Yesterday we got to spend the day with my mom in Oklahoma City. She was there for an overnight and it is only about 80 miles from us... so it worked out kind of perfect. We went to the zoo for the first time here. It was really nice. Not as big as the Denver zoo but it was still really good... and sometimes its a good thing to not have such a HUGE zoo!
After the zoo we went to the Oklahoma City memorial... it is a really beautiful memorial... they honored the people who lost their lives very well. So sad to remember what happened on that day... if you are ever in the area you should try to see it.
After we went to the memorial we had some really yummy dinner. We went to this mexican joint called Abuelos. It was way good and the girls loved it... well, kind of. They said their tacos were too spicy but we got dessert and they ate that pretty good! :)

Chloe is still afraid of the hippos... I wonder if she will need counseling!

The girls loved seeing Nana! They had a lot of fun with her... and notice Chloe, her fingers are still in her ears...

One of the things Chloe got excited about at the zoo... when she saw this she yelled, "Look Daddy! A big huge duck!! Can you take my picture on it?!" Well, it was a little too hot to get on it... so she settled for next to it... and I didn't have the heart to tell her it was a goose, not a duck! So, a duck it was!

The OKC zoo has a carousel just like the Denver zoo.. the girls were a little excited!

Nana and the girls at dinner. They were playing tic tac toe... and Nana was letting them win. What a good Nana!

Ireland at the end of the day... they were both so tired! What a fun day!

Here are some pictures of the Memorial... it was so moving to see. Makes you remember that every day is a gift from God... and I am so thankful for what I have in my life... my kids safe, my husband home and safe, loving parents, and so much more. Praise the Lord for every single day!
It is just so overwhelming to think of the amount of people that were affected from this horrible event... if you think about it, say a prayer for the survivors and the victims and their families...

One chair for every person that lost their life that day...

9:03 represents the time of day that the city and nation would be forever changed because of one selfish act of horrible violence... they also have 9:01 displayed to represent the time that the city was "innocent" and 9:02 for the time the bombing happened....

This elm was in a courtyard across the street from the Federal building... its bark is burned but it survived... they call it the Survivor Tree now... kind of symbolic of the nation... old and beaten down and burned but still standing and showing its beauty... I thought these pictures were lovely and moving...

God bless everyone affected on this day...

They aren't the Rockies... but...

... the Wichita Mountains are growing on me! Here are pictures from a fun trip we took to Mount Scott (the tallest "mountain" around here) for a little rock climbing! Its only about 15 minutes from the house and the girls LOVE it! They had loads of fun and there are loads of pictures... so enjoy!

The girls are very good climbers! We will be going back often... They aren't the Rockies... but they are better than nothing!

One smart cookie... or girl... which ever you choose!

Ireland has impressed me again... This is not the first time I have blogged about her doing something that has caught me off guard at how truly gifted she is...
I am not sure if you remember the blog I posted where she was just over 2 years old and she drew a picture a person for the first time. Ireland has always been an easy learner. I have never had to push her to have an interest in books or shapes or anything like that. She was communicating with sign language at 6 months old... she knew all of her shapes by 15 months old... she as talking in full sentences by 16 months old... making up songs shortly after. She has just always been a fast learner. The thing that is the most astounding to me is Chris and I have NEVER gone out of our way to teach her these things (besides the sign language)... she just picks them up. I have never once sat her down and "taught" her all the shapes... but yet she knows them.
I have never worked on her vocabulary with her but yet she tells me things like, "My Nana makes the most exquisite cookies." (Yes Mum, that is a direct quote)... and she talks like that all the time.
I have never once taught her what sounds letters make... never sat down with her a told her how to sound out words... I have read her loads of books and she has asked me questions about how to spell words. But I don't do lessons or what not with her. I don't sit her down with the intention of teaching her how to read and write. If she asks a question, I will give her enough information so she can figure the answer out on her own... but I intentionally don't "teach" her these things...
Why you may ask? Because Chris and I feel like she will learn them sooner than later and there is no reason to push it even if we know she is capable of learning it... I have no doubt in my mind that Ireland is capable of reading... but am I going to sit her down and try to teach her to do it? No. If she comes up to me and says, "Mommy, what does this say?" am I going to help her sound it out until she gets it? Yes....
Anyways, the whole point of this... I have not taught Ireland how to write words yet... we have not worked on spelling... we have sounded out words, but not worked on spelling. So the other day when Ireland brought a "grocery list" to me that she made on her own... and I could read it, I was AMAZED! She took it upon herself to make a list and sounded out all the words by herself with no help from anyone. She just brought be a piece of paper that I could READ!
Sorry if I sound like an overly proud mom... but I guess you can say I am! So, here is the list... see if you can't figure out some of the things on it. Its kind of hard to see in the pics but I think you get the idea!

Keep reading below, I posted 2 other blogs tonight! :)
Again, sorry if I sounded like I was bragging about her... I guess I am... but I don't mean to rub anyone the wrong way... I just can't help but be impressed by her!

My husband, the BBQ King....

I have officially turned into one of "those" bloggers... the ones who blog about completely random things like food... But hey, these were some good ribs... Chris' first ribs... and he was willing to take pictures with his ribs, so you all know that is an opportunity I could not pass up... so here goes my first blog about food... Ribs, to be exact!

Chris looking like a BBQ model... do you think there is a lot of demand for BBQ models? 'Cause I think he might have a future there... if there is a lot of demand that is... which I am almost certain of....

The only thing I contributed to the wonderful meat... a vinegar based BBQ sauce... it was yummy!

The hickory chips used to give not too much... not too little of that southern smokey flavor...

Mopping the perfect BBQ sauce onto the (soon to be) perfect rack of ribs

The finished project... Perfection. I SWEAR! They were so good... moist, tender, fall of the bone perfection!

Back at home!

We have been home for a few days now... and it is great to be home. We had loads of fun in Texas as a family and the girls and I had lots of fun in Colorado too... but it is nice to be home just the 4 of us and relaxing. We haven't done much the last few days, but here are some pictures of it anyway! Enjoy...

Chris got out the girls legos... this is the first time they have played with them since we packed them up before the deployment... so you can say they were a little excited to play with them. They both helped build this tower.

Chloe usually helped knock the towers down. But Ireland did seem to mind so it worked out!

Ireland made this creation all by herself. It was her baby! :) I think it is pretty awesome!

Today I had a headache since I woke up. Needless to say, it was a long day. So tonight we decided to order pizza... then Chris moved a little tv into the girls room (just for tonight) so they could watch a movie and eat some pizza. They LOVED it! They thought it was so cool! Oh the little things that make them happy!

Sea World!!!!!

We are in Texas for a visit... we have had loads of fun while we have been here, but the most fun we've had is at SEA WORLD!!! I was so excited to go and I couldn't wait to take the girls! One of the best parts was that Chrisactually got to come with us! I cannot even tell you how special it was to get to experience something so special and fun with Chris! The girls loved having him there!

So, below are LOADS of pictures! I hope you enjoy!

Below: Ireland and Chloe waiting to go in! They were so excited!!!

Below: Connor by the cool fountains... we were so happy to have him come with us! The girls just love being around him and he had a really good time!

Below: Ireland playing at the water park... the first thing we did. Chloe didn't like it so I don't have pictures of her in here! :)

Below: Ireland and Chloe climbing this really huge cool net... I didn't think Chloe would like it, but they both loved it and did it lots of time!
Below: The next 2 pictures are of the girls on a little kid ride. Connor took a turn riding with both of them. They both did really good and liked it a lot!

Below: Ireland waiting for the Beluga Whale show to start... it was a really cool show!

Below: The girls and Chris... they really did love having him there!Below: I LOVE this picture of Ireland! It was during the Beluga whale show... it was the neatest show... they had whales and dolphins and acrobats. It was really colorful and action packed. While the girls were watching it Ireland leaned over and told me, "I've never seen anything like this in my whole life! It's so tv-ish!!!"
Ha, she was in awe the whole time!

Below: Chloe enjoying the show too!

One of the Beluga whales with its trainer... I was in love with all the animals! They were so cool!

Below: Connor watching the show

Below: Chloe got really tired about half way through the day... but she pulled through it and was great!

Below: Chris and the girls watching the Shamu show... it was the single most AWESOME thing I have ever seen! It was so cool!!

Below: Ireland was amazed by Shamu... she loved every minute of it!

Below: Chloe wouldn't take her eyes off the show either... she says it was her favorite part of the whloe day. She also says that she wants to swim with Shamu when she gets older. So cute!

Below: Chris made us sit in the "splash zone" at the Shamu show... I was a little annoyed because I didn't want to get wet with stinky fish water... but the trainers came by and showed the audience the hand gesture to do that would get Shamu to splash his tail at us... This is Ireland and Chris doing the gesture....

Below: Here is the splash...

Below: Here is Ireland after the splash! :) She thought it was pretty great!


Below: This was the last picture of the day... we stopped by the horses and Chloe was done! She was tired and ready to go home!!

All in all it was a great day. The girls had a blast and so did we! I am already to go back! I told Chris I want to go every time we come to Texas... he said yeah right~ oh well!