Popcicles

Aubrie: 21 months

Abbie 5 years old
Aubrie

The girls first summer popcicles

My kiddos love to eat popcicles. There is something special about sitting on our front steps and just hanging out with an icy treat. These are pictures of our first summer treat this year. It's been warm (not as warm as say in Kuwait) but it's been nice. Brie loved her popcicle and was very protective of it. Abbie tried to swipe it and that got a definitive and swift response from little sister: a boisterous "Sop" which is her version of Stop! Gotta love sibling interactions.

Marathon Pictures

Ken and Phillip waiting on Becky and "watching" the kids...oh wait, where are the kids... hmmmm...

The Crew: Aubrie, Abbie, Elaina and SuperKaden
Completion of Relay One and a very happy Simon Family

Meeting my cheering squad at a checkpoint

Off to the finish line!

Little Rock Marathon 2009

This year I ran in the LR Marathon. I did a relay which was 6.2 miles as one leg of a four man (woman) team. It was tons of fun, lots of work and I'm so glad that I did it. My friend Becky ran the first leg through downtown LR and over to the North Shore then I go to run through historic downtown LR (gov's mansion, Arkansas Baptist College, Central High, the State Capitol, the park from gang-banging in LR...you know, the interesting places in town). Becky and I had our own personal trainer to run with us...that of course was my dad. He ran Becky's leg of the relay with her and then ran with me too...and he ran crazy fast, I had to book it to keep up with him! It was a beautiful day for the race...perfect weather for running! The best part of the run was seeing my own personal cheering section and three different spots along the way. Phillip, Abbie, Aubrie, Ken, Becky, Kaden and Elaina Simon met me along the way and cheered me to the next meeting spot. It was awesome and so encouraging. I have the best friends and the sweetest family ever!

Okay, it's been a while...

Brie in her car (20 months)

Tulip in the yard...Hooray it's spring!

Abbie upside down on the swingset

My girls in the Azaleas...springtime in Arkansas

There is no excuse, I know. It's just been busy but tonight I'm up late and not really wanting to head to bed so I thought I'd do a quick update. Things are fine in the Durham household. It's been a wonderful year so far and we are enjoying our time with Phillip before he deploys for the summer. The girls are so wonderful and so much fun. These pictures are from today. It's the first time they have been out since early this past weekend because they both came down with cold...thank goodness it wasn't pneumonia again. They are clearly on the mend and doing fine. We were out looking at the few pitiful flowers in our backyard and took these pictures.

Thanksgiving in Heber Springs

Daddy & Abbie Hangin' on the couch

Cranium: the word was Rodeo, the result was hilarity (this is when I peed my pants a little)

Two of these guys are surgeons and are befuddled by this game, the other is licensed to carry a concealed weapon...be afraid, very afraid...

Pam and Wendy during CRANIUM: again, the word was rodeo

Blowing out the candles on Abbie's family party cake

Daddy taking a moment to fish

Jumping on the new trampoline

Aubrie and Fannie...making friends, sharing crackers

Daddy and Brie

Crazy Aunt Wendy

Abbie and Mommy

Run Brie Run!

The Happy Couple (almost 10 years...)

Riding on the Zip Cord

Mom and Dad are Twinkies!!

My beautiful Sisters, Niece and Daughter

Abbie, PawPaw and Back Phat (the turkey)

My little Pilgrim: Costume made at school

We love going to Heber for Thanksgiving and this year was no exception. It was so fun. Here are some memorable pictures from the weekend.

I would have to say the funniest moments of the weekend were centered around the Cranium game. It was hysterical...like pee your pants hysterical. Check out the pictures, it might make you question the sanity of the men in my life.

FUNTASTIC PARTY!

The Birthday Girl at Funtastic

Brie and Abbie

Carsyn, Brie and Abbie playing Busy Bee

Opening Presents from Mr. Ken...

It's my Cake!!

Brie, AJ, Abbie, Carsyn and Emma waiting on the cake

Good Buddies: Eric and Kaden

Our friend Hannah (or Kid Hannah as Abbie calls her...)

Magdalen and Abbie Grace

Daddy and Brie at the Party...

McKenna and Abbie team up for a crazy game of Air Hockey

Emma and Abbie

Party Crew: Elaina, Eric, McKenna, Hannah, Magdalen, Abbie Eric and Kaden

What a great time was had by all at Funtastic. Funtastic is Abbie's idea of heaven...she loves the games and the noise and the pizza. I have to admit...the pizza is actually quite great there. She has been looking forward to her party since we booked it and as a testament to her excitement, she didn't fall asleep on the way to her party. Generally, Abbie is snoozing when we get to any party, but this one she stayed awake for. All of her buddies were there and she cheered everytime someone came in the door. Once everyone arrived, we divided up the game cards and it was a free for all at Funtastic. We played until it was time for pizza then we ate till we were all uncomfortably full and followed it up with a princess ice cream cake. Abbie was thrilled to see that the princess that was front and center on the cake was her favorite: Sleeping Beauty. We opened gifts (she made out like a bandit, I tell you!) and then everyone ran off to play some more games. The only glitch of the afternoon was a couple minute period when I lost Aubrie in the busyness of the party but she was located with Ms. Tracy (praise the Lord) and all was well with the world again. Abbie ended the day by spending the night out with her cousin AJ at Pap and Nonnie's house. She had a blast! Thank you to all who made her day so very special. Enjoy the pictures! Happy Birthday Abbie Grace!

Abbie is FIVE!!!

Opening Presents

Aunt Shana helped us celebrate

The GIANT new pink pony from Nini...the name: pink glitter sparkle pony. It was exactly what she wished for.

Birthday girl with Mommy

Abbie is FIVE!!!

Oh my goodness...my baby girl is Five years old. Where did the years go? We celebrated her actual birthday by doing anything that the birthday girl wanted to do. We went to a movie (Madagasgar 2) and were the ONLY people in the theater. Brie ran around like crazy (good thing that we were the only ones there) and Abbie enjoyed it immensely. Phillip took the day off so we could spend it with her. We went to dinner at "Gagwall's" and had her favorite...cheese dip and chips with chicken strips. It was a great night. These pic's are from after dinner when we did the birthday cake and presents. ... Five years full of blessings and fun and the girl that made us a family. Wow.