Annual Boy Camping Trip 2008

Here are some photos of Jack with Uncle Eli ...







This past weekend Brent went with Eli (my youngest brother) and Derek (his best friend from college) on a float trip on Crooked Creek in Yellville, AR. I title this "annual trip" because Eli started this "only boys float trip weekend" a few years ago. The week before he married Amy he wanted to have a last "guy weekend" with his groomsmen. Well, I guess it really wasn't the "last" boy trip because now he does it every year. Last year they went on the Buffalo River with their good friend John (also from college) And this year Brent joined the crew and they floated Crooked Creek. I have a feeling the tradition will continue.

They had a good time on Friday heading out and fishing along the creek. They camped that night on a gravel bar and at 5:00 am on Saturday morning a huge storm blew through Yellville and surrounding areas. It was so loud it woke all of us up at the Henson house and most definitely woke the boys up in their tents. From what I hear, Brent was the only one of the three who had their rain fly on their tent so, as the story goes, Eli and Derek had to jump out in their unders!, in the pouring rain to get their tents covered. I'm sure that was a sight to see. Unfortunately it didn't stop raining all morning and it was predicting bad weather all day so they had to cut their trip short and take out the canoes at the next access point. I was very relieved because I was slightly worried about them with all the lightning around.

Jack and I stayed with Lee, Andrea, and Noah. It's always a treat to stay with our good friends, the Hensons. They took good care of us and treated me to a movie rental after a delicious meal of steak, potatoes, squash, and homemade biscuits! Noah was as funny as always. Here are a few photos of Noah, Jack, and Brent at the coffee shop. Brent asked Noah if he wanted to smell Jack's feet and everytime he did he would say "Shooooeeee!"





This is the only photo I have of the three boys together. Brent saw this sign as we were driving home from Yellville to Vilonia and almost immediately his cell phone rang and Eli and Derek said we had to turn around to get a photo of this church sign. I have to admit, it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I mean really - who makes these sayings up?



This next photo Eli took while I was feeding Jack at the coffee shop! What a great photo little Bro! I guess the photographer genes run through all of the Clems.



Derek is a friend of Eli's from Harding that all of the Clem family decided to make into an honorary family member. We found out after Eli first met him that he didn't live too far from our house in Texas! He's like another brother to me. He married a girl he met at Harding, Rachel, and they live in south Texas while Derek goes through med school. Here's Derek relaxing in the coffee shop after the trip was over...



Here's a few more photos of my adorable son...



These are a couple of pics I took at the house a few days ago. I put him in this diaper box so I could wash my hands or something and he ended up loving it! So, I added a few toys and now I use the box all the time.

Granny & Pop Visit

Last week my mom and dad came to visit us in Vilonia. They came to help us with the new studio construction and to help take care of Jack so I could get caught up on work. Speaking of work - we are booking up fast for the summer - high school senior photos are pouring in! This is a great problem to have, but it makes my blog suffer. When I finally finish editing photos at midnight, I can only think about falling into bed and sleeping. That is why I'm so far behind on my blog.

We had a great time with my parents and I know they enjoyed every minute they spent with Jack. On Thursday evening they watched him so we could go out on a date! I don't remember the last time that happened. And on Saturday, we had wedding photos, so my mom took care of Jack ALL day long and my Dad helped us at the wedding. I must say, we got pretty spoiled this past week. The day after they left I felt lost because I was used to my mom getting up with me at 6:00 and taking care of Jack after I fed him so I could get a little more sleep. I'm excited to see them again this July at camp.

Also this past week, our friends Drew and Melissa Dallas had their baby girl. We went to the hospital to see Ms. Anna Claire Dallas on the same night as our date night. She is absolutely beautiful and has a full head of hair! I don't have photos to show of her yet, but I think we'll be going to their house to take some soon.

Our studio is going very well. If you want to hear about the construction and see photos of everything - check out our other blog - ruplephotography.blogspot.com... Brent keeps it updated. We're now waiting on the roof trusses to get here so we can start on it. Brent has done an amazing job with everything - I'm always impressed with my husband and his abilities. Lately, we've had so much help with the studio from Brent's family, my parents, and Lee Henson. We have felt very blessed. Thank you Pappy, Sunnie, Spencer, Mason, Mom, Dad, and Lee!

Jack has been loving riding the four wheeler lately - here are some photos that my Dad took of Brent and Jack last week ...

Happy Father's Day

Today I celebrate two people. My own father, Buster Clem, and my husband, Brent. Let's start with my hubby....

He is an absolute amazing father to Jack. He's not scared of diaper changings (well, unless it's an explosion diaper, then we're all scared) and he's so good about taking the second shift in the mornings to get up with Jack. He was by my side through delivery (or rather, surgery) and slept by my side every night in the hospital helping me get up to do everything (even pee) and to help with the baby. You can see in his eyes, everytime he holds Jack, how much he adores him. You can also see the adoration in Jack's eyes as well because if there is one person that Jack is going to smile at - it's Brent. Brent mentions everytime he goes to do anything of how he can't wait until Jack can come with him (especially fishing trips).

Happy Father's Day Sweetheart! I love you!

Here is the card that Jack and I made Brent...





I took this picture two days ago. It was so cute that everytime Brent shook his Sonic ice, Jack would shake his sippy cup of juice. And everytime Brent would drink, Jack would take a drink.



Here they are on the tractor ....



And this is just adorable ...



Now about my Pop...

My Dad is one in a million. You can search everywhere and you won't find another Dad like him. I am always so proud to show Dad off to friends because he is so funny! I look up to him for his humor, because I've always wanted to be able to make people laugh like he does.

My Dad was everywhere I was in high school. He was at every sporting event, every awards ceremony, every prom, and even my senior trip to San Antonio. He didn't miss a moment of my life and I love that about him. He taught me everything I know about basketball. If I wanted to go to the gym, he made sure it was open. He drove me EVERY year to Austin to watch the girl's state basketball tournament. It was a special trip that I always looked forward to.

I remember calling Dad from Crowley's Ridge College (in Paragould, AR) and telling him I didn't think I could stay any longer - I was having a tough semester. He told me "you just say the word and I'll be up there to get you tonight". I didn't end up going, but it was so comforting to know that my Dad was there for me.

He also taught me everything I know about photography. He's like my "on-call" photography doctor. Anytime I have a question, I call him and he'll stop everything to help me. He's supplied us with every camera we own and helped us get going on our business. I am forever thankful to him for sharing all his wisdom on taking pictures!

I love my Dad so much. Thank you Poppy! I am so blessed to be your daughter! Happy Father's Day!





It's hard to catch Dad in a photo because he is the one always taking them, so here is a photo of a fun family trip we took to the Buffalo in the winter a few years ago. We're all being silly in this picture...

Servant Week - Camp Caudle

This is Jack relaxing in his personal swimming pool at Camp Caudle

Brent, Jack, and I have been gone for a week to Camp Caudle, a Christian camp north of Russellville. This camp means alot to us, especially Brent. He grew up going there since he was 16 and has always said it's one of the reasons he's the Christian he is today. Brent, Lee, Andrea, and myself direct a session of camp every year - LivingStones week (aka Adventure Week) but this year we decided to take on two sessions of camp which included Servant Week. This week was designed to prepare camp for the upcoming summer. Kids from Silver City Church and other surrounding areas come up to work all week long cleaning cabins, or fixing things, or whatever needs to be done. We had an AMAZING group this year and all of the kids worked VERY hard.

Our projects included the following:
• A new deck by the baptistry waterfall
• Fixing the baptistry waterfall
• Rock steps down to the swimming hole
• Fixing the dock (which was almost swept away with the high rains)
• Putting up the huge water trampoline
• Rebuilding the zipline over the swimming hole
• Cleaning Cabins and hanging curtains in each one
• Organizing the old chapel, the shed, the mess hall, the kitchen
• Weedeating ALOT
• Killing wasp

and really, there was probably more, but that is all I can remember right now. Let's just say it was an incredibly tough week, full of work and our teens were AMAZING!

I'd like to say a special thanks to all the ladies who made curtains to go in the cabins - especially Amber Mullins who tackled all the old chapel curtains and made them look so cool! It really adds something to those cabins to have REAL curtains and not paper hanging on the windows.

I'd also like to say thank you to Mandy Sublett for helping me this week with photos beyond doing all her servanthood duties. By the way, Mandy got injured twice while working and didn't complain once about it, but kept looking for work to do. One time she smashed her finger in between some huge rocks while working on the waterfall (something that would've made me cry) She quietly slipped away to take care of her finger and then goes about to find a new job to do. I asked her "Mandy you just smashed your finger! - What are you doing working?!?!" And she said "Well, I still have one good hand" Let me tell you - she's an awesome girl.

I know it sounds like I just won an Oscar but I have a few other people I want to say thank you to... the cooks! Betty Lou Henson, Debbie Shipman, and Andrea Henson did an absolutely fantastic job cooking for everyone this past week. Andrea is one tough woman. Not only did she cook her homemade yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls (amongst other things), but she is also 8 months pregnant, and watches her two year old son! Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping my belly full!

Jack had an incredible week! I was slightly worried about how he would sleep at camp - but I think Brent, Jack, and I all slept better than we do at home. I LOVED having 30 kids that would help me watch Jack. All of them are wonderful babysitters and were so sweet to help me out by holding him, feeding him, or whatever I needed.

Okay, so enough of the typing - here are a few photos from this past week.

Marreo playing with Jack on the Camp Caudle golf cart.....



Molly and Amanda entertaining Jack ....



Brent working hard on the deck - he was exhausted by the end of the week....



Brent, Lee, Greg, and Scott playing the guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica one evening on the porch.







Here are a few different views of the deck by the baptistry waterfall. It's not finished in these photos, but it is done. Brent stayed the last day till late in the evening to finish off the handrails and a few details. Lee worked with a group on this all week long. It was probably our biggest project of the week.







Here is one of the crews who worked on the baptistry moving rocks to make the waterfall flow right...



another photo of Marreo and Antonio hanging out with Jack ...