Oh Corban!!! You are too cute to be mad at (for long)!!

So about an hour ago, I went upstairs to our bedroom and handed my sick husband a drink of Gatorade.


Nate: "Thanks honey! Um hon, you smell like baby powder." (Mind you, my husband is sick with a cold and can't smell anything)


Me: "I smell it too, but it's not me."...


We both stare at each other for about three seconds and then we both scatter to the boys room across the hall. Here is what we found after turning the boys light on.


No, the camera is not out of focus, that is the dust of A WHOLE CONTAINER OF BABY POWDER ALL AROUND THEIR ROOM. (Click on pictures to enlarge and get the full effect.)

(I bought the stool steps at the Goodwill yesterday so Corban can wash his hands on his own, but he thought they would make great stairs to his bed.)

Needless to say, we've spend the last hour changing sheets, vacuuming the floor, dusting and wiping all the furniture, vacuuming again, and making sure our boys could breathe. Stupid me for leaving the lid open. All I have to say is, good thing Corban is so cute...

Our First Rodeo

I'm a Kansas girl, so it's not like I've never had the opportunity to go to a rodeo. It just never really crossed my mind as something to do. But here, it is THE (only) thing to do. So...we loaded up the kids and went to the Great Stampede Rodeo.

Only in a small town would they jumpstart the rodeo weekend with a cattle drive through the Air Force Base. There are historic Chisholm Trail roots on the base. There was definitley evidence of their journey through the base for the rest of the day. Let's just say that they didn't follow up with the street cleaner that always ended the parade in my hometown.
Corban in his Dollar Tree cowboy hat. :)
Corban loved his front row seat, but jumped every time the cattle and horses went swooshing by. Corbie on a pony ride. After he went around once by himself, they decided I probably better walk beside him. So I went around and around for seven minutes stepping in horse pooh over and over again in my flip-flops. The worker shouted at me from the gate and said "Flip-flops at a rodeo? That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen!!" So of course I was embarrassed and annoyed that I hadn't thought through proper rodeo attire before hand.

Caleb had a pretty good time too.

Overall, it was an ok way to spend the evening. There was a free chuck wagon dinner before hand with ticket purchase for Military night, so overall it was worth the moolah. Now we can offically say that we've been to the rodeo. We're starting to like some of the things that small towns do have to offer instead of focusing on all the things they don't.

Family Pictures

I was so happy to go out to my mailbox this afternoon and find that the family pictures we got taken back home a couple weeks ago had arrived. Although there were many, many nice ones, these are a few of my favorites.



(Corban really has a hard time in front of the camera, can you tell?? :) This was not posed, he struck this pose all by himself. )

To see more family pics, click here.

Long Time, No Blog

I know things have been a bit silent here for the past couple of weeks, but things have been really super duper busy. As we are getting more settled in Altus, our calendar is getting fuller and busier. But here is a quick recap of the past couple of weeks.

First off, I have started another blog for people here in Altus to know about community events, etc. It is just starting to take off, but has been pretty time consuming the past week or two.

Second of all, Corban started "school" this past week. He goes two full days a week to a Mother's Day Out Program. Since we plan on homeschooling, this is probably the closest thing to "school" he'll experience for awhile. So far he seems to love it. From day one, he runs into the room and doesn't even look back at me. He feels like a big boy because he takes a lunch and backpack to school.

However the term "Mother's Day Out" is sooooo deceiving. It gives the vibe that I'm out drinking lattes and eating Bon Bons and then relaxing in the spa all afternoon. In reality, I still have Caleb who is very very needy and I'm STILL trying to unpack and get the house in order. This week my friend Amy and I priced garage sale stuff almost the whole day. Oh and I got a load or two of laundry done. I know, I know...riveting really.

Corban on his first day of "school."
Caleb and his playdate, Evan.

Third, we had a garage sale today and got rid of a ton of junk, so now we can breathe a little better in our home. We coupled up with some friends and it turned out great, except for the extreme heat and humidity.


And finally, we are getting to know several families with kids and have had lots of fun play dates and outings. (By "outings" I mean going to McDonald's multiple times per week and letting the kids play on the Playland because that's literally one of the ONLY things to do.)


Overall, life is good. We have found a church about an hour away that we plan on becoming members at shortly. Nate is getting settled into the new job. All appliances and veheicles are currently functioning. We can't really help but feel blessed right now.

Picture Potpourri

This picture is the first time both kids were in the "car" cart. Now that Caleb can sit up well, it makes shopping SO MUCH EASIER and I didn't get any dirty looks from people! (Remind me not to tell you the story about a time Corban was kicking over all the cans off the shelf meanwhile Caleb got his foot stuck tight in the cart metal things and I got a look from this lady that clearly said "You shouldn't be allowed to have any more children and the ones you have should be taken away" and I looked at her and said "Don't give me that look!" and then was SO EMBARASSED that my thoughts came out of my mouth and then I had to face her in every aisle after that!! Ok, I just shared my mortifiying commissary story, SORRY!) Anyway, this shopping trip was a dream in comparison and made me feel like I can shop again, without losing my mind. Aren't they so cute?? I know, I know, I'm extremely biased.
Corban's new pool that he just couldn't wait 10 seconds to take his clothes off before jumping in. Oh and notice our new beautiful fence in the background compliments of home owner's insurance!
Whoever invented the baby exersaucer is deservingly a rich (wo)man and a pure genius. It's the only way I get a break from holding this precious cherub all day.
Corban and Daddy feeding the ducks. Corban looked back and said "Ducky, quack qwak Mommy! Un (one) ooo (two) free (three)" (He's four off, but hey he's not even two yet!)
Yeah, I dress them alike when ever possible. This is probably the closet thing to twins I'll ever have.

It's Been One of THOSE Weeks

We've had quite a week around here. One of those weeks that can just be described as "death by a thousand papercuts." Nothing traumatic, nothing life changing, nothing over the top, just a lot of little annoyances and inconveniences that make life an adventure. Things like:

* Temperatures around 110 degrees all week. Too hot to go anywhere (including swimming), but being stuck in the house (especially a messy, still not unpacked house) can make a person crazy.

* Nate has been working extra long hours as he learns the ropes of his new job. This is his first round of students so everything takes longer right now.

*Going to my 10 year high school reunion and having all the insecure feelings from back then come back.

*Caleb decides to relive his newborn days and wakes up every one to two hours at night. (Teething maybe??)

*I've made a few friends (Praise God!) but still feel unconnected to the way of life here.

*Corban is active and strong-willed, he is absolutely exhausting, all by his own self.

*Dishwasher broke

*Garbage disposal broke

*DVD player broke

*Van broke down (again, we were stuck in the house)
(Can you tell it's also been an expensive week?)

Well, to put it mildly, I've been very weary (read: grouchy) I haven't had the best attitude and have not treated those nearest and dearest to me with the kindness and love that I want to and that I'm commanded to. I've realized my heart has not been in the right place for awhile now, and a week like this was all it took to show my true colors.

This afternoon as I was singing my boys to sleep, I sang one of my favorite hymns to them and tears just fell down my face as I realized how much I needed to rest in my Father's love and surrender my concerns and cares to Him. So I am now resting peacefully in His grace and so thankful that He does not let me go. So onward to the next papercut.





O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (RUF version)

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.