A Gold Star

I feel like I need a gold star next to my name today.

Are you ready for this?

Today, my kids ate veggies.

At. every. single. meal.

Yep, even breakfast.

P.S. To all my friends who have little ones who won't eat their veggies either, Deceptively Delicious is only $5.00 at Kohl's. It's SO worth it. And the Peanut Butter Banana Muffins? Noah ate two for dessert after dinner!

I love you, KitKats.

It's been a long and productive day. With no photos. The suitcases are unpacked, the house is mostly clean, and dinner had been prepped since 10 AM. And I will tell you that today - I love you, KitKats. Because you, my little chocolate friend, helped Noah have his first accident-free {meaning: not just #1 accident-free, but #1 AND #2 accident-free!} day since February.

And for that, I love you.

Going Walking {and Driving}

I got out of the shower this morning to find this happening:

Mom had picked up the stroller for Ellie to play with at their house and, ironically, it was the first thing that Noah wanted to play with when we got here. All weekend long, he {and the other kids who were here for the party} has been giving George rides in it. Today, he asked for Ellie to be in it... and Ben put her in it! I'm not quite sure who got more enjoyment out of it though: Noah or Ellie!


Noah and Papa enjoyed one more round of Larry-Boy together.

And then, it was time for walking. Noah talked everyone he could into going on a walk with him. First Nana. Then Nana and Papa.

Then Nana, Aunt BB, and Pinny. Though, I think Pinny is walking BB.

The fun never ceases while we are with you all. Love you, miss you already and thank you. For everything! Oh, and sorry my kiddo wouldn't take a happy photo with you. We'll use these to blackmail him with later on in life. ♥

Oklahoma City Zoo {Trip}

Spur of the moment, we decided to skip church and go to the Oklahoma City Zoo for the morning/afternoon. As much as I would have loved to have seen all of our friends at FBC Moore, I think going to the zoo instead was a great choice. We hadn't been to the OKC Zoo in years {in Ben, Noah, Ellie, and Bryan's cases, ever} so it proved to be a pretty new experience for all of us. And, fyi for all our military friends in OKC - 50% off tickets with your ID!

The new Children's Zoo was simply amazing!

Noah loved the farm/petting area.

BB is pretty much afraid of birds, so we left Ellie in Nana and Papa's care on Grandma's Porch and went into the Lorikeet feeding area, The Nectaurant!


After a little while in the feeding area, Noah told us, "Noah's turn now." So Ben handed over the nectar and Noah fed the Lorikeets like an old pro.

After visiting the aquatics area, we settled in to eat our picnic lunch.

It didn't take Noah long to rope Bryan into going exploring with him.

Nor did DaddyMan and Mom need much coaxing to take a cute photo together. ♥

Just as we were packing up our lunch supplies, my childhood best friend, Lesa, her husband, and daughter Addy, walked by!

Ellie was far more interested in Addy than taking a picture.

By the time we got everything back to the car and our Tram tickets bought, Ellie was exhausted. Lucky for her {and the rest of us on the Tram} Daddy-Ben is amazing at getting her to fall asleep in his arms. Thank you, thank you Dear One.

Getting to ride the Tram Train was by far the highlight of the zoo trip for Noah. He kept telling us that it was going all down the branch line.

I'll give you one guess what show that's from.

We got off the tram for a few minutes at the gorilla and big cats exhibit, but at this point, everyone was hot and tired and ready to head home... and a certain little boy was freaking out because he had to get off of the train long before he wanted to.

All in all it was a great trip to the zoo!

Happy {Early} 1st Birthday!

**Warning: Pic heavy!**

We had a super busy, super fun day today. We started it out by going to get doughnuts {yum-o Krispy Kreme!}. Noah had to have a football one. I can't get the boy to eat his veggies, but place a doughnut in front of him and he goes to town.

We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon getting ready for the September birthday party. Since it's also Ellie's first birthday, we went all out - luau style!

Ellie and Mom's birthdays are separated by just two days - hard to believe that last year we were celebrating it while Ellie and I were still in the hospital!

The "Older" September Birthday Girls
{Mom, Grami, and Aunt Connie}

The kiddos got to decorate visors {thanks Mom!} and get in the spirit with leis!

Ellie was pretty excited to get to open presents... and was very upset when she didn't immediately get to play with each new toy. We're convinced that Christmas is going to be a blast this year with the two of them!

{Thanks for photographing the gift opening BB!}

{Thanks for manning the video cameras Jessie and Bryan!}

She barely hesitated when I put the smash cupcake on her tray.

She tasted the icing and then went all in!

She even ate the cake {unlike her brother}.

Such a good little eater!

And, just because sometimes a video {or two} is much more fun:

The September Birthday Girls!


After cake, dinner and the necessary bath, Ellie was very much ready for bed and was very snuggly.

Happy {early} 1st Birthday Ellie-Belly! We love you so!

Friday {in Oklahoma!}

It's been a long day. I went to bed at 3:30 late and woke up at 6:30 early... all to get us ready to leave for Oklahoma this weekend. Ben had a banquet that he had to go to in San Antonio with the Chief, so once I got the kids fed and dressed, we left to meet them so that we could get on the road a little faster... all so I could get to my hair appointment! :) Somehow, we made it in almost exactly four hours. Without really *speeding*. We were impressed... and amazed!

Noah has been talking all week about going to Nana and Papa's house so he was pretty excited to get to play with Nana when she got home from work.

He was also very pleased to get to help her make dinner.

Ellie simply loved all the extra attention too.

I'm loving her newest way of showing us that she's ready for bed:

thumb in mouth and hair in her hand.

I'm also loving Noah in his newest hat!

Caterpillars and Chores

To top off our week of the letter C, Noah and I made caterpillars today. During Ellie's morning naptime, we painted their bodies.

Painting is hard work, so Noah had to take a break to finish eating his banana-chocolate chip muffin from breakfast.

I think they turned out pretty cute... and Noah loved playing with the 'pillars.

In order to start teaching Noah some responsibility, I've started encouraging him to make his bed. We generally toss the bigger pillows on the floor by the bed, just in case he falls out {he hasn't since we've removed the bedrail}. I think Ben was a little surprised the first time he saw him actually put them back on the bed... the right way.

And, because I take every opportunity I can to teach him, after making his bed with a happy heart, he gets three coins to put into his bank. I love that he already knows and says that it's first "church, then bant, then Noah's store!"

And, in other news, we FINALLY have some #2 potty training success! All it took was the promise of a Ring Pop and "big monies"! ♥

Wordless Wednesday: A {Much Needed} Haircut