Cousin Love!

 Had a great weekend visit from my sister-in-law and her kiddies!

 No matter how long they go without seeing each other, when they do it is love at first sight!  Hardly heard from these three the entire weekend.  They were too wrapped up in American Girl, swimming, crafting, and being goofballs :)

 Walter was in heaven getting to have his boy cousins hang out and sleep over for two whole nights!  

 He was in awe of the them the entire time!

Getting to be with family...

the most important thing there is!  

So blessed and fortunate to get to have these guys together for the entire weekend!

Thank You!!!!

Now that we live closer hope to do this more often!

My Ballerina!

My baby girl is growing up! 

 I took her to her first dance class last week and she loved it!  She spent the first ten minutes on the floor watching while chewing on her fingers.  Finally, something clicked and she got up and joined in the fun.  

It is a small class (she is one of three) that she is taking with a friend of hers that actually moved here from KC the same time as us.  Her daddy works with our daddy :)  The girls have actually just gotten to know each other since we have moved here and it was friendship at first sight! Not just for the girls, but for the mommas too!   Love to have gotten to know her and her momma since we have lived here.  Made this transition go so much more smoothly for us.  

I could hardly stand not going into that room and dancing with my little ballerina.  I just want to squeeze her in those pink tights!  Once she got comfortable she did a great job listening and following directions.  At one point she almost fell over trying to point her foot a certain way!

Great job little bitty, mommy loves you!

First Day, New School!

First day of school!!!!  

It has been about a week and a half now that the kids have started school in our new town and I must say things are going well:)  

I have stewed on where they would go to school here since February!  For those of you who had to put up with me during my rants, I apologize.  I searched high and low for what I thought would be most like the awesome school/religious community that we had in KC.  I never quite found what felt right.  As I was searching, everyone kept telling me that the school district we were in was top notch, really hard to beat.  I still insisted on looking further than that.  I wanted to keep life as unchanged as possible for my kids.  I have realized that this is not possible!   After much thought and prayer we have settled into our new school community quite nicely!  I kept getting lead this way, not sure why, but I quit resisting and gave in.  They say everything happens for a reason, can't wait to see what this one means!

What I have learned here is that kids are resilient!  

 Even though I was stewing and obsessing about this I didn't do it in front of my kids.  I know kids pick up on things but I really tried to stay as cool as a cucumber in front of them.  Maybe it worked??? They are excited to go each morning and have yet to shed a tear.  Maybe they are just sick of being with me all day long?  Who knows what is going on but they are loving it and already starting to make friends.

Watch out 2nd grade!

Been dreaming about Kindergarten for about a year now!

Bring it on Pre-K

Summer time fun!

Kyle had several weeks off before he started his new job so we were able to get most of the house unpacked and squeeze in a little bit of Tulsa fun!

My kids love the aquarium!  It is very easy to do with kids.  Everything is right at their height and there are even some fun, squishy things to touch while you are there!

We have had the most fun this summer in our own backyard!  I love having a pool for these kiddos to swim in!  It is so nice to just head out back and go for a dip!  My kids are like swim fanatics!  It took us twice as long to unpack just so that we could get our twice daily swims in!

While trying to teach Walter to dive, he discovered that he can do a front flip into the pool.  

Isabella joined the swim team here and is loving it.  It is hard work for her but she is doing an awesome job with her strokes.  First swim meet is in October!

Very sad that summer is ending!

Although it has been a crazy one it is definitely a journey that I will never forget.  I am so thankful to have had this silly crew to go through it with!

Table Rock Lake 2012

I'm a lake girl.

Love everything and every moment that I get to spend outside at the lake. 

This was the eighth summer that I have gotten to go to the lake with kids (I am counting the first when Isabella was in my tummy).  I am hoping that they are soaking up all of the same memories that I have from my parents taking our family every summer when I was growing up.

I will say it is much different being a mom of four kids at the lake than it used to be when I could just go and be a kid.  Props to the moms who keep doing these vacations even though it is tough work for us!  Here are some snapshots of our summer lake fun!

Jumping backwards from the dock 

and then again on the water trampoline.  This thing is a riot!  Makes you feel like you are about twelve again.  My kids loved it.  Isabella also found a cliff with her daddy to do some jumping.  Wish I could have gotten pics but didn't want to chance a camera on the jet ski.

They never tired of jet ski rides.

We got to celebrate Papa turning 60!

Never have seen my dad smile so big, love him!

Spent many nights around the campfire making our favorite smores.

 Celebrating Mimi's birthday too!

Happy Birthday Mom!  

Love You!

Couldn't get a great picture of these two on the tube and skis.  They both are so close to taking off on skis.  Need to get a little bit stronger in the legs for next year.  So proud of you both for trying!

When mommy drives the boat I turn up the tunes.  Margaret is jamming out to this one.  

The lake wears us all out.  

This was taken on the dock after she fell asleep riding the jet ski!

Despite lost skis, Margaret's bee sting, huge beetles stuck to our cabin, wild dogs,  and 100 degree afternoons

 we had an amazing trip filled with

 laughs, memories, trying new things, and family.

Already excited for next year!

Slip'n'Slide

Enjoying some summer lovin

Slip'n'slide,

Love,

And popsicles

 Life is Good

Doesn't get much better than this!

Set Sail VBS

This was a big year for Vacation Bible School for us.  Not only was it our last at our church, which we love.  But it was also pretty cool to have Walter join in the festivities.

He has had to watch from afar the last several years.  This was his first summer doing it and he loved it!  The girls had a blast as well.  It was a fun week filled with friends, songs, praise, and worship.

It was a bittersweet feeling as I took this picture on the last day!

Happy 4 Years Walter!

May 22, 2012

My little guy turned 4 in the middle of all of our chaos.

Never fear, I was still able to pull off one last birthday party at our house before we moved.

We did a combo Circus party for Walter and Caroline.  Their birthdays are so close to each other I figured that I had one more year to do this.  We had lots of family, fun, and of course sweet treats :)

When we were on our ski trip this last February I discovered Walter's curiosity in magic.  At dinner one evening a Magician came to our table to entertain with some magic tricks.  Walter was in awe of him and has since spent many hours trying to recreate his tricks.  To go along with the circus theme I had a magician come and he stole the show!!!

Love these two!

Mouth was open and eyes were glued the entire show...worth every penny!

Walter in levitation!

Mimi made yummy homemade rainbow cake.

Walter, what can I say, you rock my world. 

 Every little piece of you I love (even your potty mouth!).

  

You are sensitive, funny, smart, a dare devil, handsome like daddy, the best break dancer I know, the master rhymer,  and every time I see you taking care of one of your sisters it brings tears to my eyes. I love that I can always make you smile even when you are in the worst mood.

 The last four years that I have gotten to hold, kiss, and love you have been the best.  

Thank you for being you!