SPRING BREAK 2009 AND A LITTLE BRAGGING ABOUT MY HUSBAND!

We have had a great spring break! Our week started out with the girls going to visit their aunt, uncle, and cousins in Owasso. They had so much fun! I believe that they spoiled them rotten! They went to a movie, roller skating, bowling, had a picnic at the park, out to eat many a times, had a cook out at a friends house, went shopping, made bracelets, did their nails and I'm sure alot more that I have forgotten to include! I believe that they were busy from sun up to sun down!

While the girls were at their cousins, Randy and I were able to go on a trip that he won through work. We went to Orange County, California! Oh those days were so blissful!! We didn't find out until almost the end of February that Randy had actually won the trip but we were so excited when we heard the good news. The trip was a reward for being one of the top sellers at AT&T for 2008 in the southern region of the U.S. I was so very proud of Randy....he has only been at AT&T since December of 2007 and was able to make it to the top in 1 year. This trip is considered the ultimate reward at his work. There have been people that have been with the company for 15 years and just got to go on the trip this year, so needless to say, for Randy to do it in a year was so exciting!!! He gives 200% to his job so for him to be rewarded so generously was wonderful! We stayed at the St. Regis Resort and Spa in Dana Pointe, California. It was absolutely beautiful! We had the most amazing time! The food was great and the friends that we made were great and so fun. I absolutely loved just getting to be Randy's wife for a couple of days...some times I just feel like I'm Alexis' and Isabella's mom...which is great BUT I truly love being his wife so that was one of my favorite things about the trip. We got to go out on the Pacific Ocean and watch dolphins swim with our boat, go to Disneyland, go to Laguana Beach for dinner. They treated us so great while we were there...it was like our wish was their command! For those of you who know me well......that's the perfect world that I'm always looking for to live in!! AT&T really treated us great the whole time we were there! Randy works with a great group of people and I got the chance to meet them and their spouses and we just had the best time hanging out with all of them! When we would call to check on the girls we could barely get 2 words out of them because they were so busy doing things! That made the trip a lot easier for me to enjoy since I wasn't having to worry about them. This was the first time I had ever really left Isabella for several days in a row and I was very nervous and worried about that. I knew Alexis would be fine but I was anxious about Isabella and that she would want me. HaHa, I don't think she even missed me in the slightest!! We ended the week by going to Cuppies and Joe's with Nana and going to eat Mexican food with Mimi! Next week~ I'm going to have to go on a diet!!!! (Ok well for some reason I can't type under the pictures so I'll just tell you what each one is here!)

The first one is one of the many fountains at our hotel. This one is out front.

The second one is a sunrise view from our balcony.

The third one is of us and the store manager at Randy's store and his wife Amber. I LOVED getting to know her!

The forth one is a sunset view from out on the lawn at the hotel.

The last one is the view from one of the balconies at the hotel. You can see the flower garden just past the pool, then the golf course, then the Pacific ocean.

It was so beautiful there!!

WEEKEND FUN!!

What a fun weekend we had! On Friday evening I went out with my LifeGroup girls. We went to Ted's (mexican food) to eat and then went over to a little cupcake shop that recently opened in the area. It's called Cuppies and Joe's. It is so cute with a fun little atmosphere! We had a great time but I always have fun when I'm with those girls!! The girls stayed with my parents while Randy finished up working and then he headed over there to pick them up. Alexis got a cooking lesson from my mom in how to make pizza! She loved it! She wants to take cooking lessons from my mom so I guess this was her first one! Then on Saturday we went to my niece's dance recital. She did a great job! After her recital all of the family went to lunch at another mexican food place. Don't worry I could eat mexican food everyday if I had to....that's what I craved when I was pregnant with the girls! We always have a good time when we are with our family! Then the girls and I did a little shopping with Randy's mom. We had such a great day! On Sunday, Alexis woke up with a really bad cough and fever so we didn't get to go to church. My nephew had stayed the night with us though so at least he was here to keep the girls company! They loved having him here! Well..sorry I didn't get to post any pics with this post but for some reason I couldn't find it on my camera.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISABELLA LOVE WHEELER!!!

Today is Isabella's 5th birthday! She has really been celebrating all weekend long. On Saturday she got to go to the mall with her cousins to see a movie and get their nails done! It was Maddison's birthday this weekend also! On Saturday evening we had her family party at our house. I think that we had close to 50 people here and that was just grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (some great aunts and uncles as well)! Our girls are truly blessed with having a very large family on both sides that love them so much. Then on Sunday we went to church and to Pops for lunch. They announced over the intercom that it was Isabella's birthday on Monday and she just about crawled under the table from embarrasment!! Then on Sunday evening we went to my parents for dinner and the girls stayed the night with them! When Isabella woke up this morning my mom had a special breakfast for her since today was REALLY her birthday~white powdered donuts! She LOVES them and doesn't get them very often at home! I think my mom said that she 7! We then went to my sister's house for a birthday lunch for Isabella! I think that she had a pretty good birthday getting to celebrate all weekend long!

Isabella~ We love you so much and are always entertained by you. You keep us laughing! We love your personality and love having you in our family! Happy 5th birthday!

IS IT JANUARY ALREADY?

The girls in their Christmas outfits!

Five Generations!!

Randy's NeNe with the girls!

Oh my, my, my....it's January ALREADY! Where did December go?? Well, December is usally really busy so this year was no different. The kids had school Christmas parties and programs and we had our annual LifeGroup Christmas party at our house. Signs had to be made for customers and for gifts that we were given and food had to be made to take to different get togethers...I love Christmas time! Our Christmas celebrating is usually a week long event by the time we go to everyone's house that we celebrate at. It is crazy busy during that week but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Randy and I and our girls are truly blessed with families that love us so much and are so good to us. We really enjoy being with our siblings (and their families), parents, grandparents, and cousins. That's a lot of peeps...considering Randy comes from a family of 9 kids....yes 9 kids (that's why we only have 2 kids and are done!!) but we really love being with all of his siblings and their families and kids as well. It's crazy and loud but that's how it is and we are use to it! Oh yeah, go ahead and throw in 3 dogs running around in the house as well...it really is crazy. I feel like quoting Kate off of the TV show John and Kate Plus Eight "It might be crazy but it's our life!" Then for New Year's Eve we hung out with our LifeGroup with all of the kiddos and rang in the new year at midnight with the kids that were still awake!! For those of you who don't know what a LifeGroup is, it is basically like a Sunday School class but we meet on Wednesday nights instead. Our church provides childcare for us and Alexis does a class at church on that night and we go to someones house and hang out and do our Bible study. We have 6 couples who are in our group. We truly love each and every one of them and they are some of our favorite people to be with. The rest of the Christmas break was spent just hanging out and Randy working ALOT of hours. I attempted to go to the mall several times with the girls and threatened several times to just leave my youngest one there....just kidding, well kinda! Isabella really isn't a shopper and I don't understand how a child of mine can't be a shopper!!! Oh yeah..because she has half of her dad's genes! I took my mother in law with me one of those times thinking that Isabella would be a little better and a little more entertained..but she wasn't. We eventually left my mother in law there and parted ways...I was a little envious of her getting to just keep shopping all by her lonesome for as long as she wanted to or didn't want to! She told me as we were leaving that next year for Christmas she was going to get me a gift certificate for a baby sitter so I could go shopping!!! Oh that would be heaven! I really hope she does..that will probably be my favorite gift! And just for the record, I really wouldn't leave her anywhere! Well..maybe...ok no! If anyone would like to babysit a REALLY cute and funny 4 year old (almost 5), just let me know! She can feed herself, wipe her own nose, and wipe herself!! Hey that last one is a BIG deal! She just learned that over Thanksgiving break when my dad kept the girls by himself and he drew the line at doing THAT for her!! Okay..I should end this. If Randy reads it he will say I'm just rambling!

Gingerbread Houses!!

Tonight my sisters and kids came to our house and we ordered pizza and made gingerbread houses. WOW...was this a project! The girls really got into it and worked really hard on their houses. Some ideas were originals and some where stolen ideas from another person at the table!

I think that we all had a great time tonight! We really could have used my mom's help with Drew. Alison, Ashley and myself were busy helping the girls and Drew keep wondering off and we would have to go find him! He gave up on his gingerbread house and just started eating it! He keeps us all laughing and just makes Alison tired and worn out!

I (Heart) Drew!

I just couldn't resist getting a picture with Drew with the new shirt that Alison bought for him! I think that he rocks too!!

Thanksgiving 2008

(Isabella in her turkey hat and Alexis with her Thanksgiving placemat)

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! We started the Thanksgiving break by putting up our Christmas tree on Tuesday evening and then on Wednesday night we went out to eat with my whole family. Then on Thanksgiving day we went to Randy's grandma's house and ate lunch with his whole family. Later that evening, we met up with my family again and went to the movies. My parents and brother took the kids to see Bolt and Randy and I and Alison and Andy went to see Four Christmas'. That movie is hilarious!! On Friday my mom, sisters and myself went shopping for 16 hours....yes, 16 hours! We love it though, we have a very set routine that we do every year and certain places that we eat breakfast and lunch. Then for dinner we go back to my parents house for some smoked turkey that my dad makes for us each year. That turkey that he makes, is the BEST turkey that I have every tasted. After we eat dinner, we go back out shopping for a few more hours! We literally shop until we drop on Black Friday! I have to say a big thank you to my dad and brother who helped me in my "emergency situation." Randy had to work on Black Friday, so Seth spent the night with us so that he would be here in the morning when the girls got up and then took them to my parents house where my dad watched them ALL day long by himself! I don't know who was more tired...my girls or my dad! We have had a great Thanksgiving weekend and ready to get into that Christmas spirit!!

(Alexis rockin' out to Sugarland...I purchased it on Friday for $7.00!)

Oh, I almost forgot...Isabella had a feast on Tuesday at her school, so Randy and I went to that. She was cracking us up...she was so quiet and obedient and she kept giving us this smile that was hilarious. For those of you who don't know..Isabella isn't quiet and she only obeys some of the time!

IT STILL SMELLS THE SAME!!

Today at Alexis' school they had Thanksgiving lunch and she asked if Randy, Isabella, and I would come up there and eat with her. I then proceded to reminder of my rule about school cafeteria's.....I don't eat their food!! She said that maybe we could at least just come and sit with her while she ate....why is it that school cafeteria's have "that smell" in them??? They ALL smell the same. I'm not even sure what the smell is but it SMELLS. Today the smell wasn't too bad but I couldn't figure out what the turkey was swimming in. Randy informed me that it was suppose to be dressing. I didn't see any dressing on that tray. It really looked more like tukey throw up. Really, it did.

The blue friend in the picture with the girls in "Brillant Blue." He is our new family friend for the weekend. Isabella got to bring him home from school for the weekend and he gets to do whatever we do. Yeah! One more thing to try to keep up with! Isabella was super excited to bring him home...apparently this is the "thing" for her class. Hopefully we can manage to return him to school on Monday!

A LONG TIME OVERDUE!

Well, Halloween came and went and the girls had a great time. They each had parties at school and Isabella got to wear her costume to school so she loved that. After school, we went to the Fall Festival at a local church with my nieces and nephew. The kids seemed to have a great time...it wasn't too crowded so that was nice.

Alexis was CandyLand and Isabella was a Butterfly Princess
My kids with Miss Oklahoma, Ms. Reynolds, and a Red Bull Energy Drink

On Saturday we went to 2 soccer games and then to my cousin's house for a belated Halloween party. The kids had a great time there as well. They had tons of candy, hot dogs, chips and cheese dip, sugar cookies to decorate, pumpkins to paint, pin the nose on the pumpkin, apples and carmel dip, and smores.

Then on Sunday Alexis was baptized! We had a ton of family at church to help us celebrate with her the decision that she had made. Afterwards, we went to lunch with most of our family. Although, Randy didn't get to go because he had to catch a flight to Atlanta for the week. After lunch we had two birthday parties to go to. Talk about a crazy weekend....I was exhausted at the end of it!

This past week was kind of a slow week with Randy being out of town. I had a show on Wednesday night so that was a nice little break and then Isabella had Open House at her school. She was so funny....once we got into her classroom she could no longer talk....so funny!! I told her that I KNEW she talked in class and that she could that evening and to show me the things that she did during the day. That about wraps up our week!

GIRLS OUT OF SCHOOL + BEAUTIFUL WEATHER= FALL BREAK!

Wow...what a week we have had! On Tuesday Isabella and I went on a field trip with her school to Orr Family Farm. This is one of my favorite places to go! I absolutely LOVE it! She was rather upset with me because I wouldn't let her ride the school bus to Moore where the farm was. I couldn't ride the bus with her because I guess buses are expensive these days...so the rule is the girls can't ride the bus unless I am with them. (That's still part of my controlling issues that I am working on!) Plus...she is 4 years old...last time I checked she still needed to ride in a car seat...so she was mad at me. She told me that next time she would rather I not go, so that she wouldn't have to ride with me and could ride the bus. I then told her...if I didn't go next time , neither did she :) She still had a good time though!

Then on Thursday and Friday it was Fall Break! My mom and dad had Alison and Andy's kids for the weekend so we spent a lot of time at my parents house during fall break. On Thursday we made caramel apples and played outside. On Friday we went to a Fall Festival and played outside some more. Then on Saturday we went to go see a movie. We were busy the whole break but had a great time. I was definetly exhaused though!! I think that I may need a break....mom and dad, could you please watch my girls for a couple of days??!!

I ended the weekend by going to Mistletoe Market with my mother-in-law. We had a great time and saw tons of super cute things there. Mine and Alison's signs were in a booth there and I was excited to see them there and how they were displayed. They will also be at Affairs of the Heart next weekend so that is exciting for us!!

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS THAT I LOVE YOU!

13 Years ago today I married the love of my life! I am so blessed to be Randy's wife. He works so hard to provide for the girls and I and allows me to stay at home with the girls. He is so caring, loving, always worrying about the girls :), and a great leader in our home. We love being together and being married to one another! He doesn't read this blog very often (he'll probably read it in a month or so!) but I just wanted him to know how much I truly love him and am so thankful for him and all that he does for me and our family!

I love you Randy.

Happy 13th Anniversary!

A LITTLE ROAD TRIP AND A BIRTHDAY PARTY

On Saturday the girls and I took a little road trip with Randy's mom to Owasso to see my nephew play football. The girls had a lot of fun being with their cousins. They don't get to see them as often as they would like so they are always so excited when they get to see them. My nephew Quinton was so cute dressed in all of his gear and the girls loved being with Abigail during the game. After Quinton's game we went to eat at Baja Jack's. It was a build your own burrito type of place. It was really good or maybe it was just the fact that I was starving and would have just ate about anything! After lunch we did a little shopping and then heading home...it was a short trip but just perfect!

On Sunday Isabella had a birthday party to go to. It was a wear your halloween costume party. This little friend of Isabella's is one of her two very best friends. The girls are always so cute when they get together. Meg's mom had some very fun activities for the girls to do. They had face painting, painted pumpkins, played pin the tail on the cat, and played pass the pumpkin. The party was complete with the pumpkin birthday cake!

Isabella as a princess Isabella and Ella (a cheetah girl)

An angel(Meg),a princess(Bella), and a cheetah girl(Ella)

DONUTS FOR DADS

Friday at Alexis' school it was Donuts For Dads Day! Alexis was really excited about having her dad go to school with her to eat a donut for breakfast! However, she did tell him that she would have to be done with her donut by 8:00 because on Fridays she has safety patrol at the front door of the school! She takes her job very seriously!

SHE'S GOT JESUS IN HER HEART, CAN I WEAR THIS, AND BOY WAS I TIRED!!!

On Monday Alexis started asking us some questions regarding getting baptized and we talked to her a little about that before she went to school and told her that we would talk with her more about it after school...right after school she was wanting to talk more about what baptism was and why and so forth. At dinner we talked some more and then right after dinner Randy prayed with Alexis and she asked Jesus to come live in her heart!! We were so excited!! As a parent I think that this is the one thing that we always pray for our children, that they would see Jesus reflected in our lives and come to know him. Needless to say, we were very excited for her and she was too!

On a different note....oh Isabella, oh Isabella. This girl keeps us in stitches..a while back she was asking me about Jesus and where he was, and why we couldn't visually see him. Oh this is a tough one to explain to a 4 year old...but I tried. (As much as I wanted to end the conversation with "I don't know, just be quiet" ~ which is what I do sometimes :) I decided that it is part of my responsibilty to teach our girls about Jesus and what he has done for us, I decided that I would answer it the best I could.) I told her that when we died our hearts would go be with Jesus and then we would get to see him. Well, she then informed me that she didn't want to see Jesus and I said "oh honey, yes you do" and she kept trying to say to me, no not really mom. So a few minutes had past and she said "will I see Jesus if Andy jumps in the pool with me?" Oh..I think she may be confused!!! (Andy always runs and jumps in the pool with her and she is petrified of him when he is swimming with us...I know it's his pool and I have to convince her that he can swim with us sometimes!)

This week Isabella has been trying to break in her new knee high black boots..she keeps trying to wear them to school to pick Alexis up. I told her no and she said "ok then can I wear this for Halloween?" Well I asked her what "this" was and she said this.

I thought to myself, I know what "this" looks like, and no you can't wear that for Halloween!!

Then on Thursday we kept Drew for awhile. We went to McDonald's after school for an ice cream snack and before I knew it I was wearing his teeny tiny bit of chocolate cookie that I gave him! We came home and played for a while and then had dinner.

I left him like this for a bit because it kept him still for a few seconds...mean, I know but this boy is constantly on the move!!

He LOVED the horse in Isabella's room! He rode that for quite a while!! Then we decided to have some fun with him and dress him up!

Ahh...he looks so pretty as a fairy!!

What a cute Dumbo the elephant!!

We love Drew to pieces and I could seriously eat him up, but boy oh boy does he wear me out!! Drew left at about 8:30 that evening and I think that all 3 of us girls were asleep before 10:00!

SATURDAY FUN!!

Saturday was another fun filled day for The Wheeler's! We started the day off at the soccer field for Alexis' game.

After her game we met my cousin and her family for lunch at a little pizza place. The pizza was really good and we had a great time visiting with everyone.

That evening the guys were heading to the OU game so my dad wanted to take all of us girls (and Drew!) for a picnic. We had so much fun! The weather was absolutely perfect! They had made a lot of delicious food and then had a surprise for dessert. Once the kids had played for a while they decided to bring out the surprise dessert....HOMEMADE OREO ICE CREAM!!!! We were all SOOOO excited!!

I will leave you with a few pictures from the evening...Thanks Nana and Papa for a fun evening! It was perfect!

My girls at the park

Alexis and Drew Alexis swinging

Isabella sliding

My mom serving the girls some yummy food!

My dad this for most of the evening....followed Drew everywhere he went! That boy is always on the go!!

Nana serving up the famous oreo ice cream! (With Emme and Isabella's help)

The girls enjoying that surprise dessert!

My girls and I towards the end of our evening

Nana and Papa with the girls and Drew! He is always loving on his Papa!!