Splash Park Mania

Doesn't that picture crack you up? I don't know what is so funny about it but I can't look at it without laughing. Is it their shoes? Or maybe its cause they are such little people!

Ha! Both faces in the same picture and proof that they did play together....once.

I think he was cold. That, or trying to look thin for that hot two year old behind him!

Lexi L-O-V-E loves to jump. She hops every where she goes!

And again...both faces in the same shot at snack time. I deserve some sort of award! BTW, doesn't Lexi look just like Brandee?

One Happy Customer

Well I have never seen a more annoyed face in my entire life!! Mark had his very first hair-cut today and contrary to the picture he actually had a great time. I took snacks and he sat there busily gobbling down his snack for the most part. But for some reason this was the face we got in the end!

He is hard to get a shot of these days but this is what he looks like with his new do from the back. His ears got seriously lowered!!

Cousin Lexi!!

Yea!!!! Cousin Lexi is here! Mark and Lexi haven't seen each other (except in pictures) for an entire year and to a toddler that is a long time. They are having sooo much fun together. It is fun to watch them run around and squeel. Most of the pics from their first two days together are on my mom's camera so I will have to upload some of those later. But today Papa and I took the two of them to the zoo and I had my camera. It is really hard to get a picture of both of them at once, especially both faces. It was a little cooler today than it has been, but it still got really hot. We made it about 2 hours and thought that was good. We only had a few issues such as Mark touching Lexi, Lexi eating Mark's snack, and feet touching while in the wagon. You know, the normal life-ending events to a toddler.

One of the highlights of the zoo trip (for me anyway) was the swimming elephant...see below. He really is swimming, not drowning as it looks like in the picture.


Here are the munchkins looking at the elephants. Mark tried to crawl though the fence.

Another highlight was the penguins. There were about 20 of them out and about and swimming on top of and in the water. We found one right up at the glass just our size!

We spent a good bit of time inside the monkey building because it was so hot. Mark and Lexi ran around screaming following each other from exhibit to exhibit. Here is another pic of the back of them.

And last but not least I would like to introduce Mark the twerp. He figured out right away that Lexi does not like to have her head patted, hair pulled, or really to be touched in any way at all by Mark. So what is one of his main goals in life right now? To annoy her. We were playing the other day and I had just told Mark, "Mark, do not touch her." In a very stern voice I might add. And here is what happened next. Notice Lexi happily playing, You might need to enlarge the pic, but notice his one little finger touching her arm! And you can't see my mom in the picture but he is looking right at her like, "oh yeah, watch this." I think this kid is gonna need some drill sergeant like discipline when he is older!

Fun, fun, fun

Fun describes our last two weeks. Busy, but fun. And with cousin Lexi coming to town in a few short days we are only going to have more fun!

Since we have started swim lessons we have tried to go to the neighborhood pool to practice our "skills". Well the other day I told Mark we were going to the pool and he ran off and found the sunscreen I had laid out to take and attempted to put some on. Then he tried to put some on Rocky and then Mobley, and finally Daddy. Luckily (for the dogs mostly) Marks' version of putting on sunscreen consists of laying the bottle on you. Anyway, he LOVES the pool. And is fearless. And I don't know if that comes with being a boy or if he is still just too young to understand to be afraid. Either way we have him loaded up with all sorts of floating devices to make sure his head stays above water. I'm surprised he can actually move once we've got him all strapped together! I'll have to get a picture of that sometime. Here he is "putting on" sunscreen.



Mark's buddy Leyton came over the other day and I forgot to snap pics of the two of them playing (or stealing toys from one another). But after Leyton left Mark went to his room, got a blanket off his bed, and laid down in front of me in the middle of the floor. I guess that was how he decided to tell me he was ready for nap time!

Father's Day tradtion #1:
Krispy Kreme Donuts

We went to Krispy Kreme for the 2nd year running and this year Mark got to eat a donut too! He's never had one before and wasn't to sure of it at first but at one point he stuffed two pieces in at once. Luckily, he still ditched the rest of his donut once I brought out the blueberries. I swear I think the kids gonna turn into a piece of fruit! Here is a pic from this year..

and a comparison pic from last year! crazy how fast they grow!

The other day we had a baby shower for baby Jackson and afterwards Jackson's daddy, uncle B, stopped by. In the pic below they show off the W for Wingerter. (...oh.....also for Wilks) =)

We also went to John's company picnic and it was at Discoveryland this year. Too cool! First, Mark jumped in a Jupiter Jump for the first time ever. You've got to enlarge this pic to see the sheer joy on his face.

Soon our good buddy Britton showed up to jump too!

And last but not least ...Leyton!

Mark and Leyton were constantly in the recovery stage while jumping. What I mean is they would no sooner stand up when Britton would jump by or they would try to take a step or maybe a breeze would blow and face first they went again bouncing and rolling. Then the strenuous process of attempting to stand again and this cycle repeated over and over and over. It was hysterical. Anyway, after jumping we had a bar-b-que dinner and then a pony ride. I'm not showing the pics of Mark on the pony because the one shot we got is right when the pony threw its head back with a wild look in his eyes. You al would think I'm the worst mother ever putting my child on a wild stallion or something! Lastly we went to the show. Mark loved the singing and dancing and loved to clap and dance. Here he is clapping.

The definition of summer

I mean really - doesn't corn on the cob just define summer? I didn't think Mark was old enough for corn on the cob but my mom insisted that Mark's cousin Lexi devoured some last summer at Mark's age so we gave it a try. He loved it!

He kept trying to turn it on end and gnaw on the husk though. Maybe he'll really figure it out next time.
And this was on our way out the door for Mark's very first swimming lesson! I don't have pictures of that but we'll try to get some this week. I will say he's the best in his class! (Really he's just the oldest but as his Mom I think I'm allowed to say he's the best!)

And now a few random thoughts. So last night at bible study we were talking about why we are so protective and defensive of our kids. Well I know why for me...because he is a perfect angel who can do no wrong! Can you even imagine me at one of his t-ball games some day? I'll probably be that parent beating up another kid for tripping Mark or something! But seriously, as mothers, if we don't protect our kids no one else will. So we do it no matter the cost. And thats just fine with me.

Oh- I also came home from bible study crying because I don't think I can let Mark go to kindergarden. I realize he is only 16 months old but after hearing Rebecca describe the look of fear on her oldest son's face as she walked him to his first day of school I decided right then and there that Mark is just never gonna be old enough for kindergarden...maybe when he's 30.

Tulsa Tough

The big event of our weekend was the Tulsa Tough bike races. We watched the pros race Friday night and then John raced both Saturday and Sunday mornings. I might mention he did awesome... 2nd and 6th place!! Of course, I'm not surprised as I'm sure none of you are who know John since he is an excepetional athlete in just about any sport and he is so competitive! Mark and I had a great time cheering on daddy..even though I think my cheering may have scared him a little (I get a little too excited!) Unfortunately I don't have the greatest pics from the races but here is one-

That is John and Bryan riding up this horrific hill on Sunday mornings race. They are both really strong at racing on hills. Some of my other pics, like the race to the finish didn't turn out too well because they were looking directly into the sun. So that one will have to do. Anyway, good job John! We are proud of you!

Here is Mark and his Opa cheering on the riders-

It was a pretty busy weekend all in all. Friday night was a graduation party for the senior ER residents that I was in charge of planning. I think it turned out pretty good and everyone had fun. We had a lot of food anyway! Then the Tulsa tough business all mixed in with a garage sale my dad and I had. Luckily dad didn't mind manning the garage sale alone while I ran around watching bike races too. The garage sale was great because we made some cash and other people hauled off our junk for us. John and I are going to use our garage sale money on a trip we're taking later this summer to Jackson Hole. Rental car money I guess.

One thing I must say about garage sales (and I learned this several years ago when Lisa and I had one) is how jaw-dropping it is when you are selling say a picture frame for a quarter and someone says, "Will you take a dime for it?" Its a QUARTER! Are you kidding me? Why don't you just take it then. Its called a garage SALE not a garage giveaway! Geez. But of course you take the freakin' dime. I mean after all if they don't buy it then you're just going to trash it or donate it right. But still. I mean really. A quarter. Amazing.

Anyway, probably the most fun thing we did this weekend (for Mark anyway) was play at a new splash park on riverside drive. It was sooooo hot on Saturday afternoon and the park was packed but Mark LOVED it.





John and I had a great time watching him play too. He likes to pat other kids on the head! Its so cute. Its not in a condescending way either, its more like, "Hi buddy!" Pat, pat, pat.

He also took a snack break for goldfish and then went off to fill up his sippy cup. He would hold it under the water (with the lid on) and then take a big swig, and then repeat that over and over.

I will say that apparently he really is my child. I know he is just like John with the blond hair and blue eyes and all, but he is tanning really well so maybe he got just a little of my cherokee heritage! I'd like to think at least one thing about him is like me!! =)

And I just have to throw this last one in. Mark loves his Mobley Falls!

The faces of Mark

John and Mark had some fun last night while I was at bible study....they played golf in the closet! Recently Mark has learned where to find John's golf balls in the garage. And now he knows all about the clubs. In fact, this afternoon when we got home he brought me a club and was saying, "ball? ball?" Looks like he may need his own set of clubs soon at the rate we're going. Anyway, these pictures cracked me up!

Mr. Cheesy

John said he was yelling, "F-O-R-E!!"

Is he on speed?

Something about this pic reminds me of his cousin Lexi.

Last but not least, he finally got tired!