Lovin' Camp Loughridge

Will & Abby's 1st time to go to Camp...

Just day camp that is...Tulsa's own, Camp Loughridge.
It was one of the MOST FUN weeks of their lives! (despite the fact that the heat index was around 110 degrees each day...YOWSER!)

This is the little Princess who is not old enough to go to camp just yet...she & lil' bro loved being the only two at home with Mom again...ahhh, no one to tease or boss them around.

Ella Picasso
*!~+#WAcKy WeDnesDaY~*&%@

On our way to the Camp Pow Wow on the Last Day

Giggly Girl

Abby's Tribe

Will's Tribe

Abby's new pal...Abigail. You shoulda seen the hand clappy song things they did...WOW! They could sing and do them at lighting speed!

Mom & Abby Lou

(Oh how this took me back to all my years at camp...such incredible memories! I miss those days...)

Abby's Counselors giving each girl an award...Abby got
"Imagination & Adaptability" (She moved tribes on the 2nd day)

- Daddy was with Will, so no pics of his...he was awarded "Discipline & Cooperation"

Abby's Sweet Counselors...Maria & Katie :)

Miah & Abby - Best Camp Buds

A Forever Memory

For all of you who asked...YES! I absolutely HIGHLY recommend Camp Loughridge! It was a super duper fabulous experience for my kiddo's!! And, such a great way to ease them into going to camp. There's really nothing like learning about God in the midst of the nature that He made.

*~We Love You CaMp LoUgHriDgE!~*

Daddy's Spa Day

The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad!

It was a very HAPPY Father's Day.

We began with our usual Sunday Morning Family Breakfast..."Katie McMuffins" were served ~ one of Daddy's favorites. :) We then moved on to gifts.

We came up with something different this year. After 19 years of thinking up fun & cool gifts to buy my hubby, I realized that all he really cares about is quality time & physical touch (his two love languages). So...I came up with the idea of doing a "DADDY SPA DAY".

It was a HUGE HIT!

But, before we got to that...my precious son Will presented his Dad with a PowerPoint Presentation...with pictures and everything! (Can you believe a 10 yr old can do that now?!)

It was priceless.

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

Off to our favorite Sunday activity...

Following church and a game of Golf with Will & his own Father, Greg returned home to be whisked away to the "Ruley Spa". He was adorned in a robe and an eye mask and led to a Lavendar Bubble Bath surrounded by candlelight. Enya playing in the background of course.
He was offered Norwegian water and an ice cold Coke (his fave), along with some chocolate and pistachio's. He was scrubbed clean by my lovely assistants, Mademoiselle Abby & Ella.

Daddy was then led to the second half of his Spa Day...the facial and full body massage.
Can't show pics of the massage as Daddio was in his skivvies. We'll just leave it at this and a little imagination. :)


DADDY SPA DAY was one of the Best Gifts ever! It was as much of a blessing to give as it was for him to receive. I loved watching our kids get so excited to pamper their Daddy! Even Owen got in on the massaging! (Okay, more like karate chopping, but hey!).

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father! ~Lydia M. Child, Philothea: A Romance, 1836

Greg ~ You are the MOST AMAZING Father! Having you as a partner to raise our children is a dream come true...you exude such patience, love and understanding. You are the best example of Christ that they have in their life...I know that their relationship with the Lord will thrive because of all the seeds that you have planted in their little hearts. We love & cherish you.

Stayin' Alive at 35!!

Honestly, I was dreading my birthday a bit...I kind of have a hard time with turning big numbers. I can't help but want to be forever around...well, 24. :)

And, I would not normally blog about my own Birthday, but this year's happened to be one that stood out in so many ways that I felt compelled to get it on paper (or computer screen). This is my way of holding onto memories...I'm hoping there's a way to print everything at the year's end...is there? Please tell me there is! :)

After this past week's celebrations, I realized that getting older ain't all that bad. If getting older means being blessed with the family and friends that I have, then bring it on!
We have a new Birthday Tradition: I bought this super cute Piece of Cake decor made out of iron (see pic above). We fill it with love notes the week of the person's b'day...then, on their actual day, they get to open it and read them out loud to everyone. It has been such a HIT! It was fun to get to experience it myself this week.My kiddo's LOVED watching for a b'day package being delivered by UPS...they were too cute! Kids inherently love to celebrate people, don't they?!
Just when you think your b'day, which lands on a Monday, could not be that exciting...three of my dearest, most amazingly wonderful friends surprised me with a Day of Luxury! We began with top of the line pedicures - you know the kind with scrubs, paraffin wax, etc. Ooooh so nice. As we sipped on Starbucks' Lattes, we were pampered with leg massages and toenails transformed into artwork! Even *rhinestones on our Big Toes!!
(This was a HUUUUGE treat for me as I don't typically get my nails done).
Needless to say, I was One BLESSED Birthday Girl! We then continued our Girls Day Out at a "grown up" restaurant (you know the kind with the white table cloths). We had a delicious meal and topped it off with, but of course, decadent desserts...cheesecake & molten chocolate cake. Ummmmmm. It was a day I will never forget. My Friends Rock!!
My most precious Mom threw a Family Birthday Celebration with all my favorites, including grilled Salmon and chocolate cake! There's nothing quite like when your Momma makes your favorite meal for your Birthday. Then, to get to enjoy it surrounded by family, including my Grandma & Mother in Law, was so meaningful.

I was also blessed to get to spend an evening out with my two sisters, Kerri & Kim. Believe it or not, we had never had a Girls Nite Out with just three of us...seriously. I guess with the spread of our ages (7 yrs apart each), and the fact that Kim has always lived out of town, it just hasn't happened. The time had finally come!

Dinner and a RiverWalk concert together was So Fun!

(Can you tell were Sisters?? Who do you think looks the most alike? Can you believe that Kerri, far left, and Kim, middle, are almost 15 years apart in age?!)
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We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

I guess you might say that I am stayin' ALIVE at 35...as I have never been so conscious of the treasures in my life. My cup truly runneth over with gratefulness for all that God has given me.

*My AMERICAN GIRL's 8th Birthday*

My 1st born daughter turned 8 on June 6th.

How can that be?!

The other day I caught Abby deep in a conversation with a friend on the phone. This was the 1st time. The 1st of many I'm sure....
The Friday before her Birthday we opened her 1st Bank Account. I remember doing that when I was 9. Such a big day!


Abby's Birthday lunch of choice. She learned this from her Father. :)

He even let her get a giant Coke from QT on the way.
Abby loved opening all her family gifts the morning of her Big Day.

Time for her ***AMERICAN GIRL 8th BIRTHDAY PARTY!!***

Mommy's just about done setting up. Daddy comes in for a hug.

Friends & Dolls start arriving...

Grandad (Greg's Dad) & Nana graciously allowed us to use their BEAUTIFUL outdoor living room and pool. This was our 3rd year to have Abby's party there. It's always a hit!

Ummm, that cake was SO good!

Double chocolate fudge.

How cute are they?!!

There she is....MISS AMERICA!!!!!

(We had a Doll & Me Fashion Show before the swimming began.)

Walking the "Red Carpet"

What a precious group of girls!

Ella with Miah & Macy - two of our very special friends

The Big Hit of the day was to hold hands and jump in together!

Then it moved on to hold the cylinder raft and jump in!

Daddy with his Birthday Girl.

Birthday Girl's Lil' Sis having a ball!

Birthday Girl's baby brother playing a game of golf with a baseball bat. LOL

Good Momma friends.

Owen couldn't stay away from the snack table...as usual. :)

The girls had a "diving contest"~

Lauragale is declaring "Abby Ruley" the winner. :)

Group Shot.

Abby & cousin Zoe enjoying a Bomb Pop.

Oma feeds Owen some Bomb Pop...Grandma's just can't say No.

Time to sing to the Birthday Girl!

Gosh...she looks so grown up in this picture!!

Enjoying snacks & cake.

Nana with Owen.

Lauragale with her My Twin Doll. She cracks me up!!

Abby opens her leopard travel case from Aunt Gayle & cousin Paige and finds a leopard brush and make-up inside! Two of her favorite things!!

Abby's dear friend Macy gets her what she's been dying to have...High School Musical I.

Abby and cousin Zoe again ~ those are the Curls I thought all my kids would have!

One Spoiled Birthday Girl...Nana & Grandad get her a Hot Pink Ipod!

Back home Abby opens up her friend presents.

Lauragale got Abby THE cutest makeup bag with this ADORABLE brush. It says "Best Friends" and then has two little girls that happen to look just like them! They LOVED it!!

Our newest Birthday tradition...each of us puts a love note in a metal birthday cake that I have sitting on our island. Then, on your birthday you open it and read the notes aloud.

I think she's liking this. :)

Abby & LG wear matching Matilda Jane outfits to church.

SO thankful for their sweet, lifelong friendship.

I think Abby's 8th Birthday was truly an

Amazing ALL AMERICAN Day!

*~Happy Birthday Abigail Kathryn...

I Love You from the inside out.~*