It's been a while.

I've been so busy!  Doing what?  Couldn't really tell you.

Mother's Day weekend we decided to surprise our moms.  We went to Arkansas on Saturday.  Needing to stay the night somewhere, we checked in at the Clarion in Bentonville.  I called a friend that we had not seen in a long time and had lunch with her and her son.  It was so nice to be able to visit with them.  She had not seen the girls in quite some time.  After lunch, we did a little shopping.  I was wanting to find a swimming suit.  Joe patiently watied with the girls while I shopped.  It didn't take too long, thankgoodness.  After that we went back to the hotel and took a nap.  We woke up just in time to get ready to meet Natalie, Mike, Kevin, Jennifer, and Stephen in Fayettville for dinner.  We ate at the Power House, my favorite restaurant of all time.  The serve the best sea food!  It was so busy that evening becuase the U of A had held graduation earlier in the day.  We were give a couple of tables in an upstairs room.  There was only one other party upstairs with us.  It was pretty nice.  We had lots of room and could visit as long as we wanted to.

On Sunday, we went to Joe's mom and dad's church in Gravette.  Dad and Kevin told mom that they were going to take her to "brunch", and they met us there.  Mom was totally in the dark.  She was so surprised to see us.  Joe's mom didn't have a clue that we were coming either.  You should have seen the look on her face when we showed up in her church pew.  :o)  Natalie and Mike were a little late, but they were there too.  After church we had planned a picnic.  It was pretty cool weather, with a chance of rain.  So, Joe's mom insited that we go back to their house.  We had a "picnic" in the kitchen.  It was so nice to have the chance to visit with everybody without having to run "here and there".  Joe's daughter and her fiance (I'll use that term loosely) joined us as well.  We had a good time.

It was a long drive home that afternoon.  We were ready for bed about 7:30 that evening!  Needless to say, a full weekend makes for a long, exhausting week to follow.  And it's been just that!

Jennifer and I planned a little vacation for our families just after July 4th.  We are going to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City for a couple of days.  It's an indoor water park and hotel.  It should be lots of fun!  The girls will just love it.  I'm actually trying to talk Joe in to going up on the 4th and staying in KC to watch fire works.  I bet we probably will.  :o)  It would be so nice to see a big firework display.  We've never seen one.

I'm starting a new diet to help shed a few pounds for the occasion.  Wish me luck!  I know several others that have had lots of success with it!

My good friend Leanne (aka Aunt Lou) just e-mailed me today with good news.  They will probably get the opprotunity to adopt the foster boys that they have been keeping.  Please keep them in your prayers.  It's been such a long, tough experience for all of them.  We are praying that they will get to keep the two boys.  We are attached to them as well.

Ok, enough for now.
Cassie

The girls had fun playing as we waited for a table at the restaurant.

Madison and Abby had fun playing with Grandpa Edmondson at Grandma&Grandpa Duncan's house.