Happy Belated Halloween

I FINALLY got pictures uploaded to the computer from the Halloween festivities. Just thought I would share a few pics from that. Victoria was a lady bug and some of her costume was homemade! I must say that I am quite proud of myself. Thanks to Rachel for letting me borrow some of her girls' dress up accessories! They worked out great! (don't let me forget to give them back to you!!)


Not a very lady-like lady bug! she did not want her pic taken!

Aunt Jennifer feeding her the oh-so-healthy cotton candy.. Bad Aunt Jeh-phur!

I was the momma bug!

I want mama!!!

Yes, I am training my child to wear heels ALREADY!! lol

Welcome Isaac Jase!

My brother and sister-in-law welcomed their third child (2nd son) into the family yesterday at 4:59 EST! Isaac Jase was 8 lbs 14 oz and 23 inches long!! Congrats Josh and Julie! I love you guys and wish I were there with you!!

The "Punchin" Patch

Last evening the Roberts' family and my dad and his wife all went to Carmichael's Pumpkin Patch (Punchin' Patch according to cousin Abygail) for fall pictures, petting animals and to buy roasted peanuts and fresh fudge (mmmm!). Here are some pics for you all to enjoy. It was a great night- it didn't rain like they said it would and it was a beautiful, cool evening!! I love fall!!

This economy is giving me nightmares!

I know absolutely nothing about Wall Street, stocks, bonds, or anything like that but this economy crap is making me so insane that I am dreaming about it. Last night I dreamed that the Dow went up 400 points, so then gas went up and I was bummed. Well guess what was on the news when I woke up? "Dow jumps 500 points!"
Hmm, kind of weird.
Anyway I guess the good news out of all of this nonsense is that Nathan filled up his tank for only 24 bucks! That was a first in a LONG time!
I guess all of this has me wondering about the future and the end times and all of that stuff. I know this market crash doesn't mean that Jesus will be coming back today or tomorrow, but we are getting a lot closer to that time. It makes me think about my life and what I am doing to glorify God's kingdom-- well, not a whole lot.
Guess I need to get a move on.

How time flies

It is just amazing to me how much stuff Victoria understands now. She is starting to have little "mini-conversations" and understands a lot of things that I say to her.

Yesterday we went to the park and she looked at me, motioned for me with her hand and said, "Mommy! Mere! (come here)"

Then today when I was taking her to Rachel's before class she said,
Victoria: "Mommy!"
Me: "What baby?"
Victoria: "I see puppies?"
Me: No not right now, the puppies are at home. We are on our way to see Karis and Brielle.
Victoria: Ble-elle!!! (Brielle)

It may not seem like much to you, but I just think it's amazing! I never thought I would enjoy this age, but put aside all the tantrums and this is really a cool age because I can actually interact with my child and talk to her as if she was a little adult!

Mommy's little helper

So I thought I would post a few pics and videos to show you that Victoria loves to help me sweep the floor. She's my little helper! It is just too cute!

Tulsa State Fair

So today Victoria and I went to the Tulsa State Fair with Rachel and her two girls. Rachel is a girl from church who I have befriended over the past couple of months. Her husband is the children's pastor and they have been a part of the church for about a year and a half. She's a stay-at-home mom who craves adult interaction (like me) so we have become pretty close since we can both relate to each other!

We basically went to the fair to take the kids to see the animals and of course, eat the greasy fair food! And that is exactly what we did. We saw the cows (insert Victoria's "moo" sound) and I think Victoria was in total shock. I don't think she expected cows to be that big! She started to whimper a little bit as we were watching them walk by, acting like they were getting ready to trample her.

(look at Victoria's not-so-happy expression and the cows in the background)

We then found a petting zoo (more like a "stick-your-hand-through-a-fence and hope-they-come-up-to-you zoo) and it was cute to see all the kids "try" to interact with the animals. There was a giraffe and two camels and all different types of exotic animals.

Overall, it was a fun day. The girls had a blast and Rachel and I got to have a lot of heart-to-hearts. Playdates are so much fun!!

So, here I am

So here I am following suit, starting a blog to commemorate my family's experiences. I thought it would be good to put something down "on paper" to not only remember these memories for myself, but for my downline, upline, and crossline of family members-- and of course, close friends who are like family to me.
There is so much I want to share with those who miss out on all of my fun times with the family (and of course not-so-fun times). Having some of my immediate family and close friends live several (even thousands of) miles away has been extremely difficult for me. I sometimes feel alone and my heart pulls for them in their respective geographical regions and yet I know right now I have to stay right where I am to follow through God's plan.
But who knows, maybe God will have some plans for me that are better than I ever thought and sweep me to another location in the future. Time will only tell!
So I am thankful to be able to post information for family members and to be able to receive information from those who are close to me. It gives me a source of comfort and closeness in hard times.
So a standing ovation for my first blog.... I did it! I hope you will be compelled to read future posts, as my head is filled with many stories I have been dying to share!