November & Early December

 Sledding on our snow days

 

Opening Night, OKC Thunder Season

 

Haven't blogged for awhile. I try to update once a month, but have not done very well during this late fall season. School has been going well for all three of us. Emma has changed from gymnastics to cheerleading and is really enjoying it. She has also started violin lessons. We have been busy with OSU football as usual. Emma and I traveled to Austin, TX for the OSU-UT game. We also lost a heartbreaker to our rival from Norman which cost us the conference title. We are now in full Christmas mode and are enjoying the season (see 2013 Christmas card). Cathy & I are headed to Chicago Saturday morning  for a fun winter weekend Our oldest daughter Candice recently became engaged and we couldn't be happier for her. We look forward to having the opportunity to be together with all the kids, spouse, granddaughter, girlfriend, and fiancé sometime this year! Holiday Blessings to everyone!

October....

 

 

 Our new kitchen

 



 Carol, our favorite OSU cheerleader and PCN alum.

 Gameday! Cowboys vs TCU

 Buggy ride at Cattlemen's Cafe

 Pumpkinville in downtown OKC

 

Five Years With Emma....

On September 22, we celebrated five years since Emma joined our family. The journey has been one of the most exciting adventures of our lives. We than God for this blessing he gave us.

 

 

Video: Five Years With Emma



Family Pictures

 

Here are our family pictures taken for our church directory.

We thought they turned out pretty well.

Labor Day Weekend, Houston, TX, OSU vs MSU.....

The OSU football season began Labor Day Weekend so we traveled

down to Houston to meet the Belz's and watch the Cowboys defeat the

Mississippi State Bulldogs at Reliant Stadium. The heat and humidity were

brutal, but Reliant was a comfortable 72 degrees.  Looking forward to seeing

them again in October for OSU homecoming!





A successful first week of school!

Emma, Cathy and I completed our first week of school Friday. It was a good week for all of us! Emma likes her teacher Ms. Dotter and is excited one her school BFF's (she has several BFF's by the way) Rylee is in her class as well as Bennett who is our pastor's son.

She is contemplating whether she wants to continue with gymnastics at Dynamo or if she wants to switch to cheer and tumbling at Twist & Shout. She is also going to keep playing some tennis and golf this fall and has not decided about taking dance yet. She loves to stay busy and we don't care what she does, just make sure it's something she enjoys.

I have an awesome teaching schedule and my kids are great! Looking forward to year 25 being a good one! OSU football starts Saturday and we are heading down to Houston Friday night to meet the Belz's and watch the Cowboys take on the Miss State Bulldogs at Reliant Stadium. It will be a fun weekend!

Summer is winding down.....

Back Hand Spring!

 

 

Learned to play golf this summer!

 

Coach Starkey's Discover Tennis Program at PC North.

 

Top of Mt. Scott near Lawton

 

Lost her first tooth!

 

First Day of School at James L. Dennis Elementary

 

Big Sis Candice visiting from Japan.

 

Candice and Raph.

 

Austin & Nadia

 

Good to have her home!



Vacation in Michigan With The Belz's

"Sail In" Cottage, built in 1901.

 

Family pic at the light house pier.

 

Binh Duong Beauties

 

Hamming it up on the shores of Lake Michigan

Epworth Heights is like stepping back in time.

 

Catching her first fish (thanks Hank)!

Our partners in crime

Hank, Tricia, and Sophie Belz

Lake Michigan Sunset

Even in Michigan, "Go Pokes"!

We were blessed to spend the week at Epworth Heights, Ludington, MI

with our good friends Hank, Tricia, and Sophie Belz. Many of you

already know this, but Emma and Sophie lived together in the same

orphanage in Vietnam when they were babies. We always have a great

time and thank the Belz's for inviting us up to "Pure Michigan"!