SJ starts Basketball!

Oh my sweet little SJ! She started basketball tonight. Not without a little persuasive arguing against going. 

Quotes I heard this week when "talking up" basketball practice: 

"Mommy, sometimes girls change their minds and don't have to play basketball." 

"Mommy, I just like girl things like ballet."

"Mommy, when I get bigger I will go to basketball, but not now, ok?" 

Oh she's so polite when trying to get out of something! Ha! Well, much to her dismay we still went to basketball. She didn't mind it once it started. We grabbed a basketball and she started getting the hang of dribbling. So cute! We then worked on passing. She got that down too. Once the practice started my little momma heart was so proud of how well she followed directions! She wasn't scared and did everything she was told. There were only three girls in the group of 17. Once they split the kids into 3-4 yr olds and 5-7 yr olds,SJ was the only girl in her group. They then gave them mini basketballs which were way more difficult for the little hands to control. But, she had fun anyway. The only meltdown came 40 minutes into the 45 minute practice when the basketball goal was too high for her to shoot at. She was done at that point. She told me she was just too sweaty. On the walk to the car she said, "Mom, I think I need to do ballet next time. They wear pink tutus." Where did this girl come from? Don't worry mom, I will sign her up for dance or gymnastics someday...

Oh, and we ended the night with ice cream. They both loved that! 

College Reunion 2014

We met up with four other couples that we know from college for our third reunion.  We had superb weather for the end of February...60s and 70s!  After the snow/ice/cold temps we've had this year I didn't know if this trip would get to happen.  Praise the Lord for beautiful little gifts of great weather in an unexpected month.  Anyway, this year included two new babies, Eleanor and Aaron.  We had an amazing house on Table Rock Lake and enjoyed tons of food, friends and fellowship.  I am thankful for these friends! Enjoy the pics!

 All of the kiddos...SJ refused to get in this picture.

 Batman Bennett and Caroline

 She's so stinking big!

 Sisters

 The most adorable pilot ever!

 Josh and Aaron! 

Cotton Bowl 2014

The first weekend of 2014 we headed to Dallas to see the Cotton Bowl. Our Cowboys were playing the Missouri Tigers so we met up with the Lutzs, who went to MIZ! How fun for our favorite teams to play each other. Perfect excuse for a get together! And, I got to meet their newest addition, Lily! she's so precious and barely seemed to be present all weekend. Such a good baby! The game was pretty good but sadly didn't finish the way we wanted it to. The Lutzs were happy though! 

On Saturday we had brunch at a neat restaurant that Fred picked out. His sister joined us as well and we all had fun visiting over food and not wrangling kids the entire time! After brunch we headed to Ikea.  I think I set a record and was only in there an hour...not that the guys rushed us or anything...ok, they really didn't. After ikea we stopped by my good friend, Shelly's house. It was fun seeing her and her kids and relaxing and chatting. Thanks for having us Shelly! 

After Shelly's we headed back to the hotel, super fancy and nice hotel by the way! Thanks to Fred for that hookup! We enjoyed being lazy and slowly getting ready for dinner at The Capital Grille. So yummy! 

Sunday morning we dropped the Lutzs off at the airport then headed home. Our 5.5 hr trip turned into 6.5 because bad weather had moved into Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. It could have been worse! We were happy to get back and see our girls. I think they were excited too! Thank you Fred, Leslie and Lily for such a fun weekend getaway! 

New Year!

We had a small get together for New Year's. the Fleers and Woodys joined us for gumbo and dessert. We had a special dinner and countdown for the kids at 7pm. They had "sparkly juice", special jello cups and homemade pizza. After dinner and dessert we counted down and had a balloon drop then danced. They all seemed to love it! The three big kids then had a sleepover in SJ's room. Caroline was evicted after several attempts to make her stay in bed. Once all the kids were down we enjoyed an easy-going adult dinner. We each came up with a question or two to ask the group which gave us lots of laughs and helped everyone get to know each other better. At midnight we all shared a kiss (or two!) with our significant other and soon after headed to bed. It was a good good night! 

Here's a little interview I found on Pinterest. If I remember I'll ask the girls every year! 

What is your name? Cawoliney (love hearing her say this!)

How old are you? 2

Favorite color?  "Bew" (blue) and orange

Best friend? "Sawah"

One place you'd like to visit? "Chick a lay" (Chick fil A)

If you could help anyone who would it be? Sawah and help her exercise. Ha!

What is your name? Sarah Penturf Jane (working on that order there!)

How old are you? "Free" (3)

Favorite color? Pink and "purpur"

Best friend? "Cawoline"

One place you'd like to visit? McDonald's to eat "bwekfast"

If you could help anyone who would it be? Riley and Jude and help them get up the slide at the water pool. (Where'd that come from!?!?) 

Christmas in Pictures

Christmas at Ree and Papa's

Real. Life. Someday we'll get a "good" picture but this pretty much sums up the four of them! 

Christmas with The Aunts! 

Dirty Santa got really dirty...I'm looking at you Kati Zumwalt....

I have no pics from McAlester's celebrations. Dad made us some deer chili, my brother came to town and met Caroline for the first time! He was in basic training when she was born then in Germany for a couple of years. He's now in Texas so was able to come hang out this year! We had a great lunch from dad, Lujean, granny and Aunt Paula! We also went to church with Granny and Aunt Paula. Great time! 

This is our drive home after 3 Christmas parties packed into 48 hours. That's a ladder protruding from the back. The car was packed from top to bottom and front to back!  We. Were. Exhausted!

Christmas Eve at home. We had a great service at church, yummy dinner and opened gifts Christmas morning. 

One of SJ's gifts was a new car seat! She's proud of her "big girl" seat!

My newest nephew, Luke!

Eva, SJ and goofy Liney!

Grandfather and Uncle Nate braved the four wheeler with all 4 of the girls. They all loved it!

What. A. Weekend!

POur weekend was SO busy! Seriously, every second was filled! Friday afternoon  started getting ready for Daniels annual work Christmas party. It's a dress up event with a full dinner, entertainment and dancing. Kiley showed up with dresses in tow and hooked me up! She brought a dress for me, did my hair and my makeup! I was so thankful. We had a good time at the party and Daniel even won a door prize this year! Yay!

Saturday I took Sarah to her first movie in a theater. We saw Frozen with her bestie, Blair. Such a cute movie.

 SPOILER ALERT! I have to say I appreciate Disney for this one...it's not a guy-save-the-girl-fall-in-love movie. They kind of lead you to think it is but in the end the "act of true love" that's needed to end the eternal winter happens when little sister saves big sister! And, to top it all off, little sister has red hair and big sister has blonde hair. I know two girls like that... 

Saturday night we had another fun Christmas party! Sadly, I didn't get any pictures but it was a lot of fun, food, and fellowship with good friends. 

Sunday we went to church then had a yummy fellowship dinner. I came home and helped wrap gifts for 4 kids in NWA that are in need this Christmas. Wow, wrapping takes a while. Thanks to Kiley for coming in to rescue me...again! She's pretty awesome! We did a lot more on Sunday but without pictures it's not that exciting! I hope you had a great weekend and thanks for reading along! :)

And a note for my two most loyal readers...Aunt Susie and Salle...I have 5 posts in December and more to come! You're welcome!! Ha! :) 

Sisters

This post is just for my own records! 

Tonight while the girls were going to sleep I couldn't help but sneak close to their door and listen to their conversations. They usually sing before they fall asleep. It's adorable. Favorite tunes include, Holly Jolly Christmas, Jesus Loves Me, O is for Obey, and Sweet Nightingale (from Cinderella). I kept hearing SJ speaking in her "mom" voice so I snuck closer. I call it "mom" voice because its when she's trying her hardest to sound like me. So convicting...  Tonight she kept telling sister that "hitting is a sin" "good job, you stay in bed" and "Jesus won't like that". I love her heart. It's so sweet and encouraging to hear her repeat what she's learned and try to help her sister. Now, we definitely need to work some grace into her lecturing. She told Caroline that Caroline couldn't go to Riley's birthday party if she got out of bed. We did not say that at all!  Ha, I mean, I guess it worked because Caroline must have been out of bed but never came out of the room! I just pray these girls grow up loving one another and always wanting to be together. They never do much apart. Yesterday I told Sarah that she and I were going to a movie on Saturday. She couldn't fathom why sister wasn't going. They really don't know how to be apart. Quite frankly, I don't know how to do much with just one girl at a time either!