Finally some pictures (El Guapo!)

Here the boys are taking a ride on the elephant (they are the ones with the crazy hat)
Goof ball waiting for the ride

So sweet - the elephants are watching the other one perform and one of them has his trunk over the other

Olivia and Ryder watching the boys ride the elephant (and playing a little)

Olivia riding on a pony (the pony in front of us had to use the bathroom, so I was trying to be extra cautious.

The tiger show was really cool

Random circus photo

As Luke was at the concession stand the family in front of me caught my attention - they were extremely obese and eating funnel cakes, nachos, cotton candy and about everything else. As I was being a little too judgmental in my head, my hubby comes up the stands with a box full of more junk than they had!

Cam

Ryder loves watching the boys skate (yes, that is a bottle - we are not ready to give it up yet!)

Lane getting mad at me for taking his picture

Ryder (w/ the bottle) sitting outside watching the big boys

Cam being a goof

Missy Mae

Hayden telling Ryder something important (boys don't play with Hello Kitty)

She has become quite the poser

Ryder caught chugging my protein shake - guess it can't be too bad for him

Lane and Trey w/ their boards

Another pose

Ryder with Olivia's Hello Kitty suitcase. Look - he's barefoot! we have had some nice days in the 70's here. I sound like an old person.

Cam doing the twizzler dance

Ryder loves twizzlers like his daddy

4 year olds perspective

I had a quick funny about my conversation with Olivia the other day. I promise next post will have pictures of my kiddos....CHAD!
Olivia and I were talking about how we as Christians are "supposed" to speak. Here's how our conversation ended:
Olivia: But I am not a christian!
Me: You're not?
Olivia: No, I haven't dived.
Me: What do you mean you haven't dived???
Olivia: I MEAN I haven't dived in the christian water.....I'M TOO SCARED (waaaahhhhh!).
Luke was sitting next to me and we both tried SO hard not to laugh, but failed at holding it in.
It just cracks me up to hear what this age thinks about being a christian! Oh.. good times.

Bad Bad Blogger

Sorry I haven't posted in a while - I haven't even gotten my camera out since the circus which was a couple weeks ago. I usually don't go 2 days w/o shooting something.
Chad - don't call and chew me out b/c I didn't put any pictures in this post! ;-). I promise I will post some soon. Your nephews and niece haven't changed that much in the past 2 wks.
Still adjusting to working so much. Sorry to all my friends that I haven't called or seen since starting my job.
Hopefully I will learn the balancing act.

Informer Article

Luke wrote this up in the church's newsletter - thought it was very sweet. You can click on it to enlarge it and read it.

Workin' woman

I'm a workin' woman now. I started a new job on Monday. My title is General Manager at Body by Colaw (a personal training gym). This week went fairly well - I spent most of the week training, so my brain was fried come Friday. I'm not sure it will be a permanent gig - might just be there until they get caught up... who knows. It is completely in God's hands and I will do whatever. I have a feeling my blogging might not be updated as frequently. I'll try my best.
We had a great wknd. On Friday Luke emailed me at work to tell me he was taking me out to celebrate (my new job AND that a family signed a 1 yr. lease on our house in Hurst!) - so we went to Abuelos YUMMY and then we went to Lifeway and I got a new devotional book. On Sat. we had 2 bball games in the morning, then in the afternoon we had our directory family pics (not fun!) and then we went to the circus in Tulsa - that was FUN! I have pics that I will put on soon. The kids loved it!!!! Gotta go get the little ones ready for bed.

Family Meeting

Every Friday night we have a family meeting and then family-fun-night which usually consists of popping popcorn and watching a movie.
Well- last night at our family mtg Luke and I thought it would be a good idea to talk to the kids about praying for their enemies. So - Luke starts the prayer and prays for all those enemies out there that he has ;-), then we go around the room and pray for the bullies at school and so on.
Then we get to Lane...
Lane: "pass"
Luke: "isn't there someone at school that is not very kind or is having a hard time?"
Lane: "nope"
Me: "don't you know someone that needs prayers???"
Lane: ".... i can't think of anyone"
Me: (I am a little irritated at this point). Come on! Just pray for SOMEONE!"
Lane: "OK!...hmmm (long pause). Michael Jackson, he has some real issues"

Aunt Carolyn's celebration

We watched an awesome video that my cousin and her mother-in-law put together.

There were beautiful bouqets throughout the room

Christy (family friend) sang Amazing Grace and I Can Only Imagine.

She has an amazing voice!!!

Max and Spence (Kim and Kidd's boys) getting some energy out


Chad and Taylor

Kidd caught them ;-)

My grandfather and Kidd's dad

My Uncle Kit and Uncle Bobby

Yummy!

My mother and grandfather

Grandfather and cousin, Chrissy

Chatting and crying

My brother trying to get through a story

Jessica...also trying to get through a story

Kim and Spence

Kim and Max thanking everyone for coming

Friends of Carolyn's

Max all dressed up

Taylor and Campbell

More pictures of the cruise

Campbell loves to put a handful of cheerios in her mouth

Chad getting Max and Spence wired up

So sad

Bob getting Max's shoe out of the mud

Mayan Ruins

My cousin, Chrissie and her husband, Bob were taking a picture with Flat Stanley for their 6 yr. olds school project.

There were 2 other cruise ships docked in Cozumel.

Chad and my aunt and uncle took an excursion that was late getting back. This is a picture from the cruise ship as their excursion boat pulled up. It was hilarious! The ship was late leaving port because of the excursion being late ;-)

Picture of the cruise ship. The 2 people in the pool were crazy (the water was freezing!)

Campbell playing in the sand. She didn't do it for long because she did NOT like the sand.

Emiko and Jake

Another one

Mimi and Campbell

Chad, Taylor and Campbell

Me and Campbell

Chad and Campbell in front of a church in Progreso.

Mimi and Campbell

Reminded me of Nacho Libre ;-)

Jake didn't like it when his mom walked away

Home Sweet Home

No - this is not my home sweet home! But was a good substitute for 5 days~

Cool looking boat. Can you guess where I took this picture?

My precious niece, Campbell. This is my favorite dress of all time. Behind her is a pack (?) of flamingos in their natural habitat. But, as you can see I photographed the important subject!

This was a tough day. This was at the very back of the ship. It was a very restricted area, but they allowed us to come down there for part of my Aunt's ceremony. You can kinda see my cousin, Kim throwing my Aunt's ashes off the ship. It was a special time and I know that Carolyn would have been pleased with how everything went.

This is Jake - my cousin Scott and his wife Emiko's son. He is sooo cute and only 10 months old - but a big boy!

This is Taylor swinging Campbell in the pool in Progreso. She loves swimming!

Caught some brotherly love going on. This is Max and Spence - Kim's boys (Kim is my cousin - Carolyn's daughter) . Looks like Campbell isn't sure what to think about sibling rivalry - that will come..

Max learning safety rules - I think Kimbo wanted the boys to wear these the entire time they were one the cruise. They are very active and we were all a little nervous they might bounce their way right off the ship.

Spence learning too. Spence was not quite as active b/c he had a stomach bug and had to spend 4 out of 5 days in his cabin - poor little guy.

Yesterday I got back from a 5 day cruise with my mom and her side of the family. This was the cruise that my Aunt Carolyn had originally planned, but passed away

shortly before it.

There ended up being 20 of us on the cruise. We had a great time getting to spend time together. I had a cousin from Houston, one from Kansas, and one from Japan. My brother, his wife and my niece went. My Aunt and Uncle, Cousin's wife's parents, Aunt's x-husband's sister and her husband ;-)....anyways - a lot of people were able to go. I have never been away by myself with out either Luke or the kids. I was gone for 6 VERY long days. Even though it was hard to be away from the family for that long - I really needed a break and know that it did me good. My mom gave me a great book that her Bible study teacher wrote. It is called Tune In by Jan Hatmaker. It's about hearing God when you live a crazy-busy life - right up my alley. It was a great book and I highly recommend it. Jan is hilarious and the book is an easy read. I loved being able to relax and have time to focus on Him.

We went to Cozumel and Progreso. In Cozumel we did a little shopping and then we took a bus to the beach. The water was clear blue and more importantly - the sun was shining! It was about 85 degrees and beautiful.

In Progreso we took a private tour. So much to tell - when I get all the pictures up I will go into more detail as to where we went.

Needless to say - Luke was VERY glad I was home. All the kids were still breathing and I don't think any blood was shed (but Luke might have paid them to be quiet ;-). Ryder looks a little rough - his left eye is black, a gash on his forehead and a bump on his right side of his head. Just the normal signs of a toddler.

I had an awesome time and look forward to cruisin' again...with mi familia!