Trip to Bartlesville

After our trip to Enid, we headed to Bartlesville. Jesse was a good rider. He's awake more than he used to be when we drive, which means that Mama get to be entertaining. When riding around town, I ride in the front with Scott now. I rode back with Jesse for quite a while. On long trips, I usually ride with Jesse...between Barry and Jesse. Barry will lay his head on my and get all up in my business. It's quite crowded, but I can try to distract Jesse from a screaming fit. Those screaming fits in the car make me want to poke my eyes and ears out.

We were very, very happy to get to Bartlesville. Bartlesville holds some new things for Scott and me: great babysitters and the opportunity to get out and about my ourselves are two new things I enjoy. :)

One of the first new things we noticed was a new high chair all ready for Jesse. It had been a yellow and natural wood colored high chair that had been used at least by baby Laura, Scott, and Haley. Jesse's Papa had sanded it down and painted it, so now it's black and wood. It's beautiful...and still allows Jesse to look manly at the same time. :) Jesse's Papa is quite the handyman. :) I'll write more about his homemade ice cream in a bit. :) Jesse enjoyed several meals in the newly done-up high chair.

The highchair Jesse gets to use at his Grandparents' house is much cooler than the one he uses every day at our house. :)

On Thursday we had an early 4th of July miracle! Jesse took a bottle of formula, which meant we could leave him with his Grandparents while Scott and I went to Tulsa for his friend's rehearsal dinner. Getting to leave Jesse is such a rare thing for us, and we welcomed it. What great babysitters he had! :) Scott and I went to Tulsa - feeling footloose and baby-free. :) Can I tell you that I'm new at leaving my kid? I did the worse thing....left with a phone with a VERY low charge. What kind of mom does that?! An inexperienced leaving Mama, that's who. In spite of my bad decision making, I enjoyed being with Scott. He took me to look at and order a band for my engagement ring. What a great guy!! I'm spoiled. Then we got to go visit Krissa. Krissa got married in March, and I hadn't seen her house. It's great! I love seeing Krissa and Justin coming together in the decorating. I had always been a little jealous of Krissa getting to decorate any way she wanted as a single girl. Justin's doing a great job of letting her compromise. Well done, Justin! :) Krissa and Justin looked great. Danielle was there, too, and I love seeing Danielle.

These boys have been friends for a long time


My dear friend Krissa and our men

After the visit with Krissa, we went to the rehearsal dinner. It was outside in a park, and they couldn't have asked for better weather for July in Oklahoma. It was SO pleasantly mild, and I loved every second of it. Scott to see several of his guy friends from high school. It makes me happy when they get to see each other. They're good guys. When we got home, we found that Jesse had been good for his evening with Grandparents...at least that's what they told us. Who knows how many spankings he had to get. :)

Friday was Perfect! The whole family got together for an early 4th of July. What good sports to come up to Bville and hang out. Nancy is such a great hostess and cook, and David grilled. I certainly do NOT mind having such great food prepared for me the whole time we're in Bartlesville. I told Scott it's a new kind of vacation for me. I don't have to cook, clean, do laundry, PLUS I have lots of great help with Jesse. Anyhow - back to Friday. I turned into the embarrassing picture-taking wife of Scott. Everyone likes to act like they're annoyed with the constant picture taking, but I reassure them that they'll appreciate the pics one day. Another bonus to being the picture taker is that there are fewer pics of me. :) We got a great picture with all the family and three of the dogs. Mike didn't bring his three dogs. We could have had a regular dog park in the backyard. :) The sad thing about the great family picture is that Laura's boyfriend (at the time) Ryan took the pic only to become her fiance about a week later. The picture is already out-dated! Oh well, we'll get all dressed up for their wedding and take a pretty picture then. If he had insisted on being in the pic, he may have given away his impending secret proposal. :)

What a good lookin' bunch!

After picture taking, we had a great dinner followed by a rousing game of Chicken Foot. Scott's grandpa even stayed and played until 11:30. What a great sport! :) I love dominoes with the family. Laura and Ryan stayed the night, but who could drive back to Tulsa once we'd gone through the dominoes double 12s all the way down to double zero?

Saturday was Mickey's wedding. What a fun treat to, again, have an evening with free and great babysitters. :) Jesse was a little bit more of a stinker that evening. He insisted on being held while sleeping. Little goober. :) Thanks, Grandma, for being the arms! :)

If you're anywhere in the Northwest part of Oklahoma on the 4th of July, I suggest you stop in to the Blakemores and try to snag some of Jesse's Papa's homemade ice cream. Oh my goodness. There's not much else that can compare to eating homemade ice cream. I'm typically a chocolate girl. I'd never go to Braum's and get a scoop of vanilla. But homemade vanilla is the best! There were even fun toppings available, which I would normally love. But homemade vanilla needs no additions. It's perfectly perfect all on it's own - not tainted by another lesser tastey topping. :)

What an incredible trip! Family, friends, great food, a couple nights out with the hubby, chicken foot, homemade ice cream, great pics... Why did we ever leave? :)

Eddie jumped to get some love from his Grandma and Jesse. He hasn't learned that Jesse will pull and pull on his hair.

Jesse and Grandma like to swing on the back porch. Good boy, Jesse! I love that swing, too!