My Goofiest Subject

As a complete amature photographer(and I use the term "photographer" loosely here), I try to capture my subjects doing what they do, as if the camera wasn't there. Well, one of my prescious subjects is just tough to work with. He seems to smell the camera at all times. Needing to contort his body or features in some unorthodox manner if ever there is a click of the camera in his direction.

Oh well, now that I think about it, he would do these silly things whether the camera is there or not. :-)

Best. Feeling. Ever.

Why I'm Not in Pictures :-)

Thanks for taking these, Dad!!

Check out this Run!

Go Colin Go!! You have an open field!!

Don't worry about Amy, she's tough, but not big enough to take you down!

Uh oh! Here comes big Drew!

HOLY MOLY - you smoked him!!

#80! #80! #80! All the Way!!

I Love My Family!!

2009 Down in the Dell Bowl

It's family tradition now for 10 years that we have a family football game the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving. Last year Jackie was too tiny to participate, and although she's not playing in the game, she's definitely making her presence known as a spectator, runner of the field and sideline jokester.
Jackie, in the line of fire as Uncle "Nomas" (Thomas) and Kelsey warm up.

I had so much fun watching her run, run and run the field. There is nothing like open space to just get out all the energy you have. I love looking at things through her eyes.

She thought the soccer net was pretty cool.

Standing on the BK in center field with Abbey. We marched in the red, and hopped on all the numbers.

Mom showed Ella a great time, letting her roam the Kelley campus off leash. Caroline was so bundled, she looked like the kid in The Christmas Story who "couldn't put his arms down!"

Jenny, looking fabulously casual and put together as usual.

The spectators (all cousins)! Left to right: Elliot (Andrew and Chelsea's son), Jason (Molly and John's son), Ben (Amy and Steve's son), Jackie, Caroline and Abbey (Matt and Jenny's dynamic duo).

I must apologize to our athletes of the day. There was a football game going on and I managed to capture none of it! Shame on me! My Dad was the sports photographer for the day. Now I just need to convince him that it is ok to download pictures from the card rather than buying new cards all of the time. :-)

Thanksgiving 2009!!!

We pulled it off!! Well, I should say my awesome husband pulled it off. Thanksgiving was held at our house this year for my parents, all of my siblings and their kiddos. I must say, it was a delightful day.

We borrowed tables and chairs from Bishop Kelley. Thanks BK!! Again...

Colin's smoked turkey. He also baked one. They were awesome!!

Cute salt and pepper shakers, been used and abused for many many years now. I reember these on my grandparents Thanksgiving table growing up. They've been broken and put back together countless times, including this passed Wednesday evening, thanks to moi!!

The table.

Jackie, the morning of while waiting for the Yo Gabba Gabba float duing the parade. She's giving us, The Face. Such a goofeball!

I actually took this this morning before work. The family photog is not in many photos with her girl.

My little elf.

Eureka Springs, Just the Two of Us

Since September, my brother Matt, his lovely wife, Jenny, Colin and I have been hunting for a weekend to get away. We chose the kitchy mountain town of Eureka Springs because it's close enough to go for one night and get back to the kids. We were all set to go this past weekend, and it was so unfortunate that poor Jenny came down with something terrible and they were unable to join us. We couldn't help but think of them the entire time and think about how much fun the 4 of us would have had together.

Colin and I made the trip, just the two of us and we had a fantastic time. We felt the effects of a weekend away literally as we walked out of my parents driveway after dropping Jackie off. Neither of us had loads of bags or a child to carry. Getting into the car was super easy. It was light on our shoulders, and it felt weird.

The moment we took off, Colin messed with the ipod and the first song on the playlist, a Sesame Street song. Yep. We chuckled after realizing how accustomed we'd become to parenthood. During the 3 hour drive, we kept looking in the backseat to see Jackie's smiling face. I'm telling you, it was weird.

It was great to have 3 hours to just be us, talk about everything and reconnect. There was fun folk festival going on in Eureka this past weekend so it made for great music everywhere we went. There were so many cheesy shops, but we tried to stick to the unique local, handmaid items and of course candy shops. We walked and walked and talked and ate and walked some more. I'll blame it on pregnancy, but we were in bed by 9:30 or so. We didn't care, we were just happy to be together and have a change of scenery.

We went to the War Eagle Mill on Sunday morning, but were both just ready to get home to our Jackie. She was perfectly happy to be with her Grandma and Grandpa all weekend, but I think she was pretty thrilled to have her mommy and daddy home. It's amazing that it can feel like your kiddo has changed in just a little over 24 hours.

I love you darlin, thanks for a great weekend!!

Big News, Halloween and Scary Faces

We know you've missed us, all three of you that sporadically check this silly blog. We love you for it!! So, with the celebration of the harvest upon us, celebration of all souls and the upcoming Thanksgiving season approaching, we feel very blessed and abundant as a family. We are expecting Baby #2 sometime in early June! We are so excited! Not only are we thrilled as parents to welcome another joyous member to the family, but we think Jackie will make an excellent big sister. She already kisses the baby belly and I think she is under the impression that she might have a baby of her own growing in her belly. :-) It's a daily morning topic and it will be fun to see this wild time through her eyes.

I've been terrible about updating most things, because I've been overcome with queeze for the past couple of weeks. We're getting through it, God love my husband for being patient with me and taking care of more than his fair share around the house while I catch up on sleep or lose my lunch. Ok, TMI and moving on!!

Grandma Judy came to Tulsa for a visit. Even though she was dealing with sad family news, she was all smiles for Jackie. She managed to come with us to the Pumpkin Patch, which was a scream.

You can't really tell from this pic, but Jackie made it to the top of this hay mound. Pretty impressive!!

The maze of pumpkins!

Jackie found her new found love. Wagons. She was obsessed with them from the moment we left the patch. So funny, you never know what will thrill them.

On our way to the Marquette Trunk or Treat. Jackie was a crab and Caroline and Abbey were chickens. Caroline made for the best chicken, she was perfectly close to the ground and round, loved it!!

Just after carving pumpkins with Mommy and Daddy! Listening to the leaves rustle.

Jumping in the leaves!

Crunch, crunch!

Wagons, push cars, whatever!!

All the kids, ready for Trick or Treating! Jackie loved the wagons, I tell ya!!

This is what Jackie does when we say, "make a funny face!" What a goofball.

Busy Road Trip Weekend - College Bound!

Mommy Manning was visiting the college town circuit this past weekend. Attending OSU homecoming Saturday and the U2 / Blackeyed Peas Concert on Sunday. It was too much time away from Colin and Jackie, but so much fun and nice to be with friends. As you can see, I left my sunglasses at home. :-)

At the game - Katie to the right and Tarah to the left. Tarah is really pregnant and so cute! The Boone Pickens stadium is incredible. I was blown away as it had been 2 years since I'd been to a game.

We were sure to visit the Gamma Phi house prior to the game. Some things have changed and others are just as we left them in 2002. Such fun memories being huddled into rooms with 3-4 roomates or more and sharing the previous nights stories. I'm so lucky to have made such wonderful friends in college. This bench is very special. Libby is my dear friend Katie's mom and she passed away a few years ago. Libby was a Gamma Phi alumni and her pledge class donated this bench in her honor. She was a great lady and I'm touched by the fact that she had such loyal friends.

Norman Bound! Thomas, Jenny and I made the treck to Norman Sunday. We managed to find our way around. Not too bad for a few Pokes.

I am a huge U2 fan and was in heaven the entire concert. I just couldn't believe I was hearing them live. I am officially in love with Bono. Love you Col!! :-)

Aside from the incredible music was the fantastic set and stage! It looked like a huge bug with 4 legs, and then once the concert started, it looked like a space ship. Such and amazing portable thing.

And because we know who the real star is, I'll leave you with a Jackie pic.