6 year Anniversary

Brady and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary on the 5th. In the morning I went to Jeff and Vanessa's and sold some things in their garage sale. I made like $65 or something like that. So, that evening we went out to Ted's for dinner as a family. It was YUMMY! I love that place! Then the next morning when we got back from doing the route (it was like 5:00) and the house WREAKED like natural gas. So, we called the gas company and then sat in the car for like 45 minutes before the guy came to take a look. He walked around our house and couldn't find a leak anywhere but told us that he had 7 calls in our neighborhood for the same thing so something must be going on somewhere around us. Thank goodness we didn't have a leak or anything! So, Kolton and I went to bed and Brady headed down to Norman to try and sell the rest of our stuff. He came home at about 9:00 because hardly anyone had come to the garage sale and he was tired. Jeff and Vanessa then took Kolton at about 4:00 and kept him over night so we could spend time together for our anniversary and then do the Sunday paper without Kolton. It was great to be able to spend the evening together! We are so happy together! We couldn't have asked for a better marriage! Our love has grown SO much since we entered the temple 6 years ago and were sealed for time and all eternity.
Now to take a stroll down memory lane. ;) Here are some pictures from 6 years ago when we got married.















It was such a good day! I'm glad each year we get to remember that day and how much in love we are!

Zoo and Science Museum (August 4th) and some catch-up journaling

On the 4th of August, Kolton and I went with Brittney, Kade and Emery to the zoo and the science museum. Our plan was just to go to the museum, but on our way there we decided to stop by the zoo since its right next door and it was overcast so we thought it wouldn't be too hot. We only made it to the lions, monkeys and elephants before we were done. :) It was actually pretty muggy. The kids enjoyed seeing the animals though.


Kolton, Kade and I then walked over to the science museum while Brittney and Emery went and go the car and brought it over to the science museum parking lot. It felt SO good to be in the air conditioning! :)
I love this picture of the boys. So sweet!! These boys are like attached at the hip. I woke Kolton up last night and he muttered in his sleep--"Where's Kade?" Haha.


We played in the little kid area with the boats, trains, firehouse, and tractor.


After that we headed over to ride the segways, the mirror maze (a couple times) and then we spent a long time letting the kids watch the trains. They would run around the display case trying to race the trains and then run back around trying to get to the other side before the train would come out of the tunnel. They got some good exercise in! I'm not even exaggerating when I say they probably did it for 20 minutes straight!


After that we went upstairs to play in the gymnastics area. The robot was upstairs so I made Kolton go stand by him to take a picture. Kade was super excited but Kolton was a little hesitant. He just doesn't really like mascots. He later, though, went up to him and shook his hand. He thought that was pretty cool. :)

The boys did a LOT of jumping off these mats. They'd jump and roll then run back around and climb up and jump again.


We had a good time. The kids were exhausted by the time we were done. We were there for several hours. Kolton loved it. He gets so bored lately that he absolutely loves it when he gets to do something fun! Its so hot outside that I rarely take him out to play. Maybe 3 or 4 days a week does he get a significant amount of time outside to play. And then even times when I make myself go out there, he'll want to come back inside in a matter of minutes complaining that it is too hot. We are like 2 days away from having 50 days over 100 degrees this summer. Oh the joy! He is growing so much lately! I used to be able to sit on the floor and reach over his head to put his shirt on. Not anymore! Yesterday I was getting him dressed and I couldn't reach over his head! What?! When did this happen? :) He told me the other day "I wish I was a superhero so I could clean my room real fast like this (*swing arms around really fast*) and then be done." Don't we all?! Cleaning his room is probably the worst thing I can make him do lately. He hates it. He gets overwhelmed by all the toys and never knows where to start. We've been working on it though and this morning it was time to clean his room again. He started walking around with a grumpy look on his face but once he started and could see progress he was doing it happily. He was in there singing "I am a Child of God" while doing it. Sweetest thing!

splash paddin' it up

When I still had hopes that it wouldn't be hot forever, Kolton got to play at the splash pad a couple times one week. Brittney and I took our kids to the one by her house (more convenient then driving to Norman but its much smaller--but Kolton doesn't seem to care).

The boys are crazy while they are there. As he would say, they are "dick-lee-ous" aka ridiculous. Kolton makes such funny faces while playing in the water.

We also had a couple of the Dean boys over (friends from our ward) while their mom was out of town and their dad was at work. We played Kinect, slipped on the slip and slide, jumped on the trampoline, went to the free lunch at the elementary school down the street, and painted pictures.

For FHE on Monday night we played with "air balloons" (water balloons) and the hose in the backyard. It was a blast! Kolton loved that we were out playing with him and we loved having a fun, silly time as a family and seeing how much he was enjoying it. (You like what Kolton is playing with in this picture?:) He does it all the time.)

Kolton tried to get daddy. Brady quickly convinced him it was much more fun to get mommy instead.

We got SOAKED! Which was nice since it was so hot. We actually were pretty comfortable temperature wise. We took turns doing tricks on the trampoline while we daddy sprayed us with water with the hose. Daddy also rolled on the trampoline for Kolton to jump over.

We went over to the Foys last week to make bread. While it was rising we took the kids outside since they were begging to do so. Their excitement didn't last long however. :) They got a couple swings in at the tee...

...rested some in the chairs (but could hardly open their eyes because it was so hot and bright)...

...shot a couple shots with their basketballs...

...hit the tennis ball maybe two times each...

...rode the bike for about 2 minutes each...

...and then it began to hit them....they were HOT and didn't want to play ANYMORE!

This video is from Kade's 3rd birthday party. It started at the splash pad by his house and then we all went back to his house for lunch and cupcakes. Anyway, while we were at the splash pad Brady showed them how you could put the ball in the water and the pressure from the water would keep the ball up in the air. They thought it was pretty cool!!

Now for some cool things that have happened in the last couple weeks...
Brady started a new job! He has gone back to BancFirst! So glad to be out of OfficeMax. He was doing really well with his new business but existing business was horrible. When he quit his boss told him he didn't blame him. His book of business was horrible. Well awesome. Good to know you knew he had a crappy book of business and nothing was done about it. Gotta love it! :) Anyway, he is super excited to be back in the banking world. He is a universal banker and will be working at a brand new branch a mile away from us on 19th street. Right now he is going through training and whatnot until it is done being built. They are shooting for a September 15th opening.
I also found out last Wednesday that my company won the contract up at Tinker and we can finally go back to work! After over 2 months of furlough! Things are still being worked out as far as who is going to be doing what up there but I'm excited to have my job back!
Both Brady and I got new callings in the ward. I was called as a relief society teacher 2 weeks ago and last week Brady was called as the Young Men's 2nd Counselor. He's really excited. I'm excited too. I'm nervous but excited to be doing something in church again (I hadn't had a calling for almost a year). I teach every 2nd Sunday.
We also got a membership to the Y just last week. Brady's work pays for half of it so we thought we might as well try it out. I love it love it love it! We also signed Kolton up for soccer through the Y. We were wanting to do that anyway, but it ended up being free since we are members now! Kolton is super excited! It starts the beginning of September. Hopefully it will cool down some before then!!
Oh and Brady got a motorcycle a couple of weeks ago. Its great! Insurance was $98 for an entire year and gas is pretty much non existent! Its been wonderful to have!

Face Decorations

We went to McDonald's today for lunch. Kolton got a happy meal. It came with stickers. As we were driving home he told me not to look at him. I couldn't even look at him as we were walking in the house. I had to wait. Why? Because he wanted to surprise me with his face "decorations."

A Promise to be Better

I made a decision at the beginning of this week that I was going to be better.
I am going to be a better mom, wife, and member of the church.
I want to be a better mom by being here, now. I want to really listen to him and play with him.
I want to encourage him to be creative.
I want to be a better mom by enforcing rules. If I'm not the voice of influence in his life, then someone else will when he gets older. I want him to be able to cope with disappointment.
I want to be a better mom by setting a good example. I've made a goal to read the Book of Mormon in 2 months time. If I want him to study the scriptures as he gets older then he needs to see his mom do it too. I want to be closer to Jesus Christ, and one way to do that is to learn more about him and his ministry. By bringing myself closer to Christ, I will have a stronger desire to be patient and loving and more forgiving.
I want to be a better mom by loving my husband. I want Kolton to feel secure in his family and know what unconditional love is and see it. If I show respect to Brady more and love him more, then hopefully Kolton will see that. (And I know Brady isn't going to complain about more kissing. :))
I am going to smile more, say "thank you" more, and "I love you" more.
So, this is what I'm working on. So far this week, I've been trying hard to spend more time with Kolton. I've kept up on housework and done more in the evenings before bed around the house so that I can do that. I really feel like (even in just 2 days) that it has helped me be a better mom. I'm not as stressed out about the housework because I wake up to a clean house. My mind isn't drifting as I'm playing with him or listening to him thinking about the 30 things I need to do that day. I really feel like it is making me a better mom and wife.
We painted. Kolton and I. It started out with using paint brushes, but like always, turned into finger painting. And it got everywhere! He wanted his whole arm covered!


He made lots of wonderful pictures. I love them all.

Monday night after FHE Brady and Kolton had a boxing/wrestling match. It was pretty wild! Kolton sure went at it!

He was determined to win!

And for a 3 year old, he has a mean punch. :)

I couldn't help but laugh at all the faces Kolton was making and all the punches Brady was taking! Good father/son bonding. Haha.

Tuesday morning we went golfing. Monday Kolton kept asking if he could go golfing. All day. Finally, I told him that in the morning we would. First thing when he woke up he wanted me to call Brittney and invite Kade and then go. I held him off until 11:00. And good thing because Andy Alligators doesn't even open until 11:00. He would have been pretty disappointed if we had to leave and come back another time. He had a blast, though! He absolutely loves to golf! He just went from hole to hole to hole. I had to tell him a few times to slow down and to wait for us.


Tuesday afternoon out of nowhere we heard thunder. Kolton and I were playing cars in his room and all of a sudden "BOOM!" and Missie came running in to his room and laid herself across my lap. She is terrified of loud sounds. Makes me laugh. Kolton had to reassure himself it wasn't a monster and just thunder. We headed to the kitchen window to take a look and it started pouring.

Kolton sweetly asked if he could go out and jump on the trampoline in the rain with an umbrella and I obliged. We haven't had rain in who knows how long and who knows when it will rain again so I figured we better take advantage!

Look how excited he is! I love it! I got soaked, even though I was under an umbrella. The wind was blowing and falling off the roof right where I was standing so my whole bottom half was wet. I had so much fun watching him enjoy it though.



Sometimes the wind would blow and catch his umbrella. So funny to watch! I got the first one on video. It completely caught him off guard!




I hope I can continue on trying to be better. Its always easy to do at first but I hope I can make this a lifelong change. Wish me luck! :)