Austin

My precious niece, Campbell

She already has 4 teeth- makes for a beautiful smile!

She really loves me! ;-) kinda favors me too huh?

Campbell and Ryder did great up until Campbell tried to pick Ryder's nose! ;-) Maybe he had a booger she was trying to get for him.

Sorry, Chad - I had to put this picture on here - it is too funny.

This is my brother trying to get Campbell to pose for the picture. Love it!!!

Piper coming over to check out why Campbell is sitting in the middle of the back yard with a sweater on when it's 95 degrees

Papa wanted a picture of Campbell w/ the new outfit on that he bought her

Olivia is helping Cambpell smile for the picture

Cute picture of Campbell and her daddy (my brother, Chad)

Taylor and Ryder blowing bubbles

This is what happens when you leave a 9 year old unsupervised w/ a bb gun (this is my dad's sliding glass door - soon to be nice, new french doors)

This is what happens when you leave a 1 year old unsupervised for 15 seconds! (His hand got slammed in a toy box - cut his thumb through to the bone - stitches at 11 months) nothing a lollipop can't help

Better than toys!

The kids have been having a lot of fun making forts and mazes with the boxes. Ryder loved being in the box. I took this early one morning - we hadn't had time to fix his hair ;-)
It has been crazy with getting ready to move so I may not be able to blog for a little while - but, of course, I will be taking lots of pictures, so check back soon.

Skating

I was working on my action shots while the boys were skateboarding yesterday. It was such a beautiful day. Finally had a break from sweating!
While taking the shots Olivia got in my

purse....she is such a girl!

Fun in the tub

Ryder loves to bathe and splash!

24 Junkie

Last night was the 5th night in a row that we have watched "24" until mindnight. I never watched it before Luke checked out the first of many series the other night. We got hooked and kept going back
to Blockbuster. I never thought I would like the show so much! Well, anyways - last night was the last episode of the series. I finally slept good knowing that Madid Harwan died and the nuclear bomb didn't go off!!

OOOOKLAHOMA is the place to be

Last posting I couldn't be too detailed as to why we took a vacation in Bartlesville, OK b/c it wasn't officially announced to our congregation, but - now I can. We are moving there - most of you know that already but we couldn't tell everyone until the vote came in. Above is a newsletter that was sent out to the congregation of our new church (I think if you click on it you it will enlarge). Luke will be the "family pastor" there. We are real excited about this position - helping to strengthen families in the church and the community. Luke's first day is on the 17th. I have a lot of mixed emotions. I am excited about Luke's opportunity, but yet I DON'T want to leave our home and our "family" in Hurst. I keep reminding myself that we are here to serve Him and sometimes that takes us to places we would not normally choose and sometimes that takes us out of our comfort zone, but I don't want to be anywhere else than on His path and His direction. I have tried the other "road" and I NEVER want to go back.
He has confirmed this move amazingly. He is blessing us already for accepting His call on our lives. I just love to see how He works! I know that this path will have it's bumps b/c the enemy never wants you to go where He sends you.... but we are prepared.

Vacation in Bartlesville

This is what we found

We had to move Cam's bday party from the Park to the Family Life Center at FBC. The kids met lots of new friends.

This celebration was on his real bday - the 26th.

Ryder is a great traveler. He's always just hangin' on for the ride with our crazy schedule.

Here is Cam modeling his new camo outfit that Uncle Chad and Aunt Taylor sent him for his birthday. He was so excited - He wore it out that day even though it was around 105 degrees.
Lane is really pumped about staying in a hotel. My children are so sheltered that they get ecstatic when we go to Bartlesville, OK and stay at a Hampton Inn!

We had breakfast at a fun, po-dunk (sp?) cafe in downtown Bartlesville

This is the car that the boys want when they turn 16! Haha. NO WAY JOSE! They will be sharing a nice, used Hummer!
The boys and I had fun at this flea market mall right next to our hotel. I got some good finds!
Bartlesville doesn't have Starbucks, but they have JAVA DAVES!
We went to see

Nacho Libre at this $2 theater. It was really cool! They had a homemade sign for the movie! The screen was actually pretty big. I just loved the entire ambiance. Very retro.

Cam in action

Cam has become very interested in skateboarding lately. He wanted me to take some pictures of him so he could check out his form. I am just proud of him for doing something that involves exerting energy.

I am insane!

Mimi "foaming" Lane in the front yard. She has good form!

Lane had the idea to tee-pee Cam's room after he went to sleep. Luke and I helped him and had a ton of fun.


I definitely get the mother of the year award!! Cam turns 8 this month and for his birthday I agreed to let his papa get him a bb gun and I got talked into getting him a snake. He has been talking about wanting a snake for about a year now and we have been visiting this one at the pet store almost weekly. All he has said for a year now is that he wants a snake for his birthday. I gave in. It feels so wrong. A snake living in my house... on purpose! I guess I was just so happy that he didn't want another birthday party like last year (talk about insane!). This year we had his best friend Nathan over and took them to the skate park and rented a movie. It was so nice. Papa and Mimi came over for cake as well as our good friends, Doug and Leanne. It was nice and controlled. Just the way I like it. We did have a minor issue though - we had to take Olivia up to the after-hours clinic to check out a cut on her ankle that got infected. Turns out she had a staff infection and had to get a shot on her hiney....not a good day for her. But, Mimi was in town and took her straight to the toy store to help her forget about the soar hiney.
Cam's real bday is the 26th. We will have family time on that day (the snake is not considered family to me!)
So - now we have Blaze (dog), B.F.J. (bob joe fred - lane's iguana) and Gary (cam's snake). It's just not right....

Random pictures

Lane

Olivia and Leanne holding Tipper

Cam

Lane again

Thought since I took a picture of the boy's shoes that I should take one of Olivia's. Shoes are very important to her too!

Lane playing ball w/ Tipper in the backyard

Ryder w/ his crazy hair

Olivia playing in the pool

Twirling

New hat for Missy Mae

Olivia loves her new hat!

Ebay

Me: Dollar movies are a good deal.

Lane: Whatever - they are a rip off. You pay good money and you get good things......besides on ebay.

If you know how Lane is you might find this comment funny

First Day of School!!!

Cam's first day of 3rd grade

The shoes are such a big deal at this age

Lane's first day of 4th grade

I think Lane is trying to set a trend with the different laces thing.

Joy!

Here we are sitting at the bus stop waiting for the boys to get home. I think it was only 150 degrees.

Sometimes I feel for the little guy ;-)

I tried not to be too obvious with my camera when the boys got off the bus. Cam was yelling at me to stop. They think they are so cool.

Today was the boy's first day of school. They both were excited about the teachers they got. Cam was next to impossible to get out of bed this morning. Said he was way too tired to go to school - I am like "Cam - first day...do you have any enthusiasm?" He said"whatever!!" Lane jumped right out of bed and got dressed in about 5 seconds. He demanded we leave for school 30 minutes early. He was very excited - didn't seem a bit nervous. Didn't really want me to walk him into his class - but of course I did. He kinda acted like he didn't know me. Am I that bad? Cam held my hand down the hall and let me help him put away his school supplies. He yelled across the room as I left that he loved me.

How different they are..... couldn't love either one any less.

Tagged...

I got tagged to do this personality thing on Ryder. I had the kids help me fill this out -
I still love you Taylor

THREE NICKNAMES: Buger, pumpkin, little toot, boo-boo, R.C. - that is Luke who is determined to make this his nickname

THREE PEOPLE THAT MAKE RYDER LAUGH: Cam, Lane, Olivia and just about everyone that attempts at it.

THINGS THAT RYDER LOVES: eating, throwing, smacking his siblings in the face, pushing things, screaming, pinching, NURSING, and banging no the piano

THINGS THAT RYDER HATES: poopy diapers - yet he hates getting his diaper changed, falling, getting his nails clipped

THREE THINGS THAT RYDER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND: what that funny thing is between his legs that he is infatuated with in the bathtub, the word no - he cracks up when we say it, and jokes (that came from Cam - he doesn't like it when people don't laugh at his jokes)

THREE THINGS ON RYDER 'S FLOOR: He shares a room with Cam, so there are probably toys, a laundry basket and bionicles (hopefully not the small pieces!) I am too lazy to walk over there and see right now.

THINGS RYDER IS DOING RIGHT NOW: crawling around chasing the dog, pulling toys out of his toy bucket and throwing them.

THREE THINGS RYDER CAN DO: crawl, eat and cry - pretty exciting

THREE WAYS TO DESCRIBE RYDER 'S PERSONALITY: happy, curious, and determined

THREE THINGS RYDER CANNOT DO: walk, talk and sleep through the night!!!!! I shouldn't say he can't do that - because I KNOW he can.

THREE FAVORITE FOODS: mixed vedgetables, green beans and zwieback toast, oh - and he does try to eat the dog food

THREE FOODS RYDER DOES NOT LIKE: anything w/ meat

THREE BEVERAGES RYDER DRINKS REGULARLY: breast milk, formula and water

THREE TELEVISION SHOWS RYDER WATCHES: whatever... that would be sad if he did

OK - now I am supposed to tag another baby. I, also would like to prevent some other mom from spending time on this, but since my sister-in-law sent this to me - I feel I have to keep it going so......... Tag Matthew, you're it!