New Life Ranch

We were blessed to spend Sunday and Monday with my dear friend Marla and her boys at New Life Ranch. I spent at least one week of my summer from fourth to eleventh grade at the Ranch. Marla and I met as campers sometime in the 90s (sadly, neither of us remember exactly which summer - Meg, I'm sure you remember!). Marla and her husband Luke now live and serve on staff at New Life Ranch. What an amazing place to raise a family. Between the two of us, we have four boys ages 4,3,2, and (almost)1. Needless to say, the boys made plenty of messes, plenty of noise, and had plenty of fun together.

Keaton loved petting and feeding the horses

 

Wyatt (2), Peter (4), Mark (1), Keaton (3)

riding in the gator before breakfast!

This is the "Wet Willie"

I thought Keaton would be a little hesitant sliding down that huge slide into the creek - NOPE! He probably went down it 10 times!

Swimming to the ladder

Beautiful waterfall at Flint Creek

The boys had a blast wading in the creek, collecting minnows and rocks

Of course, Mark wouldn't be left out!

 

Marla's boys are so good-natured and funny! My favorite quote of the weekend from Peter before lunch on Monday, "Mom, there's just nothin' like God and a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich!" :-)

Great Memories!

Home on the range

 Woolaroc is awesome - so unique and SO Oklahoma.  It is a working ranch right outside of Bartlesville with acres of native and exotic wildlife including several different types of buffalo, cattle, deer, ostrich, and even some zebras. I have so many childhood memories here - field trips, day camps, family outings.

 On Saturday, we took a picnic lunch and made a day of it. We made some memories.

My babies looking at the baby chicks in the petting zoo

Petting  a bunny

a family of deer

One of the highlights was visiting the Mountain Man camp, where we got to see how real Indians and Mountain Men would have lived in early frontier days. We all got to throw and tomahawk, shoot a rifle, and learn how to tan a bobcat skin. It was so much fun!

Even Keaton had a turn with a rifle. His gun was capped (but don't tell him that).

Emma's turn!

Mark enjoyed crawling around in the teepee

And stopping to smell the flowers

The kids with Mountain Man Wes.

Scary!!

The Woolaroc museum has one of the greatest and most unique collections of western artifacts in the country. My boys didn't last long in here, but we couldn't leave with out seeing the working model of an Indian powwow.

 

Or the shruken heads, of course!

Such a fun day! 

Parks and Rec

All the cousins had to go home on Sunday for school. :-(

Thankfully, Grammie and Papa were around to show my boys a good time.

One morning, we visited the Kids Planet playground in Greer.

On another morning, we visited Reedy River Falls Park in downtown Greenville.

The boys kinda had fun. Can you tell?

Birthdays!

After the cousins portrait fiasco, we headed over to Chuck E. Cheese for Matthew's 4th birthday party.

We chowed down on pizza and cake, and had  a great time celebrating with Matthew.

 

Matthew and Aunt Lisa in the ticket blaster - so funny!

 

Cousins boogy down in front of the blue screen



Mark even got into it!




Matthew is one of the sweetest, happiest kids I know.
We are so thankful he is in our family! Happy Birthday, Matthew!

 On Sunday night, Mark had his first 1st birthday party. I cannot believe that my baby is almost a year old.
I have a feeling that won't be the first time you hear me say this over the next few weeks.  



that birthday hat lasted all of about 4 seconds

 

Proud bubba blowing out the candle


 

One more cousins shot. I love MEL's face in this one.



He thoroughly enjoyed his birthday cake!



another proud brother moment

Grammie made Mark the most beautiful photo book highlighting his first year in pictures.
Such a special gift!