Visiting Daddy's Duck Spot

After months of cold, we all have felt the urge to get outside and spend time outdoors. Having small children with on and off again sickness, we spent the majority of our December, January, and February months inside our home. Ben and I decided it would be fun to take a hike to his hunting spot to stretch our legs and explore nature. We drove out of town a few miles, and headed west to Lake Carl Blackwell.
Ruby Kay did a great time walking through the tall grass and navigating the rocks and mud. She enjoyed collecting seashells and throwing rocks into the lake. At three and a half, she is growing to be so big and needs our help less and less. Kennedy has changed so much since last spring. Walking, jabbering and also growing in her independence. She was content to be carried the majority of the time but really enjoying exploring as well. It was neat to see where Ben has spent his time Duck Hunting this past winter and experiencing a little of what he enjoys.
We all had a good time together, and are ready for the coming of warmer weather so we can spend even more time outside.

A Cousin Tea Party

 

A few weekends ago we had very special visitors in our house. My sister's family stopped through on their way from California to Florida. While the little sisters were sleeping, Bethany and I had a tea party for Ellanora and Ruby Kay. The enjoyed orange juice in their tea cups, and practiced eating daintily with their cookies and fruit. These girls quite enjoy having tea parties and their Mama's enjoy spoiling them!

Snow Day in Stillwater

The day after we came home from Winter Conference, we were greeted by a light snow dusting in the morning. Ruby Kay was so excited to run outside and make a snow angel and throw snow balls at her Daddy. Kennedy was a little less excited, mostly because of all the layers we clothed her in. Our little michelin man toddled around taking a few steps, tripping, and then trying to stand back up. Ruby Kay fared well in the snow despite her lack of real snow clothes. Here in Oklahoma we don't see snow too often, so we haven't invested in good snow clothes yet.

The rest of the day we enjoyed staying warm inside, and a yummy white chicken chili. It has been so nice to recover after our busy time in Texas.

the mercantile

Over our Christmas Break, we took a mini-road trip to Pawkuska, OK to visit the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile store. We had a great time together as a family, and enjoyed the great shopping and food. There were a lot of people at the store, and so our original plan to eat at the restaurant changed to eating in the upstairs bakery. 

We did have to wait in lines a few times during the day. This girl was a champ, and we let her play some games on our last line to get food at the bakery. Here she is with the phone on her shoes. She is such a funny girl.

On our way back to the car, we saw this sign and had to take a picture. I posted this picture on my instagram with this caption,

kennedy is now a little over a year old, and at my favorite baby age. she is walking everywhere, giving slobbery kisses when requested, babbling new words here and there, and her little personality is really starting to shine through. life is so much fun with her in it!"

Sisters and Best Friends.

Our Christmas

For Christmas this year we enjoyed our first holiday in our home as a family of four. When plans changed with my family's christmas get together, we decided to stay home in Stillwater. Our little family really enjoyed celebrating together, and especially starting new tradition. Ruby Kay at age really understood Christmas, and it was special for Ben and I to blend our childhood traditions to begin ones for our family. Highlights of this year were our Church's Christmas Eve service, reading the Christmas story in pajamas by the fire, leaving homemade cookies, milk, and carrots for Santa and his reindeer, stockings and presents in the morning, and making a big Christmas Meal for dinner.

Ft. Worth Stockyards

For our Thanksgiving break this year we visited Ben's brother, Daniel in Texas. We spent the day in Fort Worth Stockyards, where their family had visited on a past vacation. We enjoyed a good Barbeque lunch and afterwards we explored the downtown area besides the stockyards.

It's always a treat to enjoy Dublin Dr. Pepper when in Texas.

Family Pictures

 

 

Our family lucked out when one of our students agreed to take our pictures this year for the Holidays. Megan Mitchell is a Sophomore at OSU enjoys taking pictures while being a full-time student. She did a great job with our pictures, and it was so hard to choose a favorite. I know we will look back on this time with so much fondness for our sweet, tiny girls.

life at home

now that we are home, we are starting to settle into life as a family of four. I wanted to write about kennedy's first week and a half at home so that I can remember these beginning days- the good and the not so pretty aspects of life. after arriving home after our 2-day hospital stay, it has been so good to be home. 

my parents were able to come home with us and helped make the transition home smoother until they left on Thursday. when they did leave, it was SO hard to say goodbye to them. the combination of them leaving to go back home to Thailand, and not knowing when we would next see them was so hard. my "baby blues" kicked in after saying goodbye, and I was an emotional mess for a few days after. the saddest moment was hearing ruby kay say, "nani and papa?" when she heard the door open, and me having to explain that they had left. goodbyes are no fun at all. 

luckily, ben's mom, sue was able to come stay with us from Saturday until today, Wednesday. ben had meetings this week, and sue was such a great help to me. she was able to take ruby kay to the park and "fa-la-lay"(CFA) which are her favorites. i don't think i could have survived without her! 

after having a routine and rhythym as a family of three, we are having to relearn how to thrive as a family of four. our sweet kennedy has been a heavy sleeper in the mornings and afternoons, but at night she can be fussy. once she does fall asleep, she has slept up to 5-6 hour stretches, which is so great. ruby kay has done so well with kennedy's arrival, and loves to give her kisses, hugs, and her pacifier whenever she cries. the hardest time with ruby kay is watching her while i nurse kennedy, and when ruby kay craves my attention. 

in this season of feeling overwhelmed, emotional, and exhausted I keep having to remind myself that this will last for a short time. being a mama for the second time, I can see how fast time passes, and how important it is to be present. each day I journal asking God for grace when I fail, and for patience when things are out of my control. I truly have so much to be thankful for.

 one week old kennedy frances

big sissy ruby kay with her "baby kennedy" the first morning home together. such a sweet bond already forming between these two.

baby girl's due date!

family of three, soon to be four!

today we celebrated my due date, November 15th, 2015. we drove over to Tulsa for the day, to meet my sisters since my parents are in town for this girl's arrival. i had asked my mom to take a few pictures of us, since I haven't taken that many since being pregnant. 

reaching my due date this time around was expected, and wasn't as climatic as my pregnancy with ruby kay. although i wouldn't have minded going into labor early, i knew my chances were slim because of family history, and since i was induced after going a week late with ruby kay. i think my babies like to cook longer than most! :)

this pregnancy hasn't been easy, but i am so thankful to have carried this sweet girl for the last forty weeks. it is still surreal that very soon we will have another girl in our arms, and that we will be a family of four. i can hardly wait to see ben become a father of two girls, and ruby kay become a big sister. God is so gracious to us, and we don't take for granted how sweet the gift of children.