Anniversary Crasher

We patiently waited for the kids' bedtime. Luke prepared a delicious feast for us to dine by candlelight, when in storms our little drama queen. "You lit the candles and didn't invite me?" She storms back to her room only to return minutes later. With tear stained eyes, she pleads to join.



After spending some "family time", we put her to bed. From bed she cries out, "Mommy, daddy....can I tell you something?"

"Go to bed!" We holler in unison.

Desparate she goes on, "I just need to tell you something!"

"What?" Both of us clearly exasperated.

Sobbing, she hollers, "I just really love you guys." (breaking into sobs)

Trying not to laugh, we reassure her yet firmly tell her goodnight.

A few minute pass, and Grace gets the final word of the night. Sadness turned to anger she yells, "I hope you are having fun without me!" And with that she went to sleep.

Although we felt sad for her, we had a good laugh and enjoyed our evening alone! She forgave us quite quickly for in the morning we were greeted with a hearty, "Happy Anniversary!"

I received a FLip video for Christmas (shout out to Dad and Karen!). Here's some clips of Wade.

What have I created?

So Grace is sitting on the couch finishing up her granola bar when she reaches a wrapper filled hand toward her father and pleads, "You'd be a wonderful man if you would throw this away for me!?"

Christmas

With five separate Christmas celebrations, we had a very Merry Christmas!



Leaving cookies and milk for Santa.



Her joy is contagious!









Some time over the holidays Wade developed his CHEESE face. Aim a camera his direction and he lifts his chubby chin in the air and hams it up.








I feel so blessed!

This cracks me up!

Grace's Christmas present for my sister, whom recently found out she was pregnant. (Note the baby in the stick figure tummy.)

Brrrrr

Making snow angels in the driveway

First Santa Encounter

Well, he didn't scream but he was less than thrilled. Who can blame him?

"Yeh, so I wake up every three hours, poop four times a day, and the word "no" exhilerates me.....I'm still cute."

Touching

Tonight Luke placed the scent, Noel, on our lamp. Grace inquired and Luke told her that his mom always used Noel. "I love it because it reminds me of my mommy."

Grace ever so sweetly replied, "and now it will remind me of my daddy."

Dance Recital

My little performer. After rehearsal she commented, "I can't wait until we get on stage and the lights are dark out there and bright on us and everyone is watching!" She danced to Jingle Bell Rock and had a great time. They had two shows, and she fell at the end of her first performance. She looked a little embarrassed but jumped back up, with a smile, and kept dancing. I was so proud of her! After her performance, sweet little Ty, surprised her with flowers. On the way home she exclaimed, "This is just like I'm getting married. A boy brought me flowers, I'm in a beautiful costume, and I'm dancing."

Since last Sunday.....

Wade fell and bit his tongue, which resulted in yet another Lumpkin ER visit. He was as happy as can be, blowing raspberries and carrying on, but bleeding like a stuck pig. After a failed conscious sedation attempt, he was strapped to a papoose board for ten minutes while they sewed up his tongue. It was a horrible, helpless experience, but ten minutes after, Wade was back to his smiley self. The doctor was amazed that he nursed immediately after his painful procedure. Luke proudly responded, "It takes a lot to keep a Lumpkin from eating!"


We were so blessed to spend Thanksgiving with much family. My brother-in-law and nephew stayed with us for a few days. We enjoyed our visit, but missed my sister! And Grace met and instantly adored her cousin Ryan and Uncle Robert.


Grace loves her Aunt Jenny and Uncle Rowdy. They are always full of energy and play with her for hours on end!

Wade is constantly clapping and started waving on Friday!

Wade giving Aunt Sis a workout!

Thank you Papa Mark and Grandma Brenda for giving us a delicious meal and the luxury suite!!

After Papa Mark's and Grandma Brenda's we traveled on to Papa Ronnie's and Granny Dawn's. We had a great time, but the pink eye gave Grace a visit!

My camera battery died, but we ventured on to Papa Curtis' and Tita's house for another wonderful meal. However, before lunch my dear grandma was in a car wreck in which her car was totalled. Praise God everyone was okay, but she may need some physical therapy. We cut our trip short, due to Grace's pink eye, and headed home. Wade did wonderful on the car trip, with minimal crying. We actually arrived at our destinations in a good mood!
On Sunday, Grace decorated the tree. The ornaments are concentrated to one section of the tree, and she is so very proud!




We had an eventful week! I praise God for blessing us with such a large loving family!

7 Random Things

I've been tagged to list seven random things about myself...

1) I have an incredible urge to buy like 150 boxes of cookies from any boy/girl scout who comes to my door, just to see their happy, surprised reaction!
2) I am the reigning Little Miss Mustang. (they only had one pageant...not a huge compliment to me.)
3) I have a touch or more of OCD. (example: check on kids three times before I go to bed.)
4) I love to read! I have to give myself rules and restrictions on how many books as not to deprive my family of meals, clean laundry, and attention.
5) When I was a kid, I named my imaginary friend SNASTY. ???
6) I am the worst singer I have ever heard!
7) I love kids and old people! (shy, sweet, awnry, mean...they are all so authentic!)

I tag Amber, Melodie, and Casey.

Life with Wade

Even at 8 months, boys are soooo different! Grace was so cautious and Wade has no fear! Like I said before, he is all over the place. He walks behind his walker, cruises the furniture, and appears to fall on purpose. I really think he loves the thrill of falling. Oh, help me! (I, like Grace, am super cautious!) He likes to crawl under the coffee table and always prefers to crawl over obstacles than go around them. Aside from being a nervous wreck, I am highly amused. I just watch him and contemplate "so this is fun for you?" He is wild and so stinkin cute!! I can't stop kissing him! (of course, he looks just like his dad) He is saying "mama" quite often and Luke is convinced that he is saying it to me. I'm not sure, but enjoy it all the same. He loves strangers and would be just fine going home with the Walmart greeter. He's a blast! (except at 11,1am,3am,5am....) His personality is really starting to emerge, and God gave him plenty of it!!

Life with Grace

Just when I am convinced my daughter is truly a twelve year old stuck in a four year old body, the word poop sends her into a hysterical fit of laughter and I am once again reassured that she is indeed four. This child has so much personality that I most surely will only be qualified for this job for another year...tops! The other day when she was driving me a little crazy I made an immature comment, "It will take longer for church to start if you keep asking." She called me out, "Mom, you don't decide when church starts, God does!" Today, in the car, I spent some time convincing her that Bartlesville does not have a radio station featuring 'polka' music. By the way, she no longer aspires to be a Sonic car hop, but would much prefer to be a polka dancer in China. She can be extremely sassy, but she is also very sweet. The other night she prayed, "Please protect all of the people I know, and even the people I don't know." It was touching to see her caring for people outside of "her little world." I just love hearing all of things that come out of this girl's mouth. (well, most of the time!!)

Currently my big challenge with Grace is getting ready in the morning. On school days I desperately try to fix her hair before she gets the chance. I know she needs to learn to be more self sufficient, but if you could see her hair you would feel my pain. So, on non-school days, I let her go around town making her fashion statement. Although she's been known to sport a hat and gloves in 80 degree weather, I will not give into flip flops in 50 degree weather. I captured a few of her looks...

If you look real closely you might see the two inch glob of gel on her scalp! There are several little clips underneath these bows. She is also carrying lipstick (plastic) and a compact.



Today, she decided she wanted freckles, so she drew them on her face.

Dorothy and Chunky Monkey

or Grace's flying monkey, keeping true to the Wizard of Oz theme. Grace had a blast, but Wade was not finding the hot costume necessary, as he was not getting any candy!


Are we having fun yet?

He did find the tail amusing.


Kiddie Park Halloween party

trying on his costume- not so bad when it isn't 75 degrees outside

8 months

Well, it's been a while. Wade is all over the place! He started crawling at 7 months and is going full force. Awnry and full of energy, he is definitely giving me a run for my money!

While sis is at school, Wade and I get some quality time.


I'm not proud of this picture, but finally understand why a look from me can crack my kids up. I would laugh too! My face does not feel like I am doing the white man's overbite!

One of Wade's favorite past times- climbing over my legs

face diving...

a quick smile....

turn around and do it again!

Thirty!

Well, I'm officially thirty. And although I am still slowly on my way to being a hunchback; it indeed did not happen overnight. I had a great birthday! That morning Grace greeted me enthusiastically, "Happy Birthday mom! You look so much bigger! You should go to the doctor and get weighed." I took it as a compliment. A very dear friend watched both of the kids, while Luke and I enjoyed a lovely dinner. Luke watched a chick flick with me and did not add sarcastic commentary. And the next evening some girlfriends took me out for dinner and drinks! A very fun girls' night out! So it has been more like a birthday week!

I always thought I would feel so old when I turned thirty. It is a little weird that I will never again be in my twenties. It went so fast! But I feel great! (minus the extra ten pounds I'm carrying around) If someone would have told me that at thirty I would have so many loving family and friends, two healthy children I adore, and a husband whom I not only love but like immensely, I would have been looking forward to this day!

What a weekend! What a husband!

My amazing husband surprised me with an incredible birthday get-a-way. Of course, he gave me some notice so I could adequately plan. He arranged for Heather (my best friend since second grade) and I to have five plus hours of luxury at the Woodhouse Day Spa, dinner at the Chalkboard, and a night at the Ambassador Hotel.

The spa was luxurious and relaxing. In fact, during my volcanic stone massage I wondered if I would experience this in Heaven- the only thing missing: a tinge of guilt for indulging and the mid massage potty break.

I had a leisurely, fancy, delicious dinner and left the table without any baby food on any part of my body.

Now for the grand finale....... SLEEP! I love sleep. I miss sleep. I figured out that I still know how to sleep in longer than two hour increments. I thought I would sleep in like crazy, ten or something, but around 7:45 I could sleep no longer. It was as if I had been asleep for days. I was so refreshed!

The weekend was topped off with a police officer kindly issuing me a warning instead of a $200 dollar ticket. (What can I say, I missed my family!)

What made this gift so special, was the thought that went into it. Luke knew that I would worry less if he were taking care of the kids. Not that I don't trust people with my kids, but I would feel terrible making someone get up every two hours. Although I am so appreciative and touched, it doesn't surprise me. He's just that kind of husband; considerate and selfless, and not just on my birthday!

Thank you Luke! It was even better than I anticipated!

Wade's first trip to the zoo

Well, technically it's his third, but the first one where he stayed awake for more than ten minutes. He loved the zoo, but more for the people rather than the animals. However, he loved the goats! In the petting zoo, he kicked and leaned his body, guiding me to the goat. Someone commented that he wanted to pet or ride the goat, but I knew the truth; he wanted to eat the goat. It's gross, but I know his "eating face." We had a fun day! Please excuse my sunglasses, as I could not find my somewhat normal pair.