Pumpkin time!

We went to a pumpkin barn to pick out our pumkins and take some cute photos of the kids with the pumpkin displays. They both cheesed it up for the first few photos and then Jakey decided he was "tired" and was less than enthusiastic about the photos from then on. Margie milked the opportunity to be in front of the camera and gave lots of cute poses. After picking our pumpkins we decided to paint them now and carve them later this week, two activities with the same pumpkins. The kids mostly did abstract art as did Dan on part of his pumpkin, I found one that was the perfect shape for a Frankenstein head.

Here's the finished products!

Pagah and Grama Annie's visit

Pagah and Grama Annie came to visit us last weekend. We had a wonderful time and are so glad they came. Here's some of the highlights:Oklahoma State Fair! We saw lots and lots of animals. The kids got to pet bunnies, goats, horses and see lots of cool bugs. It was fun.

We took a tram ride to see a little more of the fair without having to walk it and finally got dropped at the pig races. They were super cool. Grama of course read lots and lots of books and her and Jakey had a blast playing animals. Jakey the tiger really got into this. We ventured downtown to see the OKC memorial and Bricktown and eat at the Earls Rib Palace. This is in front of the Survivor tree at the memorial. Our last stop was the round barn in Arcadia.

It's not too exciting, but it is a cool landmark on the route 66.

We tried not to bore Pagah to death at the round barn so while we were there we took him to Pop's to pick out any soda he wanted.

Dan also enjoyed his soda from Pops.

We spend our last day relaxing and playing in the backyard.

Thanks for the great visit. We love you!

Carpet, Table, Pre-K, Carbon Freezing and Potty Training

The Month of August is almost over so I thought I'd give you a recap of the many exciting things that have happened this month...

First, we got our new carpet!!! Yeah!!! it's only been 7 months since the kitchen flood and all the remodeling that we've been working on and it's finally done.. almost. At least the carpet is in and it's amazing. Margie has become the carpet patrol not allowing anyone with food enter into the living room. I guess 7 months of drilling in "when the new carpet comes..." worked. Unfortunately the week it came in I was sick with a nasty flu that turned sinus infection and on the days I most wanted to lay in my bed it was leaned against the kitchen wall. Oh well, I'm fine now and it's done! Yeah!
New table. Our old garage sale table finally gave out on us so we've had the card table up for a few months and now we decided to finally get a real kitchen table. It's wonderful and Jakey was so helpful putting it together. I couldn't help snap this shot of Daddy's helper.

First day of Pre-k. Margie was so cute this day. She layed out her new outfit and had everything ready to take to her first day. She's been in a week and loves it. We are still working on the separation anxiety when we drop her off, but I think in a week or so she'll be fine. Good thing it only lasts a minute or two and there's not been crying yet, just the leg lock on mom. Jakey looks as excited as she is. Too bad he's not able to go. I think he misses his sister in the mornings. He keeps asking "where Margie go?" "Preschool? oh. ok."

The kids have become Star Wars fans and we watched The Empire Strikes Back last weekend, so the other night we were cleaning up our room of the many toys that had collected there during the day and Dan said to Margie "Can you please get all these toys on the vent?" Margie replied, "No Dad, they are being frozen!" What a great imagination. I can see how Obie Wan, Han and the wookie got into this position, but I'm not sure how the loving family Grandma got into this mess.

Lastly, Jakey who is almost 2 1/2 years old has decided he wants to potty-train himself. I had nothing to do with this, in fact, it started the week we got new carpet and I was sick. He learned that it's really easy to get his own pants and diaper off and then he's usually streaking around the house like this picture I snapped only minutes ago after putting his pants back on about 5 times in the last hour. I give up. Ok not really, but this boy is really strong willed. Nice timing Jakey, we just put in new carpet! Any advice on Potty-training boys?

July Vacation

Our vacation started out at home when my sister Emma came up with her two boys and my brother Ray and his Wife Stephanie and their three kids drove through in the motorhome for a day on their way to Palmyra. We had one fabulous day with everyone. We saw the OKC Temple, Sonic Headquarters, National Bombing Memorial, and ended up in the backyard swimming and BBQ-ing. It was awesome. Thanks everyone for visiting us. We had a blast.

After a very very long (21 hr) drive to Utah, we had a great time staying with Pagah and Grandma Annie. We played with cousins, did 4th of July fireworks, ate Cafe Rio...

This was the best 4th of july pic I could get of my kids. they were not interested in posing for pictures, they only wanted to play. I can't blame them really.

Every Morning Grandma got up with the kids (it was especially nice after getting in at 4 in the morning from a 21 hr drive) and took them on walks and fed them breakfast and played with them. Grandma, will you come live with us?

We love our Grandma and Pagah! Thanks for letting us stay!

After three fabulous days at the Ashtons, it was time for the Martin Reunion. All Dan's siblings, and families got together in a cabin up in Heber for three days. It was so much fun. It was a huge beautiful cabin with a game room, hot tub, beautiful balcony overlooking the aspens and mountains in Heber. It was awesome. We put together a huge puzzle, swung in hammocs, played pool and Uncle Micah's Wii, Had a Fireball Island championship game, card games and soaked in the hot tub, while the cousins roamed around and played to their hearts content. It was great!

Cousins, cousins and more cousins!!!

(Anna, Margie, Katie, Tyler, Jakey, Madison, Ella, Caroline, Kloe, and Ivan)

We just couldn't get enough of the mountains, there's none where we are. When we saw our first mountains in the distance coming into Denver Margie pointed them out with a loud "Look Mountains!" We stayed two more days in Utah before heading home - We went hiking with Liza and her kids to South Fork, one of our favorite places (can you see why! look at that view!) We hung out with the Martins again, and Uncle Micah showed us the method to baking his famous cookies. It was so much fun and well worth the drive. Thanks everyone for helping us have a wonderful trip!

Happy Birthday Margie, Happy Father's Day Dan!

Happy Birthday to Margie. She turned 4 on Sunday June 21. She is getting so big It's hard to imagine her as the tiny 6.14lb baby she was. We had a playdate at our house already scheduled so we turned it into a birthday party with her friends last week and then on Sunday we had a few more presents for her to open and she shared a brownie with Dad for Father's day. I sure love that sweet little Goose! Happy Birthday! And Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful Husband in the world! I love you Dan.

A fun weekend with the Hansens

We went on an awesome trip to the OKC Zoo

It was very hot and muggy so the water sprayers were a highlight.

Here's Margie and Ethan going for it.

"Margie, pretend you're scared of the big T-Rex"

Group pictures with 2 year olds... not happening.


My sister came and played soccer with me and rocked the house.

She even kicked the ball into a girls face! I wish she could play with us every weekend. (This is after the game.. nice and sweaty.)

Bugs Mommy! Look at the Bugs! Jakey's new fascination.

After the soccer game a trip to Martin Park. We love this place.

Two Cousins swinging together.


Margie loved her baby cousin Beckham.

Happy Children! Ethan, Jakey, Margie and Beckham


Auntis Becca loved Baby Beckham too!

Thanks guys for a fun weekend.

Tribute to a Red-headed Boy

Jakey's Birthday was on April 22. I have to give a tribute to a small red-headed boy who gets into everything but always gets out of being in too much trouble with his charming smile, personality and stubbornness. We love you Bubsy/cinnamon bear/stinker goose-boy!

Is that the sweetest baby you've ever seen!

1 Year Old Jakey with a smile to melt your heart!

CHEESE!

I love my little boy! (Yes he's a boy, with a big sister who has lots of dress-up stuff)

So on his actual birthday I took the kids out to ice cream. (Dan was out of town.) and Jakey thoroughly enjoyed his ice cream as you can see. He kept asking for more like a broken record and ended up heping mom and Margie finish ours also. This boy loves treats!

We also had a little party with some friends when Dad got home and I made an awesome spiderman cake.

Happy Birthday to Jakey!

I have to add this photo in the mix to show how stubborn he can be. We have been fighting naps since around 18 months (just like his sister) so usually we just put him to bed early or sometimes we just find him passed out on the floor which he did a few sundays ago. Note that if I had put him in his crib he would have cried for at least an hour or more and no nap would have taken place this day. It's usually on his terms as you can see.

Happy birthday Jacob. We love you so much.

I hope the terrible two's don't make us all crazy!