Summer Fun Overload

 We kicked off our Summer with a beautiful day at the Tulsa Zoo.  We saw the new Sea Lion exhibit and an awesome show put on by these two elephants.  

 Grandma hosted a super fun Luau for our church play group friends.

 Darin and her adorable kids came.  Just about seventeen years ago she was playing in that back yard with me!  So crazy how time flies.  

 Enjoying some super cute cupcakes that Grandma made.

 Then in June we took a girls road trip to Dallas to visit our great friend Kasia and her cute family.  It was so wonderful to catch up after so many years.

 Ben worked really hard during the month of June at Summer School so when the movie "Brave" came out we went on a "Mommy and Ben" date  to see it and eat out at Braum's.  He was full of conversation until the movie started.  Then it was business... no talking.  I'm grateful his father taught him so well. 

 The very best part of our Summer has been spending so much time at our apartment pool.  I can't believe I spent the last ten years in Idaho where swimming outside almost everyday is absolutely unheard of.  Don't get me wrong, Idaho summers are the best, but I am sure loving my summer long tan. :) 

 And since this is the first Summer my kids have actually spent swimming, we thought they needed some lessons.   One day towards the end they were all put in this canoe and the teachers rocked it and filled it with water to sink it.  The kids didn't have to swim for their lives since they were all wearing jackets, but at least they had fun. 

 Lucky girl Maggie just started her very first dance class the other day.  It's a two week camp with a little performance at the end.  I'm sure there will be more pictures to come. 

Birthday Boy!

The face says it all, the boy loves legos.
Lego cakes from bettycrocker.com. Pretty simple, don't look too close at the frosting job.
A scooter and more legos!
Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for hosting the party.
20 Questions for Ben at age 7 (new family tradition, from pinterest(trying not to let pinterest rule my life, but it does have some great ideas))

1. What is your favorite color? red and black
2. What is your favorite toy? legos
3. What is your favorite fruit? bananas
4. What is your favorite t.v. show? Star Wars:Clone Wars cartoon and Samari Jack
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Lunchable pizza box
6. What is your favorite outfit? light blue Star Wars lego t-shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Nintendo 64 Mario
8. What is your favorite snack? banana
9. What is your favorite animal? elephant, you know that!
10. What is your favorite song? movie songs
11. What is your favorite book? comic books
12. Who is your best friend? Payson
13. What is your favorite cereal? cereal crunch crunch (cinnamon toast crunch)
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play pretend stuff like Star Wars, zombies, pirates, and Mario
15. What is your favorite drink? root beer
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you? Ben (koala beanie baby)
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? same as #13
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? hot dogs and a jar of pickles
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a zoo vet and teacher and animal researcher

Christmas Sssssssurprises

We were very lucky this year to spend Christmas with both of our families! Most of the Morgan clan was there and Grandma Stephenson came too! We had our traditional Christmas Eve program with the kids dressing up like the nativity scene.
Grandpa's Angel
Such a great looking shepherd/Joseph
Listening to Christmas stories and the angel stealing the sheep.
On Christmas morning Santa left a note for us to take care of his friend. Both Ben and Maggie were very excited about their new pet. I didn't think they would get on board so fast. I am still trying to get on board.
Ben has held the snake...
Maggie has held the snake, kissed it, and let it crawl up her shirt.
She even draws pictures of it. I guess after ten years of keeping a pet out of the family I thought it was time to compromise. Seth has been very patient with me and has taken on all the responsibility with the kids. I keep thinking I can hold it, but when I see it...I chicken out. I know I need to just get it over with while it's a cute little baby. Apparently it can get 3-4 feet long! Yikes!
I also managed to keep a game system out of the house for 10 years and that too has come to an end. Seth was very happy with our gift from Grandma Stephenson and I was happy too. Now we can play games with her and our other family far away. Ben rocks at boxing and Maggie does really well with the bowling.
Lily got the cutest pink kitty from Aunt Melissa. She was so cute giving it hugs and hanging out with Uncle Jeff.
It was a lego Christmas. Maggie loves legos almost as much as Ben so she got some of her very own!
Grandma Stephenson helped Ben put together the big castle.
Dad also helped, but Ben really did most of it all by himself!

Lily's First Steps

Happy Halloween!

You are a true Stars Wars fan if you can guess who Ben was for Halloween. His dad enjoyed making his costume (except the helmet) and mom enjoyed not getting the sewing machine out once this year! Just a few hand stitches to tack the cardboard armor into place. We were very lucky that it didn't rain! I was so glad Maggie decided to be Dorthy and more glad that she never changed her mind! Thank you Kirsten for letting us borrow your dress.

Dad took the older kids Trick-or-Treating while I enjoyed a relaxing evening home with Lily.

On Saturday we had our ward Halloween Carnival thanks to my amazing Mom for putting it together a week and a half before hand!
There was a clown that made all the kids fun balloons. I couldn't believe how patiently they all waited for their turn. Maggie got a turtle to wear on her wrist.
Ben of course got a gun.
The cutest little ghost and bumble bee in the house had fun playing and getting their pictures taken.
I don't know what to say about these two, but I'm sure glad they were there.
They kept the kids entertained and wore them out really good until it was time to go. The kids really had a blast, thanks Mom for making it happen!

Slight Change of Plans

In case you have not heard... we moved to Oklahoma! We both found new jobs and thought it was time to return to our roots. It was a bit crazy, but everything kept falling into place, so why not?
This was my view for three days. Ben rode up in the truck with Dad the whole time, while the girls rode with me. We had a great time singing to all the Dixie Chicks and Disney songs we wanted!

The first sight of Braum's was a sweet sight. We stopped for lunch. It was also in Kansas when the heat first hit us. Luckily now, about a month later, it has cooled to the low 100's.

Little Lily with Grandma and Grandpa.
The very best part of the move has been living 6 minutes from Grandpa and Grandma. Why oh why did we wait so long?
We are all settled in and the kids started school this week. Thank you Oklahoma for Pre-K! Miss Maggie gets to go all day everyday!! I think they are enjoying it and making new friends.

Happy 4th of July!