Our Journey

4/18/2008

Unka Chad turns 35

They are admiring the Ben & Jerry's ice cream cake (best cake I have EVER had!)

Campbell and Ryder helped Unka Chad with the candles

Papa swinging Olivia. Yes, that's my 59 year old dad in a baseball uniform!

Where did the ball go?

Chad on the grill. Thought I would get a picture of this since this is a common occurrence.

4/14/2008

The manmade roller coaster

I don't even know what to say about this pic... just too funny to pass up posting it.

Potty training. One more time.

"hey - i could probably shoot, aim and hit blaze"

We are pumped about our last one getting out of diapers.

No, that droop in his drawers is not something that belongs in the potty - he just wanted to wear his big bro's undies. We had a good laugh.

4/13/2008

This weekend we watched my nieces while my brother and sister-in-law went to a resort. We had so much fun not only b/c I have the best nieces ever, but also b/c their house feels like being at a resort!
I will post some more pics tomorrow, but after taking care of 6 kids ages 4 months, 2,2,6, 9 & 11 I barely have enough energy to walk to the bed!

4/07/2008

Fun filled weekend

This weekend was a blast. My cousin, Kim came into town with her two boys. On Friday we went to the Blanco river to celebrate my grandfather's life (see pics below). Saturday we went to the Austin Nature Center, then had a picnic at Zilker park. We had dinner with family at Central Market where they have a great playground and live band. Sunday we met family at the water fountains and had another picnic. The cousins had a blast playing together! It was such an amazingly beautiful weekend!

Dinosaur Dig

Kimbo (w/ #3 on the way) and Mom

I feel like I am constantly putting his shoes on

Ryder got a little lazy along the way

We enjoyed listening to this Irish soccer team

There was a volleyball tournament going on at Zilker that we watched for a little while.

There was a unicycle on town lake. Pretty cool.

Mom and Olivia checking out the animals at the Austin Nature Center

Kimbo and the boys watching the kites

Max

A little yoga. Austin?!

Sweet John

The Wednesday before we moved from Bartlesville my grandfather, John passed away. His nickname was "Sweet John". He was such a sweetie. He was actually my step-grandfather, but I always considered him my real one b/c I knew him better than my biological grandfather who passed away when I was young. It's neat b/c my real grandfather and John were good friends. Anyways, John wanted to be cremated and for his and my grandmother's remaining ashes to be spread in the Blanco river which is where the had picnics together all the time.
The day turned out to be beautiful! It was very casual as you can see by the pictures and comfortable. There was just family there. Luke led the "ceremony", one of his grandaughters sang and then my mom, Uncle and John's other daughter put their ashes in the river. All the grandkids and great-grandkids threw rose petals. It was sweet.
As you see in the pics right after we spread the ashes my Aunt and Uncle's dog decided to jump in the river right smack in the moss. It was hilarious. Perfect timing for a good laugh! Wookie (the dog) came out of the water with moss draped all over her.
After we celebrated John's life we continued celebrating life by playing football, picnicing and playing in the tree. John really would have loved what we did on his special day. I will never forget my sweet John. He loved me unconditionally and could give the best hugs!

4/01/2008

Saturday

Saturday we had a picnic at the park with Taylor, Campbell and Emily Grace. The boys are getting a little old for the playground - but they had a lot of fun helping the little ones have fun.

I love this picture of Campbell trying to cheer up my pouty daughter.

My 4 had so much fun going down the slide together. They were being so crazy and setting a really bad example to all the other little ones at the park. Oh well, so sorry- they were having a blast!