Random Halloween Pictures.

Halloween started at preschool. Sophie dressed as a cat and looked oh, so cute!! They set up a little carnival and also performed several halloween songs for the parents.

...sitting in a barrel waiting for a ride.
....dressed as a pirate for the actual trick-or-treating. Arrrrgh Matey!!!!
....in one of his many costumes (he only kept on for 5 min)
....in the outift, I mean costume, he actually wore to trick-or-treat in. That boy won't wear anything that doesn't feel like clothes.

General Mills rents out Route 66 Carousel Park every year for their employees for a family day of fun (plus it's all free). We took Nick, the boy I babysit, for Sophia to have fun with. We rode every ride there and some twice. And believe it or not so did Owen. He even loved the ferris wheel which I think is just a little scary. 3 hours later and we were so ready to go!!

Sophie and Owen on the mini alligator roller coaster. Laughing all the way!!
...and Owen and Jake on the slightly bigger and much rougher tiger roller coaster. Yes, laughing and screaming all the way!
On the whirl wind (like Disney's teacup's). Jake had to sit the next ride out becasue he was a little dizzy afterwards.

Pumpkin Patch 2007!

The annual pumpkin patch field trip was lots of fun. The kids go on a hay ride and get to pick pumpkins (the smallest ones in the patch).

This is both the 3 year and 4 yearl Mon-Tues-Fri classes at The Plaid Giraffe.

Sophie and her friend Reece with their pumpkins. How cute!

Sophie's Horse Cake! Thanks to Mac's Bakery. Delicious!!!

Just a few pictures of the party we had at the park. All of Sophie's favorite people were there (minus a few cousins and Aunts and Uncles). The kids had a great time playing on the slide. So much in fact they really didn't wait for anyone to get all the way down EVER!

Sophie opening a few presents at the party. She got 2 really awesome horse collections. One represented all different sorts of breeds and came with cards explaining about each one. Her second favorite gift was a 2-wheel scooter (had to be 2 wheels not 3) thanks to Papa and Grandma Martin. Oh, and thanks to Nana we I haven't gotten her to stop listening to the Highschool Musical Cd yet.

The gang at the park.

...and the slumber party that evening. Can you imagine what they are dancing to? Yep, Highschool Musical!

Just a few pics of Sophie opening presents throughout the day. She abosolutely loves the Barbie movies (she's holding the newest one Barbie and the Island Princess). We also got her a Webkinz since she just recently started playing games on the computer. Her Webkinz is Pink Pony (how original) and she actually showed me how to do everything on its website. What a smartipants!

Happy 5th Birthday Sophia

Date: September 19th 2002

Time: 11:29am

Length: 19 1/2 inches

Weight: 7lb 7oz

(Oh how I remember the 11 hours of labor like it was yesterday)

So we started the morning off with breakfast in bed. She also got her first bouquet of flowers from her daddy. After Jake read her birthday card she reached up and hugged him, told him "I love you daddy", and said that"this is the best birthday ever"! I can't believe she's 5! We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She is a wonderful big sister, truly talented, and such a joy to watch. She makes every day special!

For Sophie's big birthday surprise we took her horse-back riding. She has been begging for 2 years to go and we thought she was finally ready. She had no idea where we were going and when we got there the look on her face was price-less!!

Jake and Sophie shared a horse for the hour long trail ride. It was a great experience for both.

The trail ride was beautiful! Going through the river for me was the best part.

When we got back from the trail Sophie was brave enough to handle a horse on her own. What a natural. She was able to lead the horse in whatever direction she chose as well as make him stop. Her horses name is "Whitey" and is a cross between a regular sized horse and a pony. Just the right size for Sophie.

Getting Sophie to leave was tough but we had a great time and hope to go back. Maybe next time we'll brave it with Owen!

Sophie's first day of ballet at Pinochio School of Ballet. This will be her second year of ballet but at a different place. Her Aunt Leslie attended ballet at this very same place for 8 years.
Just woke up (per the crazy hair) and laying in the dog bed with Gretel.

Just having fun!!

Owen's always discovering something new that he thinks is really cool....like putting his shirt over his head. He walked around like this forever laughing and beating on his chest like tarzan.

Owen with his buddy Jack (one of the boys I babysit). Jack has kept Owen so entertained during the week which makes for less tantrums and a happier mommy.

Well, coloring on the arms and hands. Are we surprised? NO!

Owen has really taken off in the water his past couple of visits to the pool. He now swims all over the place with his lifejacket, jumping off the diving board with Dad, and getting in and out of the pool himself. It is pretty amazing to think that in one visit he has to be held in his jacket so he won't tip over and because he is scared to let go of you and the next time you go he is all over the place and wants no help at all.

We decided to take the kids to the Tulsa Zoo this past weekend. It was quite the interesting adventure for all of us. First Owen got sick in the car half way there and was pretty lathargic in his stroller. Then Sophia kinda wet her pants because she was afraid that by going to the bathroom she would miss out on something. We had lots of fun with the exception of all the drama and the ride home was pleasant for myself because Jake, Sophie, and Owen slept most the ride home.

Why the kids like to play in the dogs cage I will
never understand. Apparently they feel like they
are also stinky animals in need of being locked up.

4th of July at Grandpa & Grandma Martin's house. We had a great time with the family. Kelly and the kids came up from Dallas and my Aunt Ann came down from New York. The kids jumped on the trampolin and swam all day until it was time to eat. Oh and did we eat....... brisket, pasta salad, corn, green beans, french bread, has brown casserole, just to name a few things..... I'm full just thinking about it. We blew up some fireworks in the evening and attempted to watch a movie outside on the projector until everyone slowly pooped out. What a day!!!

Joplin Airfest 2007! Owen loves the sky so much he stops, stares, & jabbers about the sky anytime he hears a bird, plane, or anything else for that matter. He was a wild one until the show started, then he sat very still when the planes started doing their tricks. Sophie had a great time to until it was time to leave and we stuck in a long line of cars for a hour.

We finally got a beautiful day that I was able to take the kids to the pool instead of work on the house. Even Owen was jumping off the diving board to his Aunt Leslie. Last year Owen would not go near the water and we could hardly keep him so far. Sophie is getting really good at swimming without floaties and looks just like the Coppertone Baby!!

Every year we get a bird's nest in the ferns we hang out front. This year we have 3 light blue eggs and 2 cream with brown speckles. Not quite sure what the difference is, none the less, it is pretty cool when they hatch.

Jake and I celebrated our 8 year Anniversary on June 12th and boy did we celebrate big. We took the kids to Chuck-E-Cheese and let them go wild! How romantic, huh?