Peace...Love....Happiness

Red...White...Blue

Liberty Belles

I love the 4th of July. It is one of my most favorite holidays. I am thankful for people, like my grandfather, who dedicated their lives to fighting for our freedom, and I love getting to take a day to celebrate them. I love getting the girls dressed up in their red, white and blue...watching the parade, taking pictures, swimming, going to the carnival, watching the fireworks...it is just a fantastic day! :)

The whole gang BEFORE the parade
Kelsi, Annalise, Kami Aidan, Mia-Kate, Ella, Harrison, and Kylie

After snapping a few pictures, we walked down and got everyone situated to watch the parade. We put blankets down on the ground and set up chairs. The kids were so excited. We were all excited because it was nice outside...not hot at all, and we were thankful that we weren't all dying of heat...

THEN, the bottom of the sky dropped out, about 30 minutes into the parade...OH MY WORD. There was not a dry place on anyone. Buckets, and buckets of rain...and all of us, with the kids, at the parade, with chairs, blankets, strollers...needless to say, by the time we walked back to the house, we had to strip all the kids and put all their clothes in the dryer. So thankful we got pictures BEFORE they all looked like drowned rats!

The pouring rain!

We went back home and ate lunch, swam (after the rain stopped) and had a great day. We played and played until around 7 when we changed clothes, and went back over to get ready for the fireworks.

Fireworks sisters

We walked back over to the park (this time, without getting drenched!) and watched the fireworks. The girls loved it. This was the first year Ella really paid attention. She loved watching and kept pointing and saying "light". Such a great day!

Sea World...DAY 3!

We went back to Sea World on Friday...this time, we decided to be smart and spend most of the day at the water park! Much cooler! The kids had a BLAST! There were several different pools that the smaller kids could play in with things to climb on, slides, and squirt toys. There were also bigger slides and rides that the older kids could do too! It was super fun!

Annalise and Miss Lori...BEFORE the Sea World trip...notice how clean and put together they look!

Mia going down one of the slides

Ella LOVED the water...she was sad to leave

Annalise going down one of the slides

All in all we had a GREAT time on vacation. The kids loved Sea World and liked getting to see the riverwalk. :) We'll see what's in store for next year's adventure!

San Antonio....DAY 2!

On Thursday in San Antonio we decided to take a break from Sea World and spend some time downtown! We took the kids to eat at Fuddruckers and the toured the Alamo...complete with a guided history lesson tour from Ryan.

Family photo Downtown :)

Group pic in the gardens outside the Alamo

All the kiddos...Annalise, Mia-Kate, Ella, Harrison, and Aidan

Kari, me and Lori :)

Mommy and Mia-Kate looking at the huge fish!

After we were done at the Alamo, we took the kids to shop around the Riverwalk and the Riverwalk mall...we ended the day with a ride on the Riverboats. The kids thought it was neat so ride the boat and see all the buildings and ducks.

Sweet sisters...Ella was a trouper missing her naps and still going!

Fading fast...

Our sweet friend, Lori came with us to San Antonio to offer another set of hands, and to stay with the kiddos so we could go on date nights! We had a fun double date with Mike and Kari on the river Thursday night. We ate Mexican food at Rio Rio and then walked around for a while...and completed the evening with dessert at The Hardrock Cafe. It was great to be able to go out and have "grown up time" without needing to worry about naps and sippy cups! Thanks Lori!

San Antonio

Wow...so I haven't posted since November, so I guess it is about time!

I can't believe it is almost July. This has been a crazy month. The "bigs" went to Texas at the beginning of June to spend some time with the grandparents...Ryan and I joined them the weekend of the 12-13th for my brothers wedding. We drove back late Sunday night the 13th and then had another wedding in Texas Saturday the 19th. Then...we thought, since we had such a relaxing summer so far, that we would leave for vacation on the 22nd! We had such a great time. After many talks and weighing options and finances, we decided to take the kids to San Antonio this year. We decided it would be fun to take the kids to Sea World. So...before picture....


I did not take an after picture for many reasons...

#1-The ground temperature in Sea World is 147 degrees...in the shade.

#2-We have decided that the engineers at Sea World are ingenious...they pave the streets with
blacktop...so you don't mind paying $400 for a bottle of Aquafina.

#3-I think my camera melted in my bag

#4-If I tried to take another picture at this point, my entire family would have trampled me on
on the steaming blacktop streets of Sea World.


The shows were awesome. We saw all that we could....mostly because there was shade there! The only one we couldn't see was the Beluga whale and dolphin show...we were very bummed, but found out the 2nd day that we were there why we couldn't...there was a little baby beluga whale born the first day we were there. We got to see him. He was so cute! :) There were 2 different Shamu shows. They were great. At one point, there were 5 killer whales in the pool at the same time. It was super cool, but I'm not gonna lie...I had nightmares that night about one of my kids falling into that pool. Geez.

So, we went to sit down at the first Shamu show after our body temperature was somewhere around 115 degrees. We intentionally sat in the splash zone, because at this point, you would kiss the whale on the mouth if he would splash you just a little. Now setting up this story, you must know...that the frog is in a little bit of a dress stage right now. She can't wear pants (because apparently princesses don't wear pants), so yes, at Sea World, she wore a dress...and her new hot pink jellies complete with jewels on them. Watching the show...PRAYING for some sort of splash...when here it goes, we got soaked. See picture below...
(from 5 people away...VERY hacked) "MOM! THAT KILLER WHALE JUST GOT MY FANCY SHOES ALL WET!" IT was awesome! I think everyone in a 4 row radius of where we were standing was rolling. She soon got over it, and knew that whenever we went to see a show, it was very likely that her "fancy" shoes were going to get wet.

Overall, Ella did great...we didn't ever stop for nap time...obviously, since we were in Amusement parks and downtown...poor thing, she just decided to sleep when she could! She was a trouper!

More pictures to come....

Thankful

Thanksgiving this year was pretty uneventful. We went to Texas to visit my parents for a few days. We had normal "thanksgiving stuff" and played games. My grandmother was there, and my brother and Holly. We sat around and just enjoyed being together. My brother, at one point, being flippant said "we need to go around the table and say what we are thankful for...mom, you start". It was pretty funny, although my mom did her best to act offended...so I decided to think about what I am thankful for this year.

1. I am thankful that I live in a free country. That there are men and women who have fought and given their lives for my freedom. I am thankful that because of that freedom I am able to worship Jesus openly and not be afraid of consequences.
2. I am thankful for a caring husband who loves me and my girls and works hard to provide for our family.
3. I am thankful for three beautiful girls that God blessed me with. I love watching them every day. I love to see their eyes when they learn something new or discover something for the very first time. I love that they laugh at everything, and that they don't yet know the meaning of the word "stress". I love how their faces light up at Christmas trees and lights.
4. I am thankful for great friends and family both here, in Texas, and in other countries. I am thankful that God blessed my life with wonderful people to spend it with.
5. I am thankful for a healthy family.
   
6. I am thankful for transportation that allows my family to drive to see their grandparents and their aunt and uncle.
7. I am thankful for "family" in Oklahoma that loves my girls like aunts and uncles and grandparents.

So...even though it started out funny..I guess I have a lot to be thankful for this year!

Happy 8th Birthday!

My baby turned 8 yesterday! It is hard to believe that she is growing up so fast. This year she decided she wanted to have a swimming party, so we reserved the YMCA and everyone grabbed their suits and had a great time. We opened presents, had cake and ice cream, and swam and swam! :)



Make a wish....





Annalise and Marlee


Kacey, Piper, Chanee, and Annalise


Bestest Buddies, Kylie, Aidan and Annalise


Annalise and Samantha

Happy Birthday, baby! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the sweet girl you are growing up to be. You have such a big heart and you are friends with everyone. We hope that year #8 is great!

Walkie Miss Walkerson

SO...with much encouragement from her big sister...

SHE'S OFF!

The Monkey in the Tree

Today was Mia's first day of school! She was so excited. She came in my room all morning and said "MOM! Are you ready yet?? I am going to be late for school!" To understand why this made me and Ryan so happy...you would have to know that last year was NOT a good year for her. She hated school. It was a fight every Wednesday and Friday. I felt guilty making her go, and eventually pulled her out to only one day a week.

I think, in part, her year last year got off to a rough start. I was still in the hospital recovering from my delivery with Ella when she started school, so I didn't get to take her. I didn't get to take or pick her up for at least the first month she was there. Then there was the adjustment to her new sister. There was also, I think, a problem with her relating to her teachers.

We started talking about school about a month ago...I told her, "you get to be in a big girl class with new teachers..." We have been praying for several weeks that this year would be different for her. We went last week to Meet the Teacher day and, boy, were we ever surprised. Her teacher was wonderful from the minute we walked into the door. She got down on her level, talked to her until she was comfortable, showed her around the room and Mia immediately bonded with her. So much so, that she was mad when it was time to go!

Mia was so excited about her "big backpack" that she picked out herself...it was bigger than her!

Such a big girl walking into school all by herself!

Smiling after she put her stuff up in her basket with her name on it!

She was very excited about the train table! She loved putting together the tracks and attaching the trains together!

Just before I left...one of the little boys said, "why is your mom going bye bye?" Mia looked at him and said..."because, this is MY big girl class...not hers. She has to go take care of my sister."

When I picked her up, she was all smiles. "My monkey stayed on the tree all day long!" was the first thing she told me. This is for behavior...if they make good decisions, their monkey stays in the tree. If they don't, he falls out of the tree! Overall a great day for her! She can't wait until Friday!

2nd Grader

It is so hard for me to believe that this little girl is in 2nd grade! Doesn't it seem like just yesterday when we were bringing her home from the hospital...or trying to get her to say "mama" when she was 22 months old and said EVERYTHING else, but refused to say that.

Annalise was so excited about today. We went to the mall because she really "needed" to wear a dress on the first day of school. She picked it out all by herself and it is really cute.



We walked into her class and she was so big sitting at her desk, getting everything out of her bag and ready to go without any help.


We were so blessed to get Mrs. McCoullock this year. Annalise talked about her all summer and was convinced that she would be her teacher. She was super excited when I swam out into the middle of the ocean where she was to tell her that she, in fact, did get Mrs. McCoullock!


Buddy Aidan was starting all day Kindergarten today!


Best buddies...Annalise 2nd Grade....AIdan Kindergarten...Kylie-loo 1st Grade


I can't wait until 3:00 so I can hear all about her day. It has been crazy around here without her today to help me!