Ninth Week of Summer

Last weekend, we rearranged some furniture.  Since Cait is in the bottom bunk now, the toddler bed moved to storage.  I moved the kids bookshelf, that has been in our hall for 5 years, into the kids room.  It made this perfect little reading area for Cait and Cam.  I have some plans for that area to make it more fun and I can't wait to work on them!  Cait already enjoys her nook.

Lily is now in the jumparoo.  She loves to jump.

Monday: Name Murals

We took canvases and using paint tape, wrote their names.

Then they finger painted.

While it was drying, the got out all the stuffed animals!

Here's Cam's finished painting! I hung them in the reading nook.

Lily tried out the high chair.  

It didn't last long!

Tuesday: Spray Bottle painting on a white sheet (thrift store for .99¢).

Lily sits up!

Tuesday was our wedding anniversary.  We had dinner with the kids and then we let Bren put the kids to bed while JC & I snuck off (with Lily) to have some appetizers at Hefner Grill.  We timed it perfect and we were able to watch the sun set on Lake Hefner while we dined on the patio.  It was a nice evening.

All week, Cam had his swim lessons in Choctaw.  He really improved a lot.   Friday we watched the Summer Movie Fun with the Ablas and JC even joined us!  Afterwards, the kids took their Summer Reading Program coupon to get cupcakes from Sara Sara (not so impressed).  Friday was also Bren's last day of work and they had an ice cream party afterwards.  

Saturday: JC & I celebrated our anniversary again by going to Chapel Creek Vineyard in El Reno.

It was very pretty and the owners were so nice.  It was a great morning.  Gramma and Grampa watched all the kids so we could have a kid-free outing.  Then Bren had bass lessons (he's getting SO good!) and after that I took the boys to meet Granny and PawPaw in Chickasha.  

I wanted to post a picture of the preschool play that I've made.  The dinosaurs and clothespins I made for Cam when he was younger. Cait likes them now.  This helps their motor skills to work the clothespins and color matching.  Lids and bottles, Cait likes to take the lids off but hasn't learned how to put them back on yet.  This helps those motor skills and matching.  And the egg carton colored to match some puff balls along with a set of tongs that I got at the thrift store for .29¢. Cait likes to pick up the puffs with the tongs.  This is great for motor skills and color matching as well.  All of these are great "quiet" toys for Cait to play with during church.  If you have other ideas, please share!

Postcard Project Update #1

A reminder of the challenge:

We want to see if we can collect a postcard from every single state this summer. Would you mind sending us a postcard from your state and any where you travel? We would love to learn more about all the different states this summer and could really use your help! Please tell us some cool things about your state on your postcard! Also, please forward to anyone you know that lives in a different state.

So far, here's what Cam's received:
  New Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Alaska, California, Virginia & Washington DC


New arrivals:
  West Virginia, Ohio and Colorado from Wendy L.
  Texas from Uncle Benny
  Oregon from Beth W.
  Georgia from David M.
  New Jersey from Nikki Lynn P.


Thanks and keep them coming!


Oh, and Les, you can send us an Oklahoma one if you want!!!

Tiger Safari Birthday Party

Cam has asked for over a year to have a birthday party at Tiger Safari in Tuttle, OK.  So, that's what we did today for Cam's SIXTH birthday!

Gramma made this fabulous cake with a caracal and a serval just as Cam asked!  Cam impressed the tour guide by his knowledge of animals.  He's a smart kid, he is!

It was HOT today!  I think the high was 105.

Thankfully we rented the inside room and could cool off after the animal tour.

It really is a great park and Skylar, our tour guide, did such a great job.  She was so patient with Cam and the other kids.  A great day!  Happy birthday, sweet sunshine.

Eighth Week of Summer

Week 8 and 9 are turning out quite different.

Cam is taking swim lessons, Monday through Thursday, from Miss Jen in Choctaw.

It takes up our whole afternoon!

She has been a great, no-nonsense teacher and Cam is already learning different swim strokes. She makes them start right off with their faces in the water and it's been great for Cam!

Tuesday: Granny came up for Cam's birthday.

After dinner, ice cream sandwiches for Cam's (real) birthday (day) "party".

look at those thighs!!!

Wednesday: Cait moved over to the "big girl" bed!

She's done great sleeping in Cam's bunk bed.

We put pool noodles under her sheets to keep her from rolling out!

Thursday: Well Check-ups for all three littles.
Cam: 6yrs, 37#, 43"
Cait: 2yrs, 21#, 32.5"
Lily: 5mos, 18#-6oz, 26.5"
JC (and Cait) started working on my Ikea purchases!

Here it is, almost complete!
These bookshelves will hold lots of homeschool books!
I can't wait to fill them up!

Cait has been a little sad watching the kids have fun in the pool.

Next year, baby.

(Below) Cam jumped off the diving board into the deep end!

He's learned SO much in just 4 lessons!

5 Months Old!

Lily had a check up this past week.  She weighs 18 pounds and 6 ounces!!!  She is 26.5" long.  Lily is capturing hearts with her big full-face smiles and her chubby thighs.  She is doing all the things she is supposed to be doing.  Eating. Pooping. Sleeping.  She likes her exersaucer and the bumbo seat. She rolls over regularly now.  She loves her toes, jumping (being held) and sucking on her fingers.  She is still sensitive to noise and commotion but we've learned that putting a little cotton in her ears helps a lot. Each month we see great improvements in Lily. She sure is a sweet one!

SIX Years!

 Six years ago, on a Monday, while living in Lawton, I gave birth to this young man.

He loves super heros, Star Wars, Legos, swords, nerf guns, computer games, dinosaurs and bugs, transformers, older girls, chicken tenders and french fries, Zoe and Sam.  He has the BIGGEST imagination ever and LOVES to talk.  He is so smart and astounds daily with the knowledge he picks up and saves, such as fractions, animal facts and reading rules.  Can't wait to see what he does in the next six years!

Happy Birthday, Cam!

SFA - a summer job

Sooner Flight Academy

Thanks to Facebook, we get a glimpse into Bren's work week. Yeah, I totally stole the pictures.  His boss told JC we have one heck of a son.  I'm SO PROUD!!!  He's on week 7 of 8.  I think he'll be sad when it is over.

Seventh Week of Summer

Monday: Homemade Moon Sand (flour & baby oil)

and playing outside with spray bottles!

Bren's bass lessons are paying off!  He plays so well now!

Baby massage & thumb sucking, too!

Tuesday: Started off with Cait trying out Doodle Bear pens on her legs

then we moved to Recycles-play and later, painted some of those recycles.

Then we had a great visit with the "greats".

Both girls are enjoying the saucer. Lily talks to the toys and Cait plays "giddy up"!

Wednesday: Lego Play

Thursday: Cam's feet were released!

Friday: Lily fell asleep while I got the kids ready for Summer Movie Fun!

We saw Mr. Popper's Penguins and then fed the ducks with cousins!

Later on, Lily rolls over and the kids spell words.

I find it amazing how she can scoot off her blanket while on her back!  So silly!

Saturday: We celebrated with our friends, the Bradleys.  

One year since Quinn had his bone marrow transplant!  What a great celebration!

Then family night at my mom & dad's house.  A great night of family fun!