A Rough Few Days

There are days in your life when all you really need is to vent, to talk to your best friend, and to let it all out.  This week has kind of been like that for me.  Kindergarten has been rough on Will and even tougher on me.  I am in a totally unfamiliar zone here with Will and haven't really learned how to deal with all the emotional up's and down's and sad times between him and I and this transition.  All I know is that I have had to surrender him to God and open up my heart and ears to what God is telling me to do for my son.  How to pray for him, what to pray, how to show him I still care and love him even though I am not there, in the present, with him.  I have had to let go this week and give God all the reigns and just pray and believe that Will will come through this.  To top off all of this, both the boys and I are still battling off and on this week a stomach issue that has plagued us all with troubles.  Talk about a rough week!  This picture reminds me a little of what I have had to do this week:

 I laugh every time I see that picture, but that is totally true for this week for me:)  

Today, I took Will some lunch at school.  I wanted to spend a few moments with him today just to encourage him and uplift him to give him strength to make it trough the last part of the day.  He requested CFA and of course, I delivered!  Please excuse my bags under the eyes and the extremely tired and worn down look.  Like I have stated above...it's been a week.  Let's just leave it at that!

Happy 30th Birthday Kasey!

 Happy 30th birthday to my cousin Kasey!  She is actually in Seattle right now on a little birthday vacation but I thought I would send out a shout out birthday blog to her anyways!

Kasey is my cousin and my sons second cousin.  Second cousin is not a good enough title for Kasey since she is so involved in our lives.  She is "Aunt Kasey" to my boys and probably always will be.  Kasey is our go-to girl for camping, rafting, and outdoor activities.  River rafting sunburn=check.  Beach boogie boarding sunburn=pool.  Hanging out at the pool with me and boys sunburn=check.  

She is the only one of my friends and family...and when I say only, I MEAN ONLY one of my friends that will go with me to Discoverland to watch the play "Oklahoma" for the millionth time.  Summer in Oklahoma, hot, bugs, outside, 45 minutes away.  Yep, she'll go with me every time and never complain!!  

Kasey comes to all Will's games (or at least if she is not working).  Tball, she was there.  Flag football, I am sure she will be there when the games start in a few weeks.  She actually probably really enjoyed Will's Tball games a few years back because she got to see me wear orange for the first time ever.  Steven still wouldn't be caught dead in it, but since Will's team was the Cowboys, I thought I would go ahead and support.  Kasey is an OSU fan, so she loved that I am sure!!


Kasey is a great babysitter and my boys love her and her doggie Sadie Belle so much.  Look how little Owen is in this picture!  She has been watching them and helping us out as long as I can remember.  She loves them like her own and they in turn love her tremendously!  

Owen has a special place in her heart.  I know she loves Will and adores him too but maybe it's because she was in the hospital room with me moments after pushing little brother out.  She was there with her camera (that comes everywhere with Kasey) and was one of the first people to hold Owen.  She has been around since the very beginning with him and Owen knows no different.  There's Momma, Daddy, Will, and "Tasey" in his book:) 

I feed Kasey, she feeds us.  That's how it goes in this relationship.  Kasey works downtown at a restaurant called Daily Grill.  The boys love to eat there, visit Kasey, and disturb all the nicely dressed work people there for a quick bite to eat.  Oh well, when it's nice she snags us a table outside.  

Happy birthday to my wonderful cousin and friend.  I hope you have a great time on your trip and make lots of special memories!  The boys and I are so very thankful for you and all you do for them and our family.  We love you very much Kasey Lynn!!!  

My O Man

 Now that my big kid is off to school every day me and my little kid get to spend some good one on one time together.  He is such a good sport and let's me drag him along with me everywhere and never complains.  Good thing because he has to go and doesn't have much choice in the matter.  Errands are not something I usually enjoy doing with this boy due to his EXTREME energy levels, but sometimes can not be avoided. 

Today after a few errands we came home to build on the "construction site".  This is what Will and Owen both call the hammer, nail, wrench (or ranch as Owen calls it) station.  Owen loves to have free reign to hammer and drill as loud as he wants without brother telling him to stop due to his ears ringing.  Oh, to be 3 and not care about anything else but seeing how long you can play with your "ranch"!

 My little O man is full of energy, full of smiles, full of hops, full of skips, full of jumps, full of joy.  Pretty much around the clock he is full of life and I love that about him.  Yes, it is a lot of, "Owen no.  Owen stop that.  Owen don't eat that.  Owen put that down.  Owen watch out", but I wouldn't want him any other way.  He is a booger but you can't help but smile at him with his funny sayings and doings on a daily basis. 

You got to watch him because juuussstttt when you think he is quiet and entertaining himself alone and safe, you find him about to pick up some poop to play with....oh Geez!!

A Tale of Two Best Friends

 Most people only get to have one best friend their entire lives.  I have had one for most all of my life (going on 22 years or so).  That is so rare and I know this.  I realize this. I am so thankful for this.  How often can every one of your memories from junior high, high school, and MOST of college be with one person?  That one person is Andrea for me.  We have been through thick and thin, good times, bad times, happy times, sad times, and every thing in between together.  Even distance can't keep us apart (except for the actual miles) as I now classify Andrea as my "Kentucky Best Friend", because God had an even bigger surprise in store for me back a few years ago.  

Her name was Amanda.  Seriously, how lucky am I to get to call two wonderful women my best friends?  Amanda is now classified as my "Oklahoma Best Friend".  No, we do not have as many memories or times together as Andrea and I but no relationship is ever going to compare to that because Andrea and I will always be friends.  God sent someone special for me here in Oklahoma to help with the lonely times and the times when I need someone to hang out with, to vent, and to shoot the breeze with.  My running partner, my car pooler, my work buddy, my girls weekend buddy.  

Andrea loves fashion, designs fashion and ood's fashion.  I get dressed.  I like plaid, and apparently so does Amanda:)  We all three have boys.  We all three have our first born as sons.  We actually all three have so much in common that if Andrea lived in Oklahoma we would be unstoppable, unbeatable, and all three together all the time.  I just know it.  But, that will probably never happen.  I mean, who WANTS to move to Oklahoma...on purpose? 

I seriously love both these girls so much and am so thankful for them on a daily basis.  Sometimes for the same reasons, sometimes for different reasons, but always SO THANKFUL!! 

A Sunday at the Park (Utica Park)

 Owen was finally coming out of his funk over the last few days and starting to feel better.  I, myself, was going stir crazy cooped up in my house for three days.  So, off we went to Utica Park to do some "shopping". I actually didn't buy anything but just let Owen run and play and meander while I window shopped. Pottery Barn is not a fun place to go with a barely 3 year old...just FYI.  Although, he was cute as he walked around and "Oh, that's pretty". "Oh, I like that!"  Me too son, me too.  

Next, it was off to model hats at GAP.  Boy, can he pull these off?  Super cute in the fedora and the winter cap.  If only I didn't have a problem paying $20 for one hat.  I actually wouldn't have that big of a problem with it if I KNEW my boys would keep them on longer than 4 minutes at a time.  They both look so good in hats, but tend to wear them for a short while, take them off and never remember where they last took them off.  Hence, a waste of money on my part.  But, how cute does he look just modeling them for me???

So, you've heard of a tree hugger right?  Well, Owen was a rock hugger in the above picture.  There were about 5 or 6 rocks placed in a circle.  He wanted me to take a picture hugging each one.  Yes, I took 5 pictures of him hugging rocks, but for your reading pleasure I only placed 1 on this blog!  Pretty sad when even a 3 year old has fun at Utica Park just so he can get out of the house!  

Thank you Jesus that he is feeling better and we can move onto another week of work and school.  Next weekend we will be in Norman for Labor Day so look forward to a Norman blog.  I know you're on pins and needles....

A Weekend of Football

 Since God allowed me to have all boys, I guess I MUST get used to the football schedule in the Fall.  I am not only talking about my two sons, but must include my hubby in this equation as well.  Let's see: Friday nights is Will's flag football practice.  Saturday mornings is Will's flag football games.  Sunday afternoon is Steven's flag football games.  Geez Louise.  Throw in college football beginning in September (OU and really any other college teams) that we must watch on any given Saturday and our weekend is full of pigskin.  

Not that I really care.  Look how excited Will is about football.  I hadn't seen him at all yesterday (due to Kindergarten).  He got home, changed clothes, waited for me to make dinner, ate dinner, and ran out the door for practice with Daddy.  I had to stay home to still take care of a puking Owen.  I missed his first practice ever and was sad.  I demanded that Daddy take some shots and these were the two I got.  Will with his best buddy, Mason and another with Will and Coach Torres (Mason's Daddy).  Steven said he had a blast and his favorite part was "running touchdown's".  That's my boy! 

 Football was not over for Will and Steven yet this weekend.  They took off Friday night for Norman to go to a pre-season Dallas Cowboys game on Saturday. Will was too excited about this and would hardly even say bye to me.  Steven was pretty much the same.  Since parking was $50 (highway robbery) they opted to ride the free shuttle from their hotel room.  Thank you Steven.  I appreciate that! 

Look how little my little football player looks in that huge arena.  Crazy how gigantic that place is and how many millions were spent to build a place like that.  Seems like a little overkill to me, but that's just a woman talking:)

I am sure they had a great time and Will now wants to be a Cowboy.  Although, sorry for the OSU fans in our family, but not THAT kind of Cowboy!

The Big Day!

 Have I mentioned lately how Will is starting Kindergarten?  Oh, I haven't?  Yes, Will started Kindergarten on Thursday.  Man oh man.  This has been harder on me emotionally than I thought possible.  I am not a huge cry baby, I am not a huge worrier, I am not overly compassionate to little boys feelings.  Not that I don't care, because I totally do, but when you are a boy mom there is a line that has to be drawn (pretty early on) on how to handle situations like today.  You can't smother, you can't baby, but yet I can't totally be tough either.  Will couldn't see me break down because then he would break down and I didn't want him to be "that" boy that is always crying and clinging on to me.  Believe me, I had enough of that from Will from age 1 day-3 years old.  

He was tough. He was brave.  He was nervous (as I knew he would be).  He walked right in, put his bag in his box, picked up a crayon and started working.  He made me proud to be his Momma.  

I know one day I would look back at today and this new phase and think, "Man, he was so little.  Look how big he is now!"  I know one day I will think that, but right now all I see if my "little" boy growing up too fast, leaving me for 35 hours a week, stuck in a too full class of 28 kids, and my heart hurts.  I know he will do well, I know he loves it, and I know I will eventually get out of this funk.  Until then....I digress.

Now, I have this to look forward to spending my days with.  This sweet face that is always smiling and always getting into trouble.  He took a self-portrait yesterday while he had my phone.  Seriously, this boy can snap 40 shots in 40 seconds.  No lie.  I thought this one was cute though.  Here's to only 1 kid for 35 hours a week!!!

My Mr. Miyagi

So, it turns out this week is a lot of new "firsts" for my Will.  This week was his first MMA class (mixed martial arts), his first day of Kindergarten, and his first flag football practice.  Truthfully, that's a little much for this Momma but he gets to go to the MMA class each week for free since I work there.  Sometimes, if that gets missed, then that is fine because throw in football practice, football games, school 5 days a week, church, and me working 3 days a week...our Kueny schedule is pretty crammed!  He couldn't be more excited to do this MMA class with his two best buds, Mason and Logan.  Mason and Logan are also on his flag football team, so he will get lots of bromance time!  

Here is Will showing off some of his stellar moves, stretches, and positions during class time.  I turned my head right when he took someone down, so I didn't get that shot.  Bummer!  I am sure Will is going to practice it tomorrow on Owen.  Wonder who will win that battle????

Visiting Daddy at Work

 Today we went to go visit Daddy at work during his lunch break.  Steven is doing a job in downtown Tulsa that requires him to be up at 3:30 and to the job site by 4am.  They have to beat traffic and the rush hour of car and pedestrian traffic downtown by the BOK and Williams building.  The boys don't care about traffic, or people on lunch break, or cars.  They had a great time in the 1 1/2 hours we were there.  Right in front of our lunch location was a beautiful garden area for people to sit and relax and enjoy.  I took the opportunity to snap some shots while we walked around waiting for our food to arrive.  The boys don't like to be cooped up, so outside we went.  Will is getting very good at climbing trees.  He actually went higher than when I snapped this picture but I wouldn't let him get any higher than that because Owen was trying to copy him and we all know how that would have turned out!

 Owen was fascinated by the water ponds everywhere and didn't really understand why momma wouldn't let him play inside them.  Will even asked why he couldn't get in.  He said, "Why Mom, they aren't deep."  Boys.  At least they asked before just jumping right on in.  I finally allowed Owen to lie down and feel the water without fear of him falling in leaning over.  That boy is top heavy:)

I enjoyed my time with my boys today in the gorgeous Tulsa weather.  Only one more day home with my little man.....

Momma Blues

Fashion forward!  Don't think so:)  Will demanded that on this "chilly" (it was only 60 degrees) morning they were sunglasses, non-matching flip flops, and too small jackets.  The sunglasses were supposed to make the boys look cool Will said.  They might want to work on that a little more.  Oh, how I love my boys!  

This boy in particular is about to leave this Momma in 2 days for Kindergarten.  How did I go from this: (my earliest picture of Will on FB) to him leaving me in 3 days?  Now he is so big, I just can't stand it:(

Fishin' Sunday

 For our Sunday family night we went to Bass Pro for the 1,102th time this Summer to let the kids all fish.  Problem is, the water was so low and the two smallest ones couldn't resist throwing rocks into the water, so all the fish were swimming away from these 6 children.  I got a few good shots of all of them and how big they are getting!  

Jared Henry: Age 7.  Loves to fish and loves to apparently wear camo. He is a leader in every sense of the word and has a very kind spirit!  Has a missing front tooth and is about to begin 2nd grade.

Ava Corrine (or Corinne...I never can remember): Age 6. Likes to fish also, but also loves fashion.  She can pull off an OSU jersey like no other and make it look cute.  Had tons of missing teeth but now has all her big girl teeth.  She is about to start 1st grade.

Will Parker: Age 5. LOVES to fish and wishes he could do it every weekend, along with bowling or camping.  Loves to play with Jared and follows his every move if and when they are together.  Has no missing or even loose teeth.  He is about to start Kindergarten (sniff sniff).


Emma JoElle: Age 4. I don't really think fishing is her thing.  She just kind of walks around and observes everything going on.  Mermaid Barbies and baby dolls are more her thing.  I don't believe she has any loose teeth either in her little tiny body.  She is about to start Pre-School.

Jack Arthur: Also 4. This boy is a pro at fishing and caught the most fish tonight at a whopping 2 total!  He loves the outdoors and any sports that belong in the outdoors he wants to play.  He hasn't had the opportunity to meet the tooth fairy either, but I have heard he knows when she is coming because of big brother loosing teeth, so he has it planned next time to come in and snatch Jared's money in the middle of the night.  Little stinker!

Owen Michael: Age 3. Last but not least this "little" guy loves to fish, but not really.  He says he wants to go to Bass Pro and fish but rarely does he last 5 minutes.  He wants to run, explore, throw rocks, get in the mud, steal other people's poles, yell at the ducks, pull grass, jump in the water, etc.  This kid never stops...hence his picture is the only one in motion because I couldn't get him to slow down long enough to snap a shot.  He has not lost a tooth yet and is about to start 2 day a week Pre-School. 

Have you noticed how all six of these little people are all stair stepped in age?  I think it's pretty cool that they get to grow up around their cousins and have so much fun and make memories every time they are together.  Family is awesome and we are blessed to live so close to each of them!