Football Season

Well, it's almost here...OU football begins this Saturday. This year is a little different for us because with my job, we have decided to do a promotion with Edmond HS Football, OU and OSU. This is going to be a busy season! We are sitting here enjoying our Thursday evening listening to BL play baseball. He is doing so well and still enjoying it.

We just returned from Sierra's Open House for first-grade. The kids weren't there, so we went and met some of the other parents and listened to her new teacher, Mrs. Hale, explain her policies and procedures. We really like her...she is REAL, and down to earth. Brett is so good and enjoying every second of this. I'm having a little more difficult time and trying to let some of his enthusiasm rub off on me. I think it's the dealing with ALL the parents at one time. It's a little uncomfortable at this point, but hopfully will get better with time. I think I'm just protective of Brett and know the things that have been said and done toward him and have to figure out a way to get past that. I think yoga is in order!!! Either that or running a marathon. Actually, I think yoga sounds like more fun :)

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day! Keep us in your thoughts, we will be working promotions all weekend. But, should be fun because we'll have the little ones with us.

Nothing like a great, cool day, a big bowl of chili, and football!

KB

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEG!

Today is Megan's 20th Birthday! I can't believe she is already 20 years-old. I still remember her loosing her first tooth on the first day of first grade, Sierra's age. My how time flies.

She called us last night from Cancun. She and her friend, Leah, saved their money and went to Cancun for her birthday. They left on Friday and will be back on Monday...short, but fun trip. She said they were having a blast, but apprarently leaving just in time before the tropical storm hits, which is scheduled on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Brandon is on a 12 day road trip and called last night from Helena, WA. They lost, but they are currently in second place which means they will be in the playoffs, mid September. He sounds tired, but says he still loves it and is having fun.

Sierra called us around 8am Saturday (just to chat) and said she was still laying in bed, just wanted to talk. She said JB was a little cranky, but he's not much of a morning person.

Everything here is great. We had an awesome day yesterday! Brett said he's never shopped so much in his life! haha Good exercise :)

Hope everyone has a great Sunday!
KB

First week of School

Well we got through the first week of school and Sierra still loves it! The second day of school, Sierra was the "line leader" for PE...that's our girl!

Pierce has made a new friend in the neighborhood, Will. He is six years old and always comes down to see if Pierce can play. It's pretty funny because he's Sierra's age, but wants to play with JB. Pierce loves it and acts like he's six when he's around him.

Megan was at our house at 4:30am this morning. Brett took she and Leah to the airport to catch a flight to Cancun. She should be there now and hopefully enjoying herself. Scares me too death for her to be traveling right now, but she is going to be 20 years old on Sunday so I guess I've got to get used to it.

I'm listening to BL's game as I'm typing. They are in Helena, WA and the announcer said it is cold there. The guys all have on sleeves under their uniform. A little different than this 105 degrees we're having here! Although, I'll take the heat over cold any day. BL plays tomorrow night and is still loving every minute of it.

We had a great week with Sierra and Pierce, but tonight, we're taking it easy. I think we mentioned it before, but both me and Brett had a change in our jobs this past week with increased responsibility, which means more work, more hours.

We're planning A LOT of R&R this weekend. Nothing planned, just whatever happens, happens.

KB

I created a Slide Show! Check it out!

SBs First Day at School

Kelly and I took Sierra to school for her first ever day of "real" school (she has informed us that Kindergarten is not "real school"). We met her teacher and walked her into her classroom. We found out that Monica (her best friend from our neighborhood - see bottom pictue over Sierra's right shoulder) is in her class, so that made Sierra seem to relax from the beginning - just knowing someone else in her class.

While we were waiting to go into her classroom surrounded by two hundred children ages five to twelve, I realized how lucky I am that I am not teaching elementary school anymore for my vocation. Not that I don't love kids, but there is just so much that a person can take (especially when they are only in the profession to coach instead of teach). Kelly got a little emotional about Sierra being in big school and I consoled her by putting my arm around her and saying that I would probably be a little emotional as well except for the fact that I was saying a thankful prayer that I didn't have to deal with 150 different "huge" problems from little munchkins every day. I know, a little insensitive, but I couldn't help it.

Regardless, it was a good start to a big day and Sierra didn't seem to be apprehensive at all. After we picked her up, she really seemed to have enjoyed her first day and has had a good start to what seems will be an exceptional year for her. (She informed us that she is already going to be the line leader tomorrow which feeds her competitive spirit well. Her class is in trouble!)

She met her music teacher today and will meet her PE teacher tomorrow. By the way, she loves her first grade teacher Mrs Hale. Kelly and I will meet her tomorrow at lunch for our first parent teacher conference.

Momentous day indeed.

BB

Our Weekend

Just wanted to share our weekend with everyone.

Friday evening we just played with the kids, watched movies and took it easy. Saturday morning I got up early and met a group of volunteers from the newspaper (including Christy Everest, Mr. Gaylord's daughter) and we worked at our adopted school, North Highland Math & Science Academy. What a transformation, we cleaned flower beds, trimmed trees, picked up trash and planted lots of flowers for the first day of school. It amazes me how giving our employees are and unselfish of their time. Around 9am, Brett showed up with the kids. Pierce wanted to play on the playground (of course) and Sierra wanted to help. Brett finally decided it was time for he and Pierce to go shopping and Sierra stayed with me. She was such a big helper. She really did work hard and even loaded the car when it was time to go. We went home, changed clothes and went shopping...our normal trip to Harry Hines to buy jewelry :) That evening, Sierra and Pierce went with Grams & Papaw to get ice cream. They said they had a lot of fun! Unfortunately, I got sick earlier in the evening and was in bed when they brought them back. FYI, I guess it was a 24 hr bug because I felt better the next morning. It was so sweet though because Sierra and Pierce both laid in bed with me and Pierce kept saying his belly hurt too.

Sunday, we worked another promotion, ShoutFest, an outdoor Christian Festival at Boomtown Ballyards. Megan came over and watched the kids while we worked and even took them over to see Scott and Sharon. She is such a good big sister. We met them at my mom's that afternoon and had a birthday party for Megan. We ate, swam, rode my mom's new go-cart and had a great time.

Tomorrow is the first day of school and Sierra and Pierce are fast asleep. They've played hard this weekend and have been exceptionally good. Oh, I forgot to mention they met a new friend, Will, who just moved in down the street. He is six years old and he and JB get a long really well. We moved into a great neighborhood with a lot of kids their age.

Well, tomorrow's the big day and we're taking Sierra to school. She is so excited and has her new clothes laid out and ready to go. Will post more tomorrow night to give you highlights of her day.

Hope everyone is enjoying life as much as we are.

God is good!
KB

Games, games & more games!

We've had a fun week! As if our lives weren't busy enough, we put a ping pong table in the garage. Then we put a dart board up and Brett got horse shoes for his birthday...so we have been busy playing games. We had some friends over last night and played doubles in ping pong, it was so much fun! Although, we got our booties kicked and neither of us are used to that. So we've asked for a rematch! We've also decided to take up playing golf together. I played in a golf tournament for work last Monday and me and Brett have played twice this week. With our jobs, it's good to let loose once we get home.

We get the little ones tomorrow and we're also taking Sierra with us to meet her new teacher. She starts first grade on Monday and she can hardly wait. On Saturday, we're working at the school where I tutor, planting flowers, painting, etc. trying to get it ready for the first day of school. Then Sunday, we're working a promotion called ShoutFest. It is an outdoor music festival made up of 16 Christian bands, extreme games and more. After ShoutFest, we're having a birthday party for Megan. She will be 20 on August 27, but is leaving for Cancun next week so we're having her party early. She is going with one of her girlfriends and has never traveled alone before. Makes me a little nervous, but Megan is pretty responsible.

Brandon is still doing well and playing all the time. He should be home mid-September and then hopes he will get invited to instructional league which starts late September.

As always...life is GOOD!
KB

Great Week!

What a great week! I'm sitting here talking to JB and he is telling me that he is only "my" baby, but it is a secret. To everyone else, he is a BIG boy! That's okay with me, I love it when he let's me hold and rock him.

I just got back from taking SB school shopping. We had so much fun buying her school clothes. She ended up with an entire outfit, carpi's, shirt, headband,purse and shoes...all that match. She came home and had to model them for dad. She acts so grown up and we have so much fun together.

The boys hung out together after work. Dad made a promise to JB if he was good at school he could get a movie. JB told us after school he was only "a little bit" bad. And I think that was an improvement. The teacher said the problem is nap time. JB doesn't want to go to sleep and he keeps all the other kids awake. Gotta love him!

What a great family we have! Hope everyone has a great weekend.
KB

Birthday

My birthday doesn't happen for another two hours, but it has already been the best one yet.

Kelly, Megan, Sierra and Pierce planned an elaborate party for me at the house as I got home from work today. When I got home, I walked into a garden of balloons, streamers and presents. Lest I forget Rylie, she was buried in balloons and going crazy chasing them, trying to catch the tie part of the balloons - barking all the way. There were quesadillas and queso with chips waiting to be eaten, and of course I had to be the bad guy (against Pierce - the Super Hero) for a little bit while everything was getting ready.

Jarod (Megan's friend) came over and we were all set to gorge on Mexican while I opened my presents: A dartboard for my office (the nice kind that closes nicely into a frame) from Brandon and Megan, a shirt and two movies ("Enemy at the Gates" and "The General's Daughter" - two of my absolute favorites) from Pierce and Sierra.

Pierce got to go to Randy's M&M's to get a movie since he was so good at school today, so we went and came back with a Scoobie Doo movie and a game and played the game and watched the movie until bedtime.

I can't think of a better birthday throwing balloons and pillows and getting into a cupcake fight with JB! (He wasn't so happy at the end cause I think Dad won) :)

Anyway - just a little window into my evening for all of you and a big thank you to Mama for putting it on.

Happy Birthday to me.....

BRB

Brief Note

I guess the weekend caught up with Brett. He hasn't felt well since last weekend. Not to mention, Rylie has been getting up around 3am every morning to go outside. The worst part is, she just wants to play once she gets out there. We've got to break that habit, and quick!

Not much going on here. We're both working a lot this week since we don't have the little ones. We have a dinner to attend tonight at Gaillardia for my office and we pick the kids up tomorrow after school. I have a promotion at the Zoo Saturday, which we will announce the final winner of a trip to Mexico live on air that day. After that, Sierra has been invited to a birthday party for a friend in the neighborhood and it is a swim party for the entire family, so that should be fun.

Sounds like another busy weekend, but I'm in hopes that Sunday will be quiet. No guarantees.

One thing I forgot, Sierra had her last field trip at daycare yesterday and it was to McDonalds. She begged us to go, so I met Brett there and she was so excited! Apparently, she likes a boy, Christian, who attends her daycare (he's actually Megan, the daycare director's son). AND, he's 9 years old. Overnight she went from being a six year old, silly school girl, to an 18 year old wanting me to fix her hair pretty and talking about Christian. Oh my, I'm not sure I'm ready for this again. At least not this soon!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Keep in touch and let us know what's going on in your life.

KB