Big O Turns 7!

My Birthday Boy

Night before party working on his buddies' party favors

Saturday, October 26th, 2013

finally able to dig into those chocolate donuts he requested

B'day boy and his posse on route to Soccer City!

Let the games begin!!

even big Sis got in on the action 

(Abby looooves soccer)

Will and Grant added some teenager challenge to the field

One year apart...same height

I always love seeing this lil' beauty at our parties :-)

The Birthday Gang

Silly Faces :-<>

Party Room time

Ready for that Cookie Cake!

Placing his 7 candles right where he wanted them...

Make a wish!

One friend couldn't make it so b'day boy was pumped to get a favor!

BFF came home with us for a play date 

They always love to "strike a pose"

(can you totally tell that O has a 12 yr old sister?!)

Words cannot express the love I have for this lil' guy. He makes my heart so full. He's all boy...and yet has so many other adorable qualities. He's super sensitive, he diligently does his homework when asked, he's so excited to be able to read "real" books now, he is a great Mall companion, he loves food more than anyone I know (Well...a close rival to his Momma and Uncle Kendall!), he cuddles with me, he still has that cute little boy voice, he still lets me dress him, he's my baby...my forever baby.

Abby made his a darling homemade card with all sorts of cool "coupons"; she then awarded him with the Million dollar candy bar because he's a million dollar brother!

Owen only asked for a couple of things...and this was one of them.

A remote control car

He wanted it opened and active pronto - Romey was a riot chasing and hiding from it

Next day after church I caught the b'day boy reading his classmates b'day cars out loud...

melted my heart

Chinny Chin Chin

Friday, October 25th, 2013

We were just about to leave for Jenks Southeast's *Trojans 4 Christ, when I asked Owen to go brush his teeth. As he was heading upstairs, I heard one most horrendous cry...I knew immediately it wasn't good. I dropped what I was doing and sprinted 3/4 up our stairs to find my baby boy spilling blood from his face. My initial thought was "oh good, it's just his lip" but then I caught a glimpse of his chin and almost lost my breakfast. The following pictures will sum up what happened next...

a bit melancholoy

but really good attitude and LOTS of courage!

Numbing up 

Time to do some stitchin'!

Doesn't it look like a 2nd mouth? ha! :-)

Dr. Umer (who was THE sweetest!) did an amazing job stitching up the O Man. 

We were all surprised that he only had 4 stitches with such a gaping wound...the nurse told me later that it was due to the thicker thread she used.

My precious boy was an Angel...he laid perfectly still with no tears.

and even managed to give me a smile and a thumb's up at the end of this crazy morning

Back to SJ Urgent Care one week later...

for stitches removal

Update: his butterfly bandage fell off 4 days later and appears to be healing nicely. Mr. Chinny Chin Chin will soon be making friends with my bottle of Emu Oil. ;-)

Fall Break @ the GREAT Wolf Lodge

Fall Break 2013

Began with a stop at our very favorite ice cream joint...Coldstone

Yes, we go "Ape" over this place!

Ummm....cake batter with brownie and chocolate with Reeses.

And then for dinner, Mommy's all time Fave...NAAN.

Oh Tuna Tower how I love thee.

My sister Kim and nephew Mason met us there for dinner.

Me and my girlies

Arrival at GREAT WOLF LODGE in Grapevine, TX

totally reminded me of Disney's Wilderness Lodge 

This place gets the THUMBS UP!

off to our room!

Hotel rooms always bring such fun for the kids

sharing a bed = bonding at its best

"Face Timing" Romey with Mrs. Fletcher

Our KidCabin Suite - miniature log cabin for kids sleeping quarters

(now this is a 1st for the Ruley gang!)

TV in the Kids' Cabin...O Happy Day!

Time to experience the watermark for Abby, Ella & Owen's 1st time!

(Will came with Dalten last year)

Dad's ready to rock this place! 

Slides everywhere you look!

One of the highlights of the watermark...

1,000 gallon SPLASH!!*

Trick or Treatin' at the Lodge

(Will in his make-shift costume; tried to tell him to bring one, but he wouldn't. Then, once he realized he was missing out on candy, he jimmy rigged one at the last minute)

Uncle Si & Dorothy :-)

(yes - Ella's red as a tomato...I made her stop & take a pic w/ this cute dude)

Sleeping arrangements

Poor lil' bro man...didn't even get a bed. Big Bro zzzz'ng away.

The slides were simply EPIC! Seriously, fantabulous FUN!!!

"Howlin' Tornado" had us at Hello!

LOVED seeing these two have a blast together!

Wave Pool

Breakfast at the Lodge

Abby used her own money to buy this $6 Frap our last morning...it's such a novelty to a 7th grader!

Stopped by the Gaylord Texan on way out...gorgeous joint!

Maybe next time? :-)

Definitely one of our BEST Family Fall Break Trips ever...so thankful for the time to spend together making memories.