Okie, OK

Last week one of the parents at school asked M.E. if I was in denial about living in Oklahoma. Why? I asked. She pointed to my KY license plate on the van. Yes, its true, I have not registered our vehicles in OK and we have lived here 14 months, but they didn't expire until today. So I was savorying that last little bit of KY as long as I could, but finally had to do it - break down and get my driver's license and new tags for the van.

It actually has letters and numbers, but I edited it for the blog. We are now officially a member of the Native America. I'm not sure who the archor is - I'm sure some hero to the land, but I'll have to research that one. Buddy noticed immediately to the change and was really happy that we now matched all the other cars.

The Man Exercises

The Man has made a commitment to begin exercising more by participating in a weekly basketball game with a bunch of other dads at school. He attempted this about 9 months ago and nearly had a heart attack from the exertion. However he has set to it to try again, with the help of the other Dad's teasing him about it.

So tonight we meet the Man at the mall so he could spend his birthday money of some new b-ball shoes.

Of course he had to splurge on the red laces so he channel the Toppers. He'll go play tonight, we'll see how it goes.

Winterizing the Garden

The Man worked outside all weekend, which I was so proud of him. Yesterday he mowed the yard for the first time in a month. It was been so wet and rainy, I hadn't had a chance to get to it. And today he started working over the garden spot. He collected nearly 3 gallons of tomatoes and there's still dozen hanging on the vine, as well as two watermelons still growing. Pretty much everything else was done so this pulled and cleaned out rest getting ready for winter.

His main project was getting the herbs ready to endure the winter.

He created little bundles of the different herbs for drying. They are all now hanging in my pantry, so every time I open the door the aroma is overwhelming of all the herbs drying. Its like walking into an italian kitchen. As least now, I am learning what they are and what they look like, so I won't be accidentally feeding my family weeds, again.

Lazy Thursday

Little Guy and I are really loving Tuesdays and Thursdays. The days that he gets to stay home with M.E. Today while I did chores he relaxed in "Daddy's chair" as he calls it with the little DVD watching Star Wars.

His attention span amazes M.E. as he stayed like this for nearly an hour before we started other activities. Today is was puzzles. We put together nearly every puzzle in the house, which is over a dozen, some with 100 pieces. We had a really good time and I'm so happy he enjoys staying home as much as school.

First Football Practice

Flag football has officially started and Buddy couldn't be happier. He has so much fun and just loves it. I'm really happy we went with flag vs. tackle. I'm not ready for tackle.
Here the boys are getting ready to learn a play. Wildcat Sweep Right.
LG climbs the fence.

The end of practice race. Do you think Buddy realizes he's first?

After practice rest. Go TITANS!

What a Crew!

We needed to hit the road somewhat early on Sunday to get home at a decent time, so here's all the boys being goofy and saying goodbye.

Forgiveness Please!

First let M.E. say a big SORRY, SORRY, SORRY to my faithful readers who continue to click here and find nothing new.
But thanks to my friend Jen, I have some fabulous tailgating photos to share with you.
First lets just say, there was a 60% of rain for the event. We arrive to overcast skies and quickly get the Morgans tent up and grill going. Here's the boys enjoying some shrimp.
You see that corn hole board in the back ground -- We've ordered one (minus the football) and I can't wait to get it.

Inevitably, it starts to rain and we all have to crowd under the tents. Here's M.E. and Rae and the Man's GodDaughter. She had gotten so big and too cute.

the Man with Sprouse and Frey. I'm loving the Topper gear.
The rain subsides for a few and then it was time for the Topper Walk. This is when Big Red, the cheerleaders, the band and football team parade through campus. So we head up to the street just in time to see it all and just as the football team gets to us it opens up and pours. POURS. M.E. and the boys stay and give the players high fives and cheers and one of the them walks over to Buddy and gives him a Topper Walk t-shirt. holy cow. we couldn't believe it - the souvenir of a lifetime.
Here's Buddy back at the tent, soaked.

LG wasn't happy about being so wet and was too cranky to get his photo made.

So, for those of you who've actually visited campus and with the knowledge that we are the Hilltoppers, its not much of a stretch to realize campus is not flat.

Intoxicated CoEds + Tailgating Spirits + Rain = MUDSLIDES!

I specifically told Buddy and the Man who went to watch this mayhem -- Buddy was not to get involved. I know my son and this would be very tempting. Not that I didn't mind him getting muddy (which I rather he didn't), I just didn't want him running full speed and throwing himself down this mudslide with adults. He could break his arm or worse his neck.

Well......

Yes, that is Buddy with a CoEd sliding down the mud. He comes to M.E. covered in mud with near tears in his eyes as he knew he disobeyed M.E. But here's the story I got. As he was standing on the sidelines with 100 other people he was so excited and cheering so loud, that this CoEd grabbed his hands as she passed and pulled him down the hill with her. He didn't go very fast and she had a hold of him the entire time as this would keep him from getting hurt. I wanted to fuss. I wanted to be really mad. But as he stood there in the rain, covered from head to toe is mud, he was just too cute with his, "Mommy, she grabbed me" "I didn't do it" "it wasn't my fault". This story was backed up by many eye witnesses so I let it go.

Moments later the police arrive on the scene. When Buddy sees them he clings to M.E. for his life, knowing the proof that he was mudsliding is all over him, he gets scared the police are going to take him to jail. Its takes several of the grown-ups to convince him that he's ok and that the police aren't going to get him in trouble. It was too funny.

So there's Buddy big adventure mudsliding on a college campus with college students at the age of 6. Should I be worry?

It just so happened that the flu as hit KY and so school was out for my nephews during our visit, which made it awesome for the boys.

Today we took off for a truck ride on the farm. LG thought it was awesome to be in the back of the truck and riding around on the farm looking for animals.

The Creek.

This is pretty much all we did today, besides play with the kiddos in and out of the house all day. It was a nice calm day and the kids had a blast.

Birthday and The Ring

We hit the road last night heading east to KY. The Man has a speaking engagement up at the college, so we got to travel back home to visit campus, family and friends. woo hoo!

It also happened to be the Man's BIRTHDAY today!

So the family had dinner with cake and ice cream ready for him. You'd thought it was LGs birthday the way he was so excited about it.

I don't think the Man blew out any of his candles as the kids were happy to do it for him.
After the little party, the Man decided to once again look for the RING.

I'll have to give you some back ground for this for it to be the story it is. Five years ago, yes 5 years ago, the Man was sitting in my mom's reading chair playing with his wedding band while talking on the phone, I believe. Anyhow, he managed to twirl his ring around and around and then dropped it. As he goes to retrieve it, he realizes it is in the chair. He tries and tries, but can't seem to get it. Later, I try to retrieve it and I can't find it either.

Every year he tries to dig around in this chair to find his ring to no avail. Once we could feel it from the outside through the fabric, but we could never get to it.

So, tonight the Man decided that this was the year, he was going to get his ring back. Here, he, Uncle and Niecey turn the chair over and are trying to go through the bottom to get into the fabric. Another dead end.

Aunt Cream gets involved and she solves problems for a living, so she was determined to find it. Here she is shoulder deep into the chair with success.

Ta Da. The RING!

After 5 years, its now happily back on his finger.

LG's First Party

Yesterday (before the football really got started), Little Guy and I went to his first social event just for him. One of his classmates was having a birthday party and LG was most excited to go. I have to admit I was excited for him. It was the first time since moving to OK that LG has had friends of his own and been invited to something all by his self. Pretty big moment.

It was a princess party, as the you can see with his tiara, wand, and heart sticker. Here he is getting in line for the limbo.

He was just so excited about everything. He kept asking for cake.

Finally, he got some cake. He had to take his tiara off to eat it of course.

Here he is with two of his classmates. He had a blast.

After the party, I called the Man to see what him and Buddy were up to and found out they had been golfing. Buddy was pretty excited that Daddy let him putt on each of the greens. Nice.

So we all met up for some yummy mexican food, although LG was so tired from his party that he slept the entire time.

Whereas Buddy ate and ate....
and ate some more.

I'd also like to give a shout out to my best friend whose is celebrating her birthday today. Love You, M!

Football, Football, and more Football.

Its official. Football has taken over our home.

Last night was Buddy's first flag football practice and today it has been nothing but college football all day. Its a good think I like it, or I'd be out of luck in this house.

Here's some pics from Buddy's practice.

Friday Flashback

I didn't have the computer on the 1st Friday, so we'll do it today.

Let's travel back to 2007.

This weekend would have found us at one of our favorite lake and campgrounds very near our house in KY. The usually gang was there and the kiddos too.

Here's Buddy and Little Guy with pals in the back of our van watching a movie. Look how little they are. Too cute.

Everybody Loves the Man!

Have you ever watched Everybody loves Raymond? I know my family has and we now watch reruns here all the time.
Have you seen the one about the suitcase? If you haven't Raymond goes on a business trip and comes home and sits his suitcase (obviously full of dirty clothes) at the bottom of the stairs. His wife, Debra refused to carry it up the stairs and empty it. Raymond thinks getting it in the house is all that was require of him. So there is sets through out the episode.


I only mention this because we have our own episode.



As you know the Man was in TX all last week. Saturday night, his suitcase made it to the foot of the bed and then there it sets, 6 days. Still full of stuff!

Our Little Cub Scout

Fact: I will never again attempt to sew patches onto a scout uniform!

It took M.E. an hour to do a sloppy job of it, but at least its done and just look how cute.

And another one. He's on his way to school.
Tonight was the first pack meeting for Buddy's school and he was too excited about getting to go socialize with the other scouts at school. The Man took him and I'm so happy to say he got some pics to share with you.

The evening's activity was rocket boosting. Here's Buddy stomping on the 2-liter bottle to shot off his paper rocket.

Here they are in the gym (bad lighting) in line to receive their scarves and handbook.
He had a blast and was so excited when he got home. I think the Man had a good time too.

Daddy's Home

Sorry the pics so dark, but the airport doesn't have the best lighting. Look at how happy Buddy was. Well, we were all super happy to have him home.

Buddy's Reading

In order to get to his 50 gems goal, Buddy has taken up reading each evening. At 2 gems a book, he's really getting the gems in his jar. I'm really proud of him for his dedication and for really trying hard to get the hang of reading. It doesn't come easily for him, I always struggled and I'm really trying to help him get the practice he needs and the understanding that he needs extra practice than some of his friends, something he wasn't too happy about. But its coming along.

We really miss the Man, can't wait for tomorrow.

GEMS

I don't know if I've mentioned it here, but we've started a new a reward system at our house. GEMS, which are colored, glass pebbles I picked up in the floral department of Michael's - basically tokens. So here's how it works. The boys can earn 1, 2 or 3 gems from completely various tasks, like 1 gem for cleaning their plates, taking out the garbage, cleaning up their activities when finished, doing something when asked only once, etc. They get 2 gems for reading a book, no time outs, doing homework, no potty accidents at school (Little Guy) and Buddy can earn 3 for having no color changes at school.
The Gems are then spent on tv time (3 gems = :30 minutes), attending extra curricular activities like practices, cub scouts (2 gems), hanging out with school friends (20 gems), or going on an outing (50 gems).
Lets just say, its going well. Buddy has really embraced the idea and set goals for himself and is limiting his tv time, YEAH, this was one of my big goals. And both boys have become more conscience of their action and the running of our household.
Today, our next door neighbor came by with this M&M dispenser that was gifted to her years ago and she found it in her garage and thought my boys would like it. Well, lets just say, they loved it and it was perfect for holding our gems and not a sugary treat. When you pulled the M&Ms down the roller coaster they dispense gems. Its perfect. It makes getting Gems even more exciting.


Little Guys jar is the short one and right now he's has a lot more Gems than Buddy because he only spends his on tv time, whereas Buddy has a lot more activities going on. Right now, he's working getting 50 gems so he and the Man can go mini-golfing. Well see how that goes.

Tackle Football

Saturday we headed out to the football field to watch one of Buddy bestest friends play tackle football. Buddy sincerely wanted to play tackle with him, but the Man and I opted for one more year of flag football before we let him get the pads and helmet. Although I have to admit his buddy looks pretty cool in this uniform. And just look at that fabulous smile on Buddy's face. He loved every second of the game and can't wait for his own football season to start.