Birthday Highlights

A recap of my birthday.  All made special by my lovely family and friends.

My students surprised me at school today with cake, balloons, and a very large card hand-made one of our very talented students.  Instead of having class, we had a party!!

This group of girls really knows how to make a lady feel special.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be their teacher.

I'm in the process of revamping my home office space.  So for my present, I ordered some custom glass for the top of my newly painted desk.  I was driving downtown to pick up the glass,  I glanced down at my phone to see that Bro. Ross was calling me.  So I pulled the truck over and had a very uplifting chat with the former Vice President of the College I graduated from. 

My day just keeps getting better.

We had church tonight.  I was about to go in to the auditorium to give my boss some papers for his upcoming trip before heading up to the nursery. My friend, Mom-Deana came into the hall and offered to take my nursery duty so I could sit in on the preaching,  she's so sweet!! 

And finally, at home, my husband greeted me with yet another cake!!  

You know, I woke up this morning wanting a cake for my birthday, I ended up getting two! 

Mike even decorated it for me!!

I'm not 33, I'm 29+4...

Another present: this awesome coffee cup!! Ha! And yes, I quite possibly could drink the whole cup of coffee with no problem.

So here's to the ending of a perfectly delightful day- coffee, cake and ice cream- this is the good life!!

Things Come Crashing Down

Have there been times in your life where you've felt like you've had supernatural intervention, not like creepy stuff, but times where you've felt like something really wrong could have happened but it ended up everything turned out ok?  I can name on my hand about 5 times in my life where I've felt like this personally.

Today, marks the second time I've felt like this for my girls. Today, there were "Angels encamped" around my very adventurous children....

Minding my own business, I was in the living room while my children were very intently playing in their room (this should have been my first warning signal, but I was just enjoying the fact that the girls were playing with each other so well) when all of a sudden I heard a loud crash and then the sounds of screaming...I rushed into the room and found the dresser drawer upside-down  on the floor with Bella half way pinned underneath it and Lizzie fleeing from the scene. 

At this point Bella's mouth started to bleed and Lizzie's lip was fat and her cheek was swollen with a bruise on it...I took the girls into the living room and began to check for any serious injuries, they didn't have any (thank the Lord) and finally after probing, I found out what happened. 

Bella was being the "baby" and wanted to sleep in her "crib" (the drawer) with Lizzie tucking her in...

As I inspected the scene, it occurred to me that they walked away from a potentially very serious disaster.  If the whole dresser, not just the drawer, would have fallen that would have meant the very heavy mirror on top could have fallen. I am so thankful for the Lord's protection of my kids...

I learned early in my experience as a mother that I can not prevent all things bad from happening to them, but I can have faith in the Lord to watch out for them when I can't by saying prayers for their safety.  This has become a daily habit for me. Every time I think of them, I ask the Lord to protect them...Thank you Lord again for keeping my children from any real danger...

They were both pretty shaken up and we talked about the consequences of their actions...In the midst of this object lesson, Bella tells me that, "Jesus is everywhere," and I tell her, "Yes, yes He is...even now He's keeping watch over us..."  Needless to say both were very sorry for what happened and were also afraid I was going to punish them further, I think they both learned their lesson because of the scariness of it all so I felt like further punishment wasn't necessary.

After comforting them with numerous hugs and kisses and reassuring them of their forgiveness, I was able to lay them down.

They are now soundly (safely) sleeping for their afternoon nap in spite of all the blood, bruises and bumps...

The many adventures of motherhood...

Dear LIzzie: The Singing Giggle Princess

Lizzie just amazes me.  You know how it is with small kids, constant chatter boxes; balls of energy that giggle around you, really making life sweet, if we were to just stop and appreciate them. Lizzie is the same singing giggle princess...  she is constantly singing some song or is at my feet asking questions, like: what am I doing, or what is this or that, talking about whatever and asking if I'll play with her.  Finally, after a few minutes of this I finally stop what I am doing and ask her what it is that she needs.  She says that she wants me to put papers in her new care bear folder I gave her yesterday.  It was just the sweetest thing to see that this made her day, made her so happy and has now occupied her.  All she wanted me to do was put blank pieces of drawing paper in her folder so she could draw with it....what a silly kid....the simplest things make her so happy.  Sometimes, like today, I just need to stop what I am doing and listen to her... soon she's going to be grown up and I won't hear the songs of giggle princess anymore... I am so thankful to have this little girl as my eldest daughter. Thank You Lord...

The Skirvin Excursion

As a special treat to celebrate 5 years together, my wonderful husband planned a mini get-away.  He booked us one night in this historic luxury hotel, The Skirvin, in downtown Oklahoma City...it was built in 1911 and stayed open until 1988..after the oil bust, where the hotel sat abandoned for 19 years. Then in 2007, it was bought by Hilton and renovated to it's former glory.  Its retro old feel is still apparent today. They tried to stay true to that modern deco of the 1910's and 20's

It was a wonderful evening..  This was the first time I spent a night away from the girls.  We asked a friend to stay with the girls while we "got away".  Michael has been bogged down with work and school so this was a much needed time of rest and relaxation. 

We went downtown, to the hotel first. They had valet parking waiting for us, and as we pulled up I felt a little out of my element...but it was fun none-the-less to be pampered.  We got ready in our room and then went to Mickey Mantel's for dinner, a great steak restaurant.  

The first thing to greet us was this beautiful Christmas tree they had in the front lobby.

Here is the front desk, notice the dark wood details...very nice

 

This is the dinning room, we ate breakfast here.

Here is another view of the front lobby.

Michael is standing in the picture here in another view of the lobby and front doors of the hotel. 

I thought these elevator doors were really neat.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's gold with a green detailed background. Very ritzy!

 

They had a gingerbread train on display.

 

Here is the front desk clerk....

 

They also had a gigantic gingerbread house...

 

The Skirvin in Legos...

 

Michael had these waiting for me in the room!!

 

 

Here I am inside the suite. Our room was half oval shaped.

A picture of what the bedroom looked like. 

 

A glimpse into the bathroom.

 

Here we are, happily married 5 years!!

Thank you honey for being so good to me!

Dear Lizzie...

This morning at breakfast as I was about to say grace, you decided that you would like to pray for the food.  So of course I was happy to let you.  This is how your prayer went, "Dear Lord, Thank you for this food and thank you for Obama!"....I was shocked, dismayed...oh know! What did I do wrong for you to say such things! (I'm being sarcastic)   Really you've been hearing my prayers each meal time and I think that that was your translation...my prayers have been, "Dear Lord, Thank you for this food please take Obama out of office..." So in truth, my dear Lizzie, I hope that's what you meant!!  :)You've also become very involved in the political scene,  you've been asking mommy to turn on the "Obama TV", she is referring to Fox News...you also know who Romney is and you know that's who we want to win!!

Here you are, the butterfly princess!!

Slow Cooking and My Independent Baby....

For me, when I plan to do a slow cook meal I get excited and if it actually turns out good, I get even more happy.  I like knowing that when we get home from church there is minimal preparation for lunch to be ready...so far, for the past two weeks, I've done slow cook meals.  The Sunday before last I made a pork roast, and did it ever turn out tender.  The best part of that roast was the left overs when I did pulled pork sandwiches on pita bread with BBQ sauce.  This week I decided to try a variation of my dad's "Indian" stew with some added ingredients from a recipe I pulled from online.  I forgot my crock pot at church last week because of the chili cook off so I had to use my oven and a pot.  I was a little worried the whole morning that it was going to be a complete disaster...but when we pulled up to the house and I opened the door to my kitchen the sweet savor of beef stew wafted to my semi clogged nose (I've inherited the Buchko sinus problems)...I opened the oven door and took the pot out and tasted the beef, it just melted in my mouth and the flavor was perfect.  Even Michael was impressed.  This is definitely a dish I would be proud of making for his parents.  It feels good to be able to cook good things.  This part of my domestication has been a work in progress....but I'm learning and it's actually paying off.

Bella has decided altogether this week to not sit in the high chair.  One day last week I tried to put her in and she started crying and started pointing at the table where Lizzie was sitting.  I figured out that she wanted to sit at the table like a big girl.  I proceeded to feed her her cereal and she wouldn't have it.  She has decided that she wants to feed herself as well.  This can prove to be a little tedious for the control freak, who likes messes to be very little.  Because of my impulse to clean, I was picking up every cheerio that was falling...this seemed ludicrous and I finally gave into a little mess.  I just figure that by the time baby number 3 comes along, she'll be a pro at feeding herself.  She is so independent!!
Here are some pictures of her "eating" by herself...

Another cute thing Bella does is that she loves to wave at anything and everything that goes by!  Random cars driving passed us when we are out taking a walk in our neighborhood.  She'll wave at complete strangers in the grocery store.  And of course, everyone at church.  This really is sweet.  It kind of makes up for the fact that Lizzie does not say hello to anybody!!  I tell people that she's really not rude...can you train your 3 year old to say hello to people?  We are having such a hard time with this!!! Here are some Pics of Bella waving "Hello"

A Little Old Fashioned...

I have located on my refrigerator, a church bulletin cover that says "Be still and know that I am God"  Lately, I haven't stood still to just enjoy some blog time...I thought today would be a great day to do just that!

We are having old fashioned Sunday at our church today.  It's a part of our Fall Program...so far it's been quite fun.  Michael was teased today because of his choice of what he considered old fashioned.  If you weren't born in the decade doesn't that mean it's old fashioned? LoL...I'll post pictures and maybe you can decide what decade he's from...the girls and I chose a different century...

The family had a great time preparing for this Sunday in what we were going to wear.  We went to several thrift stores.  Even Michael participated and shopped around. Originally, he wanted to do something completely different but when he came across his outfit he couldn't pass it up!!  Lizzie's dress I found by accident and the dress I'm wearing I found at a thrift store in PA a year ago. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything for Bella....maybe next year!

After the service tonight there is a chili cook-off, Michael entered last year and won 3rd place.  I fully expect him to get 1st this year!! His chili is amazing!

Here's Michael, what decade do you think?

My sweet Lizzie Lou!!

Bella Bear and Me!!

Mike's Chili.....YUUMMM! 

The Mouth of Babes

Driving back from "class" at the church. This conversation takes place. 

Mom:"Lizzie, did you have a good time tonight playing with your friends?"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Were you a good girl? Did you obey the teachers?"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Were you a bad girl"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Why were you bad?"

Lizzie: "They put me away in the corner."

I still don't know why they put her away...


Everyday Lizzie tells me that Buzz "Lightcheers" is coming over to her house.  I ask her what she is going to do with Buzz "Lightcheers", she says, "We are going to have a tea party."

I babysit some children, Lizzie tells me that they are coming to her house and that she will be glad to share it with them...

About a month ago, Lizzie started her first Sunday School class, and when I went to go pick her up, the workers told me she had won the quiet seat prize!! I was shocked...I wonder if that will ever happen again. They also told me that when it was her turn to help with the songs, she got up, kicked off her shoes and started dancing...hmmm, that girl likes to bust a move!!

Two Sundays ago, Lizzie said her very first memory verse.  I tell her, "Genesis 1:1" and she replies, "In the beginning, God "bree-gatted" the heavens and the earth."  I was so excited...her teacher gave her a nice coloring book prize. 

Here she is, the dancing queen and princess!

Can you see Lizzie?  I think this is the biggest tree in Oklahoma!

A Family Field Trip- Where the Wind Comes Sweepin in the Plains

A great way to end the day as I sit here in front of my computer: a warm cup of decaf, a full belly and the sound of little munchkins playing yonder in the living room. 

What a full day we had today.  It was the first time in a long time that all of us got to do something together as a family.  Today we learned a little bit more about our home, the city of Oklahoma City.....

Our day started out pretty normal, Michael went to the gym with his friend and I stayed home with the girls doing the regular morning routine and housework.  But Michael surprised me when he came home and he said, "Pack up the girls, we're going out!!" Yippee!! I love adventures.  And since having kids anything constitutes as an adventure...Sometimes it's nice to get a break from the everyday..

He asked me what kind of food I was in the mood for, so we went to a 'ma and pa' Thai House...it's the kind of place where when you first walk in you are kinda like, "is it safe?" on account of the decrepit building, the late 70's decor, and its location in the "old side" of town;  All the while ending up to be the "go to" place for authentic Thai Fried Rice.  {and yes, I do know what authentic Thai fried rice tastes like, I spent some time in Thailand for a deployment when I was overseas, LOL!!}. 

By the time we got there, both of the girls were out cold for their nap, so the hostess seated us in a booth, where I laid Lizzie down and we proceeded to enjoy our quiet lunch. {It was like we were on a date!!}

After that I wanted to try this trendy downtown coffee house called Coffee Slingers. Interestingly, I stumbled upon the business whilst I was 'pinning'.  It was very urban, with very urban people, who dressed very urban and talked very urban. {Is that even possible in a place like Okie land?}  Don't ask what that means.....it was just fun...



From Coffee Slingers website, they say: "Coffee is what we do. Coffee is an endless canvas we just can’t finish. The bean teaches us something new every day. New origins and new crops, we have to take the time to understand each coffee to find the roasting profile that will bring out the nuance’s of the terroir of each origin. There’s a community and a human connection over coffee."

Here is Lizzie being extremely urban while I take her picture in the coffee house.  I ordered



an Americana, and I am not kidding when I say this, but that coffee was probably the best coffee I ever had.  There was absolutely no bitter taste.  It was so smooth.  Michael {yes, he as recently joined the elite coffee drinkers group} ordered just a plain cup of Joe...I wasn't too impressed with it..kind of reminded me of what you get at Co Go's gas station late at night when you are tired and driving 12,000 miles to somewhere....It was also urban when it came to price...and please don't ask how much we paid for two cups...

In the next picture.  Here I am armed with my brew under the sign in the front of the building.  I feel like I should be in the middle of a dusty street at high noon waiting for something dangerous to happen.

Next on our travels, we decide to walk the two or so blocks to a cupcake place called 'Sara Sara Cupcakes'.  My first impression was very shabby sheik.  "Cupcakeing" has become this new phenom, I mean everyone bakes cupcakes, if you are anybody, you bake cupcakes...ever watch cupcake wars?...I indulged when I ordered two delightful desserts,  a 'Mount Rockula'-count chocula cereal flavored cake with coco frosting with heaping pile of marshmallow fluff and for number two, a little less decadent, a strawberry shortcake cupcake- strawberry cake {with real big strawberry chunks in the cake) strawberry cream cheese frosting, topped with two fresh strawberry slices...The guilt I feel when I think about how I ate almost all of both of them {of course sharing some with the Lizard and Michael}

Here are the cupcakes...I couldn't wait, I had to eat them almost right away...

When Lizzie got her piece, she ate the whole entire glob of marshmallow fluff first!! {The cake part is still sitting on the plate in the kitchen..}

After our trip to urbanland, we went to the newly opened outlet mall.  Michael was able to add a little to his wardrobe for work.  We walked around and had a great time...what a great day!! I'd like to think that all that walking helped in the area of indulging in the cupcakes I had....oh well. To end this post, here are some random family shots taken today....