What we have been up to~

I think we have finally gotten back into the swing of things around here! YAY! Actually, it wasn't too bad adjusting back to life in Oklahoma. We have had some pretty hot weather, though. I am ready for September to arrive! This past week we puppy-sat for our neighbors. They attended a wedding in Bannf, Canada. Their lab dog had babies a week before they left. It was quite the week to say the least. The lab is an outside dog so she isn't use to being confined into places. After the first day of our neighbors being gone, we knew for our sanity we had to move her into closed quarters. So we took our kennel over to the neighbors' shop and moved her and the 7 puppies indoors. We did loose one puppy! I was heartbroken, but there wasn't anything we could have done. The little puppy was smaller then its siblings and therefore was a little weaker. I think Gracie, the mom, smothered the puppy when she crawled in the kennel to feed the puppies. Our neighbors were totally fine and just thankful we were around to help. Still, its sad to find a little puppy dead. I was just thankful I had went over in the morning while Byron was still home so the kids didn't have to see it. The 6 remaining puppies are doing very well! I can't wait for them to be a few weeks older, we will be able to get some really cute pics of them with the kids!!!

Its been nice that we haven't had much to do since we got home from Washington. Jackson had a problem at first with sleeping in his room. While we were in Washington I slept with the kids every night. So he thought that would continue at home. He is getting better. The past 2 nights he has slept all night in his bed. He usually falls asleep in his floor and then I move him to his bed. I always put him in his bed to start, but he thinks he needs to be a little independent and decide where he falls asleep. Parenting is a lot about picking your battles and that is one I don't feel like picking!!! He goes to sleep so that is all that matters!!!

The kids had gotten off of their eating routine while we were away. They got to eat on the run the whole time. Jackson didn't have to sit strapped into to a chair. They got lots of treats and snacks. That is what vacation is for. For us to do things out of the ordinary and have a good time! So we have cut out all snacks now during the day. They eat breakfast and get one sippy cup of milk in the morning, no refills. They can have water. They eat lunch. Then after they eat dinner then they can have snacks. It has been working great. They have both been cleaning their plates at lunch and dinner!

We also have a new niece! Baby Gwendolyn arrived in the United States on July 11th. She is now with her forever family! YAY!!! She is such a little cutie! She is doing very well adjusting to her new life! We are praising Jesus that she is here and that the transition for Phil and Amanda has gone so well!!! We look forward to meeting her! Jaycee and Jackson are super excited to have another cousin! I think her official name forever in our house will be Baby Gwendolyn. I get corrected anytime I say her name without having "Baby" in front of it!

I still need to post pics from our trip! Maybe I can do that some time today! We will see!!! Have a great day!!!

Blogging-I think I forgot how?!

I truly apologize for the lack of blogging!!! I really have good reasons though! Our internet is still pretty hit and miss. We have been debating what we should do. The company we are with is really bad as far as customer service. We keep hearing rumors of them adding more towers around here, but haven't seen any evidence of that. We have looked into other options that would work probably a lot better, but its just pulling the trigger on it. We want it, but we don't want the higher price!!! UGH!!! The one we would really like to have is $30 more a month then what we are paying now. That is the lowest plan they have. I know that we would definitely get our money's worth because, I could blog a lot more, it would be dependable, we could actually Skype with Nana and Papa, but its still hard to fathom paying $70 for internet service!!! At the moment, we have decided to hold off just a little longer from making the decision. Byron is working so much right now he isn't really home to use it. With it being summer we are busy outside a lot more. Maybe by Fall either our service provider now will have fixed their problem or we will pull the trigger on paying more money!!!

On to other stuff! We had a great time on our vacation to Washington! It was fabulous seeing all of our friends and family! How we miss you all so very much! We are so thankful that you all took time out of your busy schedule to see us. You all have such precious and beautiful families!

The kids are adjusting quite well from our trip. I think we are finally settled back into our everyday routine of life. Wednesday was a hard day for us. I was exhausted. Jaycee had a really rough day. She is now of age that she comprehends how far we are away from our family and friends. She cried a lot that day! She just kept telling me how much she missed everyone! It broke my heart to see her that way. So we kept it pretty low key around here that day!

Thursday, I mowed at my grandparents' house. The kids played there for a while and then spent the afternoon at my parents. Which was lovely for me b/c I was able to go grocery shopping in peace! I think I was in Wal-Mart for an hour and half! HA!!! I just took my sweet precious time!!! My mom brought the kids home that evening and Jackson had fallen asleep on the ride home which was around 6:30. He slept til 7:30 the next morning!!!

Yesterday, we hung around the house and then went over to the Garrett Family's house last night. It was so wonderful to see them! They just got into their new home! Its beautiful!!! The kids had a great time playing with the 2 Garrett boys!!!

I will do my best to post more frequently! I am really embarrassed I only had one post last month!!!