Our Tradition

It has kind of become our tradition to go to Cairnie Fruit Farm to celebrate Justus' birthday. You've already seen the blogs about it (when he turned 1 and 2), but this year was better because we had little Piper girl with us too! So here are the kiddos celebrating Justus turning the big 3...

This year, Justus was just about big enough (FINALLY!) to ride around the dirt track on his own!
Well, okay...he sat on the bike by himself, had his feet on the pedals and controlled the steering wheel, but Travis did have to run and push him around the entire track! Props to dad for this one!!
On top of the big haystack maze, with his classic Justus smile :)
Piper LOVED the trampolines about as much as her brother did!

Looking so cute and so grown up! My little man...
Letting dad get some much needed rest. Ha!!

Then onto the giant 'Jumping Pillow' where every year Trav terrorizes children of all ages and sizes!

Sandboxing it for a little while.

One question (I think you all know what it is): Why are you so cute??!!

Ending the day on his favorite swing of all time...catching some serious vertical air, might I add!
And of course, the best part of the tradition, a strawberry ice cream cone for birthday dessert. Yum.
For a trip down memory lane, here he is last year on his second birthday...

And here he is on the day he turned one.

Until next year...

I Miss Grammie

As some of you know, my sweet, AMAZING Grammie passed away on August 25. She was seriously the life of the party. She was a feisty redhead (this is where Piper gets it!). She was the queen of inappropriate and random gifts. She loved sex - talking about it, joking about it and, as she often bragged about, having it!! Ha ha! She loved my Poppa like crazy - they were married 61 years and inseparable. But most importantly, she was an incredible example to all of us on how to show Christ-like love to EVERYONE. She didn't judge people...she just loved them. Truly. And I want to be like that someday. I love her and miss her lots. This family will not be the same without her. Thank God for grace. Can't wait to see her again!

I am SUPER thankful to have been able to fly back with Piper to Oklahoma for a week to be able to attend her memorial service and to be with my family. And Peeps and I got to celebrate our birthday together for the first time in a long time! The boys even busted out Junior's Curbside Grill for us!

Me and Peeps - and all the yummy mixed drinks courtesy of Marshall the bartender!
Kay Kay with Piper and Peeps with sweet little Reese :)

An amazing hostess (and even better aunt!), Auntie Lynn and Kiley bear.

Reese and Kiley on our big Stillwater outing...to the hangar to visit Uncle's plane and to see the arrival of his friend's private jet (yes, this was all uncle's idea but we went along with it!).

Papa Chop Chop with "Juliet" :)

Peeps and Heidi practicing their Kardashian private jet exit. Well done, girls.

Baby Evan, looking cute as ever.

Kiley and Pipes - I love when all the cousins are together!

Even though it has been two months (and I am way behind on all my blog posts), I wanted to give an official 'good-bye' to Grammie. I LOVE this picture of Gram and Pops holding hands at the end of her life here (thanks, cousin Heidi). They were so in love, and I want that. I am so thankful for their example. We all feel a sense of loss and are reminded that life was not meant to end this way. Praise God for his free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

(Proverbs 31:28-30)

XOXO. If you'd like, you can read her obituary here.

Justus is (and has been for a month) THREE!

As of September 15, we have a three year old. Crazy. And he is crazy. But so dang cute.

We had a fun, low-key birthday day. He woke up to balloons, presents and lots of candy (which he ate all day long!).
He got some fun gifts (but not too many...we learned our lesson from last year...his attention span is only so long!). The highlight was definitely his two light-sabers!! (And I love the "candy floss" - a.k.a. cotton candy)
Then onto a yummy, hearty breakfast - strawberries, banana and a croissant with Nutella. YUM!
It was a nice day in Pitscottie so we spent the morning outside. Picking apples...
...riding his bike...
...dumping out his bag of balls and making a mess of his playhouse...
...then lunch :)
That night, we carried on the annual tradition of homemade (and hand-decorated) cupcakes!
Here is our handiwork...to a child's eye, they are amazing.
Our friends Andrew, Kendall and Amelie came over to celebrate with us!
Yes, Piper was there too and looking cute as ever.
Then, bedtime with a viewing of his new Cars video.
WHAT A CUTIE!!!!!! We love you, Justus Mark!

The Rest...

Well, all good things must come to an end. Our month in Paris was amazing and we were all sad to have to leave, but I think it is safe to say that we will definitely make it back someday. One of the things I miss most (and Justus too) - freshly baked croissants with Nutella EVERY morning for breakfast! We had a great bakery just a few steps out of our front door and we definitely took full advantage!

Another of my all-time favorite museums - the Musee Rodin. Auguste Rodin was a famous French sculptor (you've heard of "The Thinker"), and this museum is in an old hotel and it is beautiful. His sculptures are laid out in all the rooms and in the gardens as well, along with some Monets and Van Goghs. I loved it.
Hanging out in the gardens with our two little cuties!
A view of the grounds from inside the museum.
"The Thinker" - think about it, people.
We had to make a visit to the Arc de Triomphe - one of the most famous landmarks in Paris, and also one of the busiest (and hugest) roundabouts I have ever seen! It's at the end of the Avenue Champs-Elysees, famous for all the high-end shopping and fancy restaurants.
Coming up out of the Metro station right by our house. We were able to walk most places, but it was nice to have the Metro so close. And Justus still talks about riding the "underground choo-choo train" :)
A friend of the family who we shared a house with got us all tickets to go on a boat cruise down the river. We chose to go on the twilight tour and it was awesome. The sky was gorgeous and we even got to watch a lightning storm towards the end. An amazing background to see the sights.
Please check out the way this lady on the right is looking at Justus! Ha!! I love his face too.
Little Pipe Pipe.
A view of Notre Dame from the back.
Towards the end of the month, Justus was over museums (no touching, yelling, running, etc.) so we decided to take him and Piper to the Children's Museum. A good choice.
He especially loved the construction area - which he went to first and didn't want to leave! He loved "doing his work."
Piper was into it too!
It was so fun to watch Justus run around and play.
One of our last nights in Paris...walking around the square in front of Saint Sulpice. Not wanting it to be over...
In case you didn't catch on, I LOVE PARIS. We all did. It was such a great experience for all of us. Piper learned to crawl and got her first two bottom teeth. Justus loved riding the Metro, walking around the city, ordering & eating "vanilla ice cream in a cone" at Amorino (almost every night), and of course, his favorite, Notre Dame. Trav learned a little French (after all, that was the point of all of us being there!) and I took way too many pictures. Love, love, love that place.
Au revoir, Paris!