{a Derby & a 10K}

Dale ran in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon this last weekend. He ran in the relay division with 4 other people from work. He ran the last leg of the race which was a 10K. Way to go Dale! He did pretty darn good considering he didn't do any training before hand...he ran once the week before 3 miles. His excuse was he injured the muscles between the ribs playing on our church softball team the Thursday before the race. He was running to catch a home run, and did a back flip over the fence...he even had fence marks on his ribs to prove it! Poor guy is still complaining it hurts!

(and no we didn't go and cheer him on to the finish line...I regret that we didn't, but the kids did have strep...so this was the only picture I got of him, on our front porch. There is always next year!)

We had a Pinewood Derby at church for everyone...not just the scouts. Dale and Taylor had fun building their car together.

Taylor's is the red car, next to the blue one (second from the right).

His car did great, and got to race several times!

Here is the race between Taylor's car and the Morty's...don't you love how Mr. Morty used a 5lb. weight? So fun and creative...but it totally tipped over and crashed before it made it to the finish line.

Here was the final race against the "Y" car...bummer Taylor's lost, as you can see! (my Dad will happy that a "Y" car won anyway!)

Taylor with his certificate and his SWEET ride!

He was so proud of himself!

...and just to be random...

Poor Maddie got strep too...I found her asleep like this.

Her and those darn blankets!!!

Yes...she stuffs the blanket in her mouth and sucks on it...SO.GROSS. I know.

Any suggestions on how to take a blanket away? The pacifier would of been much easier!!!

What we've been up to this week...

NOT MUCH!

Taylor has had strep throat...so he was home from school for 3 days! I'm not looking forward to summer break...sorry, you know I still love that kid!

Planted some flowers in my front yard...had to get out of my house...and the weather has been great!

Attempted to watch Dale play softball...until the the wind and lightning canceled the game...bummer because they were winning!

This past weekend, before the sickness hit, we had a go at some family pictures...my friend Brittany shot them for us. I was taking her little guy's 9 month pictures, so we decided to dress up too. I set the settings up for her and she did the rest. I think she did a great job...despite my children not being as cooperative as I would of liked. Thanks again Brittany!

So here is a peak...

See what I mean about not cooperating? Oh well...I just chalk it up to the fact he is 7!

Seriously?!! oh well...I still like it!

Much better...thank you!



I LOVE this corrugated, rusted wall...so cool!


Nice shot...Taylor took this one. I guess if I let him have the reins a little bit more, maybe he will cooperate better when I want a picture of him??

I hope the strep throat doesn't spread to the other members of our family. Especially since Dale is running in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon this weekend! GO DALE!

Little Diva Princess.

Dale and I came home from our date the other night to find Maddie and our babysitter all dressed up and rocking out to Mickey's silly songs...it was so cute! I loved it that the babysitter was having so much fun too...probably because she has 3 little brothers!



I love the look on her face in this one...too bad it is so blurry...that's what I get for not using a flash with a very quick child!

I love having a girl...even though I hate the drama...

The good definitley out weighs the bad!

{Easter Pics}

I forced my ever anxious kiddos to dress up in their Easter clothes for a photo shoot the other day...it happened to be the day with the most wind, but I thought I would go for it anyway. I was excited to try out a new spot, out in a little town about 20 minutes away.

I got a little nervous as I was driving into this little town...when I saw at the stop light parked next to me, a woman driving her beat-up jeep holding a can of beer...then I saw the guy next to her holding a bottle of some kind of booze...and then to top it off the guy in the back was HOLDING a baby with a can of beer in his hand!!!! (I know I should of called the cops, but my thought was to get the heck away from them...I think I was just in shock and I couldn't believe my eyes!!! I will call the cops next time though, I promise!)

We made it to our destination...the old Santa Fe Depot Museum. I loved the location for my kids, I didn't have to do as much bribing, because there was old train cars to climb and play on.

I was asking them to hold hands...and of course Taylor refused, but not without a pouting face. I love the way Maddie is looking at her brother though.

I was also having a little fun with my new editing software, these are a few of the presets I played around with.

The kids loved climbing on the train cars... Taylor had a little too much fun and got his hands black from climbing. Oh...and to get Taylor to even take these pictures, I let him keep his jean shorts on, instead of his khaki's...which I think ended up being a good thing, considering all the stuff he got into!

I love the way Maddie's eyes are closed and the wind is blowing her hair...it's almost as if the train is moving!

Maddie's "Tippi Toes" classes are paying off...check her out!

Happy Easter!

Orange.

Taylor received his Orange belt on Monday night! He was pretty excited to earn his next belt.

When they are given their next belt, Sensai always has something nice to say about each child. I know he sincerely cares about each one, and wants them to succeed.

Taylor up on the podium after his official tie on. It is kind of cute to see them up there...they are always a bit embarrassed or shy standing up there in front of everyone...Taylor was no exception, he wouldn't stand up straight...oh well!

Listening to Sensai give them words of advice.

It would be nice to get a decent photo of our family...but instead we get a goofy kid face!

Way to go Tay...keep up the good work!

I KNOW I have a problem...just can't seem to get the blog header right...I think I like this one better...so I will TRY to leave it alone! I really don't have time for this...I just can't help myself!

Excuse me now...Maddie and I have some business to take care.

Have a great day!

Remembering Lilly.

I wanted to do something special today for Lilly. It was 5 years ago today my brother Aaron and his wife Jennifer lost their sweet baby girl to a rare blood disease (they didn't know she had, it was very sudden). Since this happened I have quietly thought about her and wondered what she would be like today. So, in honor of Lillian and her parents and sister and brother, my kids and I let off 5 balloons representing each year she has been gone.

Maddie had fun playing with the balloons before we let them go.


I had a few of the neighbor kids help out too.


Watching the balloons float to heaven.

What a joy she has brought to our family, and a desire to do better in our lives, so we can be together again someday.