First Aid Frenzy!!!

Yep...into the bandaids yet again!

I found her in the bathroom this afternoon, decorating her leg.

Mind you, she has no boo boos...

Obviously just a little obsession with bandaids.

I'm thinking we might need to take out some stock in bandaid brand...

ya think???

My 1st Wedding.

It has been a busy week, between trying to keep my kids happy and occupied, I shot my 1st wedding this past weekend.

You can see more here.

I still have a lot more to edit, so I have my work cut out for me. I am leaving for San Diego on Thursday to do more pictures of them at the beach and temple.

I don't know if I'm more excited about having a child free 3 days or going to the San Diego Temple and walking the sandy beaches?!

I will try to get back on a regular blogging schedule, one of these days.

OUCH!

While swimming at our pool the other day, Taylor came up from doing a hand stand under the water and hit his head on the side of the pool, and split his head open. So, after a 2 hour trip to the doctor they ended up using the glue instead of a stitching (lucky boy)! The doctor recommended no swimming for 6 days...6 DAYS!!!! What the heck??? We live at the pool!

So needless to say, we have tried to find some other things to do to keep us busy...so far it has been Laser Tag, and the movies, but that is getting expensive! We just might have to go swimming anyway?!

I love that kid...as much as he makes me crazy!!!

A Kind Deed & our little Girly Girl.

Dale has been working a lot lately, of course what's new? We knew he had weekend duty this past weekend too. So when Friday evening rolled around Dale and I decided to meet at a restuarant across from the base. When we pulled up at the restuarant Taylor saw another place he would rather go. So I called Dale back and told him Taylor wanted to go to "the peanut place" instead, Dale agreed and said he would be there soon.

The kids and I sat down and the kids started in on the peanuts as we waited...and waited for Dale to come. The kids were being unusually good eating up the peanuts and bread. All the while there was a middle aged couple and their mother sitting in the booth behind us. Dale finally showed up after about 20 minutes and we ate our dinner. I happen to notice the couple sitting behind us get up and leave. A few minutes later our server came over and informed us the gentleman sitting behind us had paid for our meal!!! Dale and I looked at each other and said "Are you kidding?" and she said, no she wasn't. We couldn't believe it! Dale took off outside to see if they were still in the parking lot, so he could Thank them...but they were gone. We still couldn't believe someone would do that for us. Our server said she has seen it happen before. We are positive it was because of Dale showing up in his uniform late for dinner with his family. We were just so grateful for the generosity of this man. It really made me feel good about the people in our community who support our military and their families. It made me more aware of the kindness we can give to others anonymously. It also gave us the opportunity to teach Taylor a lesson on paying it forward and doing a kind deed for someone else.

And because I can't do a post without a picture...

Here is our Girly Girl putting on her "Lippy's"

She is so funny...when ever I am putting on my make-up, she is right next to me, trying on every kind of lip gloss I own! (which I have to admit is too many!) I have most likely created a make-up monster.

A Summer Day.

We are still trying to make ajustments to our summer routine.

Maddie and I are used to doing "our thing" while Taylor is at school, so now that he is out, he kinda cramps Miss Maddie's style! He has taken "her spot" on the couch...which results in a kicking match...

It's all fun and games...for a few minutes.

Then Maddie forgets who is bigger and stronger then her, which then results in her getting hurt ! (she totally eggs him on though, so she needs to learn her lesson somehow, right?)


So...to try to remedy the situation, we have a friend come hang out with Taylor...they pretty much hang out in webkinz world or play video games.

and we have been spending a lot of time at the neighborhood pool...

Love that smerk!

"Look Mom I'm swimming"

She is so excited to have figured out the floaties thing...I just wish she would agree to swimming lessons. (maybe next month she will feel comfortable enough in the water that we can try it again!)

She was having so much fun kicking herself from one end of the pool to the other...counting and singing all the way.

We got him some new Diving toys, to keep him busy at the pool.


Showing off one of his "sweet moves"


Maddie all wrapped up in her 2 towels.

She always gets so cold...no matter how hot it is outside, but that doesn't stop her from jumping right back in the pool.


SO...here's to another summer day!

Corn on the Cob anyone?

Dance.Dance.Dance.

Our little dancer had her recital last week. She sure has enjoyed dance this year. She has a CD that she listens to and practices with all the time in her room, and every single time we drive by the community center, she squeals..."Mommy that's where my dance class is!" It is so cute!


We were a bit concerned she wouldn't perform, because at the dress rehersal she came running over to me and started crying and wouldn't dance with her class.

So the night of the recital I purposely didn't volunteer to be a stage mom (I hate the sound of that, anyway) so that I could drop her off backstage and then go sit in the audience, where hopefully she couldn't see us...I just thought she might be better off.

...and I was right! She did so well! It was so stinkin' cute watching all those little girls dance.

We did get a great laugh at Maddie's little friend Grace, when she folded her arms and turned around and protested, while the rest danced...such a funny girl!

We did get it all on video, but I haven't figured it out (ok...I haven't even tried) to download video onto my computer, let alone on blogger. I will though...at some point.

Way to go Maddie Cakes...this is just the beginning! We love you!

School is OUT.

Taylor had his last day of school this week...What am I going to do???

I really need to get my act together and get some things planned before I go crazy!

Thank goodness the kids start swimming lessons next week, at least that gives us something to do...and hopefully our neighborhood pool will open this weekend, like they say it will!

Taylor had a fun last day of school. Maddie and I followed him around as he played all the fun activites they have for the kids. It rained that morning, so everything was really wet...Taylor even slipped and fell in the mud...on his booty! (there are a few bum shots where you can see that darn Oklahoma red dirt!)

Maddie had fun spending some time in Taylor's class while we waited for Super Kids Day to start. Speaking of Maddie...I can't believe she will be in school this next year...so crazy my little baby is growing up!

If you have any great ideas to help keep my kids busy and happy this summer...please share!

a Meers Burger & the Witchita Mtns.

Since we have lived in Oklahoma for almost 3 years we decided we needed to get out and see a little more of the state. We had heard about the Witchita Mountains from our friends that live down in Witchita Falls, TX. Then a few weeks back we were watching the Food Network and heard that the Meers burger was rated one of the top 3 bugers in the US...so we had to check it out!

My friend Colby warned us to be there when it opened or you would wait...a long time. We got there about 15 minutes after it opened, and the restaurant was already full, and we still had to wait about 30 minutes to get a table!

the Kids out in front of the old Meers restaurant.

Dale stuffed himself with a whole burger...you can see at the bottom of the picture how huge they are...that is only half...Maddie and I shared, and we together could only eat half!

When Dale saw there was homemade cherry cobbler and homemade ice cream, he decided to splurge...check out the portion! It was seriously so YUMMY!

This was what it looked like when we left...the line was out the door and up the street...I can't imagine how long it took them to get a table!

After our tummies were full we headed into the Witchita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on the lookout for some Buffalo...

We found lots of rocks for the kids...and Dad to climb on.

...and we saw some Buffalo and Texas Longhorn cattle! (that's where they get the beef for those Meers burgers!) The kids were too scared to get out of the car for a picture.

Maddie found some flowers to pick.

I decided to jump out and get a little closer too...Dale told me to put up my longhorns as I was running back to the car...and he caught it...so I had to share :)

On the top of Mt. Scott.

We had so much fun climbing around and just taking in the scenery...who would of thought Oklahoma could be so nice?!

Taylor would of climbed all day if we would of let him!

Maddie on top of the world!

Taylor took a turn with the camera...I've learned that if I let him take some pictures, he is more willing to be in a picture.

Two Thumbs up for the Witchita Mountains!

GOLD...again.

We were up in Tulsa this weekend for another Judo tournament...hopefully the last for a little while. It is fun to watch Taylor compete, but the fact you have to be there 5 hours before he even compete's is kind of a pain...literally! (you know those high school bleachers, without anything to lean your back up against). This tournament was really big, so it took even longer for Taylor's group to have their turn.

Here is a peek from where we were sitting...all the kids warming up.

Taylor waiting and watching.

His first "fight"...he pinned him in 10 seconds flat! I couldn't believe it!

His 2nd "fight"...this one was a bit longer then 10 seconds. This was a 9 year old boy, and apparently the kids Dad thought Taylor was choking him, and was very upset and was yelling at the ref's. It was a bit dramatic, especially being the Mom of the kid accused of doing the choking. It all turned out OK though...Taylor beat the 9 year old! (and Taylor was not choking the boy, there are at least 3 ref's that are watching carefully each round.)

Taylor hanging out with the Sensai...cheering on his teammates.

Maddie was wearing Taylor's belt around all day.

The final 3...Taylor took the GOLD again! Way to go Bud!


Watch out for this kid...you might not want to run into him in a dark alley!