A Trip To Arkansas

We took a daytrip to Fort Smith Lake in Arkansas. Here's a picture of a sleepy Nathan with the lake in the background.







At the visitor's center were pioneer clothes that kids could dress in. I tried to get Nathan to model a coonskin cap but he wouldn't cooperate. He did like the fuzziness of it though.



Sergeant Major was a bit more cooperative. He caused quite a stir wearing this hat.



Hey! Dogs were pioneers too!

Freedom Isn't Free

Taking a moment to stop and remember all those who have fought and died throughout the years to establish this great country and to keep her safe. There is nothing I can say that would ever be enough. I will not forget you and I will try to raise my children to always remember and to appreciate that all our freedoms were paid for by the sacrifices of others.

Grieving With Hope

Steven Curtis Chapman is pictured here with his daughter Maria who was adopted from China. Maria was killed yesterday in a tragic accident.

We grieve with this family. We have loved them for years. It was at a SCC concert that we first heard about Chinese adoption and began to pursue a course which ultimately led us to Nathan. Many people in the Christian adoptive community are feeling the loss today.

A few years ago he wrote an amazing song, "With Hope" for a family who lost a young daughter in a car accident. I never imagined that he would experience the same tragedy. Please pray for the Chapman family!

This link is to the video "Cinderella" which Steven Curtis wrote for his two young daughters. http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/cinderella.htm

Nathan and the Puppies

Oh the simple joy of running unimpeded through the grass!



Well, this is not exactly unimpeded, but Nathan enjoys soaking up some puppy love for a while.






"Uh-Oh...too much love!"




Liberty was upset with Roman for making Nathan cry. She "scolded" him by knocking him down and growling at him until he wasn't sure if he should move for a while.








It's safer up here on the swing! All is well!

Playing With Puppies!

Sending Daddy Off To Work

Nathan is not meant to be awake when Ron leaves for work at night. He should have been in bed for an hour but, like everything else around here, his bedtime has been out of sync lately. He doesn't even look tired. No, this is the face of a boy who knows he is getting away with something.




I love these pictures of my guys. Daddy didn't even mind that Nathan was getting wet slobbery fingerprints all over his shiny badge and nametag. It's nice to have your little boy in footy-pajamas see you off to work once in a while.

Gotta Keep Movin'

Our busy little guy is keeping us very busy these days. I took these pictures right before we did a day of car shopping. At one of the dealerships we realized he was missing a shoe. The salespeople helped us look for 45 minutes and I finally found it behind a tire of one of the cars we were perusing. The only way it could have gotten there was if he put it there.




We discovered that having a two year old with you is actually beneficial when shopping for cars since you can blame them for the reason you don't want to hang around and talk to the general manager. :)

Mommy Is Getting Old!

It started last week when we were in a store. Nathan was fussy and tried to get away from Ron to come to me. The salesperson remarked, "He wants Grandma!" I actually looked around for my mother then realized that he was talking about me. OUCH!!!



An elderly woman called 911 and said that she thought some men were trying to break into her neighbor's house because they were tearing the shingles off the roof. I took the call and, of course, it was roofers who were re-roofing the house. When I went to the address listed on my call, a young woman in her twenties with a ring in her nose answered. Obviously, the elderly lady gave us the wrong address. When I ask the young lady if she has any elderly neighbors she responded helpfully, "The woman across the stree is getting up there. She must be 40 or 50!"

I was rather offended and said, "That's not elderly. I'm forty!" (just a couple of months away) She responds, "You look really good for FORTY!"

I somehow skipped middle-age and went right to elderly.



Yesterday, a young officer asks me which branch of the service I am in. I tell him the Army and ask why. He says, "I thought I saw you on the History Channel the other day."

So now I'm old enough to be on The History Channel. I don't mean to get a complex or anything but is this a conspiracy? I'm wary of leaving the house today lest someone else remind me that I'm no longer a spring chicken -- whatever a spring chicken happens to be. I might be a fall chicken by this time. How old does the chicken get before they throw her in the boiling pot?



These pictures are from the National Hot Rod Show which was here in Oklahoma. Nathan enjoyed looking at all the pretty cars and hearing their loud engines. He especially enjoyed the fountain at the Fairgrounds.

The hot-rod show reminds me that even if I have reached the age where I am considered a "Classic", there is still some pep under the hood. I just need more maintenance than I used to. :)

Take Me Out To The Ball Game...

We went to Opening Night of Rehawks baseball. It turned pretty cold while we were there so that wasn't fun but other than that, we had a great time. We had front row seats. Nathan doesn't understand the game but he enjoys all the activity. He especially enjoys the music played over the loudspeaker and the big TV in outer field. He also thought it terribly funny when a napkin would blow across the field. He is pointing at a blowing napkin in the picture.




I wonder if our little guy will like baseball when he gets older.

Miss Rhonda

"This is my speech therapist, Miss Rhonda, as Mommy calls her. She comes over once a week to play with me on the floor and show me what she has in that marvelous bag of toys. Most of the time she brings animals so we can make sounds. She really likes to make sounds for some reason. Once in a while she tries to pull a trick and get me to play with girly toys but I let her know how displeased I am at that idea. She also brings me fruit loops and I get to sit in the living room and eat them which is something I never get to do with Mommy.

I like Miss Rhonda very much. She's very pretty and I like to sit on her lap and play with her necklace and earrings. I will make signs and sounds for her that I won't do for Mommy and Daddy so they think she's pretty talented. They like her a lot too."

Hunting Tips from Nathan

With a little forethought and the right setting, you can have a safe, enjoyable, egg-hunt and bring home that perfect egg to mount on your wall!


The most important decision is choosing a guide. I find that Nanas work very well.




Choosing the right equipment is also imporant. I use a fabric lamb basket which allows for quick stooping.


Be wary of predators!





Only go for one egg at a time. If you chase two, both will escape.











Eggs can be tricky! Sometimes they will hide at your feet and other times over your head.










Be sure to always lift with your legs and not your back!






Never count your eggs in the field. There'll be time enough for counting when you get home.