Day 110: Saturday Softball Tourney (4/20)

I love warm, spring Saturdays at the ball field. We loaded up the bus with food, friends and fun for the day and went out to some crappy little softball tourney like we used to do years ago. We had such a good time. The twins were held all day by everyone and Gavin made a new friend. Lakin is Tabi and Toby's little girl. They were inseparable the entire day. It was so cute to watch them play together. I really love spending time with good friends and being outside. I can not wait until summer gets here.

Day 100: Ice in April (4/10)

This is happening IN APRIL! I don't understand the weather here in Oklahoma sometimes. Yesterday it was 80 degrees {no lie!} and that afternoon we had a 20 degree drop in tempature and freezing rain last night. This didn't even happen overnight; this happen during the day. There are no windows in my library and when I went out to do after school duty there was ice on the trees. I was so surprised. Oklahoma weather is CRAZY!

Day 76: Dallas Day Two (3/17)

Rennie's favorite place to go in Dallas in the Traders Village. It's like. Huge flea market. I really enjoy it too. This year we tinted the van window, fixed the scratch that I put in the side of the van, bought one of the most awesomest stroller, and a few other knick-knacks. This stroller can hook to the back of a bike so we can take the twins on a bike ride. Gavin sits in a seat on the back of Rennie's bike. {I'm sure there will be pictures of that this summer!}

Overall, a pretty good trip down to Dallas. We wanted to go to Ikea but we were exhausted after Trader's Village. Can't wait until next time!

Day 75: Dallas Day One (3/16)

For our spring break getaway we drove down to Dallas for the weekend. We left Friday night and started our day bright and early at the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park. We met some friends who live in the area, that also have twins! It was a great place to visit. I would of just gone to pet the sting ray! I was a lot of fun.

After that we all grabbed lunch at a local Mexican restaurant, then headed over to SouthFork Ranch.

When Rennie was younger he used to watch the TV show Dallas. Actually my mom and dad watched it too, it was "must see TV" before everything was must see! My mom and dad told me they would have people over as a watch party with food just for the show. It was great TV.

Now years later they have restarted Dallas with a few of the main characters and a lot of news ones. I have been watching it and have enjoyed it. So when we went down to Dallas we toured SouthFork. It was actually kinda cool to see. I really liked it. 

We even got to meet a TV star. The actress that plays the wife of Bobby Ewing, Ann was in the gift shop. Her real name is Brenda Strong. She was gracious enough to take pictures with us all. 

It really was a great day. 

Day 69: Playing & Sleeping on Sunday (8/10)

This what our Sundays are beginning to look like: everyone hanging out in the living room playing or sleeping. At least we are all together and I wouldn't change it for anything. 

Day 64: $5.17 Worth of Clothes! (3/5)

Consignment shop sale! All the clothes you could fit in a brown paper bag for $3. Then I bought one more outfit to bring my total for 10 items to a whooping $5.17. Love it! Most of these clothes are brand name and look like they haven't even been worn. Great find!

Day 183: Finally Outside! (4/23)

After a winter of having the trampoline inside, Rennie was finally able to break it down and take it outside. Oklahoma has had such beautiful weather that we've been outside everyday this week. Gavin loves jumping outside.

Day 181: Remember the Ten (4/21)

Rennie has been working so hard on his running and was so excited to participate in the Remember the Ten Run. It's an annual 5K, 10K, and Fun Walk to remember the OSU players and staff that died in the plan crash years ago. 

Rennie ran 10K and was very proud of his time: 58:15.

He has been training to run the Memorial Run honoring those that died in the Murrah bombing. That's a half marathon so this race was a good idea to see how well he could do. 

I am so proud of him.

Afterwards we walked around Stillwater and enjoyed all the free things they had to offer. Then went to the Spring Finale game to watch the Pokes play. 

What a wonderful Saturday. 

Day 175: Sunday at Nana & PopPop's (4/15)

Rennie had some things to do in the morning so I decided to head over to my Mom and Dad's for the day. Gavin was PopPop's shadow all day, where ever PopPop was Gavin was close behind. They spent most of the day outside working in the yard. It ended up being a beautiful day. 

The last picture is of Gavin after eating a WHOLE ice cream sandwich. Piggy!! 

Day 151: Silver Dollar City (3/22)

We went to Silver Dollar City today!!

We planned on being in Stroud for dinner, so we got up early and headed to Silver Dollar City for half a day. 

It was so much fun!

It was a little cold {thank goodness we had a sweat shirt for Gavin!} but it was sunny.

Because we had Gavin we headed to the kiddie area for the first half of the day. Gavin rode everything and enjoyed it. He wasn't scared and even wanted to go on the "super fast" boats. Rennie couldn't ride that ride because it went to fast in circles. Gavin loved it.

Rennie used to come all the time when he was younger and his favorite ride was Fire in the Hole.  So we decided that we would both stand in line then one would ride while one of us stood in line with Gavin and then pass him over and the other ride. However, it turns out the minimum that height that you need to be to ride most of the rides with an adult is 36 inches. Gavin is maybe 37 inches. So he was able to right Fire in the Hole!!

I was so surprised that he like it.

As we were leaving we asked, "What was your favorite ride, Gavin?" Gavin replied with, "The train." "What was your second favorite?" Gavin said, "The tunnel." {Fire in the Hole} We both laughed and were surprised so Rennie asked, "You wanna ride it again?" Gavin quickly answered, "Nope!" 

Day 150: Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede (3/21)

I have never been to Branson so I have never been to show. I told Rennie that if we went to Branson, we are going to see a good show!

We picked out Dixie Stampede it was recommended to us by multiple families with young kids.

They put on a show and served you dinner.

The show was lots of animals and singing. It was perfect for Gavin and I enjoyed it as well. It reminded Rennie of the Medieval times. The area is oval and seats are all around it. As you can see the people behind us are much higher than us. We had great seats!

Gavin is a picky, picky eater so we where unsure how well he would eat dinner. However, he surprised us both and ate much of his dinner. Rennie and I said that the new way for us to get Gavin to eat would be to make it too dark for him to figure out what he was eating! :)

Day 149: Camping Trip (3/20)

We finally made it camping!

I camped all the time when I was younger. It was our way to vacation. We would head out to campgrounds all around Florida with two or three different families and camp for a week. I LOVED it and wanted Gavin to have that same experience that I had. 

We decided that we would start out slow. Camp only one night and see how it worked out with a two year old in a tent. 

If is wasn't raining hard all night long... the trip would of been perfect!

However, it did rain and we ended up sleeping in puddles of cold water. I was able to sleep a lot of the night but I remember waking up and having to move because water was splashing on my face. Rennie didn't sleep much at all because he is a light sleeper and the rain was loud.

We will definitely try camping again. If we can camp in the rain we camp any where!

Gavin loved the tent and has asked repeatedly for the tent. The campground was perfect with an indoor pool and a playground. Rennie came to this site with Justin when they were younger and it was just like he remember. 

New Nickell tradition in the making!!

Day 148: Ride with the Ducks (3/19)

The plan for our spring break vacation to Branson, MO was to wake up early and head to the campsite and set up our site. When we got to Branson it was pouring rain! So we thought we would drive around for a little bit and then head out to the campground. 

When Rennie was growing up, his family came to Branson and he remembers Riding the Ducks. So that was a definite To-Do on our list. 

When we decided that we didn't want to set up our site in the rain, we found out that the Ducks will continue to give rides in the rain. 

So we loaded up on a Duck.

It was so much fun! I enjoyed it almost as much as Gavin. It took you all over Branson and out on to the water. When we were on the lake, Gavin was able to drive the Duck. He loved it. One of the best part were the quackers that they gave you when you got onto the Duck. Gavin quacked at every passing car!

If your ever in Branson Ride the Ducks, with or without kids. Totally worth it!