Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Charleigh Learned to Swim

I was so excited that my friends Molly and Blake were moving back to Tulsa after being away since college with Blake in med school/residency. They are back now and I'll forever be grateful for them as godly friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and heart for adoption. They played a huge role in us finding Crisis Pregnancy Outreach and also in my part of the adoption journey. So I LOVE that a special event in Charleigh's life happened here at a playdate with their four adopted loves!


 I love that their kids are all so close in age to ours! All of our kids are within weeks of each other, except they have 4! :) They all had a great time swimming.

But Charleigh learned (and did it several times) to swim without floaties here in this very pool. She was fearless and brave. I only have video and no actual pictures because I was scared half to death to let her do it...so I was very near the whole time.  But she was so cute and the video is precious. Thanks Molly

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Jackson turns 7!!!

We set up a super duper water party in our own backyard for Jackson's friend party this year! He could invite 7 friends and was thrilled to be able to do so. He started planning who he would invite in probably January (so for 6 months!) if not earlier. He had the perfect list, but unfortunately it was a busy weekend in many people's schedule and many couldn't come.  But we had so much fun with those that could come and in the end there were lots of friends there!


 My kids never get soda, ever! But again, not to say "never" I was outdone by the birthday boy's Nonna who had leftover "oldschool" pop from Papaw's 60th Surprise party.  It made for some wild and adventurous sugar overdosed activity!

 Watermelon boy....still all these years later....


 We prayed and prayed for young kids to move in nearby. The Lord answered in such a sweet way! Hailey and Riley have been a very fun addition to the neighborhood....most definitely in our yard!

 Chelsea and Josh were undoubtedly heroes to Jackson for coming to his party. He thinks Josh is his very best friend!




 Super slip-n-slide!
 Avengers came out and this guy LOVED it! Who wouldn't? That's the theme
 Still can't believe he's 7!


 Fun for all when it comes to water in June!
 Daddy and the boys broke out in an all out war with the swords. Daddy took some serious hits and kept on smiling...best part of the party for me. All the boys were in heaven and Jeff's the superHERO for sure to this 7 year old!
 Jackson and Reece

  Some of the most fun was after the party when Jackson and Creighton found the bucket...which is now rendered useless for holding water....apparently they are not childproof...and now has a gaping crack down the side of it


 Chase and Walter with Creighton and Jackson

 Walter and Jackson



The fun did NOT stop there as we then headed over to Enid for Jackson's real birthday day to celebrate there with family! Pretty cool when Papa John and Grandma Debbie own a Cherry Berry and throw a huge party in your honor!



 Sporting two new jerseys (and a cool Thunder basketball)

 ADORE this picture of Debbie and Creighton!
 He got a sweet new bike from Grammy!
 He got lots of spy gear from Nonna and Papaw
 Charleigh didn't think his cool balloon was as cool as he did!

 Bubba,
I love you more today than 7 years ago when I first laid my eyes on your fresh body. I didn't know it would be possible to love as much as I love you, but I do and it continues to grow and mature with you as you do. You are a brilliant and beautiful little man. You are learning and so very smart. You are growing in so many ways. I see amazing little things happening in your heart. Your compassion for others still continues to amaze me and you told me the other day you really wanted to do what Daddy does when you grow up, in fact you'll just take his job when he can't do it anymore, you said.  You said it would be perfect because then you could spend every Friday with me....because I said I'd miss you oh so much when you weren't living at home anymore. You thought through it on a deep level and were wise beyond your years. You play hard, love hard, feel hard. You are just like your Daddy in so many ways. You keep telling us that you guys are twins, and despite the age difference, you just might be...and if you turn out like him, I'd be thrilled. You have an incredible role model and I love that you look up to him so much. I love you little man and I can't believe you are a third of your way to true adulthood already. It's crazy how time flies. You are reading this year with amazing progress and excel greatly in math. You love friends and play dates. You love to eat and are eating a lot of food this year. You continually tell me that I am a good cool because you are sweet like that! You've had a great year and I am so proud of you. Love you and Happy Birthday!
Mommy

Saturday, June 23, 2012

COLOR RUN

The Color Run! It was SOOOO much fun. 
 We started off clean and white! And all smiles...

There were seriously ten thousand people there! It was insane 
 First color!!!!
 Then I "fell" and rolled and got lots of color....(definitely dove)



 Alicia!
 Pretty nicely divided on Luke!


 Lots of NewBeginnings youth/members did the run! It was super fun to do it with lots of people you know. Probably a little lame if you were by yourself. Proves you have to be in good company to have extreme fun. Except I had a little too much fun with the colors and literally had almost an inch of cornstarch in multiple colors in my ears, hair, eyes and grossly so in my teeth...





 looking absolutely gross and not necessarily caucasian at this point...


 Chelsea-loo-hoo




 This is such a fun picture...I only wish I didn't look so um...gross! But it was plastered across the national Color Run website! :) Way to go Jeff for such a cool shot!


 Very fun day! Until I got the "bill" for it. It was very expensive to run that! Wow. Ended in smiles nonetheless....