End of Summer

Our summer ended with a lot of spending time with our friends and family. The nursing school bunch finally managed to get together with all the babies (5 in all...Lydia is the oldest!!) and have dinner at our house.

Aunt Val with more than her share of the crew

For a while we couldn't keep the kids from kissing on each other!! It was so funny...




Annslee kept running right up to the camera for a picture













Averi was the sweetest, quietest one of all


We really enjoyed seeing how much Cameron had grown and how much older she seemed!
She thought all the commotion was amusing...




We put the kids in their pajamas and took pictures...I think they thought we were crazy!


My kids were wiped by the end of the night...YAY!!


Sweet Averi




Lydia and Levi LOVE popsicles in the summer












We took the kids to the Little Rock game at the first of the season.
It was his first time at a game...


But first we had to stop at Uncle Tony's surprise party




Even Tom Tom showed up


Just because you turn 30 doesn't mean you have to act like it!!








This picture shows how beat up Levi stays...




Aunt Debbie and Nana


Nana and Pawpaw Ray


Josiah


The Party


Pawpaw Bass


Levi LOVES to dance


We went to the Letterman's Club for the game. The kids had a great time playing while we watched the game!


Levi has become a master tackler. It is his way of playing and giving some love!
Step 1: quietly stalk the unsuspecting victim


Step 2: Go in for the grab


Step 3: Don't let go no matter what


Step 4: Pinned!!


Lydia went through a phase where she would only wear her Rain Boots!


What is better than watching football in your underwear?




Future Hog


See...she is getting more hair!!


We watched the second half with Pawpaw Bass

Indian Fast Pitch 09

This was the kids' first year to go to the All Indian Fast Pitch Tournament. Necon and his family play in this every year, and it is one of our favorite summer events! Lydia and Levi had a great time cheering for everyone and watching the games. It wasn't even as hot as usual, so we actually enjoyed the weather as well!

Lydia and Levi waiting for the first game to start

Uncle Johnnie is one of the reasons this tournament is still going strong!!


All the guys warming up...








The kids were getting ready too!


Brennan wanted to play in the game...


Jacob was so sweet to play with our kids all day






Necon and Tony love getting to play ball with their Dad every year


Pa Chief getting some good luck...


She loves her Daddy!




Tony with is game face on














Josiah and Pa Chief


Levi and Pa Chief






Watermelon break








Grandma Warrior is the scorekeeper


The sun finally came out for the afternoon games


Necon in the hole


Yay!!!






Levi and Josiah eating sunflower seeds






Filthy Face


Ian pinch running






The kids found the ice...


Robin pitched great all day!


Levi with the big boys in the dugout


More Warriors...


Levi and Daddy




Watermelon Break, Part II








Josiah practicing








Aunt Tasha


Levi practicing




Daddy's battle wound


Tired after a long day at the ballpark




Grandma and her babies


Is this a wink??


Yep...Watermelon Break, Part III


















Josiah Diaper Head


We had a surprise party for Uncle Leon right before we left!!


He was surprised!!

Spaghetti Night

South Padre 09

We finally made it through an entire vacation to the beach. No having to stay home because I was too pregnant, and no Hurricane Dolly forcing a retreat to San Antonio! After 3 years, we were finally back...and it.was.AWESOME! There are a billion pictures below of how much our kids (and Baby Jackson) loved the beach. Enjoy!

Baby Jackson waving hello

Levi eating sand




















Cousins dinner out



























































































































Baby Jackson and Jewels


Gus, Jewels and of course, Baby Jackson

Grandma Warrior's

This past weekend we went to Grandma Warrior's in Oklahoma. We always love going to visit because she lives in the country and there is TONS of land for the kids to just run around. We do almost nothing all weekend, except eat of course!! Hot links, biscuits and gravy, tacos, pie...it is HEAVENLY!! We hadn't seen them since Christmas, so they were all excited to see the kids and the kids were excited too!

Lydia claimed Grandma's chair...don't know how to fix that "cheese" face though!





The kids had a GREAT time running around in the yard












Wrestling...always a favorite!










Playtime with Grandma




Playtime with Brennan and Jacob


We also went down to see Thomas' fight. This was a rematch of his previous fight when he took the belt. That fight went all 5 rounds and ended in a controversial decision. This fight ended just 1:20 in the first round with a choke submission...Thomas WON!! He signed with Strikeforce that night. It is a breakoff of the UFC and they have the 145lb weight class that Thomas fights in.






Tasha and her friend Janet with Matt Wiman, one of Thomas' good friends and a UFC fighter


Chuck Liddell (one of the most famous UFC fighters) was at this fight for a guest appearance. My starstruck husband took about 1 million pictures, but these are the best and funniest.

This is proof that Necon saw Chuck...you can barely see Chuck's head to the right of Necon's.

The kids found some more places to play in Grandma Warrior's yard: the brick pile and the old rusty swing set. Necon assured me they were safe...I'm not so sure.

Check out those filthy feet...


































Our sweet Grandma Warrior


We sent the dirty kids straight to the tub...they had a BLAST!






Lydia was really determined to kiss Brennan goodbye, and he was really determined not to






We really wanted to get a good picture of the two Lydias, but this is the best one we got


Here are the rest...whatta goober!








The kids did really well in the car until the last hour on the way home. I started taking pictures of Lydia and letting her see the pictures on the camera. She started making the funniest faces!! This kept her occupied for a good 45 minutes...desperate times!!




















Update on getting rid of the paci...

Help Wanted, Again

We are looking for someone who would be available to keep our kids from 2:15 to 4:15 on Thursdays and occasional Mondays. There would be some full days (730-4:30) available occasionally as well. PLEASE get back with me if you know of anyone looking for a VERY flexible, VERY part time something to do!

Happy 4th, Baby Jackson!

For the Fourth of July we packed up the kids and headed to OKC to visit Baby Jackson. Ross and Jenny had been waiting for God to bless them with a baby for a long time, and we couldn't have been more excited to meet the little guy! Lydia had been talking about "Baby Jackson" all week! The moment of meeting did not disappoint...

"I'm still your favorite, right Mommy?"





Me, Baby Jackson, and a VERY proud daddy, Ross

Growing up while we still lived in Oklahoma, the 4th of July always meant the HUGE picnic cookout at Mama Jo and Papa's house. 300+ Oklahoma Christian faculty and staff would come, the Summer Singers band would play. Great fun! This year we were able to have a little throw back to those days...

Lydia and Cooper shared the tire swing






Nothing like being naked in the back yard...


Aunt Beverly (or "Aunt Bebs" to Lydia) got the great-grandbabies matching 4th of July outfits.










The Anderson family




Lydia finished up the night in a much too small swing


then a ride on the paddle boat...a rite of passage for all North grandchildren








Luke and Levi: Take 1


Luke and Levi: Take 2


Fishing off the deck






Yay GUS!!