Friday, June 24, 2011

Off to the Mediterranean!

Still totally surreal, but today we leave for a 7 day Mediterranean Cruise! 
Props to the hubs for working so hard and winning this amazing trip!!
Can't wait to spend the week visiting...
Date
Port
Arrive 
Depart 
Activity
25-Jun



26-Jun



27-Jun



28-Jun



29-Jun



30-Jun



01-Jul
Cruising



02-Jul







Prayers for safe travels and my children as we will be apart for 8 days!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Owen's Day Finally Arrived!

Who Wants to Play Football?!
After 4 1/2 years of dreaming about playing sports...the day FINALLY arrived for Owen to do his thang!
After hearing about the awesome Upward Football program from a dear friend, we decided this would be the perfect 1st sport for our baby boy
We loaded up the whole fam and headed out to Bixby for his "Evaluation"
I had no idea how much I would enjoy watching my little man run a field...I could have watched him for hours!
He was intense, focused...
Playing sports is undoubtedly in his blood
which I believe is something he inherited from the King side...all five of us kids played numerous sports every year of our life. Some even used to say it was our life.
You would have thought Owen had played before the way that he so naturally displayed his skills. 
Poor guy has actually never had one activity outside of church and pre-school. 
Sadly, there just hasn't been time...
But, his time has come!
And oh it was Glorious!

He had his "stick up" as he refers to it, (hairstyle of choice) and his Under Armour shirt his Aunt Gayle got him for his 4th b'day 
- he definitely "looked" the part :-)
“Endurance? You’ve only got to get out there and do it. Face up to it: man was meant to run.” – Percy Cerutty
His Adoring Fans
Time to show off those muscles, and get the ball in the goal!
Daddy loved watching his boy play his high school sport...memories...oh memories
The final test...Distance.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1
Owen - we CANNOT wait to see you play your 1st game in August!
This is just the beginning son...the beginning of something magnificent!!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Fried Eggs to Red Thunder

*Father's Day 2011*
began with Daddy's favorite ~ 2 fried eggs, bacon & of course the beloved toasted bagel
the five people I love most in life
 Nothin' like homemade cards from lil' people

My handsome boys...well, at last two of them anyway - littlest one decided to do monkey face!
 Ella's "You're worth every penny" Card - so proud!
Date to Drysdales with Momma to score some new Kicks!
Best idea of the year: each kid made handmade labels for Daddy to place on his coke - cans - a.k.a. "Red Thunder" - each time he pops one open. They were TOO CUTE! Each one unique. (in case you're wondering, "nacho" is Nacho Libre - Greg's alter ego)
 After a Father's Day Golf Tournament with his brother & Dad, I got to share an ice cream cone & a dinner out solo with my main man...now THAT's a Holiday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 To the Love of My Love ~ thank you for being the most humble, generous, affectionate, supportive & encouraging Father & Husband I know. The love we have for you is immeasurable!! ♥

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Birthday Bliss

Two of my dearest friends took me out to celebrate my Birthday.
We went to Sonoma on Brookside - my 1st time...oh how I loved it!
The hummus appetizer was the best I've ever tasted, and the pecan crusted Tilapia was TDF!
Did I mention Mocha Pudding Cake in a warmed mug...OH MY!
 The hubs got up early and decorated the house with some of our family's b'day decor...this is his 2nd year to do so - it's so darn cute! And, even though he had me pick out my gifts - he still goes and wraps them. When I told him he shoulda just thrown it all in a bag - he said, "No...it's much more fun to unwrap a gift." Hmmm...wonder where he's hear that before?!
My b'day crew
Lots o' Jewelry...Momma's favorite :-)
Big ol' Gift
Look out Chips...Momma just scored some Aviators!
 Best Gift of the Day...BOOTY PAD!!
a.k.a. "The Seat Solution"
 You know you're getting old when you are super excited about unwrapping this baby!
No more sore toosh on roadtrips!! :-)
Daddy hooked up the fam with some tasty grilled steaks while Momma took care of the sides - baked potatoes & salad (I went with a sweet potato myself - my fave)
Because I'm such an "Angel" (haha), I made an angel food cake topped with sliced strawberries & whip cream for our b'day dessert...some of us had to add some chocolate sauce as well!
 Thanks to my Amazing Hubby who always makes me feel so special & loved...
And thanks to Kate for the rockin' new monogrammed Apron...there's nothin' better than feeling a fashionable while slaving away in the kitchen!!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

VBS - A Timeless Tradition





Vacation Bible School

The year was 1894.  A Sunday school teacher, Mrs. D.T. Miles felt she was too limited in her time to teach the Bible to children, so she began a daily Bible school during the summer.  This school lasted four weeks and enrolled forty students.
Dr. Robert Boville became aware of the Hawes’ summer program and recommended it to other Baptist churches. Boville established a handful of summer schools which were taught by students at the Union Theological Seminary. During one summer, one thousand students were enrolled in five different schools. In 1923, he began to promote VBS internationally and founded the World Association of Vacation Bible Schools. (Information found at Wikepedia)
When Vacation Bible School began, it was an intense program – four to six weeks of full time Bible learning.  And the school was usually smack dab in the middle of kids who didn’t regularly attend church.  Now we generally get the kids for 3 hours for four or five days.  During that time, we pack in crafts, contests, games, and hopefully some Bible learning too.  


This happens to be the week of our home church's VBS. It is a week full of so much fun! But, more importantly, so much faith building! I am honored to be leading Abby's 5th grade crew and have the awesome pleasure of having my beautiful niece Zoe in our group! The big *Kicker this year?! Will is now a TEEN HELPER! I almost can't believe it! He chose to work in Owen's 4 yr old class & is having a blast!   Ella is with her bestie Myah in their 2nd grade crew. This is a most special week that we cherish every summer. Truly a timeless tradition...
My Fearless Foursome
the morning of the 1st day of VBS

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Perfect Pairings ~ Psalm 139:7-10


 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? 
      to be out of your sight? 
   If I climb to the sky, you're there! 
      If I go underground, you're there! 
   If I flew on morning's wings 
      to the far western horizon, 
   You'd find me in a minute— 
      you're already there waiting! 
Psalm 139:7-10