SPRING BREAK!!!

For spring break we went to a little resort by a lake in Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. We just wanted to get away and relax, but we ended up having more fun than we expected. One day during Molly's naptime, I took Thomas and Abby horseback riding. They each got their own horse and there were about 6 horses between them and me, but they really enjoyed it. Thomas' horse was named Shorty and Abby's was Chief. I got Rocky and we had the best time! It makes me want to go again soon!

This playground was right next to the mini-golf course. After a round of mini-golf we let the kids play for a little while. Thomas and Abby played follow the leader and Molly just enjoyed a ride in the swing.

Mini-golf was alot of fun for the kids, we just let them putt how they wanted and sometimes it was more effective than others. As you can see Thomas has the Happy Gilmore swing down-pat!

At the Marina there were tons of carp to feed, so we bought some food and let the kids throw it to the fish. They really had a good time, especially Molly!

We took the Sugarloaf Shuttle out to Sugarloaf mountain and hiked to the top and down again and then the Shuttle took us back to the Marina. The kids did really well on the hike, it was really steep in some places and lots of stairs to the rocky top, but they didn't complain at all! Molly even hiked about 1/3 of the way up just holding my hand!

This is the view from the top, there were about ten of these turkey vultures flying around up there. There were also bald Eagles, but we didn't get any pictures of them.

This is the hike to Indian Rock Cave. Apparently DeSoto visited the Indians here. There was the really big cave and then there were lots of little caves here and there on the trail back.

We went to a cute puppet show at the Art Gallery nearby. The kids really enjoyed it (despite the looks on their faces!)

A short walk from our condo took us to this little dock on the lake. The kids loved throwing rocks in, well, Molly didn't really see the point. I tried to help, but she just didn't get it!

Thomas brought a book about how to fold all different paper airplanes. They took them out a few times to test them out. We started throwing them off of the balcony and Abby threw one all the way to the next parking lot!

Toby taking the kids to bed! GOOD NIGHT!!!

Tornadoes in February

Yesterday at around 2:30 Toby called me from work and said "You might want to turn on a news channel". So I did and they had tornado warnings all up and down Oklahoma. At that time the tornado touched down at Chuck E. Cheese and Target about 15 miles from here. It tore off one of the walls of Chuck E's and damaged Target and Hobby Lobby. Thomas was at school and the school was on lockdown, so I couldn't pick him up until about 4:00. The girls and I hid in the closet and waited for the storm to pass. These are some pictures I took with my cell phone after I thought the storm was gone.These clouds turned into the tornado that touche down less than a mile from here.This is the hail in the grass.Here is Abby holding the biggest piece of hail she could find.This morning we went looking for things to take pictures of. This is where the tornado touched down less than a mile from our house. They are repairing a few (like 8 or 10) telephone poles that were knocked across the road. This is in our neighborhood. It used to be a trampoline.

Lots of fences blown over.

If you can see it well enough, the first fence in this picture was torn up and thrown into the next yard behind.

If you would like to see more pictures there are many at http://www.koco.com/slideshow/weather/18686325/detail.html . That is where you can find bigger hail pics and a great picture of all of the telephone poles across the street nearby.

snow days!!

The first week of February we had our first Oklahoma Ice Storm. First we got freezing rain which comes down wet and freezes on everything. It was really pretty but very slippery. Here are some pictures of ice on grass and a tree.

Thomas got his very first experience with missing school for snow, so we went outside to play in the "snow". ( It was actually just freezing rain and sleet.) Toby pulled the kids down the street and sidewalk on the sled. He ran really fast and when he turned a corner the kids spilled out of the sled and laughed and laughed. When Toby got tired, Thomas gave it a try.

Molly really seemed excited to go out, but once we were out, this was her expression most of the time.
She did enjoy looking at the ice on the plants and bushes.We took a walk down to the duck pond where there is a small hill and let the kids ride the sled a few times.

Molly really enjoyed her first ride all by herself. Then Thomas wanted to ride with her and they had a rollover and Thomas ended up on top of Molly. After that she didn't want any more of that.
Tears and a little blood on the lip and nose, poor baby!!

Visit from cousins and new dress-up cabinet!!

After Christmas, Alyssa and the kids came to visit for a night. It was really fun to have them and the kids had a great time together! We loved getting to see Alyssa, too. We love her very much!Katelyn, Thomas, Marin, Ryan, Molly and Abby.Our girls dress up stuff was overtaking the toy room and spilling out of the cardboard castle it lived in. So Toby decided to build a new dress up cabinet for all of us!! This is the stenciling and decoupage (sp?) castle pictures on each side. I was in charge of the sides of the cabinet and Toby did the rest!

Here is the whole cabinet. The drawers were fust purchased at Wal-Mart and toby built the cabinet to fit them. Behind the door is a rod for hanging dresses and hooks for necklaces. The castle pictures on the door are also decoupaged.

He really did a great job on it!!!

Abby turns 5!

For Abby's fifth birthday we opened presents at home. She loved everything. If the saw the word "Disney" on it she would say "I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, it's Disney!!". It was really funny because almost everything she got was Disney. Here she is with all of her presents: Cinderella dress and tiara, princess castle alarm clock, Cinderella and Prince Charming barbies, a Cinderella card from Aunt Mitzi, and a princess book and pretty shirt from G&G Christensen.Molly LOVED Prince Charming.

After Abby opened her gifts, we went to Chuck E. Cheese just to play games. I should have known before, but now know for sure to never go there on a Saturday afternoon. It was PACKED.

After a little fun at ChuckE's we went to Applebee's for dinner. Abby got to pick the restaraunt and she had been looking forward to it all week. I am very happy that she was not at all disappointed that they don't sing at this particular Applebee's.

Christmas "Vacation"

So for Christmas 2008, we took a road trip to North Carolina. It is about 16 1/2 hours each way. so we took two days out and 2 days back. It was a long trip, but also alot of fun. On our way to NC, we were staying in Nashville, TN. While addressing Christmas cards I discover that some old friends live very near Nashville, so I called them. We ended up going to their home for dinner before we got to our hotel. It was wonderful to catch up with them and hear how well their kids are doing. In between the Allan's home and our Hotel, both Abby and Molly fell asleep in the car. So, we finally get to NC and my whole family is going out to dinner that night. Most of the kids sat on one end of the table, but Abby loves hanging out with Uncle Joe, so he was kind enough to let her play "dress up Uncle Joe" all through dinner.

Another part of our adventurous trip was helping my parents move into their new house 2 days before Christmas. Needless to say, there was alot to do and the kids kind of had to keep themselves busy. Molly was often found pushing around this cart that she found somewhere among the boxes.

On Christmas Eve, we got to put up a tree, so the kids were in charge of the decorating of the tree. They had fun hearing about the significance of all of Grandma's ornaments. Abby's favorite was the one Grandma bought the year Abby was born.

The kids playing with cousin Robbie in the huge backyard.
There are two of these holly berry trees in the new frontyard, they were really pretty among the leafless trees of winter.

The kids had some presents to open when we got back from our trip. Toby's family sent some packages while we were gone. This "My Size Barbie" was one of Abby's favorites.
I found some gingerbread house kits on sale for 25 cents each, so the kids decorated one each while Molly napped. That was a nice quiet afternoon.

I don't have any pictures, but we also visited my friend Maggi and her family on our way home. It was great to see them again, and thank you again, Maggi, for lunch on the road!!!