friends..

I am so thankful for the few remaining friends that I have..

Erin~who has been there with me 100% on this journey..she is my best friend, and my confidant.. she is my crying partner, and the best girl I could ever ask for. We skipped school together in high school, worked at the same daycare and wreaked havoc on our co-workers and is just more than I could ask for. She was there when Ella was born and there when Ella passed..during the night before Ella passed she had stayed with me at the hospital so Jay could come get the things we needed and bring Cayden back up the next morning.. she took care of Cayden after he got there, she took him for a walk outside and just loved on him until we could collect ourselves..She also let him stay with them while we were inpatient the several times before.. Cayden loves her, tony and Elizabeth as they were blood, and so do Jay and I..we are so thankful for Erin and Elizabeth and so thankful Tony now completes their family and make them so happy..its an answered prayer..

Amanda My childhood and still best friend! We started hanging out when we were about 12, she has been a constant in my life..she is the friend to look me in the face and tell me "you are wrong" she is so honest with me. I remember when we were early teens and went out to mexican and I ordered a burger and fries.. she tried to talk me into a burrito or just to try something different, and I refused..she made fun of me for this for years after.. and now mexican is my favorite!!(ironic) we laughed our teenage years away while talking to boys down the street..We got lost in Tulsa after she first got her drivers license..went to church together, and have been through so much.. she moved to California after her mom passed about 7 years ago.. we've been through the loss of a very good friend in high school, her mom (whom I loved so much and was my 2nd mom for as long as I could remember) shortly after high school and the loss of Ella.. She called me about a week before Ella passed and I remember just crying with her on the other side of the phone "she's not well, she is tired..I don't think we'll have her much longer" and though she was in california, I could feel her with me.. we have had our ups and downs, but she is my constant..she is my sister.

my cousin Amanda she is my cousin/sister, boogie nights watching(thanks to Reuben) , dr. Pepper searching, laughing til we cry and sleeping all day cousin/sister..her mom and my mom became best friend in jr high.. her mom then married her dad. (my uncle) She was an only child and all of my best childhood memories include her. We were not just cousins, but best friends all of her life.. I am so incredibly protective of her and miss her so much when we arent together.. We lived in California for a little while when I was in 3rd grade and I remember crying and telling my mom that I would die without Amanda..yes..die.. I was a little dramatic.. our reunion was a reunion of the ages..:) She has been all over the map with her schooling and I am so proud of her. Cayden has always loved her and clicked like a piece of a puzzle with her.. she doesn't even mind his constant chattering. Ella loved her, but was confused by her.. I don't know if she saw a resemblance in us or what, but she always stared at her with a puzzled look. I am so thankful for Amanda and her mom, Becky (whom I have discussed in passing before) I am thankful for the fun, laughs and everything else amanda brings to the table..


I have some more I may come in and add to here in just a bit, but I better get back to work for now.. so Keyla, Mandi and my SIL Jessica.. I am thankful for you ladies too.. for the love and support, and being there for me this past year.. hugs to you all!




Friendship Quotes

friends, fun and furry rodents that attack..

I often talk about what great friends we have.. We have been busy playing uno, being accused of cheating at pictionary because me, erin and Mandi are so darn smart.
We had to empty our pool because there was a huge gash in it and got the same one without a gash from my grandma. So Reuben came over today in his truck to bring it over and put it up. I was sitting on the couch attempting to work. I hear Jay say "what is that" and Reuben says "what the crap?" I got up to look thinking it was a frog, bug or something like that and it was a furry looking rodent staring at us.. I handed Roo the camera and told him to take a pic. The door was partially open still, and about the time I looked back Molly was running to the door and I slammed it, at the same time Reuben runs towards the door screaming like my 7 year old niece.. and he runs into the door using some explicit language that I will not share.. we all look and the rodent is running towards the fence line trying to escape the yard. I am guessing the high-pitched squeel scared him off.. after the laughing stopped, and Reubens color was back to normal.. we were able get a pic..



Woodchuck/groundhog, whatever it was.. made me laugh..really laugh.. been a very long time..unfortunately it was at Reubens expense.. I'll take what I can get.. :) it seems as though a lot of my funnier stories involve roo.. coincidence??

Branson was fun..

Although it was Freezing cold!! Erin, Tony, Ebeth and us went on Friday night and ate at shorty smalls in Branson Landing and walked around and did a little shopping.. Saturday my mom and Aunt Becky met us at our room and we went to lunch and then off to Silver Dollar City.. which was CRAZY busy.. We were told that Saturday was a record setting day! and I believe it.. After the parade and snacks and fun we were off to catch the bus to our cars.. so I thought.. an hour later of waiting in line and trying to keep the kiddos warm, we finally boarded the bus to our cars, grabbed a bite and went and defrosted before bed :) and of course outlet shopping on Sunday.. Ella was so good all weekend, especially after all the time spent in the car seat and stroller.. anyway here are a few pics


this is how poor Ella spent most of her weekend.. all trapped inside.. snug as a bug in a rug though..

this is what she did when her cocoon was opened.. she was taken back by all the lights and movement around her..


I am so glad Cayden had Elizabeth to do things with this time.. they had a blast together... silly kids were crazy..



they were pretending they were falling off of the bench.. haha..


we did let the baby out some.. for some quick kisses and hugs and then back in out of the cold real fast..

this is where we stayed.. its a resort/hotel/ time share community called westgate.. is was so nice and very affordable



I am so glad Erin and Tony went with us. .always tons of laughs and fun.. love you guys!

the bat kids..

Cayden was batman and Ella was bat baby this Halloween.. we went trick or treating here in town with Erin, Tony and Elizabeth, and my cousin Charity and her baby Joey.. and Erins mom and my mom came along for the fun too :)

C was hot in his mask.. he didnt keep it on very long at all.. :)






Joey was a little less than thrilled with the whole experience.. at least we were having fun though :)

i love having such talented friends..

Mandi was kind enough to post a few pics of Cayden a "sneak peak" if you will on her blog and flickr.. thanks Mandi!! we appreciate it!

See Mandi O's blog (listed on side) or her flickr, the link is on her page :)

during a jam session... haha.. isnt she cute!!

Forcast calls for showers ahead!!

This last Saturday was a crazy busy day. Erin, my mom and Nancy threw me a beautiful shower for Ella. We had a good turn out and a very good time! I am so thankful for good friends and family..



Erin made the cutest shower book ( which was a great idea..she wrote the gifts and who they were from and plenty of room for pics!) and invites.. I thought she was going to have to kill someone up at hobby lobby when they didnt order the card stock she requested! But all turned out well and nobody was harmed!!

the vegas baby cake =) I thought it was adorable!! and tasty to boot!!

Granny made the pink and brown OU blanket we LOVE it.. Cayden has one that she made for him when he was a baby and still uses it all the time!!

Glenda (erins mom), Erin andNancy and Elizabeth working hard on passing out the cake and punch! Everything was so smooth, I couldnt have asked for anything better!



We played a game and Erin and her mom froze these little alien looking babies in ice trays.. they put one in each cup and the first person to melt the ice (without touching it) and have the baby, had to yell "MY WATER BROKE!" kinda creepy, but OH so funny.. my cousin Katie was the winner.. wierd little things arent they?



thanks Erin for all of the hard work and time and especially the thought you put into the shower for us! I cant wait to throw one for you and baby parks in the next year or two.. :)






Later that evening another one of Erins friends and myself hosted a personal shower for her at her moms.. she is such a great sport about everything.. I must admit, way better than myself.. =) I had way more "rules" for my shower than she did..

Erin and her cute cake!!




The game we had for this was to decorate a pair of "honeymoon" panties and Erin had to pic out her favorites and model them.. this is her family and friends working on them.. BTW.. I think her memaw had more fun than anyone doing this!! I loved it!!




Did I mention they were granny panties?? they were all hilarious...


so hilarious, that she could only narrow it down to the top 3! this is Rachelle, Janet and Erin modeling them.. the ones erin has on says "I love mom" you could guess who made those!!





she got lots of cute and fun stuff! and we had tons of laughs!




Now we just wait a few days for the wedding and 5 weeks and 2 days til we meet Isabella!!

And I now pronounce you..

oh wait.. I think I am getting ahead of myself again.. So I was grazing through some pics and realized I haven't posted any of my 2nd child yet.. (my future daughter in law) yes.. an arranged marriage .. Elizabeth Nichole is my best friend Erins daughter and we just love her to death, all of us, she even stays with my mom and calls her Ninny!! which my mom thinks is the absolute best! anyhoo.. below are some older and some newer pics.. I have some from when they were babies, but dont feel like scanning them on the computer right now..


this is a few summers ago @ the park.. Elizabeth and Erin were living in Broken Arrow at the time and didnt get to see them much, so when they did get together they had a "reunion" each time!! It was soo cute :)


this is last summer at the aquarium.. when we walked in all of the kids were petting the sting rays and Cayden loudly tells Elizabeth "I'm NOT touching them, thats what killed the crocodile hunter!!"




they were out back blowing bubbles a few weeks ago.. having a good time! around that time while at my moms a little girl was being "mean" to E and made her cry.. so Cayden overheard it and went and "had a talk" with the little girl and made her cry.. so when I got to moms to pick Cayden up and heard of all of the drama, I told Cayden he should have told Ninny and let her handle it, and he said "BUT SHE MADE ELIZABETH CRY!!" watch out boys.. mess with the bull and get the horns..


and how could our kids be any cuter with the moms they have?? It only makes sense that they be so close since Erin is the closest thing to a sister that I have.. We are so happy that Erin and Elizabeth now have Tony, who is going to be Erins HUSBAND in July!! I've wanted nothing except for them to be happy for so long and now they are!! YAY for us and the good life!!!