stayed at the Gaylord resorts in Orlando & Nashville, so I was curious to see their take on Texas. As I suspected, it was gorgeous. Here are some pictures from our little visit.

The Alamo area with Belltower

Aturium area

Hadley, Brent, & a Texas Longhorn

Hadley & Daddy on the Riverwalk.

Me & Hadley by the Riverwalk Cafe

Daddy & Hadley (just a little fuzzy)

Hadley infront of a large train town. She wanted to smile, but she was a little busy watching the trains.

Humpty Dumpty

Here is Hadley with her version of Humpty Dumpty. It's a little different than the one you may remember.

War Eagle

As many of you may know, we will be moving to Auburn, AL over the summer. Brent has accepted a position at Auburn University. He will start teaching summer session II. I have never been to Auburn, but we are headed to "Sweet Auburn, the loveliest village of the plain" next week. Just a little tidbit, Auburn was named for this line from a poem by Oliver Goldsmith. I'm looking forward to being back in SEC country. Like Fayetteville, the entire town revolves around the university. I dread the drive east, but we are meeting Mom in Jackson, MS. This should help to break up the drive. We have several days planned with real estate tours, visiting preschools, and meeting his new colleagues. I'm really excited to see my new home town.

Visitors from Arkansas

Last Tuesday, north Arkansas was hit hard with ice. After a little arm twisting, Mom, Rhonda, and the kids came down to stay a few days with us. When they arrived, it was Rhonda's birthday. I made a strawberry cake for her. Unfortunately, she did not have any gifts to open. I had just spent $10 on shipping her gift so it would get to WR in time. Here are some pictures of her party. The band singing Happy Birthday.

The encore performance.

We had a few lessons about sharing, taking turns, etc. But all in all, the kids got along great.

Princess Hadley & Princess Taylor.

While they were in town, we visited the Stockyards. This was Jackson's first trip to Fort Worth so he had to see all of the cowboys.
There was a rodeo clown making Texas Longhorn hats. He said he could do a Razorback but it would cost $500. So we opted for the longhorns.

This picture was on Sunday morning before church. The girls looked so cute dressed up. Hadley's hair is really not that thick. I caught her in mid-jump.

While they were in town we ate and played well. Rhonda & I went down to Camp Bowie to shop. Jackson & Brent played football at TCU. One day Rhonda, Jackson, & I played tennis. Taylor went to the doctor with an ear infection. Okay so that wasn't much fun. We ate at Uncle Julio's. Way yummy! We met my mom's cousin, Frank, for lunch at Babe's. It was some of the best smoked chicken and veggies, ever! Then on Tuesday afternoon, our visitors headed north. I think they are taking the scenic route home. No big hurry, still no electricity at home.

Just some everyday stuff

Here is Brent & Hadley in the yard the other day. Tee-ball here we come! Although the summer was way hot, so far, the winter has been wonderful. It was January and 80 degrees! Granted, 2 days later is was in the 30s.

Here is a picture of Hadley's new big girl room. When we came back from Thanksgiving, we put her in a new big bed. She seems to really like it. At night, one of us will lie down with her to get her asleep. She has been really good at staying in her bed once she wakes up, even from her nap. She doesn't get out and wonder around her room or the house. She just starts yelling, "Mommy, I'm awake now!" "Come and get me." I told her that I needed to take a picture of her new bed for the blog. She suggested that she should be in bed reading for the picture.