Picture Day!

Randy was asked up at work to bring his family to a photo shoot for a ConocoPhillips brochure they were getting ready to put out.  They also asked us to bring a dog!  We took Buddy from Sara who by now had our old dog Bailey and took on this rescue dog Buddy!  She found a good home for Bailey as they just weren't home often enough and the dogs kept running away but still had Buddy.

I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself in to or what our pictures were being taken for but I was flattered that they wanted to use our family!  The only problem was that Avery was out at girls camp and I couldn't decide if I should drive out there and get her for this or not!

In the end I let her make up her mind and she decided to stay out at camp.  Buddy was also a flop.  He kept barking and trying to chase after squirrels!  So this is the last picture you will see him in.

They had a quite a few different families and photo shoots in different places around town and in Houston.

In the end they didn't use our pictures for the brochure, but we have some fun pictures from it!

And the kids had fun playing at the park!

The only thing I regret is if I knew they would be giving me a copy of the pictures, I would have gone and picked up Avery!  She is very much missed in all the family shots!

The day was hot and we were glad to be done but I'm grateful they gave me a copy to keep forever!

We treated ourselves to some evening golf afterwards.  It turned out to be a great day!  We also ended up keeping Buddy as Sara couldn't find a home for him.  Well, at least we tried for a couple of months.  We just really aren't made to have pets!  I should specify Randy and I aren't made to have pets... the kids would disagree entirely!

Fourth of July

We love the Fourth of July!  Such a special time of year and such a great opportunity to think about this promise land we were blessed to be born in!  And we were extra excited this year because Uncle Jordan, Auntie Jen and Brooklyn were coming down!

I love my brother!  He always comes up with fun things to do with my kids and I really appreciate that! Here he is teaching them how to really play croquet.

I couldn't wait to hold my Baby B again and give her kisses!  Look!  She's even trying to kiss me back! 

Austin and Avery were finally seeing her for the first time!  There was a lot of loving going on!

Avery's turn with Brooklyn!  Believe me, there was always a line!  And the kids were always going around trying to figure out who was last in line so they could say they were after that person!

It was hard for us adults to get in line, but every once in a while we got lucky!  I love seeing Randy hold babies... it reminds me of years gone by!

One morning Jordan and Austin came out almost wearing the same outfit so I had to grab a picture of my twins!  I just love these boys!

And I love seeing Jordan as a dad!  He's so good at it and Brooklyn is a very lucky girl!

Austin is going to be a great dad someday too!  He loves babies and is so gentle with them.  I love the way she is looking at him!  This boy is definitely used to girls!

But he still loves guy things... especially fire, and fireworks!  

As much as I hate spending money on fireworks, Randy loves it!  And its a good thing!  The kids love lighting some off and watching them.  Randy and Ashton are watching from a good distance in the garage!  We've been starting our evenings with a cookout with neighbors and friends and some fireworks that don't need the dark.  And then we head out to the Vaclaw Farm for the real deal!

Nana was so sweet to stay home with Brooklyn so we could take Jordan and Jen with us to the firework show!

One last picture of the kids before we left!

And then one of our sweet family out at the Vaclaw Farm!  Happy Fourth of July everyone!!

So glad Jordan and Jen made it down for the Fourth!

Here's one of Jen and I.

And here is one of Ashley Petty and I!  We've gotten so much closer with the Petty's over the summer and are so glad they moved to Bartlesville!

Avery loves Ashley too!  She told me she wished Ashley was her big sister... which was sweet, but also made me feel very old!  Hahaha!!

The kids loved watching the firework show to music.  The Vaclaw fireworks never disappoint!  Here are Addie, Austin and Ashton with Ethan, Burk and Laynie Hansen.  And then Evie Vaclaw, who didn't turn around for the picture!  Haha!

After the Vaclaw show we went back home to light off some more fireworks!  My cute spectators, Jordan and Avery!

We have really loved living close to the Hansens!  Their family has been such a big blessing to us!  There are times when I feel our house is getting just a little small (I know, I know, I can't ever stay in a house too long) but I would never move as long as they lived close by!  We love Clint and Tami!

And we love their kids too!!  They have all been so great to our kids!  Burk has been a great "older brother" to Austin!

Jordan wanted to go over and decorate Grandma's gravesite while he was in town.  My grandma loved holidays and she loved our country so the Fourth of July was one of her favorites.  

I choose to not be sad when we continue celebrating holidays without her.  Instead, I think of her and feel her even closer on these special occasions.

Cheering on Drew in Fayetteville, AR

As hard as it was to leave our Iowa family, we were glad to get home and see Randy, Avery and Austin!  We were home for a few days before we took off for Fayetteville, AR where our nephew Drew was having a baseball tournament.  Fayetteville is only a few hours away so we hopped on the opportunity to see our Arkansas family and to cheer on Drew!

It's always amazing to me how we can be away from our family for long periods of time but as soon as we get back together, we pick up like we've never been apart!  Here are Avery and Rachel enjoying some time together!

It's safe to say Drew had the most fans watching!  Grandma and Grandpa John also took the drive over to see Drew and brought Tanner and Taylor with them.

Drew's team played awesome!  Drew even had the game winning hit in one of his games!  We were so happy to be there and see it!

Look at these cute little girls!!  Addie and Ashton love their cousin Taylor!

In between one of his games we went over to Steak n Shake, which we love!  To some, this picture might be gross but it makes my heart happy!  First, Austin, Addie and Ashton are so dang cute!  But also they aren't whining about having share or needing their own shake.  The food here is pretty cheap but the shakes are not!  I'm just grateful for grateful kids!

These girls love their cousin Tyler and he has always been so good with them!  

We grabbed a family picture on our last day.  We're proud of Ricky for taking the time to coach Drew and we're proud of Drew for all his hard work.  

It was a great weekend with our family, even if we are a bit crazy!

And having the cousins together means so much!

We decided to bring Drew home with us so the boys could have more time together.  One of the things we did was head up to Independence, KS water park.  We had a fun few extra days with him before I met Ricky up in Joplin, MO to give him back.

Happy 6th Birthday, Ashton!!

While we were up in Iowa, Ashton had her 6th birthday!  It was a tough decision for her to have her birthday without Dad, Avery and Austin.  Of course she missed them, but this was our only time to run up to Iowa and everyone up there helped make it a special day!

The table was all decked out when she woke up in the morning.  Daddy had promised to "send" her a gift and she had lots of gifts waiting on the table.  We opened a few at a time so they would last all day!

She asked for some chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

Nana's gift was first because it was something she could wear!  And she loved it!

Nana also got her some candy jewelry that you make in to jewelry, so the girls had fun doing that.

Their favorite thing every day was taking care of Brooklyn!  That was the best present!

Uncle Jordan came home for lunch and we had lunch and cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday!

He came home with some fun surprises... like this balloon and a piggy bank with some money.

And also these fun kites!

It was actually windy enough for them to fly!  The "mailman" came to the door with a letter and a present for Ashton from Daddy.  She was so excited!

First thing she did when she got it was call him on the phone, and then write him back!  Jordan was sweet enough to give her a stamp.  We beat the letter home, but it was so super sweet.  

That evening when Jordan got home from work, Nana stayed home with Brooklyn and we all went bowling.

After that we went back to get Nana and Brooklyn and then went out for some root beer floats at this fun little diner!  

We ended the evening with movie night downstairs.  Ashton opened her last present from her dad and I which was makeup!  So while we were watching the movie, we all got a makeover!

That's right, ALL of us!!  Uncle Jordan is such a good sport!

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl!  You are one in a million!  I love your fun spirit and loving ways!  You make us all laugh and you are such a great helper.  I'm so proud of you and the young lady you are becoming!  We love you!!