Pilgrims and Indians

Even this Pilgrim and Indian can get along when they want to!
One of the zillion things I love about my kids getting older (don't be mistaken - I do miss a lot of the emotions that come with having a dependent baby!) - the detailed, beautiful pictures. This was actually a project from Sunday School, and he only made it through coloring 3 of the letters while in class (using as laminated place mats for a dinner) and we need to leave them. He wanted to make it better - so I said I'd bring it back on Monday - and this was his nearly TWO hour project last Sunday evening. It just makes me smile!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU!!!! Our family is so thankful for our family and friends who love and support us.

A Poser

So, I'm wondering if you think Kyle doesn't like to be photographed by these photos? He just doesn't seem that happy when a camera is pulled out?!?! :) I think he has inherited a legitimate camera smile from me, but thankfully his is actually so adorable. yea, dimples.
This was actually a street. Very, very, very meticulous sometimes when he is playing.

His wooden block house. Purposely knocked down, rebuilt, knocked down, rebuilt...

I'll just mention again how much my "all boy" son just LOVES clothes and shoes. This is his dressy outfit, and he was getting ready for the preschool Thanksgiving program - picked out his own outfit and basically went to the fireplace w/o prompting when I had my camera.

I'm just not sure about having a shy child... what to do.... what to do....

Coach Eddie Sutton

We have been privileged to get to know Coach Sutton on a personal, friendly level since moving to Stillwater. Even to the point where my innocent son, handing Coach's empty popcorn container back to him, will yell "Hey, Sutton, here's your popcorn!" :)

He's an incredible person - so down to earth and generous and kind. He's gone through a lot that most of us will never have to endure and has become such a legend for many basketball and OSU fans.

This is the third year he has offered his basketball tickets to our family but the first where he was actually coming. We were able to get a ticket for Kyle to sit with my parents and enjoyed our time (this happened to be the game where tip-off was 1 1/2 hours late so we chatted for a long time) and the experience.

Side story - while we were sitting there, Brodie Myers came to get his autograph. Well, Grant knowing Brodie as a "celebrity" was just freaking out about the 8 year old!!! Guess it's all in the perspective as to who you look up to - coaching legend or NBC star! For those who don't know, Brodie was in the top 4 for the Today Show Kid Reporter and he goes to Grant's school.

Pint Sized Spirit

It's indoor soccer season for the little tikes here in town. We, once again, are on the best team - meaning kids and parents, but they've also won all their games so far. Only one team that seems to be a possible match (watch out Rachel!). Here's Grant listening to his coach (this is the same team and coach that Jason has coached with for outdoor soccer and t-ball) but we have some new kids this year (conveniently in Grant's grade at school!).

Did I mention these are at 8:00 AM on Saturday mornings?? Yep, we'll be leaving our house in eight hours for tomorrow's game - nothing like a lazy Saturday! These following two pictures are the main reason for this blog entry. Skip back to a few months ago when Jason was making the OSU football team their mouth protection - Grant thought it was the coolest thing ever. So, here's a mini-me just like the big guys. Only ours is for indoor soccer. And trampoline jumping. And baseball playing. And walking. And going to read books. And to show all of our neighbors. Luckily, I have now realized that he loves this guard so much and have established a few rules (aka no wearing to school or bed).

(up) just a day in normal clothes at home wearing it and (down) at a soccer game.

I am so glad that he can be so proud of his Daddy and his work!

Running Shoes

I just ran my first 5K today! I know that isn't very exciting for my runner friends and family, but it was exciting for me! It was also in the rain but that made it cooler and more bearable for me. :) Just thought I'd share!

(that's not me in case you were wondering. Dream arms and physique)

New Moon

N E W M O O N

it's coming on November 20th!!!

I have not looked this forward to a movie in ages, and it's only been a very recent desire, just since the past two weeks when (oh, thank you, Julie!) my friend thought I should give the books a shot. I did.... oh boy, did I ever....

What's Your Vote?

Team Edward

or
Team Jacob?

I have a preference - I'm Team Jacob - but I do give Edward a lot more props after having read the books than just having seen Twilight. I do think the books get better as they go along! There are a lot of times when I see the media and Robert Pattison (Edward) and he just looks evil to me (kinda like a vampire) - obviously in the minority on that one. After reading the books, I truly think the casting agents NAILED their roles for their features, as well as Bella's character. They do not disappoint in their roles.

It took me exactly 15 days. Cover to cover, all four books. And the last book was 750+ pages. Does that make me obsessed?!? Perhaps. But I gotta give some kuddos to the author of the Twilight saga, Stephenie Meyer... she did good!!!! It was very fortunate for Jason to have a new book he wanted to read during those weeks - gave him something to do since I wouldn't move out of my spot unless I needed to refill my water or go to the bathroom. It was that bad. But, now the reading portion is over and I just get to look forward to the 20th!!!

Are you a fan? Are you sick of hearing about it (I was until this week, when I finally understood the craziness!! ha!)? Are you going to see it?

Language

Today, as we were playing outside and I said it was time to go in for naps:

"Hey, guys! It's time to go inside"
Kyle "oh, Mom. I don't waaaaant to go take a nap"
"Yes, Kyle"
"okay, Mom" and then he goes inside.

Grant "No, Mom. Come on. Shut up. Sheeesh" with an at-ti-tooood.

Let's just say that I counted 1-2-3 and then asked if he knew what that word meant and where he heard it. He said he learned it from Toy Story (whoops) and didn't know what it meant.

He now is aware that Shut Up is not nice and will be spanked next time I hear it. :)

Endicotts and dinner

There's the Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood photo we took (sneakily!) at the dinner! Becky is so great to have had her camera! Here's to great friends and a great night! We love you two!

September 2000

This kind of relates to the end of the previous post but just thought about posting it up here!

Last night, Jason and I were invited to the OSU Chef Series, which is basically a really fancy dinner put on by the OSU Hotel and Restaurant students, with various chefs from around the globe. Last night's focus was on the South - Charleston, SC, to be exact. Yummy food. Yummy wine. Fabulous fellowship (thank you very much, Endicotts!). Plus, it was pretty fun to be sitting down for dinner and look up - there was Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood one table away from us - the entire meal. And we were in the ladies room together - Trisha was very kind and smiley and polite.

Back to my story - so Jason and I leave the dinner and realize that we are across the street from where our whole story began. (Bear with me - I know this is so cheesy). We decide to go over to the Math Sciences Building where it all began.... September 2000.... when I'm just chit-chatting with Erryn on our way to class. Then POW - what a hottie up ahead waiting on us as he is holding the door open. I nearly dropped my Styrofoam cup of fruit loops as I commented to Erryn about him. And then guess who was waiting for me after class!?!?!

We smooched at the doorway and just thought it was so adorable (or maybe that was the wine talking). Either way, it's been a great ride with my boyfriend/fiance/best friend! Love ya!

11 years and counting

My college roommate for nearly 3/4 of my time at OSU was Erryn. We have stayed very good friends thoughout the past decade and are now in an annual routine of celebrating OSU's homecoming walkarounds together. Here are just a few pictures of us goofing around as usual.

This tree is at the Theta house and was the subject of many Party Pix photos. Why not add Brinley and Kyle to the fun!?!? We were just secretly thankful the tree limbs didn't snap when we climbed on!

The Walkers at Walkaround!

Same goofy girls, just with a little more responsibility! Love you, E! 223 was one of the best years ever!

One fun fact about Erryn and me is that she and her hubby and Jason and I were all in the same class by sheer luck the time that I met Jason!!! They were just recently dating, too, and it was an odd combo of us being together because we all were different majors in college. Thanks, Dr. Cate! Seemed to have 2 lasting relationships! And Brian Cross was in there.... And Todd Rosenthal... and some others that I can't recall now...

Spidey and Dinosaur

Happy Halloween in Stillwater was celebrated on Thursday the 29th (thanks to a Stillwater home football game on Friday and the OSU v Texas game on Saturday - the town's priorities!) My parents came up for the evening to help celebrate with Spiderman and Dinosaur. Grant was much more interested in the process of handing candy out to his friends rather than collecting it from houses. We made it up and down the street but he was happiest at home! Look how amazing he is as Spiderman! He's flying!

Kyle just liked to tell people the sound a Dinosaur (really a dragon outfit but we call it a dinosaur). You can feel the emotion by looking at his face - RAAAAHHHHHRRRR!

Grant getting creative for the family picture. Fully in to his character.

Thanks to Tom and Robin for coming over so we can take the kids pictures together for the 4th year in a row!

Fall

My boys (the little ones at least) love to eat breakfast food for dinner. On this one occasion, we had pancakes and bacon. This shot of Kyle is after he had eaten FIVE pancakes and was still asking for more. I just love this picture because it shows his camera smile (ie "Smile, Kyle" and this face always pops up!) and because he loves to eat (some) foods! Each year, we have at least one session of making homemade sugar cookies. Sometimes at Christmas, sometimes at other times. This year, we decided to make them before Halloween but we did freeze the pumpkins so they would work for Thanksgiving guests! The boys have become a lot more helpful in the past few years so I'm not actually stuck doing all of the work. Grant loves to roll the dough and sprinkle the flour, and Kyle is a "pro" at pressing out the shapes.

I had no idea this was going on - within a few minutes, he had run to the garage to get a rake. We have one "old" tree in the front and have planted 4 "new" trees in the backyard. What a helper!

Juke Joint Jog pictures

Kyle at the finish... Go, Kyle, Go!

The boys with some of Grant's classmates at the start line - they were like this for 5 minutes!