Vintage Hairstyles

I have always had a passion for all things vintage.

I remember in high school, wishing I could wear poodle skirts

and saddle oxfords.

I was afraid of what people would say....

I tried to raise my children in a WEIRD way...

go against the norm.

"See yourself through God's eyes, not the world."

I love my girls and love their desire to please God.

I love that they accept my vintage style and also

find some things they try themselves.

I regret that I didn't step out from the norm when I was

younger.....I am so glad my girls do not have this fear.

Seeing how cute their hair is...makes me want to grow

mine out.....NAH!  I just like the short better....plus, I

get headaches too easily with long hair.

24 Years Ago Today.......

I was 19.

I was young and in love.

I didn't know what love really was.

I married my high school sweetheart.

I am pretty sure people didn't expect us to last this long.

I remember on my honeymoon, having

a mini-panic attack.

I was repeating to myself....I can just get

a divorce if it doesn't work out.

I made myself sick...literally.

I was sick for our entire honeymoon.

I survived.

We managed to graduate college.

We managed to raise three beautiful girls.

We managed to go against the cultural norm

of divorce.

We've managed to stay married.

I almost feel sorry for those who haven't experienced

a lengthy marriage.

I know I can honestly say, I am truly, madly

deeply in love with my "Carl".

No, our interests aren't the same....he has his

hobbies and I have mine.  We appreciate that

about each other.

It works for us.

We've grown up together....we've been with

each other longer than we were with

our own parents.

We are ready for next year...the big 25!

We are going to just hit the road and check

out some diners, dives and drives!!!

SQUEAL!!!!!

I love you Carl!!!  I really really do!!!

I would say I DO all over again!!!

A Little Photo Booth Fun for the 4th of July!!!!

A family reunion always brings out the freaks, right?

Well, not ALL of them are freaks....

Happy Birthday My Oldest Daughter - Carly

Yep, hard to believe that 21 years can go by in a blip....

She wasn't due for 6 more weeks...but she just HAD

to come busting into the world early.

Her dad and I were 3 weeks into our

 student teaching.....

We were dirt poor student teachers.

Thanks to our mothers, I was able to

be reassured that she was well taken

care of while I went back to student

teaching only 1 1/2 weeks after having her.

If I didn't, I would have had to repeat the entire

semester!

 She was 6.1 lbs and born at 1:20pm.

She was healthy despite being 6 weeks early.

 Our hearts had never known this kind love...it was amazing.

It still is.

Carly has lived her life just like she entered this world....

keeping everyone around her on their toes

because they never know what is going to be next.

Carly,

Your mom and dad love you more than you will

EVER understand.  We are so proud that you

want independence and are working at

getting it together.  As you turn 21, it comes with

blessings and curses.  Recognize them BOTH!

Keep God at the front and you should have no problems.

Put Him at the back, and you will make your path

rougher.  Don't rush your life, take time to smell

the roses and don't believe all that you see in

other people's lives.....  Some look way better than

they actually are.

You have a beautiful life ahead of you!!!

Enjoy being officially a certified ADULT!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Mom & Dad

Turkey Hunting.....

 Meet my 3 turkeys!

Regan, Carly and Sydni.

I probably took 15 pictures of this pose....this is the ONLY

picture where all three are somewhat looking in my direction!

 I gave up on open eyes......

 There were some turkeys who actually wanted their pictures taken.....

 This turkey is really hard to capture....she never stops talking.

She also does NOT like having her picture taken....I think

I proved she can take a good picture.

 This is our family portrait....yes, I am the glamour queen on the ground in

the front.  I had to set the timer on the camera and it was a very

very long run to reach the group....

that is as far as I made it before the camera CLICKED.

I was quite impressed I was even in the frame....

Mental Note:  Must. Exercise. More.

 My sister, Julie and her husband, Donald.

I really should put the picture before this...he was

really BITING her face....and that got the

laugh response!

 My mother and step-dad.

I just wanted to see what silly poses I could

get them to do....

It sure wasn't hard...they just jumped on

whatever I said to do.....

We laughed so hard, we might have

let out a little pee in our pants.

 Sister again with her daughter, Laura.

Three generations....almost.

My twin nieces, Cortney and Lindsay.

They are such sweet blessing to this family.

Not just a "gansta" pose.

Laura, on the left, is preggie with baby #1.

Brittany, on the right, is preggie with baby #4.

They are sisters-in-law.

The twin, Lindsay with her husband, Stuart and son, Tristan.

Like I've said before....please don't judge them by their

choice in clothing.  They are family and we will love them

even when they wear such despicable clothing.

My sister, Terri and her husband, Vern.

As you might remember, Terri is the

one I force beg to do the Christmas

parade thing with each year.

I wonder if he even realizes the cougar woman is about to attack....

 The other twin, Cortney and her special guy, Chris.

Such posers.

I must admit, 2010 was an awesome Thanksgiving holiday!

I had a wonderful time laughing, loving and sharing with the families.

Thanks guys for sharing with me!

Our Whirlwind Christmas Parade Promoting Tour....

As some of you already know, I help the city of Wagoner promote their

Christmas parade each year. This is my 5th year to participate.

I begin at the crack of dawn by drinking my coffee and trying not to drink too much....because we all know how easy it is to get all bundled up like Randy on The Christmas Story movie....then have to go Wee Wee....

My sister, Terri, has participated every year with me....we are a team you see.

During the hectic getting dressed in the ONLY dressing room at the city office, we

pause to remember this moment.

Pausing again....at this point, I am realizing I might have drank too much coffee...see the blurr?

Here is the rest of the room in their panic frenzy to get ready to leave by 8:15.
(Picture taken at 8:27a.m.)
Notice Carly to the left.....no frenzy there! She is so patient.


Here is the group picture....oh wait, see the GIRL penguin in the back...
something is terribly wrong here...


We COULD blame it on the early morning frenzy...
but I'm going to say it is GLOBAL WARMING...
Our little penguin is just "not right".
Magic somehow managed to put on the body BACKWARDS...ba haaaa.

Here we have the The Three Musketeers...Tiffani, Regan and Paige.
AKA, Elmo, Hello Kitty and Tigger.

Here is the rest of the bus....ready for take off.

At the first stop, we gather for prayer...the big blue guy will lead us in prayer.

Quick shot of our tootsies. Did I mention that Terri and I are BAREFOOT in those shoes.....OUCH! We felt every bump, rock, heavy foot in those shoes.

Our regular shoes wouldn't fit inside them.....OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!

The elves are POPULAR...we have a fan club.

Thanks Chelle for being the PRESIDENT and only member!!

OH NO! The EVIL DUCKS are BAaaaaAAckk.

To learn how these sweet looking ducks are really evil in

feathers.....CLICK HERE.
Although, this year I admit....they were subdued somewhat....might be

because there was no BLUES CLUES to mess with.

Ok, here we are at Kids Day Out.

Can you find Waldo, er uh, Terri in that crowd?

Some of the children decide the big very friendly characters are just not that FRIENDLY looking...so they stay in the room and protect themselves behind their

very brave teacher.

By the way, the two adorable red heads are my great nephews....don't ask me which is which....one is Jayson and one is Noah. I still can't tell them apart.

Sign #1 that I drank too much coffee.

In between stops, we play the ever popular "Balance a candy can between your lip and nose" game.

Signs of the times....Kids just aren't that into Santa when compared to Elmo and the Mouse couple.

Why did the cat cross the road?

Nope not a scarecrow...

nope, not an elf that got his hand under Santa's sleigh...

just my silly sister trying to get the semis to honk their horn.

Clue #2 that I drank too much coffee.....
More balancing of the candy cane......

More "see who will honk at us".......and hopefully

not rear end the car in front of them.....

Our littlest visitor....my other great nephew, Tristan. I know that it IS Tristan because there is only ONE of him. I'm good like that.

Please don't judge him for what his parents dress him in....

he can still turn out good.....I know he can, I know he can.

One of our favorite stops..no, not the bathroom...is the local nursing home.

These people are awesome. We go there just in time to catch most of them

having lunch. One swore that it was poison, the other said it was miracle food.

This is NOT Sydni's favorite place because....some of the residents really like short dresses....well, some are just fascinated to find what is UNDER the short dresses.

Just ask my other daughter, Carly, why she was VERY glad she wore jeans under her Minnie Mouse dress one year.

Sydni chooses to NOT WAVE....her hands were pre-occupied.

Here are my girls with their Great grandparents, Coy and Anna.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been married 72 years. Usually Great-grandma is

a little cranky when we come. This time was extra special....she very excited to see them and smiled and smiled and smiled. Alzheimer's had reared it's ugly head to her, but she is not going to let it rob her of happiness.

A very tender moment with Carly and Great-grandpa.


Back to the bus and more candy cane balancing.....

One last "get rid of the coffee" stop....

and we are DONE (about 7 hours later) for 2 hours....then we start all over again dancing the jig

through the parade in 32 degree weather...and believe it or not, we SWEAT.