Finally Fall!!!

Just looked at this and realized it's been quite a while since I've updated.  Whew- life is BUSY!!  Here are a few pics of the latest in our world-

Lawson loves to be outside and already is obsessed with his daddy and "manly" activities.  Here he is supervising his daddy's and Tyler's work:

He's so happy being the boss- no idea where he gets that :)

Laney got to be a part of the Stillwater High School Pom Squad activities last week- it was so fun and cute! 

Grammy came to watch- here is their reunion in the parking lot after a few weeks of missing each other.

She was especially good at the hip-shake- it was her favorite part!

Her sweet friend Allie

Her bestest friend Ainsley.

Tried to get a pic of the girls and Grammy and Gee, but Haley was not cooperating.

Supportive brother and sister enjoying the game.

We also went to the fair- had so much fun- Disney on Ice- awesome food.   I only remembered to take one picture!

Laney went to the OSU football game with us last week- she enjoyed the pom girls and Bullet- it was a very big day, and this was the scene in our car on the way home from picking up the younger kids in Pawnee-

Quietest car ride we have ever had!

We also enjoy getting to experience daddy's "hobby," our horses and cows.  Sometimes we even get a visit from one of them at our house.

While we love being busy, our favorite times are just being at home together, especially playing outside.  Here is a moment I caught last week.  I could not ask for more!

Happy fall!  We are looking forward to Halloween, OSU Homecoming (both girls are in the parade) and all the other fun activities and holidays coming up. 

I came across this saying last week, and it really spoke to me,

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that she is someone today."

Make every moment count!



HALEY JEAN IS 2!!!

On September 3, Haley turned TWO!  Since it happened to fall on opening weekend of OSU football, our party theme was easy.  We had a breakfast tailgate at our house, and we all got into the spirit...

I had a banner made because this will probably be her lifelong birthday theme.

My little cheerleaders- 4 & 2!

Cute cute cake

Birthday girl- love this face so very much

Meeting of the minds while frying bacon

Eating - such good food, and I didn't make ANY of it!  Thank you so much Grandma and Peggy!

Lawson and Grandad and the moustache-

Grandpa Don, Grammy and the grandkids- it means a lot to me that we can all be together.

Henry cousins- such a fun group!

Lawson thought the whole thing was pretty silly.

Haley wasn't so sure about blowing out her candle.

Laney had to coach Haley on the basics of blowing out the candle-such a sweet sister.

The only picture I got of my three buddies- didn't even get a family pic. 
Love them more than anything.


Haley's birthday also marks the anniversary (on September 5) of my post-partum cerebral angiopathy (stroke).  In some ways, it seems like yesterday, and in other ways, it seems like forever ago.  It has been the most difficult thing I have ever endured and has made me look at life and our gift of time so very much differently. Two years ago, I was in ICU; and this year on Sept. 5, I got to play at the park and go out to eat with my babies. 

Make every moment count! 

Happy happy 2nd birthday Haley Jean- I can't wait to see what God has in store for you!!

Back to School-2011

School days, school days- here they are again!  This year, both girls are fortunate to attend the Child Development Lab on campus at OSU.  We LOVE the lab and are so impressed with what they do to educate and inspire children. 

My gorgeous Pre-K girl..



New Backpack-

Ready to rock Pre-K and Pre-K 2- as soon as Haley gets that boogie...

Laney by the whiteboard in her class- Miss Kari on the left

Haley in her room with Miss Bailey

I really have mixed feelings this year- I am so excited for them to learn and love school, yet I am sick about how fast they are growing up.  My friend Angie sent me something that sums it up perfectly- from Jack and the Beanstalk- adapted to me, Laney & Haley...

Once upon a time there were little girls named Laney and Haley  who were about to climb their very first beanstalk. They had  fresh haircuts and a brand-new book bag. Even though their friends in the neighborhood had climbed this same beanstalk almost every day last year, this was Laney & Haley's first day and they were a little nervous. So was their mother. Early in the morning she brought them to the foot of the beanstalk. She talked encouragingly to them about all the fun they would have that day and how nice his giant would be. She reassured them that she would be back to pick them up at the end of the day. For a moment they stood together, silently holding hands, gazing up at the beanstalk. To the girls, it seemed much bigger than it had when their mother had pointed it out on the way to the store last week. Their mother thought it looked big, too. She swallowed. Maybe she should have held them out a year... Laney & Haley'ss mother straightened their shirtsone last time, patted their shoulders and smiled down at them. She promised to stay and wave while they started climbing. Laney & Haley didn't say a word. They walked forward, grabbed a low-growing stem and slowly pulled themselves up to the first leaf. They balanced there for a moment and then climbed more eagerly to the second leaf, then to the third and soon they had vanished into a high tangle of leaves and stems with never a backward glance at their mother. She stood alone at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing up at the spot where the girls had disappeared. There was no rustle, no movement, no sound to indicate that they were anywhere inside. "Sometimes," she thought, "it's harder to be the one who waves good-bye than it is to be the one who climbs the beanstalk." She wondered how the girlswould do. Would they miss her? How would they behave? She fought down an urge to spring up the stalk after the girls and maybe duck behind a bean to take a peek at how they were doing. "I'd better not. What if they saw me?" She knew they were really old enough to handle this on his own. She reminded herself that, after all this was thought to be an excellent beanstalk and that everyone said their giant was not only kind but had outstanding qualifications. "It's not so much that I'm worried about them," she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just that they're growing up and I'm going to miss them." Laney & Haleys mother turned to leave. "Laney & Haley are  going to have lots of bigger beanstalks to climb in their life," she told herself. "Today's the day they start practicing for them... And today's the day I start practicing something too: cheering them  on and waving good-bye."

How awesome is that story?  The 2011-2012 School year at the CDL is the first of so many beanstalks- and I am SO lucky to be the one who gets to cheer them on, and give them wings to fly.

I was so anxious to pick them up after school and hear about their day...

 

They loved it and were so happy to see each other and me!

We were ALL super excited to see Miss Ainsley- a ver special friend to Laney. Ainsley & her family are one of the major reasons we wanted so badly to go back to the lab.  I pray we can take this same picture when these 2 are seniors!



Our Turn at Nana's

This past week I took the crew out to Fairview for a few days.  My children are so blessed to be able to know their great-grandparents like they do.  We had such a great time-

Helping out with the garden

Playing with bubbles

Running on the bridge grandpa buillt

Swimming at the pool and going down the big slide- this is Laney, and mommy and Haley did it too!

Meeting the donkeys

Playing with Bret in his barn and getting VERY dirty!

Eating, of course, it is the best part!

Reading at the library

More eating

Bonding and being silly

Learning some history- this is their great great great grandfather Wohlgemuth's childhood home-
they were SO excited about it :)

Playing on the old train

Climbing all over the old train



Riding with Grandpa at the historical society

We had such a fun time- hope to do it again soon! 

We are SO lucky to have such a fun and involved family who love the kiddos so very much.

Happy Birthday Tisha Ann

July 28- in past years I would have already made a call to my best friend- Metisha Welsh-to tell her happy birthday, and to remind her we were one year close to becoming golden girls.  Today, however, my heart hurts because I can't call her and she already is a golden girl- a golden angel.

I miss her so incredibly nuch- her jokes, her advice, her quick wit, her unselfish attitude about everything, her strength.  Mostly, I miss US, I miss she and I together- life is not as fun when she's not here. 

I have been going through pictures and decided today to post some that show Tish and I during some fun moments, and also quite a few of Metisha and my oldest daughter, who I hope turns out just like her, and who I pray is blessed with a best friend just like her. 

Happy birthday my golden girl- I love you.

Phil. 1:3- I thank God everytime I remember you.