She Does Love a Sparkle

So, Nana Ellen bought Elle some glamour girl kit that includes all sort of make up and accessories and came complete with shimmery powder. Little miss independent took it upon herself to open the entire baggie of shimmery powder and then proceeded to adorn herself with the contents of the entire bag (not kidding)!

Below is a photo of her when I first discovered her. Notice that in both photos she has down cast eyes and refused to look at the camera. What you don't see is that she has it EVERYWHERE. It's in her hair, on her chest, ALL over her face and sprinkled here and there on her legs (she had taken her pants off).

The final picture is of my hands after just picking up the baggie to dispose of it. That's some powerful powder! There are some professional dancers out there that would kill for the contents of that glamour girl kit. :-)

Dakota helped vaccum the carpet and when he touched it, you could see the glittle fly.

Christmas 2007

Christmas this year was fabulous and as you can see, it pretty much wiped everyone out. In fact, this photo was taken post Christmas at mom and dad's lake house. Even Buddy was exhausted which is pretty rare.

We celebrated Christmas a few times over this year. We did a small one at our house with my sister and her family, my parents and my in-laws, another with the Doctor's, another with the Gernhardt's and Zahn's and yet another with Santa Clause. It goes without mentioning that the kids loaded up on many gifts. Topping this years' list was a new go-cart for Dakota and a new Barbie Jeep for Elle; courtesy of grandparents.

The best part of the holiday was that we got to spend plenty of time with family and especially with our own children. I was fortunate enough to have taken some remaining vacation days and was off work for about 11 days. We've watched lots of movies and I've got plenty of book reading in. I read a good one titled Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik (author of Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons). It's worth your time.



I've included a few other Christmas photos worth a look see. Hope your holiday was blessed with lots of joy and from all of us Doctor's, Happy New Year!


Tree Hunting.






Gabby & Dad


Shara, Kara, and Sam (friend of Kara)


Mom X2



Guess who?


Tindall Gift Exchange



Auntie Sissy and Elle


Gernhardt Siblings...showing the love.

10th Annual Doctor Family Christmas Party

It's so hard to believe but it's been 10 years that we've shared the Christmas Party tradition with our friends and a few family members. We hosted our first party in our home on College Ave. It was a 1,000 square foot starter home with two bedrooms and one bath and yet it managed to accommodate our guests just fine. Several years and a couple kids later, we did it again in our new(er) home that's capable of accommodating more people and yet the coziness of the get together remains the same.

Now we're 30 something's having the bulk of our conversations about our children, our jobs, our hobbies, new cars, new appliances, etc. and yet the special spirit of this tradition is alive and well. Perhaps it's the stress of this time of year or because we're all so busy with our lives that some people don't REALLY want to go to the party (or any party for that matter), but everyone rolls out and a few beverages later, we're relaxed, laughing, reminiscing (Camden has a memory like no other) and usually we end up getting our grove on in the middle of the family room. And sometimes, a guest manages to throw in a little surprise.

For example, this year Beau hid "surprises" in his BBQ wieners and god only knows what they were going to be or who would find them (it turns out they were toy badges...as in sheriff, police, BEEF INSPECTOR). And Jason put KJ to task on his E.R. duties when his pink eye got so out of control that KJ had to "flip his lid" to determine if it was infected. And never mind the rabbit. Those of you who were there know all about the rabbit.

It's with great gratitude that I write this entry. I'm very grateful for our wonderful friends, their memories and their love. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

The Afro made an appearance.

Party Animals!

Mr. Robato

Mr. Singing Christmas Tree (he's 10 years old now and still works, just has a bit of a gimp eye)

Family Photo...a few years delayed

It has been quite some time since the last Doctor Family photograph was taken. Sandy's Christmas wish was that we come together and take a current picture. We're embarrassed to admit that the last one was taken when Elle was about six months old! Anyhow, we mustered the courage to take on Sears Portrait Studio during the holiday months and ended up with a new family picture. The original idea was to wear all white shirts. Then it switched to either blue or purple. Then everyone realized that they didn't have the colors of choice in their closets. So we all showed up in whatever we had on hand and as you can see, we're beautiful like a rainbow.

Take a peak!

The consequence of taking a picture with the Doctor family is that I realize how white I am!

Thanksgiving 2007

Thanksgiving with the Ogdens

This Thanksgiving season was spent with the Ogden bunch down in Quinton, Oklahoma. We had a wonderful weekend spending time with family and did a good deal of laughing which is pretty typical when we get around Jason's cousins.

Dakota & Rynda

Elle & Rynda

The Doctor Girls (Kara, Shara, Candice & Elle)

Doc fishin' at the pond. Brrrr.....

Papa Herman & Dakota - Aren't they handsome?

Dakota and cousin Paul. Paul is one of Dakota's favorite cousins because he picks on Dakota and wrestles around with him with tireless energy. They're pretty good buddies and there is irony in watching these two play considering the playful friendship that Paul and Jason had as children.

The outdoor picnic which is involuntary and brought on by the fact that it's quite difficult to cram upwards of 40 people in small country house. Thank goodness for the small children who don't take up too much space.

I like this picture. Cell phone technology has been adopted by all generations and in all geographic territories. It reminds me of a few Christmas' ago when we bought Granny Ogden a present and wrapped it in an old cell phone box. When she opened the package, she assumed that the box was representative of it's contents. She cast the box aside and told me thank you for the cell phone "It will come in real handy just as soon as Quinton gets those cell towers needed to work one of these things". I had to insist that she proceed with opening the gift, that it was in fact NOT a cell phone. They've since got towers...

Blake, Preston & Monica

(featured on a floral/velvet couch circa 1970)


Dakota's first school presentation in celebration of Thanksgiving. They spent the month learning about Indian and pilgrims. He was shocked and amazed to learn that he was an Indian too!

Dakota's 6 Year Update

Dear Friends and Family,

Oh, how time flies. I’ve had a fabulous year so far. I can’t believe I’m six years old. I don’t have any major stats to report (e.g. weight, height, etc.) because I didn’t have to do one of those well baby check ups like you do when you five years old or less. Suffice it to say that I’m still a feather weight at around 40 lbs. and I'm healthy and happy as can be.

So back to my fabulous year…I started Kindergarten which is amazing. I’m in Miss Smith’s class and I’m told she’s the best Kindergarten teacher in all of Westwood Elementary. Our school mascot is the Wranglers by the way.

I’ve learned to read and I’m broadening my vocabulary every day. I have some new friends but I’ve done a good job of keeping the old…Garrett and I still get together every month or so and Wyatt and I are buddies. Emma even came to my 6 year old birthday party!

I miss some of my friends from Allison’s but I’m meeting lots of new friends as well. Some of my friends are from my soccer team. I played Fall ball with Broken Arrow Soccer Club and I scored some goals this year as well!

This year was tons of fun. On Easter, I saw a real bunny in our back yard.

We joined a church this year, Northside Christian Church and I really enjoy my time there learning about Jesus. The summer months were full of tons of activities and water play and this fall has been packed full of trips to the pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating and more. Did I mention that I was a Ninja for Halloween?

The summer was especially great because I went with my family to Kara’s regional soccer tournament in Tampa, Florida. I got to play in the ocean got tons of sun. My favorite part was jumpin the waves (Oh, and Kara's friend Lauren who I have a minor crush on)! - Check out the wings on me...soon those will be super strong deltoids.

Oh, I almost forgot (how could I?). I went to my first ever OU games this year. Check it out!

Overall, life is good. I’m still a good boy and my teacher says she wishes all her kids were like me! Mom and Dad are proud and Elle is still my champion.

Love,
Dakota

And here's a special note from his sister:

Oh Pirates

Fall soccer season is officially over. And I hate to admit it but I'm very pleased. The Pirates ended the season with one win. Sad, but true. Jason is pleased too...he spent most games royally flustered. As for myself, I enjoy the social aspect of it all. You see all types...the mean and loud mom who bites her fingernails every two seconds, the suburbia mom who applies make up for the 9:00 a.m. games and chases after other siblings in between video camcorder responsibilities, the quiet silent mom who's in the background so much that you wonder if she's in fact the other player's mom, and then there is the most colorful mom who is a native German married to a man who appears to be a sweet country boy (an OSU fan I might add). Oh, and then there's me.

The German and the suburban wife are my favorites. Friendly, non pretentious, talkative, willing to discipline, etc. Sometimes I think it's the other parents that make it worth the time running your arse all over God's creation to get your kids picked up from school, to practice, and home for dinner (or Sonic/McDonalds) before bedtime. Sure, the kids have fun. But they're not winning and they don't care about losing (except suburban mom's child) and they have no concept of all the Friday night and Saturday afternoon sacrifices the parents have made to get them there. Yeah, I'm selfish I guess. But who isn't really? Even those who claim that they'd not rather be anywhere but on the soccer field are lying. Other options include: napping, shopping, reading, exercising, car washing, spring cleaning...you get the idea. Life is so full already and then we add kid's hobbies into the mix. Oh Pirates. I guess I'll get in shape and do what I want when I'm 50. But god I love my little ones.

Speaking of which...I laid them in bed tonight and they were absolute giggle boxes. It was time for prayers and I told them to be silent. Dakota repeated me. Elle thought he said "Simon" so she starts playing

Elle: Simon says "Touch Your Nose" (laugh hard)

Dakota: I said "Silence!" (laugh harder)

Mom: Quiet...it's time for prayers.

Elle: Simon says "Touch Your Eyes" (deep belly laughs from the bottom of her feet)

Dakota: Joins in the belly laughs

Mom: Can't help but belly laugh

Mom: Finally...a night-time prayer for Daddy's safe return home from work, for our family and friends, the gift of shelter and food to eat. And they insist on praying for our late dog Emmit who is racing on the clouds with Jesus. Gosh, they're precious.

Where I've been

After my last post, it got me to wondering exactly how many of the United States I've traveled too. Naturally, many of these destinations are ones that I traveled to during my business trips which isn't nearly as exciting as those I've shared with family and friends. But regardless, here is how it shakes out...58% of the total.




create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Kid's At Play

My friend T.G. brought her kids over for a play date tonight. The grown ups were watching OU football on TV while the little ones entertained themselves upstairs. After a short while of loud and then quite and then loud again playtime, T.G. went upstairs to see what the rascals were up to. And here you have it. My daughter has disrobed (surprise) and her friend W is wrestling with her on the top bunk. I guess that the good news lies in knowing who your future in-laws might be.

Idaho

So, I was traveling for business and ended up in the northeastern part of Washington. Fall is a beautiful time of year to be traveling is this part of the country and the only sad part about it all is that I wasn't experiencing it with my husband. That said, I had to write just to note that this place is one of beauty and awe. The rolling hills, wheat covered grounds and green grasses were certainly pleasing to the eye. We even ventured into northern Idaho because we wanted to say we'd be there. Oddly enough, we stopped at the Northern Idaho Visitor's Center and picked up a few brochures that could serve as proof of our journeys.



In a phone call to my friend T.G. on the way through Idaho, she asked the question "Who in the hell goes to Idaho besides you?"... then she humbly admitted that her parents made a trek thru Idaho on an RV excursion. So...naturally I picked up an RV tour guide in the visitor's center because I though Betty and Tony would appreciate it. And you never know, Idaho may be the next Doctor family vacation destination. There is that one resort that we saw, Coeur de' Alene. Definitely worth a look see.






My point is, you'd be pleasantly surprised by Idaho. I'm sure they have wonderful potatoes (although I never saw any) but the truth is that their scenery is quite becoming. And if you make it to Moscow, Idaho, be sure to stop by Sangria Grill for a bite to eat. The menu is superb!



Ta ta for now.