The Keel Family Reunion

My grandma Margaret has a big family.  She has 10 brothers & sisters!  They are all growing up and can't get us all together very often.  But it's fun to see everyone when we get the chance.
On Sept 25th, we went to have lunch with the Keel Family.  
My sweet gramma is the fourth child out of eleven.  They have only lost two of their siblings...the oldest Sonny and one sister, Carolyn.  This is a very big blessing in their lives.   My gramma has gotten to live many years with her siblings...and hopefully many more will come!
Now if you can, imagine this:
11 brothers & sisters; 20ish children; and then double that in grandchildren...and then come the great grandchildren...there are a lot of us!
However, while I love to see family I don't get to see very often...I love to see my close family the most!  Life tends to throw you some curve balls.  You get busy...have a family of your own...and don't get to see everyone like you want to.  My gramma and my dad.  I don't get to see them too much, but I'm so happy when I do.  And Ainsley loves playing with her Papa Steve.

Sandy had to work and KK was spending the weekend with her Mima and Papa...but Noah and Crew joined in on the fun!  After we ate, we played for awhile.  Then we walked to the little park and played. 

They were worn out!  Crew and Ainsley were asleep in no time!  They really enjoyed playing outside!
We dropped off Noah and Crew...and then we headed to Bass Pro Shop.  Ainsley got Joe a gift card for Father's Day, and we finally had time to let him use it!
She was very impressed with the fish!!  And just watched them...and watched them...

She also discovered the kids fishing poles.  She already has a Dora fishing pole-but she had a blast "pretend" fishing with daddy!

All was well...and we had a great day together!  There is nothing like family....

STATE FAIR!

I LOVE THE STATE FAIR!!  It's one of my favorite things to do.  And I don't just like the OK State Fair...Any ole state fair will do!  Joe and I took Ainsley when she was just 2 weeks old.  I know, I know...clearly I wasn't thinking straight.  BUT I really needed that fair food and wasn't ready to leave my baby.  Yes, she was bundled up and stayed in the stroller the ENTIRE time! (I have a pram type stroller so she really was enclosed)  And every year since, she has really started to enjoy the fair.

We eat jumbo corndogs...and roasted corn...and enjoy all the sights!  Ainsley's very favorite thing at the fair are the animals!  We invited Mammy and DanDan to go with us.  (We go every year on $1 Thursday)

But this is the first year we found the petting zoo!

 

I think she would have stayed there the entire night!!  She was very impressed by all the animals she could get close to!

And next, we headed to the barn.  She is a fan of the horses...but won't really get close!

And next we headed to see the cows.  There really weren't many there on Thurs night...but we got to see a few.

While we were walking through the barn, we met a little boy.  He had found some baby mice and wanted to show us.  They were so tiny!

(the little dark spots in the bucket are the mice)

Then we went to see the baby animals.  There were baby goats, baby chicks and baby pigs.  While we were there, a mama pig was actually giving birth.  We really couldn't get close, so Joe helped Ainsley get up high so she could see.

We love the fair!  But all Miss Ainsley wanted was a Dora balloon to take home.  Since she asks so little, we obliged!

The next Tues was $2 Tuesday at the fair...so we went back!  I just couldn't decline when Joe called...(hee hee)  This time we went to the same places, but walked into the buildings a little more.

My princess had so much fun!  We even found someone making balloon animals.  I thought she would be shy and not talk to him.  But she was such a big girl!  She picked out her balloon color and told him, very loud, that she wanted a puppy!

She loved that puppy!  Even after it came untied...she said it was a "swimming puppy"! 

Good times...good times!

CHUCK E CHEESE

Our friend Garrett had his 2nd birthday at Chuck E Cheese!  This was the first time Ainsley had ever been and WHOA!  It was so much fun!

Candy (Garrett's mom) gave us so many coins to play with!  We did everything...well, everything Ainsley was big enough for!

The balloons make the bicycle go high up!

We raced the horse

We played some basketball

We played some "skee ball"

We ate some yummy pizza next by our friend Kason DeHart

By Ainsley favortie thing to do was to drive this car!

She loved this guy!  She drove with her arm around him....and posed with a few pics with him!

It was such a fun time!  Thanks, Candy for invited us!

Ainsley's 1st Day of School

It took me awhile to decide to post about this...school hasn't been what I thought it would be for Ainsley.  And for me, as well.  She was excited to go!  Got ready and was out the door.  Until we had to go again the next day.  Needless to say, we have had our ups and downs.

 

I try very hard not to be a "mama bear" and I think I've been holding myself fairly well.  But I stay...sometimes in the classroom.   And sometimes in the booth.  (the booth is a way for me to watch her and she not know it)  I haven't left the school yet.  So I have seen every move that has been made.  She is the youngest in her class.  But I have high hopes that one day she will love it.  I will exhaust my efforts in helping her, even if the teacher(s) don't like it!  :)

I have spoken with every teacher I know and I suppose that dealing with small children, you have to just keep trying and stay positive. 

I'm trying...and trying...  Say a prayer for me.  Maybe even two!