Thankful...

...for these little people of mine.

I love this time of the year...the lights, decorations, the feeling in the air, teaching my 3 year old little girl about the baby Jesus,the chill in air, how my husband loves to make Christmas cookies...

...and the excitement of the kids and the bribery you can use on them...thats how I got this picture of my boy..hehe!

Sunday BEST?

Maddie got herself dressed for church this morning...and this was her choice...

The funny thing is she really thinks it matches. So...YES we are still having dressing issues with our little princess. Oh well...I'm just learning to go with the flow.

I went with some friends to see Twilight yesterday...when we were getting out of the car we saw some teenage kids hanging out in the parking lot...I got a kick out this kids shirt...and I just had to share!


Isn't that sweet?!!! (and YES I loved the movie!)

Flash Back Friday...senior portraits & a few more!

Ok...these pictures are totally going to give my age away...Yes I am a product of the 80's...I graduated in 1989 to be exact...gotta love that hair! This is the only actual senior picture I have, I guess my parents still have the others...so I included a few more from my senior year...just for fun!

I spent a lot of time getting those bangs that high! I know you want to find a pair of those aztec shorts don't ya?!

I thought I would throw in a few more, since it is so fun to look back to the 80's and all that bad hair and clothing choices!
My crush from high school...I thought he was so dreamy...I loved that he played the drums and football, I had a bad crush on his boy!

Notice my friend Heather is wearing the same dress I was in the above picture...we just shared...so our parents didn't go broke, and have to buy a new dress for every dance.

"Morp" my senior year...we decided not get our own dates, we had more fun with the girls! Don't be jealous of my jumper!

So there ya go...make sure you go over Scrappy's blog and post a comment that you participated so we can have a place to go and look!

Daddy's Girl.

As a family we enjoy the weekends together. We used to go somewhere every weekend, whether it be shopping at the mall or exploring some historical site in the area. Since Dale was finishing up his master's, we kind of got out of the habit...so this last weekend we trekked down to the OU campus. Dale has been wanting to walk around there ever since we moved here...I guess he likes to reminisce back to his college days and the excitement of being a student around campus...I wouldn't know about that since I only went to hair school. The OU campus is really beautiful...the only problem was it was the coldest day of the year! The buildings are stunning, and the grounds are well kept...we are for sure going to have to go back in the spring! Of course I took my camera..I love to see my kids with their dad..especially Maddie, there is something about a little girl and her daddy. I know she has her dad wrapped around her finger.

I loved the red phone booth's all around campus...and so did the kids!

I did manage to get a couple of pictures of Taylor...that weren't too blurry, because as soon as he sees me point the camera at him he takes off..such a little stinker!

Playing in the elevator at the visitor's center...the only reason I got this one was because I told him he couldn't go up it, unless he stood still and smiled!

Weekends are great...I'm really looking forward to the holiday's, our weekends will be filled with Christmas lights...Daddy's favorite!

On a side note...you need to go check out my friend Scrappy's blog here...she put out a challenge to post your senior pictures on Friday for Flashback Friday. I think it will be so fun to see everyones pictures from high school...so check it out and play along, C'mon we all need a good laugh!!!

another Promotion...

Taylor has been working really hard at his Judo class, and received another promotion this week to 2nd degree Yellow Belt. (sorry the pics are blurry, but the lighting was horrible and my lens doesn't have that great of a zoom..another subtle hint to DH..Christmas is just around the corner, a 24-70mm would be great! ha in my dreams!)

This is Taylor receiving his belt from his Sensei. I really enjoy watching these kids each week and the interaction the Sensei has with them. I believe he cares about each child individually and it shows. Sensei Pat was a 2 time Olympian and has trained some amazing athletes that have also gone to the Olympics. I will be sad when we move, because I'm not sure we will be able to find a Judo organization quite like this one.

The kids are supposed to tie their own belts, but for the sake of time Sensei tied them for them, as he talked about the accomplishments of each child that received a promotion.

Talyor looks a bit overwhelmed here...I love the look on his face!

Now why won't he smile for me like this all the time???

Taylor and his good friend Kason...they started together, and enjoy the competion they have with eachother. They are very good about only practicing their Judo at class or on the trampoline.

We'll see how long until he makes it to the next level...ORANGE.

the TOOTHLESS wonder & Miss Maddie.

We had a visitor last night...from the Toothfairy. We actually had another visit from that same Toothfairy earlier this week too. I guess it is the beginning of the awkward stage! I am really going to miss this toothless grin.

He got his top tooth pulled 2 years ago, so I have really gotten to love his smile with one front tooth...and as you can see from the picture, his permanent tooth is about to break through.

I heard Maddie singing away in her bedroom this morning...so I just had to peak in on her. She had her Mother Goose CD blaring and she was was reading herself the words to the songs.

I thought for sure she would hide when she saw me come in with the camera, but much to my surprise..she put on her sunglasses..and contiuned on with business. (don't you love her choice of clothing and shoes today...we still have a few hours before church..so she can wear what she wants until then! I pick my battles;p)

Gotta Love 'EM!

HOPE & BELIEVE is a blog I enjoy peaking at often. They have a weekly challenge this week to turn a photo into black and white...so I thought I would join in on the fun this time.

I took this one the other day of this sweet 3 week old...look at all that hair!!!

I went out today to try to get some pics of my kiddos for Christmas cards...why do I have to bribe my kids so bad to get them to take a picture...I really don't know why I do this to myself??? I did manage to get some though...this one was a fav!

Happy Birthday to ME! Ok...so it's not my Birthday...YET! But I thought I would drop a few Subtle hints for my DH and possibly my family, and maybe my friends can help remind my DH that he should get me this:



Super Duper Cute camera bag/purse by TracyJoy...I love these because you can pick the fabric for the flap, then when you get bored you can just buy another flap...and if you know me at all, you know I sort of have a purse fetish, (which I inherited from my MOM!) so you know I will get bored...and along with that, I will probably need one of these to go with the bag:


The fabric choices are Fabulous aren't they?!

Ok..so to sum it up I would like the Joey Bag in the Chocolate Lollipop fabric with the matching camera strap. Thanks DEAR...in advance.

SIGH of RELIEF.

Super Saturday is DONE! A GINORMOUS (is that spelled right?) Thank You to all those who helped make it happen so well! Lindsey, Carolyn, Francie (Carolyn's sis & Lindsey's mother-in-law) Mrs. Morty, & Scrappy! Oh, and one more person...Lindsey's husband Aaron, who slaved away in the garage for hours routing and cutting and drilling holes in the wood! If it wasn't for all the dedicated people that worked so hard this wouldn't of gone as well as it did! Thanks again...and can't wait for the the next one...haha what next one?!

We also did Family Home Evening Boards, FAMILY blocks, a Square magnet board, & glass magnets. Lindsey joked about starting a Super Saturday consulting business...you go for it Lindsey!!!