Day Trip to Tulsa!

On Sunday, our family hit the road for a little day trip to Tulsa. The plan was to go to Golf Galaxy, a golf store that Jim had been wanting to go to--and it carried a variety of kids clubs. We are getting Christian his own set of golf clubs for his birthday this year. 6 years old is the minimum age to be able to play golf in Bella Vista. Christian can't wait to play golf with his dad! He already loves to practice his putting skills with Jim and head up to the putting greens at the golf course next to our house.

We also went to the Oklahoma Aquarium to see lots of fish and sea creatures!

To save time and money, I packed our lunches before heading out on our trip.

As a piled all of our bags by the door, I realized how cute our lunch bags looked sitting all together. So I took a picture...cheesy I know.

We timed the car ride around Andrew's nap times and it worked out great. He takes a morning nap from 8-10am, so we drove to Tulsa during the morning hours. We got to Golf Galaxy right after Andrew woke up and he was ready to run around!

Andrew chasing after his big brother!

The staff at the store was very helpful in getting Christian fitted to his own set of clubs.
He even got to try them out in the store with their golf simulator machine.

Andrew picked out a putter and walked around the store with it. He really liked watching his big brother practice his golf swing too! He just watched in awe. ;)

The store had a big putting green to try out different putters. Andrew loved carrying the golf balls around, putting them in the holes and getting them back out again.

After Golf Galaxy, we ate lunch before heading to the Aquarium.

Christian loved the Aquarium! It had a great variety of fish and sea creatures! Jim's favorite were the little "Nemo" fish. My favorites were the sea horses and baby turtles. The shark tunnel was really cool too! Overall the Oklahoma Aquarium was ok. I thought it would be bigger and have more big tanks instead of lots of little tanks. Inside, it was kinda hot and stuffy with a faint smell of body odor from all the hot people. I read online that you should bring a jacket as it may be cold. Not so much. If it had been more cooler and deodorant was a requirement at the door, it might have been more pleasant. But Christian said his favorite thing was... "everything"!
He really had a great time!

Christian next to a big jellyfish

The shark tunnel

Christian and Jim in the shark cage

Andrew did well in the stroller as we made our way around the Aquarium.

Andrew wearing a crab hat...don't think he liked it but I thought it was super cute.

We finished up there just in time for Andrew to be ready for an afternoon nap. So we loaded up and headed home. Christian, Andrew and I all slept on the way home! Once we arrived back in Bella Vista, it started to rain...and we REALLY needed the rain. So glad we missed the storms on our drive home.
We all had a fun time on our mini trip to Tulsa!

Ruby's 2nd Birthday Party!

This afternoon, we went to Brandon and Susan's house to celebrate Ruby's 2nd birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!

The theme was Elmo and Andrew LOVES Elmo too! When we got there, he was so overwhelmed with all the fun things to do....splash pools, bubbles, food! WOW!

What to do first???

I think I will sit and eat a snack and watch all the kiddos before I play!

Christian was ready to play with the slip and slide!

There goes Caroline!

Ruby in the pool with her friends!

Christian takes a quick break to invite his brother to come play!


Andrew loved the splash pool!

Christian was even a sport to wear a birthday hat when it was cake time!

Ruby got lots of fun toys and gifts! We got her a CareBear outdoor water pitcher, bucket and shovel and a beach towel that was pink with little monkeys and had her name embroidered on it too!

Ruby even got a guitar so she can jam with her daddy!
She is an absolute doll!

It seems like just yesterday, we met you for the first time...

Baby Ruby after she was born

Happy 2nd Birthday Ruby!

VBS 2010- High Seas Expedition!

This past week, Christian had vacation bible school at our church. The theme was "High Seas Expedition" and he had so much fun! I loved hearing about what he learned and seeing his crafts he made.
Our church hosted over 450 kids! WOW!

Above is Christian with his "crew" from VBS!

Thanks to Lisa, Karen, Tracy and all the volunteers at Central United Methodist for all their hard work in making VBS a great experience for all those kiddos!

NY Yankee!

I just realized that I forgot to share Christian's baseball picture on the blog.
He looks like a real New York Yankee to me! We even got baseball cards with his picture on them! We are calling them his "rookie" card!
Christian got his own bat during this past baseball season. It said "The Hammer" on it. I had to get it since his momma's nickname at work is "the hammer", deemed by the fact that I could always handle the most "difficult" customers on the trade desk. HA!

Randomness...

So here is one of those questionnaires that is going around on blogs so I thought I would add it to mine. These are always great for wasting time while I should be doing something else...like syncing my iPhone. ;)

Where are you from? Van Buren, AR. Lived there since I was 5 and never left until going to University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. I fell in love with Northwest Arkansas.

Where did you meet your husband? I was in the same grade as his sister since elementary school. But we never officially met and hung out until my freshman year of college. Been together ever since. ;) He is the absolute best husband in the world and I could not imagine my life without him!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Northwest Arkansas is a GREAT place to live. But I LOVE New York City. And anywhere near the beach.

If you went back to college what would you study? Go back to college....not for me. But it would be nice to have a teaching degree. Teachers have the best schedules. :)

What’s your work background? degree in Finance and have worked for ARVEST Asset Management in their investment division since 1999. I am a securities trader for the discount brokerage trade desk. But now I am enjoying being a stay at home mom raising the best boys in the world!

If you had a whole day to yourself what would you do? Eat, shop...repeat. And throw in a massage and pedicure!

What’s something you’ve been meaning to do but can’t seem to get around to it? Sync my iPhone.

What are some of your favorite things to do with your kids? Playing outside or just snuggling on the couch in the morning watching cartoons.

What’s a make-up essential you couldn’t live without? Lipstick...fo sho.

What would you do with an unexpected infusion of cash? If it was an insane amount of money, I would save a lot but would love to invest in my own boutique clothing store and open my own restaurant...with my friend Susan as the chef. I would just throw parties there a lot. Oh, and travel!!! I can't wait to take my boys on fun vacations!

What was the best parenting advice you received? Give your children to God.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would a good title be? WOW. Being that I had an insane upbringing in my childhood years and had to start taking care of myself and my mother and grandma in my teenage years, it would be something like...."It's a hard-knock life" but the fact that God has blessed me in my adult life and those hard times only made me stronger, I would say, "Endurance and Strength through Blessings from Above".

One word to sum me up …determined.

Yankees Baseball party!

Last night, Christian and I went to Jump Zone for his end of the season tee ball party and award ceremony. The boys got to play at Jump Zone together then had pizza.

And baseball cupcakes!

Eating pizza!

Coach McElroy presented each player with a medal and told them what a great job they did for the team!

We are so proud of our New York Yankee!

Puerto Vallarta 2010!

Jim and I just returned from our vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

It was a BLAST! We went with our friends-three other couples--Dara and Zach, Brandon and Susan, and Pat and Stacy. We did a beach trip with friends a couple years ago to Cabo and it was so fun we had to do it again....thus the theme for this trip...."Let's do it again in 2010!" haha!

We stayed at the Golden Crown Paradise Resort and it was FABULOUS!


It was all-inclusive with five restaurant choices, snack bar by the pool, bars inside and out, and 24 room service.....and for FREE! I highly recommend doing all-inclusive and this resort was one of the best we have stayed at so far! Plus, it was just a five minute cab ride to the downtown Boardwalk along the ocean for shopping and nightlife. The cab ride cost only $5! SWEET!


We rode jet skis, Susan parasailed but mostly we just played in the ocean, laid on the beach, danced and ate lots of amazing food and drank fruity drinks. ;)

I took a TON of pictures but will share with you my favorites!!!

in the airplane as we just touched down in Mexico (or we say "Meh-he-co")

Susan and I ready to hit the beach!

The girls after playing the ocean

The girls and I went jet skiing in the ocean too!

Here we go!

view from our room

Each night, after playing in the sun we would get dressed up for dinner and meet at the poolside bar and take pictures of each other! ;)

Susan, Dara, me and Stacy

Stacy and Pat

Brandon and Susan

Dara and Zach


Cheers to VACATION!!!

After dinner at each restaurant, they served "Sexy Coffee". What is sexy coffee you ask?
Well, they do a presentation by your table beginning with heating Kahlua in a dish until it gets really thick-like chocolate syrup. Then they put sugar and cinamon on the rim of a glass and pour the Kahlua in the glass while it is on fire! Then they add coffee, brandy and top it with some whipped cream! DELICIOUS!

Sexy Coffee and Mocha Cake! YUMMY!

Each night, we would head to the bar on the beach and have a couple drinks, tell stories, and we even met several other couples we hung out with too!

Brandon and Zach became "besties" this trip. ;)

The first evening, we had some beach "entertainers" come by and sing. Brandon decided to join in after taking a late night dip in the ocean.
I even took some video with my camera...

On Saturday, we spent most of the day at the beach enjoying the sun and the waves!
And my vacation pictures would not be complete without a picture of my feet. ;)

Stacy and Dara lounging on the beach

Susan jumped on the chance to go parasailing!

I got on the boat and took pictures of Susan flying through the air!


After dinner on Saturday night, we headed to the Boardwalk in downtown Puerto.

We enjoyed dancing at the Hilo Bar!


The whole gang!

On Sunday, Susan and I headed to go shopping at check out the Boardwalk during the daylight hours while our guys went golfing. Dara and Zach did a shopping tour and Pat and Stacy checked out the stores around the hotel....like the Mexican Wal-Mart and Sam's Club!



The flea market

Some Boardwalk pics....


The town on Puerto...

Beautiful flowers everywhere!

And here is a picture of Jim at one of the holes at the Nicklaus and Weiskopf courses.


Sunday night was our last night in Puerto. We ate at the French restaurant and it was very good! And of course....more sexy coffee. ;)







What an AMAZING trip that produced some great phrases and one liners like..."let's do this!", "pack the pants" and "Hollywood!!!"...all with their own inside jokes and funny stories behind them. ;)
Brandon, Susan, Dara, Zach, Stacy and Pat.... WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!