Things Only Kids Can Say

I handed the phone to Jenna the other day to talk to her Mimi, who just had a birthday. I could only hear Jenna's side of the conversation, so I'll replay that for you.

"Mimi, you're 60 now. That's old.....yep, then you'll be 70, then 80, then 90, then 100.....you'll probably die then."

Good thing Mimi's crazy about Jenna!

Happy Independance Day or How Rednecks Get Hurt

We hope you all had a great day--ours was so much fun, and no one got hurt, but it makes a good title for the photo.

We started the day the Bethany Freedom Fest Parade where Jenna rode with her Poppy on a political candidate's float.

Then we swam at Mimi and Poppys pool and took naps.

In the evening, we headed out to Tuttle to a friend's farm and swam and ate. Aaron taught Wyatt the fine art of blowing stuff up, and all the other men (and I use that term loosely) were thoroughly enjoying the detonations. In fact, they ran back into town for more fireworks.

Then as dusk set in, we could see all along the skyline the fireworks from about 10 different cities. It was truly gorgeous, and was excatly what the holiday is all about!

In The Good Old Summertime

Hello! We are enjoying the lazy days of summer, and I'm working toward my "Mom Of the Year" merit badge in math this summer by working with Jenna on some of the math and money counting that was a struggle for her last summer.
She is reading really well, but still wants me to read to her. She reads every (and I mean every!) billboard on the highway, and can sound out some really big words, like "adventure." Huh?
The kids are taking gymnastics class together, and are both getting so brave! Wyatt's class has 5 three-year old boys, who run 5 different directions at once. The instructor is a college boy who tried to be nice the first few weeks, but now has started cracking down on them. Wyatt has learned to jump bravely off anything and everything, and swings from the high rings like the monkey he is. Jenna, not surprisingly, is an excellent jumper off the spring board, and taught herself to do a near-perfect cartwheel.
For last week's adventure we went to the OKC dog show, and the kids were amazed at all the different shapes and sizes of dogs. Wyatt befriended a St. Bernard who's gigantic face was at eye-level with Wyatt's. When we turned to leave, the dog snuck up behind Wyatt and licked his neck--Wyatt thought that was so fun.
The next day, the kids told grandma that their daddy was taking them to get a dog the next day--Ha!
As for me, I"m laying off running for awhile (my mom will be happy to hear that!) due to burn-out and back trouble. Sticking to pilates and cycling for now..... I"m working on a new website that will be ready in just a few weeks--I'll keep you posted!

You Live Where?

We have a dear little friend Jerzi who came to play today. She is 5 on the outside, but 27 on the inside. She uses words that amaze me. Jenna was explaining how we're having a block party in our neighborhood in two weeks, as we were leaving our nieghborhood, Oak Ridge.

Jenna: "Why can't Jerzi come to our block party?"
Me: "Because Jerzi lives in another neighbor"
Jenna: "Oh, right. She lives on Stepping Stone..."
Jerzi: "Yep. And you live on Oprah.....I think?"

Things Parents Shouldn't Laugh At....

It all started yesterday. We had talked for one week about going to the splash park at the YMCA after school was out. So we gathered up and went, and got there to find they had just closed it, due to improper chemical balances. My children were surprisingly calm when we had to turn right around and go home. I, on the other hand, was a little miffed b/c I had to find something else to amuse them on this first day of summer break, as I had already refereed 5 fights before noon!
So we bargained to come back today, and would you know, they were handing out cake for someone's retirement party. I told the kids we'd get some on the way out (secrect hoping it would be gone............), and on the way out, we found one little piece left. "Great," I think, "They'll just have a little and I'm not the bad guy."
So we divide it evenly, and they found a little table to sit and eat. Wyatt scarfs his down b/c 1.) He's a guy and 2.) He's begun a search for more.
He sees Jenna's left, and starts inching toward her. Being no dummy, Jenna displays a quick definsive move of going to the other side of the table. Wyatt, being no dummy, edges around the other way to meet her.
I see what's going to happen next, but don't REALLY think it will. Wyatt lunges for the cake, as I lunge across the table for him. And before I can get there, he's shoved THE ENTIRE PIECE in his mouth. And btw, you can't "scoop" out cake, mostly b/c he was laughing so hard. Jenna had launced into her famous "Siren" cry and the who lobby witnessed it. I was laughing, as was they guy who passed by, and he said, "That little guy is quick!"
Did Wyatt have remorse?
Let's just say the whole way home he kept mumbling in the back seat, "But it was really good.....it was really good...."
So we're off to Grand Lake by Tulsa for the weekend, so wish us luck.
jwc
PS Jenna got a Cherry Limage at Sonic on the way home, and Wyatt got water.............

The Wisdom of Children

Yesterday in church the talk was on honoring with your mouth. My pastor has this spiritual gift of sarcasm, as I do, so we connect. At the end of the service we were supposed to pick up a little blue bracelet that says "Speak Life" to remind us to speak kindly. When we are unkind, we're supposed to switch wrists to remind us. (Surprisingly, I hadn't even left the building before I had to switch wristst....)
So fast forward to this morning and Wyatt was not getting his clothes on and we needed to leave in about 10 min. I got on to him, and then went to his room to grab something. Jenna, emerged from her room to meet me and said, "Don't you have one of those blue bracelets like Dad that says speak life?" "Yes, I do." She said, "Then why are you yelling?" I busted up laughing, and thanked her for her help and said, "Let's all work together to not yell this week, OK?"
PS Why did I teach her to read?:-)

Kids In the Kitchen

In my continual effort to be a good mom, I let my kids help me bake. They quickly lost interest in my project, but embarked on their own mission. Guess who got to clean up all the fun?