Playing Catch-Up!

My oh my oh my...it's really been three months since my last post...YIKES!  Well, I sort of have a good excuse, but we'll save that for another time.  For now, it's time to play some catch-up on the last three busy months!  So, here are some highlights!

 We had some fun at the Tulsa State Fair with friends, where we checked out the butterfly house,

the petting zoo, (the animals in this place were completely crazy!)

and of course, the rides!  

Next came Thanksgiving, which we hosted at our house again this year.  I failed to get a group picture, but almost everyone from both sides of our family was able to make it...we are so blessed!

The place-mats were so fun to make!  All the grandparents loved them (of course), and I realized that they were going to be a great keepsake for them and for us.  If you would like to know how we made them, just comment on this post and I will be happy to tell you all about it :)

Next came all the Christmas festivities.  Ayson was a blast this year, and was actually pretty helpful when it was time to put up the decorations!  

Ayson also got to spend some time with his favorite cousin, Kierslynn...

Where they made Christmas cookies with Mimi,

and of course, got a little messy in the process. 

We continued with our tradition of visiting the Santa in Utica Square in Tulsa, where Ayson continued his tradition of not liking Santa ;)  He was all about it until it was his turn, then his excitement quickly turned in to fear.    

He calmed down after a bit, and at least gave us this face.  We tried everything to get this kid to smile, but it wasn't happening.  I'm actually partial to the mad Santa pictures now...they are much more fun to look back on :) HA!

After Santa, we took Ayson to see the lights at Rhema.  He LOVED it last year, so we knew this year it would be even more fun.  As you can see from that sweet little smile, he was in Christmas light heaven.

We ended our Christmas weekend in Tulsa with a trip to the Christmas Train at Dry Gulch. (of course, I forgot my good camera...sorry for the grainy pics) 

Since Ays is crazy obsessed with trains, we figured that he was going to love it, but we were not anticipating how much we would enjoy ourselves as well.  This will be a new tradition for our family every Christmas.  If you live in Oklahoma, this place is well worth the trip during the holidays.  We can't wait to go back next year.  It was literally the happiest I think I've ever seen little man.

We had the best Christmas this year!  Ayson has lots of people who like to spoil him...a few highlights for little man include his new favorite bear (he named him Toco) that has matching jammies,

his Innotab 2S, which he calls his "iPad" :)  (Hopefully this will free up my phone a little more!)

and his new bed!  That's right...Ays is now in a for real big boy bed!  He looks so tiny in it, but he loves it and has slept great in it every night.

Whew...I think that's enough for now!  We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!  I promise I will be better about updating, so please check back :)  

  

 

  

OSU Football :)

It's that time of year again, and you can bet that if OSU has a home football game, you will find us in Stillwater tailgating and cheering on the Cowboys!  It's so great to have seven dates set aside on the calendar every fall to hang out with our amazing friends and family (no matter what the scoreboard looks like)!

Ayson came along with us to the last home game against Louisiana-Lafayette and had an absolute blast.  He is definitely getting to an age where he is more interested in all the festivities of game day, and the football game as well!

Ays's buddies Isabel & Dominic also came to the game, so they kept each other entertained and turned up the cute factor a notch at our tailgate ;)  Here they are practicing their "Go Pokes" hands.

Then, we took them to "The Walk." Before each home game, the football team, the band, cheerleaders and most importantly Pistol Pete walk from the student union to the football stadium.

The kiddos loved taking all of this in, but this is really who they came to see...

Their faces all lit up when they saw Pistol Pete and it was all they talked about for the rest of the day :)

Armed with a new foam finger, it was time to head in to the game!

OSU Football is a family affair for us!

Ayson did great during the game; cheering for the cowboys and mostly looking for Pistol Pete ;)

We had such a fun day, and look forward to all the fun family memories we will make in this place over the years :)



      


 

Happy Orange Friday!

Ays is ready for some football ;)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

3rd Birthday Party

Ayson had a fabulous 3rd Birthday.  Thanks to all of you who came to celebrate with us.  We had a party for all of his little friends at the Oklahoma Wondertorium in Stillwater.  For those of you with little ones, this place is amazing!  There is something for kiddos of all ages...and they all looked like they had a blast :)  

We chose a Dr. Seuss "Cat in the Hat" theme for his party, and the piece that pulled it all together was definitely the cake.  The talented ladies at A Sweet Success used Ayson's invitations as inspiration and created this amazing piece of cake wonderfulness...

and it tasted as good as it looked too :)

Here are some par-tay pics!

 He was a big cheeser all day, and now he thinks every day is his birthday.  He starts every morning off by singing "Happy Birthday Ayson!" 

Bye, See ya, terrible two's.  We've got a big timer three-year-old on our hand now ;)

Birthday Boy

Our big 3-year-old and his birthday brownie :)

 

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Wishing our favorite little dude a Happy 3rd Birthday! 

  Thanks for making every day interesting and fun...

 

and for filling our hearts with a kind love that didn't exist before you. 

We love you bubba!

Chicago

Here's a little looksy at our family trip to Chi-town that we took back in May.  This was Ays's first official trip, and we quickly learned the difference between a trip and a vacation...believe me, there is a difference!  All kidding aside though, Ays was super good and had a blast taking in all the new sights and experiences.

We drove...Ays was excited for the long ride!

First Day in Chicago...getting on the "L," or as Ays called it, "The Big Choo Choo!"

Family pic outside of Shedd's Aquarium. 

He LOVED the penguins.

HA!

Ferry ride from Shedd's to Navy Pier on Lake Michigan

Cutie :)

Love the skyline in this pic :)

On the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier :)

"The Bean" at Millennium Park!  Ays loved walking all around this checking out his reflection.

The Bean

Fountain at Millennium Park.  It was like a giant water puddle, so, of course, it was an instant hit.

They had these giant screens on each end that projected faces on them.  Cool, but kind of creepy!

He was soaked by the time we left!

Too fun :)

Silliness at the hotel

We spent an afternoon at Lincoln Park Zoo...and it is free to the public.  How amazing is that?!

And no trip to Chicago is complete without a trip to the Sears Tower. (or whatever it is called now)

Standing in the Sky Box that jets out over the city.  It was a little scary, but so freaking cool!!!!

On the way home...we drove it straight thru, and he was a trooper!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone