I love you, Daddy.

7 months

I had a pretty ambitious day planned. It is the first day of our new normal schedule. 

Grant was going to be so proud of the clean kitchen and organized closets. 

Then this happened. 

"When priorities are in place, one can more patiently tolerate unfinished business."

I'll get to those chores... sometime. 

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow.
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Happy Birthday

My sweet girl is eleven. 

She is growing up and is so amazing. 

She even made her own birthday cake. 

First Days of School

I sent my kids to school last week. We were anticipating to redshirt Herston. After many tears and prayers, we decided he was at the wrong school. The old me would have kept him there and dealt with the consequences.  I would have been embarrassed and not want to "put anyone out".

Looks like we all have the learning.

The Original:

The Updated Version:

Dear Summer Vacation

You will be missed. 

Speed

Raea was the only girl in the "real training" group. 

Larissa was small, but mighty on the push-up dash. 

There is something so entertaining about watching someone getting KILLED doing push-ups. I'm still giggling. 

INSERT PHOTO OF ETHAN

Best in camp push-ups. His discipline activities are paying off. 

Also really proud of my little man, Herston. I was nervous he would give up, especially being so young, but he proved us all wrong.  

Annie only looked like she was working out. Ode to the fair maiden. 

Happy birthday

This is one special girl.

#7

6 months

Dear pretty baby,

I love you. It has been a joyous six months. 

As scary as it may be to start all over again, I'm glad I got you. 

Thanks for waiting for us. 

Love,

Mom

Our Real Toy

I was cleaning out the pictures from my iphone, and I noticed an underlying trend.

Everyday the kids ask to hold Annastasia. Right next to Legos, she is their favorite summer toy.  

I am so blessed for the love in my house. 

New Kids in Oklahoma

Twenty plus years ago I dragged my little sister to the New Kids on the Block concert. She only conceded because she wanted to see the opening act, so it only made sense I would do it again. 

(I had no clue she had mastered the sexy face while out in Oklahoma.)

It became increasingly clear why they named the tour "The Package". Alice said if she was in charge of marketing, she would have named it "Fifty Shades of Boy Bands."  Do what you will with that one.

My favorite part was when the boys from Boston acknowledged Boston and Oklahoma's recent tragedies, and then they sang "Hangin' Tough."

I also realized a whole new world happened when I was away in college. One that Alice followed closely... Don't let her fool you. (I'm still curious how many pictures of Nick Lachey she has.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our youngest girls even got into the action and wore matching "Little Sisters Rock" shirts while we were at the concert.  Thanks for being so awesome and watching them, Uncle John.