last hurrah for the summer of 2010

Um, why do I think I'll ever get a GOOD

pic of these three boys together? Clearly it is NOT happening (as seen above and below!!!!) Oh. my. goodness.

Wow, it's been awhile...summer has been fun, but to be honest, I am ready for the kiddos to start school. Not necessarily because the boys are driving me crazy (although at times they are!) but because I like the routine that school provides and it also means we are just that much closer to fall. I heart fall!!!!! In fact, when I went to Sam's today I noticed they already had their mums and Halloween candy out. It made me SO happy. Fall is so close I can almost taste it! We have had lots of fun this summer...once the boys get back into school I plan to document it all, but for now I'll just share this past weekend (I promised myself a few weeks ago that I would enjoy what was left of the summer and let everything else go...and that I did! Darren can attest to that as the house has been a pit and the laundry has piled high, but you know what? The boys and I have had FUN and that's all that counts!

This is the second time over the past several weeks that we've been to the lake with the boys. These pics are all from this weekend. We went with mom and dad for the first time in a long time and Madison and Kristen joined us too. We had so much fun and were so worn out when we got home. It was our last hurrah of the summer, fun times were had and many memories were made.

DAY 1: SATURDAY the 14th

Connor and Coby were the first to take "Big Mable" for a ride

they had a ball

Darren and Cale hanging out while Connor and Coby took Big Mable out for the first time

Coby and cousin Madison on the boat

time for a cool-off swim

Darren and I rode "big Mable" with Madison and Cale, but Madison did NOT like it so we let her off just a few minutes after our ride had begun!

After Madison got off, and Darren, Cale and I had a great time on Big Mable

Mom (Nina) after a day on the boat. Her hair was out of control!

DAY 2: SUNDAY the 15th

While Connor and Coby tubed on Sunday this place came in for a landing, take-off, landing and another take-off in the small cove in which we were enjoying. It made me just a wee bit nervous having a plane landing so close to where we were in the water, but we enjoyed watching it nonetheless!

Nina and Calebug

c

Madison and Cale: "Partners in crime"

Dad (Poppy) with Madison (who sadly didn't enjoy riding Big Mable yet again!) and Cale

Dad and Cale had a great time together on Big Mable

We took a swim before heading in for lunch (I say WE swam, but in truth, Darren just lounged on "Big Mable"...bum!)

Madison was so worn out that she fell asleep while EATING lunch!

Sweet girl being carried back to the boat after lunch!

all of my boys testing out their rock throwing skills

Madison Taylor...she woke up!!!!

Coby Lane

Cousin Madison and Coby

sleep walker

I awoke in the wee morning hours on Friday to see Cale walking into my room, thru the bathroom and from there into my closet. He proceeded to pull down his pants. He was just about to PEE on one of my piles of sorted laundry. I didn't want to startle him, but I certainly couldn't allow him to pee all over the closet either. Luckily Darren saw what was happening just in the nick of time and got him to the toilet. Crisis averted!!!

I hate it, but this means that all three of our boys are now sleepwalkers. Sadly, they got this from their mama. I used to sleep walk fairly frequently (and if my memory serves me correctly I am thinking that my younger brother Justin did too). I remember that mom and dad had to barricade the front door when we visited my grandma and grandpa's house. They lived on a very busy street and mom and dad were afraid that I'd get out of the house only to be run over in the night. Crazy! I survived and they will too, but hopefully they'll outgrow this quickly!

our getaway

Last Thursday Darren and I returned home after being away from the boys for 5 days and 5 nights. We escaped to mom and dad's lake house for {nearly} a week of relaxation and rejuvenation. It was the longest we'd ever been away from the boys, but it was a much needed break for both Darren and me. It was a perfect week. We didn't do much other than take it easy which was so nice.

{Warning: This is a very long and boring recap of our lake week, but I wanted to remember our lazy week so this is for me. You can read it if you want to...just don't say I didn't warn you.}

The boys spent the night before we were to leave with GramPat and Papa so Darren and I could get an early start, but we actually slept in and didn't leave town until around noon. Oops! We stopped in Tulsa for lunch at Johnny Carinos. Then headed on to the lake. After getting settled in, I finished watching the movie that I had been watching in the car (Did you hear about the Morgans?) while Darren relaxed out on the back deck. After my movie it was time to eat again so we headed to Shebangs. We always like eating there, but it was different this time because we got to sit in the "adult" room (at least I think it must be an adult only room as there were no kids in there) where there were love songs playing and the lights were dim. I loved the atmosphere....and the company was pretty good too!

We saw this bldg in Tulsa when we stopped for lunch. We just HAD to turn around and get a pic of this. What in the world was the architect thinking when he decided the design of the roof...never mind, I know EXACTLY what he was thinking about ;) haha

We slept in until 12:15 on Monday. Oh yes, we did! Then we did something crazy. We did nothing. all. day. long. Oh, we talked about going out on the jet skis or swimming in the pool or going on a walk, but instead we opted to stay in and relax all day and not leave the house until dinner. I watched Dear John and other than that, I did not do one thing besides lay around all day. We did venture into Grove for dinner and soon remembered that all the local restaurants are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so we went to Rib Crib. When we got back to the house we went on a golf cart ride around the golf course and then went my favorite spot by one of the marinas to watch the sunset. I like to go to this spot every night we're at the lake to watch the sunset. There is nothing more beautiful than watching the sunset on a lake (OK, watching it set over the ocean is more beautiful, but I take what I can get!). We spent the rest of the evening on the deck. It was so peaceful and we had so much fun talking late into the night.

Tuesday we slept in again (only until 11 ish this time). Then we got up and went jet skiing. It was a beautiful day for it. When we'd had enough, we came in and took the golf cart to the new marina by the lake house. It is so nice and has a great restaurant. We ate outside and enjoyed watching all of the boats come in. After lunch we went to the pool for a swim and laid out for awhile. It was very relaxing as most of the time we were the only ones there. Then we came back for a little nap. That evening Darren cooked steaks out on the grill and then we ventured out for our evening golf cart ride to our two favorite marinas and around the golf course. Then of course, we sat on the deck for a bit and then settled in to watch some mindless TV.

Wednesday we got up early (and by early I mean around 10) and went out on the jet ski. Then we got cleaned up and headed into Grove to try out a little Mexican restaraunt my parents always go to when they're at the lake. It was so good and was decorated so well. I can't believe I've been missing out on it all this time. We'll have to make it a must have for every lake trip from now on. After filling our bellies we went to a few shops in Grove and I found a few decorative things for the house. Then it was back to the lake house for...you probably guessed it...a nap. Actually, I had rented When in Rome at the Redbox, but it was so bad that it put me to sleep. We went back to Shebangs on our last night and then...yep, another golf cart ride around the hood, marinas and golf course. Then we watched The Italian Job which we both really liked.

{We are so predictable....and probably a little bit boring, but that's okay because we came home very relaxed and ready to parent again.}

And then came Thursday....the day we packed up and headed home. We stopped for a late lunch at the Pei Wei in Tulsa. Then we hit the rode once again excited to see our little men. I don't know that they were thrilled to see us, but Coby and Cale at least claimed to have missed us. Connor....not so much. He loves it when we're gone. That's okay though. I'm pretty sure that they all enjoyed the break from us just as much as we enjoyed the break from them! Hopefully we can give them another break from us again next year....but before then we have to sit down and find a time to go back to the lake with the boys. I just realized that we only have a month and ten days until school starts back up. We've got to get one more lake trip in there somewhere or the boys will be devastated. We'll make it happen. I can't wait to get back up there. However, I'm pretty sure this next go around will be anything but relaxing!

prayer

Here is Cale's prayer from tonight...

Jesus, a good day and help I sleep...and that I have breakfast tomorrow...and dinner...and a snack... and dinner. Amen

I think he really wants dinner tomorrow and lots of food! Why pray for the family or others when you can pray about food instead? That is SO Cale!

thirteen

Darren and I celebrated 13 years of marriage on Monday. Thirteen years. I feel old. Old and grateful. We have been together since we were 12 and 13 years old. I just did the math and that means we've been together for 21 years (minus a few short break-ups during the teenage years). Darren has been a part of my life for so long that I cannot remember my life without him in it. I love him and am so thankful that he chose me to do life with! Oh, it hasn't always been easy...we have weathered some really tough storms together, but I wouldn't change any of it for the world. In fact, WE are better and stronger because we've been through (and survived) the storms. My favorite quote from this year has been this:

Those who abandon ship the first time it enters a storm miss the calm beyond. And the rougher the storms weathered together, the deeper and stronger real love grows. -Ruth Graham Bell

We didn't do much on our anniversary. We just went to dinner at Kona Ranch and rented a movie ("The Informant"...it was so awful that we didn't even bother to watch all of it). The real anniversary celebration will be when we head to the lake house for 5 days/4 kid-free nights next week. I can't wait!!!! I also can't wait to see what the next 13 years will bring for me and this man I love. Here's to hoping the storms will be kept to a minimum....

Not only did I get a dozen gorgeous lilac colored roses for our anniversary, but I also got these three yellow roses as well. I love them all! Wish I had fresh flowers in my house year round, but I KNOW that's not going to happen!

see you soon

Photo borrowed from Uncle Lyn. Taken March 30 on grandpa's 89th birthday.

The past week has been surreal. My grandpa passed away early this morning after a week or two of not eating followed by an unconscious-like state. We've spent the week watching and waiting and it seemed so out of the blue. But it wasn't. It just felt that way to me even though I really did know better. In all honesty, it was a long time coming. He has slowly been slipping away for a long while. And even though I've been waiting for him to leave his earthly body behind for a long time, it was still shocking to be in the position of actually knowing the time had come.

However, this morning I can't help but feel so happy for him. He has been made new and healthy. He's fishing and gardening again. I can just imagine him pruning and watering his beautiful garden of flowers...with grandma by his side. Oh yes, he is no doubt with grandma again, right where he belongs and for that I am so thankful. I just know she was right there to greet him. What a beautiful reunion that must've been. I can just hear grandpa asking her for a "smooch!" He was always asking her for one all the years they were together. It never stopped. They were so in love and I am so excited that they get to be together again just four years after grandma passed away.

Thank you Lord for a peaceful ending to a beautiful life. And thank you for the promise of eternal life. Just knowing that I will see my grandpa again makes this such a blessing. Goodbye for now grandpa Coleman, I will see you soon.

Here are some pics that my uncle took (that I stole borrowed from him) at grandpa's last birthday on March 30 (he and I were just a day away from sharing a birthday and I loved that!). Grandpa turned 89 that day. We had a little party at the nursing home and had a good time. I'm so glad we celebrated his life that day, his last birthday on this side of heaven.

Cale was showing Papa Coleman his dinosaur face. Scary!

memorial day weekend

Everyone seems to be talking about what they did for Memorial weekend so I thought I'd share mine. This will be a post without pictures. Why? Well, because I spent the ENTIRE weekend without Darren and the boys (and no one wants to see a pic of just me :)). We were invited to Darren's brothers lake house and I opted to stay home. I like his brother and I like the lake but what I do not like is spending holidays on the lake! So, Darren told me that he could handle the boys if I wanted to have the weekend to myself. Much to my surprise (and probably his too!) I took him up on it and it was pure bliss! In fact, I need to start planning their next getaway. Seriously. It was good for my soul.

The boys left mid morning on Saturday and I immediately headed out for a full day of shopping with my mom. We did take lunch and dinner breaks so that my dad could have the luxury of taking us out! ;) It was great and I felt so free all weekend. I haven't felt that way in SO long.

I spent Sunday cleaning and doing laundry. While folding laundry I watched the movie It's Complicated and it was SO funny. I laughed out loud many times. I only got out to see my sister's new place and hit the fabric store (I just brought home my grandma's old sewing machine and that is a post for another day!). I stayed up way too late both nights (til 2 am) and slept in until noon both days too. Heaven.

I cleaned all day Monday and the boys got home around 5. I had three full days to myself. Would it be terrible if I said it was the best Memorial weekend of my life? It just may have been. I love my boys, but it was nice to have a weekend to do whatever I pleased with no one to answer to. And now that I know that my boys can survive without me, I just might have to do this more often!

It was good while it lasted, but I am glad that they made it back home safe and sound. Oh, apparently the boys had a great weekend too. I am constantly hearing stories about their lake getaway. I think Memorial Day 2010 was a good one for all...a very good one.

Summer is now on full swing. No sleeping in for me as Cale has early morning swimming lessons for the next week and a half. We've got baseball practice and games (and it is HOT here!!!) then next week we start camps. Connor has baseball camp next week then in two weeks Coby starts art camp. They are so excited. Hopefully that will fill their mornings and in the afternoons we are just going to have to swim. It is too hot to do anything else right now. The boys spent the entire day playing baseball indoors. It is really cute to watch, but it makes me a bit nervous (even though they use a small nerf ball). I thought is was particularly fitting that Coby named his team the Cheeseburgers! The boys does like to eat...and he LOVES him some cheeseburgers.

Well, I'd better get to bed, I've gotta get up bright and early for swimming lessons. Hopefully Cale won't be too ornery tomorrow. That boy, he really makes his swim teachers work for their money. He is always being a goober. I just know I have a class clown on my hands. I am already praying for his Pre-K teacher. She is in for it!