What a Weekend!

I knew this weekend was going to be busy.  But I didn't know how exciting it would be.

It started with a Friday night make up soccer game.  Kinley had fun running around collecting rocks on the field.  Whatever.  She's 3.

We were back at the soccer fields Saturday morning for another game.  I knew my mom was coming since we had a 5k the next day, but my dad showed up too.  I didn't know he was coming, so it was a nice surprise.

Then about 10 minutes into the game I look over and see my brother and his fiance walking up.  What?!  I couldn't remember if I had text Chancey about this game.  What a nice surprise.

Five minutes later, here come my grandparents.  Then my aunt and cousin!  Surprise!!!  I'm turning 30!!!

My family completely surprised me.  My birthday isn't until Thursday and honestly I hadn't given it much thought.  We've been super busy with soccer, preparing for vacation (we leave Friday!  Yay!), and not to mention May 3 is Griffin's Gotcha Day.  Anyway, it was fun to see everyone.  My dad treated everyone to lunch after Kinley's game.

After lunch we went back to our house and had dessert and I opened some gifts.  It was a little strange considering I hadn't celebrated my birthday with my extended family since high school.  Such a nice surprise.

After everyone left Blake, my mom, the kids, and I loaded up and headed downtown to pick up our running packet for the race the next morning.  We did a little last minute shopping, picked up some food, and headed home to watch the first Thunder playoff game.  Thunder up!  Exciting game.  They won.  Yay!

The next morning I was up at 4:30 so we could make the drive back downtown for the race at 6:30.  Twenty-seven thousand people participated in the race so we knew we had to get there, find some parking, and then find our starting point.  I found out a few days before the event that the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is a top 12 must run marathon.  My mom and I ran the 5k and the entire event was one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of.  Watching the real runners was fascinating and it made me want to train harder.  Mom and I are planning on running the half marathon next year.

I'd just like to brag on my mom for a moment.  I've never been prouder of her than when she was speeding ahead of me, weaving around people and passing them.  It was so fun watching her push herself past people half her age.  She's awesome!

And here's a picture someone posted on Facebook.  This says it all.

I can't wait to run it next year!

Wordless Wednesday {What a Hunk!}

iPhone Camera Fun

We had a storm shelter installed a couple weeks ago and the kids loved watching.

Looks comfortable!

Griffin is a great shopping buddy!

Griffin loves the tractor (aka mower)!

This is the potty jar.

This jar saved my sanity.

Thank you, potty jar.

Oliver came home a little over a week ago!

We're so excited he's home with his family!

Griffin loves for me to tickle his back.

Kinley sat down and started looking through her Bible all by herself.

Makes my heart happy.

Griffin got a new pair of shoes and they reminded me so much of the pair he came to us in.

Riding the mower with daddy.

Mmmmm!  Noodles!

My big helpers washing windows!

Princess Griffin was unhappy.

Riding the mechanical fire truck at the outlet mall.

Kinley riding the bull.

"I ride this cow!"

Tuesday Tidbits

Sunday in church I leaned over to Blake and whispered, "When I wash my face I can actually feel the bones in my face."  Blake then leaned over and said, "When I wash my hair my love handles don't jiggle."

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Yup!  Blake and I have both lost weight and are feeling really good about it.  We're eating healthier and exercising regularly and actually enjoying it.  Yes, we still splurge....mostly on Mexican food....but you have to reward yourself and enjoy life, right?!  Mexican food makes me enjoy life.  Mmmmmmm.......

Focus, April!

Blake has lost 11 pounds and I've lost 7.  I run 3-4 miles several days a week and do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred 2 or 3 times a week.  Looking and feeling better is great motivation and so is my 5k race in less than two weeks and our beach vacation that we'll be enjoying in three weeks. 

This last weekend was a less than fun two days.  Tornado weather is stressful and usually heartbreaking.  We had a storm shelter installed last week and then slept through the tornado sirens Friday night.  Two friends texted Blake and I at 3 a.m. asking if we were safe because there was rotation (possibly a tornado) less than a mile from our house.  I'm a very light sleeper and never sleep through storms, but I did Friday night.  We were very shaken up and on high alert all day Saturday.  Nothing severe happened here but 6 people were killed by a night time tornado in northwest Oklahoma.  Again, heartbreaking.

Have I mentioned Griffin talks a lot?  I mean a lot, all the time, constantly.  I would do a post about all his words he says but that number is literally in the hundreds.  He can and does say anything and everything.  Here are a few of the phrases that he says on a regular basis.  Read:  a hundred times a day.  I know I'm missing some but here ya go....

Let's do it!

Take this.

I did it!

Let's go!

Tse Tse (Kinley), where are you?

NO!!! (That's a phrase, right?)

I wet! (after some fun water play)

It's windy!

Please help me, momma.

There you go.

Anytime I hang up the phone Griffin will ask, "Papa?"

Griff loves his papa.

Easter, Easter, Easter...

I always put off long posts.  And Easter was a long, fun filled holiday.  It started with Kinley's class Easter party at her school on Thursday.  Her party began with a classic egg hunt on the play ground and ended with food and Kinley coming home early since it was a half day.  So fun to see her with her friends but unfortunately I don't have any pictures to prove it.  Moving on...

Saturday morning we got up, loaded up, and drove to Leedey for the weekend.  The plan was to eat lunch at my parents' house and then go into town for the Easter egg hunt at 2:00 pm.  Plans immediately changed when I stepped out of our vehicle in the hurricane Leedey.  Holy windy, Batman!  Seriously, is was miserably windy and cold and I knew my kids would have just as much fun hunting eggs in my parents house.  So that's what we did.

We hid eggs several times and the kids were excited every. single. time. 

After we were done hunting eggs and the kids were adequately sugar loaded, I was informed that my grandpa really wanted to take the kids out to his friend's house to see his chickens and collect eggs.  I was very hesitant at first because Kinley doesn't do birds.  At all.  And Griffin isn't fond of them either.  But what my grandpa wants, my grandpa gets so off we went.  And I couldn't have been more wrong.

We're going to go in there???

Not quite sure yet...

Kinley was actually really excited and went right in and snagged some eggs.

Lookin' back...making sure none of the chickens were following.

Proof that Griffin braved the chicken coop.  But he didn't want to reach in for the eggs.

I don't blame him.

Griff checking out the loot.

'Real' eggs.

Uncle Chancey was there.

Exploring.

There was a rooster they had contained that was cocka-doodle-dooing non stop.

The kids thought that was pretty cool.

Bye chickens!

We had Easter dinner Saturday night to accommodate every one's schedule.  My mom cooked and everything was fabulous.  I'm salivating just thinking about it.

We also made Easter cupcakes that were delicious but I didn't get a picture.

Sunday morning was the most important thing, church.  The kids went to the nursery and did great all by themselves.  The service was nice.  It's always a good feeling to be back in the church you grew up in.

The rest of the day was hurried because we had scored six tickets to the Thunder basketball game that night.  We ate lunch (leftovers. yum!), did a quick egg hunt outside since the weather turned nice, packed up, drove home, unpacked, changed into our Thunder gear, loaded back up, and made it to our seats in time to see all the pregame fun stuff.  This was our first Thunder game and OH. MY. GOODNESS!  We all loved it!  The kids did so well and thoroughly enjoyed the game.  I hope we can go back soon.

Harden is our favorite player!

Their initial reaction.  Ha! 

Our view.

Griffin almost folded up in the seat!

Kinley was having so much fun with the Thunder sticks!

Sorry to the lady in front of her.

Griffin LOVES Papa!!!

And Grandma!

Chancey and Morgan were there too but I didn't get a picture of them.

Thunder up and happy Easter!!!

Happy Easter

He's Coming Home!

See this little guy?

Handsome, huh?

That's Oliver.  And he's coming home soon.

WAAAAHOOOOO!!!!!

I was introduced to Ollie's mom, Dana, (via Facebook and email) by another adoptive mom, Karen, sometime last year.  Karen thought Dana and I should talk because Ollie went to live with Griffin's foster mom not long after we brought him home.  Our boys share a foster mom!  How cool is that?!

Fast forward to now and it's time for Oliver to come home.  Actually, it's way past time, but such is life in the international adoption world.  Anyway, he is scheduled for his visa interview tomorrow which is the last step before travel call.

WAAAAHOOOOO!!!!!

Dana, if you're reading this I am so, so, SO happy for you.  You have been so patient and waited with such grace.  And now it's time.  He's coming home.  The best thing that will ever happen to you is going to walk off that airplane and into your life and heart.  Soon.  Very soon.

Wordless Wednesday {My kids have style!}

Tuesday Tidbits

It's so fun to watch my kids interact at this age.  Kinley is all personality and Griffin is talking SO MUCH.  Their conversations are so fun to drop in on.  Kinley is so motherly and her top three favorite things to say to Griff are....

You ok, Griff?

Be careful!

Good job, Griff!

So sweet.

When I started this blog I told you one of my New Year's resolutions is to get healthy.  Well, I'm down 6 pounds, I'm running three miles 3-4 times a week, and doing 30 Day Shred the other nights.  I absolutely should have lost more than 6 lbs by now but I've had a couple of set backs and lots of bad eating days.  For me, the key to weight loss is eating.

Griffin can't say Kinley so he calls her Tsee Tsee.  And she answers to it.

Eleven months ago today Griffin was handed over to us and our whole world changed.  What a wonderful day that was!