PaPa and Sooner Day

PaPa and the babies.




The kids with Nana's favorite basketball coach.



The Fam



Aren't we cute.


This weekend "Popcorn" also known as PaPa and Uncle Michael and Aunt Candace came to see us. We spent the afternoon in Norman walking around taking in all the Pre-Game festivities.

The kids had a great time and are already wanting to go back.

I Am My Own Grandma

Today I pulled what I will call "My Grandma." She will get a kick out of this.

Several years ago my Grandma went to the post office to mail a package and the postal worker said, "It will take 4 to 6 weeks for delivery." My Grandma said, "Forty six weeks, that's almost a year."

Well tonight, my brother and sister-in-law came over for dinner. Michael was talking about playing Laser Tag and he said there was a "sixty second birthday party" meaning 62nd birthday party. My response was "How do you have a sixty second birthday party." Yes, I really said that.

I am my Grandma. I love you Grandma.

The Word Kaibryn Hates!!!

Well, Kaityn Mae is sick today. I think it is just her teeth. She has run a fever and been very clingy today. I have enjoyed it though. I have gotten some good snuggle time in.

Back several months ago we all had the stomach bug. Kaibryn had it worse than anyone and has not forgotten it. Anytime anyone mentions being sick she asks if they are going to "do the word I don't like" which is her way of saying throw up. In her words, "It freaks me out." Yes, she said that and yes she does. Well, after dinner tonight we ran an errand and on the way home in the car Kaityn threw up. I wish I had a camera to take a picture of the look on Kaibryn's face and the tone of panic in her voice. I started laughing...it was SO funny. Well, of course, the boys caught on and kept saying, "Did she throw up?...Why did she throw up?" Kaibryn kept saying, "Boys stop I don't like that word." Chris told everyone to be quiet and then for a split second there was silence. Cooper then quietly and in a funny tone said, "throw up." Kaibryn said, "Cooooooooper..." We all cracked up except for Kaibryn of course. He was not obedient but his timing was perfect. Needless to say he did not get in trouble.





Even though Kaityn was sick she still managed to wear all these shoes at one point today...some of them more than once. She cracks me up!!!!

Haircut Day

Well, today was the day...HAIRCUTS!!!!!!! Kaibryn for the first time in a long time wanted one as well. So, she got one. I was a little nervous since the last time I cute her hair I tried to give her bangs. No bangs today, just a cute cut. She has informed me that she is "old enough to fix her own hair and decide how she wants to wear it." We had a little talk after that statement but sadly, it is kind of true. She is growing up so fast. All the kids are.

Today Kaityn is 19 months old. She is constantly moving. I have had several people ask if she ever slows down and the answer is "no." She is starting to say more and is so funny. She did not get a haircut today; however, look at the cute pony tails in the back of her hair. She is looking like a little girl instead of a baby these days. One of these days I'm going to post a picture of all the shoes she wears in one day, it's staggering. I tried to do it today but of course, she only put on 2 or 3. She loves shoes. That's going to be an expensive hobby for her to have.

Chris and I are so blessed.

Friends

This is Kaibryn with her BFF Gracie. Since we share the same last name they decided that they were cousins. That is fine with us. They are such a sweet and fun family. We would love to be related to them...maybe somewhere down the L-O-N-G line of our ancestory we are, who knows. They get along so well. They laugh together, encourage each other and just have fun.

It makes me think how important friends are in our life. The Bible often warns about the company we keep. I love the verse that says, "Bad company corrupts good morals." We become like those we hang around. I have been blessed to have many friends in my life but only a handful that I would consider my BFF's.

One of these BFF's has suffered a tragic loss in the past few weeks and my heart has just been breaking and weeping for her and with her today. That's what kind of friend she is. When she hurts, I hurt. When she is happy, I am happy. I just wanted to take a few minutes to share some things about one of my BF's. She is very special to me. She and her husband were in seminary and I had great hopes of them moving back to OKC when he was finished. Hopes that we would live on the same street, we would have each other over for dinner, we would go shopping together, etc. However, God had other and greater plans for them. Several months ago they moved to Pennsylvania. When I got that call I immediately told them that God had told me that they were not to move . Of course, I was kidding. I was happy for them that they were going to be used greatly somewhere else but sad realizing we may never live in the same place again. It made me think of some funny stories I will share here in a minute. You would LOVE my friend. She has a smile to light up any room and she is so FUNNY!!!!!! But most of all she loves Jesus. My life has truly been blessed and made better because of her.

Funny Little Stories:

This is my friend who went with another friend to Nashville, Tenn. I had a terrible headache so we stopped at a convenient store and these two girls talked me into getting some "BC Powder" because it works so quickly. However, did not know that it looked like "drugs". I opened the package and got the powder ready but got tickled, breathed it in my nose and throat, got choked, started to throw up. We had to pull over on the side of the road...I'm throwing up and hearing laughing. Yes, it was my friend LAUGHING at me. Needless to say, I have never used that stuff since but laugh everytime I see it.

My friend and I were always together going somewhere. ALWAYS, I'm being serious, probably 9 out of 10 times we would be driving somewhere and we would be talking and she would say, "You need to turn here." I would pass the turning point and say, "Oh, turn there." One time we ended up stopping on a street that had a dead end. We usually missed it because we were laughing.

There was one time I remember spending the night at her house and around 2 or 3:00 in the morning we decided we were hungry. So we loaded up and went to Denny's (I think) and ate breakfast.

I went fishing with her family one summer and her Dad kept getting frustrated because we were not being quiet enough. Yes, we were laughing. This is also the same trip we stayed at her Grandparents house and I went down stairs to get a drink and her G'pa was in the kitchen (in the dark) in his underwear. I ran upstairs and tried to tell my friend what happened but I was crying I was laughing so hard and could not get a word out. She thought, that's ok until I told her he was in his "tighty whities."

This is my sweet friend who was at the hospital with my family for the 2 or 3 days it took Christopher to be born.

This is my friend who was the first to hear about this "guy" who I thought was pretty neat...my future husband. :)

This is my friend who was maid of honor at my wedding.

My friend and I would meet once a week and pray together. I shared everything with her and vice versa.

This is my friend heard something about someone in my family and instead of asking other people about it came over to my house and talked to me and got the truth.

My friend and I started doing a Bible study together which was supposed to last 13 weeks, I think. We still have not done week 13.

My friend is AMAZING. She has gone through some trials in her life but has grown and matured before my very eyes. I wish I was like her. In college she began praying that God would give her wisdom. He did. She is one of the most wise people I know. I don't know anyone who has the relationship with the Lord like she does. She seeks Him with her whole heart. Is she perfect? No. But her goal is to love Jesus.

This has gotten longer than I thought. I guess my mind is racing today with thoughts of my sweet friend. I pray that my daughters have sweet friendships like she and I have. I also pray that they will be the kind of friend that my friend has been to me.

I love you and miss you greatly my dear friend. I'm praying for you.
You know who you are. :)

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful that we are in the 3rd (or maybe 4th) week of school and it is getting easier and have found a schedule that works for us right now.

2. I am thankful that the kids are enjoying it. Sometimes I feel like they get bored with me :). Dad is always more fun.

3. I am thankful that Cooper gets to spend a fun day with his BF Brady. Sometimes he feels left out because he can't always do what the "big" kids do.

4. I am thankful that Kaityn takes 2 good naps a day so we can get everything done in school.

5. I am thankful for a daughter who has such a sweet heart.

**The other day Cooper was talking about someone "scribbling" instead of coloring. Kaibryn so sweetly said, "That's
OK Cooper people have lots of different talents and that is his talent." Such a good perspective.

6. I am thankful for good friends who I can be myself with and laugh with...and encourage!!!!!

7. I am thankful that my mother-in-law was able to visit with us for a couple of days.

8. I am thankful for family who live close by... :)...or will someday, you know who you are.

9. I am thankful tomorrow is Friday.

10. I am thankful for God's Word where only true comfort, encouragement, and peace can come. These are some verses that have really helped me last week and this week.

** I Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
**Ps. 61:2 - "When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
**Ps. 66:2 - "...we went through fire and water; but you brought me out to rich fulfillment."

**A couple of weeks ago God used these verses to encourage me and our Pastor is speaking on the book of James. Last
night I got a new perspective on them. God is so faithful, gentle and loving when I AM SO NOT!!!!!!

**James 1:2 - "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of
your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may become mature and
complete, lacking nothing."

For PaPa

Sorry PaPa. Mommy will do better at posting.

We love you...Christopher, Kaibryn, Cooper, & Kaityn Mae!!!

Dinner Funnies

Tonight at dinner we were having a chicken noodle with vegetables medley meal (long title, I know). As usual, Cooper was the last to leave the table.

He kept asking, "How many bites do I have to take?"

Dad's response..."Until I say you have had enough to eat."

Cooper's response after several bites..."OOO, I don't like it."

Dad's response..."Every time you say you don't like it you will take one more bite. We need to be grateful for Mommy who made it and God who provided it for us."

Cooper's response after every bite..."OOOOOOOO" (still taking extra bites)

Cooper got wise after several bites.

He had one in his mouth, looked at Chris with that "I don't like it" face looking like he was going to say the usual "OOOO".

He rolled his eyes.

Made a funny face.

Cooper's response..."MMMMM?" with a rather disgusted look on his face.

He is so funny. Chris and I just DIED laughing. If you could have only seen it.


Things have been so busy since we started school. Once our day gets started there is no stopping until everyone is in bed including myself. I never dreamed it would be this time consuming but it is worth it. The kids are enjoying it and are learning alot already.

Even though it has been so much more overwhelming than I thought I am enjoying it as well.

Labor Day 2008

Today was a fun day. The main reason it was fun was because Chris was home. He makes everything so much better.

We started off the day by going to "Pops" in Arcadia. I have never heard of this place but they had hundreds of different flavors of Coke type drinks. The kids had fun picking theirs out. We then headed to the "round barn". Cooper was probably the most excited because we were on "Roop 66" (Route 66). For those of you who don't know Route 66 is where "Radiator Springs" is from the Cars movie. He kept saying, "We are on Roop 66" over and over. It was funny and annoying at the same time.

After our naps we headed to the mall. One of the students at our church works at Chick-fil-a and told us that if you wore any type of sports team logo then you get a free order of chicken strips. So we all put on our OU clothing and headed to the mall. Chris and I both felt kind of "dorky"...all of us wearing the same thing...but hey, free chicken strips. When you are buying for six, eating out can get really expensive.

While we were eating Chris got the bright idea of getting ice cream. However, instead of getting ice-cream at the mall we went to the Chick-fil-a in Midwest City to get it...along with another six orders of chicken strips. We are being "frugal" right? So we got dinner and lunch for tomorrow for about $6.00. I'm learning "cheap is good but free is better."

I'm really trying to learn to be more "frugal". Our grocery bill seems to be growing as quickly as our kids are growing. I'm learning to use coupons, look for bargains, and plain just being cheap (which is difficult for me...expensive taste). I'm chasing rabbits here. I'm sleepy!!!!!

We are now taking showers and getting ready for bed. Mommy might be right behind them tonight.