Spring Break 2014--Woolaroc Style

 Michael got to take a day off for Kate's Spring break so we set out for a new adventure.  We trekked up to Bartlesville to the home of Frank Phillips--Woolaroc.  I think I annoyed the kids with my endless singing of "Oklahoma Hills," but it only seemed appropriate.  I'm pretty sure Michael and I are just like the Griswalds.  Someday the kids will REALLY love it.

 Can you tell these 2 are best friends?  Jude was so happy to have is sissy home for the week.  I love watching how much they love each other.

 Kate got to see a cast of the Pioneer Woman statue that her Great Great Grandmother was part of commissioning.

 No you cannot have a pony!

Poop Cake!!!!!

 Jude has been the easiest kid in history to potty train.  One day I told him to wear underwear and that was about the extent of it.  Pooping took a little more bribery, but mainly just a cake.  I promised him a "poop" cake to celebrate his first BIG poop in the potty, not just those little ones, that are still awesome and celebrated, but not poop cake worthy.

 Can you tell he's excited about his Poop Cake?

Jude Loves Puppies!

 Jude loves puppies, stuffed and real.  In the picture above he's holding Halloween and Skock, his 2 favorite stuffed animals.  He loves to sleep with one or both of them.  When he sneaks in to our bed in the middle of the night he always has one of the them.  I love it.

 He also loves his real puppies, Sophie and Stanley, and they love him.  If they can catch him sitting still they jump in his lap!

 Stanley likes to wrestle though!

The Beginning of a New Dance

...Kate performing her new dance for the first time.  She did pretty well considering she has had the flu. She's working hard so I know it will get better quickly.

The Eyebrow

...the unibrow.  Call it what you will, unibrow or caterpillar, Jude definitely has one. After some investigation I learned that in some countries it's a sign of purity.  Therefore, I will encourage him to keep it as long as possible.  Maybe forever!!!!!

The brow makes his facial expressions even more expressive and funny.  He's a hoot.  Here's just a glimpse at some of his brow action.

It Was Inevitable

...me doing my first pageant __ years ago.  When I became pregnant with my first child the question was asked, "If it's a girl, will she do pageants?" I cannot count the number of times I said no.  On the outside I was against it mainly because that's what everyone expected of me.  On the inside I was not necessarily opposed to pageants for my baby, but I wanted it to be something she was interested in.

When I found out it was a girl the questions really started.  I think I did a pretty good job managing things for a while.  I genuinely wanted it to be something Kate wanted to do if she was interested, but I would have been happier with volleyball or basketball or softball.  Once her eye thing was figured out some of the sports things became a little more difficult to figure out.  Also, she started dancing...all the time.

Then it happened.  She found out.  About my past.  Then she started going to Miss O and asking about being on stage.  So now she does them, but only sometimes.  She's only been in a few.  Her favorite parts are getting to dance and be with her friends.  The cool part is that it is doing for her what it did for me.  It's helping her not be so shy.  I could have never done some of the things I have done were it not for the pageants.  So if you are a hater of pageantry, save it.  It's been good for us. We have boundaries.   Like any activity you have to have boundaries and we do.  It's been really fun to see her grow this year.

Here are some pictures from the past year.

 First one.

 First state.  She had strep throat but one talent!

 Everybody Wants To Be a Cat!

 This is Cadence.  I did pageants with her mom.

 Kate loves Libby.

 This is Kate and Alexis.  I did pageants with her mom and aunt.  I traveled everywhere with her great-grandma and great-grandpa.

 Kate and Mae Mae.  They are the tiny miss queens.

 See picture above of Kate with Alexis.  The pretty girl on the left is her Aunt Amanda.  They girl on the right is Joy Pywell!

 Just a glimpse of where it all started.  This is NOT Kate.

 Kate with her acro buddies (Kaylee, Taysha, Libby, Kate, Haylee, and Maddie)

 Kate and Bella

 She was so excited the morning after she won.

Halloween 2013

...a cheetah and an orca.
Kate wanted to be a cheetah and Jude didn't really care.  I found this cute orca costume and since Halloween was just after our trip to Seaworld I knew he would be pumped.  It turned out so cute.  Our good friends came over with their kids, Ady and Logan, and joined in the trick or treating fun with us.

 Kate said she was a cheetah hiding in the tree.  I've never seen an orca in a tree.  Maybe we should call  National Geographic?

 Kate and Ady, 2 cute kitties.

 There was a huge block party in the neighborhood.