In My Neck of the Woods - Celebrating America!

Yesterday was a fun filled day celebrating the 4th of July with my husband's brother's family, and we started off the day in a big way!
For the past 9 weeks, my sister-in-law and I have been doing the Couch to 5k running program. She has done a few races in the past, but I have never considered myself to be a runner in any shape or form, so this was a great way for me to work my way into it. Yesterday, we completed the Firecracker 5k in downtown Tulsa! My husband ran as well, and it was an incredible feeling to make it across the finish line. My official time was 42:30. My goal was to do it in under 45:00, so I was happy with it! I'm so glad I did it, and I can't wait to run another one! I am so lucky to have such great cheerleaders rooting for me!

After the 5k, we rested all day in anticipation of a night full of fun, food, and firecrackers!

Here is our beautiful niece's reaction after she threw down a popper.

And here is our crew of boys, each happily blowing up one thing after another with their cousins. Fun was had by all!

Did I mention she's beautiful? She's adorable.

Boo HAHA

Today was a super fun day. Actually for two reasons...one being that it was the first day I have left the house since Wednesday, considering I haven't been able to sit up without puking. You see, I had a very minor dental procedure on Wednesday that left me feeling a little dizzy Wednesday night, followed by a night of said hurling, followed by an entire Thursday of not eating for fear of hurling, another night of sleepless migraine-induced dizziness, a Friday spent in bed, finally braving dinner that evening, and waking up Saturday morning, not feeling entirely 100% better but picking myself up by my boot-straps because my Indiana Jones needed his jacket. Which brings us to the second reason it was a fun day. It was BooHAHA on Brookside, the annual prequel to the big show (aka Halloween Night Trick or Treating), where all of the businesses on Brookside hand out candy to hundreds of Trick or Treaters. We don't necessarily go out for the candy. In fact, there are so many Trick or Treaters that its really not too fun to attempt to get candy. We prefer browsing the other costumes to standing in lines. We didn't see very many Indiana Jones costumes today, but Luke got quite a few compliments about his, and I beamed every time. Of the homemade costumes, I think Luke's was in the top 2...the only reason I don't say his was the top is because someone had an absolutely fantastic Wall-E costume. Check it out for yourself! (Ignore the mess in the background...gimme break...I've been super sick) He fits the part, don't you think?

Beau and Jack were also super cute today, even though I can't take credit for their costumes besides finding the Transformer online and the Dinosaur (yes, I know its really a dragon...just don't tell Jack) on sale at Old Navy.

After BooHAHA, Beau attended his first classmate party! His friend, Victoria, had an awesome Halloween Party at her house, and Beau obviously likes her a lot. They were attached at the hip most of the party, either jumping in the Jupiter Jump or playing in the backyard. It was so cute to watch them! I had a blast meeting his friends and their parents. Beau is already talking about his 5th birthday party and inviting all of his friends. Too much fun! Here's Jack wearing one of Beau's party favors...

Jack's new favorite thing to say... "Are you kidding me?!?"

Spooky Time of Year

With the beginning of September starts one of my favorite countdowns of the year...countdown to Halloween!!!!



We've been talking about Halloween costumes since this summer, and the kids have possibly maybe reached a verdict...this year, it looks like our kids will be dressed as a walking Star Wars ensemble! Luke is, of course, hoping to be his namesake, Luke Skywalker. Beau wants to be a Clone Wars Trooper. And Jack is going to be dressed as Yoda, because, as Luke and Beau said, "He's the smallest."
That leaves me and the hubs to consider possibly continuing the Star Wars theme as Obi Wan and Princess Leia...






















Or...we could move onto something else...with Clint's newly shaven head, I'm tempted to go as Popeye and Olive Oyl.






















However, if BIL and SIL decide to go with us, I can totally see a group theme, like the Flintstones or Scooby Doo...












I love this time of year!!! Now if only the kids would stick with the costume pick...

Halloween 2006

We had such a blast decorating for Halloween this year. Here are a few pictures of our spooky house...

Easter Weekend

We had a wonderful holiday weekend! Saturday we took the boys to Eggstravaganza, a huge Easter Egg Hunt organized by a couple local radio stations. There were too many people out there, so we didn't stay long.
On Sunday, we got up and went to church with Steven and Kelly and their boys. It was the first time we had been to church since Jack has been home. It was very emotional for me. The service was wonderful, and of course, it is always on my mind the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. My family has so much to be thankful for. I think every day about how lucky we are and how God is always watching out for us. Things could have happened very differently. Jack could have so many problems, or we could not even have him at all. But God made him a survivor, a fighter. Now he is our happy little baby.