Clinton Presidential Library

We'd never been to a presidential library before so we were excited to visit the Clinton Library in Little Rock.  It's downtown and really easy to get there.  Parking is free and it's $7/adult to get in.  It's also right along the river so there are fun walking trails and a bridge right next to it.

Everything in the library/museum is a replica but it was neat to see all of it.  Some highlights were the presidential limo, presidential planners, letters to the white house, tables recreated from fancy dinners, gowns, gifts sent to the white house, and tons more. 

I appreciated the tribute to the presidential pets.

 Olive's first visit to a presidential library.

All Aboard!

We love eating at local restaurants and are always on the hunt for the best ones in our area.  Kevin found this train themed restaurant on-line, it had good reviews and thought the kids would love it.

We bought a train whistle to keep up with the train theme while we waited for our food.  

Eleanor enjoyed this :)

 The seating feels very train like and there are train tracks all over the ceiling.

 You order at the front counter and then the train brings your food to your table!!  It picks the food up at the kitchen and then goes around the tracks until it reaches your table.  The train dumps it off and your food comes down a little elevator to your table.  The kids (and adults) had fun watching the trains go around the restaurant and were really entertained.

The food was simple and pretty good.  I got the grilled chicken pita and fries.  They serve sandwiches and other kid friendly food (burgers, pizza, chips, etc).

Cute restaurant.

Back to School

 Today marks the first day in 26 years that I'm not going back to school.  It feels odd, unfamiliar and exciting all at the same time.  Why aren't I teaching this year??  I'm taking the year off to stay home with Olive.  She's 12 weeks old, we're living in a brand new city and we felt like this was the best set up for our family.  So I'm trading days spent with a class full of third graders for a scene very similar to this one:

I'm feeling nostalgic about not preparing a classroom and curriculum for a darling group of new kids.  I miss families and friends that I have worked with for the last 9 years and I'm missing new school supplies, smiling faces and students who are eager to learn.  I love introducing myself and my classroom to a new group of kids each year.  I'm going to miss getting to know new families and new students but I know that I will return to the classroom one day and I'll have all of those same opportunities again. 

Right now I'm enjoying the moment, paying attention to the little things and loving my new job as a mom.  I'm thankful to have this opportunity and can't imagine being anywhere else right now.  I have no doubt that Olive will be an excellent student :)  We have story time and read books each day so she is well on her way!  We are also working hard on rolling over, grabbing toys, smiling, "talking", giggling and more.  It's amazing how fast she is learning and I'm excited to be her teacher this year.

Farmer's Market

I'd read lots of good things about the Farmer's Market in downtown Little Rock so I was excited to check it out.  It's right along the river front and there are tons of local vendors to buy from.  We had a great time and really enjoyed this family friendly activity.  The Market is open on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

 We shopped for produce outside and then tried out the restaurants inside.

I saw everyone eating these yummy Le Pops popsicles so I was excited to give them a try!

 We tried peach, coconut and chocolate.

Everyone LOVED them and wanted to try more flavors.

 The boys

 The weather was perfect and we really enjoyed our outing.  Can't wait to go back SOON!

Cousins Came to Visit

Now that we live only 7 hours from our family (we used to live 25 hours away),

we are having a lot more visitors!

My brother and his family came down to see us for one weekend 

and we had so much fun!

Olive loved hanging out with 2 of her girl cousins

Addison and Eleanor.

Addison is such a good big sister and such a sweet cousin!

She loved on Olive the whole time they were here.

She is adorable and oh so fun.

Who wouldn't want to try out a hoola hoop in the sporting goods store?!?!

 Addison wanted to help out and push Olive's stroller.  I let her and then she bumped into a rack of clothes.  She quickly checked on Olive and said, "Don't worry, she's just fine!"

I also offered her a glass of milk to go with some cookies I'd made.  I told her it was skim milk and asked if that was okay.  She replied, "Uh, Aunt Whitney, I don't like SKIN in my milk!  Do you have a different kind?"  Silly girl.

 Cutest little 1st grader I know!

 At the end of their visit, Addison told me,

"You are my favorite Aunt Whitney and you're my only Aunt Whitney.  Well, even if you weren't my only Aunt Whitney, you'd still be my favorite!!"

Guest Blogging Today

I have the pleasure of guest blogging over at 

Deal Wise Mommy

today to share my recipe for Chippy Cookies.

They are delicious so come on over and check out my recipe!

Also, take a look around at DWM to find some great ways to find deals for your family.

Braiding Bacon

Braiding Bacon might sound a bit disgusting but you should give it a try!

Cut 6 or 7 bacon slices in half and  weave them into a square.

Let them cook really well on one side and then flip over with a large flipper.

Be careful when flipping because grease will splash and your bacon can easily fall apart.

If you let it get crispy on one side before flipping 

you will have more luck keeping it together.

Let cool on a paper towel to soak up some of the grease.

 Add to your sandwich to make the perfect BLT!

Prime Real Estate

My lap is prime real estate at my house right now.  

I seem to always have a buddy or two when I sit down.  Enjoying all the love!

Da Da

I just walked in on this scene... 

Kevin saying "Da Da" over and over to seal the deal on Olive's first words.
Little does he know that we say Ma Ma all day long during the week.
We shall see what her first word will be.  It'll probably be meow!

Beach Baby

Olive was quite the celebrity at the beach.  I guess a tiny munchkin is kind of an anomaly at the beach and everyone wanted to talk to her.  She slept through a good portion of the festivities but seemed to enjoy herself when she was awake.

 What Olive's Wearing:

White cover up and eyelet swim hat: Old Navy

Swimsuit: Babies R Us

We let her lay on the table on her beach towel pallet to cool off during lunch.

 We snuggled on the beach

 Took naps and relaxed.  She really loved the shade & the breeze.

 A baby shark that people were excited to see on the beach:

 My father in law saw this shark robe on one of their trips to Florida and decided Olive had to have it.  She got this gift before she was born so it was really fun to have her wear it while we were at the beach.  It was pretty thick so she only wore it when we were coming down to the beach and returning to our room.  I plan to have her use it during bath time :)

Our first family trip was a success.

 She mastered being a beach bum on her first attempt. 

Her pint sized accessories were almost too cute to handle.

 The first of many trip to the beach for our beach baby.