Ethan is FIVE!

My oldest is FIVE. I cannot believe it. Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that I was just pregnant with him, working at Sprint. Now I've been warped five years into the future! Ethan is such a clever boy. He has always wanted to know how things work (like his father) and he is such a sweetie. Loves animals and his little sister, Avery. He is such a protector and anytime anyone is sick he says "don't worry, I will take care of you" I thought it would be fun to look back on how he has changed over the last five years.



Newborn Ethan Oakley 8lbs 11oz 2/28/07


Ethan turns ONE!


Ethan is Two!


Ethan is Three!


Ethan is Four!


Ethan is FIVE!

Puppies! Puppies! Puppies!

It's been a while since I updated my blog or uploaded my camera for that matter. When I did, there was probably over a hundred photos of the puppies we fostered last month.

The most common question when I told people I was fostering puppies was:"Are you Crazy?!" followed up with "How did you get into that?" So, here are the answers..

If you know me, you know the answer to the first already, yes, slightly ;-)
I just have such a love for animals (I mean, show me a person who doesn't love a puppy and I will give you $10. Only $10 cause there are some WEIRD people out there..) I use to take in wayward people(that's another story), now its just adorable pets..

So, how I got into this. My good friend Toni has fostered several litters of puppies through a great animal gescue group in Kansas City called HALO. (Helping All Little Ones)I happened upon Facebook one evening and Toni had posted looking for help taking in this litter of four. She already had her hands full with another one and couldn't take it on herself. So, I thought to myself.."How hard could it be? They are just puppies and the kids would love it! It would give me something to do, maybe fix my baby fever, I'm so in!!"

Then, I had to text my husband. When he didn't respond I called him and his response? "I don't know...pause..are you asking me or telling me?" I decided the latter :-) If you know Nate, like I do, you know he will logically say no but once IN the situation he will love it! Boy was I right! So, I let Toni know I was IN! and she said.. "Are you sure? It's ALOT of work.. It's A LLOOOTTT of work."





Again my brain said "seriously, what's wrong with everyone? how hard can it be?! They are itty bitty puppies.. I got this!"

To give you the timeline: the facebook posting and messaging happened Friday night. I had the puppies mid-afternoon the next day. All four shih-tzus.

We got to name them, which was hard, like picking a baby's name! We got to play with them and ooh and ahh over them and of course clean up poop, bathe them DAILY and don't forget blow dry. By the time a week was up I was spent. I now knew that Toni was right. She was trying to send me a clue by repeating over and over.."it's a lot of work". I got it now.. Actually I got it the first day Nate went back to work. I was standing in the kitchen with four puppies, plus my own pup and two toddlers all whining or asking me for something. I thought my head was gonna explode. I did actually develop an eye twitch towards the end of the week. haha


But, the point is, It was so fun even though it was hella hard. I would do it again in a heartbeat! well, once the kids are older. I definitely got attached quickly and felt a loss when they left. But I did find out that all but one kept there names that we gave the. It makes me feel like they have a lil part of us with them still, Here are some highlight pics of their time with us. Enjoy!



This is Gus, the runt of the litter and Ethan's favorite

Tbis is Lola, who got adopted by a friend

Here is Ethan with Greta, the DIVA

Avery is holding Tebow

Hudson is playing with the girls

My sweet pup

Puffy Coat Chronicles

I decided to blog about this because I am so excited and I have been trying to find a suitable winter coat now for a few years.. one that is cute, flattering and in budget! My dear friend Heather got me turned on to Lands End a while ago. I will admit I always thought of it as a granny website to buy clothes, But actually they are pretty nice. Simple designs which I like and good quality! So, Thanks H! Anyways, last year I got a coat from them from my Stepdad. But when I got it I felt like a huge marshmellow and I couldn't move or sit in the car in it at all. I decided to take it back to the Sears locally (free returns) and looked for another coat.. I never found one so I think I ended up using the coat money on jeans and a nice pair of shoes :-) Sorry G!

This year I decided I am going to find a jacket I love and hope its under 100. Well lo and behold on Lands End they have a new Diamond quilted down jacket.. the word jacket is important in this because parkas are too long and make me feel bigger than I am .. I need no more help with that thanks! So, I took to the lappy toppy and researched the reviews and overall people seems to like it, it's not too puffy, but its still warm and stylish. The one downside is that the reviews say there is some shedding since it's a down coat, but isn't that to be expected with anything "down"?

So a couple days ago I was going to purchase said coat but, I ended up sick and never got around to it on Cyber Monday.. they had it 30% off. I was kind of upset but, knowing Lands End they have a sale pretty much every week. Boy am I glad I waited because I got an email today from Lands End that had a 40% off one item and Free Shipping!

So, I just went for it and ordered it! The hardest part was picking which color I want. After much reading reviews and going back and forth between Red (which reviews said was fire engine red. Also, the color of Avery's coat) I didn't want that bright or to have mini & me matching coats. Then I liked brown since it's safe and if I ever get these awesome Sorel boots it would work well together. But, let's face it: Brown is boring.. So, the next option was white or as they had it labeled Ivory which also kinda boring but, reminds me of being a Snow Bunny. Then there was another option I was considering it was labeled Deep Amethyst. I am not really a purple girl but, everyone on the reviews was raving that it was a great color and was not actually purple but more of a cross between blue jeans and purple.

I wasn't quite sure what I thought of that, will it look good with jeans if it is jean colored? will it match my dream boots?



will my hair color go good with it? will my makeup have to change.. Yes, I think all these thoughts! I mean, This is a coat I will be wearing pretty much everyday and since it's not your common brown, my logical side had to say WHOA!! let's think about this coat named Amethyst. After much internal debate between boring brown and adventurous amethyst. I took the plunge and ordered it!

But, not before I google image searched what it actually looks like in outdoor lighting. See for yourself. I hope its as amazing as this model makes it look! ;-) Now just have to wait for the guy in brown to make its debut!



But now I think these boots might go better with it, even though they are pretty vivid, and not what I would normally order.. they might be cute?!

My little artist

Avery is a huge fan of coloring, she doesn't discriminate on the medium. Whether it be pens, crayons, markers, on paper, coloring books, wall or even windows. She is putting her mark on the world (as well as her body and clothes etc..)

I took some photos of her this morning coloring. She kept switching positions while she was coloring.. reminds me of a TRUE artist! Hey, it runs in our family! Maybe she will be the next creative spirit!











My sweet girl.. not a baby anymore :(

Alison Graduated!!

Alison is one of my oldest, truest girlfriends here in Kansas City. I first met her when I was 18, but have really known her as my friend when I was 20. I remember because I went out to dinner with her and the girls and I couldn't go out dancing with them after. We have been together through LIFE. I have lived with her and been late with her and ate nachos with her when she was pregnant with Ciara.. Every Friday night at Chili's. In college I would often sleep on her couch because I was afraid to stay at my apt all alone. We have the type of friendship that we just "get" each other.. we love to talk about ghosts, conspiracy theories and liberal points of view. No matter how much time passes or how little we talk.. we always pick up where we left off! Needless to say, Julie and I went to her Nursing School Graduation. We are the girls who are there for each other for the big moments.. I have come to find there aren't many friendships like this.. So, I am holding on tightly to these two girls as long as I can! It's been a long road for her to get this degree and I am so proud of her, she is truly one of the strongest women I know!

Here we are at her graduation via Julie's Iphone



Here is Avery with her dad's dog at her graduation party.



Love you lots Girl!

Mother's Day in St.Joe, MO

It's become an annual tradition for us to meet Nate's folks in St.Joe on Mother's Day. It's kind of a "half-way point" for us to swap kids (last summer when E stayed with them for a few days) and to meet up without committing to a full day of driving or staying over.

The kids love the rocking chairs and we love the cute photo ops they make! I also secretly love diggin around in the store for clearance chotch-skis.




Kids with Mae-Mae


Paw-paw's Girl

Did I mention their french toast is aMAHzing? Not diet friendly but, I look forward to the splurge every year! :-)

Playtime with Neighbors

It's been a while since i posted or uploaded pics from my camera. So, I will be making a few posts today :-)

We have been spending time with our AWESOME neighbors lately. China and George live at the end of our cul-de-sac and the kids are all around the same age. Both boys Ethan and Quinton are 4 and Xavier and Avery are both 1 (and both August babies!)

Here are some pics from our recent outing to Antioch Park. I had never been before and I must say I LOVE it there. So much to do and the kids got a kick out of seeing the birds and turtles and ducks! ( I didn't take any pictures of these things though.. Oops)



Avery and Xavier peeking through the railing

We took a trip down to Union Station/ Science City also. The kids had lots of fun together and the moms got to chat as well :-)


Ethan and Quinton playing in the train room



The kids all piled into the helicopter and it was a perfect photo op!








Q playing in the digging for bones exhibit.. Black sand is lovely in sandals. I was finding it around the house for a week..FYI :-)


Mama cheesin' with Aves

I love the architecture of Union Station.. Wish I had a fancier camera to capture it all!



Ciao!