Never Say Never!

Once upon a time David said: "I will NEVER buy a minivan!"
Last wednesday.....he ate those words!

More of My Favorites!

The Joys of Family Pictures!

I never realized the effort that goes into taking a family picture until I had a family of my own. Our first experience was with Ben as a newborn. We took him to JCPenny's when he was just a few months old. I have to say it was a very stressful experience. It was our luck to get a photographer that was all Gothic...black clothes...black make-up...black hair! Ben screamed the entire time and I didn't even blame him. I was a little scared myself. We ended up buying one picture, not because we liked it, but because we felt obligated to do so. After a few months of staying far away we finally ventured back to get pictures taken. We found a new studio called Portrait Innovations. Our experience was much better this time around. We struggled to narrow down our huge selection of quality pictures. I wanted them all. We went through a great phase with Ben until he hit that cheesy smile phase. We were back to working up a sweat to make him smile. Yesterday Ben did great, but I also realized why I haven't taken Kate to get pictures on very many occasions. She has a mind of her own. She does not want to be told what to do. Where does this come from? She is Ben's polar opposite. I was stressed before we even started the pictures. She would not let me french braid her hair. She ripped off her cute little bracelet in one tug less than a minute after I put it on (breaking it in the process). She refused to sit or stand by our family. She would not hold Ben's hand. But boy did she think she was funny. She knew she was pulling my strings. She wasn't in a bad mood at all...she was just being Kate. Full of energy...Full of life...And never ending. And so I suppose that's what is most important to capture. The real Kate. Our photographer loaded some of our shots to her blog. I am excited for the forthcoming collection. I was amazed at what she did capture of the kids, especially Kate. How did my mom ever do it? 9 kids! I ask myself this question everyday.

My daddy is a smoke doctor!

This entry is soley for me. Years down the road I want to remember the mind of my 4 year old. One afternoon Ben and I were having a pleasant little conversation. Ben informed me that he knew lots of doctors and he really does. He began naming them all, while I added what kind of doctor each one was if he didn't already know. He started with Uncle Rob...he's a baby doctor. Then on to Gavin and Carsons' daddy...he's Kate's ear doctor. Uncle Mike and Yadon's daddy are both teeth doctors....Dyson and Meilani's daddys' are both bone doctors....Madeleine's daddy is a cancer doctor....Jennifer Kate's daddy and Boo are x-ray doctors....Jason and Nicoles' daddy and Sammy and Jaxons' daddy are both eye doctors....And then he came to David. I asked him what kind of doctor daddy was and he said, "Mom you know...He's a smoke doctor!" I was completely puzzled at first and asked him why he thought that. He elaborated and started talking about our visits to see Daddy outside of OU. I put two and two together and realized that everytime we have visited David or dropped something off to him we have seen patients outside of the hospital all gowned up, IV poles and all, smoking. What 4 year old who knows smoking is bad for you wouldn't think that is why they had to go to the hospital? And that must be why his daddy always has to go there....to help them get better. And I thought OU was suppose to be a "smoke free" campus! We laughed and thought this idea would eventually go away. But, this past week I took Aunt Di to the ER for some severe abdominal pain. After picking Ben up from preschool I told him we were headed to the hospital to help Aunt Di. It took quite a bit of convincing to get him out of the car. He didn't want to go in there...."there would be too much smoking and Heavenly Father doesn't want us to smoke!" I promised him no one would be smoking inside and he eventually ventured out of the car. Later that night, while I was fixing dinner, he came into the kitchen and with a very worried look on his face said, "Mom, why did Aunt Di have a smoke?" It was difficult to keep a straight face. Of course in his mind that is why she must have had to go to the hospital. David is on call tonight and in Ben's bedtime prayer he said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for today. Please help my daddy to help everyone that smokes get better! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." I think David will always remain a "smoke doctor," but at least Ben will never take up smoking!

A New Chapter

This last week David and I traveled to Baltimore to find a new place to live. We searched the entire city...ghetto and all. We looked at over 25 rentals and finally decided on one. The cost of living on the east coast terrifies me, but I am trying to have faith everything will work out in the end. Coming from Oklahoma creates massive sticker shock! I am excited about the house we found and feel good about our choice. Its a 3-4 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath brick home that has been newly renovated. My favorite part is the brand new kitchen...granite countertops and beautiful stainless steel appliances. There is a full basement that will be newly finished and carpeted by the time we move in. We satisfied Ben's one request. He really wanted stairs. Here are a few pictures to get a better idea...

Front Room

Dining Room

Sun Room

Kitchen


Basement

After we found a place to live David and I explored the city. We drove to Hopkins so I could get a better idea of where he would be working. This is a picture of the hospital there when it was first established.

We also went to the inner harbor and walked around town. Among other things we visited the National aquarium, a science museum and the Camden Yards baseball park. On our way out of town we stopped by the Washington DC temple. It was absolutely beautiful.

We are happy to be home and even happier to have our home here "under contract" to sell. The timing of our closing should work out perfectly. We are very thankful. Being away from the kids for a week really helped me to see that it doesn't really matter where you live...its just the people you live with. I really missed them. And so a new chapter begins. And an adventurous one it promises to be!

It's a Girl!

Oh, how I wish I could hold this sweet baby! My sister Ruth and her family were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby girl last week. Samantha Emily decided to make her arrival one to never be forgotten. She was born within less than 30 seconds of entering the hospital doors! Ben and Kate now have 42 cousins and counting!

Reality!

I guess it's about time for another blog entry! I seem to have been absent from the internet world for the last couple of months. David's Grandma Higgins sent an e-mail wondering if we were okay? She even checked her blocked e-mail list to make sure we hadn't mistakenly been added. This is what we have been up to.............

Getting a house ready to sell is A LOT of work! Especially with a little helper like this...................

I have cleaned every square inch, both inside and out. All those places I normally skip...windows...screens...vents...blinds...doors...walls...cupboards...closets... light fixtures...fireplaces...etc. You name it, I cleaned it. Our realtor came this week and put up the sign. After they left I went outside to look and almost shed a tear. It didn't seem to belong in the front yard. Sometimes I fight the urge to take it down. But nonetheless, it will stay. Although, I know that with time Maryland will become our new home, I can't help but mourn my loss of Oklahoma. So for any of you interested here is the link to view our home. I am really going to miss it. The realtor made my month though when I read her first line in the description....Clean as a whistle! Someone noticed I cleaned! Now if I can just keep it that way! Sometimes reality is just plain hard!