Backyard Back-to-School Bash Numero Siete!

Last Friday we hosted one of our favorite evenings of the year . . . our annual Backyard Back-to-School Bash. This was our 7th one to host, and it was a great time as always!

In the past, I have created a FB event to invite people to the bash and keep everyone updated on what they needed to know. This year, however, I decided to text an invite instead of mess with a FB page. It worked out just fine and was easier for me. Most of the people we invited this year have been before, so I also didn't feel the need to send out as much information. 

Every year I think we aren't going to have many guests, but every year it turns out just fine. This year was no exception! We ended up with a beautiful evening and a good crowd.

This year - for the first time - we had friends who were dropped off by their parents or drove themselves. Sigh. This means my kiddos are getting too big!

Bren, Easton, Jacob, Gavon, Jaxen, and Oliver

Sadie, Brecklyn, Blake, Brooke, Harper, Bri, Abby, Abby, and Kyrie

Another shot of the girls with Brecklyn looking a little more normal, lol.

Set up for this event has gotten so easy. I remember the first several years we hosted this, it would take us a whole day to get everything ready. Now, the kids are older and are fantastic helpers, and we just don't do as much as far as decorations, crafts, games, etc. Even cleaning up after everyone leaves is much easier and faster. This year, we even trimmed the menu down a bit to just hot dogs, veggies, fruit, and s'mores. We didn't do chili or the trail mix bar, but our guests all brought sides and it was great!

As soon as everyone finished eating, the kids got the volleyball games going. As much as they loved the quad-ball, they like volleyball even more because more can play at a time. Maybe next year we'll do both!

Something special this year was that Lisa and Chloe came down to Oklahoma for the party, AND Jeremy was in town visiting. It was fun for me to have out-of-town family here!

Chloe and Bri

Jeremy, Mom, Chelle, Lisa, and Dad

Of course, Jeremy enjoyed meeting many of the kids' friends. He had some special words for Bri's "friend", Jaxen :-).

I'm pretty sure Bri wasn't thrilled with the situation!

Aside from volleyball, our guests also enjoyed the playset and playhouse like they always do. I'm glad we still have kids young enough to enjoy those activities, too!

Deon, Gracie, Caroline, and Julia

Harper, Bri, and Chloe

Spencer, Stormi, Caroline, Julia, and Deon

Tia, Jody, Dana, Chelle, and Lisa

Harper and Bri

Jeremy handed out many ducks at our gathering. The kids kept seeking him out to get them!

G-Jo, Jeremy, Spencer, and Stormi

Jeremy giving Spencer and Stormi some instructions regarding the ducks.

Sarah, Chelle, Michelle, and Anna

Anna and Chelle

Brianna, Tia, and Lisa

At one point, Caroline fell and busted her knee at the playhouse. Tia took her inside to get it cleaned up and bandaged. Jeremy decided to join in on the fun, haha.

The fire is still a popular spot during the party. I think we went through four bags of marshmallows this year! 

Grampy, Brecklyn, Easton, and Bri

Brecklyn, Sadie, and Brooke

Brooke, Caroline, Julia, Koda, and Brecks

Deon, Julia, Gracie, Caroline, Brecklyn, Brooke, and Sadie

Blake and Brianna . . . Blake has outgrown Bri!

About half-way through the evening, the adults challenged the teens to a volleyball rematch. The teens talked a lot of smack about how they were going to beat the adults this year, but it didn't happen!

The adults came away victorious for the second year in a row!

Tiffanie, Brad, Ross, Chris, Mark, and Renee

Most of our guests left around 9:30pm, but there were a few who stayed a little later. Lisa and Chloe spent the night at our house, and the Smiths and Harper also stayed a little later. The kids enjoyed hanging out on the driveway in the front, but the adults stayed inside away from the bugs.

Chloe, Brecklyn, Brenson, Brooke, Harper, Brianna, and Jaxen

Those who joined us for the fun were: Grampy, G-Jo, Jeremy, Lisa, Chloe, Ross, Tia, Sadie, Caroline, Mark, Anna, Gavon, Blake, Sarah, Oliver, Abby, Gracie, Renee, Britt, Kyrie, Michelle, Koda, Julia, Deon, Easton, Harper, Abby, Jacob, Dana, Stormi, Spencer, Tiffanie, Brad, Jaxen, Brynlee, Lizzy, and our crew. 

This event has become very special to us, and we hope we can continue it for some years to come. It is a blessing to host our friends, laugh together, and just genuinely enjoy each others company!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

The last few summers we've started a new tradition of catching a Tulsa Driller's baseball game with our friends, the S Family. While baseball isn't my favorite sport or my favorite way to spend my time, there's just something so summer about a baseball game. And we always have the sweat to prove it!

OneOK Field

Waiting for the game to begin

This year, the S family brought a couple other friends. The girls always enjoy each other!

Annabelle, Sadie, Brecklyn, and Brooke

Chris and I have been to a few games over the years, and somehow I like them better as I get older.

This night, the Driller's were playing the Catfish, so the Driller's changed their name to the Noodler's for the night, and Hornsby carried around a catfish. Maybe I should say Hornsby stirred up trouble with a catfish because that's definitely what happened!

Hornsby and his catfish, Brooke, Sadie, Annabelle, and Caroline

Hornsby kept hitting Brooke and Sadie in the face with the fish!

Haha

I'm not sure what this crew enjoyed more . . . the game, eating all the things, or the fireworks at the end. Probably all three!

My favorite part about the fireworks at the end of the game is watching the kids enjoy them.

It's definitely a great way to spend a warm summer's evening, and we are thankful for the experience . . . even if it included getting whacked with a catfish, lol!

Brenson is Thirteen Years Old!

It's officially official . . . we have another teenager in the house! 

Brenson is 13 years old!

He's 5'11" and growing every day!

💙

Brenson's birthday was on a Monday this year - and after the craziness of the party this weekend (you can read about it here) - we had a pretty chill day at home which was just perfect. 

Chris and I have a tradition of decorating the kids' bedroom door the night before their birthday. This year, I decided to do posters along with the usual streamers. I delegated the job of making Bren's poster to Chris on Sunday evening, and he promptly finished the poster and hung it on Bren's door. I took a photo of it and commented on how good it looked before realizing that the poster said 12 years instead of 13!

So, Chris got to make a second poster, haha! We got a good laugh out of it!

Another teen in the house . . . time slow down!

Bren's birthday began with an early morning Track & Field practice. Chris sent me these pics of him at practice, and they made me smile. 

Once we got back home from practice, Grampy and G-Jo came by to bring Bren his birthday goodies. Then, we all (minus Chris who had to work) went to lunch at Braum's.

Several months ago, Brenson decided he really wanted a gaming system. He had played video games on our Wii system for several years, but it finally died. We made a deal with him that we would buy him an XBox if 1) He would pay for part of it, and 2) It would be his birthday gift. He agreed, and we bought the XBox a few weeks before Christmas. So, he didn't actually have any gifts to open from us on his birthday. Instead, he asked that I take him and Brooke to a local video game store so he could purchase a few new games. They were so cute with their game plan for finding what they wanted in the store, and came out of the store happy with their new selections. 

Then, they spent the majority of the afternoon trying out the new games! When Bren wants a gaming partner, Brooke is his girl!

For dinner that evening, Chris and I made chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, cream corn, rolls, and cream gravy. This is a meal that all the kids really enjoy, but especially Brenson. He was thrilled with a relaxing afternoon of gaming and his favorite supper!

Of course, the boy wanted ice cream sandwiches for dessert!

What he didn't want, however, was us singing to him. Too bad!!!

To finish off the day, Bren and his sisters all played a game before bed while Chris and I cleaned the kitchen. These moments make my heart so full!

It's crazy how quickly babies turn into teenagers, and I feel like I'm more acutely aware than ever that time passes swiftly. As I watch my boy grow into the young man he is so quickly becoming, I can't help but feel a strong urge to hold onto him as tightly as possible. I know that's not what is good for either of us, though, so instead I'm just cherishing each moment we are given. Thirteen years ago, I could never have imagined the love and joy that would be brought into our lives by this boy. 

Happy birthday, Brenson. We love you!