First OU Basketball Game!

The night before Thanksgiving I took Jaden with me to her first OU Women's Basketball game. Jaden had told me she wanted to go to a game before, only to back out at the last minute. I was so glad when she finally agreed to go...but she had a few conditions.

#1 - She could have anything she wanted to eat

#2 - I had to buy her something at the game

#3 - We had to sit in good seats

On the way to Norman we stopped and ate at McDonalds...#1 on her list:check

Once we arrived at the game, I realized they were giving out OU Pom-Poms.

Unfortunately they seemed to have run out by this time. A very nice woman noticed Jaden did not receive one, and she asked Jaden if she would like hers.

Since Jaden had never been to a game I thought we should walk around and look at some of the display cases they have all around the walkway at the very top. Of course Jaden saw the small gift shop.

This OU Bear was a must have for Jaden...#2 on her list:check

She and I then walked around a cool area downstairs called Legacy Court. Here there are several display cases filled with jerseys, trophies, and other items. There is a basketball here that has the actual hand size of a member of both the men and women's team. The women's team member is #3 Courtney Paris. I told Jaden to put her hand on top of the imprint of Courtney's.

Jaden's hand compared to Courtney's hand.

Jaden couldn't believe the difference in size!

Jaden and a picture of Courtney Paris

Before the game started Jaden decided she needed something else to eat. Of course she reminded me that I told her she could eat whatever she wanted,(see #1 above). Popcorn was of course her snack of choice.

And last, condition #3.

Jaden did not know where the seats we have are located. I did tell her they were in the lower section, just not how far down they are. We started walking down the stairs and finally got to our seats. I am very fortunate that a few years ago Barb and I got the seats we now sit in for every home game...on the second row!

Jaden was very happy with the seating. #3 on her list:check


Thanks for going with me Jaden! I hope you had fun...I know I did!

6 Years Ago...

6 Years Ago...11:23 am

Jaden Danielle Creger made her entrance into this world.

I thought this day would never get here. The first time I saw her was through the nursery window at the hospital. It was two hours before we got to see her up-close.

I knew from that moment that this is one special girl!

The very first picture I took of Jaden...

6 months old...

working on her make-up...

This little angel at her first Czech Festival Parade...who then threw a fit and got to go home before enjoying the Czech Festival itself!


Jaden is a HUGE animal lover. She says she wants to be a Vet/Zookeeper when she grows up.

I told her she will have to go to OSU to be a vet...she says she will make her daddy mad if she goes to OSU. She is still considering her college choices...

The little girl who went through a period where she jumped off any object she could find...

mostly just to scare her Nanny!

The greatest Big Sister to Addison

A constant source of laughter...and messy faces!

The proud "sister" of two "brothers", their yellow labs Hoss and Dakota, and

her "sister" AJ, the boston terrier the girls received for Christmas last year

Jaden - your Aunt Niece never imagined that six years would fly by so fast. You are growing up way too fast. Just yesterday you were 6 lbs 9 oz and only 21 1/4 inches long. Now you are 6 years old, and you are going to be a lot taller than me before you know it.

You love to sing at the top of your lungs...and you don't care who hears you

You are sometimes annoyed by Addie...but are the first to come to her rescue

You make me laugh...especially when I am trying to be serious

I love you Jaden...

Jaden's 6th Birthday Party

Jaden's Birthday is not until Tuesday, but she had her party on Sunday afternoon. Jaden had her party at Dynamo Gymnastics and Play Zone. The girls are lucky because Paula's friend Shannon and her husband Dennis own the gym. They pretty much have the run of the whole gym and both take a gymnastics class here once a week.

Jaden and her friends started out playing in the gym, jumping on the trampoline, hanging on the bars, and the activity of choice...swinging on the rope and falling into the foam pit!

All the kids took turns beating this pinata...

They all enjoyed playing in the Play Zone too. All the kids love these slides. The Red One in the middle is the "fast slide". Jaden did ask her Aunt Niece to go down the slides with her once.

Of course I couldn't tell her no, it is her birthday!

Addie loves these slides!

And finally a picture of the Birthday Girl. I took this while everyone was singing to her. She was cracking me up. She was looking at all of her friends as they sang, and then she saw me with my camera. She gave me time to take some really good pictures. It has only taken six long years...but I think she is finally trained. If she would give me good pictures the camera would go away much faster!

I asked her last night if she had a good time at her party. She told me it was her favorite birthday so far!

I hope you had a great day...

Trick-Or-Treat 2008

Trick-Or-Treat 2008 was a huge success! The girls really enjoyed dressing up, and it was fun for Aunt Niece too.

The three of us just went to the houses on their block...but the girls were very happy with the candy they received. Later they spent the night with Nanny and Papa and trick-or-treated on that block too.

Trick-Or-Treat!

Jaden as Tinkerbell. To say that Jaden loves Tinkerbell is putting it mildly. The Tuesday before Halloween Jaden knew that the Tinkerbell movie was coming out on DVD and made sure that Nanny went to Wal-Mart to buy it for her...on Tuesday! Jaden has a birthday coming up that will also feature Tinkerbell.


Addie decided she wanted to be a witch.

But not just any witch...a MEAN WITCH!


One more of Tinkerbell


and of course the MEAN WITCH

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving

On Sunday we decided it was finally time to carve pumpkins. Jaden and Addie were both very excited. We took Jaden to Wal-mart so she could pick out the perfect pumpkins.

Jaden picked out three pumpkins...

We told Jaden she could make her pumpkin look however she wanted.

This was her design...

Jaden showing us her pumpkin...

Addie said she wanted a Happy Pumpkin. Barb helped her draw her design.

Aunt Niece carved Addie's pumpkin...while Addie told her what to do!

We had decided that this would be the year that Jaden could help carve her pumpkin.

Jaden did most of the carving...with a little help from Barb

Jaden was excited to pull out the eye she carved...

A proud girl...with her first pumpkin eye

One scary mouth...

Jaden and her finished pumpkin!

Addie and her Happy Pumpkin!

Jaden wanted to leave you with her favorite kind of picture...Silly Picture Time!

Happy Pumpkin Carving!

Guess What?

Someone decided they really wanted their ears pierced...

I can't say I am that surprised...

For some reason she is in some kind of great hurry to grow up...

Jaden got her ears pierced a year ago for her 5th Birthday. Jaden was so traumatized that she now will not wear earrings. You can not even mention trying earrings again to her. Maybe Addie wearing them will prompt Jaden to want to give it another try.

Jaden is just like I was at her age. When Paula and I were younger my mom asked us if we wanted to get our ears pierced. We went to the mall, and I had a major meltdown. After taking me back to my grandmas, my mom took Paula to get her ears pierced. Of course once I saw Paula's new earrings I too wanted to get my ears pierced. One problem...I was scared! It took my grandma getting her ears pierced at the age of 67 to convince me to get mine pierced.

At least Jaden comes by this behavior honestly!

Now this girl...she is brave!

Silly...but brave!

A Very Important Message...

Jaden is very proud to share with you our message for tomorrow....

Go Sooners! Beat Texas!

Home Again

I'm Back! I had an awesome time in Las Vegas. Five days of beautiful weather, awesome food, and just such a relaxing time. I am ready to go back.

It was great to be away for a few days, but it is nice to be home. There are actually two reasons that I am always sad to be away from home....

I missed you my girls!

I'm leaving on a Jet Plane...

My bag is packed.

I am going to be on vacation for a whole week for the first time in 10 months.

5 days in one of my favorite places.....



Las Vegas!



Beautiful Hotels...

One of my favorites... The Eiffel Tower


From here you can see the fountain show at Bellagio, and have an awesome view of the Strip!

See you when I get back....

Being 3 Is Hard Work

I guess being 3 is hard work.

You drive your big sister crazy by wanting to be wherever she is...constantly. You have worked very hard to become an expert fit thrower.

You say things like:

"I said no.."

"I said yes..."

"It didn't do that on purpose..."

And on Tuesday, this is how I found you.

Even after I told you to be very careful.

And whatever you do...DO NOT GET THAT SUCKER ON THE FURNITURE!

But here is a secret...

I knew you would fall asleep.

I knew that if you would just be still for five minutes you would be out.

You needed the rest. It is tough being 3!

Summer....

This weekend brings another summer to an end. This has been a very good summer for our family. I think the person who has enjoyed it the most has been Jaden. She has grown up so much this summer.

I am going to miss seeing this on the weekends. Jaden loves being in the water at the lake!

She has also really learned the great art of the "I am not going to smile while you take my picture...I will just make a silly face" pose!



Jaden could just swim around in the water for hours.

This last picture is my absolute favorite of the whole entire summer! I have been trying to get Jaden to jump off the back layout area on Papa's Boat. Last Sunday afternoon I told her I would give her $5.00 if she would jump with me. Papa told her he would also give her $5.00 if she would jump.

At first she said no, but then out of nowhere she says to me,

"I think I will jump. Will you watch me?"

I said..."Not only will I watch, I will take a picture of you jumping."

This was the first time she jumped. After this she only jumped about 10 more times!

Jaden, I am so proud of you for facing your fear and jumping. You are growing up way too fast for your Aunt Niece.

I love you my kindergarten girl!