Dress me up!

Sutton/Luigi; Dax/Power ranger; Port/Dale; Braxton/Mario

Indiana Kooper - put the costume together himself:)

Pretty little ballerina

The Narnia kids and Aslan - before walking through Narnia

Mario, Luigi and Preslee at Gingerbread party

The dressing up started Thursday morning with Braxton and Sutton's (Mario and Luigi) school party. Preslee decided to be a darling ballerina - instead of previously planned Cinderella - after all she did dress up in it for her birthday party!

Then they switched to the Narnia kids that night. We had so much fun going through an interactive Narnia program at a local church - it was awesome - they did a great job including the kids and clearly shared the gospel. When we finished they all wanted to go again:) Next year!

Friday they went from house to house with Juju and Grandad b/c Jake and I headed to a shower/costume party for Michael and Amanda. They had fun going around with their cousins and more fun just playing afterwards!

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice!

THREE already!

Happy birthday to you Princess Preslee!

Port and Braxton - Royal buddies

Princess' Preslee and Kate

Prince Sutton and Princess Maggie

Prince Caleb decorating his crown - giant crowns or high heels were desert - the kids loved decorating them!

Nana and Preslee watching her video- it was so fun putting it together looking back at how she has changed over the past 3 years!

The castle was a big hit- after everyone left daddy bounced us all ReAlLy high!

It's hard to believe our sweet little girl is 3! What a joy she has been to us the past three years. Her smile can truly light up a room:) We started off the day with birthday breakfast and ended the day celebrating with lots of family and friends "Cinderella style". What a fun day!

I had some amazing women of God write on place mats for her to put on tables outside at the party. Here is a summarized sample of what they wrote, many of them imparting what they are walking in as they pursue the purposes of God - thanks girls! So many of you play a huge role in helping shape our girl into the fulness of what God has for her:

*You will bring many to a place of happiness, joy and celebration - teaching them to walk with Jesus!

*Woman of God, mighty warrior, humble servant, princess of the king!

*A world changer; one who can do anything through Jesus. Psalm 84 will mark your life - one who longs for the presence of God!

*You are marked with beauty and strength; secure and confident in who God has made you to be. Psalm 1- you will be one who delights in the Lord, yields fruit in season and whatever you do will prosper.

*A woman of great faith; will be one who sees salvation spring up!

*Like a purple pansy flower - purple signifying royalty; pansy one who withstands even the harsh conditions of the world without being altered!

These kids have the best dad in the world!

The birthday boy and his almost birthday girl!

Braxton says, "you are the best daddy and I love to jump on the trampoline with you!"

Sutton says, "I want to be just like you when I'm a daddy!"

Kooper says, "you rock and you can beat really hard DS games."

Preslee says, "I'm yous girl daddy!"

My sweet husband celebrated his 33rd birthday this weekend. He truly is a gift to me. We have had a ridiculous schedule lately but it is clearing a bit; so we celebrated with our team on Saturday night in brick town and with family after church on Sunday at Iron Star! I had these shirts printed saying, "this kid has the best dad in the world." Many of Jake's buddies wrote encouragements to him and I put them into a book for him. Here is a small sample of some of the things said about my awesome hubby.......

*You always choose God's best, not just good.

*You are deeply respected and trusted; you walk in humility and integrity

*You find gold in others

*You find amazing success at whatever God leads you to do

*You hear God's voice and obey

*You are bold, confident, teachable and humble

*God has made you to lead people into freedom and truth

*You have great authority and lead with a servant's heart

*You pastor and disciple people well

*Your passion for Jesus is refreshing and challenging

*You are one of the most kingdom minded guys I have ever met

*You are willing to walk the narrow way

*Your business savvy is great; but your heart for the kingdom is necessary and awesome!

We are the luckiest 5 in the world to have you as our husband/best friend and daddy! We love you more!

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the path of sinners, sit in the seat of scoffers but his delight is in the Lord. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water that yields it's fruit in season, it's leaf does not wither and in whatever he does he prospers. Psalm 1:1

Baptism!

Yummy cookies to celebrate our boys big decision!

Daddy baptising Sutton

Our sweet Braxton!

Sweet Sutton!

Before being dunked - Sutton really didn't want to get his shirt wet:)

This Sunday we had the privilege of baptising our little dudes Braxton and Sutton. We are excited for all God has for each of their lives. Praying for them this is what we felt God speak over each of their lives. Daddy baptized the boy and then I got to pray over them. We are so proud of you and excited for all God will do in and through your lives!

Sutton:

You are faithful like Jonathan- loyal and a man of your word. We pray you will always choose God's best - not just good - you will walk through the narrow gate. We see a great gift of faith on your life to call things as God says they are not as they appear in the natural. Pray that you will walk in every fruit of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and the desires of God would be on your heart to do the will of God and accomplish every purpose in the earth He has prepared for you!

Braxton:

You are like Samuel - one who clearly hears the voice of God even at a young age. Praying that you will be one who walks in kindness and self-control. Praying you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and the power of God and boldness will be upon your life - you will bring many into the kingdom of God!

Homecoming!

Sure to be sweet friends forever!

Baby Keeton

Princess Pistol Preslee

Pistol Brax

Pistol Sutt- Sutt

Quarterback Kooper

Kooper and his buddy Steven

Chilling after the parade

We headed to Stillwater Saturday morning. "God's Country" as Jake likes to call it. Wow, we have lots of fun memories from that town. Some are together, some are not:) since we didn't start dating until half way through college. We first went to our amazing friends the Metcalf's. They just had baby Keeton about a month ago and it was the first time I have gotten to see him - though we have tried numerous times. He is sooo cute! And their sweet little girl Avery and Preslee loved playing together too. Would love if they would be college/lifelong friends like their mommies:) Sara's niece and nephews were in town for the game and taught my boys lots of cool tackle the man with the ball games on the trampoline - may have a few bloody noses from those -but the boys loved it. We then headed for America's #1 homecoming! We ate a yummy lunch and caught the parade; then we walked around campus and looked at all the house decks. We headed home just in time to get baths and get the kids in bed so mommy and daddy could cheer on the Cowboys. What a fun day with my favorite 5 people in the World!

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Pumpkin patch

Koop's class on the train

We went with Kooper's class to the Orr family farm last week. We had a great time and it was fun to get to meet some of the parents of his friends. Since they only go to school 2 days a week I have only gotten to know 2 mom's very well. Kooper was sweet enough to invite his brothers and sister to join us. My camera died during the trip so I only have a few pics but the car races and jumping pillows (enormous trampoline like pillows that were attached to the ground) were huge hits. As well as petting all the farm animals. It cracks me up that some kids do this with their family to live and others think it's a treat to see goats and chickens and pigs:)

Psalm 19:8

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Oh, Happy Day!

Koop wanted to take the pictures while we prayed for Sutton - they are all this fuzzy:)

Praying for Braxton!

Daddy walking us through our earlier discussion over lunch

I have to say I have wondered how this day would look many times. Having 2 kids with the same birthday - but still 2 kids. Would it be the same day, months apart? We have prayed from in utero that our kids would come to know Jesus at an early age, and walk with Him all the days of their lives! Every Monday morning we have staff meeting from 8:30-10:30. After coming home we finish any work that we had not completed Friday. Today, the boys spent the night at Juju and Grandad's b/c we got home from the Dr. so late with Preslee. So when we came home we still needed to do Bible story and our Heroes of the faith curriculum. We read the story of the tower of Babel and built the tower with blocks and acted the whole skit out -fun! Then we went into David Livingston (Hero) who was a medical missionary in Africa. Each kid got a simple Ziploc and I had out items such as band aids, cotton swabs, etc. they filled their "medical bags" up. Then I was a villager that they each took turns visiting to help me and care for my wounds. We talked about how he would learn their language and take care of their physical needs. I asked, "do you know what you could give these people that is even greater than medicine?" Brax said, "we can give them Jesus!" They each jumped in explaining the power of God, salvation and forgiveness of sin through Jesus' work on the cross for us. I continued role play that I was amazed I could have this gift. Sutton said, "you should listen to that song, Oh, Happy Day - it tells you that He washed your sins away!" Praise God it's not just words to 4 year-olds! After finishing up role play and talking more in depth I called Jake who now works in Norman on Mondays doing Equip (training school) stuff. I asked his lunch plans - it was now 12:15 - he told me that his lunch meeting had just canceled. I asked him to come home for a bit so we could lead our boys through this as a team! Over grilled cheese daddy lead us to the cross, the grave and the resurrection power of God - they got it! We all got to pray over them! I could not have planned it any better - the angels rejoice!

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!

My girl's boo-boos!

Swollen little face!

You can't rob her joy!

Sweet Preslee tried to pick up a friends dog - "like a baby" she later told us; and was bit on the face. It was bad:( We immediately took her to urgent care. The boys response was amazing. Kooper immediately took over leading the pack running to the car and then he crying and holding Preslee's hand over the seat began to call out different peoples names to pray. We watched God begin to heal her on the spot - so cool how the size shrunk before our eyes. We immediately turned our hearts to praise that it had not gotten her eye -so close, and had not torn through her little lip - just 2 big punctures on the inside. God continues to heal her up. We are believing for no scaring in the name of Jesus!

Psalm 91:4 He has covered you with His feathers; under his wings you will find refuge, his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart!

Selah is T-W-O!

The birthday princess with her favorite accessory - gum!

Preslee likes going high in the swing!

Mr. Josh one of our favorites!

This pair have so much silly fun together!

We have loved having the Kennedy's in our life. Selah- we pray the blessing of the Lord upon you! That you will do mighty things for the kingdom!

Psalm 64:9 They will proclaim the works of God, and ponder what He has done!

Let the festivities begin!

Michael came to help load all their goodies!

Amanda loved opening all her gifts!

With her mom Debbie

The festivities have begun! We got to throw a wedding shower for Amanda this weekend! It is the first of many fun activities to come before the December wedding. We could not be more blessed to get her in our family. We are all crazy about Amanda!

Numbers 6:24-25 The Lord bless and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

Last soccer game!

We got our bling!

Sutton found a grasshopper - not while he was on the sideline but on the field playing:)

My sweet boy!

Last spider-monkey huddle

Fun with cousins!

Koop and Mama!

Koop took this pic of the performers! Preslee and Sloan were in on the show!

Silly even when they are eating:) Nancy's brownies make you feel like dancing!

We went from Hank's party straight to see Mickey (Jake's uncle that lives in L.A.) who had came in town for the weekend. I realize I didn't get any pics with Mickey but the kids sure had fun. Growing up with cousins is awesome!

Proverbs 15:15 The cheerful heart has a continual feast!