Florida 2015

Hard to believe this week school starts but just a few weeks ago we enjoyed our summer vacation in Florida. We had planed to go earlier in the summer but needed to post-pone, so glad we were able to fit in!

The kids and I did a beach count down on the days leading up to it:

So many sweet little memories to tuck away from this week of fun in the sun,

Like his first plane ride,  how he would excitedly yell "we're going down!" when we would start to descend for landing. 

Our fun get around buggy for the week. 

First live play, Sleeping Beauty - Ava loved it, Rhett was pretty skeptical of the whole deal.

This boy can eat his weight in watermelon.
I don't think watermelon ever tastes better than eating it beach side on a hot summer day.  

First day at the beach, Rhett's first time to the ocean!

30 weeks!

recreating a favorite shot from last trip

 We loved that Rhett called his swim suit his "Swim Soup" all week.

Making her a mermaid tail

building volcanoes

Tiny bodies by the big ocean

all beached out. 

Captain Ava

Rhett's first boat ride.

This girl started the week holding her nose and only putting her face in for a few seconds at a time and ended it with snorkeling and "swimming" down to get things off the bottom of the pool. 

The almost 5 of us. 

This picture is perfect for this season, love these crazy kids.

Ryan snapped this pic one day, our afternoon snuggles after rest time on the best napping couch in the world.

a big wave day

The whole Askew Gang

Thanks again Rosemary for the sweet family memories, till we meet again!

Houston in July!

We traveled down to Houston for the 4th again this year. Besides an Ikea morning out we pretty much hung around the house and had fun playing with cousins and spending time in the pool - which is the only way to do pregnant and Houston in July. 

We got a special treat with the Dolan's being in town our first night there and getting to eat dinner with them and other friends in the area and stayed up way to late talking, laughing and remembering lots of fun times together. 

These two have the best time together, engrossed in an art project here in between "house-maker" play. 

This boy loved the water and loved jumping in. Total trust and total Joy at the same time -  love this! 

Sweet Baby Hudson, won't be the baby of this crew much longer. Two more cousins are on their way! 

Me - Ava do you want me to braid or fix your hair "No Thanks"
Allie - Ava do you want to braid your hair - "Yes!"
I am not quite as cool as cousin Allie but then who is. 

All the crazy cousins besides our Chloe who was out of town.
Rhett will not turn loose of the money mimi gave him for the firework stand. 

She was less scared of the fireworks this year. 

This guy was not sure at all about them this year. 

hiding with punkie from the firecrackers.

Aunt Lori and Cousin Adley. 

More crazy cousins! 

Till next time H-Town! 

Spring round up

Besides birthdays we had some other fun spring time events around here that I thought I better get documented as summer is rapidly gaining speed - so here's a few of the highlights of the rest of our 2015 Spring:

First off we had a gofer problem that needed our attention...

Just kidding, we planted some new trees around the house and the kids enjoyed "helping" with the process but I do love that first picture of Rhett in the hole as big as he is.

Rhett was fascinated by the heavy machinery that came to visit. 

Ryan and our tree guy working together to get them in. My mind can't help but reflect on the symbolism here,
we are definitely in the family season of roots because one day we will be in the season of wings and yet there are many days these seasons are so intertwined in the here and now too.   

We also took Rhett and Ava to their first ball game. Ryan had some tickets through work for a Sunday OKC Dodgers game. I think it was my favorite spring time family fun outing. 

She picked up on the excitement when we got a run in!

Rhett however was not a fan of the horn that sounded each time we scored,

though he was a fan of free concessions in club seating.

Dads make the perfect seat back for the final stretch.

We also tried out a family mini-golf outing for the first time on our Anniversary weekend.
It went better than I expected. also I'll let you guess based on this picture which one dresses themselves these days.

She has been living in this dress this spring. (This pose was her idea, "here mom take my picture!")

Spring time means lots of backyard swinging.

We found out this spring that baby #3 is a girl!
Ryan and I went celebrated 11 years of marriage by dinner out at Tommy's.  

and of course spring means patio time and bug finds.

They have been loving finding Rolly Pollys and
building elaborate homes for them before they set them free again. There's always a big to do when Ava decides "they need to go back to their family" and Rhett isn't quite convinced they should part with them yet.   

This Spring also meant unprecedented flooding accompanied by the usual severe weather and while our creek was the fullest we've ever seen it, we had no major damage or problems with it, just some days of changing plans and late nights tracking the weather. Being born and raised in Oklahoma I use to not be too focused on the weather but if Oklahoma is in tornado Alley I think the OKC metro must be the alley of that alley and having kiddos means that is something that gets my full attention these days when spring comes upon us. 

We also taught the toddler bible class on Sundays this spring, getting to church not just on time but early to get ready for the kiddos was definitely something that took some effort but I was pretty proud of us getting that accomplished and also pretty glad now that we have some more flexibility on arrival time again.

And one of our biggest milestones this spring was this girl finishing preschool. She has loved her preschool teachers and friends here the last two years. She was always so sad the day she was sick and couldn't go. Finding places that love and nurture your child's spirit in the way this special place has is the best foundation I can think for this stage. We have loved her time here and she is so excited for going this next step to "big school". Kindergarten here we come! 

Rhett turns 2!

Dear Rhett,

You turned two! It seems a little boy is emerging more every day and its been a joyful, tiring and fun ride this year. Your shenanigans these days include but are not limited to sneaking Rory's food to eat, drinking from her water bowl, using markers on your face and arms, making messes with toothpaste when you can get your hands on it, you always have about 5 bruises at any given time on your knees, elbows or shins from all your climbing and running. You are like a moth to a flame with water puddles or mud. 

You love bubbles, baseball, soccer balls, cuddles, Curious George, Olaf, playing in water, trains, trying to dress yourself. You got a soccer ball for your birthday that you called "my birthday soccer" and you slept it with every night for most of the week. Your favorite shows are Diego and Daniel Tiger. Your favorite books are The Little Engine that Could, Little Blue Truck and Clifford. Your favorite songs are Jesus loves me, Holy, Holy and Old McDonald had a farm. Your favorite foods are pizza, pasta, Milk, avocados and strawberries. 

You give the best cheek-to-cheek wrap-your-arms-all-the-way-around our heads hugs and I love your sweet little kisses. Your still at that stage of a kiss is usually all it takes to heal any injury so far. 

You love to talk and surprise us with the things you say. Some of my favorites right now are when you yell out at the most random times "All aboard!" and at night when I am leaving your room you've started saying over and over at the top of your voice "I love you too mom!" At church I usually prefer you to stay with us through communion and then you go to the Nursery during the sermon, lately you've started saying, where all can hear as church is starting, "I wanna go to the Nursery!". Sometimes you think it's funny to call me Heather and when you are looking for dad it's pretty funny that you will often yell out "Ryan!" in the same cadence I do when I am looking for him or needing him. 

You love to wear your tie and I am pretty smitten fan of you in it.
Your eyes are like mine, mostly blue with a few flecks of other colors  mixed in.

These days you like to wake up between 5:30 and 6:40 most days. Daddy usually gets you and brings you to me where we sometimes snuggle and you go back to sleep for a while longer or if not then you like to go hang out with dad while he is getting ready. You still take an afternoon nap and usually wake up a little crazy from that nap often needing some snuggles and down time before your back to you regular cheerful self.

forget getting you to be still for this photo shoot, your dad tricked you a few times to staying in place for a few seconds otherwise you just ran in circles. 

We celebrated with a baseball themed birthday party with family in Broken Arrow. 

Blowing bubbles with your great-grandma 

It's kind of hard to think of you of being a big brother in a few more months but I know you'll be a great at it. You adore your older sister and are usually quite enjoy the care taking ways she nurtures you and tries to keep you in line. I joke with daddy that God knew we could only keep up with one rambunctious little boy so he decided another girl was what would be best for us. We love everything that makes you you even on the days you wear me out at this stage.

Your sister and great grandpa hangin at your party

We love you brother bear! Happy Birthday, so glad you were born and we look forward to more fun and sweet memories together during this next year!

Love, 

Mama