Trip to OK

At the beginning of December, I decided to head to Oklahoma. I wasn't going to be able to spend Christmas with my family so it gave me an excuse to head down there and save everyone on shipping their gifts as well. We left on Thursday and came back Monday so we had several days there. It's the first time I had taken both kids on a long car ride by myself. I'm happy to report they did great! So far, I have really good travelers...I hope it stays that way. Except soon, I'll have to deal with fighting in the backseat, but for now, they're really good. It worked out to where I stopped for lunch when Barrett woke up, then when he woke up again, I stopped for gas and let them out of their seats for a bit then back on the road. I was in T-town by dinnertime...I know, impressive huh?

The main reason I go to Tulsa is of course for q-time with my family,however, some of the other reasons I enjoy visiting are no longer there...Tippins (who had the best french silk pie ever!) and Egg Roll Express who had the best Chinese food. However, I did get to enjoy Mazzio's, Braum's, some good Mexican food (I'm sorry, but it's a little bland and tex-mexy around here), and some frozen custard. Why frozen custard has not made it out this way, I'll never know; anyone want to invest in one? There were a few other places I didn't make it to, but that's for another time when I'm there longer.

I did a little shopping while there because I didn't have all my shopping done. Before heading home for the kids' naps, we decided to run into Toys R Us because I had coupons. It was cold and I was in a hurry and Barrett took his socks off again. So, I put everything down, put his socks on, bundled him up and ran into the store. We're getting in the long line at check-out and I realize I don't have my purse. Okay, I'm in Oklahoma and the only other person who has keys is in KY. We had to call my brother to come get us and drive us illegally (without car seats) to mom's house and wait for the locksmith to tell us he's on his way. Then we drove back, illegally again, to get the car which took only seconds to 'break into'. That was a day completely wasted.

Saturday, my brother's church had something called 'Breakfast in Bethlehem'. The kids came and had snowman donuts from Krispy Kreme. They then went to different rooms to do a super cute craft...it gave me ideas for next year at our church. (I later heard another good idea...a book called the 'Advent Jessee Tree' 25 ornaments to tell the Christmas story with devotions for the kids for each ornament) So, the lady showed the kids what they were making...clay pot nativity. They could pick out the color they wanted to paint each pot and the color for their headdress. Becca and Cade were doing pretty good and then came time to draw the eyes. Becca saw the example and decided Joseph's eyes needed to be big. They didn't look too bad but I told her she might want to make Mary's eyes a little smaller. Being the good listener that she is, she made them bigger...almost the size of her head. But, hey, this is a kid's craft and that's what makes it cute. They then went to the gym to run off steam and then headed back to the chapel for 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' while waiting for the rest of the kids. The preschool director then told the kids the Christmas story. It was really a neat thing and Becca thoroughly enjoyed it.

Here is an example of the craft

Here is Becca's rendition of the nativity

Sunday, we headed to my brother's house to watch their kids while they went to a Christmas party. The kids really had fun playing together. Becca was very cute with her cousin. This is when Barrett really decided to start walking. He had taken a step or two but there was a toy he really liked there and took 7 or 8 steps at a time. Wow, he really is getting big.

This is a carboard "house" my mom has but had folded up and put in the corner for the time being, Becca and her cousin decided to go through the door anyway. Notice the pair of feet sticking out...a la "Wizard of Oz"