3 Birds - 1 Stone

Grammy knows how to kill several birds with one stone!  She managed to come out and see Abby play softball, Ben march at a football game and celebrate Ben's 16th birthday all in one short visit!  It was busy, but we all had a fun time.

Look at that beautiful sky!  Who would have thought it would turn out to be such a gorgeous night when prior to leaving Bartlesville it was raining cats and dogs and we fully expected the game to be cancelled.  Fortunately, it didn't rain nearly as much in Tulsa and the game was delayed, but wasn't cancelled.

It was a tough game, but the girls did a great job!

I am so glad Grammy got to watch Abby play softball!

The weather was fantastic for the Bartlesville homecoming football game!

Just look at that sky!

This year's marching band show is so cool!!  I'm so glad Grammy got to see it!  Well, part of it anyway.  The rest of the show will be finished by the time the band performs at Super-Regionals in St. Louis next month.  Thankfully, Grammy will get to be there for that too!

Ben's friends are the best!  They loved getting to meet Grammy!

My poor little Lukey managed to get sick while Grammy was visiting.  :(  We went to have lunch with him at school on Friday and he just didn't seem normal.  He was crying when we met him and when I hugged him to try to settle him down, he was warm.  It struck me that he was warm, but I just figured he was worn out from how busy we had been lately, his classroom was hot, he was worked up from crying... I just kind of let it go.  Well, he ended up coming home from school and going straight to bed.  Just for a nap so that he could make it through the football game that night.  In preparation for the game, I had to wake Luke from his nap.  That didn't go so well.  He didn't want to wake up.  Again, I assumed he was extremely worn out.  Jon offered to stay home with Luke until he snapped out of his funk and woke up.  Unfortunately, Luke had a fever.  Not good.

Saturday morning, Luke still had a fever.  It worked out well for snuggling with Grammy!  Later in the day, while he still had a fever, I discovered that Luke had a rash.  I knew immediately that he had strep.  A trip to the doctor the next day confirmed what my intuition told me.  Poor baby!  We did a lot of lounging and dozing that day!  We all needed that!

Ben had a few gifts that needed to be returned/exchanged in Tulsa, so Jon offered (again!) to stay home with Luke so that me, Mom. Ben and Abby could go do what we needed (or wanted (:) to do.  I felt bad, but it was so nice to get out with just the big kids!  We had a great time!  We found some great bargains, laughed a lot and had yummy food!

Abby chose The Cheesecake Factory.  While we were ordering, it struck Grammy that it was Ben's birthday.  Close enough, anyway. (:  Ben wasn't thrilled that he would be sung to, but he got over it real quick!  That boy was treated like royalty when the waitress found out that it was his 16th birthday!  She went well out of her way to make sure Ben had a great birthday dinner!

He still didn't love the singing, but he definitely enjoyed the dessert!

Ben chose the Chocolate Tuxedo Cream Cheesecake.  Mom, Abby and I shared Chris's Outrageous Cheesecake (quite possibly my new favorite!) and the White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake.  WOW!

I am so thankful that my mom is retired and is able to come out periodically to see that kids participate in their activities!  We had a great time despite me (I just had a cold) and Luke not feeling 100%.

Thank you, Mom, for coming out and spending time with us and making the kids feel special in coming to watch them! 

Sweet 16!!!

Can it be that I have a 16 year old?  When did I become old enough to have a 16 year old?  I'm not sure how it is possible, but it is the case.  I became a mom for the first time 16 years ago.  Wow!

Ben's birthday was a crazy day!  I didn't get to see him very much at all.  Abby had a softball game in Tulsa that Grammy came all the way from Indiana to see, so we really couldn't miss it.  Ben had the homecoming parade which ended up getting rained out.  The nice thing was the Jon was able to get home from work a bit early and take the boys to Frank & Lola's for a special birthday dinner.  I felt terrible not being there, but what can you do?

Since Grammy was in town, she let Ben open her present the night before his birthday.  Grammy's are allowed to do that, right?

Again, I felt terrible not being around and making Ben wait till we got home From Abby's game to open his gifts. He finally got to open them at 10:00p.m.  Thankfully, he was really cool about it!

  I think it was worth the wait!

Knowing how crazy the schedule was for Ben's actual birthday day, we had talked about having his special birthday dinner over the weekend.  I don't think he cared as long as he got his traditional birthday dinner.  

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and "butt rolls"!

(Yes, I had to throw some veggies in there whether he liked it or not!)

 Ummm...our birthday boy is taller than us.  Weird!

  

For as long as I can remember Ben has not been interested in traditional birthday cake.  For a while he opted for Oreo Cookie Cake.  The last few years he has chosen Death By Chocolate.  YUM!!

 Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday dear Ben!  Happy birthday to you!

As a trombone player, I would have been disappointed if he wasn't able to blow all the candles in one breath!  He did it!

Ben's birthday was a little crazy, but it was fun.  It made my day when Ben said it was one of his best birthday's ever!  He said he got everything he wanted!  He truly appreciated everything which made me so happy!

Ben is not your average 16 year old.  He is amazing!  He is a fantastic musician.  He is loyal.  He is sensitive to how others are feeling or are being treated.  He is a great friend.  He loves jazz.  He enjoys reading.  He is a leader.  He is learning to be responsible.  He is just plain awesome!!

Happy birthday, Benjamin!!  I am SO proud to be your mom and of the young man that you have become!  I love you so much!!

Better Late Than Never (:

Abby likes to believe that her birthday should be celebrated for a whole week, so she definitely wasn't disappointed when she received a few birthday gifts a little bit late.  Who can resist getting excited about seeing packages sitting on the porch when you get home from somewhere?

 

 Thank you, Aunt Becca, Uncle Neil and Nolan!

This is so adorable and looks perfect in Abby's bedroom!

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa Grief!

Abby has been wearing these bracelets everyday!

My Baby Girl Is Officially A Teenager!

Can it be?  How is it possible that Abby is officially a teenager?  I hate to always say the old cliches, "Where has the time gone?" or "Time flies!", but is the only thing that comes to mind when I think about Abby turning 13.

Needless to say, Abby was very excited about her birthday. She started emailing birthday lists to us months before her birthday. She wanted to make sure we knew what she wanted for her birthday.  That, and she loves email!

As soon as she woke up in the morning, she asked to open presents.  Ummm...I wasn't quite ready...  (I was working on the birthday cake!)  She didn't like having to wait.

One of Abby's birthday wishes was to go to Frank & Lola's for lunch.  Her birthday wish is our command!  Can't turn that one down! 

(Disregard the crummy pictures.  I took them with my iPod in a room with strange light.)

One of Abby's birthday wishes was to go to Frank & Lola's for lunch.  Her birthday wish is our command!  Can't turn that one down!  While we waited for an available table, I asked Abby to let me take a picture of the two of us. This is what I came away with.  That stinker!

She finally, reluctantly, let Jon take a picture of her with her delicious birthday lunch.

It was finally time to open presents! 

I don't think she was disappointed when she opened her presents!  Well...except for the fact that the thing she wanted most was a Facebook account.  I just couldn't convince dear old Dad.  Yes, she was disappointed about that...

Time for cake!
Yep, we skipped dinner.  We ate a big lunch late in the day, that Abby's wasn't even hungry for the birthday dinner she requested.    However, there's always room for birthday cake and ice cream!

Abby's request for her cake was chocolate cake with chocolate frosting with coconut, but she wanted sprinkles like Luke's cake had.  This is what I like to call "the best of both worlds."  (:  She was very pleased with how it turned out!

"Happy  Birthday To You!"

Pure delicious-ness!!

I got another one of those texts, again, asking if we would like two tickets to the OK Mozart concert on Saturday night.  And, like I said before, you just can't turn them down.  Especially the grand finale concert! I would go to every concert if I could.  This time, I thought Abby would enjoy going to the concert with either me or Jon for her birthday.

YAY!! I got to go!

This concert did not disappoint!  It was...awesome!  I am so thankful Abby and I were able to go together on such a special day!

All day, I continued to hear things like this:

"I really thought I would get a Facebook for my birthday."

"It's not fair that Ben got Facebook for his 13th birthday, but I don't."

"Ben ruined it for me to get Facebook."

It is safe to say that Abby was genuinely disappointed.  I felt terrible!  I am positive that Jon didn't feel nearly as bad as I did.  However, I may have guilted him into one last gift for Abby to open after  we got home from the concert.

Abby finally got her very own Facebook account and she couldn't be happier about it!

I couldn't resist posting these pictures of Abby and Luke.  Look how precious they are!  Sadly, Luke doesn't treat Abby very well.  I don't know why and it makes me sad.  Abby loves Luke to pieces!  She is so sweet to him.  Well, I don't know if it was because it was her birthday or he was feeling especially nice that day, but when Abby asked Luke to take a picture with her, he was very cooperative.  He made Abby a very happy girl!  They are so adorable!

Abigail, I hope you had a very special day for your 13th birthday!  I honestly can't believe that you are officially a teenager.  You will always be my baby girl. I am so proud of the young lady you are.  It makes me so proud to walk into your room and see the Bible verses all over your wall.  Remember how much Jesus loves you and he made you perfectly!  You are growing so much in your clarinet playing.  Keep up the hard work and you will do amazing things with that instrument.  I love you so much, Baby Girl!  Welcome to your teenage years!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14

BLESSED!!

I can't explain how blessed I have felt lately.  There have been some pretty amazing things happening around here.  I just have to share.

*****

Abby found out that school softball tryouts were happening at the end of April.  Jon and I were hesitant to let her do it.  We both had concerns about how she would handle it if she didn't make the team.  I didn't really say anything to her, but she continued to be excited about it.  She reminded me the night before that tryouts were the next day.  I gave Jon "the look" and he asked her, "Abby, it's great that you want to tryout and we want you to tryout, but what if you don't make the team?"  Abby was very quick with her response.  She shrugged her shoulders and with a slight teenager attitude said, "There's always next year!"  Well, alrighty then!  How can you deny that!

Abby tried out and the waiting game began.  I asked her everyday when she got home from school if she found out about the team.  Everyday she said no.  Finally, the answer came.  Yes, she found out and YES, SHE MADE THE TEAM!!!  WOW!!  She was so excited!  I was so excited!  Yes, I cried. 

*****

Ben and Abby both want to go to band camp at University of Arkansas this summer.  (Ben felt like he missed out last year.)  The problem?  It costs $400 per student!  Ouch!  Jon and I talked about it and decided that, at least, Ben would be able to go.  He was a little bit older and would be able to pay for part of it.  We figured that Abby needed another year of band under her belt and and to be another year older before she should go.  Abby was disappointed.  Even though I was good with the decision that we made, I was disappointed for her. 

We found out that scholarships were being offered for band camp.  Sweet!  After talking to Ben and Abby's band teacher, we decided that both kids would apply for a scholarship.  We would see how much they got and re-think things.

It was very exciting the day Ben and Abby got mail from the Musical Research Society.  Both kids received $100 scholarships!  Praise the Lord!  Great news! 

Ben and Abby (along with all of the other recipients) were recognized by the Music Research Society for their band camp scholarship.

However...there was another $300 per child that we still had to figure out.  Ugh!  Again, we decided that Abby would wait until next year.

I mentioned to another band teacher that only Ben was going to be able to go to band camp.  He asked me how much money would be needed to get both kids there.  I ashamedly told him.  It was a lot.  He didn't cringe (that I could tell via text), he just said that he would see what he could do.

The day before the camp registrations were to be postmarked, I asked if he had any new information and he did not.

The day the registrations were to be postmarked, I finished filling out all of the paperwork.  I held both of them in my hands and prayed over them.  I just asked for the Lord to give me an answer.  Even if the answer was no, it was an answer.  I was ok with that.  I just wanted to know.  A few hours later, I (hesitantly) asked again if the band teacher knew anything new about band camp money.  He  said that he found $100-$200, but that was all so far.  He told me to go ahead and send in the registrations for both kids without the money and by the time they questioned us about it, we should have it taken care of.  That seemed a little awkward, but we decided to do it.  Not even one hour later, he texted me back and said that the entire amount (the amount that I told him was needed for both Ben and Abby to go to camp.) was taken care of!  What?!?!  There was my answer!  Both kids get to go to camp!  

I am so thankful that we have such amazing band staff here, in Bartlesville!  Not only do they do their job, they go above and beyond!  They want to see their students succeed and better themselves as musicians!  I am also thankful that there are gracious people out there that are willing to help kids better themselves!

I truly believe that we experienced a miracle straight from God that day!  It could only be from Him!!

*****

Luke turned 5!  I know, I already blogged about it.  But in the course of all of the amazing things that were happening, this was one of them.

*****

Ben had art displayed in at art show downtown.  (Again, I know, I already blogged about that too.)

*****

Abby had her spring band concert and received an award.  (Here)

*****

I had an amazing birthday and Mother's Day.  (Here)

*****

Abby was invited to the 7th grade awards assembly.  (Here)

*****

Ben had his spring band concert and, also, received an award.  (Here)

*****

Luke graduated from preschool.  (Here)

All of these things happened within about a two week period.  It was just one exciting thing after another.  How could I feel anything but blessed?

Birthday/Mother's Day

It's a double whammy for Jon and the kids.  My birthday and Mother's Day tend to fall within a few days of each other.  Every few years they fall on the same day.  That was the case this year.   If you know me, you know that I love my birthday and I like for my family to make a big deal about it.  (Yes, I set myself up for disappointment every year.)  

Unfortunately, Jon doesn't have much free time on his hands these days and he's not much into planning ahead.  Fortunately, that worked out in my favor this year.  Jon asked me to make myself scarce for the majority of the day the day before my birthday so that he and the kids could get some things done without me around.  Oh darn!  Go spend time out of the house with a girlfriend?  OK!

 

I got to spend the day in Tulsa with my amazing friend, Heather.  We had the best day!  We went shoe shopping, laughed a lot, went to lunch at Qdoba (where we scored free birthday lunch!), did some clothes shopping (where I made her pick out things for me to try on!) did lots more laughing and topped it all of with 1/2 priced frappuccinos at Starbucks.  What could be better?!?!  We had so much fun together!!  I love my Heather!  Thank you, Heather, for spending your day with me!  It made my birthday very special!

My family made me feel very special on Sunday, my birthday and Mother's Day.  My day started out with being banished to my bedroom so that my breakfast could be made.

 Ben made me an amazing omelette!  YUM!

I was finally able to come out!  (It was driving Luke crazy that I couldn't come out and see what was waiting for me!  He was probably about to burst from having to keep secrets!)

 And this is what I found.  A special breakfast with balloons and lots of presents!  (:  They went all out!

 The gifts I received were extremely thoughtful!  The plants and flowers were my Mother's Day gifts.  The framed picture is my birthday gift from Abby.  The picture was taken on Easter and we both love it so much!  I love that she had it printed and framed for me!  The pepper mill is from Ben and Luke.  I have wanted a pepper mill for a long time, so I was very excited to finally get one.  And it is a very nice one!  Jon got me an Otter Box for my iPod that he got me for Christmas.  WOW!  I felt so special!!  The gifts from my family were so perfect!!

Jon planned for us to spend the day in Tulsa.  We would go to lunch at Ted's, our favorite Mexican restaurant, and then go to a Tulsa Drillers baseball game.  I loved the idea, but felt like it was just wrong for us to spend the day in Tulsa and just be sitting at a game when Jon and Abby had a ton of homework to do at home.  

I have no idea why this picture looks like this!  I still think it's adorable!

We still went to Tulsa and had lunch at Ted's, but we skipped the game. 

Instead, we browsed around Target...

 

...took advantage of half-priced frappuccinos at Starbucks...

...and went to the Tulsa Rose Gardens.

 The last time we visited the rose gardens, it was late summer and the roses were all dead and dried up.  I was hoping that going earlier in the season would yield beautiful, live roses.  We definitely weren't disappointed this time!

 Can you spot the frogs on this picture?

 Be still, my heart!  How adorable are they?!  My heart is melting!

 Of course, they can't be serious all the time!

I love this man!!  I am proud of this man!  He has been working so hard for the past year, not only doing the best job he can do at work, but also going to school.  It is hard!  He hates it!  But he is doing it and I am so proud of him!

The day was beautiful and we could have spent all day outside, but there was homework to be done, so we had to head home.

Of course, the day wouldn't be complete without birthday cake!  Abby made this one all by herself!  I am so proud!

My birthday and Mother's Day were fantastic!!  I loved every minute of it!  I am so blessed to have an amazing husband and kiddos that took the time to do all of this for me!

THANK YOU, JON, BEN, ABBY & LUKE!!  YOU GUYS MADE MY DAY THE BEST IT COULD BE!  I LOVE YOU!!!