The National Cowboy Museum

We spent the morning walking around the cowboy museum. This was after an Ihop breakfast, a three mile sunrise walk at the lake and showers. I had terrible insomnia beginning at 4am so Matthew said lets just start our day. It was a great one! The museum was worth the admission price. We could have spent three days looking at everything. Graham did very well until he got sleepy. He ended up in the mai tai for a good hour and a half nap.

This is in the gardens at the back of the museum. It was beautiful. I would love a pond and waterfall like this in my next backyard. (I know, keep dreaming Lindsay.)

"Ride 'em cowboy!"

"Howdy Partner"

A really nice couple saw us taking pictures out in the garden and they offered to take a family picture.



If you're ever in OKC take the time to see this museum! Our trip is almost over, and oh how we have enjoyed the precious family time together.

Zoobies!! Uuugh!

"These guys really hurt!"

Blurry, but starting to get little white bumps.
We've tried everything: fingers, thumbs, other people's fingers, teething tablets, Tylenol, teething gel, frozen washcloths, cold teething rings, room temperature teething toys. This boy is just not happy!
I'm glad everyday won't be like this until they bust through, but boy days like this are not fun for anyone involved. On a happy note: Graham slept 8 hours straight two nights in a row before this whole teething thing started.

Ignore the terrible Mommy talk in this video. Hope everyone is having a great week and enjoying the beginning of Fall.

OKC Zoo
"The zoo rocks, it had animals." - Matt
"I wish I had worn shorts. Boy I'm glad I didn't get the souvenir cup!" - Lindsay
"I think those fish are after me!" - Graham

Graham was so excited to see the monkeys and gorillas!
Hate that it's blurry, but he was definitely excited about the monkeys eating their dinner."It was a little hot so Mommy and Daddy sacrificed their bottled water as air conditioners for me!"

He just laid back and enjoyed the walk. Look how he is resting his little arm on the cold water.
Just as we were leaving the zoo.
Graham was so sad to see his day come to an end.

Graham and the meerkat had a lot in common. Graham was so relaxed on his walk he took two naps in the 2 and a half hours that we were there.

Crazy Bear and below is Graham's response.

Oklahoma State Fair
Every time you see a happy little family out and about one parent is pushing the empty stroller and the other is lugging the happy little butterball on their hip. Well, I decided we weren't even going to go there.... I happily strapped Graham on in my handy Mei Tai. After he woke up from his first nap it was Daddy's turn. I am so glad that Matthew loves Graham (and me for that matter) enough to wear this in public. Graham was out again for round two just a few minutes after this photo.
We saw a demonstration on milking cows and spinning wool (you are much better Mom). We walked through the horse and cow barns. Graham didn't know what to think about the cows. Graham woke up for a glimpse at the brand new baby chicks. We also saw little piglets and very big bison.
You know the reason you go to the fair is for the FOOD so here's a run down of what we ate. First we split a slice of pepperoni pizza and a fresh squeezed lemonade. Then on to a polish sausage, pepper and onion sandwich with a sprite. Graham decided he wanted to eat then also, so we stopped on a park bench for a quick sip. Lastly, we went for an overpriced funnel cake and I took home a carmel apple. $50 later we were fat and happy and ready to go home. Thanks Oklahoma, you've got a great state fair!!! We just wanted to "CELEBRATE THE STATE IN WHICH WE'RE LIVING. WE JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE OKLAHOMA LIVE!" (you can sing along if you like)

26 Years......
Uncle Nick wore this outfit 26 years ago.
Graham wore it today to church and brunch with Pap, Uncle Nick and Aunt Caroline. Thanks to Nana for keeping it all these years. Everyone that saw Graham was telling him how cute he is. The hostess at Gaillardia couldn't stop telling us how precious he is, even when we were having to take turns walking Graham around the grounds. It was nap time and he was really sleepy. Matthew let me finish dessert while he took Graham out to see the pool. Matthew said that he started holding him like the sack of potatoes he is and he was out in 30 seconds.
Thanks Nick, Caroline, and Dad for making the trip. It was so fun to eat wings and watch the football game with you Saturday night. We also really enjoyed lunch. I wonder where they get their coffee??? It was also fun talking about childhood memories....we're gonna die!
We love you guys!

Are You Crazy?Sunday we had a fantastic day! After morning services we ran by McDonalds and consumed enough calories for our entire daily intake goal. We caught a quick 20 minute nap because no one can move after a meal like that. We didn't want to feel too guilty so we put on workout clothes and drove the 20 minutes to Lake Hefner. We decided we would conquer the entire trail. Starting off the nine and a half mile hike seemed like a very manageable distance. We had planned out our attack, specifically mapping out where the restrooms were located. I knew I had to make it half way before there would be a pit stop. We knocked out the first two miles before I was urgently looking for a bathroom. I guess 120 ounces of water is just too much to drink in a day. Lucky me there was a port-a-potty at the boat ramp. When we arrived at the lighthouse(about 31/2 miles in) I asked Matthew if he wanted to read the plaque. His answer was priceless: "No. If I stop I may not be able to start again." We finally made it to the kite surfing guys and took a little rest. We didn't bring any water because I didn't want any weight bringing us down (mistake). We did throw a dried fruit snack pack in Matthew's pocket which was a very good treat. At this point I didn't want to continue but the car was parked where we started, of course, so we just had to do it.

After the seventh mile the pace slowed a bit and the funny part was, I was the winded one. The wind was blowing so hard against us it was hard to walk. The final mile was filled with many jokes about calling a taxi, test driving a car from the dealership down the hill, How much will you take for that there bike buddy?, as well as asking Eric to pick us up because his church was just down the road. The car was finally in sight and I have never been so thrilled! KJ just happened to call and provided a little fan encouragement the last 10 steps. Thanks! That was priceless! Really it wasn't that bad. We are looking forward to doing it all again this Saturday! We rewarded ourselves with a little Joe's Crab Shack! Matthew had crab and I enjoyed the coconut shrimp. Like I said we had a fantastic Sunday!

Alpaca Farm

"Where they plant em and grow em big!"

My Mom, Dad and brother came to visit us this weekend!! For all of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting my father, he is quite a character with many quirks. On Saturday morning he got up @ 4 am, while everyone else was sleeping, mind you. He drove to the nearest Denny's, read the entire Oklahoma newspaper, (Of which I don't even know what the title is after being here almost a month.) ate breakfast, drove downtown to the OKC National Memorial, (before the sun was up) then called me at 8am because he couldn't get back into the apartment. This is very normal for him. We just smile and expect donuts. We have come to accept these quirks as blessings. This weekend's blessing consisted of participating in the annual Oklahoma Alpaca Ranch Day. My mom loves knitting and has just recently purchased a spinning wheel so she is very intrigued by animals that produce fibers. It would not surprise me if my dad went out and bought some acres to start "Nana" her own sheep/alpaca ranch someday in the near future. Those of you that know my dad also know that he is an expert in many areas and if he doesn't know something he makes up a very believable story. (Glad we have access to wikipedia or I would feel like Adam Sandler in Waterboy! Ask Nick about Wiki.) Well I think Dad might have met his match here in OKC. The man pictured above was the king of Alpaca information. We really had a ton of fun learning about: fibers, reproduction, luster, preemie alpacas, orgles, humming, prosthetics, communal voiding, and nursing.

This is Nick's reaction to the "rancher" telling us that alpaca fibers are used to make men's high fashioned suits. We then went on to make up creative uses of Alpaca fibers. I think my favorite was the $500 knitted tie, or the cat fiber sweater.
This is a picture of a 7 month old preemie. He was bottle fed so he was very friendly. We really had a fantastic time and I am so glad that my father is so spontaneous. Thanks for making the long drive to come see us! A huge thanks to Nick for the awesome brunch on Sunday. You guys are the best! We REALLY missed you Miss Caroline! Good luck on your test!