Labor Day Retreat

Our church has an annual Labor Day Retreat at New Life Ranch. Our kids look forward to this from the time we leave the from the retreat every year.  It is a GREAT family experience for us.

This year Matt's parents were able to come with us.  It was fun to share our church family and retreat with them.  

It was also a special time for our family because I was baptized in the creek! 

For pictures of the weekend check out my Facebook

Shooting Stars and Jumping Fish

.....both of which we saw this weekend.

We went camping this weekend while my mom was in town. It was Rachel's first time camping. Needless to say its been a few years since we've been camping. It made me realize again how much I love camping.  

We went to Sequoyah State Park located on Ft. Gibson lake.  It was beautiful, almost as if we weren't in Oklahoma!

My sister and her husband(Ryan) were able to come out on Friday night and spend Saturday with us.  It was Ryan's first camping experience too.  I'm not sure we have completely converted him to a camper yet....but we WILL! 

We got to the campground late Friday evening and set up.  Got a fire started and roasted marshmallows.  The next morning we made pancakes and sausage over the campfire.

 YUM! We headed over to the stables to check into horseback riding and ended up going the cheaper route and doing self led pony rides instead.  The we went to the nature center and visited some animals.  We decided to rent a boat and venture out on the lake.  It was so fun.  We got back to our site and made foil dinners.  Again YUM! After dinner we went on a watermelon hay ride.  

The ranchers take you out on a hayride into the woods were they have ice-cold watermelon waiting for you.  There is a volleyball with a net set up to play after you enjoy the watermelon. It was a really cute fun set up.  The kids (and adult) enjoyed it.

We were having such a great time we decided to stay another night.  Overall it was a great camping trip and we hope to go again soon!

 

The Faces of Disney World

I got a disc today in the mail that my brother-in-law sent with all their pictures on it from our trip to Disney World.  As I was looking through them all I noticed how many pictures had us either making silly faces or caught us at a moment when we had a strange look about us. So I decided to make a video montage of them?!  Hope you enjoy!

Listening Ears!

Matt and I went out on Saturday.  We left the mini-crew with some friends.  Upon arriving to pick them up after our date, our friend Andy asked what movie we went to. I told him "We went and saw "The Hangover". It was highly inappropriate but really funny".  We went about our business, got the kids and headed home.  

Sunday morning comes and we are on our way back to pick up the kids from Sunday School and a teacher stops me(who was NOT Mallory's teacher) and says that she heard "we went out on a date last night and that we watched a move that was inappropriate. Even for adults! But we stayed anyway because it was really funny." 

Then the teacher who WAS Mallory's teacher said something to Matt about knowing some top secret info about us that he would have to discuss with Matt at a later time.  

I want to know how many people Mallory told about her parents poor judgment in movie selection?!? We all got a good laugh about it though. I am a bit concerned about what she tells her Kindergarten teacher about us though? 

First Day of School

Mallory was off to her first day of school. I am down to jsut one child at home now. What am I going to do with myself?!  Mallory has been looking forward to this day for a long time.  She was so excited yet still had a little hesitation when it came time for us to leave. You know how kids stall at bedtime asking lots of questions or asking for one more kiss and hug? Well that's what it was like she started asking all kinds of questions making sure she had the full scoop on what was gong to happen that day. I am so excited for her and I know she is going to do just great!

She started school this morning,
And she seemed so very small.
As I walked there beside her
In the Kindergarten hall.

And as she took her place beside
the others in the class,
I realized how all too soon
Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw her as
She first learned how to walk.
The words that we alone made out
When she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed
In learning how to write.
It seems as though she must have grown
To girlhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily
I brushed the tears away
Lest by some word or sign of mine
I mar her first big day.

Oh how I longed to stay with her
And keep her by the hand
To lead her through the places
That she couldn't understand.

And something closely kin to fear
Was mingled with my pride.
I knew she would no longer be
A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,
To work her problems out,
The privilege to grow and learn
What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl
With friends and work and play;
She's not a baby anymore --
She's in Kindergarten today.

~Author Unknown~

5 months old

2 yrs old

5 yrs old First day of Kindergarten