A Quick Trip to Missouri

Taking advantage of the long weekend, we loaded up again and went to see Justin's parents in Missouri.  It was a really fun weekend!  We rolled in to town around 11pm and while my eyes were rolling back in my head, Justin was a trooper and drove the whole way.

We relaxed the next morning and really just had some down time at the house.  We attempted a trip into town for shoe shopping, but came home with none.  Haylie wasn't too happy with that.  She really needed these silver Cinderella high-heeled princess looking shoes.  And Jace probably would have come with the same pair, had I let either one.  He loves trying on shoes!

Later that night, reading with Papa and Daddy

 On Sunday, we went to church and I pulled a cool trick - I locked the keys in the van.  Pretty much the only time I do this is with my in-laws, so they are probably wondering why I haven't had a hidden key made!  I just like to keep them on their toes.  Thankfully we had the rest of church service to go so we could patiently wait on Tiger Tow to get there.

After, we found an airshow!  I was commenting the day before about how there was one here in OKC and was bummed that we missed it.  I knew J would like it so much.  So, little did I know, there was one in Missouri!  It was bright, we didn't bring our sunglasses, and it was kind of hot.  But we enjoyed the kid ride, the parachutes and the jet show at the end.

And someone might not have been able to contain his excitement to stay awake the entire time.  He actually slept the entire bus ride back to the car and then the car ride back to the house!  Hooray for a great nap!

Memorial Day was relaxing as we had just a few hours before we needed to pack up and drive home.  We spent the late morning over at the cousins house where J caught his first fish!  Justin threw out the line but Jace reeled it in!! 

I wish I could say we had a relaxing trip home, but after the first 3.5 hours, Jace had.enough.  Screaming, whining, talking, oh boy!  It was a long end to the day, but needless to say, we survived.  All in all, a great family weekend.

Now, I'm ready to stay home for a little bit! :)

Digging for Crystals

A few weekends ago, my family took a quick trip to Jet, Oklahoma.  This is a State Park in Oklahoma and has a place for you to dig for salt crystals.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but ended up having a really good time!

View from our cabin of the Great Salt Plains Lake

 We took our time getting out to the dig site, which is completely free!  It was a bit chilly, so we did wear layers of clothing, but if you go in the summer, it might be a good idea to bring some type of shade.  We unloaded our shovels, sifters, water and buckets and got to work.  We found lots of crystals that day!

Just a sample of the many we found!

The dig site where lots have left their mark

 J was done in about 20 minutes - or as soon as he realized he was getting dirty.  H on the other hand, loved running around with her cousins, helping dig and then finally jumping into puddles!  We wrapped up in a few hours, left with loads of crystals, and headed back to eat some lunch.

While relaxing at the cabin, J was in the van when he all of a sudden started saying, "uh oh!!" he was pointing to this thing flying around in our van and of course I thought it was a huge, nasty bug and was about to call for Justin.  Turns out, it was a hummingbird!  It got in our van and was trying to find it's way out.  It actually let Justin cup it carefully in his hand and then flew away.  Pretty neat for the kids to see a bird up close.

And a horse up close.  Without the intention of being a wildlife kind of weekend, this kid was riding by on a horse and stopped to let the kids touch!  H was in heaven.

Kids showing off their crystals that they found

Church service in a nature chapel - songs led by Eli.  Yes, Princesses Anna and Elsa were in attendance

More wildlife!  A sweet bird just hanging out on the pavement.  We didn't let J touch, but he was so happy to see him up close!

 I love rural Oklahoma a lot.  I didn't realize it until this trip, but the fields that stretch for miles and run-down cabins have a soft spot in my heart.

On the way home, we decided to stop in Enid to sample Leonardo's.  It is SUPER fun and worth a drive from the city.  It is like Jasmine Moran's children museum on a smaller scale, but one thing they have that Jasmine doesn't is a huge tree house fort that you can get so lost in!  Very neat and the kids had a great time.

If you are looking for a fun weekend getaway, I highly encourage going to Jet to dig for salt crystals!  It's loads of fun.

A Little This, A Little That

Why, hello.  It's been awhile and while I do have some good excuses, I will acknowledge that even if no one out there still reads this, then I guess it's my own fault. Which is okay, because I want it for me and my own memories.

But I do have some good excuses...one is being that I am running a blog.  Yes, I understand the irony in that I can't keep up with my own, but a lot has been on my plate with that.  Instead of the boring details, I just want to leave you with a picture of some of my absolute favorite people that I get to write alongside with.

Katie, Kristi, Jenna, me, Anna & Carrie

I hope you follow along each day as these women bring you ideas, tips, parenting struggles and the like each day.  I love hearing any and all feedback, so hit me with it! :)

I've also inspired my husband to do a few updates around the house.  We found this light on clearance at Lowe's!!  I fell in love with it and I think J is finally coming around.  It brightens up the whole porch and I could not be happier.  Also happening, new granite countertops!!  I'll {try} to post a picture when those come in.  I can not wait.  Next up, backyard overhaul!

I've also been able to watch this beauty just get more gorgeous each and every day.  Sassy doesn't even begin to describe her at some moments of the day, but most of the time she is a sweet, sweet girl.

J and I are also wrapping up teaching the one of the 4 year old classes at church.  Lemmetellya, that is a complicated task!  We have really enjoyed the time we have spent with these kids and getting to know the kids who my daughter will hopefully spend her youth group years with.

Mother's Day also came!  I loved my note from H.

I love that she thinks I'm 54, that I love to go to Wal-Mart (gag) and that my favorite thing to do is clean-up.  But I mostly love that she knows how much I love HER!

Me and my sweet kids at the park on Mother's Day!  Jace is being a ham like usual.

Jace is absolutely adorable.  He is starting to piece sentences together and his personality is really shining through!  He loves to laugh and be silly/ornery.  He really likes to tell you NO!  Which, of course, doesn't get him very far.  He loves H so much and for the most part they get along really well.  Hoping that lasts forever...right???

Sonshine School has ended for the year...forever for H. *tear* I may have teared up during the final pickup...man, I have a pre-K-er now.

Yeah!!  Summer time has begun!!