For Ashlee

I was just telling Todd today how bummed I am that we can't go to the Balloon Fiesta this year in Albuquerque (and see our awesome family!). And then I come home and see Pam's blog and it makes me wish I was going even more!
So I thought I would post a few pics from the time we went to the fiesta while we lived there. Ashlee, this would be the only way to top your awesome anniversary present to your hubby! Looks like you guys had fun!

How could you ever get tired of this view every morning for a week?
I think there are around 500 balloons launched during the Mass Ascension!

The afterglow is my favorite. You get to walk in between all the balloons while they are tethered to the ground. There are some pretty different shaped balloons out there!

I have no time...

to blog!
I feel guilty right now as I type this that I'm not doing laundry or some sort of cleaning.
As many of you know, I started cosmetology school at the first of this month. I go 32 hours a week. This is a big change going from SAHM to almost full time gone. Needless to say my house is suffering from it and it is driving me CRA-ZY!
We have learned all the basic haircuts, a little razoring, facials, waxing, pedicures, perms, colors, foils, shampoo-sets...you want your hair rolled, dried & brushed out into a football helmet? I'm your gal!
What's even more scary about his whole big change is that one more week and then I'm on the floor! And I have no clue what I'm doing!! But that's how they learn. I better get busy this week practicing on my doll head. Maybe Jordan has some barbies around here somewhere...ha. But, I've seen some ding-bats do hair, so I'm pretty sure I can get the hang of it!
The 1st week we did make-overs. The instructor used me as her teaching guinea pig. I should have had someone take a pic...I felt like Alice Cooper after she was done. It was funny.
I'll be posting some pics soon of my mannequin after I cut her hair. But right now I have to get off of here and get ready for my nursery duty. Like I said, I have no time!

Welcome Baby Tristen!

My sister had her baby boy today! We are all so excited!
This is Melissa & Sean's 3rd little blessing.

His name is Tristen Joseph
He weighed 8lbs 4oz. & is 20 in. long.

Here are a few pics of the cutie. Big sister holding his hand while he gets his first bath.

Proud Grandma Pam (Sean's mom).

I am so glad it is all over for her and everything went well. I am a little bummed that I can't be there to see him until Friday. Stupid school! But I can't stay bummed too long...I'm so happy to have another baby in the family!

More Summer Fun

Let me just say that I cannot believe summer is basically over. The kids started school this past Wed. & none of us were ready for them to go back. I know some parents like it when their kids are back in school and the house is empty, but we love it when our kids are home and we can go have fun or just hang out.
We stayed busy this summer and it just flew by (as usual). It doesn't help that they start school a little earlier every year. By the time Jacob is in high school they'll go until June, have about 1/2 day off and then go right back!


We spent soooo much time in the water this summer. I bought passes at Big Splash this year. You can get 5 season passes for $100 if you purchase them in Nov or Dec. You can't beat that!
Here are some pics from the water park in Muskogee. I love this water park, I just wish it was here in Owasso!

Lazy River...wish I was there now...

There was also a lot of time spent playing XBox. My nephew, Conner came and stayed with us for a week while Jordan & Kaylee (Conner's sister) went to my mom's for a week. Well Jacob wanted one night with ALL BOYS! so we had Austin too. You would think this is suicide, but I would take little boys over little girls any day! They didn't fight, no drama and just hand them a game controller and they are good for hours. Yes, hours.

Jacob lost his first tooth this summer. He wasn't very happy about this. I couldn't get him to smile until I told him to say "yea toothfairy!" He said "stupid toothfairy"~and then laughed so I snapped a pic.
Earlier this summer when the dentist asked him what he was going to do with his loose teeth (he had two) after they came out he told her "I think you put them under the table or something...or there's this guy at our church, his name is Pastor, if you give it to him he'll give you a dollar." You just show him your empty space Jake, he doesn't want the tooth...ha.

We have been over-loaded with toads this year. They are EVERYWHERE. Jacob catches them, saves them from the lawn mower, puts them in a bucket and then takes them to the flower garden. I went out one night to call him in and he was walking down the sidewalk with his bucket full of frogs. They were jumping out the sides, flopping onto the sidewalk. He must have had 10 in there.
But this little guy was sitting on a plant out back. I think it's a tree frog. It's the only one I've seen around here. I thought he was kinda cute especially after seeing toads all summer long.

Austin & Jacob hanging out at the zoo.

Todd, Jacob and I went to Celebration City & Silver Dollar City while Jordan was at camp (her choice).
Jacob made Todd ride this roller coaster with him about 15 times. It was the only one at Celebration City that he was tall enough to ride. In this pic he's not looking too sure (they're in the last car).

But in this pic they are right in the front and he is loving it! *You can click on these pics to open and see better.

There is a water fountain at Celebration City and Jacob just loved getting soaked. The water would just shoot up w/o warning, and I think this one caught him a little by surprise.

Celebration City has a new huge water ride. You go straight down and plunge into water like a log ride but the wave it makes is GINORMOUS! You can see Jacob and Todd in the last seat, Jacob is the one with his hand in the air :o)

We had so much fun. It felt really strange w/o Jordan there. But don't feel too bad for her (remember it was her choice to go to camp instead). We took her to Frontier City a couple of weeks ago when it was 110!!!(felt like it) where she almost had a heat stroke. Yes, medics were called, she was starting to pass out, eyes rolling to back of head, glazed over, stumbling, dizzy...it happened so fast! She was fine after we got her over to the fan and they gave her some ice and water. And then she rode a water ride and was all better. I will NEVER go to a theme park when it's that hot again, unless it involves submersion in water!
Ahhh, good memories.

Who's Your Momma?

My sweet friend Annie tagged me. We were to ask our kids this list of questions and then post their answers. It has been fun to see all of the kids' different answers on all the blogs. Jacob's answers are in blue and Jordan's are in pink.

What does Mommy always say to you? Be Quiet. Pick up your things.

What makes Mommy happy? Hugs & Kisses. Back Rubs (oh yeah)

What makes Mommy sad? Hitting her (he has been getting in trouble for this, he keeps punching my rear when we are out in public, while making "pow pow pow pow" noises...it's about his height for a punching bag, it's there, why not?) When one of us gets hurt.

How does Mommy make you laugh? Tickling & doing nothing(? I must be really funny when I can make him laugh just doing nothing!). Tells funny jokes.

How old is mommy? 34. 34?

How tall is Mommy? 38" (oh yea, he's around 42" himself...). 5ft....I don't know, I wanna say 9? (yea, in my dreams!)

What doesn't Mommy like to do? Hit herself (yes, I hate doing that:) Watch football (that's for sure, my favorite time of year is approaching...not!)

What is Mommy's job? Taking care of me(he's always been a little self-involved...typical male...ha :o). Taking care of us.

How do you know Mommy loves you? She tells me all the time! (if you know Jake, you can hear the tone in his voice) She always gives us kisses and tells us she loves us.

Here is proof that my kids love each other and CAN get along. I'm sure after this was taken Jacob got on Jordan's back and pushed her under, and in return she flipped him off her back. :o)

Now I am tagging Stacy, Traci, Linds & Mandi. I can't wait to see what Peyton will say!

Wahhhh! Yea!!!

Well, I've needed to post the fact that we are moving to Ft Smith sometime later this year. Wahhh! We found out July 15th...black Tuesday I called it.
Todd got a supervisor job there and it is a great move up for him. I, on the other hand was totally devastated.
We've been here for 5 years and I do not want to leave. The kids have friends here. Jacob's 1st and best buddy is here...some of you may have heard Jacob mention him, his name is Austin :o)
Yeah right, you don't usually see one with out the other. Just the fact that they would be at different schools until 6th grade was depressing enough! But to be 150 miles away??? We went on vacation to Branson last week so they didn't see each other on Wed., Thurs or Sunday and Jacob received a letter in the mail from Austin with a picture and a note saying he missed him.
Well to make a long story short, I think the letter (along with me crying every day) put Todd over the edge and he decided not to accept the job. Actually he said it just didn't feel right at this time. So yea! We are staying!
Oh and did I mention that my youngest will be in Kindergarten all day this year and that my baby girl is a 6th grader?!
Needless to say I've been a little emotional for the past month. :o)
So that is what has been going on.

And since it doesn't feel right to post w/o a picture, I'll leave you with this A-DOR-ABLE pic I found of Jacob the other night. He's around two here and really cheesing it up. I can't believe he's not going to be home at least part of the day with me! What will I do with all that alone time? Hmmmm...

Summertime

The kids and I went to big G last weekend for my sister's baby shower. We stayed with my parents and the kids had some fun splashing around in the hot tub.

They were cra-zy! It was really hard to get them just to smile w/o being so goofy!

"Come on, give me one good smile then you can do some silly faces..."

We had the Osborn kids over for a couple of days while Mandi was at camp. They loved playing outside. We could only go out for a few minutes at a time...it was sooo hot! Kinda like now!

Here is what happens when a little girl has mostly boy toys to play with. I had gotten Jordan's doll house down from the attic for Alora to play with. I guess she thought the family needed some type of transportation!