Museum Field Trip

So Mark and I (and Kate) took a field trip on Friday with Mark's play group to the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum in Seminole, Ok. Apparently it is about one million times better than the Kaleidascope museum here in Tulsa. Well it was really cool. I would say it is best for kids 3 and older. There were a lot of things Mark didn't understand but so much hands-on stuff that he loved it! Here are some pics (it will make you want to go!)

Mark and Jake in the giant bubble!

Jake with some antifreeze (or something) and Mark witht the air-compressor (or something). See how much I know about cars?

This room was definitely a hit with the boys!

Another boy room: construction! There was also a magnetic table in this room with nuts and bolts to make creations with, there were different sizes and shapes of PVC pipes to build with, and giant blocks to build with and even put on a pully system so they could see how to move heavy objects. Pretty cool.

The dinosaur excavation room!

Look at the dinosaur he discovered! (This room/sand was also a hit with the boys!)

My favorite room: the crazy mirrors!!!

There is a huge medical section from an ER, to OR, to ambulance, to pediatric hospital ward. Too cool!

Can't forget the giant lite brite!

Mark, still in his doctor's coat, on the bike! As you pedal the skeleton pedals!

See? Miss Beautiful was there too!

Jake and Mark driving the ambulance!

The ambulance is stuck in the wall - too cool! There was an airplane/cockpit done the same way.

Mark and Lily driving the fire truck!

Lily, the cashier at the grocery store!

Mark, the shopper

The Faces of Mark

Well first of all, Opah got Mark the coolest kite the other day! We went to the park on Mothers day and flew it. I think Opah may have enjoyed it the most!

The kite:



Mark and Opah:

Me and my buddy on Mother's Day.

Mark is into building tents all over the house. This "tent" is on our bed and is made with every single pillow in the house!

So the other day I had the camera out and asked Mark to show me his different "faces." Here's what we got!

The mad face:

The sad face:

The happy face:

The scared face:

The surprised face:

The silly face:

And everyone said Kate is gonna bring the drama to our house.......ha!

Kate's one month birthday!

So little miss Kate turned one month old yesterday. I really think she's filling out and as of last week she weighed 8lbs9oz. She is still an angel baby, just an angel baby that cries when she's hungry (during the day only, she still doesn't cry at night!) But I will say, that since she is my mini-me, she also has my lungs. Let me tell you our voices carry and if we want you to know we are mad, well, you'll know it!

Kate loves to lay on her changing table and look up at her fan. She is attempting to make some sounds now and for the past 3-4 days she has smiled at me. She thinks it funny when you kiss her. She loves her brother and smiles when he holds her. Things she doesn't like: pooping or poopy diaopers.

I have a few observations already about having a girl. I was told there would be a lot more drama in our house (really? more than Mark provides?) But even though she barely ever has her eyes open I have already noticed her girliness. She loves to be held, she loves to cuddle and lay her head on your shoulder, she sighs, she whimpers, and she has to have a clean diaper!

Observations about Mark: he loves his baby sister. When she was born he apparently told all the kids at his daycare that they could hold his baby sister. Every night he thanks God for Kate in his prayer. He has yet to ask us to send her back. He hasn't had any jealousy issues yet asking me to put her down and hold him instead. He loves to hold her. When its just me and the kids and I'm nursing Kate he grabs his toys and entertains himself in front of us- wherever we are. So far so good!

Obervations about John: he calls Kate "Baby K-K". He thinks he's a pro at putting her to sleep. She already has him wrapped around her finger. For example, I have wanted a vent/heater in our bathroom for 2 years because I'm so cold natured. Do I have one? No. I told him a week ago that Kate gets cold during her bathtime. Guess what just got installed this morning? I'm gonna start showering in her bathroom!

Observations about me: WAY less stressed this time. Mark and I didn;t leave the house for 3 months. Kate and I have been to the mall about 8 times, to Reasors 3-4 times, to Target countless times, to Mark's soccer practice, to church, etc. Also, when Mark cried I was so stressed - what am I doing wrong, is he ok, etc. Kate cries and life goes on.

Last observation: what awesome friends and family we have! In this last month I have only made 3 meals! Everyone has provided delicious meals and dessert to us throughout the month and they often bring Kate a present too! We are so spoiled!

I think I'll take a picture of her every month on this bear mat just like I did Mark.

And here's Mark at one month. He doesn't have his legs stretched out like she does, but he still looks smaller to me.


Isn't she getting chubby? =) She was trying to talk in this picture.

Miss bright eyes. I think she looks pretty in pink!

Similar shot of Mark at the same age.


And here si the big man now holding his baby sister. I didn't catch it in time but she smiled after he kissed her!

I know a mother's love is blinding, but I think my kids are beautiful!

Papa and his grandkids!

Well, his two oldest grandkids that is. There are plenty of pictures of Papa holding the babies, but those aren't as entertaining! With Lexi in town, Mark stayed home from daycare a lot and Papa was the entertainer. He bought them bouncy balls, bubbles, and chalk. He took them to the park and to Bounce U twice. Not to leave out Gammy, but she isn't retired and had to work a lot, or she was behind the camera, or the few pics I do have of her she wouldn't approve of me posting! So this post is about Pops only.

Here they are taking a snack break at the park.




Here they are playing with bubbles.





Here they are on their bouncy balls. What I love about this picture is that Mark is a typical boy and laughing as he falls. And even better than that is that Papa is laughing harder than Mark about his fall! You might have to zoom in to see it.

Papa and ?. Pretty sure its Lexi hiding in their make-shift tent!



Thanks for the fun times Papa!

Kate is here!

Geez! I felt like I was pregnant for as long as an elephant! (Aren't they pregnant for like 22 months?) Anyway, Kate Elise Wingerter came into this world on 4/4/11 at 1248pm. She weighed 6lbs10oz and was 19.5 inches long. Labor and delivery went ok. I'll spare you the details but lets just say there was some drama. I mean whats a birth without drama right? (Only there was no drama with Mark and I kinda prefer it that way!) So far, Kate is an angel baby. I keep saying that she is still in that "newborn comotose phase" but really secretly I'm hoping she is just an angel but I don't want to jinx it by saying it out loud! I'm sure any day now she'll wake up and keep things hopping! For now she sleeps all the time! She rarely ever cries, and the only way I know when to get up and feed her at night is when I hear her going to town trying to eat her hands! All the noise from big brother doesn't seem to phase her at all. Oh! And she laughs! So usually right after eating she falls asleep - you know in like REM where her eyes twitch and she breathes really fast and she smiles - well about 4 times now she has gotten a HUGE grin on her face and given a little chuckle. It is so cute! Speaking of big brother, he has been great. He LOVES his baby sister and is so gentle with her. He is constantly "checking" on her, "petting" her head, and giving her kisses. He loves to hold her "all by himself." The other day he said, "Mommy, you know what my favorite things about babies is? Petting their heads." He loves to say, "Its okay sister, you're okay." And he is VERY concerned if she cries. I think he has had a couple of attention issues, for example if he hurts himself nowadays he doesn't jump up yelling, "I'm ok" like he used to, now we are having some major drama over little injuries. But its ok cause its hard to get to hug and cuddle with him any other time lately! So, here are some pics from Kate's birthday and first week at home. New family pic - just the four of us! Big brother holding his baby sister for the first time! I think its funny to see what little room they take up in their crib at first!

All loaded up with two car seats!

Mark and Daddy carrying Kate out to the car! I had to ride in a silly wheelchair! (Ghetto OSU let me walk out)

Opah was Kate's first visitor when I was in labor and delivery and was also the first one there the next morning. He went from no grandkids to 4 grandkids in just three years!

Kate (not making the prettiest face) and her cousin Gracie! Gracie is just 6 weeks old!

Mimi and Mark waiting for Kate to come back from the nursery! They were our first visitors when we finally got to the post-partum room.

So I know these pictures are all scrambled, but Brandee, Lexi, and Lillian are in town from Norway! They got here just in time, the night before Kate was born! It has been super because Mark has been so busy plaing with Lexi I think it has distracted him from the lack of attention he's getting at home! Here is Lex on the trampoline!

Aunt Brandee and baby Lillian! Lillian just turned 5 months. Speaking of happy babies...

Gam and Pops with their two newest grandkids!

My two twinkies - I think they were about to head out for a bike ride.

So can you tell which one is Mark and which one is Kate? The blue and pink kinda give it away!

Here is a pic from today - today is her actual due date. I think she is starting to fill out!

Racing on the River

Today was Mark's very first pedal bike race! He was so excited to wear his new 918 team jersey. He's done a couple of races before, but this was his first race with pedals. It was actually a time trial and I was worried he wouldn't understand why no one else was on the starting line with him, but he got it I think. I told him they would put one biker at the starting line at a time and say ready, set, go! and then they would say, "ok Mark, now your turn. ready, set, go!" To which he replied, "No, they will say, 'Spiderman, its your turn. Ready, set, go!'" He cracks me up. Apparently he told my parents the other day that he is spiderman, he just acts like Mark. Hee hee. Anyway, here's some pics of his big race! Mark and Daddy ready to go! Uncle Tanner holding his bike steady at the starting line! Coming down the home stretch - pedaling his little heart out!

Post-race bananna re-fuel!

Uncle PJ and Britton came too. They had a great time riding across the pedestrian bridge and all over riverside after the race.

Here's what happens when you hand the camera to Gammy - pregnant pictures! But I guess I oughta include a pic of Kate too! She'll be here Monday unless she decides to come sooner!