Oklahoma Vacation

...happy 4th of July! Wait, that was 2 weeks ago already??? We're behind, what can I say, we've been a little busy these days. The whole family had so much fun during our Oklahoma vacation. It was so hot though we didn't do a lot of stuff during the days because Jude just can't handle being out in the heat yet. Every day over 100 was not enjoyable for any of us, but especially not our little guy. We did however manage to have fun and do a few things, so here are a few pictures of our trip home.

Jude's first baseball game! We all went to watch Kason play in the Johnny Bench Classic in Binger, OK. It was hot, but still a lot of fun. (By the way, nothing says summer in Oklahoma like daily multiple trips to Sonic.)




Kate discovered this year how much she loves going to baseball games because we went to a few games in Lubbock of our friends' daughter. What she really loves are ring pops, which is her "ballgame food." Kate and Krece had so much fun together; she loves Krece and they play really well together.


In fact, it was so hot that after spending some time at Jason & Kaci's house, we left Kate there with the grandparents to go watch Kason's second game so she could keep playing with Krece. We went back to Choctaw and laid in the A/C with Jude! It's funny, but if you put a few tutus, crowns, and butterflies in Krece's room, it would be Kate's dream room. She loves to play with animals, barns, tractors, trucks, and farm equipment toys.


Jude with his Uncle Jason and his Papa Steve



Kate's 4th of July outfit. She was so excited to finally get to wear it, and to go to Greenfield to have breakfast with her cousins Kason and Krece.


All the cousins together! Not sure Kason is looking too comfortable holding Jude here, but he came back around later and actually asked to hold him again. This time, I think he enjoyed it a little more.



The end of the day for Kate on the 4th. After several family functions, a trip to Greenfield, swimming, and running around...she was officially finished.


Later in the week we took Kate to OBU in Shawnee to walk around, because she became fascinated with where her parents went to school. Michael has a lot of Bison in his office at Tech, which Kate calls "Buffloats," so we had to take at least one picture of her with one. The only thing she was upset by at OBU was that she didn't get to see the princesses who lived there. Apparrently she thought the chapel was a castle, and in her world, princesses live in castles.


It was still so hot during the week we decided to skip the zoo this summer and head for the science museum. Kate had a blast and especially loved the John Deere tractor and all of the train stuff. She even mustered up the courage to slide down the giant slide in the middle of the museum. Michael and I are still amazed she did that, since she is usually a little shy around lots of other kids.


Having fun during lunch at the science museum. She is really doing great being a big sister, and we have seen her happiness return after those rough first couple of weeks!



My great friend and college roommate Becky brought her two kiddos down from Tulsa so we could finally see each other. They have been living in North Carolina and Tennessee the past few years, so it had been a long time. Her little girl Ellie (holding Jude here) was so sweet and wanted to hold Jude all the time. It was always funny to see Becky and I together because she is 5'0" and I'm 5'10". Ellie is 7 and she and Kate are about the same size and they were the same size shoes. Too funny. It was great seeing them and catching up, and I hope our kids can be friends growing up now that they are living close again.


All of our kids thoroughly enjoy Oklahoma. Sophie loves to follow the sun throughout the house, and Kate loves to play outside any chance she can get. Kate loved playing with the water hose on this trip and successfully soaked anyone who dared go outside with her.




Kate and my Dad have a special thing they do together now just before bed time. They feed the deer together. This trip Kate did everything by herself (under Papa Steve's supervision). She scooped the deer corn out into the bucket, carried the bucket out to where they feed, and poured the corn into the different feeders. It's one of her favorite things to do in Oklahoma, and I'm sure she will always have fond memories of feeding the deer with her Papa, just like I do of feeding cows with my Grandpa.


The trip was fun, and while we were there for a while, still seemed much too short. We caught up with good friends, spent a lot of time with family, and just caught a much needed breather.