5 Years Old

We now have a 5 year old daughter in our house which is hard to believe at times.

 Some Special Things About Kayla:

• Favorite Color: Green (I don't think she will actually has a favorite but says green when asked because she knows that is her brothers favorite)
• Favorite Shows: Sophia the First, Doc McStuffins, Strawberry Shortcake (she also enjoys watching Wild Krats and Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles with her brother)
• Favorite Food: cereal, pop-tarts, and cinnamon rolls.....she loves her breakfast food
• Favorite Things To Do: color, draw, write her alphabet letters, ride bikes, jump on trampoline, and playing with friends
• Funny Words: first words out of her mouth in the morning for a long time was "I want a drink and something hungry." She also says ding dong instead of doorbell. Everyday after school for a month she would say "I missed you" when I picked her up but then one day I picked her up and she said "Mom, I didn't miss you at all!" 
• Personality: Kayla is friendly and outgoing....she will shout out hello to a teacher or friend that she sees and will be immediately friends to anyone we introduce her to. Kayla is also very independent in some ways. For example, after only a couple weeks of school she insisted that I no longer walk into the school with her and got upset when I did.

 Kayla holds a special place in our family. She is energetic, silly, creative, and smart. And although her stubbornness challenges us at times, things wouldn't be the same without her. Kayla likes to be a "little mommy" and help with the cooking, the laundry, and taking care of her sister. Sometimes she wants to be a little too helpful and wants to do things that she isn't old enough yet to do. So I have no doubt that being a mother and in charge on her own home is something that is in her future and something she will love doing.

One of Kayla's best friends is her cousin Kambria.....these girls love playing with each other, having sleepovers, and being silly together. 

Her other BFF is our next door neighbor Jackson who just so happened to be in the same Pre-K class as Kayla. They have lots of fun together and everyday she is wanting to go next door to see if Jackson can play.

Kayla was super excited about her birthday party this year. She made invitations and rode around the neighborhood with her dad to deliver them. It was a count down from days, to hours, to minutes of when her party would start. We surprised her that morning with a Sophia shirt to go along with the Sophia cake that she helped me make the night before.

 It was a full house of party friends!

(Buddy, Austin, Jackson, Braxton, Clayton, Ashton, Kambria, Emma, Mikayla, Emma, Katelyn)

 We played some games: duck duck goose, hide-and-go-seek, pin the tail on my little pony, and had a treasure hunt for the goodie bags

 Make a wish

 Eating cake and ice-cream

Happy Birthday Mikayla!!

We love you so much and are glad you are part of our family!!

Scripture Power #125

We made it to day 125 on our scripture reading chart and let the kids pick what they wanted to do.

They chose to go to Cherry Berry which is one of their favorite places to go. 

And while we were there eating our ice-cream Austin lost a tooth.

That makes 3 lost teeth for this year so far.

Baby Brooklyn

 

Fun With Cousins

Mikayla and Kambria having fun being artsy.

It makes me laugh every time I look at this picture and see the marker all over Kambria's face.

 Meanwhile Austin and Klayton were having their own fun making a cave upstairs....complete with flashlights, snacks, and the Kindle to play games on.

Enjoyed taking Mikayla and Kambria to the Kiddie Park one last time before it closed for the year.

Austin is really getting too big to enjoy the rides here so it is nice that Kayla has someone to enjoy them with.

 Brooklyn came too and enjoyed her view from the stroller.

 

These girls were being so silly on some of the rides. It was fun watching them.

Riding on the Train.....a last ride tradition.

And while we were at the Kiddie Park with the girls, Austin went down to Tulsa with his cousins to the outdoor movie theater. They stayed awake for both movies Planes and Smurfs 2 which meant they didn't get back until about 2 am....which is crazy but lots of fun!!

First Day of School

After a great summer filled with family, friends, and fun it was time to go back to school.

Austin is in 1st grade this year. 

And looking good in his OSU shirt and OU backpack.

Mikayla started school this year too and was super excited about it. 

She started school with a Lalaloopsy backpack but the zipper broke so we returned it and she was thrilled when she found an pink OU backpack just like Austin's.



It is going to be a great year!!!

Brooklyn's First Month

 

Brooklyn has settled perfectly into our family.

Kayla loves having a baby sister because it gives her a chance to be a little mommy. Just as I predicted, Kayla is always wanting to hold her, love on her, pick out her clothes, feed her, and change her diaper. If it was up to Kayla we would be changing Brooklyn's diaper every hour. Kayla is a little mommy in training!!

And as I predicted, Austin is the most loving big brother to his new baby sister. The night after Brooklyn was born and we were still in the hospital, Craig said Austin came into his room late at night and said "Dad, I just couldn't sleep. I am so excited that baby Brooklyn is here!" Austin is a great helper with a gentle hand and kind heart and Brooklyn will love having him as her big brother!!

Brooklyn's first meeting with her Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Vicki

Brooklyn with her Papa Dave and Granny Deb

Brooklyn with her Grandma and Grandpa Reid

(My parents, who live in town, left the day before she was born on vacation so they had to wait over a week before they could meet her. As soon as they arrived back into town they came over because they were so excited to meet her and from the look on her face, she was excited to meet them too!) 

 Kayla helping out with her "little mommy" duties

 Trying out the swing for the first time

 Brooklyn's first bath

 Wide awake and stretching out

 Daddy's little girls

 This is my absolute favorite part of the newborn stage. I love how babies cuddle up and sleep on your chest. I am enjoying every minute of this because I know it doesn't last long and time goes by too fast.

 Austin thinks he has a special touch with Brooklyn and can help her calm down when she is crying....and he just might be right about that.

 Kayla was super excited when she discovered she and Brooklyn had a matching outfit!

 Kayla is in love with having a "real life baby doll" of her own to play with.

 On Sunday, August 25th we had Brooklyn receive her baby blessing in church.

Lot of family were there for this special occasion: Dave and Debbie, Dennis and Vicki, Jeff & Andrea with Connor, Klayton, Kambria, Kelsey and her fiancé Todd, Kristi, Mike & Sara with Meagan, Jessica, Derrick, Caty, Nathan, and my parents along with my sister Kristina and my brother Nathan.

 Craig gave Brooklyn a beautiful baby blessing.

(also participating in giving the blessing was Brooklyn's Grandpa Reid, Uncle Nathan, Grandpa Dennis, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Mike, and Craig's good friend Glen Gunnell).

It was a special day!! And we got our first family picture! 

Brooklyn turned one month old on Labor day.

We are so happy to have her in our family and we love her to pieces!!