Taylor is 12!

Rhian flying a jet pack on Mars
Will testing out the aerodynamics of an F-16
Will enjoying the planetarium
The Jonckowski girls launching the space shuttle
Will climbing up the monkey bars

A view of the facility
Goofy Girls!
Taylor, future world champion figure skater/fighter pilot
Jordan trying out the paper airplane launching pad
Rhian flying

This past Sunday our baby girl turned 12. We had our traditional birthday cake breakfast and present unwrapping. Taylor wanted to visit the Air and Space museum so that is exactly what we did! We had a great day checking out all of the aircraft and experiments. The kids got to fly a fighter jet, launch the space shuttle, fire a rocket, drive a jet pack on Mars, play on the playground, and on and on. We also took in a show at the planetarium (though both father and son fell asleep). It was a great day topped off with Taylor's choice of fried chicken for dinner. It is is amazing to me that she is 12 years old already. Time does indeed fly when you are having fun!

Rhian's Harvest

Rhian has been very busy tending to her garden. We have picked oodles of bell peppers, grape tomatoes, regular tomatoes, carrots and finally....her first watermelon! She is proving to have quite the green thumb!

Will's First Day of School

Jordan lends some moral support
Will is fired up and ready to roll
Still smiling!
Mom is right by his side!

Today was Will's first day of school. He has been upgraded to the Bee's class for this year. He was very excited to see his favorite girl Kate! The whole family went with him to drop him off and make our usual big production. He seemed to enjoy the day. He wore his "good luck" shirt with a picture of Papa's truck on it. Live it up until Mama gets her hooks into you little boy!

Rhian's Brown Belt Test

This past Saturday Rhian tested for her brown belt. She did an amazing job! She had to do 50 push ups, complete her form and one step, show her jujitsu moves, break a board using her flying side kick and spar with two people at once! It was very hard work! We are so proud of her! Only two more ranks to go until she is a black belt.

Rhian's Form

A Night at the Drillers Game

At the entance to Driller's Stadium
Four goof balls mugging for the camera!
Will enjoying some popcorn and baseball.
The view from our seats. Not bad for free!

On Friday night we took the whole family 'out to the ballgame' when we attended a Tulsa Drillers game. The Drillers are the double A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. It was a beautiful night, which was a welcome break from the unruly heat that we have had here lately. It was close game until the Drillers added a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh and then 8 insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to win 13-2. We all had a great time!

The Blue Hole Park

Jordan catching some rays
William cooling off
The girls relaxing in the creek

Will testing the water
Bathing Beauties
Taking young Will for a ride
Giving Mom some sugar
Hanging out with Mr. Slane

For a true Oklahoma experience we journeyed with our friends, the Slane Family, to the Blue Hole Park near Salina, OK. The Blue Hole Park is an old-fashioned swimming hole fed by a natural spring. The water is crystal clear and very cold! It was a tremendous relief as the day we were there the heat index was about 108. The Slanes brought a grill and charcoal and we cooked out along the creek bank. The kids spent the afternoon swimming, jumping in the creek on the rope swing and catching crayfish. Crayfish catching was a much bigger hit than I expected! It amused them for hours! In the true Oklahoma spirit we got to witness a touching exchange between the couple camped next to us. Clearly inebriated, the husband attempted to woo his young companion by backing over her with the family car, nearly breaking her leg and pinning her to the picnic table. She responded to the amorous advance by picking up a chair and pounding the back of the vehicle. It was truly touching, as they laid into each other with an obscenity laced tirade. Who says the locals don't know h0w to have a good time?