"Happy Give'ins Ya'll"

Surely it "ain't" been a month since I've posted! O.K., in all seriousness, I had to throw "ain't" in there because Zac has been using it like CRAZY over the Thanksgiving break which is driving me crazy! So, after many a lecture on how some people in town may use that word... WE ARE NOT! (Side note, when I picked up Zac today from school -first day back from break' he told me some kid in his class was saying "ain't" and he told him to stop speaking "redneck"!) Lord help us!

The boys were out of school for 16 days! A REALLY long time! Luckily it was filled with lots of fun and trips to help the time pass more quickly!

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, my childhood bestie, and her 3 boys came up for the afternoon to play. It was very cold and the Caddo River and creeks were running high and fast from all of the rain. This didn't stop the Oosterhous boys and Pitts boys from finding some water to play in .... I mean seriously at one point they looked like they were swimming and splashing like it was 95 degrees when really it was ummmm in the 40s maybe! Crazy boys. We had a blast and enjoyed hanging out... Thanks again Pitts crew for making the trip!


(Evan was hanging back with Melis and I)

Wednesday the boys and I loaded up and headed to Arkadelphia to hang out with Melis and crew and my sissy and her crew! We had lots of fun just playing and trying to get things ready for the big Mills/Harrington Thanksgiving dinner the next day! After we returned home that night I had 1 cherry pie, two apple pies, and a coconut cream pie to bake! I also had to ice two coconut cakes! Can you tell I LOVE to bake!

Thursday was spent in Arkadelphia with the Mom's side of the family. We had a wonderful time "counting our blessings" with family. It isn't often that we are all together so when we are, it is a special time! Look at my sweet grandparents can you believe that Papa is 95!!!!!



Then it was off to DFW Thanksgiving night to spend some time with the Oosterhous Crew! We spent Friday through Sunday hanging out at Julie and Jim's beautiful home. I love spending time with family and Tim's family is just as dear to my heart as my own flesh and blood! By marrying Tim I gained so many wonderful "sisters" and "brothers"! Lots of good food, fun and hanging out!



After a week of fun, it was time to go home and "Deck the Halls" and to get ready for "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" all while remembering Jesus is "the reason for the season"! I had some tuckered out little boys!

Happy Halloween 2011!

Halloween is a little different for my boys, in some ways, than I remember it being for me. I remember going door to door up and down the neighborhood saying, "trick or treat"! Seriously, the people on North 26th St. and Forrest Park must've spent some serious $$ on Halloween candy because that is where everyone went! I also remember waking up to toilet paper somewhere in the neighborhood pretty regularly on Halloween! Well, here in Glenwood, there really aren't that many neighborhoods, so we really just go to a few of the houses on our street and enjoy visiting. They are so sweet to always have candy for the boys, because we are the ONLY trick or treaters!





However, Glenwood does have this wonderful Halloween Festival at the Glenwood Country Club, there are games and a 30 minute hayride that stops at various stations along the golf course where business and churches hand out candy! Lots of fun and you get to see so many people you know!










We also enjoy going to the Glenwood Christian School Fall Festival, where the kiddos get to wear their costumes and play games. This festival always makes me remember the Halloween Carnival that they had at Central Elementary when I was growing up! I always looked forward to that and even made the paper one year as a princess and Jen was a witch! I don't have any pics form the festival cause Timbo has my camera in Wisconsin on the annual hunting trip! We miss him but hope he is having a blast and kills a really big buck!

P.S. My boys may not win the mutton bust'in contest at the Pike County Fair, but they did fine on this bull at the Glenwood Country Club Halloween Festival!! Ride'em Vampire... Ride'em Park Ranger!!!

Time to "close down" Sandy Beach for the Winter...

The same weekend of the rodeo we had our friends, daddy William and little William, down for a night of camping. The little boys love having little William down and daddy Tim enjoys catching up with his childhood friend daddy William. They camped at Sandy Beach and had a fabulous time splashing in the river, fishing, catching critters, eating around the campfire and camping! This was the last camping trip at Sandy Beach for the season. After "breaking camp" they hauled up all the toys and chairs until next season when it will be time to haul them down to the river again!









This was a busy weekend! One of my besties, Stephanie and I, did a 58-mile bike ride in Little Rock, the Big Dam Bridge Ride, and had the best time catching up while burning some calories and conquering some big hills (more like mountains... LOL)! Busy weekend.... rodeo, camping, and biking... all in all.... a BLAST!


Pre-race...


58 miles later...

8 Seconds.... If Only....

Well it has been a busy month to say the least! But before Halloween creeps in a couple of days, I need to blog about the single biggest event in September (besides Ben Ben's birthday).... THE PIKE COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO! I'm not really sure how many years we have been going... at least 4 because I remember the boys going a couple of weeks after Ben was born.... most likely longer than that! We love the Pike County Fair and Rodeo!









This year, Zachy was our only mutton buster. Last year, Nate was so big the sheep just sat down and so he bowed out this year. Zac had practiced (on our backs) and had been well coached by both of us.... because um, you know, both Tim and I are expert mutton busters! Anyway, the anticipation of the ride and the wait were the best part! The actual ride itself barely took place.... that is Zac man fell off the ole sheep when he was barely out of the shoot! I'm thinking bronco bust'in and bull riding are not in our future (thank goodness)!






Nana and Papa Doc came up to watch the big event and to take the boys around the fair. The boys love having them come up for this yearly event. Now the fair is all about rides, seeing their friends, and fair food..... all too soon it will be about hanging with the guys, flirting with the girls, and stealing kisses! Time please STOP!










The following photo won a first place blue ribbon this year at the fair. It was taken last year at the fair 2010!

Happy 4th Birthday Ben Ben!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! I cannot believe you are turning 4! You are a mini version of your bubbas and yet 95% pure Ben! You try to do everything your bubbas do! You love boats; you love playing outside; Scooby Doo is still your favorite T.V. show; you love school; you still cuddle and love to read books; and you are the best 4 year old I know! Love you with all my heart!



Ben's birthday turned in to a week-long celebration! One week before your actual birthday, we had your first celebration with family (Mar Mar, Uncle Jim, Nanna & Papa Doc, and Ashleigh) and spent the morning on the river!









After a fun float we returned home and ate pizza and birthday cake! It was a wonderful birthday celebration spent with family. Little Ben you may not realize yet how lucky you are to have such a wonderful family, but I do! We were missing a few people but they were here in spirit!











The day before your birthday, you took cupcakes to school for your class and had a little party!





You were so funny, on the day you turned 4, I said, "Happy Birthday Ben Ben!" and you replied FINALLY! So funny! On the morning of your birthday, you woke up in a tent overlooking the Caddo River and we even saw a Bald Eagle fly over! I'll bet not too many boys get to start their 4th birthday this way... eating pop-tarts no less!





The day of your birthday you wanted a cake (not the cupcakes that were leftover from school) so mommy bought a little cake and we celebrated again!





You are one loved little boy! I can't wait to see what all you learn and accomplish as a 4 year old! Love you Ben Ben!