Joel's 3!

I'm a little behind on posting. We have had so much going on the last few weeks. After getting the kids off to school starting on the 14th that Saturday was my mother's family reunion and Joel's birthday. So we had a very busy day and the next weekend was my youngest brother's wedding. Joel's birthday party went well and the weather was just perfect. He had a great time and thanks to everyone that came. I can't believe my baby Joel is a big three year old.

Back to School

Today started Jack and Jennah's 3rd and 1st grade years. Jennah was very excited, but Jack not so much. This is always a hard time for me. I have trouble letting them go. Jack made it harder on me by deciding at the last minute he wanted to ride the bus to school today! I wasn't prepared for that and really didn't want him to but Jonathan said he thought it would be good for his self esteem. Jennah has no trouble in area of self confidence, but Jack on the other hand is a little like his mom and dad. So reluctantly I agreed to let him ride the bus. I did okay until the bus drove off. No tears just a teary eyes and the realization that he is really growing up so fast and the responsibilities of the kids getting older runs through my mind and heart. All the things we need to be teaching them as they are getting older and how to be Christians set apart from the world but still living in it and how to deal with that daily. How to influence others with the kindness they show. I pray for these beautiful gifts God has given us and I pray He gives us the wisdom and knowledge to raise them to be soul winners for His kingdom. Having babies is such a special time in life and I never thought there could be anything sweeter than holding a newborn baby, but this feels just as sweet. I am able to send my children out into the world and know that they will be just fine because I have taught them what they need to know to be successful. We still have a long way to go, I know. I am sure these next ten to fifteen years will be hard at times but the things they will accomplish and learn will be so sweet. I'm excited for this new chapter in their lives and what new things they will learn and new friends they will make. So here we go!

My Little Beat Boxer

Joel learned this from big brother Jack. Every time Jennah starts singing Joel starts beat boxing. It is so funny. Enjoy!

Beware!!

I just want to share this with everyone so if this happens to you at least you'll have a plan. Yesterday afternoon about 12:30 our house almost got broken into. With me and the three kids there! It caught me so off guard I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to share this but I think I needed to warn others to be on guard.

I was fixing lunch and the kids were very loudly playing in the living room and the doorbell rang. I never go to the front door when it rings I always go to Joel's room and see who it is and if it is a labeled car they are driving. This guy was wearing a "wife beater" and his boxers were hanging out of his pants about six inches. I thought, I will just let him ring the door bell until he just leaves. I gathered the kids up and took them to my room and told them to sit quietly. The guy just kept knocking and ringing the doorbell for maybe 3 minutes and then the car that was parked across the street and two houses down moved in front of my driveway and two more guys got out and came to the door. They all began ringing the bell, beating on the door, and jiggling the door handle. I yelled at them "I'm not going to open the door!" I don't know what I thought that would help. I didn't know at that time I could call 911 for that type of situation. I know now that is perfectly fine. I also could have set off our house alarm but it is in the small living room directly off the entry and we didn't have blinds over that window. For some reason I didn't want them to see me. After what seemed to be an hour but was actually about three or four minutes they kicked the door really hard and then ran off. We didn't realize then but later when the police arrived to take a report he noticed when they kicked the door it busted the door frame if the dead bolt had not been set they would have been in my house at that time. Even with the dead bolt the police man said it would have only taken one or two more kicks. I felt so helpless to think ten more seconds and they would have been in MY home with me and my three kids. What would I have done.

I am writing this not to scare anyone or make you lose sleep for fear, but to empower you to be prepared should anything like this happen. Please have a plan!

I Bribed Them

I confess, on occasion I have been known to bribe my kids. I did it today. I promised them if they acted on their best behavior I would let them go to QT and pick out some candy. It worked and they were angels. The hair stylist even commented on how well behaved they were. I didn't have the heart to tell her they had been bribed. Normally I take my kids everywhere with me but the people in Utica Square kind of intimidate me. Which is why I worried so much about taking them there. I really don't like to bribe them I think they should act well whether they get something for it or not. Surely every once in a while is okay though isn't it?

Good Luck To Me

Wish me luck everyone. In thirty minutes I am taking all three kids with me to the Ihloff Salon and Day Spa in Utica Square to get my hair cut. Most of the time my mother and I make our appointments together and she stays with the kids while I get my hair cut. My parents got a call yesterday to go to Minnesota so I am on my own. Normally I would just reschedule but I already had to reschedule once due to our vacation. With my hair being as short as it is it really needs to be cut at least every eight weeks. It has been I think eleven weeks and counting. I am curious does everyone else take their kids with them or what do you do with your kids while you have your hair did?

Busy Weekend

We started off the weekend by having Blake and Shelly and their kids and Amy and Benjamin over for dinner Friday night. We cooked kabobs and it turned out to be a little stressful trying to get everything finished at the same time. Next time we have you all over we will do something easier (sorry). Then Saturday morning Jennah and I went to see Shelby's ballet performance. Jennah loved it and as soon as we left she wanted to know when she could take ballet. After that we went with Jonathan to work for a little while. Then Jennah had to be at the church building to get ready for her musical. I was really nervous for her but I don't think she was at all. She forgot to stand up which threw her off a little in the beginning of the song but quickly caught up and did a wonderful job. Especially this being her first solo and not knowing about it until Wednesday! Sorry for the shaking camera I was crying and laughing at the same time. I'm sure everyone there thought I was crazy. I cried through the entire program. After it was over Jennah got to go around and give people her autograph. She loved that! To top the day off we ate at Ted's with my family and then all five of us watched Hannah Montana 3-D! Sunday, Quentin and a friend came to church with us. The kids love uncle Quentin. Then a good Sunday afternoon nap and off to church again. After services we had a children's ministry meeting to inform all the parents about how the new format will be when we go to three services. Everyone had so many questions and concerns. It is amazing how terrified people are of change, but that's a story for another time.

Also, thank you to everyone that came to see Jennah perform. I know it meant so much to her to have so many family members there to support her. It meant a lot to Jonathan and me too.

Music Camp

Jennah started Music Camp this week. It is perfect for her! She cried today when it was time for me to pick her up. She loves it. They sent a cd with all the songs to the musical home with her. I thought with it being from 9-5:00 she would be tired of it by the time she got home, but not Jennah. She has been practicing the songs and the motions all evening. She even throws in a little attitude with some head movement. They had auditions that we missed for the solo and speaking parts. I think she really would have enjoyed that. They are performing the musical Saturday evening and I can't wait!

Home Sweet Home

We made it back about half an hour ago. We had a wonderful trip but all of us are glad to be home. These are a couple of the best pictures we took.

Dolphin Cruise

We went on a dolphin cruise Tuesday that guarantied the dolphins would jump, roll, and surf or our money back. We had been on a dolphin cruise several years ago when we came down here and we only saw a few dolphins only for a second, and definitely no jumping, rolling, or surfing. We were pleasantly surprised to see all of this on this cruise. The kids had a blast and could see them up close. The difference was this cruise had two big boats that would run next to each other and create a nice wave the dolphins enjoyed playing on. Jacksen and Jennah did well on the boat like they had done it a hundred times. Joel had to warm up to it but by the end of the cruise he was okay.

Water Tricks

Joel decided yesterday with no help from us that it was time for him to learn how to go underwater and swim. Just out of the blue in the kiddie pool he started putting his head in the water over and over and over. It was so funny to us because we hadn't asked him to or showed him how. We knew when we went on our vacation when Joel was almost one and he decided on his own it was time to start walking how much determination he had even as a almost one year old. We had not seen him be so determined to do something since then. He almost gets obsessed with it. This video was this morning in the pool and shortly after this he got in the big pool and swam underwater from Jonathan to me and back and forth for about thirty minutes. He also likes to jump into the pool without us catching him so he can go under and then we can pick him up out of the water.

Jennah is learning how to float on her back although it doesn't look like she is actually floating she can keep her head above water. Kind of like when she swims it doesn't look like she is actually swimming but she can get anywhere she wants. Last year on vacation Jennnah was "saved" three times in the pool. She wasn't actually drowning she just looks like it when she swims. The three people just kind of look at us funny and grab her out of the water and brought her to us.

Jacksen's favorite thing these days is diving for things at the bottom of the pool. In this video he is diving for a penny. He also really enjoys having Joel swim to him in the pool. He feels pretty big.

I love that we can share our vacation with all our family and friends. Also, you will have to mute the music at the bottom of my blog to hear the kids.

We missed the sun setting by a few minutes, but got a few good pictures right after it set on the bay side.

Vacation!

We're here finally! It seems like the longest trip we have ever made. I know it isn't because the trip to CO last spring break took about sixteen hours but this seemed longer. The kids were great. It is actually my fault the trip seemed so long. When I called to make our reservations for the condo they informed me I could save $200 if I waited until the day after the 4th of July. Of course I wanted to save the money! Then after proudly telling Jonathan of the great deal I had made I found out there would be fireworks on the beach. On the beach, we can't miss that! So being the cheap girl I am instead of calling and just reserving the room for an additional night the 4th I call every other place in Gulf Shores to find a room. The cheapest place I could find was $240 for one night! So after searching and searching I finally decided to call the original place we are staying all week to decline the $200 off and stay the extra day on the 4th. By the time I call back someone else had reserved the condo for the week before us and the last night being the 4th! So we stayed in Mobile, AL last night and drove down to the beach for the fireworks. After making a 12 hour drive, we took a quick swim and had dinner, then loaded back up in the car to drive down to the beach. It was neat but the traffic was really bad and we didn't get to the beach until the fireworks were over. We left Mobile 8:00 pm for the fireworks and didn't get back to the hotel until 12:00 am! This was after spending 12 hours in the car for the trip down here. Finally we arrived around 4:00 this afternoon. The condo is great! The first picture is off the living room balcony of the ocean. The second is from our bedroom of the bay.

Thanks for your prayers for my newest nephew Fischer. He gets to go home today! He got to stay in the room with Madison and Sean last night and is arriving home this afternoon.

Fischer Evan

My youngest brother and Madison had their baby yesterday. Fischer Evan was two weeks and six days early. He weighed in at 8lb 7oz and was 21 inches long! He has what is called wimpy white boy syndrome his lungs were not completely developed and he has pneumonia. He had to be on oxygen for the past day. They took him straight from the delivery room to the NICU. Madison was not able to hold him until after 9:00 pm and she had him around 11:00 am. She still hasn't got to feed him and they can only visit a few times a day. She will go home from the hospital tomorrow and Fischer will have to stay there. They thought he would only be there for a day or two but now they are telling them next Wednesday. They got a little discouraged with that news. Please keep them in your prayers. Fischer will be fine but I know it must be tough for them to have to leave without him.

Weekend Away!

I get to go on a Girls Weekend Away this weekend. I'm going to OKC with four other girls from our Bible study group at church. I just found out about it this morning. One of the girls that were planning on going had to back out because of illness. I don't really know these girls very well but I guess that's why I need to go. I worry about leaving Jonathan with all three kids. When I get back on Sunday we have our small group at our house so that's kind of stressful. Jonathan promises to have the house looking like it looks when I leave. I don't think I have ever left my family for two nights. I'm kind of nervous.

We had a family reunion on Saturday. I thought this was a good picture except for the most photogenic person in our family (Jennah) looks a little out of it. Most of the time Jacksen has a really bad fake smile or Jonathan is trying to be funny and staring off somewhere. This time they looked good and Jennah was the goofy one. Oh well!

Latest Baby Shower

I have hosted so many baby showers in the past few years I have become very good at it. I

can throw a shower together in no time. Each shower is unique and very fun to do and I enjoy it very much. This last shower was for my little brother Sean and Madison they are having a baby boy named Fischer. This shower was fun because they are doing a cowboy theme. I have friend from Ft. Gibson that makes the best cookies I have ever had and she always decorates them so cute. I think these are my favorite so far.

I'm Back

I feel good. I think I am back to my normal self. Finally! As most of you that read my blog know the past seven months have been rough on us. Last October we finally decided to try for our last baby and got pregnant first try only to find out a couple of weeks later that I was miscarrying. It was really hard on me. I felt bad about feeling bad because we have three happy, healthy kids and some people don't get any. How could I be upset about that? I finally let myself grieve the lost and we decided to try again. This time took longer which was very frustrating. I can't imagine going through this for years trying to have a baby. I definitely have a new ache in my heart for women that have trouble having babies (that sounds odd but I have no other words that describe how I feel). Then finally I was nine days late. I took several test that came back negative but after some blood work we found I was pregnant but something wasn't right the numbers were abnormally low. Before I could get back in to the Dr. to do more testing I started to miscarry. This time I thought I was going to handle it better. I did for a week or two and then I broke down. I am better now. I thought this month would be really hard because this is when we would have delivered the first one, but I am handling it. I know it is because of prayers. So thank you to everyone who has been praying for us and thank you for all your kind words. I'm sure it wasn't the easiest thing to talk about. My Dr. is confident we will still be able to have a healthy pregnancy. Next time she wants to do some extra testing to make sure everything is right. That is if we decide we want to try again. It is a very scary thing to think about. So we still need prayers for that. I am so glad I feel better. So no more tears (hopefully). I am going to enjoy the life God has blessed me with and look forward to what ever God has planned for us now.

Two of a Kind

I love this picture of Jennah and her Grandma Janet. They are quite a pair and I can't believe how much they look alike.

Jack is the one in yellow. To hear them you may have to go down and mute the Josh Groban song. I would take it off but can't figure out how. Now that I know how to do this next time I will record an entire song. Enjoy!

Everything in our yard is in full bloom. We can't take credit for planting this beautiful rose bush Lita did that, but we have nurtured it all year long. I think it was about two feet tall when we moved here right at a year ago and now look at it. We have so much more this year than last year. The late freeze we had last spring must have killed a lot of the plants before they could bloom. This year we planted several different things thinking it was an empty space in the flower beds then finding out two weeks later there were actually things growing in that area just not out yet. So we have flowers, bushes, and trees everywhere. Jonathan and I go out about every evening after the kids are settled in and walk around together and look at everything. I told him last night we are going to have our hands full this summer trying to keep everything trimmed back like it should be.

Jack had his 2nd grade musical yesterday. They do it different here in Jenks. They just had his class by themselves. All the other school plays I have been to it was the entire grade. This was much nicer. We got to sit where we could see and hear everything. It was so cute. I kept laughing because he looked so much like Jonathan. I could just see Jonathan being just like Jack when he was in school. I told Jon that after we left and he said his mom kept saying the same thing through out the musical. I can't wait to see Jennah in these musicals. That is definitely more her thing.

Friday night was SpiritBank night at the Driller's game. We found out when we got there from the public relations lady that they had tried to find Jonathan that morning to ask him if he would throw the opening pitch of the game. Jonathan was out of the office at a meeting all morning so he missed her. So no one threw the first pitch. Jonathan was upset he missed the opportunity to do that. The kids would have loved it. Oh well, there's always next year.

We ended up staying through the fourth inning. Jonathan had told the kids they could get a snack of their choice after the seventh inning. They asked about every two minutes if it was time.

First Fishin' Trip

We went to the lake for the first time of the season Saturday afternoon with the Antrikin family. It was a wonderful kick off to the summer season. It was a little chilly but the fish were really biting. Jacksen and Jennah really did well casting and seemed to enjoy fishing much more this year. Joel didn't know what to think about the fish. This picture of Jonathan I just thought was funny. He looks pretty proud of that little perch. Of the eleven fish caught (five by Jonathan if you can even count the little perch) it was the only one too small to keep. We are all so excited about the next few months.

Jonathan's 30th

Jonathan turned the big 30 on April 19th. We had planned on having his party at our house hoping the living room would be finished. It didn't happen so Jonathan's loving Grandparents offered to have the party at their house. It turned out wonderful. We had a BYOM (bring your own meat) party. We provided all the appetizers and side dishes and everyone else brought what ever type of meat they wanted and Jonathan and a few of the guys cooked everything on the grills. Everything was wonderful and the kids were great! Papa David and Nana Ila rented a jupiter jump for all the kids to play in. They all loved it! I must say between Ila and me we can throw a great party! Thanks again David and Ila for letting us use your house! Thank you also to everyone who came.

Before and After!

Finally after four months we are finished with the living room. It has been a long four months. We decided to do some of the work ourselves to save money on the deductible. So Jonathan and I scrapped the popcorn ceilings. It turned out to be a huge mess and so much hard work. We also painted and shampooed the carpet. While we were working we decided to replace the outdated light fixtures in the hall and the entry. We are very proud of the work we did. Now only about 2000 more square feet of scrapping to go for the entire house. I think we will wait a while on that! We also had them move the fan to the middle of the room. It looks so much better there. We can't wait to have everyone over to see it.

Safari Diaper Cake

Some pictures of my sweet kids.

New Outlook

My family suffered another blow this past week. My second cousin Karla suffered a stroke and passed away at the young age of 35. She was a diabetic who had a kidney and pancreas transplant about five years ago and was doing well. This came as a shock to her sweet family. They need prayers. She leaves behind a three year old named Raya. She was a wonderful Christian woman who will be greatly missed.


Karla's death was an eye opener for me. It made me realize how precious life is and how much I need to enjoy every minute I have until the Lord returns. This has been on my mind lately even before the sad news about Karla. A friend of mine invited me to start going to a women's Bible study (thanks Lita) and they were studying Matthew where it talks about the Lord's return and how we need to be prepared for that. Most of the time when I am reading that the only thing that sticks out to me is that we won't know the exact day or time of His return. Some of the notes that I have just keep running through my head. That we are to be working, watching, and eagerly expecting our Lord to return. That has been on my mind the past couple of weeks. Sometimes I feel like I am just tired and in a rut and just rushing through life. Now I feel as if I need to slow down and take pride in all I am doing here on earth. I think it makes it much easier to work when I have my sight set on things above. Even if it is just my daily routine. I have tried this the past week or so to think of things this way and I think everything seems a little sweeter. Just getting my kids up and ready for school in the mornings seems like a gift.


On the long car ride home from Houston this weekend Jonathan and I were listening to a Josh Groban song Thankful it really summed up the way I have been feeling so here it is. I hope I can get it to play. I don't usually like to put things this personal on here but just really felt like I needed to share.

April Fools

Jonathan had his annual employee appreciation banquet Tuesday, April 1st. He has never been lucky in his life except for his work events. Two years ago at the Christmas party he won $250, the grand prize. This past Christmas he won a $50 gift card. These winnings are very rare for us, we aren't usually lucky people. So when this dinner rolled around we knew he had to be there because he had been so lucky in the past at work parties. Spouses were not invited so I didn't get to go with him. He told me they would be done by 9:00. So 9:15 rolled around and Jonathan hadn't called. I knew if he had won something he would have called right at 9:00. Finally at 9:20 he called and asked if he could drive my car the next day. Automatically I thought something was wrong with his car. I said "oh no what's wrong". He said, "I don't think the 42" flat hdtv will fit in the back of my car!" What! I couldn't believe it. I asked if he was serious. He then said "April Fools". I told him that wasn't nice and continued our conversation for a while and he said "no, April Fools to that April Fools" by this point I don't know what to believe. He came home with no proof of the win but still swore he had won it. I needed proof. Wednesday morning he brought it home! I can't wait to see it in our remodeled living room. Now all we need is new furniture to go with the new tv and new living room!