Pictures pictures and more pictures.

Did I say that I would post pictures as soon as I got home??? Well...what I really meant to say is that about 3 weeks after we got home I would post pictures from our vacation...haha Actually - I was reminded by my dear Mother the other day on the phone - "Where are pictures of our grand kids on your blog?!?!"

So...here are a bunch of pictures from the vacation as well as yesterday playing outside in a pool and sprinkler toy with the kids and Rally (Chance doesn't like water so much...so he didn't stick around for long...)



Day one in Oklahoma City in a "kids park."


Jerry with Kendall, and with Carson & Jeff. Mom says she doesn't see the resemblance too much...I guess it is more obvious in person...


The Oklahoma City bombing memorial. Very awe-inspiring...


No...this isn't the most recent subject of a Ghosthunters episode...it is actually the hospital where my dear husband was born over 41 years ago...


Angela, Cheyenne, Kendall & I, and Jerry, Cheyenne and Angela


Me and my girl in front of the emblem of my Alma mater - and me taking a dare that my husband gave me to get in the fountain in front of the library on campus ("What are they gonna do? Kick you out of school??")


Renee and me.


Michele and Ella feeding some gerbils, and the girls looking in at some animals.


Jeff and Carson meeting a Clydesdale at Grants Farm.


I know this picture is blurry...but I just love it since it is Kendall and Carson dancing.

My bruiser in an OU jersey that Jerry & co. got for him. I figure that about 18 years from now...this is gonna be the view of many guys on an opposing football team (although...Jeff and I would love it to be a UF jersey at that point...)

Kendall in her OU jersey.

Daddy & Kendall in the pool.

Carson running through the sprinkler.

Kendall standing in the sprinkler.

Carson sitting on the sprinkler (it took a lot of prodding...but he finally got in there...)

Oh...and some good news...drum roll please...Kendall is potty trained!!!! (kind of...) She isn't good about telling us that she needs to go until after she's tinkled a little bit in her panties...but she always stops herself and finishes off in the potty. She also still hasn't pooped in the potty...but I've heard that can take a while. She also still wears a pull-up at nap time and at bedtime...but I think we can take it away from nap time probably in another week or two (she was only wet one day at nap time this week). So...our goal for the next few weeks is for her to tell us she needs to use the potty before she goes any little bit...and for her to start pooping on the potty. But...in the meantime...I am officially really only a mother of one in diapers now!!! Yippee!!!

A traveling we will go...

Hello all from sunny Columbia, MO!!!

The kids are currently napping and we got the laptop to work the last two nights in St. Charles and here in Columbia...so I thought I would do a quick update as to our trip.

After leaving Oklahoma City we stopped in Springfield, MO for the night. That is the town where I went to college (Missouri State University). First of all...my memory SUCKS!!! I really think that I never went anywhere around town...because I don't remember hardly anything. Second...Springfield and the campus especially are so small!!! I remember being stressed out thinking I wouldn't be able to make it to my classes on time...and Jeff and the kids and I walked around basically the whole campus in about 20 minutes. Either the campus has shrunk or my world has grown... We met and had dinner with one of my best friends from college, Renee, and her husband, Greg, and their kids, Maddy (8) and Gage (4). It was so nice reconnecting. After I graduated...I saw her one other time...and lost track of her (with the help of a controlling and abusive ex-husband). Luckily - I managed to find her a few years ago...and we've e-mailed a few times since then. I told Jeff that I was scared that we wouldn't hit it off since it had been so long since we last talked...and the last time we did talk wasn't under the best of circumstances to my best recollection. However - it was just like old times...no one could hardly get a word in!!! We met for dinner at 6:30 pm and before we knew it, it was 9pm and the kids were miserable... I really hope that we get to see each other again soon...or at the very least stay connected. She is a great lady!!!

Wednesday we went to St. Charles and checked into yet another hotel. We went to my friend, Bobbie's house for dinner - and her daughter, Paige, and Kendall got to run around and play. Unfortunately...we weren't able to stay very late...because Carson was just plum exhausted and was extremely fussy the whole night.

Thursday we went to Grant's Farm with the kids and my friend, Michele, and her daughter, Ella. It was hot as blazes...but so much fun. I can honestly say it has probably been at least 20 years since I was last there...and it was so fun getting to watch the girls feed animals and play with each other. Once we left there, we went back to the hotel for the kids (okay...me too...) to nap, then we went to Michele's house for dinner. Her husband, Scott, was out of town on business, but his mom, June, was there helping Michele with their new baby, Spencer. Their house is BEAUTIFUL!!! Jeff said the best part was Scott's "man cave"...all decked out with a full wet-bar, pool table, HUGE couch, and big-screen TV...plus TONS of sports memorabilia hung all around the room. It was really nice!!! Too soon...we had to get back to the hotel and get the kids in bed...

So this morning we drove to Columbia, had an early lunch, checked into the hotel, and went swimming in the indoor pool for about 30 minutes. Now....the kids and Jeff are asleep as I type this entry. Tomorrow we head home. We made reservations in Chattanooga, TN (which is about 9 hours away)...which would make our drive on Sunday only about 7 hours... keep your fingers crossed for us! When I get home I'll post lots of pictures!

Oklahoma is OK!!!

Hello friends!!! I am currently downstairs in our hotel in Oklahoma City while Jeff is upstairs napping with the kiddos. I'm actually doing laundry right now...we tried to be smart when packing and only brought enough stuff for like 6 days each - and knew that would mean we would have to do laundry in Oklahoma City and in St. Louis right before the wedding (on either Thursday or Friday morning). Anyway...I figured as I am having to wait for my clothes to dry...I could post a quick update on our trip. No pictures this time (there is no way to be able to download the pictures from the hotel's computer - oh yeah - we can't get our laptop to connect to their network...). Anyway...

We were on the road by 8:30am on Thursday morning (about 30 minutes later than I wanted...and about 30 minute earlier than Jeff expected...so it worked out well). The kids did GREAT!!! We had hoped to make it to Birmingham, AL...and we actually made it all the way to Tupelo, MS (which is about 2 hours farther). Now...it was 9pm (our time) before we actually finally stopped for the night...and close to 9:30pm before we all were going to sleep...but considering how long the kids were in their car seats they did fabulous!!! So...the next day...we decided to see if we could push the kids again and actually get to Oklahoma City on Friday night (rather than Saturday afternoon as we had originally planned). And we did!!! And we got here about the same time...maybe 30 minutes earlier... So after we got the kid's beds made and stuff kind of arranged - Jeff went over to his brother, Jerry's, house for a few hours while the kids and I slept.

Then Saturday morning, Jeff and the kids and I ran around for a few hours - visiting some of Jeff's old haunts and eating at a restaurant that he loves, Johnnie's hamburgers. However...before we even left for the morning...Kendall was playing in the room and fell over backwards off of a chair and almost split her upper lip (it was swollen rather large for a while and there was a trace of blood on the underside of it) and skinned up the area just between her nose and upper lip. Then...at lunch...I was bringing her into the bathroom to change a poopy diaper...when she got two fingers on her right hand smashed in the door...bad...she screamed and cried for a long time...but she could still bend her fingers so we didn't feel like we needed to bring her to a doctor. Rough day all in all for the little one...

That afternoon, we picked up Jerry's wife, Angela, and their daughter, Cheyenne, and they played tour guides and we went to the Oklahoma City Memorial. Let me tell you...it was so incredibly moving. I've seen pictures of it, of course, but it really is something to actually be standing there...and there are park rangers that will answer questions, etc...and to really try to picture where the Murrow building once stood...very humbling. Not to mention the empty chairs...one for each person that was murdered that day...including small ones for all the children that were murdered as well...

Then we met Jerry in Bricktown (kind of like the Landing in St. Louis, or Ybor City in Tampa) and had dinner. This is my first time meeting my brother-in-law...and let me tell you...there is DEFINITELY family resemblance!!! It is really kind of weird in a way...seeing so many of my husband's features on his brother's face...

Sunday morning we drove with Jerry and Cheyenne to Guthrie, OK, which is where Jeff was born. In fact...we even drove past the hospital he was born in...which is now closed...and boarded up...and looks like a building you would find in a horror movie!!! haha

Today, since Jerry and Angela had to work, we took the kids and Cheyenne (who is 14) to the Omniplex - which is a "hands on" science museum. It was so much fun and the kids (specifically Kendall) really enjoyed themselves.

Kendall and Carson have both really been little troopers...they've been such good little kids too...not too whiny or fussy...especially considering Kendall's day on Saturday...

Tomorrow we leave to go to Springfield, MO and we will (hopefully) meet up with a girlfriend I went to college with, Renee, and her family. If nothing else - we plan on driving around the campus and see if I have any memory left at all...it has been 12 years since I was last there...I honestly right now can't remember a thing!!! Then Wednesday we will head up to St. Louis and see a few more friends that night and on Thursday, before we head to the wedding on Friday. Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to update my blog once again later this week...but no promises...

Oops...I did it again...

No no...not the Britney Spears version...the version where its been two weeks again since I last posted. Since my last post on June 18 (um...that would be 2 1/2 weeks ago or so I believe...)...here are some pictures and brief comments as to our world:

On Friday the 20th we drove down to Orlando for the weekend. We went to "Go Diego Go" live on Saturday morning...which was so much fun for Kendall. Carson really didn't "get" it (of course...) and it was a bit loud so Jeff and I took turns walking Carson around the outside of the Arena (it was held in the new UCF Arena).

Then Sunday morning we went to Magic Kingdom. It was fantastic!!! It was hot as blazes and we got rained on at the end of the day...but the kids did great and we all had a great time. Plus - Kendall got to meet a couple of the Disney Princesses and she got to ride on her first roller coaster (a kiddie one in a little-one friendly section of the park) with Daddy. The funniest thing that happened that whole weekend, though, was when Kendall and Carson got to meet Pluto...Carson got a hold of Pluto's tongue...and started to try to chew on it!!! Unfortunately...none of the pictures came out when he was doing it...but here are a few other ones.

The next weekend we celebrated Carson's first birthday a few days early by having a pool party for him on Saturday. Unlike his sister, who barely touched her cake on her first birthday, Carson tore into his cake and was covered!!! I can't believe my little guy is already a year old. It really doesn't seem possible...

What is it about babies wanting to feed thier mommy??? Oh...and the two little hands you keep seeing pop into the screen are the dear children of a dear friend of mine, Gabi & Kennedy.

Then this weekend, we left on Friday the 4th to go to Mom and Dad's for the weekend. Denise came over with her little Daisy dog, and my friend Maria came over on Friday for a small cookout and to watch Rally swim in the pool for his first time.

Group hug!!!

Then we went to the zoo on Saturday:

We just got home today...just in time for me to start obsessing about our 11 day trip to the mid-west. The idea of driving for basically 5 of the 11 days doesn't exactly thrill me...especially since I'm not altogether positive the little ones will be happy with it...but I am excited about seeing some friends and family that we haven't seen in a long time and attending my cousin's wedding in Missouri.

So...as we'll be on the road for basically the next 2 weeks...most likely you won't hear from me again until after the 21st. I might try to jump online and do a quick post as to our progress along the way...but no promises... :)

Where to start???

The last few weeks have been quite full...much to my surprise. As Kendall is out of school until next week - I was terrified of having nothing to do with the kids until she starts again...and boy was I wrong!!! We have been very busy it seems...

First of all - Kendall had her first dentist appointment. Now I know what some of you are thinking...isn't she too young?? Well...apparently so... I had read that pediatricians (I never did ask my own...just the "they" that you read about) say that a good time for a first dentist appointment is between 2 and 3 years old (according to Kendall's new dentist - they normally don't see anyone before the age of 3 unless there is a problem...ah well...). So...she is two and a half...so we figured why not? Lets see...she sat in the chair to have x-rays...but wouldn't let them do it...she laid down on the table to let them clean her teeth...but wouldn't let them do it...so overall...pretty non-eventful time at the dentist. The only thing she let the dentist do is brush her teeth with her brand new Cinderella toothbrush. Good news though - no cavities!!! And...I did get some pictures!! :)

Then...one day I decided to get some sidewalk chalk out for the kids to play with. We had a ball making a pink and blue mess out of not only the back porch...but also our arms and legs and hands and clothes...oh yeah...and a yellow dog!!! haha

Note the blue on his front leg/shoulder...and the pink on his nose...haha

On Father's Day, Jeff played in the pillows from our bed with the kids.

Daddy just loves tickling his little girl! :)

There should be an event in pillow jumping in the Olympics don't you think??? Note Jeff talking to Carson...see...I'm not the only one that has to tell him "no" all the time...haha

And then we decided to give them a bath...I am still rolling with laughter!!! :)

And because I realized that there isn't hardly any pictures of Carson on this post...here is a picture of him from us at the park. And yes...that is sand in his mouth...did I ever mention how much I HATE sand now that I'm a mother??? It gets literally EVERYWHERE!!! Plus - it is impossible to wash out of a child's hair. As you are scrubbing their head...you can feel the little granules moving around under your fingers and they just won't come out!!! Why can't all playgrounds use that rubber mulch stuff??? Okay...enough venting...here's the little guy:

This weekend we are going to see "Go Diego Go" live on Saturday, and to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday - so I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share next week!

The wonderful word "No"

No. Nnnnoooo. Nooooo. NO. NO! No, Carson. No, Kendall. No, Rally. Carson, no, don't play in the dog water bowl. Carson, no, don't get the phone. Carson, no, don't play with Rally's toy. Kendall, no, you can't have a drink of Mommy's coffee. Kendall, no, don't play on the computer. Kendall, no, please don't push Carson over. Rally, no, don't pee on the floor. Rally, no, don't bite. Rally, no, don't tackle poor Carson.

No wonder I've been feeling somewhat depressed lately...all I ever do, it seems, is tell 3 of my four children "no" on a regular basis (Chance usually is able to escape the "no"s somehow). I am constantly pulling Carson away from things that were "Kendall-proofed" when she was an infant...but are apparently not Carson proofed. It is amazing how independent he is trying to be...and how quickly he is picking up on the walking bit. Not to mention the reach of the kid. I mean...we can move things to a point that we figure only an adult can reach...and next thing you know - he has it in his pudgy little hands. He is obsessed with getting either one of the cordless phones or the remote control...and when he finally achieves his goal...he promptly comes to show me and then giggles as he tries to run/waddle/crawl away from me knowing I'm going to take it from him...then launches into a crying fit when I do take it from him.


I am constantly trying not to pull my hair out over a 2 1/2 year old that has suddenly learned independence and wants to do everything "myseff" - "I do it!" From not wanting to hold my hand as we cross a street (not an option in my mind...but it is in hers...) to not wanting my help in taking off shoes and socks...to brushing her own teeth...to pouring water on her head in the bath. ANYTHING that she thinks she might be able to do...she must do it by herself. She is definitely in the tantrum stage as well...because we have at least a minor one at least once a day now...with a total meltdown, complete with ear piercing screams, at least once a week...and those always seem to happen in public - whether at a pool as we are trying to take her away or in a restaurant when it is time to go and we take away the food that has sat untouched in front of her for over 30 minutes.


Then there is Rally. Dear, sweet, misunderstood, Rally. The poor dog never catches a break. Either I'm telling him "no" that he can't eat the kids toys...or one of the kids is trying to take one of his toys away from him...or Chance is asserting his dominance over him...or he thinks he is just playing with one of his litter mates (Kendall and Carson) and does the play-biting...not realizing that their skin isn't as tough as his...and they launch into screams and tears (no real injuries, of course, but his little baby teeth are VERY sharp) which of course prompts me to tell him "No, Rally!"

I really do feel like I'm in a cloud of negativity all day long...so that by the time Jeff gets home from work...I'm exhausted...tired of disciplining four children...tired of trying to keep up with the endless battle of keeping the house somewhat picked up so that it isn't a disaster when Jeff walks in the door...and wondering when the "fun" part of having two kids and two dogs actually begins. Sure there are snippets of time during the day that the kids and I roll around and giggle and play and read and play with blocks and with "little people" and sing and dance...and there are snippets of time during the day when Rally and I play fetch and he rests as I pet his soft head. But overall...I feel like all I do all day long is say "No."

On a brighter note, however, my dear friend Kelly and two of her four children, Lily (she will be 4 in August) and Ty (turned two in March) came over for a play date on Wednesday morning. (Her other two - James and Isabella, 2 1/2 month old twins - were home with a babysitter). Here are a few pictures of the kid's fun.






Bet you didn't know that you could fit four children and a Labrador in a sandbox huh???

They're baaack!!!

We picked up the boys on Thursday - much to my chagrin. I have to admit...I was really enjoying life without dogs. I LOVE dogs. I LOVE how they are so excited to see you - even if you've only been gone for a few minutes. I LOVE the slobbery kisses and the warm body that cuddles up to you, begging for just a little bit of affection. I LOVE how they can read your mood - if you are sad or depressed - they KNOW it and they come to give you love. Dogs are wonderful. Dogs (in general) are better than some people I know. However...I was NOT looking forward to our house - a house that suddenly became a bit more peaceful - a house that was, for 3 weeks, devoid of hair flying around everywhere and lurking in corners - a house that could be left for a weekend without worrying about who was taking care of two of its occupants. I was NOT looking forward to the endless "No"s and the endless stress that having the dogs back was sure to bring. But I tell you what...when the staff at J&K brought our little furry children out from the back and they were jumping and whining and barking because they were so excited to see us - my heart softened and I was THRILLED to be getting them back!!! And so far...life hasn't been too bad. The way they interact with each other is night and day different from when we brought them for the in-house training. They are playing and kissing and playing "bite face" and running around together. I haven't felt one stitch of tension between the two of them since we've had them home. That in and of itself makes my life SO much easier. Yesterday - Rally pretty much hung around me all day long...he was only in his crate when he was eating or when I was in Kendall's bedroom with Kendall & Carson playing with puzzles. Otherwise - Rally was peaceful and relatively calm and there was no problems between him and Chance. The only two "accidents" occurred on our back porch...and personally...I'm okay with that for right now. Eventually (hopefully) he'll learn to go in the grass each and every time. Right now I'm just thrilled that for the last 36 hours he hasn't had an accident in the house. :) I am still praying that things continue to go well...and I know we will have a setback here and there...but overall I think the money we spent at J&K was WELL worth the price!!! Here are a few pictures of our little furry guys now that they are home.


Rally and one of his toys.


Playing follow the leader in the back yard.

Oh - and some of you are probably wondering how much bigger Rally is than when we dropped him off. HE IS HUGE!!! And man...you should see his paws. His paws are larger than Chance's. NO KIDDING!!! Although Chance might be bigger than him in stature right now...it won't be for much longer!


Seeing as I haven't posted in two weeks...here are some pictures of our trip to Hilton Head with our friends. It was a WONDERFUL time and we can't wait to go back there again.


Kendall in the "rocking boat". She LOVED IT. Jeff almost bought it for her...but it was over $500 by the time we would have paid for shipping...



Our happy guy in his stroller.


Kendall showing us her happy face (along with a partially eaten Cheerio).



Again...can anyone else see the similarities??? haha


Me and my love.


The family on the beach (ignore the big belly...no I'm not pregnant again...just still fat as I haven't even really attempted to lose any weight...and this swimming suit isn't exactly the most attractive one I have - but the other two I had brought were already dirty by that day)



Jeff shot this picture as the kids and I enjoyed sitting on the beach waiting for the surf to reach us.



Making sand castles. Even Carson was in on the action. And yes...don't adjust your computer screens - that is my tactile intolerant hubby playing in the sand as well...



Is it Carson? Or a cupie doll??? You decide...




The "gang" - from the right - Lance & Alicia P., Scott R., Griffen & Aidan P. and then us. This was taken about 5 minutes before we were back in the car and heading home.


Well - we are off to a family pool party one of my friends is hosting this morning at her community pool this morning. So - have a great day!!

Life as we know it...

Has officially changed!!!

Yesterday, before lunch and naptime, we moved Kendall into her "big grirl bed". (We converted her crib to a toddler bed.) We honestly didn't expect her to do very good - I've heard horror stories of toddlers constantly getting out of bed and trying to get out of their room since they discover that they actually can do it. Well...she did get up and out of her room one time - at naptime. Otherwise - she slept in it all night - and even called for us this morning when she woke up. She knows she can get out of bed herself...but didn't even try. YIPPEE!!! Now don't get me wrong...I know that its only been one night and we still have a long way to go before we can claim victory. However - I'm going to sing praises to God for every night that He convinces Kendall to stay in her bed. Even Carson has recognized that something is different about her room...when we go in her room and let her go - goes right to her bed and walks around it. I think I can hear his wheels turning: "hmm...if I climb out of my crib, then I'll get a cool bed like big sister..."

I'm tired...

So after all the adrenaline wore off from Kendall in the hospital and my broken toe...I got a stomach virus...then gave it to Carson...then gave it to my Mom when they came to visit the grandkids... Oh...and I went to Mom and Dad's house this past weekend...and Denise picked it up too (she was out of work every day so far this week due to the virus)...although she doesn't think she got it from us since several kids at her school are sick with it. Anyway...for the time being our household is well...but I am so exhausted and tired of feeling like our family has been under attack...between surgeries and illnesses and hospitalizations...I need a bit of a peace and quiet for a while...

Daddy reading Cinderella to Kendall. She has been obsessed with Cinderella lately...needless to say...we are trying to plan a trip to Disney soon so she can meet her in person.


My men cuddling together on the couch.

What a GREAT picture of the little man!!!

So...because of that and the myriad of other reasons...Jeff and I decided to go ahead and put Chance and Rally in the in-house training at J&K Canine Academy. And although I'm sure we'll miss them...I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to some peace and quiet around here (when the kids are sleeping that is...).

Rally (at 16 weeks old) and Daddy playing. (Can you imagine how big Rally will be in another 3 weeks...)

Also - Jeff has agreed that I need a weekend "off work"...so one of my oldest friends (we've know each other for over 20 years...uggghhh...it hurts just saying that...how can I have known her for over 20 years when I feel like I can't be a day over 25 myself and I know I met her when I was 11 or 12??? NOT possible it's been that long...), Bobbie, and I are meeting in Orlando next weekend (the 16th) for some much needed girl time. She is flying down from St. Louis on Friday and I am driving down and picking her up...then we are going to just relax...go to one of the parks...hang by the pool...sleep...eat...sleep some more...all without hearing the constant "Mommy Mommy Mommy" in the background. Hallelujah!!!