Tulsa Trip

We recently flew to Tulsa to visit with Grandpa Steve and Grandma Donna.   Grandma, Grandpa and I all share October birthdays and Grandpa and I even have the EXACT same birthday.  They always travel to see us for all the family birthdays but we thought we would head up there this year.  The kids were super excited to see Grandma and Grandpa and had a fun time giving lots of hugs and kisses.  Although we couldn't quite get Addison to stop spanking Grandpa Steve as she would tell him, "Stop that you" and then she would run away laughing hysterically.  Who knows what goes on in that crazy girls head???

Me and Dad. B with our birthday cake, yummy, yummy.

We decided to take advantage of the pretty weather in Tulsa and had a fun zoo day with the kids.  

The rhinos were quite active and were rolling all over in the mud.  Addison said, "That rhino needs a bath from his momma."

Amelia playing on the train.

Luke scaled up the climbing rock faster than anyone, he is quite the little monkey.  King of the rock!

Oh the joys of a six year old boy...checking the statue for boogers.

The petting zoo is always a big hit.  Luke with his winning smile.  Love this boy.

Amelia would stay and pet animals all day, she was in heaven.

Gross.  Addison wouldn't stop kissing all of the animals no matter how many times we asked her to stop.  Seeing as she is the third born we eventually thought, oh well, she'll survive.  

I love this shot of all my little monkeys.  We had a nice visit in Tulsa, lots of puzzles, Uno games and coloring time and special time with Grandma and Grandpa.  We also visited Dave and Busters which of course Stephen enjoyed as much if not more than the kids.  Nothing like spending $50 on games just so the kids can turn in their tickets for a prize that would have cost $1 at Walmart!  We flew home on a later flight so the kids were a little amped up after the whole weekend.  While waiting for our connecting flight the kids were running around and getting too wild.  Addison was about to hit Luke and Stephen and I both said, "Addison, stop!"  She turned toward us and YELLED through the airport terminal, "I NOT DOING ANYTHING...I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!"  You can imagine all of the laughter in the airport and Stephen and I just shook our heads and cried for the tween years.

Just play!

This moment, right here, is the reason we don't put our kids in a bunch of after school activities.  It is the freedom to do what kids need to do, play.  The big decision each day revolves around choosing to ride bikes to get snow cones, go play at the beach or take a ride on the rope swing.  No hurry up, do your homework we have to get to soccer, gymnastics, dance, etc.  After the kids have been in school all day the last thing we want to do is haul them somewhere else and let someone else enjoy them while we sit on the sidelines.  This probably sounds judgmental and I don't mean it to.  I do not judge that other people enjoy extracurricular activities, we just don't; not yet.  I know the day will come when the kids will choose activities and friends over spending time with their parents but I certainly don't want to rush that moment.  Right now they always choose us so we choose to choose them.  And besides, it's more fun to build sand castles !

Another gem with my kids; just add water.  That is the magic ingredient if anyone is fighting, add water by squirt guns, beach, bath, pool, magic potions in a bucket; doesn't matter, just add water and everyone is smiling again.

Buried mommy up to the shins!

Sink or Swim

One of the fun things about our public school system is 3rd grade swim.  All the 3rd graders take swim at the local YMCA for 8 weeks during P.E.  It is a big rite of passage and they all look forward to it.  Amelia being goofy at her swim graduation.

Showing her 'bobs.'

Backstroke, good form Mimi!

Jump to the middle of the pool and then tread water for a minute and then flip over and float.  

I had a normal, cute, everyone smiling shot but couldn't pass this one up.

Cutie patootie.  

Fun Weekend

Friday Night we rode our bikes down to front beach and let the kids have fun in the sand while we watched the sunset.  Our neighbor, Gina, came along for the fun:)  Coincidentally, Gina's last name is Bosco which has been quite confusing for all of Ocean Springs who calls us the Boskos, so now the Boscos and the Boskos live across the street from each other.  So, the kids called us the Bosko Bike Gang.

Saturday Morning brought Amelia's first tennis tournament!  They had about 20 kids in the 10 and under category and Amelia played three matches.  She did great and had such a fun time learning to play "real" matches.  It was an unsanctioned match so it didn't go on their official record.

Amelia and Anna getting the lowdown on scoring.

Good backswing Amelia!

Shaking hands to say good match while giggling the whole time.

Saturday night meant camping out in the backyard.  Look at all my loves smiling right at the camera.  

My little man.

We watched the sunset in our backyard after the tent was set up.

Getting the fire ready.

Addison cruising in her Dora jeep.  After campfire time and jeep riding, Addison and I went inside snug in our own beds while the big kids and Daddy faced the great outdoors.  They made it until about 2:30 am when Daddy's allergies kicked his booty and the camp out moved inside to the couches.  Oh well, a fun time was had by all.

Cheerleaders!

Go Greyhounds!  Here are the kids all lined up waiting for the Homecoming parade to begin.

Addison has this parade thing down pat...sucker-check, beads-check.

Dancing and yelling for some throws.  Addison was funny this year, she learned from the big kids so she dances around and girlie squeals, "Wooooo Hooooo!"

Amelia and Mckenzie even went to the Homecoming game!  Greyhounds win :)

I had my own little cheer section at my tennis match the other night.  So cute, thanks Daddy for bringing them to cheer me on.  The other teams were all impressed by their cuteness too so I asked them to take it easy on me so I could look good in front of my kids.  

Dog Days

Our dogs, still sounds funny to me, our dogs.  Sadie and Wrigley have been such a fun addition to our house and they really fit right in.  They have learned to live with the chaos that is our life and have gotten used to our routine, or lack of one as the case may be.  I think Sadie is getting cuter but maybe I am just biased.  She has gained about 4 pounds since we brought her home so she is not looking quite so sad now.  She is still such a snuggler and will roll over to be pet if you even say her name but she is also so much livelier than when we brought her home.  She will play fetch ALL DAY LONG and won't let Wrigley even stand a chance to get a toy.  

Little Wrigley.  Such a cutie.  These dogs are so spoiled.  First I said I would never get dogs, now I have two.  I also said the dogs would never be allowed on the couch, see below.   Stephen and I have pretty much followed the rule of presents/surprises for the kids only on their birthdays and Christmas; apparently the same rules don't apply to the dogs.  Every time mommy and the kids go to the store, the dogs get a new toy.  Stephen is just as bad.  He bought some fru fru organic, no filler, gazillion dollar dog food for the dogs.  Whatever happened to Ole Roy?  I mean geesh, we don't even buy organic for the kids.  

So sweet, mommy and baby cuddling up on the couch.

I just wish these dogs could get comfortable and relax a little.

Alright, enough of the dogs.  I will take more pictures of the kids and post them soon.

Lion King 3D

Luke had his 6th birthday party at the movie theatre to watch Lion King 3D!  Here he is with all his buddies to celebrate.  The party was a big hit, all the cake, popcorn and soda they could eat/drink.

Cutie Luke slurping as much soda as his little body could hold.  Due to all the soda drinking, we did take all the kids to the bathroom before the movie started.  I definitely got the better end of the deal only having to take the three older girls.  Stephen got stuck with 7 boys ranging in age from 4-7.  Yikes!  Despite the pre-movie bathroom break, we still took quite a few potty breaks during the movie.

Luke's New Orlean Saints cake.  

Luke and his boys.

So VIP.  The movie theatre had roped off the entire first row for Luke's party so the kids felt pretty important to walk up to their seats and see their own personal movie food tray.  Lots more soda, popcorn and candy!  The kids were super well behaved and it was fun to watch them reach out and try to grab the 3D effects.  Happy 6th Birthday Party day Luke:)

I want to stop time.

This little girl is looking so big now I can barely stand it.  I wish I could freeze time and have the kids stay the ages they are forever. 

Trying to wink.  I think she looks like my sister Traci when Traci was a toddler.

I told Addison to "look sweet."

Friday Night Lights

Our tennis club had a fun "Friday Night Lights" event this weekend.  Tennis fun, pizza, games...we are there!

The kids, all geared up and ready to play.  Addison was quite the hit that night with her adorable tennis outfit and itty bitty racquet.  She would loudly tell everyone that said hello to her, " I want to play tennis!"

Luke and mommy getting some practice time in.

My littlest tennis star. 

The kids were so excited to stay up late and play under the lights.  It was a beautiful night with lots of family fun, our favorite.