Oakley's Been Tagged!

Oakley was tagged by her blogging buddy, Flower. I followed Flower's journey home to her family and have kept up with her because she's just too precious and her family is way too cool. Check out their vacation escapades -- never a dull moment!! Sawyer LOVES their VW bus!!

Anyway, Oakley and I sat down this afternoon and she provided all the answers to the questions. You'll see for yourself that I didn't edit these.

















Name: Oakley Xinxiang Curd

Age: I'm three years old. I'm almost 4.

Favorite Activities: I like to paint. I like to color. I draw pictures and play in my room. I like to get messy. I play outside and ride my bicycle.

Favorite Foods: corn, muffins, yogurt, pineapple

Least Favorite Foods: I don't like snakes. But I like cheeseburgers. Sometimes I don't like mustard.

Favorite Music: ABC's, God Bless America, I am 16 ... going on 17 (from Sound of Music), and I like Mary Poppins

Favorite Toys: my dollhouse, puzzles, games and Hungry Hippo, Hi Ho Cheerio, my bitty baby and her stroller -- she's so cute

Favorite Books: Fancy Nancy, Goodnight Moon, Popcorn, and that Polar Bear book

Favorite Items of Clothing: my princess shirt, my princess dress, my princess slipper shoes (are you beginning to see the pattern?)

What Makes Me Happy: dancing, books, Mommy, Sullivan, Hagan, Daddy, stinky dog Scrabble (insert giggle), my brother Sawyer

What Makes Me Sad: when my belly hurts, when I miss Mommy (be still my heart)

I TAG: Claire, Emery, Caeleigh, and Lily

And on a side, note, these photos are for you, Lynn. Oakley is modeling an original Livi Lu creation and we LOVE IT!! This may be THE cutest top I've ever seen and Lynn, you need to send some business cards my way so I can pass them out for you. You are, oh, so talented!

Favorite Photo Friday

Hagan and Oakley
July 4, 2008

A Brother's Love

Precious brother
can you see
What the Lord has given you and me?
The chance to grow
and find our way;
But, still we cannot
stay away.

Not just a name
upon a tree.
The Lord has made us
family.
To share our lives
both good and bad,
To come together
happy or sad.

A helping hand
within our grasp,
A friendship that you know
will last.
Not just a name
upon a tree;
The Lord has made us
family.

Thankful I shall always be,
The Lord has made you
brother to me.

--Brenda Darlene Kijowki

Patriotic Concert

Last night we joined family and friends at a Patriotic Concert on the beautiful grounds of Transylvania University and Gratz Park. This annual event is one of our favorites -- a time for picnicking, playing in the fountains, enjoying the music of the Lexington Philharmonic and Lexington singers, and participating in some Grand Ole' Flag waving.

My good friend, Sherry, and her beautiful family were in from Utah and we really enjoyed spending the evening with them. Sawyer and her oldest son, Adam, have been friends since they were preschoolers.

After they moved to Utah, Sawyer and Adam maintained a special friendship and bond, with the ability to "pick up right where they left off," even after spending time apart for months- on-end. Adam vacationed with us many summers, and Sawyer vacationed with them on many occasions. These boys have grown into young adults right before our eyes, and I'm so proud of who they've become.

Sawyer and Adam decided last night to run in the Bluegrass 10,000 footrace this morning -- this annual event is part of our community's Fourth of July Celebration, and most of the runners train for months in preparation. Adam didn't even bring running shoes, so he and Sawyer left the concert early to purchase shoes at a local sporting goods store. Sawyer spent the night with him last night and they headed down bright and early for the race, which began at 7:30am. Once there, they decided they were really too tired to run because they stayed up all night talking and catching up.

So instead of running, they headed to the Krispy Kreme store and munched on donuts while watching the runners round the first mile-marker. Teenagers!

Happy Fourth of July
to you and your family.

God Bless America!!

Favorite Photo Friday

On the dock at Dale Hollow Lake.

"THAT would not be great!"

Oakley is such a little creature of habit. She thrives on routine and she likes things orderly. She ALWAYS sleeps with the same teddy bear, rabbit and her pink blanket. She has to have all closet doors, dresser drawers and night stand drawers shut tightly before she can go to sleep. She says her blessing before EVERY meal, whether at home or dining out. And without fail, she washes her hands after going potty.

So imagine her surprise, when I suggested she go potty in the middle of the lake. Four adults and eight kids had pulled into a beautiful little cove to swim and play in the water. Oakley told me, rather discreetly, that she had to go pee in the potty. I explained that it was a long way to the bathroom at the marina and told her it was okay to go in the lake.

"THAT would not be great!" she exclaimed in horror.

After a little prompting and reassuring, however, she did manage to go.

Fast forward to the next morning as we were loading the boat with our cooler, floats and towels for our day excursion. She told me that she had to go potty so I took her hand and we headed down the dock toward the bathroom at the marina.

"I don't want to go to that potty," she said with disappointment in her voice.

"I like to pee in the lake!"

Time with Friends

We just got home from a fabulous week at Dale Hollow Lake! We vacationed with some of our closest friends, Joe and Nicole, and their four precious girls. It was a week of boating, swimming, campfires, roasting marshmallows, fishing, cliff jumping, tubing and skiing. The weather was perfect, the company was great and we all had a wonderful time!



The kids all got along so well and I think they really enjoyed each other -- I know mine did!! I've heard from all the boys that we need to spend more time together (and we do). Hagan is already plotting a get-together at a water park next week.

I love this family dearly, cherish their friendship and respect their values. It was so great to finally get to spend some quality time together. Our schedules are so busy that Nicole and I usually manage just a phone call every week or so, and then, it's just the basics. Although we've been friends for ages, and we don't live THAT far away from each other, this is the first time we've been able to spend this much time together in a LONG time, and it was great getting to know each of their girls even better.


We spent the week at a cabin on one of the most beautiful lakes ever! We were out of cell phone range, and didn't have access to the internet, so I spent much of today catching up on emails and some of my favorite blogs . . . in between doing loads of laundry.





Although we had the best time, it was good to get home. Oakley didn't take a nap at all during our vacation because we spent all day on the water and she didn't want to miss a thing.

She caught up on some much needed sleep and took a 3 1/2 hour nap this afternoon while I uploaded over 350 photos (be prepared for more posts:)! She was content to stay in her pajamas all day and while eating lunch this afternoon, she commented, "I'm so happy to be at my home!"

How sweet is that?!?