Happy Birthday MOM!!

Happy 52nd Birthday to the greatest mom in the entire world! I hope this year brings many blessings and wonderful memories your way! I'm so thankful that I have such an amazing mom. My friends used to always tell me that I was going to be just like my mom when I grew up. Of course, back when I was in high school and was a stubborn teenager, I always said "no I won't." If you were to say the same thing to me now I would tell you that I can only hope that I'm half the mom and wife that she is. My mom is truly one of my best friends.....I pretty much tell her everything and I LOVE spending quality time with her. My mom and dad have taught me so many great life lessons. One thing I learned from my mom is how to cherish and nurture friendships. My mom has a close knit group of great friends, whether it be from high school, college, Sunday school, etc. Seeing her maintain those friendships over the years has taught me that you have to nourish those relationships and have a part in their lives for them to survive. When I was younger, one of my favorite things to do with my mom was have slumber parties! When my dad would be gone for football games and track meets my mom and I would always have slumber parties. We would just hang out and watch movies and then I would get to sleep in her room and when my dad came home late at night from the games, he would be kicked out of his bed and have to sleep in mine. I LOVED having slumber parties with my mom, mainly because when I was younger I was scared to sleep by myself, haha. I'm thankful that my mom pushed me (forced me would be a better word) to try new things. She made me play soccer and sing/ring in the church choir. I absolutely hated soccer and I didn't love church choir, but I grew to enjoy church choir and I'm so glad that I was a part of it. All in all, I think my mom is pretty darn cool and I look up to her....after all, how many 52 year olds can say that in the last year they completed a half marathon and a triathlon and are training for their 2nd half marathon? Mom, I'm so proud of all that you have accomplished in the last year and I hope next year is just as great! I'm so thankful for your love and friendship....I LOVE YOU! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's 58th birthday!!!! I wanted to wish him a very Happy Birthday because he deserves the best! My dad is the world's greatest dad....i know everyone says that about their own parents, but truly he is. I wouldn't trade him for the world. He is a husband. father. brother. uncle. teacher. coach. hard worker. survivor. My dad is always a very pleasant person to be around....I guess you could beg to differ if you ever had a run in with him on the football field or track. When I was a little girl I used to go to work with my dad almost everyday in the summer. I would get up at the crack of dawn and go to football practice with him. Most girls would probably dread going, but I absolutely loved every minute of it. I got to help the trainers hand out water bottles and I played pretend school in the coaching offices by writing all over the blackboards and for some reason that was really fun to me. I LOVED going to watch all the Norman High football games. I always loved running out onto the football field after the games and giving my dad a big ole hug! After my senior year of high school, my dad retired from coaching football so that he would be able to come watch me play volleyball in college. Of course, this wasn't the only reason he quit coaching, but i think it played a significant part in it. That meant the world to me....what a great dad! The older I get, the more grateful I am for my wonderful parents. The way my dad treats my mom has taught me exactly how a man should love a woman. After all, I remember my dad doing most of the cooking when we were younger (no offense to my mom, she is a great cook now). The way my parents raised my brother and me has taught me so much about how to raise a family properly. Dad, I'm so blessed and thankful to call you my dad. You've taught me so many great things and always let me know that you were proud of me. There has never been a time that I haven't felt completely loved. I hope you have a FANTASTIC birthday! I love you!

OVER THE HILL!!

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY AUNT JAN!!!!

Today is my aunt Jan's 50th birthday....WOW, that's really old!! Just kidding. I hope you have a very very happy birthday Jan. You're such a special part of my life and I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful aunt. There are so many fun memories I can think of that involve you. May the next half of your life be just as great as the first, if not better! I love you!

Grandpa and Pete's Birthday Party!

Here are a few pics from Grandpa and Pete's combined birthday party! We met in Perkins for the day and played games, opened presents, ate cake & ice cream, and sang songs. Sunny played the piano while Libby sang a few hymns loud and proud! I can't believe how big Libby and Ethan are getting. Enjoy the pics!

THE BIG 2-1!!!!

I had the BEST birthday weekend ever!! Twelve of my most favorite friends from high school, including Trevor came to Fort Smith to stay the weekend with me. We had a blast!! On Saturday night we all went out to dinner and then rented a party bus that took us to a country club where we danced the night away. I don't think i've laughed that hard in my entire life. We all danced to the electric slide, the YMCA, and lots of two-stepping! I'm so blessed and thankful to have such a close knit group of friends who were able to celebrate my birthday with me! I didn't get a lot of good pictures on my camera, but here are just a few. Modeling the crown and sash my roommate bought me!