The story of Us

Trip to see Daddy

2010-04-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Daddy is living in Falls Church, VA which is just minutes from DC. So we wanted to take the opportunity while he is there for the kids to get to see all the sites and museums. The museums & almost all sites are free, so we couldn't miss out on this chance! The kids (and Tommy and I, too) got to do so many "firsts" on this trip. The first of which for the kids was riding a bus! Ha! We took an airport shuttle from the parking lot to the terminal in Tulsa and Tag was so excited to ride a bus for the first time! :) We rode the metro in DC, which was a first for all of us, and just lots of other things. There are just so many big and little things to experience in the world and I love getting to show a little of it to the kids! The kids went to school that Thursday and I picked them up and we headed straight to the airport for our flight. I must say, it was the sweetest thing to see how excited they were to be so close to seeing Daddy!

This was around midnight when we finally arrived at Daddy's house.

Tommy is one of the most thoughtful people I know and he loves more than anything to make the kids happy. He had them both little surprises to occupy them while he was at work the next day. One of Bella's surprises were these press on Princess fingernails. She thought she was something else! So cute!

While Daddy was at the hospital, the kids and I went walking around behind the house. It was just beautiful and peaceful there. There are running/bike trails and a few small playgrounds. This was a pretty stream behind the house.

DC is known for their cherry blossoms and I was hoping we'd get to see the trees blooming. We missed most of them but this one was in the park. Beautiful!

A cherry blossom.

Cuties sitting in the blossoms. When the wind blows they fall from the tree like snow.

Pretty girl!

Having fun!

That night we went to the mall. It was 3 stories and the biggest mall I've ever been to. Tag is really into Legos right now and they had the coolest Lego store!

We had just gotten off the metro and were heading to the The Mall (Smithsonian) when we spotted the streetside hot dog stand. :)

The Museum of Natural History

Huge T Rex head! It was amazing to see all the dinosary bones!

The Hope Diamond

The Rotunda in the Museum of Natural History

The White House!

Mommy's turn...wish we had gotten a family pic here. AND wish people wouldn't just sit there in front of it so they aren't in the background.

View of White House from the south side

Bella Rose has become a huge fan of Wizard of Oz and could not wait to see Dorothy's slippers at the Museum of American History!

Inside Union Station

Union Station - just beautiful!

1st trip on the open top tour bus! And it was quite cold.

National Cathedral - so beautiful!

Arlington Cemetary, very emotional and humbling experience to see

JFK's gravesite with the eternal flame

The Beautiful Amphitheater at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetary

Soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier. This is the most amazing thing to see how much detail goes into showing respect and honor. You can hear a pin drop because of the silence and it just will give you tears and chills. Awesome! I am uploading videos that I will post later.

Changing of the Guard

Our tiny kids sitting in the huge Amphitheater! ;)

The flowers were beautiful at Arlington Cemetary

Riding the open top tour bus!

He makes me the happiest girl!

Our last stop was the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

So much bigger than I would have ever imagined! Awesome to see!!

As you can see we saw packed lots of things into this short visit and had a great time! Tommy will finish up in Virginia on May 7th and starts his OB rotation in Orlando on the May 10th. I'm not sure when we will see him again because we are waiting to see what his schedule is in Orlando before we make plans for the kids and I to join him. Of course we want to be with him as soon as the kids finish the school year (last day is May 24th), but I also don't want to be stuck in a hotel room with the kids while he's working long hours if he has a bad schedule that rotation. So for now we have a countdown of 20 days left of school!! And then we will go to WM and from there we will eventually travel to Orlando. Tommy will finish in Orlando on June 18 and we will come back to WM, then Tommy and I will come back to Tulsa to move out of our apt before the end of June! And then another chapter of our journey will be closed!

I'm baaaack!

2010-04-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hello all! That is...if I still have anyone following my blog since it's been so long! When I was home over Easter I had several friends ask if I had dropped out from the blogging world, so I thought I'd give it a go again. I got overwhelmed with being so behind that I just stopped. But now I'm just going to pick up with the present and forget all I've missed.

Just to update...

Tommy is in his 4th week of his 6 week Psych rotation in Falls Church, VA. This rotation has been quite interesting (a little scary for me to think about the patients he's dealing with!) and has really flown by. Well, at times it has, but then at times it's been forever since he left Tulsa. Tag has had a really really hard time adjusting so please keep him in your prayers, and Tommy also, of course. I can't imagine being away from the kids for 3 mos and admire him so much for being so strong and doing what he has to do to make a good life for his family. I know this is so hard for him even though he'd never show it. And I keep telling Tag that these things only make our family stronger and that 3 months really isn't that long when you think about it! But I'm thankful that I get to talk to Tommy often and I know my mom always checks in on him too, so he's being well looked after even though he's so far away!! I would hate for him to feel like he's forgotten while he's off over there! :)

Tag is doing wonderfully in school and reading so well! He's so proud and so are we! It's an amazing thing as a parent to watch your kid learn to read. You can just see that door opening for all the things to come! Tommy and I have always read to them and have a HUGE library of kids' books and are always buying up more and more and I think this has always kept them interested in books. He is playing ball also and not really a huge fan of it right now. He doesn't mind playing, but just doesn't get into it that much and it doesn't hold his attention well! ha! But as long as he wants to play he will play, we will never push sports on him. He is doing Jefferson Milers (the running club at school) right now also and enjoys trying to get as many "feet" charms as possible. He has tons of friends living around us in the apt so he plays outside every minute of the day that he can. On weekends nowadays our tv is rarely turned on b/c they are outside playing all day! I love it! It will be hard to move again and not have all these friends around for the kids to play with, though! Tag has also grown a ton! I measured him the other day and he's grown 2 inches in less than a year! Wow!! My parents could not get over his growth at Easter and they had just seen him a little before that! I keep telling him to slow it down, but he doesn't listen. :) He is looking forward to his first school field trip at the beginning of May and kindergarten field day! These last weeks of school should help the time pass until we can be with either Daddy or our family in WM.

Bella Rose is doing great also. Getting a little too sassy for her own good, but I guess I've always known she was a little rotten! ;) She's the little princess of the family, for sure! She's very ready to be done with school and be back in WM. In fact, I think she'd have no problem leaving us here and living there right now! Little toot! Of course she thinks that when we are in WM we'll always live with Nana and Poppy since that's where we've stayed while in WM for as long as she can remember. So I guess she'll be shocked when we have our own house there! ha! She's still into babies and Barbies and is constantly rearranging her big dollhouse. She's done so well in prek and is ready to be a big kindergartener next year (although her mommy's not ready for this at all!). She asks for a "real puppy" and a "real baby" just about every day and I can't wait to be able to give her both! :)

We went to visit Tommy last weekend and had a wonderful time in DC. We cried when we first saw him and we cried when we left him, but the in between was really a great time! His place he's living is perfect for him and a great location. I'll post some pics from the visit later in another post.

Belated post from the holidays

2010-02-10T14:16:00.001-08:00

Here are a few pics from the holidays in West Monroe.

Our first day home! With Abbie and Savannah

Uncle Markie brought Bently over for a visit.

Tag and Savannah doing some chores! ;)

Abbie and Bell opted to do their nails and makeup instead!

Me with my parents on my mom's birthday.

With my sisters Cherie and Jaime.

Bella and Kate

Tag and Zak

Eating cake for my mom's bday

Mom in her new apron

An adorable little present under the tree!

Christmas morning!

Opening presents Christmas morning

Tag was so surprised when he got a DSi

Bella loving on her new baby

My parents' beautiful tree

Bella and her new pram

Bella and Poppy Christmas day

Our new holiday tradition...playing games! I absolutely love it!

Christmas at the Banks!

WOW!

2010-02-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe it's been so long since I've blogged! It's like once you get behind, and you think of all you haven't posted, it just gets too overwhelming to get started back! I really wanted to have some of our Christmas pics up for my own journaling purposes, but I'll have to figure out what I'm going to do.

Our family is doing well. We've been having snowstorms, so that's been exciting. And messy! Tommy is still in his surgery rotation and liking it. I have started a little side business of sewing (called Bella and Beaux) and I've stayed pretty busy with orders! I have so many ideas of things I want to make. Unfortunately, it's just finding the time to create it all! I have been subbing alot so that only leaves my evenings for everything else....and that rarely includes sewing new things, just fulfilling orders. My friend is creating a logo for me that I'm excited about and I really hope to figure out how to balance it all better so I can get some new things for Spring made! And hopefully soon I'll have a seperate blog for this, also.

Tag is signed up to play baseball and we should hear from his team soon to get started practicing. He's excited! After Christmas, the teachers have stepped up their reading and he is doing so well! She sends home new books in his "book bag" and he returns them the next day for a new one once he's reading it well!

Bella is no longer in dancing. For the money we were spending, we just weren't happy with what she was being taught...or not being taught. As I've said before, she was wanting to do some real ballerina dancing, not that petty little girl dancing! ;) LOL! We'll start it next year....hopefully in West Monroe!! (fingers crossed!)

We still aren't certain about where Tommy will be going for rotations. Currently he is still scheduled for Virginia in late March. I am praying so hard that our family will not have to be split up. But, of course, we'll come through it with flying colors and tons stronger if we do have to. Tommy is just a hard person to be without, that's for sure!

Well, hopefully I'll have time soon to add a few pictures to cover the time from last post up until now!

=)

Catching up...

2009-12-08T10:36:00.001-08:00

We've not had too much going on lately. It's just cold and we've been stuck inside most of the time. Tag has 2 more basketball games left and their little team is looking better and better...they're starting to get the idea of the game. He still goes to wrestling practice and really enjoys it, but we aren't doing any of the matches. As his daddy says, it's a weekly outlet for him to get out some of that wrestling energy that he has so much of! ;) Bella Rose is doing great and growing like a weed...they both are growing too fast. She has gotten into her baby dolls again and loves being a mommy to them. In fact, when we went to see Santa and he asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up, she said "a mommy"! Awwwweee! I don't know if this started after being with Bently or what, but I love it...especially since I'm sure it won't be long and she won't want a thing to do with baby dolls.

Not much going on with me. I am trying to sub as much as possible...but those jobs are hard to get in this system! I do have 2 jobs already for later this week and next week. I am looking into doing the alternative certification program to become a teacher when we get back in LA. I would love to be able to start teaching next Fall....so I'm about to be studying for that dreaded PRAXIS. :( I honestly can't imagine taking any kind of test and I'm really anxious about it!

Tommy finished his Internal Medicine rotation a week ago. To brag on him a bit...he once again got a near perfect evaluation from his attending, as he has with each of his rotations so far. He has patients telling his doctors what a great bedside manner he has and how thorough he is and good at explaining their diagnosis. I'm just really proud of him. He does have this magnetic personality and has this really caring side to him that comes out when he's with a patient. I was always certain he would have a great bedside manner. He started his 12 week surgery rotation yesterday and although he had heard negative things about this doctor from other students, he hit it off well with him. The dr. had on an Alabama hat so it helped to break the ice by bringing up Alabama's Coach Saban that Tommy played under at LSU. :) We are still uncertain about how long we will be able to stay in Tulsa...or how long Tommy will. As of now, Tommy is scheduled to go to Virginia for a 6 week rotation at the end of March. We have said that we will not do such a long distance apart thing again, but looks like it'll be happening soon. And it wouldn't be so bad if we were closer to family... There is a possibility they will allow the Tulsa site to stay open and some students are drafting a letter in hopes of persuading them. So this is what I'm praying for and would love your prayers also! We have been through so much (that many of you prayed us through!) since he got in medical school that has grown us in so many ways...so I'm not going to let this worry me! Ultimately, we will survive whatever we have to and it will all be worth it in the end once he's finished and he has a satisfying and fulfilling career!! Weeeeell, I guess I had alot on my mind this morning! ;)

Here are some random pics from the last week or 2...

Here's our precious Santa pic! This was the best Santa we've seen through the years. It's funny because last year Tag wasn't in our Santa pic....he was too scared to go near him! ha! He couldn't believe he was that scared when we told him that the other day!

I went in to check on the kids before bed the other night and found Bella laying like this. =)

These next pics are blackmail pics! Tag put on my Uggs and stuffed his sleeves with paper. hahaha!

Rosie all bundled up for school...she looks like little Cindy Lou Who!

Hope you have a great week!

Thanksgiving in Tulsa!

2009-11-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We actually spent our first ever Thanksgiving with just our own little family. We've always had friends or family to spend our holidays with...even when we were in Grand Cayman we spent Thanksgiving with our friends the Clarks...so this was a first! I must say we did miss seeing all our family, but I'm not going to lie...this Thanksgiving was one of my favorites! We cooked together and just spent good time together. We went around the dinner table saying what we were thankful for this year...just a sweet, special time and I wouldn't have traded it for anything! Here are pics from Thanksgiving week!

Tag the cute little indian!

Bella Rose's class party

Ready to sing! And below are 2 videos of songs they sang. :)

Cute lil indian ready to eat!

Here are pics from Thanksgiving Day!

Ready to help mommy make the dressing!

They are getting good at cracking eggs...no eggshell made it into the bowl this time!

Mixing it all up! (please ignore the "catch-all" bookcase in the background! Space is quite limited in a little apt!)

Our Thanksgiving dinner! Dressing, Ham, broccoli and rice casserole, mac n cheese, devilled eggs, delish rolls, pecan pie and 4 layer delight! Heaven!!!! Yes it was alot of food for 4 people (really just 2 since the kids just picked at the food!) but it was all the things we wanted to make sure we had, since we only do it 2 times a year! This was my first time to make my grandmother's dressing recipe and I must say it was pretty close to being as good as when she and my mom make it!

The kids were out to play and came in and were so excited to see all the food! They acted like they loved it, but didn't eat much of it. Crazy kids!

Thanksgiving night we went to the Utica Square lighting! It was alot of fun and I'm glad we went!

The carolers

Bell on daddy's shoulders trying to get a good view of Santa!

There he is! Santa did the countdown to the lighting.

Pretty clock in the square! It is a fun area and has lots of high end stores, that I'd love to go walk thru sometime and window shop!

The rest of the kids' break was pretty low-key. Tommy worked and finished up his Internal Medicine rotation and the kids and I stayed home because I wasn't interested in fighting the crowds!

The kids out on the balcony painting plaster molds and making pictures one day during the break.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We each have so much to be thankful for every day!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!!

2009-11-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

I was planning to wait until Thanksgiving day to put up our tree...but we had snow in the forecast (of course we never saw any, but it was still exciting to a Louisiana girl to just see it forecasted) and it just seemed right to go ahead and put it up this past Monday. =) We also put some lights out on our balcony railings and the kids are so so excited! We'll wait until Thanksgiving to hang the stockings and the rest of the decorations. So for now, we are decorated half Christmas and half Thanksgiving in our little apartment! Poor Thanksgiving just gets pushed aside more and more each year it seems! ;)

We are excited to be spending a quiet Thanksgiving at home this year. Of course we love to be with family, but since that's not possible this year, it will be nice to be able to relax and just enjoy being with our little family without having to rush from house to house! I plan to attempt my family's dressing recipe, so I'll be sure to let you all know how that works out...

I had another "first" yesterday! I went to eat lunch with Tag for the first time. Now he wants me to come everyday! ha! Bella Rose eats lunch in her classroom so I can't go eat with her just yet. Tag has his Thanksgiving feast today and Bella Rose has hers next Tuesday. And then they are out of school Wednesday through Friday next week. Unfortunately Tommy has to work, but I think he'll be able to be home on Thanksgiving Day. I cannot believe how quickly Christmas is approaching!!! On our agenda for this weekend is getting pictures taken so my dear friend, Misty (check out her site...MSR Designs), can make us up some FABULOUS Christmas cards!! If you are wanting an original Christmas card, she is great and she also has lots of other stationery on her site to choose from. (She's also pregnant with her 4th child...and the fact that she's able to run this business in the midst of raising her family is just amazing to me!)

Have a great weekend!!

Our weekend in Shreveport

2009-11-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

We got to travel to Shreveport this past weekend to meet sweet little Bently McGregor and he was just as tiny and precious as I would have imagined!! I knew the kids would be so thrilled to get to hold him, but they really surprised me at how much they wanted to be with him. Tag especially took to his little cousin and we've been talking to him about how he will need to be a good role model for little Bently as he grows up! :) On Saturday, my mom, Aunt Laurie, Sister, niece and cousin all drove up to Shreveport too for some shopping at the Boardwalk. We had a great time and as always, whatever time I get with my family is never enough. Saturday night Tommy's mom and dad came up also and the whole Banks clan got to go out to eat at Posado's (yumm!) for Ma C's birthday! It was nice having all the Banks boys and their families together and afterwards we went back to Mark and Amber's for birthday cake and ice cream. Then on Sunday my mom and dad came to visit us before we headed out. I was so glad I got to see my dad....and so was Bella! She had gotten teary eyed when I told her that we probably wouldn't get to see Poppy this trip...so it was wonderful that they came on Sunday! Then we stopped off to love on Bently one last time before heading back to Tulsa again. Thankfully we had a much better trip home than we did coming. Tag was so carsick Friday we kept having to stop, clean him up and clean the car and let him rest some. On the way back to Tulsa though, Tag's Dramamine helped him sleep about 3 hours of the trip...and Bella slept right along with him! Whew...what a relief and what amazing little travellers we are blessed with! Guess they're just used to it by now! The kids really did not want to leave this time and that makes the trips home even harder. The goodbyes are always hard and the kids are getting more aware when I cry (I told Tommy I'm just not equipped with that mechanism that will allow you to just tell yourself to NOT CRY!). But I think no matter how old I am, I will always cry when I have to leave my parents. That's just a sign of our relationship tho and how much I love 'em! =) And like I told the kids...time is just flying by and we've already almost been here for 6 mos! Soon we'll be moving on along once again!

I have lots of pics from the weekend and I'll just let them speak for themselves!

Tag holding his little cousin for the first time!

Cute boys!

Tag kept saying he just wanted to squeeze Bently!

Beautiful Bella Rose holding Bently for the first time!

Babies always look smaller when they're in Tommy's arms! ;) I love seeing him with a baby, he's always so gentle and sweet.

First time to feed him a bottle

I love this picture...it sums up the whole weekend pretty much. All eyes were on little Bently!

Bella Rose was quite the little momma and will one day be a fantastic big sister!! (one day...but not one day soon unfortunately!)

Burping the baby

Love this...just melts my heart!

At the Boardwalk!

The kids with my niece Katelyn

Bella picked tiny flowers while we waited for our table at Saltgrass

Gorgeousness!

Me with my sister Cherie, aunt Laurie, cousin Samantha and my mom!

I downloaded another PhotoShop trial and have been playing around with these pictures! ;) This one is just a great picture that Amber took!

Sweet sweet!

Ma C with her 3 grandbabies!

Brandon and Erica at Posado's

The new parents! They don't look too sleep deprived do they for parents of a barely 2 week old baby?! I don't know how they're pulling that off! ;)

Our family + 1!

The Banks boys with Momma Banks!

At the hotel with Poppy on Sunday

Nana and Tag at the hotel

Too funny! Bell in Poppy's glasses

As you can tell it was a GREAT weekend.....and a very FULL weekend! But we wouldn't have it any other way!

Another Basketball Video

2009-11-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

Here is the second video from Saturday's game. It shows a little more of the how the games go....but I couldn't get the end cut out of the video. Soooooo, I would suggest to just turn it off at about 35 seconds....unless you like to see the ceiling and floor. =)

More Basketball!!!

2009-11-08T08:51:00.001-08:00

I finall got a little video (it's really short!) of Tag shooting a goal! His team played really well and Tag scored 3 of their goals. The coach was out so the assistant coach (aka Tommy) had to step in and play head coach this game....and he did great!

Giving a little pep talk...with Bella up in the middle of it!

Tag off to the side taking a practice shot.

Like I said...this is a very short video...thankfully I turned my camera on at just the right time!! =) Yay for you, our little Tagaroo!!

I have another video that shows our little bball player in action....but I sort of forgot I was filming and...let's just say you get quite dizzy just watching it. If I can edit it and cut that part out I'll post it later. :)

Union Basketball

2009-11-01T15:53:00.000-08:00

Tag had his first basketball game Halloween morning and I found out that I LOVE watching wee basketball! It's so much more exciting than the other sports Tag has played! I was completely impressed with the teams and thought they were pretty much the cutest little guys! I wish you all could have seen the progress the teams made from the beginning of the game to the end...both teams had made so much improvement just during the game! They started to learn at the end to pass the ball if they couldn't shoot and are learning to dribble while running. I have to add too that Tag scored 3 goals!! We have our 2nd game tomorrow at 6 so I'll have more pics and videos then! As soon as we got to the court I got out my camera, turned it on and went to take a pic.....and the battery zapped and went dead. :( So the only thing I have from the game is a cell phone video. It's not the best but you can get an idea. Tag's team is in the yellow jerseys and are on defense in this video. Enjoy the cuteness........

Bently McGregor Banks

2009-11-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

The Banks family is growing! Uncle Mark and Amber had their first baby yesterday on Halloween and he's just beautiful! Bently was born at 1:16pm and weighed 6lbs8oz and is 17 3/4 in long. Mark did a great job keeping me updated all day yesterday on Amber's progress and I felt like I was right there for it all! I absolutely hated to miss this big event...in my family we are always there when someone close has a baby...but the 7 hour drive made that quite difficult! Hopefully it won't be too long before we are able to go meet this sweet baby in person! My arms are aching to hold him!!!! CONGRATULATIONS Mark and Amber!!! You did great and we are so happy you have your beautiful baby boy now!

Halloween!!!!!

2009-11-01T07:56:00.001-08:00

We had a fabulous Halloween! Tag dressed up as a ninja and Bella Rose was a beautiful bride. We went to our friends Ryan and April's house for a Halloween dinner and then went trick or treating. April had fixed delicious cheese soup in a bread bowl and baked ziti and lots of yummy treats! She is an awesome cook and baker from what I've seen and we really enjoyed spending this Halloween with her and her cute family!!

Our bride getting ready!

Pretty shoes

Mommy dressed up as a leopard! I LOVED the eyelashes!!!

All the yummy food April fixed!

Bella the bride, Emmet the dragon and Tag the ninja!

Silly girl!

These 2 are quite a pair! ha!

April (Kat Von D) and I!

The kids ready to go!

Trick or treating!

1st house to trick or treat at!

This poor guy had to hold Bell's hand (and sometimes Tag's too!) the whole night! lol

Bella made sure to hold her dress up when she ran...just like a little lady!

The kids found their friend Jesus while out trick or treating!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!!!

The Castle of Muskogee

2009-11-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

This is a really neat place! They have events at different holidays throughout the year, so we went to the Halloween one. It really looks like a castle and inside it's sort of like a village with shops selling souvenir type things or food (mostly "fair food"!) and then they have several attractions. Some were kid friendly and some really scary things were "no kids allowed". We completely had no clue how many people would be there when we went, though. The lines were insane. We waited probably 40-45 minutes for the haunted hayride, but it was alot of fun. It wasn't really very scary, but was just scary enough to spook the kids! People running out of the scenes set up along the ride and stuff like that. Tag and Bella Rose really like it....but I don't think they would have gone back on it another time! ;) We also went to a pirate show that was really cute and entertaining. Other than that, we really didn't get to do much else due to the lines. We did get some cotton candy and funnel cakes and a fried twinkie! We also nearly froze. I still haven't learned how to factor in the wind chill here. I was unprepared for how cold the wind was that night. Even though we didn't get to do many of the attractions there, it was just a neat place to get to go and see! They will have a Christmas village that I'm sure we will be going back to!

This was the sunset on our way there...so pretty!

The kids standing outside the castle

They had different characters standing around

I know the pictures are dark...but you can kind of tell how it was set up like a village

Tag was mesmerized by this guy! Bell was terrified...naturally!

This was the line to the Torture House....something I had NO INTEREST in going in!!....when we first got in the castle. This line wasn't bad but I wish I had taken a picture of it later in the night...geez it was long1!

This was a vampire named Alucard and his pet werewolf named Wolfie. They were set up along the line of the hayride to entertain while you wait.

He was making Wolfie lay down and roll over...haha!

Tag went up on stage with the other kids (Bella was too unsure what would happen!) at the Pirate Stage. They taught them a little dance, but Tag said he wouldn't do it!

Bella and her yummy cotton candy!

Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-01T05:12:00.000-08:00

One day a couple weeks ago, we picked the kids up from school and headed to Pumpkin Town! They had ALOT of fun....and I have ALOT of pictures! Too many to pick through so I just put a ton on here!

I LOVE pumpkins! I like all the neat ones like these that are different colors.

I have no clue what Tag is doing! ha!

Yes...he has his stash stuffed in his shirt!

They came home and arranged it all on our coffee table. I think they made a perfect Fall arrangement! =)

Bella's Dance Program - Oct. 26, 2009

2009-10-29T13:14:00.002-07:00

Bella Rose's dancing school does mini recitals throughout the year where they get to wear a little costume and do a dance they've been working on. I think it's great to get them in front of parents to help prepare them for the big recital later. I was very proud of her and thought she did the little cheerleader dance just wonderfully! Of course she's ready to bust out in big ballerina leaps and spins, but I keep telling her that will come later! ;) Be sure to watch the video at the bottom or our little dancer dancing! =)

After they danced they had a cookie party!

I snuck a bite of this ballet shoe cookie from a local bakery and it was absolutely delicious!!

Bella and her teacher Miss Leah

Bella and another teacher....can't remember her name, but we love her too!

And here is the video of our tiny dancer!

Splashing in puddles...

2009-10-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

While we were home it did a whole lot of raining. :( Being sick and indoors because of rain was in NO WAY how we intended our visit to WM to be!!! But one day the kids were feeling a little better and I decided to let them out to play in the puddles. They surely had a blast and I was glad to let them out to burn off some energy and do something they normally wouldn't be able to do! The mudhole they are playing in has been there for as long as I can remember. I remember having our baby ducks that we got for Easter one year in this hole when we were little. =) And yes, I do realize just how "redneck" this type of fun is!!!

I'll start with some "Before" and "After" pics of them! :)

Tag - Before.................................Tag - After

Bella - Before......................Bella - After

I think he's telling her to jump in the puddle with a really big jump! ;)

Ya gotta ride the scooters through it!

Miss Priss Pot

When Savannah and Abbie got home from school they joined them

Crazy kids!

Croquet anyone??

WOW!! But at least they had fun!!

I'm baaaack....

2009-10-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while....a while for me anyway! I thought I'd start with our trip to La. a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures taken from our visit. (I had to steal these from my mom in fact!) I did take pictures one day when the kids played out in the water puddles....which will be in a later post... We had a great visit despite all 3 of us getting sick and it raining the whole time. :( I found that it's really hard trying to visit all the people you need to see and get things done you need to do while in town in just a week's time. Then cut that down to just 2 days after we were all sick....we didn't leave the house again until Friday and we left to come back to Tulsa on Sunday! Oh well, whoever we didn't see this time we'll see next time! =)

Tag & Bell at my mom and dad's

Tag holding a bug keeper with some sort of critter in it he found at MaC's and Pop's house! :)

Bella loves to help Poppy with his computer work. She pushes the buttons for him... ;)

I'm sure they're watching Spongebob!

Eating a chocolate sucker from his Halloween goody bag MaC had for them!

The kids with my mom

Piled up with Poppy!

Tag with the Caples' new kitty that Vannah named Isabella! =) Made my kiddos want a pet even more than they already did!

I was bored on the long car ride home

I don't want to see this stretch of road again for a while! (except maybe to come see little Bently!)

This is the word "Jesus" writtin in rocks on the side of one of the hills. Such a great reminder of who we should be thankful to when we are driving along.

When we made it home Daddy had a surprise for the kids! He had decorated the house in Halloween and had them some goodies! I can't say enough about how amazing Tommy is! He also did something like this for us when we lived in Maine. The kids and I went to WM for a visit and when we came home he had balloons EVERYWHERE! Here is a pic of all the balloons in Maine...

As you can see on the floor...Tag had already been popping them! ;)

And here are some pics of the Halloween welcome home we got...

I ate most of those Halloween cookies with the purple icing...one of my most favorite things!

Didn't he do great with his decorating?!

Bella got this mask that glows in the dark

Tag's glow in the dark mask

He had them a decorate your own cookie kit. They loved this!

Even Daddy decorated his own cookies!

And he also had them these kits to make Halloween door hangers.

I think Daddy should get a BIG pat on the back for making us feel so special when we came back home!!

A post for the Grandparents!

2009-10-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

I had these random pictures of the kids and thought the grandparents would enjoy them! I know they are cute kids in the pictures, but they're much cuter in person...and you'll be seeing them soon!!!! =)

Ready for school!

Tag's cute new haircut! Although I liked it longer, too!

Tag painted this scarecrow in art class. I think it's pretty cute! By the way...those pom pom looking things are the straw! ;)

Bell ready for dance class in her tutu!

Playing with her friends at Tag's game

Ready for school!

She loves her boots!

2009-10-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures and videos of our little #12! I tried to take some play by play videos...thinking it would be the next best thing to being here to see him firsthand! Tomorrow is our last game and I expect it to be a COLD and MESSY one!

This pic was taken just before he got that kid's flag! I thought I was videoing but had switched the camera back to take still pics....would've been a great video and I was so upset I missed getting this good view on tape. :(

That's him at Center :)

Here are some short videos of Tag doing what he is SUPPOSED to do!:

This is one of him getting a flag...but the stinkin coach was standing right in front so you can only see him hold it up afterwards. (sorry the videos are showing up so small)

He & another boy almost had the flag in this video below...they did run him out of bounds tho!

And here are some videos of Tag doing what he's NOT supposed to do! ;) :

Tulsa State Fair

2009-10-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the fair! It started out a little rainy, but ended up being a nice night.

This is some HUGE statue in front of the arena.

We ran into our friends Ryan, April, Wes and Ememt while we were there, so we were able to get a family pic!

Jumbo corndogs! Definitely a favorite!

Yummmmy!

Bella's first ride....she kept saying she wasn't scared...

Poor girl started crying just before it started tho. But then she loved it!

Brave little Tag with his hands in the air! Tommy's dream is for him to LOVE roller coasters so they can ride together!

Tag and I went on a scary pirate ride....Tag was scared to death...had his head hid in my lap. I must admit, I didn't like the pitch black part of it AT ALL!

Ready to slide!!

The Charlie Daniels Band was there playing!

Enjoying a yummy elephant ear!

Bella was pooped and conked out on way home!

The Tooth Fairy paid us a visit last night!!!!

2009-10-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

We had begun to wonder if Tag was ever going to lose a tooth! He actually lost one on top a couple years ago by bumping it when playing. (And the permenant tooth is still not showing any signs of coming in in that spot!) But this is his first "official" tooth to lose! It's been wiggly for a couple weeks and he's not wanted to mess with it much. Then a couple days ago I noticed that the new tooth was already coming in behind the loose one. Anyway, last night we worked on it and finally it came out! When we pulled that top tooth out a while back, he got VERY upset with seeing the blood...and I think just the feeling of that root popping (ick!). But this time he was super excited! One of the first things he said was how he couldn't wait to get to school to tell Miss Newburn, his teacher! ;) I wished I would've been videoing him...he raised his fist in the air and said "I finally lost my first tooth!!". Too too cute! Way to go, Tag!!!!

Holding up that tiny baby tooth right after we pulled it!

I tried to get him to reenact some of his excitedness for the camera...lol =)

This morning before school....showing off that new "gap"!

The tooth next to the one he just lost is also loose...so I'm sure the Tooth Fairy will be coming again soon! :) I must say, it gets more and more difficult as the kids get older to answer the questions as to whom the Tooth Fairy (or Santa, Easter Bunny, etc) is and how they get in the house!!

Taylor Swift Concert

2009-10-01T09:47:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, Bella and I went to the Taylor Swift concert! We had a blast together and I hope we always will be close and do things like this together. She really is alot of fun to be with. :) I was so excited for her first concert to be Taylor Swift because she just loves her songs so much...sings them with all her heart! And Taylor Swift really seems to be a nice, gracious girl, which makes it even better for all these little girls who are watching her and looking up to her! At one point during the concert the crowd got SO LOUD and Taylor just stood there with her hands on her heart and tears in her eyes (you could see her face clearly on the side screens) and she finally said that she promises she will never forget what that feels like, to stand there with a sold out arena screaming for her. She may say that at all her concert stops, but it's nice to see someone grounded and appreciative. Anyway, I'll just let you look at the pictures! They're much more entertaining than my rambling! ;)

The BOK Center is really beautiful at night....the glass lights up blue. It's a really pretty building.

Gloriana....I didn't know them at all, since I don't listen to much country! But they were good!

Trying to pass the time until it was Taylor's time to come out!

Looking out over the arena...she was in awe of all the people! There was still another level above us too!

Kelly Pickler...I did know her from American Idol!

We LOVED her shoes!

Finally it's Taylor!!!

Bella kept asking why she was swinging her hair like this! ha!

Her hair is gorgeous!

This is when she was standing there with her hands on her heart.

What we've been up to...

2009-09-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

So, I had planned to post this over the weekend, but then my computer completely died on me. :( Don't know what happened, but I'm hoping we can at least get my pictures and videos extracted from it. I vow to learn my lesson this time and keep our family pictures backed up! But I'm using Tommy's laptop in the meantime...

We had a nice weekend. Tag had a game Saturday. We aren't sure if they won since they don't keep score, but we think they may have tied. ;) But I do know that Tag pulled 3 flags! He was proud proud and each time he runs straight to coach to let them know he got the flag...as if they hadn't seen! Moments like that make you realize how much sports or other extracurricular activities help build self confidence. Bella is still loving dancing. Our weeks are starting to be somewhat full and I know they will only get busier as the kids grow. On Mondays we have dance, Tuesday - football, Wednesday - Jefferson Milers (a running club Tag has joined after school that promotes exercise and running for the kids, and for each mile they run they get a "foot" charm to add to a bracelet), Thursday - football practice or game, Saturday - football game. But we're loving it all!

Tommy is doing great in his Internal Medicine rotation. We're enjoying his schedule of 7 days on and 7 days off. His 7 days on are long and tiring some days, but it's nice having that week off. He's making rounds at the hospital, writing orders and admitting patients from the ER. It's a big responsibility and he's doing fantastic! He's starting his 4th week this week, so just 8 more. We have gotten some tough news recently.....we may be having to move from Tulsa sooner than we thought because St. Francis Hospital is cancelling their contract with St. Matthews (Tommy's school) for some reason. It's so frustrating and I'm praying this will not be the case. We really really love it here and with kids in school, it's not so easy to just pick up and move during the school year. And as always, it's nothing we can plan ahead for, making it all SO much harder to deal with. Please pray that this situation will work out with as little stress on our family as possible. So many issues are running through my mind ranging from the financial stress of moving once again, down to my sweet Bella's plans for being in her dance recital here in May. But I will not give in to the worries because we've been through so much already and keep coming out on top! I'm certain that if we do have to move, we'll soon find out it was for the better. Just please keep us in your prayers!

I went to substitute teacher training this past week and in a couple weeks should be in the system to get started. I only signed up for subbing at the kids' school becuase I'll need to be able to pick them up after school. I am already volunteering on Wednesday mornings helping out Bella's teacher with any copying, cutting, laminating, etc, and have signed up to work the Book Fair after Fall Break. I enjoy being up at the school volunteering and making relationships with the teachers. I guess this is in my blood since my mom was the same way when we were young...and it meant alot to know she was around! In the rest of my free time, I've been exercising regularly and I'm trying not to get discouraged since I'm not seeing results as quickly as I'm wanting. UGGGGGHHHH! I've made so many changes, but I guess I have to realize it took me 7 years and 2 kiddos to get my body in the shape it's in currently, so it's just going to take some time! ;) I'm completely impatient with it though!

I went to the fabric store over the weekend and got some things for my next sewing projects! I actually made Tag some warm fleece pj pants on Saturday and I'm quite proud at how much he's loving wearing them! I didn't have a pattern to follow for these...just looked at some other pj pants he has...therefore I was busy, busy undoing and redoing seams that I kept doing backwards. Ugh! So it looks like for me, following a pattern or not, it's going to be work! It definitely tried my patience, but I learned lots, once again! I got a pattern off of Etsy for some cute ruffle pants for Bella and I'm itching to get started on them!

Bella and I went to the Taylor Swift concert last night (you guessed it, that'll be another post!)! I do believe this made Bella the happiest girl in Tulsa last night! I will never forget how tightly she squeezed my hands when Taylor first stepped out and how wide her smile was, or how sweet it was to watch her singing her heart out to the songs! Sweet, sweet memories and I'm grateful that I have such an awesome husband that went out of his way to surprise us with the tickets!

I think this catches you up with what's going on in our daily lives! Thanks for reading! =)

Made by Mommy with lots of Love...

2009-09-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

I finally completed my first sewing project! My poor mom probably wanted to pull her hair out from trying to explain those silly pattern instructions to me over the phone! So a BIG THANK YOU to my sweet Momma for helping me out! I learned lots of lessons this go around and am already looking forward to my next project! And I'll need to come up with something I can make for Tag, as he's asking what I made for him after seeing Bella's little top. It's just harder to come up with things to sew for a 6 yr old boy! Hmmmmmm.....any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! ;)

The model definitely makes the outfit looks tons better! :)

My Grandmother

2009-09-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

Six years ago today, Frances Evelyn Kent, my grandmother, passed away. I am so thankful that we were all able to be there with her, holding her hand as she went. She was such a beautiful person and someone I will always hope to be like. We lived next door to her and my Papa my entire life so we saw them just about every day growing up. She was loved by so many and we are very blessed she was ours! She left us a most amazing legacy with her life and her marriage. She was adored by my Papa and they were truly still in love until the day he passed. They were the sweet kind of couple that still held hands and teased one another. He called her "Brown Eyes" and spent his life completely devoted to her. She was also the best dressed lady in town, which brings to mind another legacy she left us...shopping! Oh how I miss her and I thank God for her life!

School picture day & Crazy hair day!

2009-09-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

We had our first school picture day this past week! Bell wore her new boots and looked quite cute, if I do say so myself! And Tag was handsome as ever....although he did LOTS of griping about having to wear that polo shirt to school!

Their school has been doing several weeks of activities to raise money for United Way. They have had a couple Bubble Gum Days where they can buy gum for $.25 and get to chew a piece during school, and a Hat Day where they could pay to wear a hat to school. Friday they had Crazy Hair Day where they could pay $1 and wear their hair as crazy as they wanted and also pay another $1 to watch the teachers do relays. I think they had a totally fun day Friday with the hair and teacher relays! And this week they have Pajama Day that they're excited about! Of course all the money goes to United Way and it's a great way to teach the kids the importance of giving...and it allows them to get to have fun doing it! I really really love their school and we'll definitely miss it when we move!

Tag's mohawk before we colored it

Bella's froo froo pinty tails before color =)

Purple and green mohawk

That's one cool kid! ;)

The purple color, sparkle spray and big bows finished off the look perfectly! Her teacher said she pranced around all day and wore her crazy hair proudly!

Now......I think I'm caught up again on my blogs for now!!

Bella the Ballerina

2009-09-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

Bella had her first dance lesson last Monday! She loved it! I'm not sure if it's what she thought it would be...I think she thought she'd be learning to dance like the ballerinas do on tv instead of simple little dance moves they'll be learning. But she was happy happy and wants to go EVERY DAY to dance! Here are pics of our tiny dancer in her dance clothes! I was in heaven seeing her all dressed and ready to go!

As always, she requested a pic from behind so we could see her hair! She's wanted to wear her hair "like a real ballerina" (in a bun) for sooooo long and was thrilled when she saw it in the mirror. :)

Modelling her ballet shoes

Bell's always on her tippy toes!

She loves her tap shoes!

Beautiful!

Practicing her shuffling!

After dance, she was a proud and happy girl!

Her recital will be on May 29th and she is already asking when she gets to wear a costume....it's gonna be a long year of dance! ;)

A cute little flag football player!

2009-09-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Tag had his first football game last weekend. They got to play at Union Tuttle stadium where Union High School plays and it's a beautiful facility. The boys had a great time playing and even though they don't keep score, we won our first game! Here are some pics of our big football player from the first game. :)

No, he didn't get to pick his number...

Coach brought eyeblack for the team! Tag was a little embarrassed at first. ;)

Cutie!

Love him!

1st play of the game. Isn't that a pretty church in the background!

Tag snapping the ball....I love how the 2 boys beside him are looking at this like they've never seen it before! Like they're saying "what in the world are they doing?!" Ha!

Love the smiles on all the kids' faces in this pic....shows they are really having fun!

Our boy in action and looking for a flag to pull!

Good game guys!

Go Jefferson!!

SO glad Nana and Poppy got to be here for 1st game!

Our sweet family!

Birthday and a Surprise Visit

2009-09-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

I had what will most likely always be one of my best birthdays ever this year! I was sitting on the couch watching tv on my bday when my dad called to tell me "Happy Birthday". He asked if my presents had arrived and I told him that I didn't know because I hadn't been to the mailbox that day. He told me to open the door to see if they left them outside the door, which I thought a little odd, but went ahead and checked anyway! And there were he and mom!!!! I am still in shock they were able to pull the surprise off! They had flown in, gotten a rental car and driven to the apt. all without my knowing! I felt so special!!! Thanks so much Mom and Dad (and for Tommy for helping them arrange it and for keeping it a secret!)! They came on Wednesday and stayed until Sunday and we had so much fun! They got here before the kids got out of school so we were able to go surprise them. They of course had NO CLUE that Nana and Poppy would be there to pick them up from shcool! I got a cute video that I might try to upload later of the moment they saw them. Tag had the biggest grin and ran straight to them for hugs and Bella acted like it was no surprise to her at all! haha! You never know how kids will react!

For my bday dinner we ate at the Cheesecake Factory! Yummmmmmmy!

Tommy had ordered me this yummy cookie cake (my favorite!) and gotten us some Maggie Moos cheesecake ice cream to go along with it! It was delicious!

The kids enjoyed all the snuggling and lap-sitting they got while Nana and Poppy were here! We hadn't seen my dad since we moved here in June. And he looked wonderful...couldn't tell at all he had had any problems before!

Tag had his first football game while they were here (those pics will be in another post!) and afterwards we went to Krispy Kreme! The Balloon Guy was there and they were doing face painting.

Mom and Dad got me a new sewing machine for my birthday!! I love it so much! Here are Bella and I trying it out!

We also took the kids to Chuck E Cheese's for some fun!

When we were at Wal Mart we saw this Elvis car! All I can say is WOW!! My mom loves Elvis so we had to take pics! ;)

This was on the hood of the car! I understand that people love him, but really? Doing this to your car??

We had the best time while they were here and it was the best surprise! Love you both dearly!!

Labor Day 2009

2009-09-15T09:28:00.001-07:00

I am WAY behind and have several posts I need to do to catch myself up! But I got a new sewing machine for my bday and it's taken over my free time! I'll try to do one post a day to catch up. :)

We had a nice and quiet Labor Day weekend. We did go to a new park that had a splash play area and the kids had a great time! I'll let the pictures do the talking. :) And Bella is in most of the pictures since I'm usually right there beside her! ;)

She was raising her feet up like the seal's tail was

Trying to spray everyone!

Waiting on the bucket to drop water on him!

We hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day!!

UPDATE on Tommy's Internal Medicine rotation: He was in his 2nd week of medicine and working with a cardiologist as his attending. But that doctor is now shutting down his office here, so as of today, Tommy started working with a Hospitalist at St. Francis Hospital and will be there for the remainder of the 11 weeks. I hope he's having a great first day with his new attending!!!

Gotchas & Pinty-tails

2009-09-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

This year at Jefferson Elementary (the kids' school) they are doing a new character education program that promotes positive behavior. For the first few weeks of school they talked daily to the kids about the 3 foundations of the program...being respectful, responsible, and safe. Starting this Monday, teachers began handing out "Gotcha" notes to students if they saw them acting respectful, responsible or safe and Tag and Bella both got 1 each on Monday and also again on Tuesday! Their own teacher can't hand them out, it has to be another teacher. For instance, Tag got his Tuesday for being respectful and responsible because he said "yes maam" to another teacher when she asked him to take keys to another teacher at recess. Bella got hers for walking quietly in the halls. I think this program is going to be wonderful because they are loving working for some Gotchas! Oh and they get rewards for how many gotchas they get and they'll have a Gotcha party each quarter where they can trade their gotchas in for sundae toppings to make the principal into a sundae, or duct tape her to the gym wall, or paint to paint the principal, and water balloons to throw at staff! It's just a real neat program and you can only imagine how much the kids are looking forward to doing this to the principal and teachers!!!

Tag with his "Gotcha" note

Bella with her "Gotcha" note

This morning Bella Rose wanted to wear her hair in "pinty-tails" to school. I'm not sure where she came up with this terminology (piggytails maybe?) but I just love to hear her call them this instead of Pigtails that I hate to correct it!

Could she be any cuter??!

This was yesterday morning...Tag sporting his new favorite shoes! I love them too!

This morning...He's such a cutie pie!

Have a great day!!!

End of 2nd Rotation Celebration =)

2009-09-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe we are reaching for something to celebrate, but we are pretty proud of Daddy! We went to eat at Fish Daddy's restaurant Sunday night. Tulsa has a gazillion restaurants, but not very many seafood places, or at least that we've seen... Our dinner was yummy and we had a fabulous night! It was nice and cool and breezy so we ate out on the patio. And for the most part of the dinner we were the only ones out there so it was just perfect! I told Tommy I felt like we were on vacation or something...even though we were only about 100 yards from our house! hehe! ;) I ate grilled fish that was topped with shrimp and crawfish in a white wine sauce....mmmm mmmm good! Tommy had some sort of combination platter and it looked yummy too! It was just an all around nice night and here are some pics as we sat outside waiting for our food!

I also wanted to remind you to please please still be praying for little Kate McRae. No, I don't know this family personally, but they have just stuck in my mind and heart and I am constantly checking her caringbridge site and praying. It is heart wrenching and sometimes I don't want to go check her site, but it is our duty as Christians to pray for those in need. Kate is going through her 2nd round of chemo now and they are at home for this round and just having a really HARD time. They really need to be lifted up right now. You can also click the link below and leave them a message to let them know you are praying for Kate, as they are constantly asking for people to intervene with prayer for their daughter.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

2 Rotations down...4 more to go!

2009-08-28T08:47:00.001-07:00

Tommy has completed his 2nd rotation! Woohoo!!!! Yesterday was the last day of his family practice rotation! He really enjoyed this rotation as well as the doctor and staff working at the clinic he was at. The kids and I went to the clinic yesterday to meet everyone and they were the nicest people and made us feel so welcome....showing the kids all around the office. They loved seeing where Daddy has been going all these days and getting to try out some of the "tools". Tommy got to see and do lots of new things this rotation, some of which...his first time to do suturing, giving injections, and performing a couple minor surgical procedures. I got to see him in action yesterday when we were there and I was just amazed and so proud of him! He did this rotation with another med student named Ryan Rasmussen...and let me tell you, this guy is hilarious! He keeps everyone laughing when he's around. Tommy said he's also a very smart guy and will be an awesome doctor one day. It's also really neat because Ryan and his family live here in the same apartment complex as us! (I still think that's such a huge coincidence when you consider how huge Tulsa is.) Anyway, Ryan has a beautiful wife, April, and 2 precious little boys named Emmet and Weston that we have gotten to meet. :)

Tommy and Ryan at the clinic

On Monday, Tommy will start his Internal Medicine rotation. This is a 12 week rotation so it will be tougher than the previous two 6 week rotations. He will be at St. Francis Hospital and I'm thinking this may start the longer hours for him. We've really enjoyed him being at clinics because those doctors usually keep nice hours. But, we'll just enjoy the nice schedules when we get them, and we'll survive the tough schedules just the same! Please keep Tommy in your prayers as he works through these next 12 weeks!

And as I said in my post when he finished his 1st rotation, we will make a point to celebrate each and every one of these rotations! He is breezing through them and getting closer and closer to graduation! Not sure what we'll do to celebrate this one this weekend, but I'm sure it will involve a nice dinner! =)

Books, surprises, & a pretty little girl :)

2009-08-27T07:49:00.001-07:00

Tag came home from school yesterday so excited because his class got to go for their first visit to the school library! (He was jealous the day before because Bella had gotten to go and he thought he wasn't ever going to get to go!) Of course Tommy and I have always taken the kids to the library for story time and to check out books, but as far as Tag goes, he considers this his first trip to the library! He told me he had a surprise for me and when we got home he whipped out his library book he had checked out HIMSELF! :) He was so proud I just had to take his picture with it!

He and Bella received in the mail this week a box full of new books from Ma C (Tommy's mom) and we've enjoyed reading them each night. It's always nice to get new books to spruce up our home library. And the kids are also SO excited to be able to order the Scholastic books this year through school and have a blast going through the catalog circling the books they want! I remember how exciting this was to me too as a child. Now to just get them to understand we can't get them ALL!

Tag loves to give us surprises. I don't know if this is just a stage or if this is his own little personality shining, but I can assure you each surprise he has is making his mommy a very happy girl! Sometimes his surprises are a picture he colored at school (he's getting very creative with his drawings of monsters and robots and airplanes!), or a cleaned up room (my personal favorite!), or telling me he stayed on green light all day at school! The other night was an all time great surprise though! Tommy was going to a pharmaceutical sales dinner so the kids and I went and picked up Chick Fil A for us. When we got to our front door, Tag asked Bella and I to wait outside while he did something to surprise us. We waited and waited and waited......and finally he opened the door for us. I cried when I came in! He had gotten all our food out ready to eat, had gotten a plate for Bella with ketchup on it ready for her to dip her nuggets, set our drinks out and napkins and all! And he had put the movie we rented in the dvd player! I was the proudest momma in Oklahoma, for sure! He said he did it so I wouldn't have to do a thing! How awesome is this kid?! I told my mom this gave me a glimpse into his future...probably one day doing these little "surprises" for some lucky girlfriend! But for now I'm his main girl and I hope it stays that way for a looooooooong time! I'm definitely a lucky (more like blessed) girl!

I can't have a post without any pics of my sweet girl!

Bella also wanted me to take a picture of her from behind so we could see how long her hair is getting. She's like her momma was when she was little and seems to have slow-growing hair, but we're getting there! She loves when she can feel it on her back...and this little shirt is perfect for that!

Bella is getting better and better at morning dropoff. She hasn't shed a tear this week, much to her Mom and Dad's relief! We still walk her to her class, but Tag walks down to his room on his own. He doesn't know it, but I still walk down to peek in and make sure he made it there, though! ;) We were told we could walk the kids in until Labor Day, which is completely understandable, but it's going to be a new step up for Bella and I hope she transitions ok. I keep telling her I'll be letting her out of the car at the front soon and she'll walk to her class with her bubba, but she still feels uneasy about it. I pray after she does it once that she'll feel more comfortable. I am so proud of her and how well she's adjusting to being away from home all day. She has a new song to sing for us each day and is still getting rave reviews from her teacher!

We got Bella signed up for dancing last week! She starts week after next and is so excited! She is constantly singing and dancing and tells me she doesn't need dance class because she already knows how to dance! hehe! Then she said, "Maybe I can teach them how to dance!" =) You gotta love her! What I wouldn't give to have that kind of confidence! I want to keep her this way forever!

Tag has decided he wants to play flag football again this year, so we are getting him signed up for that. He's also wanting to sign up to play Mini Basketball. It's a school team for K-2nd grade. It sounds very cute to me and I can't wait to see it! Mini basketball starts when football ends so it shouldn't interfere too much.

One last picture...I'm learning I apparently don't have a green thumb. I can't even keep a hanging plant alive?! Ha! Actually I don't think it's me because all my other ones are flourishing beautifully! Oh well, I hung my cross wind chime that my mother-in-law gave me on that hook so now I have some pretty flowers to look at and a nice chime to listen to! :)

:( This was a couple days ago, it's much worse now.

Random pictures

2009-08-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much to post about these past several days! So I'll just update a little on the kids and school. They are really loving school. Bella still has some trouble getting dropped off in the mornings, but I have to understand that this is her first time away from home for so long and it'll just take time. She really does enjoy herself once she's there though! She loves singing and comes home with a new song just about every day! And yesterday her teacher told me that she is the most well-behaved in the class! She told me to really praise her because she is always the first child to sit quietly each day on the rug and be ready to listen. And Miss Bella is so proud of herself at the end of each day because she is racking up in prizes (candy-Bella's one true love!) from her teacher for her good behavior! Tag said he took a one on one test with his teacher yesterday and he answered every single question correctly! He was proud, and so were we! I'm assuming it was some sort of assessment test. He went to pre-k for about 4 months in West Monroe when he was 4 years old at Lisa Robinson's. She is a former teacher who now does pre-k at her home using the ABEKA program, and she is just amazing! She has this incredible ability to teach kids. I'm still in awe that she was able to get Tag to reading in that little bit of time! Anyway, I can't say enough good things about her, and really had wished Bella would be able to go to pre-k at Mrs. Lisa's as well. But, I know she is getting a great foundation here with Jefferson's pre-k program as well.

Here are a few more pictures I've taken of the kids before school. :)

This hairdo was a special request from Bella one morning. She saw a girl at the pool with 3 ponytails and she wanted to do hers this way! She ended up taking them all down while waiting to go in school. I think it made her more nervous to be trying out a new "do" when she was already nervous about leaving mom and dad for the day. :(

Front view of the 3 ponytail hairdo! :)

Poor Tag has so many shirts with the #45 on it! If we see one, we almost always snatch it up! Gotta keep the infamous Banks boys' number going!!

I love our patio at our apartment, it's got a nice little courtyard area down below where the kids can play and it's just a nice place to sit out and look over. I had been wanting to have some flowers out there, though, to cozy it up some and when mom was in town she helped me get set up with some. It's not much, but you don't realize how happy it makes you to look out and see pretty flowers! Just looks so much more homey. I can't wait to have a HOUSE where I can have flower beds, but for now, this makes me plenty happy to look out and see!

I laugh at myself because I'm always moving those 2 pots on the floor around to follow the sun! You can see in these pics I had moved them over to the front in full "view" of the sun.

I love these pink flowers in the center. Mom told me my brother told her the name of them because he has some planted at his house, but now I can't remember the name. I just call them my little pink "Dr. Seuss trees".

Pretty daisy

Ok, so the flowers weren't that interesting to look at compared to most people's flower beds and landscaping at their houses, but they are surely making me smile when I see them! It's the little things...... =)

1st Day of School

2009-08-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

As of Wednesday, August 12, 2009, the Banks kids are officially school kids! It was such a bittersweet moment! The first big step in their independence from mom and dad! As much as we'd love to huddle them up and keep them home with us forever...obviously, we know we can't. ;) And I cannot wait to see them grow up and see what God has in store for each of their lives. Ever since they were born, I remember looking at their sweet little, chubby hands and wondering what God would have those hands do one day! No matter what it is, we will be proud of them and support and love them so! I can't wait to watch every step of their precious lives!

Here is Bella Rose on the first day of school!

Tag wasn't that much into picture taking that morning, but I did manage to get a few! It's a reality shock for me to look at this picture in particular, they both look like "big kids"!

Showing off their backpacks! I think this was the most exciting thing for them about starting school, getting to get a "real" backpack! Kids are so sweet and innocent!

Daddy and Bella heading up to school, school supplies in tow!

This (blurry) pic is of the outer room of the kindergarten "pod", as they call it. This room leads into the kindergarten rooms behind. You can see one of the many Thomas Jefferson quotes painted on the wall.

We took Tag to his room first. We figured if either of them had a hard time being left it would be Bella Rose. We were just a tad bit wrong on that thought tho, but he still did really well! Here Tag is looking for his locker! Having their own locker is another exciting thing for the kids!

Tag's own locker! =)

Tag and Mrs. Newburn

This is just as we were saying goodbye. He was a little unsure and just a little teary-eyed. But I am so proud of him! I would be so scared to go to a brand new school in a brand new city and he fought back his tears! He told me after school that he wanted to cry, but made himself stop! What a big little guy! And he has no idea how helpful that was for mom and dad to leave him!

Next was Bella's turn! I can't explain the nervous and upset stomach I had all morning, but it grew when going to leave her. I just didn't know what to expect with her when we were leaving her. But, she went right in, found her locker and was just ready to get started on her big girl day! Here is her and daddy putting her backpack in her own locker.

She was too excited to have any nervous feelings!

She sat right down in her spot and got busy coloring! Whew...such a relief! I left her room without a single tear in my eyes!

Getting a kiss from her daddy. Ok, this maybe made me a bit teary. He's the most amazing dad!

Mommy and her big girl!

We didn't get to take pictures like this with Tag because we could tell he was close to being upset. We thought it best to just make a quick exit with short goodbyes with him and get on our way.

I think that was the longest 6 and a half hours, and I'd love to know how many times I checked the clock worrying I was going to be late to pick them up! Thankfully, my friend Donna was in town this week with her husband for work so we went to lunch and to Target that day. This definitely helped time pass by quickly!

They both had an awesome first day and were so excited! Day 2 was a little more difficult (ok, it was ALOT more difficult). I think they were tired from the sudden waking up early, and the reality that this was an everyday thing was starting to set in. Tag started right off not wanting to go and eventually it transferred over to Bella. Tommy went on to work because I thought the dropoff would be easy. Tag and I took Bella to her class first, and she would not let me leave....she was crying and wrapped around my leg! I felt terrible because poor Tag was seeing her so upset and it just made the feelings he was already having much much worse. I finally got freed from Bella and walked him to his room. He was just staring at me and saying "I love you" as I left him, with tears rolling down his eyes. Was definitely a heartbreaking picture to leave with. Another child's sweet momma was walking out with me and saw me crying and was able to comfort me some. She had been in the same situation last year, taking 2 at once to school for the first time. And she survived! The kids had a wonderful 3rd day and Tag didn't want to leave. He has come home all 3 days talking all about some little girl named Jillian. Apparently they are taking turns chasing each other around during recess...and we all know what that means! ;) So we have survived this milestone! I'm praying they will have a good dropoff on Monday. Hopefully the weekend won't mean we have to start all over with it all!

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you, Tag and Bella Rose!!!

It's schooltime!

2009-08-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow both our kiddos start school! Tag will be starting kindergarten and Bella Rose is going to Pre-K! They are so so excited to finally be "big enough" to go to real school! Tag has wanted to go ever since his cousins have gone! We actually just found out last week that Bella got a spot in the Pre-K program at Tag's school-she was on the waiting list. It's such a relief that they'll at least be together at the same school. I must confess, I was secretly hoping she wouldn't get a spot so I could have her home with me a little longer. But, I know she will benefit so much from school in so many ways, ways that Mommy just can't provide! The whole thought of sending them both to school tomorrow just makes me ill, though! But I'm known for being emotional and somewhat of a worry wart! hehe! But, like every other mom who loves their child, I'll take them to their classes and try my hardest to make it the funnest, most exciting thing they've done! Then give them big hugs and kisses with a big tear-free smile and calmly walk out of the school! (Ok, that last sentence has been my prayer for the last several days. I WILL NOT cry in front of them!) Once I'm in my car I can do whatever I want, just not in the school!

We went last night to meet the kids' teachers. The kids were ready to go meet them all day long, which made for a long day! Finally it was time to go. Their school is a brand new school, last year was the first year. It's called Thomas Jefferson Elementary and is in the Union district, which is an awesome school district! I was amazed at how nice the school was and the layout of the school is so neat! Almost like each grade has it's own department. For instance, to get to Bella's pre-k class, you go to an open room (that had a rocking chair and a couple tables, maybe for storytime?) then off behind it is all the classrooms sort of in a cluster. Same for the kindergarten classes, etc. Hard to explain but is really neat. The walls are painted bright colors like red or royal blue and have Thomas Jefferson quotes written everywhere really big across the walls. The center of the school is the big, open library and the hallway circles it. Of course the playground is so nice since all the equipment is brand new. Also the school is nestled in the back of a nice neighborhood, which is really neat and different to us! Here are some pics of the school we took when we first moved here. Tomorrow I'll have our 1st day of school pics to put up!

Front of the school

Playground

This is the neighborhood the school is in.

Please pray for us all as we start this new and exciting chapter in our family's life tomorrow!

Sewing runs in the family!

2009-08-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, so none of these family members are technically related...but they are each in MY family and are very talented! I thought I'd show off some of their handiwork! I hope to get a sewing machine of my own soon so I can start some sewing in my spare time!

This is Bella Rose in a tutu her Aunt Erica made her for Christmas last year!

She loves it!

Rosie dancing in her tutu!

Auntie Erica also made Bella this precious dress that we love! She's gotten so much wear out of this one! And the colors are so cute!

I love this outfit Bella Rose's Nana made her! My mom is very talented in lots of ways. She used to do alot of sewing, she painted some, and made cakes! She doesn't find time much for any of it anymore, though. But, maybe eventually she will again.

I love the ruffle collar and around the bottom of the pants. Very cute!

Love these fabrics!

And most recently, Auntie Amber has taken up sewing and bow-making! This is, I think, her first dress she made! We are honored to have it and love the colors and fabric so much!

We are definitely feeling very blessed! This little girl is looking just adorable in her outfits, thanks to these talented ladies! Thank you all so much!

A visit from Nana!

2009-08-10T07:51:00.001-07:00

My mom came to visit us Tuesday and stayed until Sunday. Dad was supposed to come also, but had to stay in West Monroe because something came up with work. :( At first I was worried because the kids got a stomach bug when Nana first arrived. But thankfully, it was just a 24 hour thing and we were back in business afterwards! We had a great time while Nana was here. We shopped some, swam some, went to the Oklahoma Aquarium, and just enjoyed each other's company. Here are some pictures from our trip to the Aquarium...

Nana with Tag and Bella outside the Aquarium

Tag getting ready to put his head in the gator's mouth (his daddy's suggestion!)

Petting a starfish

Posing with starfish

Love this picture of Bella Rose and Daddy in the shark tunnel

Nana & Tag cheesing in the shark tunnel

Ahhhhh...a shark is coming for you! Tag loves this picture!

Tag wanted this picture so badly! We took about 50 pictures trying to get one of Tag with some sharks around him.

Me with my mom

Petting the sting rays

Love this picture...Tag is so excited and telling Nana about petting the stingrays

While Mom was here Tommy got to go out on a date! This was our first date in about 10 weeks so it was much much overdue! We went to the Cheesecake Factory and the food was delicious! Thanks, Mom, for giving us a date night! We really needed it and really enjoyed a quiet dinner alone!

Tommy and I before our date!

Also while Nana was here, it was time to change out Bella's earrings! She's accumulated a nice collection of earrings! Auntie Amber gave her a pair of heart earrings, Ma C sent her several pairs of earrings including some diamond butterflies, which is the first pair she wanted to change into! The first earring went right in, but we had a little trouble getting the second ear done. She got a little worried, but finally I got it in!

Bella worrying that it was going to hurt

Finally...beautiful butterfly earrings on a beautiful little girl!

And then it was Sunday and time for Nana to go. I always dread saying goodbye at airports. We had several miserable goodbyes with Tommy when he would leave to go to Grand Cayman and I guess I just can't get those out of my system!

Posing with Nana while waiting on her plane to board

Such little cutie pies!

We have really enjoyed all our visitors, but now it's all over! Too bad we couldn't have spread them out some! But we are planning to go "home" to WM middle of October so we'll get to see everyone again then. We have a really big week this week as the kids start school to keep us occupied!

We can't wait for you to come back and visit, Nana! And next time be sure Poppy gets to come too! Love you so!

Ma C and Pops Visit!!

2009-08-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with my in-laws (Ma C and Pops) last weekend! We were able to do lots of catching up and hear all about their new house, ate some good food, the kids swam a little, and we went to the Aviation Space Museum here in Tulsa. We did a Planetarium show while there and it was good, but I think we all almost fell asleep...well maybe some actually DID fall asleep, but they will remain nameless! ;) I will say that Bella got really good at jerking an arm or hand to wake someone when they were snoring! Ha! Good memories! We had lots of fun and as always with visitors, you hate to see them leave! We hope to have Ma C and Pops back to visit again soon!

Bella Rose on the way to the museum

Almost too short!

Tag the astronaut!

Bella Rose laying on a bed of nails!

She did it twice trying to convince Tag that it didn't hurt. He never would do it tho!

Obviously Rosie thought she was actually flying, she was really pulling back on that stick!

Bella Rose and her Pops =)

Ma C & her new friend that she was hoping we'd rescue her from!

The kids with Ma C and Pops! So much fun!!

King and Caples visit---just a little belated

2009-08-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to do a blog on the rest of our visit with Zak and Macy and just haven't done it yet. I wanted to do it still though, because I am using this blog as a sort of journal of our lives. We really did have a great time while Zak and Macy were here. We went to one of the Broken Arrow pools one day, played at a park another day, went to the Tulsa zoo and once Cherie, Kately and Jonathan arrived Friday we went to Chuck E Cheese's for some more fun! I've picked out a few of my favorite pictures from the week below. Bare with me....it's more than a few! =)

Macy & Bella at the Broken Arrow pool

Zak & Tag at the BA pool

Macy & Tag at our pool

Playing at the park

At the zoo

At the petting zoo in the Tulsa zoo

Love this one!

Smile Macy....it was really hot & she didn't feel like smilin!

We all thought this little monkey was the cutest thing! He was so little!

Climbing the rock at the zoo

This jump of Tag made hurt his foot and he's still limping on it over a week later. But I think it was better today.

Pretty Macy

Neat penguin at the penguin exhibit

Beautiful girls...and boys will be boys!

My sister Cherie with Kate and Bella Rose

Bella & her "boyfriend" at Chuck E Cheese's-this cracked me and Kate up!

She's looking at Kate here...Bella was pretty much Kate's shadow while she was here.

Beautiful Kate!

Jonathan is such a cutie and the kids adore him too!

I've been feeling crafty!

2009-07-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

I've been looking online at tutu bowholders like these but didn't want to spend that much money one one, and thought they looked easy enough to make myself. Of course mine's not as nice and neat as these, but Bella Rose and I are plenty pleased! Oh, and I had lots of tulle left over so I sorta went a little "tulle happy" in her room! ha!

I definitely didn't get my satin very smooth! And it would have looked better if it was padded on the bodice, but I didnt' have any batting and I didn't want to wait!

With some of her bows attached (and after Bella has rearranged them hundreds of times!)

I made this little tutu lamp shade with a tutu and some green tulle at top and a feathery rose. It may look dumb, I'm not sure, but I kinda like it!

Added a tulle bow to this frame (told you I was tulle happy!)

I painted this wall hanging for Bella Rose's nursery when she was first born and hope to always have it hanging in her room =)

Poor Tag doesn't have anything I've made for his part of the room just yet. I'm trying to come up with something. I guess girly projects just are a little easier for me!

One rotation down...5 more to go!

2009-07-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Tommy wrapped up his 6 week pediatric rotation this past Friday!! Woohoo! These 6 weeks have flown by faster than any other 6 week period in my life, I do believe! I hope he cruises through all the others like he did this one! He really enjoyed doing pediatrics and feels like the doctor he was working under did well training him. So, moving right along, today was the first day of his 6 week family practice rotation. I can't imagine how he does this, going to a new place and meeting new people to work with this often! He said his first day today was pretty good and this doctor was already sending him in to examine the patients alone and he'd then come out and make his diagnosis to the doctor. But thankfully, he feels confident doing that right now with these rotations. We are all so proud of him making his dream come true!

Now on to the pictures...ha! I figure after all the hard work it's taken him to get here to clinicals, we should celebrate each rotation's end. So, we went out to eat at Red Lobster Friday night (btw...the only way our family knows how to celebrate is with food!) =) and before we went, I attempted to use my self-timer on my camera to get a family picture. I am terrible at getting family pictures. Everytime there is a good occasion for one, I always realize after the fact that I should've had a family pic taken! My battery was about gone in the camera so these pics are a little fuzzy, but now I know how to do it so hopefully more family pics will come! The first pics are when I was trying to figure out where to position the camera and Tom, Tag & Bella were being silly while the camera was flashing away! And check out Bella Rose hamming it up for the camera in all of these!! Precious! (oh, and please ignore the boring white wall in the background...gotta love apt living!)

I think this one below is my favorite (I realize that probably only I can see a real difference in each pic! ha!)

So in love with these 3!

Also...our company is here! We picked up Zak and Macy last night when they arrived around 10:00. I got to see some of my church family when I picked them up and it was so good to see them! I hope they all have a wonderful, life-changing experience at camp this week! I've already begun taking pics so I'll have plenty to post of their time here!

I'll leave you with one last pic of my little loves that is just pure sweetness! They really do love each other (well...most of the time) and I'm so glad they have one another!!

Hope you are having a great week!

My dad & our visitors!!

2009-07-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

As I have mentioned on here before, we had been counting down to July 15th, which was when Nana and Poppy (my mom and dad) were coming to visit. We were so ready to pick them up from the airport that afternoon! But my dad started have some issues with his heart...his heart was racing and pounding, chest tightness, and other telltale symptoms. Of course, being a male, he did all he could to avoid going to the hospital, but finally relented (I think it was after some heavy persuasion from my brother!). Thankfully he hadn't had a heart attack and after being monitored overnight they found that his heart would stop for several seconds at a time. He didn't even feel it though when it did this. He only noticed it when it was racing at other times. In other words his heartbeat was just all out of whack! He had a heart cath the next day and thankfully again, he had no blockages, but he did need a pacemaker and to be sent home on medicine. He's doing wonderfully now and recovering well! I can't tell you how relieved we all are. I know he's been dealing with the racing heart for a while. It was so hard to not be there with him during all this, but I knew he was in the best care with all our loving family and friends. Our family is so blessed with a wonderful church family and wonderful friends, who were all continuously checking on him and my mom. When Dad called us while he was in the hospital, I don't think I've ever loved to hear his voice as much. I have always had a close relationship with my Daddy and it is something I'll treasure forever. When I think of him the first thing that comes to mind is how strong he is, even though he's still a softie deep down. (That softness is starting to show more and more as he ages, though! ha!) And I have always loved his hands, so big and strong. He's worked hard his entire life and is so smart, something he doesn't give himself enough credit for. He started a business over 30 years ago and has grown it into something we are all proud of that has allowed him to amply provide for his family. I wish he didn't still have to work so hard, but you know what they say, if you stop going you start having all sorts of problems. They have been making time to travel the last several years and they both enjoy that so much. My parents are more wonderful than I can ever explain. They have supported Tommy and I through high school and college, and I can never repay them for their support while we were living with them the last year and a half! It was a tough time for my little family at times, but Mom and Dad were there supporting us and praying for us the entire time. I love them both more than they'll ever know! Tommy and I are definitely blessed with 2 wonderful sets of parents!

My mom and dad-aren't they such a nice looking couple?!

Thankfully we didn't have to wait too long for more visitors! The youth group from our home church, Fair Park Baptist in West Monroe, is coming to youth camp here in Oklahoma next week. My sister, Cherie, is very involved with the youth...and let me tell you, they are lucky to have her! She is coming with the youth group to camp and my niece, Katelyn, and nephew, Jonathan, are in the youth so they are coming. I had planned to meet up with them sometime to see them all, and then I realized I could invite Cherie's other 2 younger kids, Zak and Macy, to ride along with them and stay here with us while they are at camp. So now we will have my niece and nephew here this Sunday until next Saturday, and Cherie, Kate and Jonathan will also be staying with us next Friday night before heading back to WM on Saturday!!! We're so excited!! And it ended up working out perfectly because now the group is coming here to Broken Arrow Sunday night and staying the night at a church here, before driving on to camp on Monday. We just cannot wait to see familiar faces and the kids are so ready to have someone besides mom and dad to interact with! ha! (There are some kids here they play with but nothing like their cousins!) Now we're keeping our fingers crossed for Jaime, Savannah and Abbie to get to come visit!!!

Can't wait to see these faces!!!!

Me with my sis, Cherie~yes, she's beautiful!

Katelyn, Zak and Macy~Cherie's pretty kiddos!

Katelyn and Jonathan with a friend, Savannah.

We also have plans for Ma C and Pops (Tommy's parents) to come visit at the end of the month and my parents are rescheduling their trip for early August! So we are so thrilled and will be able to keep a countdown for visitors going for a little while!!! Woohoo! =)

Tulsa Drillers Game

2009-07-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

Tulsa has a minor league baseball team called the Tulsa Drillers. I think they are the minor league team for the KC Royals. Well, we went to a game last night and I'm pretty sure this will our first and last Drillers game for a while! ha! It was so so so HOT!! It started at 6:00 but it was still just too hot to sit and watch a game just for entertainment's sake. Would be different if it was a friend or family member we were suffering to watch. ;) Anyway, it was fun for a bit and something different to get out and do. It was kid's night when we went and they had a few promotions going on such as free face painting and free hot dogs and ice cream for the kids.

Face Painting!!

My new favorite pic of my little guy!

Broken Arrow has some nice pools!!

2009-07-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Everytime we talk to someone new in Tulsa/BA they are always telling us something new the city has to offer for families. We have just been shocked at all there is to do! We got Tag's haircut (see pic below)

and the girl was telling us there are lots of public pools in BA that are really nice. My first thought of a public pool is not a nice picture...but we drove by one and were amazed! I took the kids to one on Thursday and it was SO much fun! We were planning to take the kids to the big water park in Tulsa eventually, but I think this will do just fine for our kids since they are too short to ride most of the slides anyway at the waterpark. And most importantly....it's waaaaaay cheaper! ;)

Kiddie pool area

You can see the big slides in the background and they have a couple diving boards

Tulsa has a minor league baseball team called the Tulsa Drillers and we are planning to go to a game tonight. Should be fun fun!!! And you know I'll have pics from that to post!! =)

4th of July

2009-07-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

We had a nice, relaxing 4th weekend. We did get out for some fireworks that night. I LOVE going to fireworks shows! We set out to find some we had looked up online but then found there was some being set up right down the road from our apt. So we just parked at home and walked and avoided all the traffic...very nice! Here are some pics from the night!

Tom showing off his little fan! ha

Tag brought his toys to occupy him while waiting for the show to start

We hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!

Our big big girl!

2009-07-08T07:49:00.001-07:00

Bella Rose is officially sassy-less! (sassy = pacifier!) And let me tell you, this girl LOVED her sassies...had to have at least 2 to go to bed at night! Now did I ever think I would have a 4 year old with a sassy still? NO! But Tommy and I were very set on not taking it from her until things were stable for us. We didn't know when we'd be moving and we wanted to wait till we were moved and all settled. And it worked out perfectly! We had been talking to her preparing her for it and hoping she would decide to do it on her own since she's old enough to understand. We were telling her that there are babies whose mom's can't afford to buy them sassies and she could send them hers. (hehe) Last Friday she woke up and said she doesn't need them anymore and she wanted to go right then to put them in the mail box!! So I put them in an envelope and we put them in the box (I got it out before the mailman came)!! I know it may sound ridiculous, but it was a little sad for me. Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled she was getting rid of them, but to hear her call herself a big girl, and anytime my kids make progression towards growing up it always stirs me. I hope I get better with this with time! ha! I'm already very emotional about Tag starting school, but I know all moms feel this way! I just have this vision of him walking in the school and me a mess outside watching! And then I go ahead and envision him walking in high school and it's just too much! How do all these moms do this stuff?! Anyway, here's more pictures of Bella on her big day taking her sassies to mail...

Walking to the mailbox

Excited!

Tag was our escort...he was a little shocked she was going through with it!

Sweet little hand putting the envelope in our box

Afterwards, she was proud...not bothered one bit!

On the phone with her Poppy...she immediately made a round of phone calls to all the grandparents to tell them what she had done!

She has done really well...the first night was a little rough, understandably. She sounded so pitiful at bedtime wanting them back. I think it had hit home what she had done! But after that she's maybe asked for them once and then she found one in the car and brought it to me to put in the mail too! We're very proud of her!

I wanted to ask you to pray for this beautiful little girl named Kate.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

I don't know them, just found them off another blog I read that was requesting prayer for her as well. She is 5 years old and on June 29th, they found a very aggressive tumor in her brain. They are a strong Christian family but are so weak from all this, as you can imagine. I have just felt a strong burden to pray for them and have been keeping up with them through their site. Please please pray for them! It is our duty to pray for each other...and truthfully, we will all be in some need of prayer warriors at some point in each of our own lives... Thanks!

You've Got Mail...

2009-07-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

Tag and Bella received a package in the mail from a very sweet aunt and uncle!! I can't explain how happy this makes the kids to get a box that has THEIR name on it! I wish I could get a picture of them when they realize it's for them. Anyway, here are some pics of them with their "Happy's"!

Bella got some pretty diamond heart earrings that made her so so happy! She can't wait to change out her earrings in a few more weeks! She also got her very own fleur de lis necklace! She was so excited, she ran to my jewelry box and got mine out for me to wear so we would match. =)

It doesn't take much to make my Tag happy....he LOVES collecting random things. He found bottlecaps one day and he wanted them so badly, so he received his own bottlecaps to start his new collection! He was thrilled!!

He also got an LSU stationery and pen set so he can write people. He claims his hand hurts after writing only a few words...so his notes take a while...haha! But he got right started on his first note! I keep telling him he'll be in school soon and will be writing more and more, so get used to it!

Thank you so much for the package!!!! It made the kids' day and they love you very much!!

2009-07-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

I don't really have much to say but I do have a few random pictures to share. We've been doing great, excited about some upcoming visitors - we have a calendar countdown going and the 15th can't get here quick enough! =)

This first pic is for Nana! She loves Elvis.....and Bella!! ;)

There is a balloon guy here that is amazing...he does birthday parties and we've seen him at a few locations doing balloons for free (or for tips only) to get business. He made Tag an alien balloon with a "brain shrinking laser gun" and made Bella Rose a princess wand.

We were at the mall and saw this jumping thing at the center court. Tag wanted to do it but I really figured he'd chicken out when it came down to it. Of course he was begging Bella to do it with him, but she would have nothing to do with it...she is his little security blanket sometimes! hehe!

Getting all hooked up

More hooking up

Jumping!!!!

Here is a little video I took with my cell phone...not very long but you can see him jumping! I wish I had been videoing at the end because the lady asked if he wanted to "fly to the sky" and she raised the bands up high on the poles and pulled him down and he sorta catapulted up so so high! He was not wanting to do this at first but then he loved it and was asking her to keep on!

I don't know what our 4th of July plans are just yet, but I'm hoping we can find some fireworks somewhere to go watch. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and gets to spend lots of time with family and friends!

Fun at the Riverwalk

2009-06-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday Tommy gets home around 1:00 so we decided to get out of the house that afternoon. We found out that at the Riverwalk in Jenks there is a theater that shows a free Disney movie each week, so we will definitely be taking advantage of this! We were too late this Wed. for the movie but we decided we'd walk the Riverwalk and grab a bite to eat.

They had this cute little spot out front...that of course I saw as a great photo op!

Can you see them behind the waterfall?!

There they are!

Our Bella loves loves loves to sing and dance, so we thought she'd be right at home on the big Riverwalk stage!

She didn't feel up to it that day...too many extra eyes there I suppose. ;) But you see her biggest fan was there ready to cheer her on!

Tag was calling for her to dance, but she was too shy. :)

As you can imagine, in this heat we got REALLY hot REALLY fast! There was a fountain some kids were playing in and the kids wanted to so badly. My initial response was the "practical" answer of "no", because we didn't have a change of clothes with us for the car ride home. But then we decided, oh, what's it gonna hurt?! And I'm so glad we did because they had a blast!! I am trying to say "yes" to more things like this because I know these are the things they'll remember most...like getting to play in their clothes in the water!

This is Bella letting the water go up her shirt...she said she was playing pregnant! Oh Lord!

They were two happy, cooled off kids when it was time to go!

Bella got her ears pierced!

2009-06-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

Bella has been asking for a while to get her ears pierced and I had been waiting to make sure she really wanted to. I had been telling her that it would hurt a little because I wanted her to go in knowing what it was like, and she had watched a couple girls get theirs done at the mall. She still wanted to get hers done. So we finally decided to take her after hearing "...sigh...I wish I had my ears pierced" over and over! I was way more nervous than she was. And I think Tag was pretty worried himself. He wanted to hold her hand during and told her it was ok for her to cry. Sweet big brother! But she did so good! She definitely wanted to cry I think, but she held it together and didn't (something she's very proud of now)! And each time she walks by a mirror, or if her hand brushes over them, she says "I just love my new diamond earrings".

Just before getting them pierced!

Just after....just a few tears welled up

Proud big girl!

Getting some loving from a proud big brother!

Showing off those new "diamonds" =)

Our time in Tulsa...

2009-06-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

Since moving here on June 5th, we've been quite busy trying to get settled in and trying to keep the kids entertained. It's been hard to move from where we were with lots of family and friends around keeping us busy, to here....where it's just us 4. It's also exciting, tho! We've managed to stay busy and we've found Tulsa has lots of fun things to offer! So, I thought I'd try to provide a summary of what we've been up to up to this point.

~ Starting with moving day...oh what a day. I was an emotional mess the entire day, just with the reality that I was about to have to say goodbye-that it was finally time. If I stopped to think about it I'd start crying, so my focus was to get everything done so we could just get it all over with! (I had joked about just leaving in the middle of the night to avoid the "goodbye's"!) But, now it's done and I must say that I'm thankful to be blessed with so many people to miss and be missed by. We left around 6pm that day with hopes that the kids would watch a movie or 2, then we were going to stop in Shreveport to see Brandon & Erica, then the kids would sleep for the rest of the trip. That was the plan!

And as you can see below, we got our wish! =)

Check out the chaos surrounding the sleeping kiddos!

Poor lil guy...tried to get comfy.

This picture makes me laugh! (Oh & that chocolate
around her mouth is from the yummy brownies
Nana baked for our road trip! )

~ Well, if you know us Banks well enough, you know our first stop once in Tulsa had to be......
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
Krispy Kreme! Woohoo!

Pure delight!! If you haven't ever had one of their doughnuts hot off the line, you NEED to! :)

~ One day we took the kids to Incredible Pizza Co. as a belated birthday trip. This place is AMAZING! Has indoor go-carts, putt putt, bumper cars, blacklight bowling and carnival games, all under one roof! And a pretty decent buffet too!

Tag at the water gun shooting game

I know it's blurry...the kids playing putt putt

Tag on the bumper cars

~ One of the public parks in Tulsa is super nice! It has 3 playsets that are loads of fun. The kids definitely enjoy playing here...but it's been much too hot to go lately.

The kids on their scooters

That's Tag way down on the bridge!

Bella looks very focused on her "scooter'ing"!

And I just like this pic of our pretty girl!

~These are just some pics from around the house.

Blowing bubbles on the patio.

These bubbles are neat...they don't pop when
you touch them so you can catch them.

Bella with Tag's binoculars. (no we weren't
using them to spy on neighbors! ;))

Check out that hair on our handsome fella! =)

We spend lots of time at the pool to stay cool!

~ One day I found Bella Rose out on the patio "rocking her baby". Too cute!

Posing in her outfit from Aunt Erica
& Uncle Snuffy. Love it!

Whew...I think that just about catches us up to today...well almost!

Just getting started...

2009-06-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

So, a friend of mine suggested I start a blog since we have moved away to Tulsa. At first thought, I wasn't sure what I would write about. But since then I've realized this could not only be a good way to let eveyone back home know what we are up to, but also it will be a nice way of documenting, for myself, the kids lives...the cute things they do and say, and the pictures to go along with! If anything, it'll keep me writing the cute things down that happen so that we can all remember when they are older. I look forward to sharing a little bit of my family with whomever is interested to read!

Thanks for coming by!