Snow CoNeS!

Granma with the kids

We promised the kids snow cones on Sunday evening. My parents and Granma all came to the snow cone stand with us. The boys have a new favorite "Spiderman" and Ella loved the "white cherry". Snow cones are a definite sign of summer!!!

First Swim at Lolli & Champ's

Let's swim!!!

My mom and dad put in a new baby pool at their house this spring. This weekend they were really excited for the kids to try it out, until the kids tested the water. Champ had warmed it up to about 80...the boys attempted until their whole bodies were shaking! Ella put one foot in and never tried it again, sounds like her mommy:-) We are going to LOVE this little pool this summer!

Norman Music Festival

We briefly stopped by the Norman Music Festival on Sunday afternoon. One of Brian's friends, DeLuca, had a booth that we wanted to go by and see. We stopped on our way back from the lake, without cash or stroller...needless to say we lasted about 20 minutes. When we walked in they gave the kids each a car to race on this little track, they loved it! It was a beautiful day, hopefully next year we can spend a little more time there:-)

Weekend at the Lake

All the boys carrying wood to make a fire. If Daddy can carry two then everyone is going to carry two!

Guess who won the dirty award?!?

Waiting for the camp fire

Eating smores without marshmallows...just the way I like them!

Haynes rescued a beautiful moth

Champ waiting to attempt the AquaSkipper

Brian finally succeeded on the AquaSkipper!!!

Boys jumped in the water too!

This weekend we went to the lake. We had a ton of things to do in Norman this weekend (weddings, soccer games, pictures, parades, house church...just to name a few)! Brian was asked a few months ago to lead a retreat for the BYX Fraternity. The retreat was at lake Eufaula so Brian could go back and forth between the retreat and spending time with us. After a little resistance we felt like the Lord wanted Brian to be available for the entire weekend. It was a great weekend because my parents came down for a night, we got to talk to Port about sacrifice (missing his soccer game for daddy), time away with family is always great (especially during busy seasons), and mostly Brian's time with the guys was AMAZING! God always trades up!!!

Mother's Day Tea Party Invitation

Port brought this home to me last week. He was so excited to tell me that this was just for me and him! This is one of my favorite things Gingerbread does...a Mother's Day Tea. Stay tuned for pictures, next week!

Just like Daddy!

If you are around Brian long enough, you will realize that he will chew on just about anything. One of his favorite things to chew on is his styrofoam cups when ever he is done. I turned around in the car last week and found Haynes doing the same thing. Haynes sure does love his Daddy!!!

Happy Unbirthday Port!

Port got to celebrate his UnBirthday at school last week, since he has a July birthday. He chose for mommy to make banana muffins for his snack. They sang to him, gave him a crown, and he got to bring snack...a pretty fabulous day! If we weren't excited for our 5th birthday before this, we sure are now!

It's Stuck!

Haynes was jumping on the trampoline with Kristin last week and found this little guy. He managed to try and fly through the net around our trampoline and get stuck. Port found him that night and we decided Daddy should try to set him free since he was still alive. We had a busy night and forgot about our rescue mission! So I decided that I could rescue this poor dragonfly that had survived a full day stuck in our trampoline. I managed to get him loose and became "Port's Hero!" all in the same day!

Family Night

We found a bunny in our front yard...the kids made a great effort trying to catch him!

The kids LOVED playing in the water in the street

Last week we spent our entire evening outside. The boys rode bikes and scooters, Ella rode the stroller when we went for a long walk...it was AWESOME! We got to play with some of the neighborhood kids and meet some new neighbors. I love spring!!!

Chick-Fil-A

One of my friends from when I was a little girl, Morgan, was in Norman last week with her little boy Carson. Our mom's get together each month for lunch, so they met at Chick-Fil-A this month so our kids would come play together. It's fun realizing that Morgan and I played together when we were this age too! Carson is going to be a big brother this fall, and they find out this week what the baby is! Thanks for meeting us for lunch!

Orange Leaf

Cousins Table

Ella LOVES her sweets!

It seems like everytime we go to Orange Leaf (the new name) our whole family is there. Our friends even asked if we call them when we are on our way! It is so fun running into each other, but as you can tell our family can take over a place pretty easily with that many kids!

Sititches are gone!

Dr. Stacey removing stitches

Haynes's stitches

Last week Haynes got his stitches removed. It was super easy, he actually picked out tattoos while she removed him. He was most excited about getting to keep his stitches...so they are attached to our bulletin board so he can show you if you come by!

Afternoon at the Park

Yep...we are working on potty training anywhere and everywhere

Port teaching Haynes how to climb over the side of the slide...what would we do without older brothers!

Haynes and Millie trying to climb a tree

Last week we spent almost every afternoon at a park. We had the inside of our house painted and needed all little fingers away from the wet paint! The house is painted and looks great, the kids loved playing at the park each day...GrEaT WeEk!

Penny Hill

We had lunch at Penny Hill last week because Brian was in Norman for the YoungLife golf tournament. Bailey, Kevin, and Blakely came in while we were eating. Ella and Blakely are born just a few days apart. Ella was super excited to see cute Blakely, but this was the best picture I could get. We can't wait for more fun play dates for these two girls!

How to Train a Dragon

Movie Treats

"Sit back and enjoy the show"

Saturday was rainy and a perfect day for a movie. I had researched "How to Train a Dragon" and heard that it was really cute, so we surprised the boys with an afternoon movie. The boys were SO excited! We got to the Warren Theater and it was sold out, so luckily we found a similar time at the CrossRoads Theater. When we left Brian asked the boys if they wanted to get a pet dragon...Haynes responded with, "No! It will pee on my bed!" Whatever the reason, we aren't getting a pet dragon:-)

Breakfast at the Donut Shop!

Haynes and Daddy

Mommy, Ella, and Port

yep...that's what he wore

(those are his undies that are longer than the shorts)

We have been keeping a REALLY busy schedule lately. Saturday morning was rainy and we decided to go have donuts all together at the donut shop...in our pj's!

Happy Birthday Granma!

The kids took Granma a strawberry-lime slush (her favorite) for her birthday while she was working from home.

Ella and Kinsley Grace

Granma and all her great-grandkids (and me)

We got to celebrate my Granma's birthday on Saturday evening with all my cousins. We got to meet Kinsley Grace (Chase and Megan's little girl) too! Ella LOVED her! It was pretty sweet watching her walk up to Kinsley and say, "I hold baby!" We had a great night celebrating April birthdays and watching Logan try to win some money from Brian through silly bets...

Happy Birthday Granma! We are so thankful for the role that you play in each of our lives. You have taught us all what it looks like to love extravagantly. We pray God's abundant blessing over you in this next year!

A few funny Port stories...

#1. "Smell This..."

I was putting all the kids in the bath the other night, while Brian was gone to prayer. Port was going to the bathroom while the other two were playing in the water. I ran and grabbed their pj's, and when I came back this is what I see... Port is standing in the bathtub holding his finger in Haynes nose saying, "Smell this!" I dramatically scream and Port responds by saying, "What I wanted him to smell it!" Oh my....

#2. "Don't Touch My Pipes"

Another bathtub story...We regularly throw all three kids into the bathtub at the same time. It's not only efficient, but they usually love it. We are entering a stage where Ella is quite curious about boy parts:-) The boys think it's pretty funny, most likely because of my reaction. The other night I was explaining that it's not okay for Ella to touch the boys private areas, because we don't want her to think it's okay to touch other people (along with so many other reasons...). As I turn to walk out of the bathroom Port says, "Ella! Don't touch my pipes!"

#3. "I felt your dots"

The last few weeks have been quite busy around here, to say the least! Our kids haven't been able to spend much quality time with their daddy lately and are definitely missing him. Port crawled into our bed at some point last night, neither Brian or I could really remember, not a great sign:-) This morning when he got up the first thing he said was, "Daddy, I felt your dots last night!" It took us a minute, but quickly realized that he was referring to his moles! (Port later explained that he got in bed with us because he wanted to cuddle with daddy because he was missing him!)

StItChEs #2

Oh Haynes....

Wednesday afternoon we were out in the backyard enjoying the amazing weather. The boys had the hose out and were playing in the mud, while I was pulling weeds (Ella was asleep). Sounds pretty harmless, right?!? Suddenly I hear Haynes scream and then Port yell, "Haynes is bleeding!" I turn around to see Haynes foot completely covered in blood! I quickly get it cleaned enough to find the cut is on the bottom of his foot and REALLY deep! Lolli got here amazingly fast and we headed to the ER (for the second time in 2 weeks!). After a quick consultation with the doctor, we decided stitches were a better option for this 2 year old instead of glue. Haynes is truly the toughest kid I know! He didn't enjoy the numbing, but as soon as they were done he said, "I'm okay...can I sit up!"

Needless to say, we have 2 stitches in the bottom of his right foot. They said he can do whatever he wants, so he has! The first night he wouldn't walk on it, but now (2 days later) is playing soccer, jumping on trampolines, climbing everything, etc.

It's B30x...SuRpRiSe!!!

SuRpRiSe!!!

My brother, Gerod, and I have been working on Brian's 30th birthday party for the last month. They helped come up with an amazing invitation for a 80's themed birthday party, where the adults got to play (who knew we needed supervision for adults!)

Allison, Brooke, Sarah

I love you girls more than I could ever express!!!

Daddy and Haynes

(We didn't go too extreme on clothes for the old man!)

Emery, Brian, Wags, and Jake

Jon, Justin, Brian, Aaron

(Waterskipper dream team...)

Brothers...what a pair!

Ryan, Brian, and Jade

Brooke, Catherine, Katelin, Brittany

(you girls are awesome!!!)

Happy Birthday!

(check out the boys raiding the cake)

Jon and Liz

Bryan and Allison

Alex and Brooke

Wags and Laura

Sara, Kristin, Brittany

Megan and Chris

Jason and Kalee

(they rode their scooters to our house!)

Gerod and Kerri

Kourtney and Jake

Costume Winner- Emery

We have the best friends and family that will go full out when asked!!! We did an 80's workout theme party. I rented 3 blow-up obstacle courses which were so much fun...but we had about 5 injuries before the night was over!?! (Who knew that adults needed rules and supervision!) I think he was completely surprised and we couldn't have gotten everything done without my parents! Thanks for everyone's help, I think Brian felt amazingly loved and celebrated!

We love you Bri! You are such an amazing man of God, always pushing to pursue Him more. You lead our family in such a powerful way, I can't wait to see what God has for the next 30 years! Thanks for loving us so well, I love you with all my heart...Lover:-)