He came, he saw, he conquered

Putting treats out for Santa and his reindeer,

Reading , "The Night before Christmas" before bed.

, Santa that is...though I'm not quite sure whether he noticed if my kiddos were on the naughty list, not nice.....ha-ha. We are truly blessed in every aspect of the word. May you each continued to be blessed in the New Year. Come on 2009!

Even the reindeer stopped for a treat and what a mess they made, tracks everywhere!

No Longer Bionic

but still quite the McGyver. On the 23rd, Rick had surgery to remove the plates and screws from his leg, hallelujah! The surgery went very well and was only an outpatient procedure believe it or not. He is already so much more comfortable without all that hardware in there and I've caught him running on it too! I know that anyone that knows him doesn't find this surprising! The wounds are looking better already, though his leg does look a little Frankensteinish....eeww! The worst part has been the nausea from the anesthesia, more so than the wounds themselves, but hopefully by today most of it will be out of his system. Thank you again, for your prayers and thoughts, we know this is why he has healed so well, wow God is good!

Tye Hill is the Big 3

Tye Hill Dec. 21, 2005

I find it hard to imagine that Tye Hill is 3 years old now....just ask him, "Me not big boy, me mommy's baby." and he is! It seems as I think back at this age Ariana was so big and Evan the same, maybe it was just the fact that there were babies in the house at the time each of them were 3. Anyways Tye Hill had a great birthday once we convinced him that he had to come home from Bebe and Gangan's to celebrate his birthday! He wanted a John Deere tractor party. We made pizza dough and pizzas and enjoyed another wonderful cake from Karen! Thanks Karen! No friend party for Tye Hill this year, we might try a "1/2" birthday party during the summer. Happy Birthday Baby Boy.

Tye Hill, Dec. 21, 2008

THUNDER, na na na na na na na na, Thunder (think AC/DC here!)

One of the perks of Rick having amazing patients are some of the perks those patients give us from time to time......This week it was a suite at the Thunder/Clippers match-up. Though the Thunder failed to produce a storm or win, the children had a great time and will find our "normal" seats lacking from here on out! Rick's wonderful patient, Rayna, definitely set us up with the suite, bags of Thunder goods for the kids and a photo op with the Thunder Girls and Tim who made sure we were completely taken care of....it was a lot of fun and the children will not be the only ones missing the suite at the next game! Notice the big ol' grin on Gangan's face, such a giver trying to get Tye Hill in the picture!

Evan's Birthday Celebration Week Continues!

Then, (Dec. 3, 2003)

Now, (Dec. 3, 2008)

Evan turned 5 years old yesterday, December 3rd....wow, just where does the time go? He's had an event filled birthday week from being line leader of his class ALL week long, to pizza/cupcake lunch for his class to birthday donuts for his class, McDonald's for birthday lunch and he chose Shogun's Japanese Steak House for his birthday dinner! We then came home to a Monster Truck theme family party and he was so excited for his presents! The week will end on Sunday with a bowling party with 17 of his "closest" friends, should be interesting to say the least!

A Whole lot to be thankful for.

A husband who is alive and has healed quite nicely, though he will be having surgery again Dec. 23rd to remove all plates and screws. Children that are healthy, happy, respectful and loving. Parents that would do anything for anybody and help me more than I can ever repay....the best Bebe and Gangan a child could wish for. Friends that have prayed for us, supported us, helped us and blessed us with their friendship. A beautiful, warm house to call our home. And many, many more blessings than I can list. We are truly blessed.

What we've been up to in November:

Evan's Tasting Feast

The Presidential Elections (though the children's candidates didn't make the "official" ballots, Superman and Miss Chatterbox!)

The master bathroom remodel is almost done and so gorgeous! My Afghani demo contractor is the man!

school, playing, dress up, a horse show in Shawnee, gymnastics/karate, horse riding lessons (Ariana cantored for the first time last week and she decided that she would like to do her first walk/trot horse show in February!!!, mommy might try a show in Feb too!!!), work, Thanksgiving, OSU Football games, each of the children having a turn going to a Thunder game with Daddy, taking the babies to movies, building fires in the fireplace, Regional Food Bank Hope's Harvest Luncheon, meetings, and general craziness!

Evan, aka,Tire Fighter Dude

Tye Hill, as a Star Wars Flower
Ariana and her Lego masterpiece that she built all by herself

With the craziness that we've experienced in 2008, is it wrong that I don't want to decorate for Christmas this year?????

In a galaxy, far, far away...

was the Safi Tribe and daddy was a real "Storm" Trooper and mommy promises to dress up next year.

Last year was a hard act to follow...

A Preview of things to come later today!

Happy Trails to

you, until (I HOPE WE DON'T!) meet again....so long 1984 yellow sinks, farewell, my ugly, ugly faux cultured marble vanity tops, hit the road disgusting yellow Jacuzzi tub that has never worked and impossible to keep the jets clean of mildew. You were there when we needed you, but it's time to send you on your way...our to our back porch until further notice. Rick tore into our master bath this past weekend. It is the sole survivor of the makeover of this home and I can't explain how happy I am that it's happening....though the mess is about to push me over the edge. Plus, the left over baby furniture out of Tye Hill's room that is "resting" in our "formal" empty dining room and the boys 1/2 done "re-decorated" rooms............

We must, we must, we must finish a project soon! To recap the last month....we've moved Tye Hill to his "big boy" bed and he is loving it! He wakes up everyone morning and announces "ME HAPPY"! We've buzzed the boys heads to prove to the Director of their pre-school and to the lice, that "Mommy is the boss!" and thank God those boys have such good shaped heads and are so darn cute, we've visited Pumpkin City with Bebe's and Gangan, Rick and I have attended the OSU home football games-How about those Pokes?!!!!! Rick has had an appointment with his surgeon who was very impressed with his latest xray, really quite surprised how well everything has healed (duh, doesn't he know that Rick IS Mr. Incredible/McGyver?!) He is in the process of scheduling surgery to remove all the plates and screws this December....God is defintely good! I've been on a field trip to Edmond Fire Station #5 with Evan's class and to the Harn Homestead (dressed in Pioneer garb, albeit the other mom's said I looked more Pioneer Vogue than Homestead Pioneer!) with Ariana's class and attended our first OKC Thunder game last night. Rick got season tickets with a few buddies and how we will make 22+games is beyond me, but it was fun and cool to see SO many former Big 12 players on the Thunder roster (Desmond Mason, John Lucas, Kevin Durant to name a few!).

We are ramping up for Fall Break starting tomorrow, Mistletoe Market and Rebuilding Together Construction Derby this week and Storybook Forest, Festifall and Halloween in the next couple of weeks! The kids Halloween costumes arrived and Tye Hill is so excited, he tells everyone, "Me Oda Halloween!" translation, "I'm Yoda for Halloween". It is so stinkin cute too!

I hope everyone is well and gets a kick out of our circus....and hoping that God's blessings are abundant in each of your lives......Until later.....

Bring it......

I'm so loving these beautiful early fall days, and I say to Mother Nature, "Bring it baby, bring it." I love being able to open the windows and hear the children screaming at each other....gives me a better taste as to what the neighbors hear in our backyard!

As Rick stated so eloquently last night, "You've been a terrible blogger." Rrrreally. We've had lots going on and I think the last few months since Rick's accident had finally caught up with me. I am finally starting to feel like my old self.

Rick had one of the screws removed from his ankle back in the end of August. He's now fully mobile and getting around so beautifully. There is barely a distinguishable limp as of today. He even rode is motorcycle (he actually tried to sneak off to work on it, but I caught him and gave him the evil eye in the front drive as he rode by) to work on Friday and took a drive to Stillwater yesterday with a big group of crazies. I think he is finally starting to feel normal, because he keeps threatening to tear into our master bath.....the last remnants of the 80's in our home.

School is in full swing now and Ariana and Evan are loving their teachers and classes. Tye Hill on the other hand starts saying, "Me no school, no church." about 4 miles before we even get near the school. It doesn't matter what time of day. We did have 2 small victories last week, he didn't cry when I left him at school either day and he said he had a great day playing with "his Lily". Yea!!!!

Evan started fall t-ball on the EASI Muckdog's team, but after 2 games that didn't end until 8:40pm (one on my birthday no less) we had to throw in the towel. Those that know us well, know that we are referred to as the "bed nazi's" and starting this next week the tball schedule ramped up to 2 games per week all starting at 7:15pm....you know where this is going....too late for the Safi tribe. Evan doesn't seem too devastated, he was more obsessed about keeping home plate clean of dirt than anything else, though he could hit the snot out of the ball and he was so darling in all the get-up. Does anyone else find this time during a school night for a 4 year old a little crazy? Sorry Amy, I know you think I'm nuts!!!!

I also celebrated my 35th birthday with little fanfare! My dear friends Genifer and Amy did come kidnap me with champagne, luxe mani's and pedi's and fine dining the night before my birthday. I truly hadn't laughed that hard in a long, long time! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my dear, dear friends. That evening meant more to me than you know!

The boys, Bebe and I made a trip to the OKC Zoo one beautiful Friday afternoon, much to Ariana's disgust. And the children and I took a long weekend in Red River, NM and crashed the first part of Bebe's and Gan-Gan's vacation. It was wonderful to have a change of scenery and to smell the fresh, cool mountain air. The children had a wonderful time hiking, throwing stones in the stream and they even learned to fish, though we never caught anything! Rick stayed at home because with all the time he's taken off this year for his leg, he can't bear to be away from his practice. He quickly discovered that he actually likes the chaos that the children and I provide around the house.....too quiet without us. Bebe and Gangan stayed another 5 days, and we are so glad they are finally home.

Ariana is still taking Equestrian lessons and good ol' mom started last week.....wow is it harder than it looks and jeez I didn't know I had some of those muscles...pictures to come at a later date when I don't look so stupid on the horse!

We are looking forward to a fun-filled fall with OSU home football games, the Pumpkin Patch or Pumpkin City as Evan calls it, Fall Break, Mistletoe Market, Hope's Harvest Luncheon, Clegern Fiesta, First Pres Festifall and everything else in between....hoping this blog finds you healthy and blessed..........Peace, Love and Coffee.

Total Slacker

I admit I have been a total blogger slacker as of late. I guess everything that has been going on in our lives, finally has been catching up with me, and I've just not been motivated to write about it, 2008 has not been our year...the latest bit of fun has been battling Ariana's head lice. Yup, you read right, head lice. As most of you that know me well now, I'm borderline OCD when it comes to cleanliness, both in my home and my children. I mean these children have had at least 1 bath every day of their lives, to the point of even if we've been gone late and they've fallen asleep in the car, we wake them up to give them a bath. So for Ariana to have lice has darn near pushed me over the proverbial cliff I've been hanging from since Rick got hurt the middle of May. Couple that with Rick's injury, his other "health" issue we had on our vacation and I'm just ready to run away to Mexico! I know I AM thankful that all of this is only temporary, but all in such a short time frame is a little overwhelming. Whoosh, I feel better!

Good news, we did get to escape for a few days to the beach and the children had a great time. Ariana AND Evan boogie boarded their little hearts out and even braved the jelly fish infestation, Ariana got stung once next to her belly button, that didn't even stop them! Rick played 9 holes of golf with Mike and we tried to relax.

Ariana started 2nd grade as soon as we got back and the boys started Pre-K and Mother's Day Out this week. Horseback riding, T-ball, Junior League, PTA are all back in full swing and I'm thankful for the long weekend and our upcoming trip to mecca (aka Stillwater!) this Sunday with the Ring family!

The biggest news of late is that Rick had that screw removed (from his leg, we all know that he'd lost a screw in his head some time ago.) this past Tuesday. He finally convinced Dr. Kammerlocher that he didn't need to be "knocked out" for him to remove it and that he didn't want anymore hardware installed if it wasn't totally necessary. So it came out and he's showing that damn thing to anyone that will look at it!!! He's beginning to wean himself from the boot and will probably be buying a new set of tennis shoes this weekend, the first complete set since May! We are so thankful for his continued healing!

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers, Lord knows we need them to finish out 2008!

Off to boil more sheets and towels, oye!

Walk this way,

One small step, tiptoeing through the tulips, ok I can't think of anymore ways to say that the good doctor is starting to walk....you can quit calling him scooter, scoot, and start calling him hopalong, gimpy or whatever it is that refers to one walking in a strange fashion with a oh so stylish boot on one's leg. Rick finally got the go-ahead from the doctor to start walking during "daily-living" activities, though I really have to watch him, because if you know Rick, you know what all could be included in "daily living", ie mowing the yard, trimming the yard, edging the yard, building the pyramids, tearing down old barns (insert the noise that Homer Simpson makes here!). He's doing really well, even attending some hoity-toity men-only OSU event at Gailiardia tonight, with the likes of Boone Pickens...maybe he can get some insider types from that old fart, and I had to make him swear not to be a dumbass to Mike Holder (ask me about the emails he has sent Holder with my name on it...). We digress, we didn't make the Journey concert Wednesday night, who knew Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey were so popular, the lines, the lines, the lines....and the heat.....Rick couldn't do it and I must confess I didn't want to be packed in like sardines at the Zoo amphitheatre (the Hollywood Bowl or Red Rock Amphitheatre it ain't!) in 100 degree heat either, maybe next time in a much more civilized venue! I'll post a picture of him getting along later!

I ain't 19 no more....

or even 25 or even 30 for that matter! Quickly approaching 35 years old and came to the unfortunate realization that a fun night out just isn't worth the hangover the entire next day! A whole day of my life lost forever, laying on the bathroom floor, yuck. I even forgot that old saying, "Beer before liquor, you've never been sicker." Rick and I attended the Taste for Sight with the Timberlakes last Friday night and we had a great time until! The multiple tastes of wine, the beer and the vodka tonics at Cafe Nova and Sipangos, yes we actually went there, haven't been there since I was probably 16 years old and illegal! There were many ugly highlights of the evening, but the Emmy goes to the idiot valet at Cafe Nova (which is WAY over-rated in my book, if it wasn't for that previous "The Bachelor" owning it, I'm sure it would be closed by now...terrible, terrible service and bad drinks.). Rick accidentally tripped on a crack in the concrete in front of Cafe Nova as he was getting out of Bryan's truck. He quickly recovered and got his "scooter" out of the back of the truck. The moron valet then says, and I quote, "Sorry didn't know you were a handicap." Say it with me, 'NICE'. Old Rick would have torn the guys head off and s**t down his neck, but I was impressed, Rick was very composed! We had a great time and I really hadn't tied one on to that extent in probably a decade, and I can almost guarantee that it will never happen again...thanks to my new and improved monitor, Dr. Rick....he was my knight in shining armor and took great care of me as I puked my guts out for a good 14 hours and even whisked the children away all day! Thanks sweetie, I love you!

Side note: What's up with jalapenos being recalled for salmonella, are you freakin' serious.....last week it was tomatoes, what's next? I think my mom has the right idea of building a commune, not the kind of the 60's with sex and drugs mind you, but somewhere we can cultivate our own food and not be so worried about some migrant worker defecating or urinating on it!

And the picture was before we headed out to waste away the next day!

Disappointment at its finest...

Rick had an appointment with his surgeon yesterday and he did not hear what he had been thinking he was going to hear. Yes, the xray showed that the leg is healing wonderfully (Praise be to God!), yes the range of motion is wonderful (Praise be to God!), yes his leg is nice and tan (thanks be to the Sun God!!!), absolutely NO can he begin putting weight on that leg (holy Sh*t!). He wants Rick to use the "scooter" for at least 2 more weeks, then start using his crutches to start placing his left leg into his walk gait. Rick was all fired up to begin putting weight on his leg yesterday and had penciled in a 9-hole golf date with his good buddy Guy in 2 weeks (are you serious I said.). Needless to say that Rick was pissed at the world yesterday afternoon and night. All and all, it was a great news appointment, and they just don't want Rick going all out (my Rick would never do that! Whatever!) and messing up the leg and having to go back in and operate on it.....and neither do I! As I told him, "It is what it is" and I am thankful that this is all we are having to deal with healthwise!

Our 4th of July was uneventful and relaxing, Halleujah! We spent the day swimming and eating at Bebe and Gangan's house and watched the fireworks extravaganza next door at our good friends/neighbor's the Hubbards!

Rick Update

All is going well with Rick's recovery. He's been very good and patient thus far. He's getting a little ancy and tried to move up his next doctor's appointment but no luck. His next appointment is on July 7th and we think at that point they will start him on P.T. and start applying weight to his left leg. The rash is all gone and we are well in the swing of our new "normal" routines! Thank you still for your continued prayers, well wishes and thoughts!

The Ariana has landed....

Drumroll please! I ventured up to Hee-Haw Land on Tuesday to pick up our precious baby girl from Kanakuk, where she had been for the last 12 days. When she came marching in with her cabin, I hate to admit it, but I didn't recognize her at first glance (I think that would probably kick me out of the running for Mother of the Year I'm sure, seconded with my freakish skill of utilizing my extra large paint stick to spank the kids as I'm driving down the road!!!!). Anyways, I truly didn't realize it was her at first glance, I took a second glance and realized it was her and we both went running at each other! She just looked so old and mature, and her front teeth had come in so much, as she came walking into the K-Dome, I literally burst into tears as she jumped into my arms. I'm sure I looked the fool between my mascara running down my face and the sweat marks ALL OVER my dress!

The net-net of the entire Kanakuk Kamp experience was:

1. She absolutely loved it. I even had gotten a really nice room at Chateau on the Lake for the both of us, and she wanted to stay the last night at Kamp with her friends (mind you, this was my little girl who absolutely HATES to sweat and the cabins are not air-conditioned and it was about 110% humidity on Tuesday!)

2. She has matured both socially and spiritually. They had a new award at Kamp this year called the Invisible Hero, for those kampers that had a servant's heart and did little acts that they thought were unnoticed or without being asked. Ariana was one of the kampers that received this award. We were so proud of her!

3. She went not knowing a soul, and now has about 14 new best friends, that she sobbed for a good hour after we left, that she didn't want to leave and is missing terribly! And she was the youngest kamper in K-1 Term 2 13 day kamp by about a year, she's amazing, what can I say!

4. She learned how to go tubing behind a boat, canoeing, archery, how to shoot a bb gun at a target (this should come in handy shooting at the brothers one day!), jumped off a super high tower, played lots of tennis, went camping and slept in a tent, read her Bible everyday, and some much more I cannot even list it!

5. She grew and matured so much. I mean I was still giving her baths and washing her hair and brushing her hair and she did all of this herself at Kamp. Last night when we got home, she was so proud of herself that she got to take a shower by herself, wash her own hair and even did an amazing job brushing it! She had to do chores at Kamp too, I mean like clean the toilets and clean the showers and she didn't even mind it. Needless to say, she'll be learning to clean her bathroom this weekend!

After a late night on Tuesday, I went back to the hotel and showered (for the 3rd time that day!). The next morning were the final closing ceremonies and unfortunately, Ariana's tribe, the Kiowa's, didn't win the tribal war....She then hugged all her friends and counselors good bye, we hit the outlets real quick, grabbed some lunch and made the trek back home. Evan and Tye Hill had missed her so much. Every day Evan asked if we were picking Sissy up from camp and was disappointede every day for 13 days that we weren't. It was so cute when we walked in the door at Bebe's house, Evan just came running at her and threw his arms around her....that friendly love lasted until this morning! Though Evan is asking when is he old enough to go to camp, 3 long years buddy!

Rick and I are so thankful and blessed to be able to send her to Kanakuk. Insert shameless plug here! But really, it is such an amazing place for kids, no one could ask for a safer environment with amazing role models for your children. Wow, is all I can say, what a blessing! Ariana cannot wait for next summer to be with her friends and to be at kamp.....if you want to know more about it, just ask her...she'll tell you all about it and the I'm Third philosophy.....truly spectacular!

Trust me after you visit this place, it will make you want to be a kid again and spend your entire summers here....the views amazing, the kamp grounds are gorgeous, there is more to do than you can imagine....just unbelievable.

There was this Bear.....

No really there was! At Chateau on the Lake like I said, they had impeccable service. They had a Bear that came around to the kids rooms and delivered milk and cookies at bedtime. Rick and I thought it was cute, ok maybe I thought it was cute and that the boys would love it, but I had forgotten how they hate Clifford the Big Red Dog during the Book Fair, the Easter Bunny at the mall, even Santa Claus is a chore to have pictures taken with......so when the bear finally got to our room and knocked on the door, I opened the door and Tye Hill literally screamed bloody murder and took off like a bullet shot out of a gun which in turn freaked Evan out and he began crying too! Rick and I were laughing so hard and brought back memories for me of when my mom and dad thought it was so funny to put on those terrible Halloween masks and freak me and Tye out...ask me about the instance at TG&Y and hiding in the camera department when I was about 3! Yes, I still remember that!!!! Needless to say, the boys did not stop crying until the bear was well gone and even when we went down to the pool afterwards, we narrowly missed a disaster meeting in the elevator landing! Tye Hill just kept saying, "Bear gone now?"! The cookies and milk were delicious though!

Tye's new toothbrush!

Thursday before I headed out the door for my tennis lesson, Ariana yelled, "Mommy, Tye Hill is making a huge mess in the bathroom." Let the pictures speak for themselves!

Evan's 1st Tee-Ball Game

Evan is playing tee-ball this summer and he is so excited! His team is the Royals and he has several school friends on his team. They had their first game last Thursday night and the boy can run! His team won and Evan is ready for the next game!