Monday pick-me-up

Three things that make me smile. No explanations needed.

More with Mimi & Pop

A week ago today, Alexa and I were eating breakfast when she told me, “We going to Mimi and Pop’s today . . . in Dallas.” I said, “Yes.” Without hesitation, she tilted her head and looked straight at me with those charming brown eyes and said with great confidence, “Mimi and Pop love me.” Yep, even two-year-olds get it. That was pretty much the theme of the weekend – Alexa bathed in “Mimi & Pop love” (defined as undivided attention, time and play). As you’ll notice, Mommy and Daddy aren’t in these pics. We pretty much don’t exist when Mimi & Pop are around.


Alexa can’t wait to see the ducklings at Mimi & Pop’s neighborhood pond.


Checking out (rather pulling off) a leaf on the walk to see the ducklings.


Alexa refused to look at the camera as she watched the ducklings approach.


Here comes some of the family. There were 13 ducklings in all and they were hungry!


It was kind of sweet to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with another mama.


Alexa didn’t know what to think of the ducklings snapping at Pop to get bread.


Mom & Dad’s neighbor walked by with his dog, Lucy. Alexa loves dogs. (And no, we aren’t getting her one.) Here she is preparing for airport security checkpoints.


Giving Lucy a love pat. She was much more confident with Lucy than the ducklings.


Mimi with her Mother’s Day gift. It says, “Become a possibilitarian” and that is the essence of my mom. She always says with absolute conviction, “Life is full of possibilities.” Hmmmmm . . . maybe I should take that gift back. I’m the skeptic.


It’s a shame Alexa is sooooo happy in this picture. She made handprint heart cards for the special mommies in our lives. This one’s upside-down as is Alexa’s smile.


We framed Alexa’s handprints for Mimi and Ama. (I made one for me too.) I thought I deserved it for convincing her to make the handprints – candy bribery works.


Great-grandmothers and aunts received a card. I wrote Proverbs 31:30 around the heart as well as a Mother’s Day message from Alexa, her age, and the date. I wish I could take credit for the card but my sis sent me this Valentine’s Day card idea from the blog - http://www.theidearoom.net. Since I already had an idea for Valentine’s Day cards, I used it for a Mother’s Day card.


Alexa enjoyed a bit of Sunday post-nap entertainment courtesy of Pop and Striper.


Pop built this wooden racetrack for me and my sister when we were little. Racing cars was one of my favorite activities on Saturdays. Pop can’t believe it’s still getting used every time the grandkids visit. Alexa is selecting the perfect car from the tub.




This is a pretty poor representation of the matchbox cars I had growing up. My very best cars are still tucked away in a closet waiting to be revealed when Alexa can really appreciate them. We’ll let her scuff these up for the time being.

What a fun weekend in Dallas. We love you Mimi & Pop!

Five more to go!

Chris completed his final spring graduate class last Thursday. We were excited to celebrate another ending to the eight week class schedule he’s been enrolled in since the fall of ‘09. That means Alexa hasn’t known what’s it’s like for Daddy not to be in school. In fact, if you ask her where Daddy is when he’s gone she’ll either say, “He’s at work, or he’s at class.”
Chris starts another class today which will begin eight more weeks of summer school (two night classes/week). Once he completes his two summer classes, he’ll have three more left to graduate this fall. Just five more classes to go! Yippee!!
And just so you know . . . he’s a straight “A” student. Not bad for a full-time employee, husband and daddy. My man has completed 38 credit hours/18 classes to get this far, and I’m incredibly proud of him. Only three of these classes have been during the workday. (Thus, I’m incredibly proud of Mommy.) Ha!!
The credit hour requirement for an MBA at OU is a whopping 47 credit hours (practically insane)! I graduated from OU with an MA in Journalism, and the program required 32 credit hours with a thesis. I guess OU wants to ensure its MBA students mean “business'” – yes, the pun was intended. 

Finish strong honey!! We will celebrate every “eight week” step of the way. Thank you for balancing life so well without a critical or grumbling spirit. Like my parents always comment, you wouldn’t know Chris has been in school the last three years because he doesn’t talk about it, complain about it or let it overwhelm his life. He just does it well and for God’s glory. Yep – that’s my man!!

Monday pick-me-up

BEING A MOMMY




Being a Mommy is hands-down the greatest blessing I’ve ever experienced! I’m so grateful God granted me the humbling and undeserved privilege of being a Mommy. I’m grateful I had two wonderful grandmothers to look up to and a mother & mother-in-law with whom I deeply respect and admire. I pray God will enable me to live out the same godly characteristics these women flesh out with grace, joy, gentleness, perseverance, wisdom and a deep, abiding faith. As I spoke with Chris’ Gram K this weekend, she said, “Mother’s Day is everyday.” I agree wholeheartedly. Every moment with Alexa Hope, even the challenging ones, is a precious gift. I’m thankful for these moments, and I’m thankful for you, Mom!

More Mother’s Day weekend to come . . .
Gram K reminds me often that raising children happens quickly and there are no re-runs. So, I’m going to stop for now. I just want to soak in the sweet goodness of motherhood.

Jasper’s first trip to OU

Alexa loves her little monkey. We purchased Jasper almost a year ago to honor the life of our third child (May 28, 2011 post). I mentioned in that post how I wanted Alexa to have him and how sweet her response was to the gift. He has definitely become a part of lives. It’s incredibly meaningful to me, without any coercion from us, that Jasper is Alexa’s favorite stuffed animal. At least for me, it’s a sweet reminder even though we don’t get to hold our third child on earth we have a little memory of him every time we talk to Jasper, buckle him next to Alexa in the car and take him for walks in Alexa’s baby stroller. I haven’t let Alexa take Jasper into church or Target although she always asks. In a strange way, our precious little one is still with us when I see that adorable striped monkey. And so, Alexa wanted to take Jasper for his first outing on campus (and yes, she said “campus”). It was a terrific evening with a striped monkey and Lil’ A, our “hope fulfilled.” Although Jasper doesn’t make it in many photos (especially the fountain pics for fear of getting too wet), I’m confident he enjoyed strolling around Soonerland with his best buddy. We even included Ama & Opa in CA with a little Face Time. But enough writing about the evening, I’ll let the pictures do the talking. There are lots of ‘em.











 













No matter who you share it with, have a great Mother’s Day weekend!!