A New Adventure

We have started a new little adventure...Mommy is running! This is a pretty big deal because until the beginning of January, I hadn't run at all since my last day of softball practice my Senior year of high school. (we won't mention in years how long ago that was, just to make me feel better) I had run so much in athletics that I really didn't ever care to do it again. It seems like in the last few years everyone I know has started running and they all love it and claim that you get bit by the "running bug" after your first race. I have always been skeptical, especially of any bug biting me. Then at the beginning of January, I got a message from a girl at church who was encouraging a large group of women to run the memorial marathon in April. Of course, I thought, "wow, yeah right. Why would she send this to me?!" In fact, I responded that I firmly believed the only reason to run was if you were being chased. Then someone mentioned the relay. You are on a team, you only run part of it. This intrigued me. I called 4 friends who I knew would think I was crazy a little, but that would say yes to doing this with me. And so our team was born...Me, Deanna, Anna, Misty and Jill! Olive has become my little training partner and on our running days she thanks Jesus for "running time" during her nightly prayers. Luckily the weather hasn't been terrible so it has been nice to be outside. The first day, we met Deanna and her kiddos to run together. It was seriously 38 degrees outside. BRRRRR!!!! But we made it!

Day 1...Here we go!

The Beverages all bundled and ready to go! Doesn't Grady look thrilled?!

For some reason, Olive has insisted that Gardenia, her rabbit, goes with us every time. I strap her in and we hit the road!

Some days it takes a little longer than others and the best way to ride is like this...

And yes, she is wearing mismatched shoes, it was a battle not worth fighting when we left the house. She is also wearing a princess skirt, you just can't see it. She has enjoyed accessorizing herself for these little adventures. It isn't uncommon for her to wear a tutu or crown for "running time".

One day last week, she decided to help me stretch!

I am hoping to survive the race! And I have to admit that I have really started enjoying it. If it is above 45 degrees, that is.

Big Poppy

Monday night I got to celebrate my birthday with some of my favorite friends! We went to the greatest little place in Edmond called Paint Your Art Out. Everyone gets to create a masterpiece of their own with a guided instruction from the owner. I have mentioned before my true desire to be an artist. Let's just say that once again it was confirmed that desire doesn't create skill.

It is the cutest little studio and they had everything ready for us when we got there!

We had yummy snacks and special birthday Julie cookies that were so adorable and delicious!

I had gotten to choose what we were going to paint and I opted for a
Georgia O'Keefe inspired "Big Poppy".
Everyone getting started!

I got to wear the special birthday apron which was zebra print. Since I was already wearing a leopard cardigan, I pretty much looked like a walking safari.

Working on backgrounds...

I loved seeing how different they all came out!

Here is Misty's masterpiece!

Kimi's masterpiece

Deanna's masterpiece

Anna's masterpiece

Andrea the professional's masterpiece

Shannon's masterpiece

My masterpiece

Traci's masterpiece

Somehow Julie got out of having an individual picture.
Aren't they beautiful?!

Thanks friends for the fun night!

Family Birthday

My birthday was a few weeks ago and my wonderful husband went above and beyond to make my birthday special this year. We had a fun day together and then he surprised me with a delicious cake and flowers. As well as the news that I was getting the pantry remodel I have been scheming, I mean dreaming about!

Olive was so excited about the cake!

Then the next night we went to dinner and had so much fun.

Thank you Stephen for making my birthday so special!

Fourth Annual Miss America Watch Party

I am so behind on blogging. I blame it on January, it is just a slow month. We had the fourth annual Miss America watch party a few weeks ago and it was a fun time! I am still a little shocked that the Irish River dancing, "Milk It Really Does Do A Body Good", small town, good ol' girl from Oklahoma didn't win. And she was BEAUTIFUL! I guess first runner up isn't terrible, but she should have won.

Here is the whole group of beauty queens!

Every year we fill out ballots and each section is worth a certain number of points. The points are tallied at the end to determine who is our Miss America.

Second runner up, a newbie to our party...Miranda!

First Runner Up (who isn't afraid to show she is disappointed)...Misty!

And our Miss America...Anna!

Congratulations ladies! Can't wait for next year!

Gymnastics Update

Our little gymnast has been loving gymnastics lately! I had to share a few videos I took at class on Tuesday. She is so proud of her new skills!

Let's Play

January has been full of playing, playing, playing!

Playing with new bathtub crayons...

And playing with trains...

and playing with blocks...

and being silly...

and playing at the park...

and playing with markers, sometimes the wrong way...

and fluttering around like a butterfly...

Hope your January has been filled with fun too!

Gigi

We started out the New Year saying goodbye to my sweet Granny. She had lived a wonderful 89 years and was ready to be reunited with her parents, my Grandaddy and my Dad. I love visualizing her running through the pearly gates and meeting them on the other side! We laughed that they asked her what took her so long and what she was making for supper. She was such a sweet and spunky lady. I loved listening to her tell stories. My favorite story she told was about when they would go to visit her grandparents for Christmas. She said that they would load up in their Model T Ford and that Mama Kate (her mom) would warm bricks up in the stove for Granny and Dessie to put under their feet to keep their feet warm. My Dad used to talk about how Granny was always cautious and looked out for them. When they would have to go to the storm shelter during a storm, she would make Dad and his brother wear their football helmets outside so they wouldn't get hit in the head with giant hail! My all time favorite story was when my Dad was in the first grade. Pink eye was going around and the rumor at school was that you got it from looking at someone who had it. Dad came down with it and he told Granny that was how he got it. She made him wear sunglasses around until they went to the doctor to keep anyone else from getting it! Everytime Dad told this story, he would laugh until he cried! Not only was Granny a cautious and wonderful mother, she was a great example of faith to all around her. She was such a special lady. In July, she went into a nursing home and Olive and I went to see her every Thursday. We only missed one Thursday because Olive was sick. I know she really looked forward to those visits, but we did too. Olive loved going to see Gigi. Every week, we would load her up in the wheelchair and go on a little walk. Olive knows how to lock the wheelchair wheels, how to help Gigi up and how to push. These were such special times and I am so thankful that Olive will forever have these memories. We know she is better off and so happy in heaven, but you can't help but miss her!