Our forgotten friend

This poor blog...it sure has been neglected these past few months. I will try to update this weekend, but for now its back to fingernail painting and apple juice making :)

Preschool Program

Meredith's preschool class had their end of the year program this week for their parents, and here are some pictures from the day.

Meredith's preschool class has been such a blessing this year, and its hard to believe how much she has learned, like nursery rhymes and songs; but also all the friends that she has made and the confidence she has gained by interacting with different teachers and classmates. We are going to miss Ms. Cindy and Ms. Laura! It's been a GREAT year!

The Russ-Buster

"Oh, we got Trouble. Right here is Russell City." Well, you get the idea, right :)

As you can see, Russ gets into EVERYTHING! He is a total daredevil, and is not afraid of too much. I guess this hasn't changed too much in the past 6 months, but the intensity of things continues to amaze me!

Apart from making mommy's hair go grey, he is a great kid. He loves to play outside, and loves to help out with the chores inside and out. Mowing the lawn, vacuuming the floor, and sweeping the floor are some of his favorites. Russ' vocabulary has exploded, and he is able to tell us what he wants. However, he really would prefer to just do it himself (most days he'll open the fridge, move a chair over, and get the turkey in about 10 seconds).

Russ is also fast -- the Lipsey clan usually takes an evening walk after dinner. We will stop at one of the neighborhood parks, and once you let Russ out of the stroller he is off! Russ also continues to like to read books, watch Mickey and Sesame Street, and just general kid stuff.

I have been impressed with the things he mimics, compared to Meredith. He loves to tell us that "Russ starts with R" and "I was the line leader today at school," just like big sister will tell us about her day.

Oh, and the boy loves his vanilla ice cream -- but only with sprinkles:)

The Girl Who Asks Why

This post is all about Meredith. It's hard to believe that I have a 4 year old daughter, but neat to see so much more about who she is and who she is growing to be.

This past month has brought on the question of the year "Why?" It's constant -- Why is the fire hot? Why do I have to go to bed? Why is that dog black? -- anytime she wants to learn more about something, why is the word that comes out of her mouth. It's a little exhausting, but neat to see her begin to think about the philosophical, but also wonder about the mundane in life.

Meredith also LOVES her bicycle. Our sweet friend Emma is a few years older than Meredith, and gave her very first bike to Meredith to try last fall when she got her "big girl" bike. Over the winter, Meredith's little legs have grown and now she is a bicycle champ! Her favorite thing to do is to ride around in circles in the garage. I get dizzy just watching her, but she loves it.

Meredith has grown to adore her preschool class, and its gonna be hard to be out all summer! She has learned so much in her classes, and is a totally different girl than the girl I dropped off last August. Some of her favorite things from school are her Spanish songs, the many art projects she has done, and of course her sweet friends.

Sometime over these past few months, Meredith (and Russ) have come to enjoy Sesame Street. Just like Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse in the past, Meredith has her favorite episodes. It's been interesting because she is now practicing LOTS of phonics. She'll say things like "Mmm, Mmm, Meredith starts with M" and "Raaa, Raaa, Russ starts with R." Between her telling these things to Russ and "playing" school with the letters on the refrigerator, I don't think I would be surprised to see her grow up to be a teacher.

Blowing off the Dust

Spring is in the air, so I thought I'd dust off the old blog and share whats going on in our lives!

First, here are some pictures from the past 6 months :)

For Wendi

An old friend told me she was tired of seeing the same old rabbit when she came to the blog, so I guess its time for an update!

A Tea Party

Meredith had a chance to get pampered as a princess at a tea party themed birthday party this past month. She LOVED it, and would go around for the next week with her lipstick party favor and toy purse and apply make-up all week long. She also enjoyed talking about her painted fingernails, and would show them to just about anyone who came along.

Russasourus
Russ has kept us on our toes again this month. To get him used to the potty, we started taking him in the morning and night, and of course we would praise him if he performed. Well, apparently all that practice of taking off the diaper and using the toilet had made Russ think that he should take off his diaper in his crib, and pee through the crib slots onto the floor (or in the crib was fine, too). So, now we are duck taping the boy into his diaper, and thankfully with the cooler weather he is back to warm footed PJs at night. Ah...he's a mess :)

Fair and Zoo

My parents were nice enough to watch the kids at the fair while I helped with cattle check-in. They had a really good time, and so Matt and I decided to brave the fair the next day while he was off work. Cows, rides, fried twinkie, and lots of walking -- fun was had by all!

Yesterday, I took the kids to the zoo as Russ was getting over being sick, and Meredith REALLY wanted to go. Boo at the Zoo is going on, so all the halloween decorations are up. I really enjoy going to the zoo when its cooler, because most of the animals are out (bears, tigers, and cats) and don't mind the cooler weather (plus, there are very few crowds at this time of year).

With a K and an A and a P P A......

It has been a pleasure to help colonize a new chapter of Kappa Delta at UALR this fall. National KD had come into town last spring, and several of us area KDs met with two of the national leadership, and we were all excited about the opprotunity to colonize a new chapter at UALR. After coming back from convention, the CAKD alumnae chapter had been busy helping out with references, providing support and meals for the extension team, and just helping in whatever way that we could. Recruitment was the last week in September, with Bid Day on 9/27. UALR Panhellenic ended up requiring a chapter advisor for the semester, and I was honored when I was asked to serve. The colony has 20 girls right now, are so excited about growing, serving the community, and having a true sisterhood; and the advisory board is growing and I (and probably Matt, too) am excited to be able to just focus on one area of the chapter (and not everything) here at the end of the year. All that to say, while the new colony has kept me pretty busy these past six weeks (and for a few more); it has been AMAZING to be a part of watching a new chapter get started and I encourage any of my sisters (or friends who are in other greek houses) to be willing to step in if there is a need -- you will be blessed! (If you are interested in pictures, just go to the UALR Kappa Delta Group Page on FB).

We've had our normal church responsibilities, and been trying to stay on the work-out schedule. Just trying to honor God, be a good family, and keep the house clean :)

OH, and also trying to stop by with a meal and going to baby showers for several friends who have had babies this past month! It must have been cold last winter!

Fall and Friends (with some Friendly Lipsey Updates)

Hello Neglected Blog Followers!

I am seizing this late night insomnia to update you on the life and times of the Lipseys. We have had a fabulous month, and are looking forward to all things Fall that are headed our way.

Russ and Meredith at River Market
August 2009

Matt has been chronicling the paths of "Destructo" on his FB page in this album. He is a fast and happy little boy these days, and keeps his entire family on our toes! He recently got his first haircut, to the joy of both granddads, and has been enjoying some Mommy and Russ time for two days a week while Meredith is at preschool (and he doesn't have MDO). Exciting things we have done -- date to the zoo (with Russ being able to chose where he wanted to go, when he wanted to go), helping out with house cleaning (he still loves the broom and helping get the dishes out of the dishwasher), and watching mommy and her friends stuff some Lottie Moon envelopes at ABSC while trying to escape to the hall and push the elevator button.

Russ, the growing boy

August 2009

Meredith is getting to be a big girl these days. We have recently started a Preschool/MDO program, and she is doing very well. We talk about her new friends and the schedule a lot; and I can usually hear her singing a few new tunes from the other room (but she doesn't want to share her new songs with anyone yet). She has been blessed with some great teachers, and we couldn't be happier with the transition to a school-type program for our growing girl. Also, this past month, Meredith started taking dance lessons. Her class is so very sweet, filled with children that she knows from church, as well as making new friends, too. She LOVES tap, and could probably do without ballet -- but as most of us did, I'm sure she will grow to love it. During this time, the poor little brothers of 3 dancers get to have tried to entertain themselves in the lobby of the dance studio. Oh my! If only I had the resources to open up a Wonderplace 2 down from the dance studio.....

Meredith at Dance, Russ and Parker sharing the toy from the $1 store, and when Meredith is not out and about, she is probably playing candy land (and frightening her parents with her choice of step-stool)

August 2009

Matt and I are doing well. Matt has recently gotten back to playing bass guitar for the youth band up at church, and has been "jamming" in the evenings. He's also been enjoying some good books lately. I have been on a workout kick these past 3 weeks. My goal is to workout 6 days a week for at least 30 minutes a day. Its been going pretty well, and as an incentive to keep up the pace and change up the work-outs, I have started going to an adult tap class one day a week. Its been so much fun to get back into dancing, and I look forward to slimming down a little (especially if this rumored recital piece comes to fruition).

The church gang was blessed last weekend to get a visit from Chris and Melody, our sweet friends who are currently in OK. Chris and I (both of us engineers) met in our Cal 1 class at UA, and I met Mel when, gasp, she was dating Chris' roommate. However, I probably got to know them even better when we both ended up living in central Arkansas and members at Park Hill together. We had our old church group together for dinner, and Matt and I got the chance to hang out with them for the Razorback game on Saturday. We loved getting a chance to catch up, but I think my favorite part was catching up with Mel about discipleship and faith during the 3rd quarter of the football game (so, it wasn't the most exciting of games). We are so blessed to have you guys in our lives, and hopefully we can make it out to see Matt's Motherland (if HE doesn't fire them) this next spring.

Chris with his patented "You're fired" look (He didn't have to do it too often)

August 2009

Oh, and if you need a Razorback Football rolodex of information -- Chris is your man!