Memorial Day in Alabama

We spent Memorial Day in Alabama with Wes' family. We made the 12 hour drive over. It was a short stay but it was great!

We had lots of fun. On Saturday, we went out to Wes' uncles land and had a cook out. There is a creek that runs through the property and the girls loved playing in it. They also loved playing with their cousin Kinsleigh. She is a couple of years older.

Getting ready for fun!

Watching the cows

Getting ready to walk in the creek

Kinsleigh and the girls

Nana and the girls

Great-grandma and the girls

 

Listening to music

Nana, Darlene, and Great-grandpa

Gracie talking to her cousin Huck

The girls singing

On Sunday, we went swimming in the pool. While waiting for lunch, we played in the yard. The girls had a blast. After dinner, we took all the kids to the park. That evening, we all sat on the porch while we visited with the family.

Lizzie swimming

Loving the pool!

Gracie swimming

Warming up from the cold pool

Playing at the park

Love a tire swing with cousin Brande pushing!

It was a fast trip but nice. We had some Nana time that we've been missing. The girls got to spend time with their great-grandma, great-grandpa, great-aunts,great-uncle and lots of cousins!

Last Day of Preschool

Wednesday was the girls last day of preschool. Both girls were sad that they were leaving the school but they are looking forward to kindergarten. The girls had a great year at school and loved it!

Gracie and her teacher Tammie

 

The girlies

Lizzie and her teacher Tarrin

I'm having a bit of trouble with how big the girls are getting. It seems like they are growing up so quickly. It will be hard not to see them in the halls at church while I'm working.

Weekend Fun!

We had a great weekend. We stayed busy and had fun. On Saturday, we started out by working in the yard. Then in the afternoon, we went to our friend Ally's birthday party. It was a gymnastics party and the girls loved it. I've know Ally's mom, Shari, since college. Our other college friend, Cindy, was there with her kids Mara and Jack.

Gracie waiting for the trampoline

Lizzie waiting her turn

The girls, Jack was too busy to stop for a picture.

It was great to see my friends again. We all moved down here from Oklahoma after college at various times.

Sunday was a very big day for us. As part of my job at the church, I helped plan a huge retirement celebration for our senior pastor. It went really well and we had lots of people come!

Singing in the choir

Posing with their new stickers on their purses

It was a great weekend. 

Mother's Day Spilled Into Monday

Yesterday was Mother's Day. We had a great day. We spent it in Oklahoma City seeing all the family. We got there on Saturday just in time for lunch and to watch Sydney play soccer. Poor girl had to play the whole game so her face was beat red by the time we saw her.

She's the red headed one. Love the oil pump in the background

Watching Sydney's game

The soccer stars! We missed Sam's game.

After soccer, we went back to my parents house and had dinner. After dinner, the kids played and then my cousin Chris and Kassidy came over. We had a nice visit.

Sunday was Mother's Day. We had a great day. I got to sleep in and Mom and Wes made breakfast. My sister came over and we picked up the Grandma. It was fun.

The kids playing playdoh

Lizzie

Gracie eating a cantalope

Wes and I

 On Monday, Wes decided to take the day off for us to have a family day. The girls really had fun. We went for hair cuts and then had lunch at Cracker Barrel (the girls' choice).

Gracie at Cracker Barrel

Lizzie ready to order

Lizzie and me

Gracie and Wes

Gotta play a game of checkers.

 After lunch, we stopped at the Duck Pond to play. While the girls were playing, Wes found a baby turtle. It was really fun to watch it and the girls. After awhile, Wes decided to let the turtle go back to the pond. There was another little boy playing and Gracie wanted him to come too. She took his hand and asked his mommy. All the kids loved watching the turtle. As soon as Wes put in on a rock in the pond, the turtle ran and jumped in the water.

Lizzie climbing the wall

The girls and the tiny turtle

Peeking through holes

Gracie at the top!

From the park, we went back home and I took a nap. It was nice. We had a great weekend and glad we got to spend some time together as a family. We have been really busy and having one day to just slow down and hang out was fun!

Muffins with Mom

Today was Muffins with Moms at the girls school. Of course, it was in their individual classrooms so I had to bounce back and forth. Usually, the girls understand and don't have any trouble. Today was different. Gracie and Lizzie both were in and out of our room last night with bad dreams. Neither girl got much sleep.

Anyway, I dropped the girls off and started in Gracie's class. She served me orange juice and shared the presents she had made me. She was so excited and happy. Then, I needed to go back to Lizzie. Lizzie was sitting there sweetly, but looking lonely while all the other kids had their moms. She was happy to see me and gave me a muffin. We looked through her journal and all the presents she had for me.

Gracie and I

Then it was back to Gracie. We went through all the descriptions of the moms that the kids had written and then sang a song. Gracie came back to my lap and I told her I needed to see Lizzie. She didn't want me to go. Usually, both girls are very understanding when they have to share. It was very unusual for Gracie to not want to share.

Lizzie and I

Back to Lizzie, where they sang and then wrapped up. I headed back to Gracie to find her in tears. She thought I wasn't going to come back. She then started sobbing and saying that she didn't want me to leave. Even when her teacher started the day, Gracie didn't want me to leave. Finally her teacher took her and I left. All this was so unlike Gracie, it really worried me.

It was so hard leaving her. Neither girl has had trouble with us leaving them. There have been a handful of times that they have had problems. Of course, I worried about her all day until I ran into Lizzie's teacher and she said that Gracie appeared fine at recess. 

When I picked up the girls from school, Gracie was fine. She was tired but happy. Lack of sleep and Gracie don't mix (she gets that from Wes). The rest of the day went better. We went to the mall and then had their school picnic. They had a blast at the picnic.

Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tony

This weekend, we made a trip to Oklahoma to see my aunt and uncle in Tulsa (or just outside of Tulsa). It had been a long time since I had been to their house. The girls were really excited.

Thursday, after Kindergarten Round Up, we headed for OKC to see my parents and spend the night. On Friday, we left for Tulsa. We met Tony and Kathy at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. The girls fed turtles and stingrays. They got to pet stingrays and sharks. It was really fun!

Looking around

Can you see them through the fish?

Feeding some turtles

Excited to see the next thing

There is really something that big in the lakes and streams in Oklahoma

Wow!

Shark cage

Gracie

Lizzie

Tony and Kathy with the girls. There are some sharks swimming around behind them

Windy day in Tulsa! Couldn't keep the hair out of their faces

After the Aquarium, we headed to Braum's to eat ice cream and then to Tony and Kathy's. The girls couldn't wait to see their house. They thought it was a fancy house because it had stairs.  That night, we had Mexican food for dinner with Kathy's sister and nephew. It was really good!

On Saturday, it was rainy and cold. Kathy and Tony made us a yummy breakfast of apple pancakes and bacon. After breakfast, Kathy pulled out some craft supplies and the girls had a blast. They loved it! For lunch, we had Chinese food.

Gracie ready to craft!

Lizzie is ready!

Crafting away

Wes supervised for a bit

After lunch, we headed back to OKC to celebrate my cousin Chris' birthday. After birthday dinner, it was a three hour drive back home.

Angie, Chris and Dawson with the girls

Sydney and Kassidy getting so big!

The girl cousins, poor Sammy was sick and left early.

Sisters

Sunday, the girls sang in church. Fortunately, it was the 11:00 am service and not the early one! They did a great job and we are so proud of them. 

On our way to church in our cowboy boots!

Whew! What a busy and fun weekend! We loved seeing so much family and appreciate Tony and Kathy having us. They were so great with the girls!