My best girlfriend

While in Oklahoma, I missed seeing most of my friends because of getting sick at the end of our stay but Laura came early and I'm so glad that she did because otherwise I wouldn't have gotten to see my bet girl friend.

We went out to lunch together, went driving around areas that brought back old memories, and visited her mother, Bobbie.  I always love every second of our time together.  We have so many similar views and like the same things.  When we don't we tease each other about it and get a good laugh.  I know I already wrote this but had she waited until later, I wouldn't have gotten to see her and that that would have been hard for me.  For years, she lived in California and I lived in other states while never seeing each other.  Back then it wasn't as easy to keep in contact as I wasn't good at calling and Laura wasn't good at writing leters, and honestly we were in the thick of raising our little children.  We weren't that good at keeping in touch.  But with technology today (Marco Polo, Facebook, and texts) we are pretty good at making sure we contact each other fairly regularly.  And with her living in Arkansas now, I get to see her everytime I come home to visit.  And you know, it's kinda fitting that Laura is the only friend I got to see while in Oklahoma this time.  I've always considered her my "family," so really I just spent time with family this time around!

Kiss Scrapbook Retreat 2022

When I told Valerie that I was coming out to Missouri for a scrapbooking "crop" she sent me this shirt to wear there.  "This is my crop top" hahahaha!

We always take a picture in this pose when we go all together to the crops.

This was our table decoration for the road trip theme.  We won 2nd place in the medium category.

There were over 500 women at the crop.

When Ruger and Poppy came to pick us up, Ruger hadn't seen me in about 4 days.  He didn't just hug me when he saw me, he actually got in my lap and hugged me!  He stayed there for quite a bit of time, which felt like 5 or more minutes to me because he usually shows that type of affection to Daddy.  Gosh, if felt so nice!

The retreat was in Lebabon, Missouri.  It was a couple hours away but so worth the 4 days that I got to spend with my mother and sisters. There was laughter, bonding, and even a few tears but all was wanted and needed.  I am so grateful Mom and Dad made this happen!

Flying to Oklahoma

A couple of months ago, my Mom called me and asked if I would like to fly out to Oklahoma, with Ruger, in October so that I could go to a scrapbooking retreat and so Ruger could spend alone time with family out here.  Of course I was wanted to!   So late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning of last week, Ruger and I flew into Tulsa where Dad and Mom picked us up.

Ruger was so cute on the plane.  The first time he was on a plane he was around 6 months old so it felt like this was the first time he rode on a plane.  He was barely nervous and talked my ear off almost the whole plane ride.  I felt a little bad for those around us because I think some of them were trying to sleep but every once in a while I would hear little chuckles around us and knew it was because of the things he was talking about.  

The best part was getting off the plane and going through the doors that separated us from Mom and Dad.  Ruger ran while jumping in Poppy's arms!

Just a picture of me and my love!

 

Wilkerson Farm 2022

Last year Ruger and I went with Maleena and Leo to the Wilkerson Farm for the first time.  Why not go again with some of our favorite people?

I love this picture...friends, mounatains, corn maze, American flag...just perfect!

 

FanX 2022

Hyrum and Leia went to the FanX Comic Convention again this year but so did...

...the rest of our family!  Zel and Desiree offered to buy the rest of our family tickets so that we could experience a ComicCon.  Honestly, I didn't want to go.  I was already planning on driving Hyrum and Leia up there but was just going to drop them off while I went and visited a friend in the area.  I am ot into fantasy stuff at all.  Not even a little.  But David really wanted to go and wanted us to go as a family...so I gave in.  Once I realized that this could be a new thing for our family to experience, I knew I should go.  Plus, David does stuff for me all the time that are not his "favorite" things to do but he does them anyways because he loves me.  

We were offered the tickets the night before FanX, so Hyrum was the only one prepared with a costume.  It really stressed me out trying to figure out how we were going to pull off costumes for those who wanted to dress up with such short notice, so David took over.  And he didn't do bad at all!

A neighbor of ours once told David that he looked like Kratos from God of War so Desiree slapped on some red paint and there you go!  A costume!  Ruger was all in to being Kratos' son, Atreus, once he realized he'd get a bow...well, and because he got to be like Daddy.  

Leia's Mom, Carolina, was the first to point out to me how much Levi looks like Timothee Chalamet.  I told Levi that and before he knew it, other people were telling him that too.  Bam!  Easy costume!

Hyrum dressed up as one of his favorite YouTubers, Ranboo.  The wig was annoying at times but he kept it on the whole time.

Who's the happiest dog in the world?

It's almost as if Seiiki smiles for pictures!

I still don't claim to be a "dog person" but I sure am a Seiiki person.  She really is such a happy, loving dog.  So patient with Ruger.  Perfectly calm when Hyrum needs her to be, yet playful when he's ready.  She snuggles with me in the mornings and David at night.  She gets so excited when Levi comes over that she pees!  She acts like she she hasn't seen Brigham in a week when he comes downstairs.  And she still thinks Neve (Brigham's cat) is her friend even though Neve hisses as Seiiki everytime she sees her.  Neve might say otherwise, but Seiiki really is our perfect family dog.