Halloween 2010

The kids had a great Halloween and got lots of goodies..Kenna was a sassy parrot, Jackson was Superman, and Brody was Batman.  I made Kenna's costume and it turned out super cute for not alot of money, we got so many compliments and Kenna was so proud.  Brody stayed at Nanu and Pappy's while I took the kids around the neighborhood to trick or treat.  We had such a great evening with family and friends, I hope everyone else did too!!!

Poor Jackson

This week has been a little crazy!!!!  Jackson started running a high fever last Sunday night and this continued until Wednesday night, so poor guy only went to school on Friday and now we are just hoping that Kenna doesn't get it.  I stayed home with him and was going a little stir crazy without my weekly Target, Wal Mart, and The Rink visits but I survived.   Friday night Kenna had a friend stay the night and they had production practice in Tuttle again from 9 to noon, so I loaded Kenna, two of her friends, and both boys and dropped the girls off. The boys and I had planned on taking Lacy and the kids breakfast and spending some time with them out at their home in Blanchard.  Well all started out smoothly, we went and got McDonalds for everyone and started driving out to my sisters house but tried going a different way from Tri City and ended up on the turnpike headed to Chickasha.   Thankfully my brother in law had just got home from work and was able to tell me how to get back to where I needed to be, so what we had planned on being a three hour visit turned into about and hour.  I was very proud of myself, I remained totally calm and had no tears (I am not good when it comes to getting lost).  Lacy asked if the boys could stay and play for a while and she would bring them to Yukon, so the boys were so excited and had a blast with Ally and Wyatt.  We hung out at home Saturday night and all Sunday. 

Tomorrow I go to sign all the paperwork to start Jackson in Speech, we are excited to start this and see the progress.  I am also promising myself to get up early and start walking, the weather is to perfect not to and I think I am going to join Weight Watchers. This is hard for me because I never had to diet until after I had kids but I am not happy with how I look right now and this is so hard for me to admit but after having Brody it has been so much harder getting it off and I do not want to be one of those women who constantly blame it having the third kid, I know I can do this I am just going to have to put myself first.  I want feel comfortable in my clothes again and have self confidence.  I will keep you updated on this new leaf I am trying to turn over, I will definitely need lots of encouragement and I am very lucky because I have three of the best little cheerleaders in my life who love me unconditionally and a husband who supports me in all I do.  I am blessed!

I am starting a new project, Project Hallway.. I have so many favorite family photos that I want to transform to black and white and hang in my hall but make it look classy and elegant but still feel like a home full of love.  I have been looking at pics on the Internet all day and these are a few I found I liked.  The black and white of the kids faces close up on canvas, I am so in love with and will definitely do somewhere in my house now I just have to find the perfect pictures. 

Wordless Wednesday

Kenna's Big Moment

It was a very big weekend for Kenna, she performed her first solo ever. She entered the Mini Solo Division at OU and it was held at the Lloyd Noble Center. Just Kenna and I went because Brody got sick with a high fever on Friday night and daddy stayed home with him and Kenna didn't want to invite anyone because she was so nervous and was so scared they would see her mess up. We have been working up to this moment since August. I have never considered me a stage mom but I think this solo tested me in every sense of the word. Kenna and I have had so many meltdowns together during practices at home, poor Miss Darcy had to give us a pep talk and from then on I promised myself more compliments than critiques. Apparently Kenna did not need any critiquing because on October 9th, 2010 she walked out on the huge gym floor where in my eyes she looked like she was so little and she blew me away with her confidence. At this moment watching her, it didn't matter about a toe that wasn't pointed or a facial that wasn't made or a leap that wasn't high enough, all that I saw was a little girl who overcame her fears and all those years of being the only mom sitting in dance class with a crying little girl who wanted to dance so bad but was too embarrassed had paid off. I knew I would be proud of her but I had no idea the emotions that would come over me, the minute she walked on that floor I realized once again what an amazing young lady her daddy and I were raising and how lucky we are to call her ours, not only did she make us proud this day but every day. On the technical part she won first runner up and got a medal, but as far as Kenna is concerned she won and I tend to agree with her. She got to do this competition with one of her closest friends, Brenna, and I am so glad the girls got to share this experience together, it is definetly a memory that will last a lifetime. Kenna and I have made such great friends through dance and I just hope they will continue to develop. From here we will have her next solo competition on November 13th in Sapulpa, and Kenna is so excited!!

Welcome Fall...

We have been busy, but this seems to the theme to our life right now. We had parent teacher conferences on Tuesday evening and Kenna's was perfect she is excelling in all areas and she is a wonderful student. Jackson's was a little different, as I walked into his classroom the counsler who is a family friend walked in with me and shut the door behind her, I couldn't help but feel like I was in school again and I was about to get in trouble. They showed me Jackson's tests scores and we then figured out the he is developmentally behind but they think it all due to his speech. I was a little confused because Jackson has a great vocabulary and you can definetly understand everything he says but we have figured out that even though he uses a certain word he may not be comprehending what it means. As his mom I couldn't help but question what I could have done differently, because I keep feeling like this is my fault. Mrs. Doenier and Shelli Selby were amazing and told me that I did nothing wrong and that they will never give up on him and he is going to be fine. I know he will be fine and this is not the worst news a parent can get but I want everyone to see all that I see in him, he is an amazing little boy who gives the best hugs and loves to make people laugh. They are testing him this week for speech and then he will go twice a week for thirty minutes to have one on one work with a speech pathologist, they seem to think this will be what he needs and I hope it is but if not we will figure it out because as Jackson tells me all the time he is a genius and I will make sure we will find out what helps him understand everything. Other than that Mrs. Doenier said he is a sweet little boy and she loves having him, I thank God everyday that he has her.

On Thursday since Jackson was already out of school, we checked Kenna out early and went to the Okahoma State Fair. We had lots of fun. We people watched, ate a pork burger and cinnamon rolls, the kids ate a corn dog and we all drank root beer out of a jug. We looked at the all the horses and bulls, this was the kids favorite. Russell was such a trooper to take us since he had to go straight back Thursday evening and work at the fair. Friday the kids were out all day from school and we had a leisure day, Russell had to work so the kids and I went to Hobby Lobby to get all the stuff to make Kenna's parrot costume and I promised them if they were good I would take them to Toys R Us (which worked great), they showed me lots of goodies they want for Christmas. We also went to Target and got Jackson's Superman costume and he is so excited. Saturday Kenna had production practice for her Caged dance in Tuttle and Melissa, Lexie, and Brenna rode with us out there, it was a closed practice so Melissa and I went and found garage sales in the big town of Tuttle, it was interesting but we did find a few treasures and had lots of laughs. Mimi and Pops kept the boys and I met Pops after practice was over and got the boys and we just hung out and played at the house for the rest of the day since Russell had to work and estate sale and then the fair (so glad this was his last day of the fair for this year).. On Sunday I worked on Kenna's parrot costume and I love the way it is turning out and so far I have only spent $10 on it (yay for me), I love being creative and it turning out even better than I imagined. We put our fall/Halloween decorations up and cleaned, the weather was perfect so the kids played in the backyard, and when I say kids I mean Russell too. Kenna practiced her solo for an hour because we have our first solo competition of the year at OU on October 9th. She is doing better and better everyday and I know she will do great on stage, I am so proud of her. Well now off to bed to gear up for another busy week!!

Welcome Back Mock Family Blog!!!

Okay here we go again and I am going to try to keep up with this blog. I really want to document all the little moments with my family and friends. Since my last post alot has happened with our family.

Russell and I are very busy parents and in between the parenting we try and make time for our marriage, we have learned this is something we still need to get better with. Russell is still loving his job but is working crazy hours with what seems like not alot of days off. I let my real estate license go inactive for the reason I have not time to commit to a client right now but I love being able to give myself 100% to my kids and my husband (but mommy needs some girl time too). Our kids are growing into such wonderful and fun little people. Kenna did her first competitive dance season last spring and has truly found her passion, she is AMAZING!! This year she is doing a solo (Heartburn), a trio with Lexie Inge and Brenna Nichols (I've Got a Crush On You), the production dance (Caged), and two group dances (Ridin In Style and Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair). We are so proud of her and still can't believe how far she has come, she has so much confidence. She started second grade and has Mrs. Lee, she is still adjusting to having a new teacher and new class but I am hoping the days just get better for her. Kenna and I both have gaines lifetime friends with her dance family and we both love it but then again I love anything that involves being with my babies.

Jackson played soccer last spring for Yukon Thunder, he loved it but Daddy was not to impressed because the team had no practices so we decided not to let him be on that team again. He finished up Pre K at My Lamb's and hated leaving Miss Konnie but was excited to finally get to go to Sissy's school. He has Mrs. Doenier this year for Kindegarten and we love her so much, I feel like she will be great for Jackson. Unfortunately on the third day of school he had to go visit Mrs. Selby because he layed down in class and told the teacher he was to tired to do his work and that he would just wait for storytime on the floor. Mommy was a little worried that this was a sign of the year to come but Jackson proved me wrong and has been amazing ever since.. This makes mommy's life so much easier. He is all boy but with the best hugs..

And Brody, the baby, he is still being the baby of the family. He has quite a little personality and makes us laugh on a daily basis. School starting back up has been a little hard for him because he misses Jackson and Kenna so much but he does love having to not share mommy and daddy for a couple of hours. He loves Disney Cars, monster trucks, Toy Story, and anything that had to do with sports (i think he will be our athlete).

Well there is our life in brief, I will try to catch up more through future posts.....

It's Been A Long Time....

I have not got to write anything in awhile so I will try and get back up to speed the best I can. All three of my kids have had some kind of cold over the last two weeks, Jackson and Brody have both had to be on antibiotics and Kenna still has a really bad cough. Brody has been the sickest, it all started with an ear infection and he had a cough and then he started throwing up. I called Dr Bowen and she started on him on antibiotic right then and he started to get a little better but he was still continuing to throw up everytime he woke up from a nap or in the morning, I am beginning to think he might be slightly lactose intolerant because yesterday he had one bottle of milk (I know he is to old to be on the bottle but he is the baby and it is hard to give up all this when I know he is my last) and thats it and hasn't thrown up in twenty four hours. I am hoping we have figured out the problem, I am keeping my fingers crossed. It is so hard when Brody gets sick, I still get so scared that something bad is going to happen so I watch him like a hawk and constently make sure he is breathing normal, I am sure this is annoying to him but I don't ever want him to be that sick again.. On a lighter note we got to go on a field trip with Jackson's class to the Science Museum, Russell and I got to spend some quality one on one time with Jackson. He is such a good little boy and brings so much joy to our lives. He loved the museum, some things were a little to old for him to understand but we still had a great time and always love to see him get so excited about seeing new things.. Oklahoma had big winter storm on that started on Thursday (January 28) that was constent until Friday evening, we got about 3/4 inch of ice and around 6 inches of snow on top of that. We haven't gotten out of the house since Wednesday, well at least me and the boys haven't but the snow looks beautiful. Kenna and Russell went to the Daddy/ Daughter dance tonight and had a great time. Kenna is really coming into her own and is gaining so much self confidence, Russell said she was dancing on the dance floor when no one else was which is a huge change from last year when she barely went on the dance floor and never by herself. She and Russell had their little dance routine that she loved which is where he spins her and slides her between his legs followed by the dip, this was a little hard on Daddy's back but it was all worth it for Kenna. She spent most of the night dancing with Daddy, Olivia, and Uncle Matt but still got to see some of her other special friends there. Russell said she did the zombie dance when Thriller came on and she also broke out the Robot moves, I love that she is having fun and not worried about being embarrassed, I hope she only gains more self confidence every year. They had a blast and now Russell is worried that next year he won't be able to keep up with her but I know no matter what they will always have a good time together!! I am off to get my baby to sleep and hopefully not go this long again without blogging...