The Blackburn Bunch

Another Birthday...

2009-06-18T08:57:00.002-05:00

I should have posted Keira turning 3 FIRST, since technically it happended a couple of days before Kaylee turning 6.... but hey... what can I say?

We had her birthday at the park, and it was HOT... and fun.

My Diva

2009-06-15T23:20:00.004-05:00

My little drama queen diva turned 6 years old. Yep. Crazy how time flies.

Blizzard 2009

2009-03-29T12:00:00.003-05:00

Spring in Oklahoma is a surprising season. We can go from sunny, summer weather to frigid snowy weather in an instant. This week was proof of that absurdity!

Our trip to Arizona in pictures

2009-03-25T22:42:00.005-05:00

The boys (Papa, Chandler and Ben) went Quad riding and the girls had a Real Tea Party.
Ben, Chandler, Kaylee, Papa and I went to Superstition Mountain for the day. It was beautiful!
Ben and Kaylee got into a bit of trouble!

We even got to swim several times. And by "we" I actually mean "they"! Too cold for me!

Chandler, Kaylee, Ben and I went to an Indoor Amusement Park. These things have to exist in a climate as hot as Phoenix!
We made several trips to different parks . Wonderful weather the whole time!

Chayse's first time to be in sand. Papa had to help her clean her hands and she had to learn how to "walk" in this crazy stuff we call sand!

We had a great time and really enjoyed Phoenix a lot more this time then when we were there last time in the heat of the summer! We had sun each day with temps in the 70's and 80's and there is really more green in Phoenix than one might think. It was beautiful! I highly recommend visiting Mom and Dad there!

Just call ahead for reservations!

My Princesses and The Kazoo Player

2009-03-10T12:50:00.005-05:00

My Princesses - complete with Purses, Pets and Wands. (and Heels that you cant see)

They just come down the stairs this way, proclaiming their beauty the whole time. I assume Kaylee helped Keira with her ensemble, but rest assured, that girl can do it ALL on her own too!

And this is my Kazoo player and dancer. Multi-talented, I tell ya.

And yes that is Mexican Standoff by Elbow playing in the background from my Eclipse playlist. (my Twilight Addiction continues on... and on...)

Our Solar System

2009-03-07T09:08:00.004-06:00

This was Chandler's 3rd Grade Solar System project. We did it completely from scratch. Apparently there are some Solar System Kit's out there, but I had no idea. It wasnt any harder, I dont believe, to just buy separate parts. We bought styrofoam balls and we used wooden Shish-Ka-Bob skewers and some paint that I already had. Ben cut up a diaper box and spray painted it black, and I hot glued the "rings" on saturn, but the rest was completely done by Chandler. He did the painting and the assembling in the order of his choosing. It was kinda optional how you wanted to display them, in order or just around the sun in various "orbits", but he chose to do it in order from the sun.

Great job, Bubba!

Keira the Talker

2009-03-03T11:56:00.003-06:00

So Keira is quite the talker. She jibbers all stinkin' day long. Today while they (Keira and Chayse) were eating their lunch, I was munching on some Cheetos and saw Chayse watching me. The little stinker caught me. Then of course Keira catches me too. Then comes the barrage of questions from Keira.

What are you doing, Mommy? Are you eating? Having chips? Mommy? Yummy chips? Can I have some? I want some chips. Mommy, can I have some? Mommy?

So, since my mouth was full I hoped that a nod would work to hush her for the moment. I nodded yes to "Are you eating?". One nod for "Havin' chips?". One nod yes to "Yummy chips?". One shake of the head for "Can I have some?"

Well, Chayse thought this communication method was quite funny. She starts nodding and shaking that head like crazy and laughing.

A new barrage of jibber from Keira ensues.

What is Chayse doing? Mommy? Is Chayse laughing? Mommy, Chayse is laughing. Silly Chayse. Whats so funny, Chayse? Chayse is nodding yes, mommy. Chayse said yes. Chayse nodded no, mommy. Chayse said no mommy. See Chayse? Mommmy, what is Chayse doing? Is she laughing? Mommy? (seriously, this goes on all day. All day.)

So I started nodding again in response to both girls. Now it is more of a game than any sort of actual question answering. Nods yes and shakes no are abound in the house.

Keira says What are you doing? Are you saying yes? Are you saying no?

I said yep. And then I returned with a question of my own. "What if I do this, Keira?" And I rolled my head all around in Shake-Nod fashion.

That stumped her. She sat there silent for a while. She just stared at me. (YES! I did it! I silenced her!!)

Then she says " Mommy, that means Yo!"

Prayers, please. updated

2009-02-17T18:47:00.004-06:00

*see update at the bottom*

My niece Tara is in need of your prayers. She blogged about having an abscess that was growing and that she was going to the doctor. You can read it here. As it turns out it is a Flesh Eating Bacteria and they have taken her into surgery. From my limited information, there is a 50/50 chance of survival.

I know that my God is a good God and will heal her. James 5:15 says "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."

Just to give you a little back info on who you are praying for... she is 26 years old and has been married for 9 years, has 3 beautiful little girls. She has a pure heart for God and just needs more prayers lifted up in her name and for her family.

Thank you and I will keep you posted with more info.

*update*

They called and said that during surgery the doctors found out it was NOT Flesh Eating Bacteria! Praise God! I dont know what it was, but they removed several infected places, drained some and called it good. She was still in ICU overnight and "not out of the woods" yet, but I have full faith that she is healed. THANK YOU for your prayers!

Complete

2009-01-19T10:26:00.004-06:00

The kids and I were in the van going somewhere yesterday. He decided to sit in the front seat with me- the air bag goes off automatically, so dont freak out, and we were only driving around here in town. We were listening to music on the iPod. (Goodness, what on earth did I do before I had that thing???) Anyway, Chandler picked a Third Day song that is "rockin" and then the Goofy Goober song from the Spongebob Movie and then I decided to pick a song or two for the girls. (Maybe Twinkle, Twinkle or something) And before he could complain about having too much of the "baby music", I picked another to surprise him. He loves Andy Chrisman but hasnt listened to his CD in a while and his very favorite song of all time is his song Complete. He likes the guitar in it and it was the first song I put on his MP3 player last year.

So as it starts playing and he says "OH! Complete! Thanks MOM!" My heart grins, those words will always warm my heart. Sure baby, anything for you kids. So easy to please them... sometimes.

He starts remembering seeing him at the Jenks Aquarium and talks about meeting him and of course, seeing him in church when Chandler comes to our service. After listening for a minute he says "Oh, I get it now. My joy and happiness doesnt come from big houses, or nice things or money. I am Complete in Christ." Now that sounds a little too deep for a 9 year old, but after listening to the song you will understand how he came up with it. I, of course, told him that he was EXACTLY right. And how proud I was of him. I also told him that some people go their whole lives and never figure that one out. He said "Wow, and I am only nine and I already have happiness that some adults dont have."

Yep, you are one lucky boy, kiddo.

Lyrics of Complete by Andy Chrisman on the album One

Don't be disturbed if I'm not melancholy all the time

Don't be surprised to find a smile upon my face a mile wide

And don't be alarmed if it's so hard for me to stand still right now

But there's something going on right here

Even as I sing this song

CHORUS 1

There's a joy I know dancing in my soul

And it comes from being with You

It's unbelievable how my heart is full

And it comes from knowing the truth

That I am complete in You

Don't be afraid to jump right in and help me sing this song

Don't be surprised to find a smile upon your face a mile wide

And don't be embarrassed if it's hard for you to stand still right now

'Cause there's something going on right here

Even as I sing this song

CHORUS 2

There's a joy I know dancing in my soul

And it comes from being with You

It's unbelievable how my heart is full

And it comes from knowing the truth

That I am complete in You

Yeah that I am complete in You

BRIDGE

Money won't complete me

Fame won't complete me

I am complete in You

A big house won't complete me

A nice car won't complete me

I am complete in You

Yeah, yeah yeah no I won't do it

Nah, nah nah I still won't do it

I am complete in You

Well all these things yeah, they're nice things

But I am complete in You

'Cause

Repeat CHORUS 2 twice

Yeah I am complete in You

Wii Box

2009-01-11T15:15:00.003-06:00

So you kinda have to know my husband to FULLY appreciate this video. Most of you do, so that wont be a problem, but for those of you who dont... let me enlighten you.

Ben is the manager of the local pharmacy. He is super intelligent. Knows more about drugs and health than most people could imagine. His brain can retain things, complex things from eon's ago in Pharmacy school. He is a stickler for a clean workspace. One of his ex-technicians said that if she didnt know he was married with kids, she would call him "The 40 year old Virgin". He seems, on the surface, to be a very straight-laced, serious, no sense-of-humor, anal retentive kind of guy.

Now, dont get me wrong. He is. Sometimes.

At home.... Now THATS a different story. Most of my family knows how CrAzY he can be. He is ultra competitive. He is pretty funny and silly with the kids and is relentless when it comes to harassing me. He looks forward to the opportunity to embarrass the children in front of their friends every chance he gets. He cant wait for the teenage years for THAT in particular. My poor kids.

Anyway, here is your local pharmacy manager acting a fool in his own home. Gotta love him.

(and yes, we have since taken down the Christmas tree)

Flashback Friday

2009-01-09T12:14:00.002-06:00

I am becoming so terrible about posting lately. I dont really have that much going on that would be interesting in the least to most anyone. So, there is a lack of inspiration. But I ran across some old photos of Chandler and I and had to share. He was (is) the cutest little guy. Brings back great memories. He was about 1ish in the first one and we were at the zoo, probably in Louisiana. And then the other, he was 2ish and finally let me spike his hair. Good times, good times....

Can you say ONERY?!

2009-01-02T16:38:00.004-06:00

Yes, we may have trouble with this one. Why on earth would I think God would grant me an "easy" child? No, I am blessed with High Personality Children, as I like to call them.

Christmas Train 2008

2008-12-21T23:25:00.004-06:00

We had a great time at Dry Gulch USA. It is simply a magical place. It was very cold and the hot chocolate was very welcome! The kids loved the train ride and seeing Santa.

Before we got in to see Santa, Chandler asked me if this was going to be the real Santa or one of his helpers. I said "I dont know. I will have to wait until we see him."

Chandler said that he will be able to spot the Fakes. So in we go and had a few minutes in a private room chatting with Santa about the Laundry List of items to bring this year. Then afterwards, Ben asked Chandler "So could you tell if that was the real one or not? Because I couldnt be sure." Chandler said "Oh yea, I could tell. Yes, he was the Real Santa." Very matter of fact. No hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Ben said "How could you tell?"

Chandler said " Because of his breath. You can always tell the real ones in their breath. Santa always has minty breath. If its not minty, he's a fake."

Whoopsi-daisy

2008-12-13T23:21:00.006-06:00

We had a great time at the TobyMac concert tonight! That was probably the best concert I have ever seen. I am sure it helped that I was taking two enthusiastic boys, and we were VERY close. It was very high energy, as you can imagine. He (TobyMac) was walking right down our isle on top of the chairs and then about 8 seats over decided to body surf back to the stage! The boys were disappointed, but loved that he was that close. If you are not that familiar with who he is I included a video at the bottom so you can see and hear them.

Whoopsi-daisy, call me crazy, whoopsi-daisy, ....cmon gonna catch that fire, catcha fire for God!

Taekwondo Belt Ceremony

2008-11-26T11:34:00.003-06:00

Chandler increased in rank last night at Taekwondo. He is now a Level 2 Camouflage Belt! He did a great job and still enjoys doing his Taekwondo. He doesnt practice like he should, but he has a great memory and does his Forms and Self Defense moves wonderfully!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-19T14:52:00.001-06:00

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmmmmm. Wow, is the only word I have.

Have your cake and eat it too, girl!

2008-11-14T10:20:00.003-06:00

This last one is kinda blurry in places and not a "great" picture, but it is great in sooo many other ways. It just fits Kaylee to a T! Brings back memories I tell ya. Kaylee went BONKERS over her first birthday cake, almost ate the whole thing in like 7 seconds! And here she is lapping up Chayse's cake 5 years later! Too funny!

My BABY turns 1

2008-11-09T11:21:00.002-06:00

Well, today my baby, literally, MY BABY turns one year old. Wow, how fast this time has gone. What a hard couple of months, as far as birthdays go. First my oldest baby turns 9 and then my youngest baby has her very first birthday. I have truly have tried to cherish each moment with her, because I KNOW how time slips away, but that is really easier said than done, when there are 3 other kids to care for. I try to relish each milestone with her. Her first smiles and giggles and watching her now exploring her independence and strength in trying to walk. She almost has enough confidence to let go and take off.

But do I have enough in me to let go?

Luckily, I dont have to...yet. I know that as my kids grow it is my job to raise them and slowly, ever so slowly, release them. It is a process that I know is inevitable and I want them to go out on their own and lead amazing and fulfilled lives, but... it is so hard for me to imagine my life... my existence without them in the forefront of my everyday duties. I know that this is a ways away and my kids will need, truly need me for a long time yet. But, as I see how fast the time has already slipped away from me, I know that it will be upon me in no time flat.

Now please indulge me and enjoy a few memories with me of the past year.

2 days old
4 months old
6 months old
9 months old
11 months old

Chayse Avery, I love you with all my heart. I pray that you know your place in this family and how important you are to each of us. I know you will make your voice heard and we will listen intently. I look forward to seeing your personality emerge and loving you every step of the way on your journey through life.

The Christmas Train

2008-11-07T09:07:00.002-06:00

I copied this info from the website christmastrain.com and would love for you to go there and check it out yourself. There is tons more info and I PROMISE you will really enjoy your trip this year to The Christmas Train. If you have never been, it is a wonderful time! And if you have been in years past, the whole experience is greatly improved, if you can imagine that!

The Story of the Train

How It Began

Since its conception over 20 years ago, Dry Gulch, U.S.A. has become one of Oklahoma's premier retreat centers and summer camps. The property was purchased in 1985 and originally constructed to be an Old West movie set for feature family films. In 1996, Dry Gulch added a narrow-gauge steam locomotive to its list of attractions. The Christmas Train was launched later that year, and the attraction now welcomes an average attendance of 50,000 guests over the course of select nights of operation in November and December.

The Train Today

Over the last three years, major renovations have taken place at the Dry Gulch facility, and several attractions have been added, including a new and improved train experience, a spectacular new depot and theater, extra restaurants and shops, and much more. As part of an evening at The Christmas Train, you will experience the true meaning of Christmas amidst the sights and sounds of the season. The train ride itself features breathtaking artwork, several live reenactments, a multimedia presentation, and an original music score.

Let your imagination come alive at The Christmas Train!

Enter a world of wonder and delight this holiday season, dine and shop in a place untouched by time, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride through a winter wonderland. Amidst the Old West setting at The Christmas Train, you will find lots to see and do, and Old Claus himself will be on hand to greet you. Board an old-fashioned steam train, and you and yours will witness an unforgettable retelling of the true story of Christmas.

Attractions

Featured ride aboard an old-fashioned steam train
Multimedia presentation of the Christmas story
Specialty gift shops & restaurants
Live western music show
Horse-drawn wagon rides
Photos with Old Saint Nick and family photos at White Chapel*
Game rooms with video and arcade games*
Carousel rides, pony rides, and bumper cars*

*Additional cost and age restrictions apply

Mark Your Calendar!

Tickets for the 2008 season go on sale November 10.

Yes, I too have been bitten!

2008-10-30T21:48:00.002-05:00

So I kept seeing this stuff everywhere about Twilight. Thinking what? What is this? I had no idea, until I finally clicked on the countdown thingy on Dawns Diversions and then I saw that it was a book, but it was about vampires. Ok, not interested. But then it kept cropping up everywhere, people I knew had read it, supposed to be really good...blah, blah, blah. Well, then Wal-mart had it for $8 in paperback. I read the cover and said, what the heck. I havent read a fiction book in forever. Seriously. I cant remember when. Or what.

Yea, so I started reading it.....

and then I finished the book...

the next day.

Amazing. Not scary at all, but a love story, and its not demonic or satanic or anything. I love her writing and that she is so descriptive. I am the kind of reader that if the author is good, (like Stephenie Meyer is) I actually go all day thinking things about that person like they are my friends or something. Am I the only one who does that? I put the book down for a short moment to care for my starving and neglected children today and wondered what Edward was doing while I couldnt be there.

I think I may be in love with a vampire.

So I get on the computer to tell my blog readers about this amazing book and my dear friend had the exact post today!!! She is reading the book as we speak and will surely be up all night finishing it. (She just started today.) Yes, its that good.

So have you been bitten?

Happy Birthday Chandler!

2008-10-29T09:19:00.003-05:00

Nine years ago I was holding my first born son for the very first time. Checking him out. Is he really ok? All his toes and fingers and his little privates, too? Is he really a boy? Yep. The sweet smell of his baby head, and the feel of his velvety skin and the closeness we shared the first time I nursed him. Sometimes I feel like it was yesterday, and other times it seems like an eternity ago. Big boy, tipping the scales at 8lb 11oz, delivered via emergency c-section on October 28, 1999 at 10:48pm. It was several hours before I got to hold him in my arms because my blood pressure fell drastically. But oh, I couldnt keep my hands off him. I could hardly let anyone else hold him. I wanted him back!

He is growing into such a great young man. He is compassionate, loving and thoughtful. He is athletic, outgoing and funny! He is a great big brother (most of the time!) and truly loves his sisters, no matter how much he will tell you the contrary. I think this birthday really bothers me because he is halfway to being out of the house and no longer "mine". I pray that I am able to enjoy these next 9 years and treasure the time my little boy is still My Little Boy.

We love you, bubba!

This is what happens

2008-10-27T11:41:00.003-05:00

When you let your child play with markers. Black ones. That are scented. Like Witch's Brew. Which actually smells like sugar cookies. While you are on the computer. Thats what I call great mothering, wouldnt you say?

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-22T10:34:00.000-05:00

Internet privacy

2008-10-20T11:53:00.000-05:00

I have been contemplating this ever since I decided to embark on the blog world. I really want all of your opinions on this. I wonder why people dont use their real names. What can someone do with our names? I am genuinely asking. I got a ton of hits on my blog a couple weeks ago sunday and monday due to linking with the Not Me! Monday and am wondering if I need to be concerned. What is your reason for using fake names or for those of you using your real names? I originally felt that someone knowing my kids names is not a big deal. Lots of people I dont know know my kids names. There are a ton of Chandler's friends at school (and their parents) that know his name and I dont know theirs or their parents names. He may, but I dont. But that was when I started this blog solely for my family and friends. Now that I have perfect "strangers" lurking, I wonder. Anyway, any input is appreciated on this matter.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-15T22:29:00.002-05:00

Friends

2008-10-12T15:26:00.003-05:00

****update!! I totally forgot to tell you something! The entire reason I told you that I was in Bunk 28 and what my horses name was!
So I come home and tell Chandler all about my trip. Dont get me wrong, I tell everyone, but this is about Chandler, so hang with me. I said "It was just like when you are at summer camp, but with a bunch of moms everywhere instead of kids." I asked him "So where did you stay last summer, what bunk were you in?" I am really feeling "in the know" at this point. And guess what he said (before I said anything!) BUNK 28! No lie. Seriously. I said ME TOO! We were both really excited about that. He is all "Which bed did you pick? I was in the corner by the door and under the big deer head on the wall. Were you?" I said I was actually in the other corner, but it was very cool that we shared that. Then more talking and I said that I went horseback riding too. And he said "Oh, well, my favorite horse is the one I ride every time and his name is HAPPY!" Seriously, how cool is that. I have always really wondered about his time in Dry Gulch and dont seem to get enough info to satisfy me. I always want more details. Boys dont give details. So I really feel great having experience that "with" him! ****

This weekend was such a blessing to me! I was able to enjoy a wonderful weekend with my very dear friend Ashley at a women's retreat! The most wonderful church in the world, COTM (I am not bias or anything) offered a retreat for us with the theme "Friend to Friend". The speaker was Beth Jones, who is also wonderful. Apparently, that is the word of the day... Wonderful! It was totally amazing and God Filled!

Let me just give you a run-down on the activities that we got to partake in. We left at about 4:30pm Friday evening and drove the 45 min drive to Dry Gulch, USA. We got checked in a went to our bunk to drop off our stuff. We were assigned to Bunk 28. Well, let me just tell you that so were 25 other women! That was the only thing that was slightly less than desirable. But Ashley and I decided that since we never did the camp-thing when we were kids, it was high time that we experienced it in true fashion! Boy did we ever! Complete with twin bunk beds with waterproof mattresses and a shared bathroom for about 75 women! Dont even think for a minute that these circumstances put a damper on any of those womens experiences! There were extreme happy faces and wonderful camaraderie between all of us! (There were smaller bunk houses with only about 10 women in each one, but we got the MEGA one!)

Then we went to the Dining Hall for dinner. It was delicious with Chicken Cordon Bleu and scalloped potatoes, salad, fresh tri-colored green beans and peach or blackberry cobbler. Yum-o!

Then we had an evening session with Beth Jones, wonderful worship music with Andy Chrisman and the COTM band. Beth is an amazing speaker, so incredibly funny and shared with us some very useful stuff about God-knit friends. (More on this later!)

The fun was only beginning. They had tons of activities planned for well into the night! Smores roast on the patio near the lake, at an outdoor fireplace (beautiful and perfect), tons of board games in one room, a chick-flick (No Reservations), Syncing with the Stars competition, (completely over the top and hilarious!) and just good ol' fashioned talking and laughing. Ashley was feeling a bit under the weather so we kept it low key. We turned in about midnight and were the first ones to bed! But, alas we were not to sleep that night. No. The other 25 or 50 women had other plans. Did you know women snore? Hello? I did not know that. I thought that was something reserved for overweight men who are grandpa's. Nope. We had a 4 piece chorus going on all night. A low snorer, a whistler and a couple of accompaniments. Plus those plastic mattresses on the squeaky springed bunk beds! Wow. Noisy night!

But it was really ok the next day. I wasnt really that tired. (God given strength, I tell ya.) We went to breakfast, which was knock-your-socks-off good! Then over to the morning session with Beth. After that was free time. They had tons more activities for us. Ashley and I felt like we were on a cruise. We check out our itinerary and decided which of the fun things we wanted to participate in! We opted for Horseback riding! It was great! My horse was named Happy and was white with gray spots. We went on a trail thru the woods. The weather was perfect. The leaves were falling and thank God my horse knew exactly how to go! I just sat there. My kind of Horseback ride! Then we played some Bingo. We had fun but didnt win any of the great prizes they had. I must have needed my sister Lisa to sit with me to re-call the numbers! Then it was lunch time and another trip to the chapel. They had a Grand Giveaway and tons of BFF Moments that were shared. And then sadly, time to go home.

I really feel like I learned alot about friendships. Most I already knew, but it is great to be reminded. I will share a couple things I learned.

To be a friend one needs only to listen and show interest in others.

If you want to make friends, you dont need to come up with something clever to say as a "pick up line", you just need to ask questions. Where did you get those shoes? What grade is your daughter in? And then, back to number one. Show interest in their answers.

God wants you to have friends. He knows you need other women around you so that we dont weigh our hubbies down with our "stuff"! But I believe my friends help recharge me. They are such a blessing in my life!

And lastly, show up. Show up at dinner with a group like 6 Happy Hearts did! Show up at some MOM's Club events. Heck, just simply show up at the park on a sunny afternoon to get yourself out there. Then once you have friends, show up when they have turmoil to be with them, and show up when they have victories to celebrate with them. Beth Jones said that 85% of friendship is Showing Up. How true.

I think as moms we all go thru a friend famon. When we are concentrating on our babies and husbands and not sowing any friend seeds. During that season of my life, I turned to the MOMS Club and what a blessing that was. I still have many wonderful friends that I made simply by showing up at some functions.

I just know personally that I have cemented in a way that can never be broken a true God-Knit friend in Ashley and made some new friends along the way.

Walk-a-thon 2008

2008-10-10T12:18:00.004-05:00

Their Walk-a-thon was last friday, but I am just getting around to posting some pics. I have been CrAzY busy, and will post more on that later! This is all I have time for right now!!

My computer works again!

2008-10-03T21:17:00.006-05:00

Wow. My computer died and I almost thought I was going to also! It really amazed me on how addicted I am to this thing! I was having Blog Withdrawal! And Email Withdrawal! And just plain ol' Internet Withdrawal!

Turns out there wasnt anything wrong with the computer, either. Just one of those problems that only happens to women. You know, where you take it in and it totally doesnt do what it has been doing, and works fine. Like your car. "Sir, my car has been making this grinding, squeaking sound when I stop and go, I think something is about to fall off." He rolls his eyes and takes your keys and takes it on a 2 hour test drive, doing 5 mph and 90 mph, stopping, going, turning... everything and never hears a sound. "Here you go, maam. I never heard anything. Bring it back when whatever it is actually falls off. That'll be $200, please." Am I the only one that happens to???

My computer monitor was not working. The little light was on, but no one was home. No flashes or response at all on the screen. Took it in and they plugged it in. Fine. So maam, bring in your computer, maybe it is your video card. OK. So I took both the monitor and the computer in and guess what? Worked. So it was $40, but better than buying a new monitor or computer, I guess.

I have tons to post about, but am EXHAUSTED due to the Walk-A-Thon today. Pics to come soon.

Not Me! Monday

2008-09-28T20:27:00.003-05:00

I am going to do an new thing that is so cute! I read a blog pretty regularly that I love, it is mycharmingkids.net . She is adorable and hilarious! She has a true heart for God and is very inspiring to me. Did I mention she is hilarious?!?Anyway, you will catch on quick and if you decide to participate, I KNOW my friends and family will have some great Not Me!'s to confess!

So I totally did NOT pretend to be too tired to help my husband put the girls to bed tonight just so I could get a few moments of peace in the living room.

I did not hear any tantrums from upstairs as he was putting them to bed.

I did not ignore them and keep on resting (after all he is working tomorrow night, and I am on my own, he can be on his own tonight!) because that would be wrong and selfish.

I did NOT forget to change Chayse's diaper after I got her up from nap. She was NOT soaking thru her clothes at my mother in laws house during dinner. What kind of mother would do that?

I am not secretly hoping Kaylee has a sinus infection. After all that would explain her horrendous behavior, and I would know its not just bad parenting on my part. Sinus infections are curable.

I did NOT cry in the van while the kids were watching Charlotte's Web (I am not watching, I am driving, I can only hear it) and Charlotte tells Wilbur that he is the miracle, not her, she was only writing what she saw in him. I have only see that movie 30+ times and it does NOT make me cry every time.

My husband is soooo sweet and sensitive that he did NOT laugh at me for the rest of the way home from church.

I did not whack said husband in the arm, in the van, while driving, in front of the kids, on the way home from church. THAT would be a sin.

I am NOT grouchy and emotional during PMS.

I am not posting this a day early because I am taking Kaylee to the doctor in the morning and yes... still taking her to dance in the evening.

I do NOT hope that you all play along and "confess" right along with me, so that I am not doing this by myself and being embarrassed!

Flashback Friday

2008-09-26T09:35:00.004-05:00

April 2004
Chandler in the cockpit of the plane my dad flew while he worked in Louisiana. I would tell you the kind of plane it was... if I knew! Some sort of jet! Chandler LOVED (and still does) to get in and pretend to fly to unknown, never seen before lands, and apparently to do some construction while he was there! Hey, when you are 4 1/2 its all about Building Things for boys!
Ahhhh..... those were the days! My little boy is about to be 9. Crazy. No more construction hats. No more Bob the Builder. I am missing me some Bob the Builder, I tell ya. He is growing sooo fast. Dont tell him... but this year for his birthday, we got him tickets to see tobyMac. Three of them, one for him, one for me and one for his best friend Karson. The seats are on the 10th row on the floor. If you know tobyMac, that could be a dangerous place for a 30-something mom and two 8-9 year olds!!! I could be in the middle of a mosh pit!!! But they will LOVE, LOVE it! So I went from little boy toys to concert tickets. Wow, how time flies!

Post from Chayse

2008-09-16T15:03:00.002-05:00

See my new teeth? That is why mommy has not been able to blog lately. I have had a very snotty nose, and since I am a thumb-sucker, that makes me not sleep very well. I still sleep thru the night, but have a hard time falling asleep for my 2 naps. (That is during mommy's blogging time.) I may wait a while to cut any teeth, but when I do..... boy howdee.... watch out! I cut 6 at a time! Too bad you cant see the two on the top also!

Arent I cute?

Oh, and I am not the only one to blame for mommy not blogging... big sister Keira is partly at fault too! She has been trying to go potty on the big girl potty! She hasnt done it yet, but mommy knows she is close. And all you mommies out there know that potty training is a full time job! So, hang with us, mommy will be back to blogging soon!

Oh, and did I mention that I am sooo cute! And kissable! And sweet! And.... and.... and...

Flashback Friday

2008-09-05T13:21:00.004-05:00

I thought I would share this since our anniversary is Sunday.
Happy Anniversary, baby. I am so blessed to be your wife. I thank God daily for you and the family we have created. I love you.

Go Sooners!

2008-08-31T11:23:00.003-05:00

Ben and Chandler went to the OU football game yesterday. Ben heard there was a 10% chance of rain before he left, but he said he had been to games with an 80% chance of rain and got all prepared, took ponchos and all the rest of the garb that would be necessary and... no rain. So he wasnt overly concerned of 10%.

Well, it rained. And rained. And lightning-ed. So bad that they postponed the game for 72 minutes and evacuated the stadium seats so that everyone was underneath. And then waited. Now, alot of the fans left. The score was 50-0, and most SANE people would have called it a night. But not my wonderful husband, who is a die-hard OU fan. No. Absolutely drenched, tired and waiting, they stayed for a bit and THEN left. (and yes, Chandler's painted hair was running everywhere!) But anyway, that was not the end of the waiting for them.

They walk the long walk to the place where the van was parked. It was in the grass, on a slope, in a large field. Which was not a problem going into the game, but it was after a couple of hours of rain.

He forgot he was not in his 4 wheel drive pick-up.

He also forgot to release the Parking Brake.

He also forgot to bring the cell phone charger.

He was stuck - in the mud - without a phone.

So, he was able to call me and ask me to get a tow truck to Lindsey in the field behind Braums. So I call 2 places and they are backed up hours. Apparently, lots of ding-dong men did the same thing. Imagine that.

The last place I called, the last place available in Norman said they would be right out. Well, 2 hours later, he is on the road home.

Tired, wet, tired, muddy and tired, they get home after 1am.

And guess what? They still had fun!

After all OU WON!!!

Flashback Friday

2008-08-29T23:28:00.002-05:00

This is my family. Alot of them anyway. Clockwise from my mom in the blue striped sweater is Becky (above mom), Mike D., Mike (my brother), Buddy, Marilyn, Lisa (my sister), Kandis (her daughter), Me, Steve (my brother), and then Lisa Dawn.

I vividly remember when this picture was taken, the smells, the texture of the rusty glider we were perched on and the heat of the Mississippi summer night. I have no idea who took the picture, or when this was. It looks to be about 1989? Kandis at 9 and me at 15 years old? Sounds right.

Summers in Mississippi. Good times, good times.

Sisterly Love

2008-08-25T14:51:00.002-05:00

Ain't love grand?

They looked so cute half naked and sitting on the couch together, but boy... when you go get the camera and tell Keira to "cheese", she takes it upon herself to pose Chayse onto her "yap". (lap in Keira speak)

Now to explain the nakedness... I decided that in order to spur myself into actually getting them dressed, I must first remove their pajamas. Well, that and the spilled breakfasts on their shirts. Otherwise, they would not get dressed all stinkin day on some days.

Yes, thats the kind of mother I am. The cat is out of the bag.

A life without left turns

2008-08-21T14:00:00.002-05:00

I read this story on a friends blog. I absolutely loved it and thought I would share it with my readers-who-wont-click-the-links-to-other-blogs readers. Enjoy!

By Michael Gartner

My father never drove a car.

Well, that's not quite right.

I should say I never saw him drive a car. He quit driving in 1927, when he was 25 years old, and the last car he drove was a 1926 Whippet.

"In those days," he told me when he was in his 90s, "to drive a car you had to do things with your hands, and do things with your feet, and look every which way, and I decided you could walk through life and enjoy it or drive through life and miss it."

At which point my mother, a sometimes salty Irishwoman, chimed in:

"Oh, bull——!" she said. "He hit a horse."

"Well," my father said, "there was that, too."

So my brother and I grew up in a household without a car. The neighbors all had cars — the Kollingses next door had a green 1941 Dodge, the VanLaninghams across the street a gray 1936 Plymouth, the Hopsons two doors down a black 1941 Ford — but we had none. My father, a newspaperman in Des Moines, would take the streetcar to work and, often as not, walk the 3 miles home. If he took the streetcar home, my mother and brother and I would walk the three blocks to the streetcar stop, meet him and walk home together.

Our 1950 Chevy

My brother, David, was born in 1935, and I was born in 1938, and sometimes, at dinner, we'd ask how come all the neighbors had cars but we had none. "No one in the family drives," my mother would explain, and that was that. But, sometimes, my father would say, "But as soon as one of you boys turns 16, we'll get one."

It was as if he wasn't sure which one of us would turn 16 first.

But, sure enough, my brother turned 16 before I did, so in 1951 my parents bought a used 1950 Chevrolet from a friend who ran the parts department at a Chevy dealership downtown. It was a four-door, white model, stick shift, fender skirts, loaded with everything, and, since my parents didn't drive, it more or less became my brother's car.

Having a car but not being able to drive didn't bother my father, but it didn't make sense to my mother. So in 1952, when she was 43 years old, she asked a friend to teach her to drive. She learned in a nearby cemetery, the place where I learned to drive the following year and where, a generation later, I took my two sons to practice driving. The cemetery probably was my father's idea. "Who can your mother hurt in the cemetery?" I remember him saying once.

For the next 45 years or so, until she was 90, my mother was the driver in the family. Neither she nor my father had any sense of direction, but he loaded up on maps — though they seldom left the city limits — and appointed himself navigator. It seemed to work.

The ritual walk to church

Still, they both continued to walk a lot. My mother was a devout Catholic, and my father an equally devout agnostic, an arrangement that didn't seem to bother either of them through their 75 years of marriage. (Yes, 75 years, and they were deeply in love the entire time.) He retired when he was 70, and nearly every morning for the next 20 years or so, he would walk with her the mile to St. Augustin's Church. She would walk down and sit in the front pew, and he would wait in the back until he saw which of the parish's two priests was on duty that morning. If it was the pastor, my father then would go out and take a 2-mile walk, meeting my mother at the end of the service and walking her home. If it was the assistant pastor, he'd take just a 1-mile walk and then head back to the church.

He called the priests "Father Fast" and "Father Slow."

After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along. If she were going to the beauty parlor, he'd sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll or, if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. (In the evening, then, when I'd stop by, he'd explain: "The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored.") If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out — and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream.

As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me, "Do you want to know the secret of a long life?" "I guess so," I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre.

"No left turns," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"No left turns," he repeated. "Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of oncoming traffic. As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, it said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn."

"What?" I said again. "No left turns," he said. "Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that's a lot safer. So we always make three rights."

"You're kidding!" I said, and I turned to my mother for support. "No," she said, "your father is right. We make three rights. It works."

But then she added: "Except when your father loses count."

I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing. "Loses count?" I asked. "Yes," my father admitted, "that sometimes happens. But it's not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you're okay again."

I couldn't resist. "Do you ever go for 11?" I asked.

"No," he said. "If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can't be put off another day or another week."

My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90. She lived four more years, until 2003. My father died the next year, at 102. They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000. (Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom — the house had never had one. My father would have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.) He continued to walk daily — he had me get him a treadmill when he was 101 because he was afraid he'd fall on the icy sidewalks but wanted to keep exercising — and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died.

A happy life

One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news. A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, "You know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred." At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, "You know, I'm probably not going to live much longer." "You're probably right," I said. "Why would you say that?" he countered, somewhat irritated. "Because you're 102 years old," I said. "Yes," he said, "you're right." He stayed in bed all the next day. That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night. He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: "I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet." An hour or so later, he spoke his last words:

"I want you to know," he said, clearly and lucidly, "that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have."

A short time later, he died.

I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot. I've wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long.

I can't figure out if it was because he walked through life.

Or because he quit taking left turns.

Michael Gartner has been editor of newspapers large and small and president of NBC News. In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-20T14:30:00.002-05:00

Emerging

2008-08-18T14:30:00.005-05:00

You know, as a mom you pretty well have your kids "figured out". Certain kids act a certain way and you learn to accept and expect certain behavior. Some kids overreact at the smallest thing, some kids are compliant kids and Parent Pleasers (I don't have any of those kind, trust me) and some kids just kinda go with the flow.

So I have Kaylee pretty well "pegged". I have learned to know what to expect from her. Certain situations cause certain reactions from her. She is apparently her daddy's daughter. From what I hear of Ben as a child, she is the spitting image. Rotten. ;) Thats about the best way to put it. That is sooooo challenging for me. (Because as you know, I was a perfect child!) I don't understand her way of thinking most of the time. It doesn't "flow" with mine. I take different steps to achieve the same outcome and she goes in the "wrong" direction from me. But we end up in the same place and if I just let her do it her way, we will both be happier. This small realization has taken me 5 years to come to, and is still hard to overcome.

So with that said... she has broke completely out of any "mold" I had her in. She has so totally busted my pre-concieved notions on how she would react in Kindergarten. Way above and beyond what I would have expected from her. She has absolutely blossomed! Such a sweet, big girl. So independent, so suddenly. I am telling you, it was overnight.

I was hesitant if she was even ready for Kindergarten. She is a bit young. She has toilet "issues". She would probably take a nap if you made her lay quietly in her bed (not worth the fight, and yes I mean FIGHT!). She is not real crazy about doing anything for any amount of time. Only said Hi to her teachers once all year last year, all the other times she stood at the door with her head down and stared at her shoes. No amount of prodding could even get her to look up enough to get her backpack even on the hook. She acted very shy, but she isnt. Of course, after I would leave, and a fair amount of time, she would integrate with the other kids. But still would not participate in many of the activities. So, truth be told, I was worried about Kindergarten.

I prayed and prayed and prayed. And then I laid it in God's hands. I said whatever happens is meant to be and was able to come to peace with it and go for it. If she doesn't do well, then we will face that bridge and make a decision. If she has to repeat Kindergarten, fine, no problem there. So, we go for the first day, and I almost didn't know how to react to this Little Miss Independent. I was just dumb-founded. Smiles (doesn't say Hi, but smiles) at her teacher, goes to her locker, hangs up her backpack and runs to the table to find her name tag and begins coloring. Hardly even a second look to me. Then a smile, hug and kiss and "Bye Mommy!" I stood there waiting for the reaction I had geared myself up for, and got nothing. Whoa. Who is this kid? So off I go and honestly, geared myself up for tomorrow. Because surely, it would hit the fan on the SECOND day, right?

No. Every day since, perfection. (At least as far as I can tell. I have an informant because the Teachers Assistant is a dear friend of mine, so I will let you know what happens after I leave later!) She gets up and gets dressed with out being asked. She makes her own bed, beautifully too! She brushes her teeth, and that right there was a major fit thru the summer. I was trying to get her in the habit of brushing before school every day (its hit or miss in the mornings around here) and she was in total rejection of that idea ALL summer long! She gets her hair fixed without a major fit. Eats breakfast relatively quickly. Amazing, every bit of it. All of these things were hesitations for me for the last several months. I would think "good grief, it is 9:30 and Kaylee is still at the breakfast table, playing with her cereal" or "how in the world am I ever going to get a ponytail or bow in her hair if she wont even let a brush pass thru it without ear-piercing screams?" Or after the 43rd time of "Kaylee put your shoes on!" she finally slips on two different flip-flops. These are my concerns only a day before school starts. But now I have seen what my little girl is becoming. A glimpse of the woman she is going to be.

I have seen the hand of God in so, so many little things lately. And this is one area where he has definitely shown Himself in our household. I am so humbled by the way that He chooses to touch my life. Little ways that I hadn't even really asked for, or I had asked for and He chose to go way above and beyond and better! I know, I know. You read it or hear it all the time. But when you see it and feel it, it feels great. Having your needs and wants and desires met and exceeded by my great God is an amazing thing.

Gina needs...

2008-08-16T10:20:00.002-05:00

Okay, here is fun little meme to do today. All you have to do is go to Google and type in Your Name followed by the word "needs." Then only using the first two pages pick out 5 and put them on your blog. Make sure you let me know you're doing it so I can come give you some comment love on your blog as well! :) Seriously, there is some funny stuff out there in Google land!

Gina needs to borrow bail money from Sheneneh.
Right off the bat I get this one? Seriously. Too funny, because Ben and I always use Sheneneh as our "joke name". Its like the name we were gonna name our 4th child (not!) and some of the kids in my sisters class she taught a couple of years ago who always gave her fits, Ben's make-believe girlfriend is even given this name!... the lists of uses we use this "generic girls name" goes on and on.

Gina needs You! Boy, do I ever! I need ya'll like nobody's business! More than most of you realize. I thank God for You daily.

Gina needs to be clarified.
Yep, some clarification would be nice. Clear the mind, clear the body, clear the soul. Clarify me!
(Is someone trying to tell me something???)

Gina needs a back-to-basics rethink.Wow. Ok. So, yes... someone is trying to tell me something. Get back to whats really important. I hope I havent strayed too far from this, but it is always something I strive for. Get back to basics.

Gina needs to get her oar wet.What? I have no comment on this one, just laughter!

Also on a side note on the picture of the billboard above... its caption said it was after Hurricaine Charlie. The billboard was torn up to reveal the one that was covered up... hmmm...

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-13T12:42:00.001-05:00

Seriously?

2008-08-10T15:01:00.003-05:00

Seriously, why is it that EVERY TIME my husband puts a new roll of toilet paper on the holder it is upside down?? Now, thank you dear, for replacing it at all, for THAT I am grateful. And I realize that it is only because he is a man, after all, and is simply not paying any attention what-so-ever to which direction the toilet paper comes from. Me? I like the next sheet to rest on the top. Not hanging down underneath and I then have to dig for it or fumble around, spinning and spinning to find the end. If it is loaded properly, then when it is ripped off, the next sheet will be readily available to the next user. Seriously. Does he not realize how convenient it is when he is next, after I have corrected the roll mishap? But if it is happening "accidentally" then why is it 100% of the time wrong?? Shouldnt it be more like 50-50 and sometimes he gets it right? Seriously.
Hmmmpht.

Dad and Son Time

2008-08-05T20:56:00.004-05:00

Chandler and Ben had some good Daddy...oops ..I mean DAD And Son Time this weekend. As you know, Ben is the baker of the family. Especially when it comes to cookies. That husband of mine can make a CRAZY GOOD cookie. Probably the best I ever had. Any kind too! Quite talented I tell ya.
Anyway, they made chocolate chip cookies together. And saying "they" might be stretching it. Chandler darn near did it himself! Ben just directed. He said "3 cups of this, one tablespoon of that, then mix it together..." They turned out great and just in time, too. Keira got up from her nap just in time to watch them bake and then eat a nice, warm, gooey cookie. Are ya'll hungry now?

Dry Gulch, USA

2008-08-02T16:30:00.004-05:00

Chandler had a wonderful time at Camp Dry Gulch. He was gone for 4 nights and 4 days. I actually pulled alot of stories out of him. This is one area where girls are definitely better than boys...storytelling! But he shared quite a bit. They rode horses, go-karts, bumper cars, learned about Jesus, had water gun fights, late night scavenger hunts... the list of activities goes on and on. It is a wonderful camp, truly. He made some friends and some lifelong memories and hopefully, grew in his relationship with Christ.

He came home a "big boy". He has been SOOO good to his sisters. I suppose some of that is just that he is refreshed and not sick of them, yet. But regardless, I am glad to have him back and so is Ben. He was needing some more Boy Power, to help him with all of the girls around here!

Well, here are the only pictures I got. 4 days and 7 pictures? What is up with that??? Well, I can only imagine the rest of his adventures.
From the eyes of an eight year old...

Flashback Friday

2008-08-01T20:01:00.002-05:00

I guess this was probably about 1975. I was about 1 1/2 years old, I would guess. I am with my mom and dad and oldest brother, Steve. Everything about this picture makes me smile! The outfits! (The amount of polyester in this photo...!) The hair! And my face!

(correct me if I am wrong of the year, Lisa or mom)

My Thursday Activities

2008-07-31T14:59:00.004-05:00

So I had an exciting day yesterday. And unfortunately it is the only thing going on around here to blog about.

I got to spend the day at doctors offices and the ER. And it wasn't for my kids, which is the good news. I woke up at 5am wed morning with horrible stomach pains. I went to the bathroom because I thought maybe I was going to be sick, but then couldn't get up off the floor because I hurt so incredibly bad. So I sat there for over an hour and I think I dozed off. But in the morning it wasn't much better, so Ben made me call the doctor.

No, I am no good at taking medically care of myself. Isn't that a normal Mom Trait? My kids all have their scheduled appts and take any medicine right on schedule and finish all of it (although that part I have to give credit to the Pharmacist in the family), the eat a pretty balanced diet and even chew a Flintstone every morning! But me? uh, not so much. Vitamins quit when I got to quit taking prenatals (which make me sick), and my diet.... lets just say "yea, I need to be on one!"

So I was procrastinating to call the doc. For several legitimate reasons, I feel. #1 is that she is in south Tulsa and I found out is only working on fridays now. and #2 is that I was kinda waiting around to see if it was a huge gas pain or something! How embarrassing would that be??? ("Hi doc, I have this really bad stomach pain, oh,.... excuse me... its all better now")

Anyway, I found a doc (Dr Yancy Galutia) here in town and REALLY liked him. (He told me he would pray for me and did a wonderful follow-up call personally this morning) He did x-rays, and blood work and all kinds of other things and thought it was my appendix. So he sent me to the hospital to get a CT scan. I had to go in thru the ER to get that done. So, I was pleasantly surprised with the efficiency of St John Owasso. They were very nice and pretty fast, all things considered. I got in, triaged, evaluated, ct scan done and discharged all in about 2 hours.

So it apparently WASN'T my appendix. But they don't know what it is. And yes, I say IS, because it still hurts. Granted, not near as bad, but painful none the less. I did find out, via CT Scan that I have cysts on my ovaries. I didn't realize that that is almost "normal" for most women. And that might be the source of the pain. So I guess I will take it day by day and just sit back and be thankful to God that I am not in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy, or worse, exploratory surgery.

Flashback Friday

2008-07-25T11:16:00.003-05:00

This is me when I was Christened in 1974 and my mom and dad.

This is Keira in the very same Christening gown in 2006.

AHHHHHHHHH.....

2008-07-23T10:35:00.008-05:00

A huge sigh of relief. Ben and I got a vacation. Together. Without kids. It was amazing. I bought my mom a plane ticket, as bribery for her to come. Then we split the kids and gave two to mom and two to Ben's mom. It was much less stressful for everyone that way. I wasn't worried, because I knew everyone was well taken care of and no moms would have to go to the loony-bin when we returned!
Ben and I drove to St Louis for our first ever vacation alone (for more than just one night) since our honeymoon. It is a great city. Only 5 1/2 hours away and lots of stuff to do.We went to dinner at Mike Shannon's and then straight to the Cardinal's game and had a great time. I forgot how much I love baseball! We had great seats and saw Albert Pujols up close. (Chandler's favorite player!) Our hotel was right downtown and we walked around downtown and under the Arch after the game to check out the "nightlife". And we confirmed that we are getting old and called it a night. The next morning, after our room service breakfast, we went to tour the Arch. They have a huge museum under it. And I mean, literally "under"- underground! Then you can take a "tram" up to the top of the Arch. Yea, well, I didnt really think that thru when I agreed to it. The Arch is not very big as it gets higher. It really did not register on how we were actually going to reach the top. I did see the windows in the top and they looked awfully small. But I was thinking maybe an elevator, or lots of stairs or something. No. A space pod, I tell ya.
Amazingly small. 5 people fit in this and your head touched the rounded roof. It was a ball that we were riding in. It ratcheted us to the top and then we got out. I really had to talk to myself the whole way. There was a little girl, about 4 yrs old, in the tram with us and she was fine. So I said C'mon Gina, you can do it. Once we reached the top it was really cool up there. An amazing view. But it was, of course, sloped up there. It was not flat, you were climbing the arc of the Arch on top. Very cool.
You can actually see the bottom legs of the Arch in this picture (above).This girl probably thought I was crazy for taking her picture, but it is actually to show the arc of the floor and roof. Everyone is bent over looking out the tiny windows to the ground some 600 feet below.
For the rest of the day we just relaxed and did what we wanted, with no time schedule or nap schedule or feeding schedule! It was amazingly liberating! We went to a great restaurant recommended by my friend Rachel Ray. Ok, so she isn't my "friend" but she sure does have great taste in food!! It was called Cunetto's House of Pasta . It was delicious! Then we walked around a huge park to make room for dessert. Another place Rachel Ray recommended was The Chocolate Bar. Again, amazing. Really good chocolate drinks and desserts. Ben had this brownie with a caramelized banana on it. Crazy good!
The next day we went to another great restaurant called Rooster owned by the same guy as the chocolate bar and had a wonderful breakfast. I would totally recommend ALL of those places if you ever get to St Louis.
I even enjoyed the ride home. Five hours in a car with just your spouse is actually enjoyable. He didnt even ask "Are we there yet?" Its great to reconnect and rediscover why you married that person. I DO enjoy his company. I almost forgot how much.

The Boys' Fishing Trip

2008-07-21T08:56:00.004-05:00

Chandler and Ben went on a fishing trip. They went to Skiatook lake and fished for Hybrid. There were four people, Chandler and three adults. Chandler caught the most fish! And the biggest one, too! It was a 5 pounder! Ben said he was absolutely flipping out when he was reeling it in. He was hysterical! He caught 5 fish! And each one of the adults caught one a piece! He said on the way home "I cant believe I caught more fish than all of the adults combined!!" He had a great time! Now it is time for a fish fry.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-16T20:30:00.002-05:00

What a group of misfits look like...

2008-07-14T09:58:00.003-05:00

I have been wanting to post about our summer vacation in Vancleave but dont really have any great pictures. NOW I do! My sister started her blog and I copied this picture. It is all of us together. We were missing one of my nieces and her kids, but that was it. (we sure missed you tons, Shawna!) My mom and dad, all of my siblings (4 including me), all of our spouses, and our kids and some of them have kids of their own! So my mom and dad had 4 1/2 great grandchildren there! (one due in Sept!) It was a great time! We all had a ton of fun and look forward to doing it again next year!
Check out my favorite big sisters blog here!

My children are my reward!

2008-06-27T21:08:00.006-05:00

This evening while I was cooking dinner, I had a moment. It was crazy around the house. I always say that between 4pm and 6pm it is the Witching Hour(s). My kids go nuts. They misbehave and get into all kinds of crazy things that never happen any other time. Also, it was actually a bit of a strange evening, because Ben was at work and I dont usually "cook" dinner. I heat something up, leftovers, something from Schwans or even fast food. But since Chayse has been born, I do not cook without Ben here to keep the kids under control and out from under my feet.
So anyway, I was cooking. I was grilling some pork chops and had a veggie dish in the oven and I was trying to feed Chayse her dinner of baby food. So I am at the stove and I see Keira at Chayse's high chair and she is about to dive into the baby food jar. I say No Keira. Let mommy do that. Thats not for Keira, its for Chayse. I bark off two or three more commands and then I actually stop to LOOK at her. She is feeding Chayse for me. She is doing a good job too. It was quite a moment for me. Stop barking at them and look at them.
I started taking some pictures and a little video and it really hit me that all of this madness and chaos will soon leave me. I always hear it said and I understand and I know, but it really HIT me. This time of my life, this crazy time will be over one day and I want to ENJOY my kids not bark at them. In the Bible, Psalm 127:3 it says that our kids are to be a blessing to us, a "reward" from God. Sometimes, mine dont feel too much like they are "rewarding" me! But, they are meant to, at least in the long run. Stay the course, Gina. Allow God to make them blessings to you and your heart. It also says that "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." My quiver is pretty darn near runneth over with them! I must really be blessed!

Check this video out, and watch all the way to the end to see the bib! She even does the "choo choo" sound for her. You know, "here comes the train..." and then she asks her if it was yummy!

Daddy's Feet

2008-05-18T20:09:00.003-05:00

We got a load of dirt dumped in the front yard to spread in low spots and try to put some sod in bare spots. Well, who knew what a great playground that would be??? I asked Ben why in the world we ever bought a playset, when we could have paid $100 for a mound of dirt and they would play all day. Anyway, Kaylee had been climbing it today and needless to say had dirty feet (well, all of her was dirty, but I was only cleaning her feet at the moment). I got some wipes and cleaned her feet off and noticed how long and skinny that girls feet are. Such a contrast to my feet. My feet are just like my dads, short and fat (our feet, dad, not us!) and our feet are gorgeous. Aren't they dad? I guess we are a little bias, but who wouldn't love short little sausages sticking off the ends of their legs? Thanks alot dad.

Anyway, back to Kaylee... I said "OOOOHH girl.... you have your daddy's feet!" She looked at me real confused, and didn't say a word. Almost like I scared her. So as to reassure her that she didn't actually steal her daddy's feet, I said "They are long and skinny just like his, and your toes are shaped just like his!" She grabbed her foot and looked at it and said "Yea, but mine aren't hairy!" And she said the word hairy like it was the most disgusting thing ever!

I said she needed to tell daddy that and remind him of how beautiful mommy's feet are.

My Girly Girls

2008-05-14T15:03:00.002-05:00

Mother's Day Note from Chandler

2008-05-10T08:45:00.003-05:00

Chandler came home from school yesterday and sat down and wrote me this note! Seriously, I had tears in my eyes trying not to "breast" out laughing! Probably the funniest thing I have ever read in my life! What a special boy I have! I am so blessed!

My "Mothers Day Spa" Day

2008-05-09T13:12:00.009-05:00

Today was my Mother's Day Spa Day at Kaylee's school. Kaylee treated me to a wonderful morning of "pampering" at her school. They sent out fancy invitations last week for it and when I got to school there was a sign on the door that said Welcome to the CS Spa. (her teachers are Mrs Clifton and Mrs Statum). Then, when I walked in the door, all the kids in unison said "Good Morning!". Kaylee then grabbed me by the hand and led me to the "station" she picked to do first. So we went to the Manicure Station first. There were fresh flowers on each table and at the manicure table there was paper towels for each mom and a few nail polish choices. The kids had practiced all week for this and I got a wonderful manicure, complete with lotion massage and bright red nail polish!Then the teacher rang a little crystal bell to let us know it was time to switch stations and we went to the Hair-Do Station. Kaylee did a wonderful job combing my hair and placing oodles and oodles of little clippies and barretts into my hair. Beautiful!
After my hair was completely beautified, we went to the Massage Station. Kaylee once again pulled my chair out for me and then sat me down and rubbed my shoulders! Really well too! I am telling you, if that is the only thing she learned in that school, I would be happy! (But of course it isnt ;)) She rubbed for almost the whole time allowed! She did a little shoulder rubbing and a little "karate chopping" on my back and neck! It was great!
Then the last station was the Snack Station. Kaylee got me a cookie and a cup of punch and a napkin and brought them to me. When I offered her a bite or a sip, she politely refused. Yes, can you believe it? Kaylee turning down cookies!!?? But she said "This is all for mommies!" She cleaned up my plate and cup when I was done and threw them in the trash for me. She even reminded me not to talk with food in my mouth! Then the tearjerker came. Mrs Statum read Love You Forever. You know, the one with the boy whose mom rocks back and forth, back and forth, and says I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be. Then he grows up and says it back to his old, sick mom and then sings it to his own little baby. Not a dry eye in the classroom. That book makes me cry reading it at home on a normal basis, much less in this magical setting with my princess. sniff, sniff

Then I got my Mother's Day gift. She planted some seeds to grow some flowers. A Zinnia and a Sunflower. They will look beautiful in our garden out back. And, of course, some Kisses from Kaylee!
It was truly wonderful and will be a day I cherish forever!

My Mother's Day weekend is just beginning...

They won!

2008-04-22T19:55:00.002-05:00

The Owasso Bulldogs won their first game! Its only the third game of the season! These little beginners are Smokin'! Chandler got his first hit in a game, (two of em') and one was a Double! And he also scored! WHOOO HOOO!

I had to go buy him a lighter bat. He went out in the backyard with the next door neighbor and his dad threw some pitches to the boys. He thought Chandler's bat looked a little slow. So Chandler borrowed his son's bat and "whack!" He started hitting them like crazy, so that was a cue to me to go buy that boy a lighter bat!

What a game! Too bad I missed it. I had to stay home with the girls tonight. I cleaned house all day and HAD to bathe those dirty little kiddos. I am posting the video...

Thanks for reading and I promise to start being better again about my posting and keeping ya'll updated!

The Owasso Bulldogs!

2008-04-18T13:38:00.004-05:00

So just to tell you... Chandler is the 5th one from the front. Ben had a hard time picking him out, I have no idea why. So I thought, in case some of you did too...

They had their first game on tuesday night and it went really well. Thats not to say they won... BUT...they really looked like a team and showed some serious improvement! I think only 6 of the 13 boys have ever played a lick of baseball. They seem to get along well and they are learning by leaps and bounds. And most importantly, they are having fun!

Ben and I were discussing that some of the best fun Chandler had on a team, and we had as spectators/parents, was when he played his first season of Flag Football two years ago. The team was all only beginners and by the end of the season, you could really tell that it all "clicked" for them and they knew how to play as a team. It was so much fun to watch their progress and see the pride in them. I am sure that it also had a bit to do with the great kids and parents on that team also. He made friends there that will probably last a lifetime. I look forward to the same type of progress AND friendships here.

Its gonna be a GREAT season!

Go Bulldogs!

My Ancestry

2008-04-06T14:06:00.006-05:00

I have really been getting into researching my family ancestry. I guess it is something that becomes more appealing with age. You begin to think about your roots and where it was that your family came from. Sometimes it gives us more of an understanding of our family dynamics.

Anyway, I have been searching for my moms "lost" sister online. To give you a bit of history, she has a sister that is 5 years younger than her and in 1975 or 76 was the last time she heard from her. She is from Germany and was planning on coming over to America to be near mom and dad and supposedly start her life over, so to speak. Then she dropped off the face of the earth. She was waiting for her Visa and then next thing mom knew, her phone was disconnected and she was no where to be found. Only kin was an ex-husband and 2 kids, who were very young. We don't know if she died or if she just doesn't want to be found. Records are pretty hard to recover in another country, but I think especially Germany and especially Berlin, Germany. Between the wars that took place on their soil and the communism, alot of records have been destroyed.

That search has been enlightening for me. Kinda like my own mystery to solve. And, no, I haven't cracked the case yet. I have to learn German first! I feel that I am getting closer though.

But it has also led me on a quest for more information on my dad's side of the family. That is a much easier road to travel, lemme tell ya! There is actually a http://www.sramek.net/! (my maiden name). Very unusual name, but there are alot of us. My dad's great-great-grandfather immigrated here from Bohemia, which is now part of Czech Republic. One of my cousins has started a family tree online at http://www.itsourtree.com/ and it is pretty cool. I put all of my family in it and have enjoyed using it as a lesson for Chandler. When I read about my grandpa's siblings, I learned that his mom had 11 kids! The oldest was born in 1905 and the youngest in 1927! That poor woman had kids for 22 years of her life! And once, she had two kids in one year! One in January and one in December!! Wow, is all I can say.

It really does give me an appreciation for where I am in life, the time in which I was born and thankful that that woman survived long enough to raise my grandpa, who raised my wonderful daddy, who raised me.

Moving on up in rank!

2008-04-04T14:07:00.005-05:00

Chandler is doing a stellar job at Taekwondo. He tested last week for his Camo Belt. He is doing a good job and really enjoys it. He says that the Camo belt is his favorite. Who cares about Black Belt? Camo is cooler!! (At least in an 8 year olds eyes, who loves anything army.)

Easter Pics

2008-03-25T14:26:00.002-05:00

Out of the mouths...

2008-03-18T08:40:00.003-05:00

This morning, I was making a bottle for Chayse and Kaylee was the only one in the living room. Out of the corner of my eye I see her run by me. Then again, and again. She was running laps around the couch and kitchen island. She made about 3 or 4 laps. I stopped what I was doing to watch her, trying to figure out in my head what in the world she was running from. Chandler was upstairs, daddy was also upstairs, she isn't screaming or scared.... just running. (run, Forrest, run!) And so I said "Kaylee, what are you doing?" She said

Trying to get the hair out of my face.

I love my job!

Nana and Papa's video

2008-03-13T17:12:00.004-05:00

Please excuse the hiccups! I am so sorry that I happened to get them as I was videoing her! She talks to your picture all the time! See Nana? See papa?

Who takes what medicine when???

2008-03-13T14:36:00.005-05:00

I sure thought that we made it through flu season with flying colors, but I was a bit premature in that assumption! All four of my kiddos are on meds this week. Chandler and Keira have bad allergies and are taking drugs for that, and Kaylee and Chayse have ear infections. Chayse also had RSV, but she went in to Dr Raley today for her 4 month check up and she is all cleared up. That is great news! But, boy, lemee tell ya... I had some Maternal Guilt! I felt so bad that only a couple of days after stopping nursing her, she got sick! I kept thinking, If Only I had nursed her a little longer... But like a wise friend/niece told me...It could have happened at any time, I could have nursed her for 2 years and then when I quit she "happens" to get sick. I guess I can still be thankful that we didn't actually get the flu.

Spring break is almost here and mom is coming to visit! I am very excited to see her and so are the kids! We should be all well and rip-roarin'-ready to go! Definitely have some MOMs Club stuff planned and lots of outdoor playing. Praying that the weather will cooperate!

My next Season of Motherhood

2008-03-06T13:10:00.004-06:00

Well, I have been having a hard time getting adjusted to this new season of my life that I am transitioning into. Chayse is not nursing anymore and it has made me realize that I am truly, really, actually done with the "birthing" phase of my life.

That is a very hard thing for me to accept. Not that I am not looking forward to this next phase that is not so dependant on me or my body! But, that I will never carry another life inside me, or be the sole nourishment for my baby is very sad. I have to tell myself to enjoy them all and realize that my kids ARE dependant on me still. They still -very much so- need their mommy!

Time flies by so quickly and I just get adjusted to the season I am in, and I am thrust into another one. I have this one down pat, lemme tell ya! I can mother an infant pretty darn well! I've got a schedule and a routine that runs like a well-oiled machine (most days!). But the toddlers and 4 year olds are harder. They aren't as moldable into my schedule. And don't get me started on 2nd graders. I have to adjust to THEIR schedule! Football, baseball, taekwondo....

Just when I get comfortable with my abilities, I get tested and the kids are older and smarter. I guess I will grow right along with them and we will weather these seasons together.

Chandler's Taekwondo Medals

2008-03-01T14:24:00.003-06:00

Last night Chandler had a Taekwondo tournament. He took First Place in One Steps/Self-Defense and 2nd place in Forms and 3rd place in Weapons. He did a GREAT job!

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

2008-02-28T14:01:00.006-06:00

So my only claim to fame is that we live in the same town as Garth and Trisha. Everyone in Owasso has a story about how they have seen Garth or Trisha around town. They live just like everyone else in this town. They shop at Ben's pharmacy and are always out and about. They dont hide at home. Here they are at the grocery store when my babysitter Cassie ran into them. Cassie was beside-herself-excited! So I thought I would share... like I said... my only claim to fame.

Post about "nothing"

2008-02-27T20:25:00.003-06:00

Well, just wanted to kinda give an update on our "goings-on" around here. Ben is CRAZY BUSY at the pharmacy lately. The flu bug is bad this year. I guess the CDC was off on their estimations on the flu this year. That makes for a busy pharmacy. And of course, there is the usual staffing issues, only complicated by the business boom. The flu also hits the pharmacy WORKERS and half are out sick and some have quit or have family issues. All of that can lead to a grumpy husband, lemme tell ya.

I had a root canal RE-done today. It wasnt as bad as I had myself worked up for. I had a bad experience on the first one and went to a specialist this time. It was much better, but very sore tonight. But it did kinda give me the day off. At least from the kids. Frankly, that is pretty nice once in a while, no matter the circumstances.

Unfortunately, the kids didnt give Ben heck while I was gone. (just kidding!) They were pretty good. Chayse took her bottle from daddy just fine. Keira ate all her lunch and took her nap like a good girl and Kaylee had an accident free day and kept her panties dry and clean ALL day. So it can count as a good day today!

I heard a song on the radio by Steven Curtis Chapman and it is called Cinderella. Oh boy, it is one to bring tears to parents of little girls. It says that the little girl is all dressed up and she askes daddy to dance to practice for the ball. He does and calls her his little Cinderella and says that soon the clock will strike midnight and she will be gone. Then the next verse is that she comes home with a ring on her finger and again tells her daddy to practice dancing so he can dance with her on her wedding day. *sniff, sniff* They may as well have put Kaylee's name in that song, cuz that is all I thought of when I listened to it. Very sweet.

Photos

2008-02-24T21:08:00.005-06:00

Kaylee who is almost 5
and
Keira who is 20 months

Chandler 8 1/2 years and Chayse 3 months

Did you hear the song in the title?

2008-02-24T20:46:00.004-06:00

Did you sing the song when you read the title of this blog? "Theres a story, of a lovely lady... Thats the way we all became the Blackburn Bunch!" Of course, we are not three boys and three girls and THEN became a family, but you get the pun.
When I try to go to any public establishment with all four of the kids by myself, I am quickly reminded that we are a BUNCH! I always refer to them as my Gaggle of Kids (like a gaggle of geese!)

We ventured to McD's for dinner tonight. Ben is at work until 10pm and Chandler and Kaylee had some energy to burn. It has been pretty cold for the last couple of days and some freezing drizzle outside. So we went to play and eat and everyone was soooo good that they got ice cream cones. Keira wanted more - "unt ice ceam, unt ice ceam, unt ice ceam" She is persistant! But she didnt win, one was enough for that tubby kid! Then I came home and threw the girls in bed and Chandler let me win a game of Checkers. Then he went to bed and now it is time for some Mommy Down Time. ... a whole 15 minutes worth... until I go get Chayse up and nurse her one more time before I head off to bed myself.

I put my actual day into thoughts or words and truly think about what I have done today and it can overwhelm me. But when people ask "How do you do it with four kids?" I am always like "What do you mean? How do you live with NO KIDS???" I do have to stop and remind myself to Live In the Moment. Enjoy this moment NOW because they fly by too fast. Those boo-boos wont always heal with my magic kisses and my lap may not be the best seat in the house one day. Yes, sometimes I want to sit by myself, but those days will come and I will wish for these days back. When the oldest is 8 years old, it makes me realize he is halfway to 16 and I am halfway to being the dumbest mom in the universe! Better enjoy my intellect now because in his eyes, I am losing it fast!

Well, here is a way to enjoy life. Keira is one heck of a little dancer. Music certainly gets her moving! She is sooo funny. You can see her spin around and get so dizzy that she has to sit a moment!

Ok, Ok I am in the blogger crowd now!

2008-02-24T17:03:00.001-06:00

So I guess my inspiration came from my joy of reading Tara's blog. It was so fun seeing how her day seems to parallel mine. I have always enjoyed a bit of down time on the computer and this will give me something constructive to do. I reasoned with myself that I have ENOUGH to do already, but this is a way to share my wonderful family with those who are too far away to get to see them all the time. I will be able share loads of pics and little stories that otherwise would get forgotten and not shared because they weren't "important" enough. I also have several friends who have blogspots and enjoy checking on them occasionally. I hope I can keep up with this new endeavor.

The Blackburn Bunch

Another Birthday...

My Diva

Blizzard 2009

Our trip to Arizona in pictures

My Princesses and The Kazoo Player

Our Solar System

Keira the Talker

Prayers, please. *updated*

Complete

Wii Box

Flashback Friday

Can you say ONERY?!

Christmas Train 2008

Whoopsi-daisy

Taekwondo Belt Ceremony

Wordless Wednesday

Have your cake and eat it too, girl!

My BABY turns 1

The Christmas Train

The Story of the Train

How It Began

The Train Today

Attractions

Mark Your Calendar!

Tickets for the 2008 season go on sale November 10.

Yes, I too have been bitten!

Happy Birthday Chandler!

This is what happens

Wordless Wednesday

Internet privacy

Wordless Wednesday

Friends

Walk-a-thon 2008

My computer works again!

Not Me! Monday

Flashback Friday

Post from Chayse

Flashback Friday

Go Sooners!

Flashback Friday

Sisterly Love

A life without left turns

Wordless Wednesday

Emerging

Gina needs...

Wordless Wednesday

Seriously?

Dad and Son Time

Dry Gulch, USA

Flashback Friday

My Thursday Activities

Flashback Friday

AHHHHHHHHH.....

The Boys' Fishing Trip

Wordless Wednesday

What a group of misfits look like...

My children are my reward!

Daddy's Feet

My Girly Girls

Mother's Day Note from Chandler

My "Mothers Day Spa" Day

They won!

The Owasso Bulldogs!

My Ancestry

Moving on up in rank!

Easter Pics

Out of the mouths...

Nana and Papa's video

Who takes what medicine when???

My next Season of Motherhood

Chandler's Taekwondo Medals

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

Post about "nothing"

Photos

Did you hear the song in the title?

Ok, Ok I am in the blogger crowd now!

Prayers, please. updated