Dry Gulch U.S.A.

This weekend we went to our first Family Retreat with Park Plaza Church. It was at Dry Gulch. I had been there a long time ago to ride the Christmas Train. It is the neatest place. The entire grounds were set in the 1880's, even our apartment. We stayed in the Wells Fargo building. The kids thought it was pretty cool. Of course Joel's favorite part was the train. He didn't want to ride it but loved looking at it. Jack and Jennah got to

know some of the other kids their age. We also got to know many different people. We were so worn out when we got home. It was definitely worth the exhaustion. I hope we can make this a family tradition.

Here are a couple pictures from our vacation this summer.

I'm Back!

Finally I think we waited so long I don't really feel as if I need the internet like I use to. I can actually look up numbers in the phone book rather than online. I can go more than 24 hours with out knowing what Jenny, Amy, Shelly, Lita and a few other friends in Ft. Gibson and Edmond are up to. I am sure though in a matter of a week or so I will be back to the obsessive behavior I had before.

I don't really know where to begin. I am now sending Jacksen and Jennah on the bus every morning and they also ride it home everyday! The bus comes right to our house and our addition is the last stop before the school in the morning and the first stop in the afternoons. The age of kids on the school bus goes to third grade. So I don't have to worry about the kids getting bullied. They love riding the bus, and it has made it so nice for me now that I am watching my cousin's baby Riley Paige. Who is quite a handful! Joel is doing very well with her. He just smiles at her and brings her paci to her any time she cries.

Joel is now diaper free! He has had one accident in the past two and a half weeks. So nice! We haven't tackled the paci yet.

Jacksen is now going by Jack. There was another Jackson in his class so he had to go by Jacksen H. that really bothered him so he is now Jack. I almost didn't name him Jacksen because I was afraid people would call him Jack, but I guess it is his name now and not my decision. It really doesn't bother me now like it did back then.

Jack and Jennah have already had a stomach bug and missed school so we are off to a great start! Oh well!