Redi, Set, Go

One of the highlights of Madison's Christmas was the fabulous XpressRedi,Set,Go. Madison watches too much television. She found the info-mercial channel. In early fall she spotted the handy dandy cooking device that cooks everything under the sun from breakfast to dessert. She absolutely loves cooking she is just afraid of getting burned. She is petrified to take anything out of the oven. She tried cookies once and bumped her hand on the rack and that was the last time she tried it. In her opinion, the Redi, Set, Go was the solution. For weeks we ate what Madison cooked. We ate pizzas, quesadillas, cakes, muffins, you name it and she made it! We were really relieved that the new wore off and we were able to move on to the next phase.

Christmas Day 2010

Christmas morning is typically a really early morning. This year is the first time that the kids didn't wake us up before sunrise. Amazing! We actually slept til 8. Which in turn means that my kids are growing up! This makes me sad and a little nostalgic. I love Christmas mornings! The celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time of love, family, and celebration.



This picture is from 2009 Christmas morning. We spent it with family at the Great Wolf Lodge. It was a fun Christmas just a little strange to be in the water, swimming after just driving through the biggest blizzard in years. The kids loved it!








The last two pictures are from 2007. See this is what happens when I blog. I spend more time looking at old pictures and get a little sidetracked and off the subject. Madison was in love with Troy that year, she was so happy to have the High School Musical movies. Parker is showing off his new pj's.
He wasn't so excited about clothes, kids never are. He would rather be opening toys. Ignore the wild hair in the background of the picture. That is the hair of some crazy lady that lives in our house! She doesn't do mornings, trust me I know her well!! Ok, ok. Enough with reminiscing. Move on already. On to the next post.

Christmas Eve

I have to state this first off in this post. I know that Christmas isn't about gifts. With that said, I will share the events of Christmas Eve.
By the time that Christmas Eve rolls around, the kids aren't the only ones around the house getting anxious. I am just a bad. I love surprises and opening gifts.
This year was full of surprises.
Starting with our surprise for my dad. He has been shopping for months for a new grill and we found the perfect one. We were all excited. I love to surprise others. But...... I love to be surprised myself too! I mean really, who doesn't love surprises. Throughout the year, I always list things and name off things that I would love to get at Christmas. I list them early that way when it gets close to Christmas I don't have a clue what I am getting. I might ask over and over, "What are you getting me for Christmas?", but I don't really want to know. I just love to increase the suspense. So....when it comes time for me to open my gifts, I can't wait! I got several things that I had really been wanting! I was so pumped! I got a potato ricer, Oprah's Favorite Shoes, Nike Free Run +, and a new pair of TOMS!!!

Christmas with Grandma Sheryl

Christmas with Grandma Sheryl and Lori is one of the kids favorite times. It always comes early and it kicks off the kids Christmas season. They are always so excited to open presents and this is their first opportunity.

In Sheryl's traveling she found the cutest hats and scarves that were handmade. Madison absolutely loved hers. I am not sure that she didn't go anywhere this year without the hat.

Madi's 11th Birthday Party

When birthday's come around I do my best to avoid parties.  Too many   children in one small confined space is not my thing.  I especially avoid sleep overs.  I can't stay up all night and I can't leave a group of pre-teen girls unsupervised.  I may be a bit of a control freak!

When we started out planning I decided I would give in and allow them to stay over all night.  By the week of the party before sending out invitations, I panicked and backed out.  I talked her into one evening full of fun.  I researched some party ideas online for the pre-teen.  I knew I would need to have them busy or they might get out of control.  I found one web-site that recommended a cooking party.  I thought about it and decided that I could do this.  I had to keep telling myself you can do this, you can do this.  It is only a few hours, you can do this.  I felt like the little engine telling myself over and over.   I made homemade pizza dough and gave each of them enough to make their own pizza.  After cooking the pizzas, we had homemade doughnuts for dessert.  The girls helped to glaze them and add the sprinkles.  I actually survived the evening and enjoyed being around the girls.  One down, one to go?!

      

      !!

Parents vs. Storm Soccer Game

October 26th, 2010

With all the craziness in the end of soccer season, I forgot to post about the end of season parent game.  The boys coach always has them scrimmage against the parents.  The boys love it!  It gives the parents a chance to realize how hard it is to actually play soccer. 

                     

                       

     

Soonerfest Soccer Tournament

Halloween took second place this weekend to soccer.  When I think about it just about everything from the first part of September is scheduled around soccer. 

The annual Soonerfest Tourn. was held on Oct. 30 and 31.at the Norman Youth Soccer Complex.    We started Saturday off with 4 games.  Madison's team went into the tournament undefeated.  Parker's team had a challenging season.  Moving up to U10 has given them a lot of areas to improve on.  They are a good little team, just have more to learn this season.  They did win against Hobart and Clinton during regular season so that is a great accomplishment.   

We had a great weekend.  Parker had some interesting things happen in his games.  One game got particularly rough and a boy jumped on Parker on the field.  He tackled him down and was pounding him.  And why do I love this sport?  I'm not sure.  The boy was red carded and wasn't able to play the rest of the game.  I think Parker was actually just playing fair in this case but not so much in the game on Sunday.  He was the one that was yellow carded.

        

Madison's team won both of the games on Saturday and also won their game Sunday morning to move on to the finals game that afternoon.  Sunday turned out to be a great day for soccer.  Madison's team won and placed first in the tournament. 

        

Sock Monkeys

For our day together on Fall Break, the kids and I decided to make sock monkeys.  We went to Alco to get the supplies. Our list consisted of buttons, socks, and polyfill.  Who knew it was going to take an act of Congress to find socks here in town.  I know this is off the subject, but Alco is a MESS!  We dug through tub after tub looking for the perfect pair and came up empty handed.  We decided to try K-Mart.  Mission accomplished, we found the socks!  We ate lunch and then we got started on the project.

                     

                     

We had so much fun!  Nanny said, "I've never made a sock monkey."  Me either.  It was an interesting day.  Madison and Parker did the stuffing and Nanny and I did the sewing part.  

     

                

I've never done any sewing of any kind.  Probable not even a button.  It took a while.  I'm not a seamstress, but I actually enjoyed this project.  I think I may have to try sewing again!  Nanny is usually great at sewing but her arthritis is getting the best of her hands.  She said laughing, after we finished, "Theses monkeys would probably look better if they said "MADE IN CHINA",  my handwork is terrible!"

Here is the finished project. 

            

                                   George and Esmerelda

First Buck of the Season

Chris and Parker went out bow hunting tonight.  Tonight was the first night that they had a chance to go.  Parker is so excited to get one!  They had a wonderful evening in the woods which turned out with a great reward.  They checked it in at the Fire Dept. and finally made it home at about 9:45.  Parker was so hungry and so hyper!  He loves hunting.  It must have been a young deer, only weighing in at 128lbs. dressed out.  But it was a 10 point!  His rack looks strange.  Some of the points stick out of the back.  Not a trophy buck for most, but a definite trophy in our house.   Parker wouldn't care if it only had 2 points!  He was pumped that they got a buck.  

Highground Hideaway

After 14 hours of traveling and being cooped up in the car, the kids were so glad to reach our destination Saturday evening.  We arrived here at the Ranch about 5:30 CST.  They quickly went to exploring the area.  Not much had changed other than our location on the ranch.  As they were exploring they found a tree house.  You would think they had found a buried treasure.  They were so excited.  (please for those of you reading, don't mention to my father or Nanny that they are climbing this tree, they will freak)  The kids love it.  They both are getting really good at climbing for the short time we have been here so far.  Their only complaint is all the sap!  They have started a collection of pine cones and decided that the tree house was a good place to store them and keep them safe!

Did I say I didn't have much to share in my first webpost?  What was I thinking anyway?!!

 

Madi has spent some time taking pictures and she wanted you to be able to see the view from the tree house. 

 

The view over our the top of our cabin. 

The pine cones.

Parker found all of these nails in the tree house and decided to nail them all in the wood so no one would step on them.  As if many people would climb the tree and step on the nails.  

How many will survive?

After all the rain that we have received this week the neighborhood has lots of water puddles.  Over the holiday weekend, Parker spent the majority of his time outdoors playing with friends.  Parker is definitely an outdoors man.  He loves to be out playing.  We literally have to force the boy in to bathe and eat in the evening.  When he came home, he walked in with a Dr. Pepper can.   I asked him what are you doing with that can.  With that he responds it is Aric's.  He started heading toward to the bedroom and I said no you are not going in there with that pop can.  He said well mom I have to do something with it.  Do something with what?  I am now wondering what he is up to.  I soon find out that the boys have discovered frog eggs in some of the puddles.  He was planning on putting them in his aquarium in his room where the salamander lives.  When I found out what the plan was I quickly sent him out the door.  I don't care where you put the eggs but not in the house.  I don't even know how he knew that they were frog eggs.  After I sent him back out he was a little upset.  I followed him out and he said, Mom, I just can't let all of them die.  I have to find somewhere for them to live.   I told him put them in the bird bath. 

At first when he dumped the can there were probably 20 eggs.   By the end of the day there were more like 100.  I am not sure that there are really that many but lets just say there were a lot more.  He decided that he would collect all he could in case the puddles all dry up.

Yesterday when I came home for lunch, I drive into the driveway to find both of my children in the middle of the flowerbed, gazing into the bird bath.  As I get out of my car I am greeted with loud exclamations of the eggs have hatched mom, LOOK!!!!  Sure enough it is full of tadpoles.  When I looked at them I thought they might be mosquitoes.  I told the kids I wasn't sure if they were tadpoles but Parker said "MOM, They ARE Tadpoles, I PROMISE!"   When I came home from work today, Chris told me to look in the birdbath. He said look at all of those swimming around.  I  looked and I am guessing that they are tadpoles.  They now look more like a tadpole than mosquitoes.  I guess we will se what the next few days bring for them but what I really am worried about now is how many frogs will survive.  How many of these little guys will I have around this time next week?

 

End of Soccer Season

This weekend is the District Tournament.  I am glad this season is drawing to an end.  However, I have not made it yet.  This weekend could be a test of my ability to hold it together.  I do miss having at least one free evening a week to do whatever it is I choose.  I love to read. I love to bake.  What are those you say.  Those are my true hobbies.   I am just posing as a sports enthusiast right now.  No....don't get me wrong I love to watch my children play sports.  But the past few weeks have been a little more than hectic.  Parker started baseball before soccer season was over.  We have had three weeks now of baseball games and Soccer started the last weekend in March.  I don't mind having one or the other but both is a drag.  We have also been attending AWANAS every Wednesday night.  Every night has something.  Either game or practice and Saturday's are reserved for the soccer games.  We have had two great soccer seasons, both teams have played really well. Pray that I have enough energy to make it!!   Baseball however will continue through the third week in June.  I will eventually have time to read again right?  HELP

The Magic Kingdom

 

 

I know that we went to Disney in February and tomorrow is the last day of April, I am a little behind in getting this out there.  Those of you who do read my blog, all three or four of you, I apologize.  I guess I should say sorry.  I am so slow.

 

 

Going to Disney was something that I had anticipated from the time that Madi was a tiny baby.  I always dreamed of the day she would see Cinderella's castle.  I can remember thinking about how many times she would smile in awe.  I had looked forward to this trip for years.  I actually thought that the day may never come.(if it were up to Chris it really might never happened, he is not a big fan of Disney)  The time arrived finally and I am sad to say I was a little disappointed.  We did have a wonderful time.  I just think I had it worked up so in my mind that no matter how much fun we had it would never compare to what I imagined.   The kids loved it and I loved it and Chris had a good time but there were downfalls.   Too many people.  I don't like crowds a lot and there were a lot of people.  I know what did you expect, Cathy?  Hello it is bigger than the whole town of Cordell.   I knew that there would be lots of people but not lots and lots.  You know what I mean don't you?   Anyway......We had a wonderful trip as a whole.  We spent a lot of quality time together as a family.  We saw the fabulous five, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.  We even dined with them!!!  Thanks Chris.  Life was good until all the people cut in line!!!  Yep it happened and I didn't deal too well .  Now I will share a few of the pictures with you.  Disney is just one of those things on my list.  I will check this one off my list and move on to something else.  I am so thankful that God allowed us to go and to travel to and from safely.  May we be so fortunate and blessed to spend more time together as a family.  I love my husband and my kids.  And I love to spend time with them!  (even if it is nowhere else but home)

 

 

Day Two: Epcot

 

Another day, bright and early.  We spent another long day seeing the sites.  Our day actually started extremely early.  We were up before the sun on Friday.   We had a breakfast with Mickey at Chef Mickey's at 7:20 am.   To be there on time, we had to catch the bus at 6:30 am.  And these times are the Eastern time zone.  So getting up to be ready for us came really early, 4:45 am CST.  The kids were not receptive to this part of the day.  Once we got going, things seemed to go smooth. 

Chef Mickey was fun.  Not sure it was really worth what it costs.  The breakfast was really delicious with a huge variety.  The best part was seeing the Fabulous Five:  Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.
 

 

 

Chris was so excited, we could hardly tare him away from Minnie Mouse.
 

After the Under the Seas ride, there were several aquariums filled with beautiful sea creatures.  This starfish was really unique.  We have so many pictures, I have had a hard time picking just a few.  Hope I don't bore all of you too much. 

 

The seahorse tank was by far Madison's favorite.  She could have spent the whole day here.   This area was definitely one of our favorites.