GINGER'S BLOG

5 on the 1st

2008-11-01T20:39:00.000-05:00

Well, November 1 marked another birthday for my little man. He turned 5 this year and every year I look at him and it seems like just yesterday I was holding that beautiful little baby in my arms for the first time. Now he is almost as tall as my shoulder and reading a few words on his own. He is riding his bicycle without training wheels and running so fast I can't keep up with him. This year we went to Andy Alligators for his party. We had 3 of Reed's good friends join him for pizza, cake, bowling, arcade games, go carts, mini golf and bumper boats. The kids had a blast and Reed rode the go carts by himself for the first time. He did an awesome job of steering and pressing the gas pedal. Unfortunately, he didn't do so well on the brake and he crashed coming in to park his car. He was fine, but it sure gave us a scare! Next up, he wanted to do the rock climbing wall. He got strapped in to the gear and headed up the wall. He got about 3/4 of the way up and got scared and came back down. Still, he is more brave than his mommy! Everyone had a blast, but we were ready to come home after a very busy 2 days.

Fall 2008

2008-11-01T19:42:00.000-05:00

Well, this fall was a flurry of activities. I'll start with to the first visit to the pumpkin patch. Reed and I went to TG Farms in Norman the first day it was open. We were the only ones there, so we had the place to ourselves, except for an aging dog named Princess that had a thing for Reed. That dog followed him everywhere he went, including the bathroom. Reed would go down the slides and Princess would be there waiting to get kisses. It was funny for me to watch, but Reed was starting to get tired of her. We fed the chickens and once again measured how tall Reed was getting. We saw two horses and Reed named them Thunder and Lightening. Pretty great names for the black and white horses. Princess kept coming around and started nipping at Reed's leg, so we picked our pumpkin, rode the gator and left.

The second visit to the pumpkin patch was the TG Farms in Newcastle with Reed's daycare, The Children's Place. He had a blast with his friends, playing in the shed, riding tricycles, feeding the animals, and going on a hayride. Reed also had his first kiss on this hayride by his friend Lacey. She just leaned over and kissed his cheek, it was the sweetest thing ever! Reed turned around and looked at me like "Mom, did you see that?". It was priceless.

Halloween came and went and I can't really remember anything about it except that Reed was a fireman and he was a stinking cute one! He trick or treated in our neighborhood this year and Mimi came over and helped me pass out candy!

OH MEXICO!

2008-09-10T18:24:00.002-05:00

In September, Steve, Reed, and I embarked on our first family vacation. We went to Riviera Maya in Mexico, about 10 minutes south of Playa Del Carmen. It was amazing. Reed and I had never flown before, so it was interesting trying to maneuver DFW for the first time with nerves and a 4 year old, but thanks to some wonderful pharmaceuticals (for me), it was a very pleasant experience. We arrived in Cancun and had a 1 hour transfer to our hotel. Our room was on the top floor of the ocean front building and we had a postcard perfect view. The grounds were immaculate, the beach was soft white sand, and the water was the clearest blue I could imagine. Reed of course found the kiddie pool where we spent most of our time. It had awesome water slides that Steve and I also enjoyed until Steve got in trouble with the lifeguard, oh well! The food was outstanding, shrimp and pineapple everyday! The only thing was the music. If I heard Marc Anthony's "I need to know" one more time, I was going to rip the cord off the speaker!
We decided to take a day trip to Playa Del Carmen one day and hitched a ride on the Collectivo (that's the Mexican version of a public bus). Well, let me tell you you haven't lived until you've taken public transportation in another country! I'll paint the picture. The "bus" is about a 9 seat van that is shaped like an aardvark. None of the seat belts work, on any seat. The music is the equivalent of national public radio, only in Spanish, and blaring across speakers that hum and vibrate. We get on with 6 other people at our hotel for the 10 minute ride. The van takes off and I mean it takes off, like an airplane. The speedometer is in k/hr, so we have no idea how fast we are going. I'm acting as a human seat belt for Reed, squishing him into the side of the bus with my body and draping my arm across his chest, because that would help in an accident:) Then we screech to a stop, swerving off onto the dirt shoulder to pick up 3 more people who take the last 3 seats. Can I just say, I don't think the whole deodorant thing has caught on there. We take off again and pass several people on bicycles, who are probably much safer riding along side a Mexican highway with crazy buses flying by than actually being on the crazy buses. We arrive in Playa Del Carmen and the bus drops us off in what can only be described as the "ghetto". The first step off the bus we see gang signs and graffiti on the fence. We began walking at a very brisk pace toward the ocean. We don't know where we were going, but anywhere was better than the "bus station". We did some shopping and decided we would spend the $20 on a cab back to the resort. We hail a Nissan Sentra and hop in, grateful for the air conditioning and deodorant the driver is wearing. Low and behold, the seat belts aren't working in the cab either. So I sit in front and Steve and Reed sit in back and the ride back to the resort is very uneventful. Moral of the story, spend the extra money for a rental car if you are going to drive anywhere! Overall it was a fabulous trip and we can't wait to go back.

Dr. Khichi's Goodbye

2008-07-20T21:14:00.010-05:00

Hey everyone! Tonight we had Dr. Khichi's going away party at Zio's in Bricktown. There was a very good turnout with around 60 staff, friends, and family. We all enjoyed delicious food and great conversations with our coworkers. The kids had a blast playing on the playground adjacent to the restaurant. After the party, Steve, Reed and I took a stroll around outside where I was able to get some pretty good pics. You'll notice Dr. Khichi in a cowboy hat, and Dr. Griggs conveniently looking away when the camera flashed. You can run, but you can't hide. Enjoy!

I've Been Tagged!!!

2008-07-15T20:40:00.002-05:00

Okay, so Kristin has tagged me with this game. Here is how you play. You link back to the person's blog who tagged you and copy down the rules! Share six random (unimportant) things about yourself and then tag six other people! Let the tagged people know that you tagged them!

1. I hate feet. Plain and simple, they gross me out!

2. I love getting pedicures.

3. I follow my 4 year old around picking up toys as he leaves them out. I
can't leave the house if things are out of place. I don't do clutter.

4. I bake when I am upset.

5. I exceed the speed limit by 10-20mph daily and have never had a ticket.

6. I have an unhealthy obsession with People magazine, Gossip Girl, and
Woodwick candles.

I know, pretty pathetic. Okay, now I am tagging Traci, Mary, Crystal, Denise, Leslie, and Elizabeth. Have fun!

An Evening in Bricktown

2008-07-15T17:34:00.007-05:00

Steve and I took Reed to Bricktown a while back and ate at Spaghetti Warehouse. We then decided to give the canal boat ride another try. The last time we rode the boats, the horn scared Reed half to death, so we were a little worried he may not be up for it. However, the child could not wait to get on the boat. While we were waiting in line, he discovered a sculpture of a man and a ball(I only took one art class in college, so give me a break). He then proceeded to talk to the man, slap his face, and then probe his ears for any signs of infection. It sounds a little like what I picture a night in jail being like. Anyway, after all of that he gave the man a hug. I, of course, saw a photo op and went crazy. Here are a few of the great pics.

Family Fun Night

2008-07-15T17:15:00.006-05:00

On May 29, The Children's Place at ISMC had an open house/family fun night. There was a big bounce house, pizza, and a lot of friends. Several of the rooms were set up to be different climates, there was a desert, jungle, beach, etc. The themes were to show the parents what their kids were learning about. Reed had a blast, and it was great for Steve and I to see how Reed is progressing in school. He is getting so big and so smart, I can't believe it!! Here are some cute pics. Enjoy!

The Much Anticipated Long Overdue Update

2008-07-14T19:49:00.014-05:00

I know, I know, it's been like 6 months since I've had an update. So I will recap the events of the last few months briefly.

MARCH

We celebrated Easter with Reed and three egg hunts, one at home, one at MimiPops, and a neighborhood hunt. The best part was all the eggs were fake, so no stinky messes. He discovered the prize egg, which contained $1. This, coincidentally, is the same amount of money that used to be in the prize eggs I found when I was a little girl. It obviously hasn't been adjusted for inflation. Nevertheless, he opened the egg and yelled "Cash" and couldn't have been happier.

Also during March, I took Reed to the Zoo. As always, we had a great time checking out all the animals. He particularly enjoys the aviary and the seals, so those are always the first stops. We took a trip through the Oklahoma Trails where Reed had a confrontation with a very robust turkey. It would walk right up to the glass and stare at Reed, and then Reed would walk up to glass and stare at turkey. It was like in high school when you knew a fight was about to break out, but then the teacher would come and break it up. It was pretty funny. Then we saw the rarest of all species, not seen since the late 1980's in Oklahoma: the fullet, that's right, a female mullet. I had to get a picture otherwise I had no proof that it still existed. So I have included it for your enjoyment.

APRIL
At the beginning of April, I accompanied Reed to the Stephen Fite concert at Rose State College. The Children's Place at SWMC takes a trip every year to see this one-man show that gets the kids involved with singing and dancing. It was once again a great show and Reed had a blast. He is still talking about Stephen Fite. In fact, the other day I was giving him a bath and he was playing with a foam syringe and a cone. He took the syringe and using suction fixed it to the cone and was using it as a megaphone saying " Wadies and gentuman, welcome to the Stephen Fite concert. I hope you enjoy the show". I can't remember what I wore today and he remembers everything about that concert! Anyway, the whole gang was there and had a great time.

THE TULSA ADVENTURE

2008-02-27T18:20:00.008-06:00

On January 12, Steve and I took Meester to the aquarium in Tulsa. It was our first time to go and it was pretty cool. Besides the overwhelming fish smell (imagine that) it was really interesting. They have an underwater tunnel that you can walk through, and Reed thought that was fun. He also enjoyed feeding the turtles and running up and down the hallways. Alas, we completed our visit by heading to the gift shop to drop $15 on salt water taffy and a mini slinky. I'm including a few pics I took of some random sea creatures and one appropriately named "Big-faced fish".
Enjoy-
Ginger

CRAZY PERCY PICS

2008-01-04T20:43:00.000-06:00

There isn't much I can say about these pictures, except that the cat thinks he is human. Reed's shoes were on the couch and Percy was looking at them curiously. I decided to try them on the cat just for fun and they fit. Good to know that Percy and Reed both wear a size 10. I'm quite sure that if anyone from PETA is looking at this blog I'm going to get a nasty letter. Anyway, even if Percy doesn't do much, he is good for a few laughs now and then. Enjoy!!

Jasmine Moran Children's Museum

2008-01-03T21:06:00.002-06:00

On January 3rd, I took Reed to Seminole to the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum. We've been there before, but every time we visit I'm amazed at how much fun it is, and not just for Reed. They have a miniature Homeland store where you can shop and ring up your own groceries. There is an actual old ambulance that you can play in. The firetruck is one of Reed's favorites, along with bubble-making factory. There is a real airplane cockpit that you can climb into, and a play airplane that you can ride up and down. I could go on and on, but if you haven't been there, I highly recommend going. Reed is following in his mommy's footsteps in one picture; he went to the hospital area, picked up a baby and stethoscope and started listening to it, HOW CUTE!! He also found a good deal on a loaf of bread, and made a few VERY important phone calls in his office. Anyway, we had a blast and can't wait to go back.

MERRY CHRISTMAS PART TWO: THE GRANDMOTHERS

2007-12-26T20:35:00.000-06:00

On the 26th Reed and I headed down to Frederick to visit Momo and Gigi, my grandmothers. We had a great time visiting with my family, and once again, Reed came back with a car full of presents. While in Frederick Reed had a blast playing with two of his second cousins. Lance and Reed played with some John Deer tractors in the hallway at Momo's. At Gigi's house, which is on a farm, Reed decided to treat us to his cacophonous concerto on the piano. He also ran into an old friend by the name of Sherry. Sherry is the neighbor's male dog; I don't know why its name is Sherry, don't even ask. Anyway, Sherry is a good size dog, but very sweet and mild mannered. Regardless, Sherry scared Reed half to death and he came in crying. Then to make matters worse, we made him give his cousin Rachel a hug. I don't know which was more traumatic for him. After it was all said and done, we had a great Christmas season and are looking forward to doing it all over again next year!
Ginger

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2007-12-25T17:22:00.000-06:00

Christmas morning began at 6:30 for me, as I was scrambling to get into the bathroom to get dressed before anyone else. I wanted to be ready when Reed came down the hall to find his Hummer sitting by the tree. Some moments you just have to sacrifice a little extra sleep for, and this was one of them. Prior to Reed finding his Santa gift, Percy needed to inspect it to make sure it was just right, or maybe he thought it was for him, who knows. Anyway, Reed made out like a bandit, as usual, and now we need a bigger home. Everyone was pleased with their gifts, and as we were opening them the sunlight was pouring into the living room, it was gorgeous. The moment, however, was ruined as Reed tried to drive his Hummer through the dining room wall. Fun times!! We had a delicious Christmas dinner and everyone went their separate ways. It was a great holiday, but I was glad to get back to normal life. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.
Ginger

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

2007-12-24T17:00:00.000-06:00

This was the first year we have ever had Christmas at our home, so it was very exciting to have my family over to stay the night. Steve, Reed, Uncle Cody and Aunt Nicaela, and MimiPops(the collective term Reed calls my mom and dad) were all there. We had plenty of tasty treats to spoil any diet, and even more laughs. We have a tradition that Pops reads The Night Before Christmas, and Cody reads the Christmas Story from the Bible. Pops, bless his heart, cannot make it through the story without being laughed at for some reason or another, usually a bad pronunciation (like e'er he drove out of sight was "ear he drove out of sight"). I know, I know, we're a tough crowd. So by the time Cody was ready to read his story, everyone was laughing hysterically and Reed wouldn't sit still for anything. We also had quite a laugh when we discovered Percy with evil eyes sitting on the toilet. Needless to say, it was difficult getting Reed to bed, but everyone had a great time.
Ginger

FIRST SNOW

2007-12-17T16:34:00.000-06:00

Today we had the first good snow of the season. Reed and Percy alike were mesmerized by the falling flakes. So, like any good mother, I took my child out in the frigid weather with enough layers on that his coat would barely zip. I was hesitant, but Reed was very excited. He had his very first taste of snow, but only after he was assured it would not make him "yucky", his euphemism for vomiting. We were only outside for 5 minutes before the kids were ready to go inside. You can see Percy's cat lips telling me a thing or two, along with his puffed tail. If only it would stick around for Christmas.
Ginger

Sports anyone?

2007-11-17T18:04:00.000-06:00

Okay, so we thought it would be fun to let Reed explore different sports. Great idea in theory, but our backyard has turned into a smorgasbord of sports paraphernalia. We have two soccer goals spaced the length of our yard apart, a tether ball, several footballs, a foam baseball bat and ball, and now a golf set. Here are a few pics of the "Master" teeing and lining up his shot. Too bad those little junior sets don't come in a left handed version, Reed was really trying to get the glove on. Steve is so proud!!
Ginger

BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY

2007-11-12T17:32:00.000-06:00

Today Reed and I spent the day enjoying the wonderful fall weather and admiring the gorgeous colors of the foliage. We played soccer, looked at the leaves and flowers up close, and took amazing pictures. It is rare to get pictures of Reed sitting still, but today we were able to get a few really good shots that show his curiosity and sweetness. Enjoy!
Ginger

OH YOU!!!

2007-11-10T15:00:00.000-06:00

Today Reed went to his very first OU game. Steve had won tickets and since I had to work he thought he would try to take Reed. It was OU vs. Baylor, so it wouldn't have been a bad game to leave early if Reed didn't cooperate. Much to Steve's surprise, Reed loved it and they stayed the whole game. When the fans would yell Boomer across the stadium, Meester would very enthusiastically yell Sooner along with the crowd. He also loved kick off and would say OOOOOOOOOOOO U, with everyone else. Steve said he would stand up and clap his hands, and especially loved the band. He took these pics before they went to the game, so he didn't lose the camera. So, in 2022 when Reed is playing football for OU, we can look back and remember how cute he was in that little jersey. Enjoy!

ANOTHER HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2007-11-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

Reed's friend birthday party was at Jump Zone this year. He had several of his friends from school come and they had a blast. The arena is full of huge inflatables that you climb, jump, and slide on. (Yes, it's the same place Steve broke his foot!) They played for a little over an hour and then we went to our party room where we had cake and opened presents. There is a huge inflatable throne where the birthday boy sits, and everyone took a turn feeling like a king, or queen. When it was time to open presents, all the kids helped out. It was so much fun to watch all of their faces as they unwrapped the gifts. Paper was flying, ribbon was covering the floor, and I had no idea who the gifts came from. It was chaotic, but so much fun. Everyone had a good time, until they found out that they couldn't go back and jump after eating cake. So despite tears when leaving, it was a great success.

It's hard to share the throne!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REED!!!

2007-11-01T19:08:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe how fast time goes by. Four years ago at 6:03 pm Reed was born, and I can remember the day like it was yesterday. How blessed my life has been since that moment!! He is truly a gift from God and I cherish everyday I get to spend with him. Reed has brought so much joy to our lives, and everyday gets better and better. Tonight we just celebrated with Steve, Reed, and I and we gave him his first bike. His big birthday party with his friends will be on Saturday at Jump Zone. I've included some pics from tonight, but I will post some from Saturday's party later. Enjoy!!
Ginger

ARRGGGHHH MATEY!

2007-10-31T18:40:00.000-05:00

LISTEN YE AND HEAR ME SPEAK, THIS IS THE CUTEST PIRATE YE E'ER DID SEE!
Alright, enough pirate talk. Well, I'm sure you've gathered that Reed was a pirate for Halloween. It took an act of Congress to get the child in the costume, but once he saw the other kids come to the door dressed up, he couldn't wait to get going. He made a sweep of the neighborhood and then we went to MimiPops to surprise my mom. It was a perfect night for Trick or Treating and we had a blast. Enjoy the pics!
Ginger

Backyard fun

2007-10-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

Today was a gorgeous day! It is finally starting to feel like fall, and to enjoy the beautiful weather we are spending a lot more time outside in the backyard. Reed barely fits in his cozy car, but loves to put his feet up and let us push him around the yard super fast. This, perhaps, is why my husband is still in his cast! I'm pretty sure that running and kicking a soccer ball were not on his discharge instructions, but I'm only a nurse, what do I know? Anyway I've included a few pics of the crazy cozy coupe fun as well as Reed "wrecking" his car and trying hard to fix it. P.S. We found out my father-in-law will be having triple bypass surgery on Monday October 29. We would appreciate your prayers.
Thanks-
Ginger

MORE PUMPKINS!

2007-10-26T16:33:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I took Reed to TG farms in Norman. It is another wonderful place to bring kids. The day we went, there were several schools visiting as well. We had a great time with the huge corn maze, petting zoo, and of course, the pumpkin patch. There were also two large play areas that centered around stacked hay bales and slides. Who knew something so seemingly simple could entertain a kid for 2 1/2 hours? Reed also enjoyed the tricycle race track and just running around. The weather was perfect and I've included a few pics. Enjoy!

A DAY AT THE FARM

2007-10-01T18:15:00.000-05:00

On Friday Steve, Reed, and I took a trip to the Orr Family Farm in Southwest OKC. If you've never been, it is a great place to go with kids. This time of year is especially fun with the pumpkin patch and in December, they will have all of the Christmas decorations up. You just can't beat crisp autumn air mixed with the smell of fresh home-made kettle corn! Reed and Steve ran through a maze, we took a train ride around the farm and out to the pond, and raced go-carts. The best part was the hay ride that takes you to their pumpkin patch. We had gotten on the back trailer and had the entire thing to ourselves, until a herd of 7-9 year old girls got on with us and relentlessly sang "BINGO". It was like that "99 bottles of beer" song that never seems to end. Anyway, we got to the pumpkin patch and we each picked a sugar pie pumpkin to take home. Then, we rode back to the barn with the same herd of girls and of course, Bingo. Despite the flashbacks to 2nd grade music class, we had a great time. If you get a chance,I would highly recommend going. Until next time-
Ginger

MEET ME AT THE ZOO

2007-09-22T19:47:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

Today was "Meet me at the Zoo" day with Reed's school. Everyone that attends the Children's Place was invited to come to the zoo with their families and meet up with friends for a picnic. We had a great time, as always, looking at all the animals. Reed particularly enjoyed the paddle boats. This was our first time to ride them, and little did I know that I wasn't even tall enough to reach the pedals until I was in the boat. I had to use a life preserver as a booster seat! How sad is that? Reed and I went by ourselves because Steve is still limping around in his boot, but I wish he would have been there, he would have gotten a big laugh out of that. I've attached a few pictures I took of Meester, showcasing his talents as train conductor and first mate. Enjoy!

Ginger

First blog

2007-09-19T20:43:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, I finally decided to join the 21st century and start a blog. Let's see if I can manage to keep this one up, unlike my MySpace page that I haven't been to since last year! Just an update about what's going on in my family.

We moved back to Norman in May and are settling into our new home. Reed loves the big backyard, and Steve and I are enjoying the extra space and quiet street we live on. Percy of course, is just enjoying being the lazy old rug he always has been. I've included a picture that fully demonstrates this.

Steve is still at Hitachi and he spent the last two weeks doing some sort of networking that involved a ladder and managed to come home in one piece everyday. Then we took Reed to Jump Zone, and for those of you who aren't familiar with it, the building is full of inflatables that are essentially "boo-boo proof". Well, my husband, who I shall start calling "Grace", was getting out of one of the slides and slipped and broke his foot. So, he's in a boot for 4-6 weeks.

Reed, who by the way has never gotten hurt at Jump Zone, is quickly approaching his 4th birthday. I can't believe that my baby is growing up so fast! He also seems to be quite the ladies man in Ms. Teri's class at his preschool. I've been replaced as the main woman in his life by two 3-year old girls! He is also quite the computer czar. I should not have to fight a 3-year old over the computer to check my email or do my banking. If he needs to go potty he will watch me like a hawk, and then say "Mommy, you don't get on the computer." I have to sneak around to pay my bills, because apparently the world would come to an end if he missed Wubbzy or the Backyardigans! He is also showing quite an interest in golf. My husband even bought him a left-handed putter just his size, so look out Tiger!

As for me, nothing new going on. Just working and enjoying everyday I get to spend with my family. Anxiously awaiting 60 degree weather and beautiful fall leaves, as well as the OU/Texas game. Well, it's bedtime for my little mister, so until next time.

Ginger