Cowgirl

Madi's grade had a spring performance "Pen Pals" and she had a speaking part. She did great, remembered every line besides looking adorable in her cowgirl gear. It was pretty impressive, several of the second graders had speaking parts and one little girl played the violin and some kids danced the waltz, etc. It was fun to see her up on the stage.
We also had an awesome time at Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City over spring break. Very geared towards kids, obviously, and lots of fun. Splash pads, hot tubs, big slides, little slides, lazy river and giant tree house. The water park was good for all ages, from barely walking to teenagers. I was in the category of barely walking after two days....worn out but had a blast.


Madi's speaking part, she was "Stephanie"

The second graders

With Papa

Yeeee Haw!

The whole Family


This is just a random photo of Clay Clay and Hanna, hands down the best picture of them that has ever been taken!

Christmas....yes, Christmas :)

So better late than never!!! Here are some pics from the snow days and Christmas. We had all kinds of fun sledding and playing in the snow. The last week has been spent at the Dr.'s office, I feel your pain Ashley...Clayton had a sinus infection and Madi had strep and this awful stomach virus, twice, that has been taking down all kinds of kids at her school. Hopefully we are all done now!!!! I am tired of being tired, work all night, up with sick kids all day, then back to work... thankfully there is always an end to the sickness. My mom is home and doing wonderful, she just got her old job back and starts this month, amazing. We have finally started going to church, First United Methodist Church in Claremore. We really enjoy it and the kids like it as well. Every time we ask Clayton about church, he says "Chuch...donuts!" So he likes it for the food now, but I am sure he will get more out of it someday :)
This is funny, I put sponge rollers (remember those?) in Madi's hair the other night, she went to school with big bouncy curls and her teacher called her Taylor Swift all day, now she wants a perm :)
Please say a special prayer for my neighbors, the Orf's. I have had pics of their kiddo's now and then on the blog, Jason, the dad, is fighting colon cancer, he is my age, 33, and this has been a shock, but he is fighting hard and doing as best as can be expected. We love their family and are praying hard for them every day.
Hope you and all of your families are healthy and well.
Miss blogging!!!
Renee

Clay Clay and Hanna, she is so cute

Hanna and I trying to stay warm

The girls me, Madi, Nana, Ivy and Hanna

Clay Clay and Benson in the snow

The only time she's been an angel lately....

New Year

Well, we survived the holidays. Had lots of plans to travel to Missouri to see my family, but they were cut short with the weather, we got snowed in at Corby's parents which was actually nice because we got to relax and enjoy Christmas. The kids were spoiled rotten, Madi's big gift was a Nintendo DSI and pink John Deere cowboy boots, she also got books, clothes and a whoopie cushion. Clayton got a drum set with symbols and that's all he wanted to do was crash symbols during the gift opening :) He also got a ton of "wheelies" or cars to play with, clothes, books and a pair of boxing gloves which he used to tag his Papa Rusty in the head while he was sitting nicely in the recliner. We have so much to be thankful for this year. Our best gift was welcoming Mimi home right around Christmas. It has been a year since her treatment began and after many complications, everything is looking good and she should be able to begin a maintenance program. She looks and feels good and is thrilled to put all of this behind her and go on with life.
Clayton's caregiver since he was 3 months old, Diane, is starting student teaching this year so we have enrolled him in daycare. So far so good, he will go on Mon, Tues and Fridays and the first two days went well, he pee pees in the potty and plays well with the other kids. I will keep my fingers crossed that this will be an easy transition. He was so pumped up to go the first day, he had his hair spiked and his backpack on, he was however, disappointed that he was not getting on the "bool-bus."

Rule's for Madi's room

Ok, I came across this list and couldn't stop laughing. I seem to remember a bossy little friend (Alyson) who also had "room rules" growing up. You will see Corby coming out in my daughter with a few of these rules. So, here they are just as she wrote them.
Rule's for Madi's room
1. I don't allow talkind about OU inleas your saying it suckx
2. Keep my room clean
3. no food in my room
4. please pick up befor leaving the room
5. If you have trash, I have a little trash can
6. you can not talk to me when I am pooping or buzzy.
knok befor coming in please
thank you

So big!

Sometimes you just have to see pictures of your kiddos to realize how fast they are growing up. Clay is losing his baby fat and thinning out, he actually has a neck now. We are about 89% pee pee potty trained and about 5% poo poo potty trained. Using candy "lilly" as an incentive has helped a lot. Madi has her big girl chicklets and has lost 7 teeth and reads chapter books. We are thrilled to have Mimi home for Thanksgiving, she looks great!! Hopefully she will get to come home for good in Dec. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

"A" gun rack

I am obviously cohabitating with a man when my master bedroom has a gun rack, and yes, Corby has not "a" gun, but many guns that necessitate an entire gun rack....



But, I think the rest of the room is pretty...

Don't mind me taking this, ha ha!!

"Boobies"

Clayton is talking more and more, but he has some random names for certain things. Pancakes are "daytays" milk is "milshhhhh" motorcycles are "atoosh"??? and Horses are "boobies"...you can imagine his excitement and commentary at the aquarium when we visited the sea horse exhibit.



Clayton's favorite "Boobie" in our neighborhood, this is a very friendly Boobie