Sooner Magic

This weekend we enjoyed taking Grayson to his first OU tailgate along with Pappa and our friend Gary. The weather was amazing and we began the afternoon enjoying a stroll across campus over to the Varsity O Club tailgate tent.

The University usually hosts the Varsity Club tailgate in the field house, but it was in a tent right by the stadium for the OU vs. Tennessee game, so we got to enjoy more of the beautiful day. We ate (and drank) and then walked over to watch the Pride marching band parade over to the stadium.

It was fun seeing Gray take it all in. He especially loved the band and, to my great joy, particularly loved the symbols and drumline. We didn't have tickets to the game so after watching the band perform, we headed over to our friends' house in time for kickoff. While walking back to our car, Gray got a thrill out of yelling "BOOMER" and having strangers respond back with "SOONER" as we walked around the campus.

There are so many more wonderful traditions I'm looking forward to teaching our son. Next time we need to get tickets to a game with an earlier kickoff time and have him fully experience Sooner Magic.

Decked out to do some tailgating!

Checking out all the Heisman trophy winner statues and our favorite, Sam Bradford

Chowing down on a hamburger at the Varsity O Club tailgate tent

Hanging with our OU letterman, Daddy. All those years of training and running track are now paying off in free hamburgers and beer.

Pappa and his buddy Gary had tickets to the game and were ready to cheer on the Sooners

Introducing Gray to the marching band

Skipping home

Gray is 6!

We've had a big weekend celebrating Michael turning 35 and Grayson turning 6. This was the first time since he was born that Gray's birthday fell on Labor Day. It was nice to have a long weekend full of family, friends and tons of fun!

Gray wanted an Avenger/Superhero birthday party this year. Michael and I set up an obstacle course in the backyard and the kids came dressed as their favorite superheroes. It was a very hot afternoon, so we tested the kids' superhero strength and agility on the obstacle course and then enjoyed cake and opened presents inside. Grayson had so much fun and he is one blessed little boy!

The birthday boy! Can't believe he's six!

Rob, Braham and Michelle in their festive superhero duds

Aunt Marilyn, me, Aunt Emily, Michael and Popper 

Aunt Karen and Aunt Suzanne 

 Our son Iron Man

Iron Man gave very specific instructions to the cake people, requesting Captain America and Iron Man on his cookie cake. I couldn't believe how great of a job they did. 

Knocking down some boxes with Captain America's shield

Liam (aka Thor) and his brother Braham (aka Batman)

Jack (Spiderman) getting some assistance on the slack line

Luke (another Iron Man) trying out the slack line

Luke at the "Hulk Smash" station of the obstacle course

Thor didn't need to use the Hulk hands, he had his hammer

Miss Nora figuring out the juice box

This was the best pic we could get of all the kiddos. Nora, Gray, Braham, Liam, Luke, Jack and Cooper

These are all capes Aunt Emily made for the cousins. I loved Nora's tiny cape, so cute!

Fast Friends

You know those friends who you love hanging out with but rarely get to see because of distance? We have a lot of those friends and recently spent the afternoon with one sweet family that we hope to see more of. One of my former coworkers, Megan, now lives in Stillwater with her husband Justin and two adorable kiddos. 

Megan and I have kept in touch since working together more than five years ago and always pick up where we left off. We knew our husbands and kids would hit it off too, so we met up at the Myriad Botanical Gardens on Saturday for an afternoon playdate and dinner. 

Of course we picked one of the hottest days of the year, so we didn't do a whole lot of exploring around the gardens before heading over to the splash pad and shaded children's garden/playground. The kids had a blast together and the parents enjoyed hours of catching up. When we left, the boys asked if they could have a sleepover, so I'd say they had fun too!

Found a rare shady spot and decided to visit the ducks and fish near the crystal bridge

Daddy and Gray pretending to be rock stars on the floating stage

Finally it was time to cool off in the splash pad!

Gray playing monster trucks with his new buddy Dawson while we wait for our pizza. I realized later that I didn't get a picture of Dawson's big sister Avyn. She's equally as adorable and I can't wait to see them and their fun parents again soon!

Train Day

Aunt Emily alerted us to a model train event taking place at our local library this past weekend and Grayson loved it! There were three big tables set up with townscapes and multiple trains running along them.

The event was hosted by a model train group and the members were stationed around the room answering questions and helping kids drive the trains. Gray got to drive four of them and even practiced backing up and adding more cars.

It was fun to see the intricate buildings and town scenes, plus the various train cars they had painstakingly built. You could see how much fun the model train club was having by sharing their hobby with so many fascinated people.

Those Summer Nights

We've been living up the long summer days lately, knowing that fall is just around the corner. From impromptu swim dates to potluck dinners, it's been hard to get back into the school night bedtime routine.

Nora and Aunt Emily popped by for a swim and, as usual, little Miss was Gray's shadow. He was showing off some of his tractor driving tricks (daddy taught him how to do burnouts and drift into turns), so of course Nora needed to be on the tractor too.

We weren't brave enough to let him drive her around the yard, but I'm sure they'll be off-roading together before we know it. For now she was content sitting on the tractor with him and switching the radio stations.

We also enjoyed a summer potluck dinner with some friends and gathered the gang of kiddos for a play date. It's such a blessing to have such wonderful friends with kids that play well together.

Claire, Liam and Grayson

Liam is quite the gymnast/acrobat and wanted to show me all his tricks!

Cora never seems to get tired of swinging. Oh to be a kid again!

The kids' table! Yeti is in prime position by baby Braham to vacuum up any dropped morsels of food. Smart dog!

Celebrating Milestones

Grayson was extremely excited to go back to school today and has been counting the days since we found out Monday night that he got the teacher he wanted. Last year he went to her class for science lessons and she quickly became one of his favorite people.

I did have to manage his expectations and explain she'll be teaching him more than science now that he's in her class full time. The teacher also talked to him on back-to-school night about being one of her class leaders since he's one of several students in her class repeating kindergarten. He seemed thrilled with the idea of setting a good example.

His first day also started off better when it came to eating lunch. They eat at 10:45 and last year we struggled with him focusing on eating instead of socializing in the limited 15 minute lunch break. Today he ate everything we sent without any issues. This sounds like a simple thing, but it's a major breakthrough in the life of this slow eater.

Before walking down to school this morning, we also took our customary first day of school pics. I asked him to draw his name and then I wrote what he wants to be when he grows up. Last year he rattled off a long list of careers, but the first response this year was, "I want to work in a place where you can't get killed." Yikes, wasn't expecting that.

He's recently been asking a lot of questions about what happens when you die and also learned that jobs like being a fireman and policeman can be risky careers. I talked to him at length about the training and safety skills that first responders receive, but apparently those are now off his short list of professions (sorry Uncle Levi).

After my initial shock wore off, he also said he wanted to discover dinosaur bones. That was a little easier to take. His favorite color also continues to be green. Judging from our official door measuring, he's grown about two inches over the summer and 3-4 since the first day of school last year. Goodness!

After I took the pictures above, he insisted I also take this shot so we could see his backpack. So funny!

He's also learned how to turn the camera around on my phone to take a selfie. We're in trouble!

Today was also a big day for daddy! He celebrated two years owning his own design business Quite Right Studio. We're so proud of him and can't believe how fast time flies!

Take Your Son to Work Day

Grayson starts school next Wednesday, but for a week and a half we've had to piece together ways to keep him busy. Luckily Michael and I have flexible works schedules, so he's been daddy's shadow and then I take over in the afternoons. 

Of course, right when Michael had a few fun outings planned for them, his client workload ramped up after having a few slow weeks over the summer. Isn't that always how it works? 

Judging by some of the pictures Michael has texted me during their time together, they've managed to have a little fun between work projects. 

Enjoying strawberry popsicles during their lunch picnic in the backyard

Coloring a rocket ship that daddy drew

Michael works one day a week at his friend Jenkin's house, so Gray got to go with him and love on Jenkin's dog Mika. These two are buddies and couldn't be sweeter together. Mika often comes to visit when Jenkin works out of our house and Gray always looks forward to playing with her. If only this boy had his own sweet doggie to love on (I'm lookin' at you Roxy!).