Party at the Ranch

Some people may wonder why we left Tulsa and moved to a smaller town. These pictures show why......hanging out at the Ranch, huge family and friend cookouts, swimming in the horse tank, water balloon fights, kickball at dusk in a pasture, being around genuine people, the horses, Brad fishing anytime he wants.....I could go on and on. Now, don't get me wrong. I love a big city as much as the next gal, but I guess I'm still a country girl at heart. I love being close to my family, and every time I'm at the Ranch I remember how lucky I am to have roots.

Kyson and Jake filling up balloons with water.

Doesn't this look like good 'ole country fun?

Brylee and Paige

Willie the Ranch dog

Cutie pie Kyson

The kids were just as happy to be
in a horse tank as if they were in a pool.

Dinner was yummy!

Kick ball

Paige was a little obsessed with blowing bubbles.

The horses were happy to just watch all the excitement!

We had a great Memorial Day weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brooks and Dunn

Brad and I went with Becky and Craig to Brooks and Dunn Friday night. We ate at P.F. Chang's beforehand and it was yummy! I sure do miss all the great places to eat in Tulsa. Brad has loved Brooks and Dunn for as long as I've known him, so when I found out there were coming to Tulsa on their "Last Rodeo" tour I HAD to get tickets. I surprised him!

We knew the words to every song.....

Our butterflies

Our dear friends, the Wooderson's, sent us a butterfly kit the first week we moved into our new house. It came in the mail and the kids thought is was so cool that bugs could come in the mail. I forgot to take pictures of the caterpillars, but they started out small and got nice and FAT! We watched them everyday and talked about the changes we saw. Yesterday, they finally turned into butterflies and today we let them go.

Giving their butterflies a little pep talk....

"Now, when we open the net just fly, OK."

The empty cocoons

Our butterflies were the perfect color......
orange and black for OSU!

Jake said he taught one little butterfly to do tricks.

It would walk through a hoop, which he made out of wire.
This little butterfly had a hard time flying, so Jake also decided

it liked the Liston's too much to fly away.

Paige wanted to hold a butterfly too,

but when it got a little to close to her face....

She.freaked.out

Ok, that's a little better. Just not toooo close.

This was such an amazing experience! J&P are already asking when we can get some more caterpillars. Thank you Wooderson's for such an amazing gift!!!!

Anniversary and Graduation

Our 11 year anniversary just so happened to fall on the same night as Brad's residency graduation which just so happened to be held at the same hotel our wedding reception had been held just 11 years earlier.....

11 years of marrige and I still love this man to pieces.

The family medicine guys with their favorite attending.

The family medicine guys and their lovely supportive spouses....

FYI -My pictures are pretty terrible. I've decided we need a new camera!

Dance Recital

Paige had her dance recital last weekend. Her class did their routine to the song

"How much is that doggie in the window?"

They were so precious, and did such a good job for being 2 and 3 year olds!

Her dance teacher, Miss Tracy, drawing on her puppy dog nose.

She was a little obsessed with looking at it....

Hannah and Paige

Leah, Hannah, and Paige with their flowers after the show!

I think she may have a future in show biz......hee,hee!

Our Mema

Mary Kathryn Straka

1931-2010

WE LOVE YOU MEMA!!!!

Brad's grandmother was an amazing lady. Family and God were the most important things in her life and she showed us that everyday.

Pictures from the last two weeks

The boxes...

My old kitchen....lots of good memories here.

When Jake saw all the furniture moved out of the house he said,
"Daddy, we could really do some good horsie back rides now!"

Paigie girl in her old room

Jake in his old room

Jake on his second day of school in Ponca.

He still loves it!!!

Paige in her doggie recital costume.

Her recital is this weekend, so you can expect lots of pictures!!

My new kitchen!! This is my favorite room in our house.

I went out to the family ranch and watched my brothers work cattle. I decided to hop on a horse myself. It's been almost 15 years since I've been on a horse, which seems crazy to me since I grew up around them and even had a horse of my own. I plan to spend a lot of time riding again!

We are off to Tulsa for the weekend........can't wait!