One Year in Oklahoma

Has it seriously been a year since we left Katy?! I was trying to remember the exact date so I looked through our pictures. Our going away party was on November 15th and then we left Wednesday the 18th for Oklahoma. Crazy!! I can't believe it's been a year since we've been to Kingsland, a year since we've seen so many of our friends.

This picture is one of the first I took when we arrived in OK. My babies are so tiny!I've been missing Katy a lot lately. It must be the weather and knowing it's finally tolerable in Houston. :) I want to load 2 year old Noah up in the car and cruise down Enchanted Meadow Lane, turn on to Cinco Ranch Blvd and go to Chick-Fil-A, then maybe look at toys at Target then run over to Home "Doods" and drool over everything. Then maybe we could go to Katy Mills and take a few laps.

I want to go to HEB and hear Noah yell about all of the beautiful fountains that we see on our way. Then we could go to La Centerra and let Noah play in the fountains and get some cookies or Cold Stone. Maybe we could have dinner at Mission Burrito, or maybe Candelari's or Red Oak Grill or Vida Loca...I just don't know where we'd go.

We have such fond memories of Katy. We love looking back and seeing God's hand and perfect timing in everything involving our move. Our Tulsa house sold in 6 days, we were sad to leave, but had total peace about going and somewhat excited about our new adventure.

Through many discussions and questions, Brandon was able to lead a former Buddhist co-worker to Christ.

Brandon got to experience the life changing trip to Israel with an awesome teacher and group of people.

The teaching we experienced at Kingsland caused a revival in our hearts and intensified our love for God's word. We crave hearing God's word taught rather than topical fluffy sermons preached. Although it made our church search in Oklahoma EXTREMELY difficult!

It reminded me how important girlfriends are. I had gotten so comfortable and lazy with my friendships. In Texas, I was forced out of my comfort zone and through our Sunday school class, able to form new, wonderful friendships. It's not like I was best friends with everyone, that's a little difficult to achieve at our life stage. But it was just a special group of women to do life with and learn from.

We know that we were supposed to be there and I don't think I'd trade those two and a half years for anything!

Pumpkin Patches

We went to a couple different pumpkin patches this year. There was one pretty close to our house so I took the kids out one afternoon. I thought Noah would enjoy running around in a wide open space. Turns out it was too hot! In October. In Oklahoma! Go figure.
Brandon ran a pumpkin patch 10k on 10/10/10 and Noah did NOT like the gunshot to start the race!
A toe touch for daddy!
I had to laugh, this pumpkin patch was in the middle of the city and it was like, try not to get Starbucks and McDonald's in the background of your pictures! I missed Dewberry Farm this year.Noah had a BLAST on the slide.
Elli had fun playing in the corn.
These tricycle rickshaws were too cute.


Riding the "train" (a.k.a. three trailers on a lawnmower).

Trick or Treat!

Noah was a firefighter and Ellianna was his dalmatian puppy.

He's spraying the "fire" and making a pshhhhhh! sound...
Elli is such a little mimic, she started doing the same thing...
We put makeup on her nose and it was gone by the time we got to my parent's house!
We had the BEST time trick or treating this year! I didn't set my expectations too high because I never know with my boy. He has never been a fan of dressing up. His first year out he couldn't pull the giraffe hood off fast enough. His second year, he cried the entire time I was trying to put the racing suit on. At age three, he wanted nothing to do with his conductor's hat. (I was beginning to think he loathed Halloween as much as his daddy:) But as soon as we started getting ready this year, he was running from one end of the house to the other saying, "I'm gonna wear my COSTUUUUUME!!...I'm a firefighter!!!" He was SO excited. Oh my goodness, he was excited.

We went to a church harvest carnival and played games...Then went back to our neighborhood to trick or treat. At each house he would knock and say TRICK OR TREAT! before they could even open the door. And each time he would say, "they gave me CANDY!!" Like it was the best surprise ever. The funny thing is, he doesn't even like candy and won't even try it, but he was still way excited to get it. Brandon kept saying who is this kid?
Noah had such a blast and on our way back to the house he asked if he could sleep in his costume! Crazy. Brandon let him because he was such a persistent little thing, but took it off after he was sound asleep. Sweet boy.

Tulsa Run

Brandon did the 15k Tulsa Run last weekend! The Tulsa Run is one of the most popular races in Oklahoma. It was the 33rd year for the race. About 10,000 people enter the 15k, 5k, and fun run combined.
I got to brag to Brandon that I did the Tulsa Run 23 years before he did! Ha ha! My brother and I did the fun run with my dad in 1987. Ryan was 6 and I was 10.
Who wears short shorts? We wear short shorts. :)
This is my brother and I watching for my dad in the Tulsa Run in 1984. Lovely rainy day for a race! Love your expression, bub.
We had beautiful weather this year. I didn't want to drag the kids out for the start of the race so we got there about 20 minutes before Brandon crossed the finish line. Noah was the best encourager for the runners. He was so funny cheering for them.
Since it was the day before Halloween, some runners raced in costume...
I was so busy trying to help Noah find Brandon as he ran past us that I forgot to take his picture! He's the one in the black shirt with the giant arrow above his head. I'm pretty sure that's his jacket around his waist, not a fanny pack.So proud of daddy!
High five!

Friday Night Lights

We took the kids to a football game at my high school Alma mater last weekend. Sister was hammin' it up big time and the laughs from mommy, daddy, memaw, pappaw, and everyone around us just encouraged her more.
Silly willy.
I think the crisp fall air was getting to her. :) She was wearing one of my OSU hats and memaw's gloves and looked soooooo funny, especially when she clapped her hands.
Sweet, happy baby.