Girl Time

We've spent lots of time outside this past week. Cole and Levi have a new friend, Steven, that just moved in next door. Shurabe loves to help with raking and other yard work that is inevitable this time of year. And Hope loves to swing out on the back patio. She could spend hours out there, watching her siblings and barking at the neighborhood dogs.

Little Cutie-batootie

I've had lots of fun in my sewing room (it's actually just out catch-all-computer-dining-room). I made some fun Valentine gifts for our kids' teachers. I didn't think to take pictures but they were knock offs of these lovelies made by Lindsey at thePleated Poppy.

Last Saturday, I had a youth group event early in the morning. When I got home, Brian told me to go look at the girls. This is what I found. Hope is sitting on the floor behind the armoire door wearing a tiara. They were listening to music on Shurabe's radio and dancing.

Apparently, they had been in their room for atleast an hour playing dress-up together. It made this mommy's heart smile. That's what having a sister is supposed to be like!

Snowmageddon 2011

We SURVIVED!!

Two feet of snow and 2 full weeks of school canceled.

There were snow men to be built,

Lego cities to be created,

Snow to be shoveled,

and snow forts to be built.

There was laundry to be done,

baby doll stroller rides to be had (tell me she doesn't look like a giant in that stroller),

heart-shaped biscuits to be made and eaten (my 1st attempt at biscuits from scratch),

and cupcakes to be made, decorated and eaten.

The sun is shining, the snow is melting and this mommy is breathing a sigh of relief!

This weekend, all 3 of the men (big and small) were in the wedding of some friends, Chris and Jessica Wilson. Brian Officiated and the boys were both Ring Bearers. It was a beautiful wedding at Camp Loughridge and the reception, at Southern Hills Country Club, was like none I've ever experienced. The food was delicious and we all had so much fun dancing and visiting with friends we don't get to see often enough. It was fun to get all dressed up and figure out which fork was for salad and which was for dessert! The boys were both smitten with their own reflection! I warned them not to accept any marriage proposals...thankfully the warning wasn't necessary. However, Cole had several older ladies (50 and over) asking him to dance. He bashfully turned them down. While we were all out having a ball, Hope was at home with our new favorite baby sitter, being loved on and well taken care of!

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with my parents and sister. Who knows, maybe I'll find the time to post about that tomorrow!

The Parties

We had the pleasure of celebrating Hope's birthday twice. First in Joplin with Brian's family over Thanksgiving weekend. Then at home with my dad whose birthday is the day after Hope's.

Angel Food Cake with Chocolate Whipped Cream in Joplin.

A little photo shoot before the party at home.

Just a little icing.

Maybe I'll just lick the top instead of using my fingers.

I'm starting to feel sick.

Uh Oh, I got a little bit of cupcake on the table.

BATH TIME.

We're back...

A year ago today, our little Hope graced us with her presence.

And now she's already ONE!

We love you sweet angel.

Dear Santa

Last week while Hope was taking a "mommy-I-don't -feel-good-marathon-nap" I was catching up in blog land. I stumbled upon this post. Let me first tell you that I loath mopping! It's become a well know fact in our hope that shortly after mom mops, someone in going to spill something very sticky. For those of you not interested in reading the above post -which you should because it's funny and much more well written than mine-it's all about the love between a woman and her robot vacuum cleaner. Which brings me to my mention of Santa in the title of this post. I want Santa to bring me this for Christmas. I can just imagine all the extra time I'll have to read books to the kids, ask my hubby about his day and knit hats for the homeless...maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But it sure would be nice to wake up each morning to a freshly mopped kitchen!

My little mess-makers at the Tulsa Zoo.

August means...

My Birthday!

Cole made me this awesome Birthday card out of Legos. It says "MOM" if you can't tell.

A visit to the QT Park and the Aquarium with Brian's cousin, Lisa, and her family. Our kids had so much fun with Connor, Trevor and Aubrey. That evening we got a a couple of babysitters for the 7 kids and went to the showing of Jeffie Was Here at the Tulsa United Film Festival. That was a first for Brian and me. Lots of fun and great people watching!

This Friday, we all went up to Hoover Elementary to meet the kids teachers. It was so much fun to walk the halls and finally know people. When we got back to the house, Shurabe tripped while climbing out of the van. She is now the recipient of 4 stitches. She did so well...lots of screaming and crying but she laid very still while they were doing the stitches. At one point, she screamed, "I'm so hungry!" After leaving the Urgent Care we went straight to Panda Express and got that girl some Orange Chicken!