6.30.2009

Happy Father's Day!

Grandad
Daddy
Papa
I am surrounded by 3 of the most Godly, amazing men in the world. SOOO glad we get to celebrate each of you!

Dad- You have been such a rock and influence in my life since I can remember. I am so grateful that God gave me an amazing man to grow up with and you truly made me feel like a princess. It is so fun to watch you run hard after God and you invest in others lives so intentionally. And you are the greatest Papa ever. Love you daddy!

Bob- The Bible tells us that a good tree will be recognized by its fruit and it is evident that you have sown good seed when you look at your boys and your life. You are one of the most generous and genuine men I have ever met. You are so intentional with our kids and I am so glad our family gets to reap an amazing legacy you have labored for. You are the best father-in-law!

Jake- Seriously, I don't even know where to start. I am the luckiest girl in the world! You make our home and our family a safe place to follow God wholeheartedly; because you have dug your roots so deep in Him. I love spending time with you and fall more in love with you every day. I love watching you with our kids and the lessons that only a daddy can teach them are always taught in the right way, at the right time. You are so intentional with others, leaving room for God to show up and ushering in His kingdom and lives get changed. Thanks for leading us so well. Can't wait to see all God has to come! It's been a fun journey so far!

Proverbs 14:26 He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress; and for his children it will be a refuge.

6.19.2009

Safety town!



I'm not a Norman girl so safety town didn't mean a whole lot to me but it is amazing to hear everyones stories about their safety town experience.  Kooper loved it!  He was a bit disappointed when he found out that all the bikes there had training wheels, but still had lots of fun.  Braxton and Sutton can't wait to do it next year!

6.18.2009

Good-bye Aggie!


We put an OSU marker down!
The kids each picked a flower out to put on the grave!

After coming home from a birthday party Sunday night we found our sweet dog dead in the backyard.  The kids were all upset but are doing fine now.  We talk about Aggie often.  It was really late so grandad and daddy buried her just outside our back fence and we had a little memorial service on Monday night when daddy got home; telling of all the things we loved about Aggie.  At the end everyone gave one last Aggie call!  She really was a great dog!

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  To give you a hope and a future.  Jer. 29:11

Happy Birthday!

These llamas were so funny - they would steal the kids cups and hold them in the air eating out of them; the boys later got to take them for a walk on a leash.
Bennett the birthday boy!
Sutton on the pony
Cowboy Koop!
Brax and one of the twin baby goats
Preslee holding the other one
Sutton loves his Preslee
Sarah Kate - 5
Ellie - 7
Dax, Jade and Sutton after each going down the "fast & dark" slide!

We went to 2 of the most fun birthday parties this past week.  Party #1 was for Bennett and party #2 was for Ellie and Sarah Kate.  The kids loved all of the animals at Bennett's party and the cool pool at the girls' party.  What a blessing sweet friends are!

Independence!

Preslee said, "mommy, I'm just going to ride on the hallway!"  She has heard the boys tell me they will just stay on the driveway, lots of times.

They are in red, white and blue; but the independence I was really talking about is our kids are all in a new independent season of life.  Quite different and refreshing!  This is how they usually wait for me when we are leaving to go somewhere.  They all ride their bikes around the driveway and play games.  We are having so much fun with our little men and sweet girl! 

Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers but his delight is in the law of the Lord.  And in that law he meditates both day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, it yields its fruit in season, it's leaf does not whither and in whatever he does he prospers!

6.10.2009

Will you be..........

in our wedding?
This was the question Michael and Amanda came down to ask today.  Michael still isn't ready to ask his guys but sometimes you just can't wait any longer.  They brought the kids giant cookies on a stick with boys in tuxedos and the girl in a wedding dress.  The kids loved the cookies and can't wait to be in the wedding.  Amanda gave me a darling box with a cross attached in it and a special note asking me to be a bridesmaid.  Great ideas!  We were stop one on her tour - she was going to get them each delivered tonight- wow!  We are so excited for you guys and can't wait to see all God has for you!  Michael, I couldn't have picked a more awesome girl for you or for me to hang out with.  I know you thought about me in the process - so thanks!  

1 John 4:18  Perfect love drive out fear!

Field trip!

The Gingerbread Bus
"Cousins"
Sutton freezing
Dax and Brax

Sutton and Braxton are doing a summer program at Gingerbread through the month of June.  They love it!  This was their first field trip, we went to the splash park.  They are loving that Dax is in their class - but were disappointed that Port was in the other class this summer b/c he has already been to Gingerbread.  Kooper and Preslee came to the field trip too.  The boys said they wanted them to come and Brax helped Preslee around the entire time.  Braxton and Sutton loved riding the bus too!

Cuppies and Joe

Cute name, great time, but maybe not the greatest cuppies or joe.  We had a fun date night with with the Stover's and Grave's.  An hour at dinner was not near enough time to catch up and laugh, so we headed over to this fun little coffee shop.  It's in the hood and Stover kept saying he was expecting a drive by - Jake and I were right at home - reminded us of our days in Waco.  Love you friends and can't wait to do it again! 

Staff Retreat!

Koop, Brax and the big boys ready to jump!
Koop jumping
Brax jumped first without the slightest hesitation!
Singing, God bless America!
DTR - seriously; this pic says a lot of words - Chris loving and affectionate and Jake ready to throw him off the back!
Preslee and Braxton's turtle
Katie and Brooke helped watch kids and love the sea doos
Whale time!
Sutton and Beau hamming it up!
Koop and Traci making up a song and freezing
We hadn't made it to buy worms so Preslee and Sutton dug up some for us.
Preslee kept saying this is my new pet and she names everything Kourtney - thanks Pres!
Sutton not only catches the most fish, but he kisses them too!

Sunday thru Tuesday we went to the lake house for our staff retreat.  It was amazing!  We love the lake, love our staff, loved everything about it.  It was so fun to see people fly off sea doos and kids jump off cliffs; but even better to really get to know people better.  Wow!  God is so good.  He continues to add to our team just what we need at just the right time.  HE is faithful!  

Psalm 36:5  Your love oh Lord, reaches to the Heavens.  Your faithfulness, reaches to the skies!

More swimming!

Snow cones in the back of bri-bri's truck!
Silly cousins after swimming!
The dad's and kids minus crew and sam who were finished for the night

Friday night we had pizza, swam and visited with the Noles', Jarvis' and Ho's.  It was great to catch up and see everyones kids - cuties!  Saturday we went back to the pool to swim with our cousins.  The kids had a blast and we finished it off by going for a snow cone run!  Preslee and Haynes won the messy award but we all had fun.  It is so fun to raise our kids with so many awesome friends (half of which are family) I don't think they have a clue how blessed they are!

Psalm 16:11  You have made know to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand.

6.05.2009

Preslee's first haircut!

Our beautiful baby with her hair cut long and Ms. Robin
The cutting process
Preslee got her first haircut today.  She was of course great for it.  There are so many things that with the first child I hoped they would be good for, that it is just expected with the fourth.  Robin has given each of our kids their first haircut - which is so fun.  When she came in Preslee told her, "I want my hair cut long like mommy, not short like the boys!"  She cracks us up!  

Tennis!


Koop taking a great swing!
The girls pointing at the plane flying overhead
Preslee collecting balls - she said she wants to play pink tennis!
The 6 year-olds goofing around!
Kooper, London and Lilly went to tennis camp 4 mornings this week.  They had lots of fun. They were pretty good by the end.  Kooper had never picked up a racket before.  They received ticket to be traded in for a sucker at the end of each day.  The first two days Lilly won so the boys were not too happy.  They both redeemed themselves by each winning tickets the last 2 days!  
The Heavens declare the Glory of GOD, the skies proclaim His name.  Psalm 19:1

Happy 10th birthday Luke!

Luke's birthday!
The Zoo!
We got to go to the zoo with Nana and Luke last week.  It was lots of fun - the kids loved the seal show.  On Wednesday we got to celebrate Luke's 10th birthday with him - we went to Hey Day and ate pizza, played games and Luke and Koop played lazer-tag!  Can't believe you are 10 Luke!  It has gone way too fast.  You are a sweet man of God and we can't wait to see all God has planned for you in the years to come!  
Matthew 8:26-27  Then Jesus woke up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him"

6.04.2009

Summer fun!

Team work - they really got them completely off by themselves
Our handsome little boys!
Just another day in the life of a princess!
Swimming with the Graves and Stovers
Here are a few of the fun things we have been up to!  Every year we say it can't get any better than this, but guess what?  It keeps getting better!  Braxton and Sutton are officially on the "fishy" team with Koop; and Preslee is close behind.  So crazy, just a few weeks ago none of them were that crazy about the pool.  One of their favorite activities at the pool right now is getting "treasures" off the bottom!  Braxton and Sutton decided they want to be like Koop and took their own training wheels off - we still haven't got it down but goal for the summer.

1 Samuel 20 - Just meditating on true friendship - don't know if there is a better example than David and Jonathan!