New York Vacation

I just realized I never posed this! Guess I'm getting forgetful. Haha.
Back in August Nate and I took a trip to New York City to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We stayed in Brooklyn. We were gone for a whole week and we had a fabulous time. 

We saw the Lion King... Funny story, we sat on opposite ends of the same row because I'm cheap. We were able to save $120 by not sitting together. We met up during intermission and chatted. It's not like we would/should talk during the show any way. I loved it! Such an amazing experience.

We saw lots of sights and interesting people. We also got to go to a live results show for America's Got Talent.

And of course we had to stop by the Today Show! We got these Ninja Turtle masks and Brixton saw Nate on TV (I was too short to be seen).

This is on the ferry to Ellis Island.

We had so much awesome food. I had been wanting to/afraind to try quinoa but one night it came with my salmon. It was really good.

This is from a night cruise on a huge sailboat.

This is Coney Island. We went there very briefly on our last day.

While we were gone Brixton stayed a few days with each set of grandparents. He had lots of cousin time.

And Nate's sister took him to a place with inflatables and he played like crazy.

We sure did miss him, but we had a great time with each other.

A Great Season

Saturday wrapped up Brixton's soccer season... although weather resulted in his final game being canceled. So instead his team met up at McDonald's for a final get together.
He's pretty proud of this medal!

Here's the whole team. Conner, Braylon, Brixton, Nya, Oliver and Coach Jon (Conner's dad)

Brixton and this little guy, Conner, are great little friends. I'm so glad they met at daycare. Conner's family is very nice. He even has a little brother named Braxton. They live in our neighborhood so next year the boys should be in Kindergarten together... should be... there could be lots of changes in his family or ours between now and then. I'm glad they were on the same team. Sweet boys.

And here's the controversy... their team photos are photoshopped together. They take individual pics and then put them together. We got the pic in the mail and found it laughable... Brixton is the biggest kid on the team, but not in this pic. See the comparison. Actually, I think he may be the only one who is close to actual size. They have these 3-5 year olds up to the coaches' shoulders. I tweeted this comparison and the YMCA quickly responded and said they'll try to get it fixed. I'm not mad, but I would like an accurate picture since I paid for one.

They had a great season. One update, the last game they played was called with about 2 minutes to spare. A mom on the other team was yelling at our coach and the ref. The ref told her to leave and she wouldn't so he ended up calling the game. She was mad because of something our coach did and then wouldn't let it go. We were all pretty shocked and tried to just run on the field and do a parent tunnel so the kids wouldn't know the difference. Sad that that happened, but glad the kids still had fun.

An Old Hobby Revisited

I used to LOVE to bake!! Used to... Then my Crohn's got crazy bad and I had to stop -- things with lots of sugar cause me lots of pain and since I always have to taste what I make I had to hold off.

Then came this note from Brixton's teacher.

Two dozen sugar cookies to decorate!! How did she know that cut-out cookies were my thing. I debated on changing it up, trying something new. But I knew my old recipe was the best and these kids don't have the same concerns I do so off I went to the store to refill my cabinet with white flower.  EEEK!

I still had fun and I was able to resist the urge to try them.

I signed up to help with the party too. I was assigned to help the kids decorate cookies.

I don't know this little girl. I think her name is Bella. Her mom told me the little gal talks about Brixton at home and her mom thinks she has a crush on him based on how she talks about him.

That's little girl number 2 from his class... The other little gal's mom told me that her daughter always draws pictures of herself and Brixton and occasionally she draws herself in a wedding dress. Guess he's the Pre-K heart-throb. I'll try not to worry until his teen years.
Oh, and I did eat ONE cookie

A Little of This...

I just love this kid. This picture was taken a few weeks ago after Qgroup. We were leaving a group members house and they had this in the garden. He sat down and said, "Take my picture and send it to Memaw and Grandma." He looked at the camera (rarely happens) and even smiled!

He also had his first school pictures. They were awesome. His soccer picture... well...

Happy Birthday B!!

Saturday Brixton turned 5!!!

I cannot believe he is so big. I love this kid so much. He's awesome. He's funny, sweet, kind and smart.

We had a "little" party and let him choose some friends to invite. They played pin the pizza on the Ninja Turtle and made slime. My mom had an old Ninja Turtle cake pan that she gave me just for him.

An Awkward Conversation With B

This is too long for Facebook so I'll post it here...

We went to the new West Elm today to look around. Brixton starts talking to a sales lady and this unfolds...

SL: Do you have brothers or sisters?

B: No. My momma's baby died.

(He is playing with a chair oblivious to her shock)

SL: (She looks at us and whispers)I'm sorry

Me: (whispering) It's OK. It was a while ago.

Conversation continues with her asking random questions about our dogs.

B: Well, Brownie is about to die.

(She again is shocked and I think a little embarrassed)

We jump in: Brownie's not about to die. She's just getting old. 

The lady again apologized. And we explained the dog was old. She then apologized about our baby and moved on to talking about Halloween.

As weird as it may sound Nate and I were actually laughing about this whole thing. I know she meant no harm and it was just so awkward we had to laugh. 

She apologized a bunch. No hard feelings.

I don't stop these conversations. I'm told kids process things in their own time and I think that's what he's doing every time we have this awkward encounter with someone (it was with "Princess Anna" at a birthday party once and a lady at CR another time, others I don't recall). At first it would make me cry, now I can just shrug it off. I see that as healing. I do feel a little bad for the other person. I feel like it puts them in an awkward spot but that's OK. I bet that lady doesn't ask many kids about their siblings after this.

Last thing, if you read this post and laugh it is OK. 

Soccer

Brixton is playing soccer this year and IT.IS.ADORABLE!! Seriously, if you have never watched 3 and 4 year olds play soccer then you need to find a soccer field soon. It is awesome. There are LOTS of tears, a little swinging on the goal, some Ninja Turtle play and crazy yelling, laughing parents.

These first pictures are practice. Another adorable 4 year old thing... jumping jacks. They have no idea what they are doing.

 

These are from his first game. He scored THREE goals. We were so proud (did I mention there is no goalie). He is on a team with two boys he used to go to daycare with and then three other little ones we are getting to know.

They generally have a good time for the first half, but by the second half Brixton is always done and ends up in tears or in trouble.

This is a picture of him with Braylen and Conner, his two daycare friends. Conner's dad has ended up taking over as coach because he's the only parent who has ever played soccer.

We practice once a week and play on Saturdays. He was off last Saturday though. We'll be back at it this week! I can't wait for the next game. My parents, Nate's parents and Nate's sister and her little boy have come to both of his games. He has a large cheering section.

At the last game the other team had a LOT of criers so we ended up sending Braylen over to their team so they wouldn't have to forfeit. The kids were a little confused by that, but ended up having a good time.

Our New Addition

This is our "new" piano!! I am so excited about this addition to our home. 

I have known since we moved in that this wall would be PERFECT for a piano. A lady offered to give us one and then we tore apart our house so we couldn't take it. Fast forward and she still had it and still wanted to get rid of it. I convinced Nate, his brother-in-law and his dad to go get it. B loves it and so do I.

First Day of Pre-K

This really just happened! This morning Brixton started Pre-K! As we walked in the building they already knew his name and told him Good Morning. He went right in and found a seat.

I did take a couple pictures but tried really hard to not linger too long. I felt so awkward, thinking "how long is too long?" I didn't want to be the mom they had to escort out but I didn't want to just run out either. As I left I could feel the tears but kept telling myself "don't cry, don't cry!" 

Two-and-a-half hours later he was done. He loved it! He said a boy next to him burped at him 4 times. So, he told tge teacher. He said they did notgo ti the gym or the playground but it was still fun. 

I'm so proud of this little guy. He makes my heart smile. I hope and pray he has a great year.

I took the day off so I could take him and pick him up. After school we went to Taco Bueno (his favorite). This afternoon I gave him some choices and we decided to go to the "Bone Museum" aka The Museum of Osteology, in Southeast OKC.

Unfortunately it may not have been an awesome idea. He thought it was a little scary and was ready to go after just 5 minutes! I convinced him to look around some more, but we weren't there for long. He said he really just wanted to go to the zoo instead.

I normally would not give in to that, I mean after all he made the choice, but I sort of agreed that the museum was scary (more weird and creepy) for someone his age. They don't have dinosaurs just animal and human skeletons. So, I told him it was crazy hot but we could go to the zoo just to see a couple of animals. So, alligators and elephants it was. And HOT it was too. We were only at the zoo for about 45 minutes but we had fun. I'm glad the zoo is so close to our house and that we have a zoo pass so I don't feel bad only going for 45 minutes.

Celebrating 10 Years

Hard to believe today marks 10 years since we vowed "until I lay you in the arms of Jesus."

People still talk to us about how the bells at OSU went off in the middle of our ceremony. The alma mater played EIGHT times... eight. Eventually we did the OSU thing with our arms and the the minister went ahead with the service... bells playing.

This was this first photo we had as a couple. It was in Houston on a trip to the Impact Church where we were working with our campus ministry group. 

This is one of my favorites... I don't know why but I love it.

We have been through a lot in our ten years...

We've fought through addiction, family trials, sickness, health, two miscarriages and numerous other battles.

It hasn't been easy by any means, but the fight to today is always worth it.

We've remodeled two homes, lived with my in-laws and in a cute little duplex. Been blessed to always have jobs and a home and more than we need.
We've grown to a family of three and would never turn back.

10 years later we've been through a lot but by the grace of God we have made it here and know He will carry us on through what's to come. Here's to the rest of our lives together as one.