he landed!

we talked alllll day about pa coming! he landed very late at night. it was a long day to wait for pa. but, so exciting!

you've just got a thing for pa.  it's pretty special.

you created a welcome poster.

 you guys were excited to see each other.

funny story.  when he's in town... pa wakes up early on saturday mornings to buy donuts for everyone.  really, it's an excuse to buy you a heaping mound of donut holes and one donut that is extra pretty.  this week it was covered in mini-m&ms.  but, he really is good. he knows everyones favorites, and is very selective in what and why he buys. shocker.  he usually goes to a donut shop just up the street, but mom mentioned that i really like merrits donuts. so, of course dad trekked to south tulsa (okmulgee, as he puts it...ha) to buy donuts from my favorite bakery. so good. ............... and for the funny part.  we had leftover donuts.  so, this morning you had a donut with your eggs. you were eating and said "pa" and smiled.  i said "yes, these donuts are from pa."  so we called and thanked him again for another meal.  our meals are marathon around here... and breakfast usually lasts until lunch.  each time i offered you eggs you said, "no. pa!" ha. referring to your donuts as pa.  i like it.

whew. a lot of words for a cute little story.

i'm thankful for pa. and for you. and for donuts.

i'm thankful for traditions. and for funny stories. and for sweet weekends with grandparents.

i love you, ro :)

mom

grandma fun

caroline,

i love watching you and grandma play. it's the best.

 a cold, but still so much fun park date!

for dinner, we picked up PF Changs.  grandma taught you to eat lo mein like a bird. complete with a "tweet tweet" after you eat.  pretty.  i hope you pull this skill next time we're eating out. but, these days you truly eat like a bird...nothing at all. ever...and you downed that meal... so whatever it takes??!! i'm not so sure ;)

you LOVE harley (ahyea).  You snuggle and love him all the time.  i think you love bertie-girl just as much... but she's not near as patient or receiving.  harley licks you all over and you giggle from the gut.  dad and harley are tired.

we had a fun with grandma and Harley.  we played hard.

i'm glad your name is sarah.  just like grandma.  that's a really special thing, sweet girl.  really special.

i love you,

mom :)

sunday fun

caroline,

in an effort to check off my to-do list.  i am no longer being prideful about pictures. i am posting them to the blog for memory sake... not pretty photo sake.

here goes.

i received an email wednesday from mom with a flight itinerary for billy brawner from dallas to tulsa. hmmm. so i called.  turns out... a big surprise was in the works! grandma drove up thursday morning. pa flew in friday. and they spent all weekend just playing with us!! after a couple of sick, yucky weeks... we were soooo missing them!! it was the best treat ever.

i have some really sweet phone pictures from when you picking up pa from the airport. that's another post.

but, first...

a perfectly wonderful sunday afternoon.

church. overeating at dilly deli. tuesday morning for the girls. home depot and ace for the boys. and an afternoon spent sliding, swinging, leaf jumping and babies. not sure that life could get any sweeter.

we cherish the days we have grandma and pa in tulsa. you are crazy about them. you ask for them all day every day.  we LOVE when they are here.  but, sundays are always so very bittersweet because there is that deep hurt inside, knowing they will soon pull out of the driveway. goodbyes are always so hard. they've always been hard for me and grandma and pa... but now they're hard for you, too. ugh.

we still hope and pray that one day soon we live closer to family.  we know we'll probably never have the
"everyone in a small town together" like dad and i did... but we want for you to grow up with family. soon.

 {it may seem that there are 1000 slide images. really, this is a fraction. you slide ALL DAY LONG. you LOVE to slide. we take the slide outside. inside. outside. inside. and then we go to the park to slide.}

 {today we added a pile of leaves to the bottom. oh my goodness. so much fun.}

 {and when you're tired. you give kate some slide time. sweet.}

 {then a little airplane flying with pa}

 {then kate wanted to swing. we said ok.}

 {everybody had fun today}

i am thankful for these days.

i love you,
mom :)