Travel Plans

We pack Thursday and Friday June 12th & 13th
We load the truck Tuesday and Wednesday June 17th & 18th
We drive away from Tulsa Thursday June 19th
We arrive Ohio/Kentucky area June 20th

Our address is still in the works!

Home again, Home again....

http://hihoohio.blogspot.com/

We made it back to Tulsa at about 6:00 last night. All was well except there was a tree down in our back yard and the refrigerator was left open (ajar) so I had to toss some things. Otherwise an uneventful day and drive.

I will update and post photos from our weeks home this week and will send updates and progress reports for the move. Stay tuned.........................

Love and miss everyone already!

ROAD TRIP!

The girls and I head to Texas tomorrow, Tuesday for our summer road trip. We will stop at the American Girl Store in Dallas and spend the night at the Westin Galleria! Then Wed-Fri we are off to visit Auntie Im in Houston (not Kansas). Then we head to Boerne for a super slumber party. We will arrive in San Antonio Saturday and begin our world wind tour of family, friends, Dr.'s and Dentists as well as celebration of birthday and end of school!

Can't wait to see you all!!!

The San Antonio Spurs ROCK!!!

Need I say more!

Nothing beats family!

It is Monday, I am a little Blue today......after such a wonderful weekend......

My Mom and Sister arrived mid-day Thursday and we spent the weekend together catching up and having fun.

Friday we went for an EARLY MOTHERS DAY PEDICURE! It was a lot of fun to sit, with our feet in the water, being pampered and laughing. We then took them to the Tulsa Riverwalk for dinner to enjoy an evening stroll and yummy pizza.

Saturday was an adventure to the soccer fields to see Addison and the "Strikers" try to end their season with a victory, to no avail. It was a beautiful sunny day. We returned to just enjoy the sunshine and visit more.

Saturday evening, Ma & Aunt Cindy were kind enough to keep the girls overnight while Kipper and I went to the McBirney Mansion http://mcbirneymansion.com/ to celebrate our 11th Anniversary. It was a beautiful bed and breakfast overlooking the Arkansas River. It was a wonderful and relaxing experience. We walked the grounds, lounged in the garden, played Scrabble in front of the fire and fell asleep watching our San Antonio Spurs.....darn they lost! It was a romantic and relaxing time for us. (Thanks Mother & Cindy)

Sunday, we returned after breakfast to take in the Philbrook Museum and Gardens. http://www.philbrook.org/The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, it was just perfect. What a beautiful place. We returned to spend the afternoon on the patio watching the girls play and snacking and visiting and soaking up the sun. The day ended with a trip to Chelsea Pond and a marshmallow roast.

So, as the title of this entry indicates, I enjoyed my family so very much this weekend. I am truly blessed. I have two beautiful daughters, a loving husband and a Mom and Sister like no others. Nothing beats family!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to OHIO

After only 3 ½ months in Tulsa, Kipper has been offered a HUGE promotion. The title of the job is "Divisional Vice President and Senior Counsel"...sounds impressive if you ask me!! The Company is with Mid-Continent’s parent company, Great American Insurance Company.

The catch...the job is for Great American’s home office, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is a huge career deal and promotion for Kipper -- Great American is a fortune 500 company and had $4 billion dollars in premium last year, where Mid-Continent is a great successful company, it was just over $300 million in premium last year.

So obviously it is a MUCH bigger role with a MUCH bigger company.

Perks are good..... big raise and increased benefits are certainly great things, the much more important is that this is a long term position with excellent opportunity for growth and advancement.

In this new position, Kipper will be responsible for the creation and growth of a Claims Counsel office within the Great American organization. He will be responsible for growing the Claims Counsel office to appropriately serve the needs of the 25 or so different business units. Of course, this means nothing to Mommy extraordinaire, but it does sound impressive to me, right!!!!

So he told me this part, actually he typed this part....."the position with Great American, he will be primarily responsible for proving legal analysis, advice, and counsel with respect to insurance coverage issues as well as bad faith issues facing the various business units. He will also oversee the coverage lawsuits involving Great American pending in jurisdictions across the country. The policies written by the various business units are also extremely diverse, from things as common as construction related policies, legal professional liability policies, trucking related policies, and worker’s compensation insurance, to things like insurance for social workers, equine mortality policies (think race horses), crop insurance, executive liability policies. Kipper says the work will be diverse, challenging, and interesting. " I really do not know what all that means!!!!!!

SOOOOOOO....after a few tears and "NO I WON'T MOVE AGAIN PERIOD" this morning, the girls are excited already. Talking about the snow and Zoo and Ohio River and living near where Gigi grew up and Granddad went to college!!! It is all good, they are excited and ready to go. Really! It was so much easier this time.

I am flying up tomorrow till Tuesday to spend two days with two Realtors looking at schools and homes in N. Kentucky and Cincinnati. When I return, we will decide what area we wish to pursue and look in more. I will continue to search the Internet for every little detail on the schools. I feel confident we will find a great school in a great community that will not be an hour for Kipper to drive each day.

So, even though the prospects of packing and moving again are daunting and not something I look forward to, the prospects of a much brighter future and career for us all are far more promising! I am excited for Kipper but even more importantly, I AM SO VERY PROUD OF HIM.....he has done a great job in his career. He is a great lawyer, a smart guy and will make Great American so very proud to have him on their team. I am sure proud to have him on my team!

Pray for us.....that we make this a smooth transition, with few hoops and hurdles to jump through and over. Pray for the girls, that they find new friends as easily as in Tulsa.

We will see you all in San Antonio as planned....we are looking foreword to the visits. Hopefully a few of you will plan a trip to Ohio someday.....like you have Tulsa....we will miss you all.

Visiting Texas

May 27th to June 8th

Well, there are only 23 more days of school! Hard to believe. Good thing about the move, we get less days!!!

After school is out, we will take our first adventure home to Texas. I say Texas because we will have three or four stops on this first trip.

Tuesday May 27th we will go to American Girl in Dallas for an evening dinner and shopping and hair salon for dolls! Wednesday after breakfast, we will drive to Houston. We will visit Campbell's Godmother for two days, celebrating their birthdays which are a day apart! Then on Friday, we will head to San Antonio.

While in SA, we will visit as many of our friends and family as possible. We will Celebrate Campbell's "real birthday" with her old class at Woodridge, she is sooooo excited about this!!! We will visit our dentists, both children's and adult and see other Dr.'s for follow ups...no we have not found a single Dr. in Tulsa!! Kipper may even get a haircut!!!! We will likely venture off to the Hill Country or to the Beach or to Leakey for an overnight too.

I will even have bookgroup on June 3rd too, my old group has agreed to let me back for a visit!!!!!! Even reading a book I already read!!

Then on the way back, we will spend a night in Austin, visiting our friends there and one from Hamilton Texas!

We are packing it in and trying to do so much in a short time. We do not know where we will sleep at night but I am sure that will work itself out!!!

So, it would be great to plan a poker night for Kipper and a girls night for me.....if you are interested, let me know!!!

Mark your calendar, we want to see you!!

Spring is in the air

A few images from our yard.... The colors of Spring.....

As long as the sun shines, it is beautiful

Find any teeth?

Campbell seems to have lost her teeth so if you find them, please send them this way! Eating Apples and Corn-on-the-cob is a challenge! Mac n Cheese is a piece of cake!!!

Sunshine is a great thing

We weathered the storms! Much rain (close to 6 inches in two days) and little sleep later, it is now only 50 degrees and winds at about 15-25 mile per hour gusts....but the SUN IS OUT!

Tulsa area is experiencing flooding in many surrounding parts of the city, nothing right here but there is standing water all around. Two big parts of town had to close schools yesterday.

All is good now, Kipper returned last evening and we all slept in our own beds! Happy Sunshine!!

2:25 am Tornado Siren Goes Off

Well a restful night is not something we had last night!

At 2:25 am the Tornado Warning Siren went off. It woke me from a deep sleep and I gathered the girls, who were already on our floor sleeping as we had storms about 10pm with lots of lightening and thunder and rain.

We grabbed our pillows, a blanket and Kipper's blackberry. We sat in the powder room ( an inside room with no windows) and listened to the siren for about 10 minutes. Kipper found the warnings online and we realized it was mostly north of us, but a severe storm was passing.

About 3:00, we returned to our room and tried to sleep, this time all four of us in our king sized bed (thank goodness it was not a queen). About 3:10 am the HAIL began...OMG!!! It started as pea sized, moving quickly to nickle sized and finally ended as golfball sized hail. TONS of it. Hitting the glass setting the glass break for our alarm off about every 5 seconds.

The cats ran and hid under the bed. Kipper checked the living room, which has a HUGE window on the side of the house the storm was coming from, and we tried to sleep. NOT!

About 3:45am it all ended and we were able to sleep to the sound heavy rain, lightening and thunder. I moved to the floor. I slept about 45 minutes and the alarm went off....the clock alarm. It was 5:20am. UGH!

We do have a broken window in the garage, will call insurance about that I guess!

Kipper had a 7:00 am flight today to Phoenix. He got up and quickly showered and checked the radar, which was RED again. There was more hail and heavy rain. He left about 6:15 and got to the airport about 6:45.....he sent me a text that he arrived safe. His flight was delayed and he got off about 8:00am.

The girls got up about 7:45 and we scurried to have cereal, get dressed and get them to school by 8:35. Made it.

Oh what a night. The forecast is more rain, more hail and flooding, which it has started in many parts of town.....I live on a hill thank goodness!

So, if you ever wondered if a tornado siren could wake you up, yes it can!!!

Have a safe a dry day, wherever you are!!!

My Grammy - Posted Monday April 7th May 1, 1910 - April 6, 2008

http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=LS000107204976X

Meet Pearl Frances Craig known to most of us as Grammy. She died peacefully with my dear sister by her side about 11:45 pm last night. She was blessed to have received Communion yesterday before her death.

Grammy was married to my Grampy, Addison Bradford Craig and had three sons, John (my dad) Chad and James. She was the Queen of her Castle.

My Grammy was the cheeriest and spunkiest little thing I ever knew. She was never fussy but was always stern and had complete control of any situation, up until her final days, shooing my family away so she could get her rest.

Missing her 98th birthday by only a few weeks, she spent her life celebrating and enjoying each day. She had more stories to tell than the library has books and they were all worth sitting and listening to.

Grammy has forever returned to Grampy's side in her Plymouth in Heaven. She will be very missed by us all but we will always celebrate her life and our love for her. We love you Taffy!

Official Soccer Mom

Addison in a hat chasing a blue ball.............

So it is official. I am a soccer mom. Addison is playing (trying hard) on a friendship team. She has had two practices and two games, no goals but a couple assists...or something. She is having a bunch of fun!

The games have been in 40 degee weather with wind gusting at 15 miles per hour! Yes the parents love that!

So, I said I would never do it, and I did it. What's next.....me taking tennis lessons!

Two weeks, 12 visitors

Thanks for all the Bath Junkie Goodies, we are sooo clean and fresh!!

Well, today is a lonely cool day. The girls and I are home from school (Teacher in service day) and it is only about 40 outside. Sun is peaking out but it is cold.

We are lonely because for the past two weeks straight we have had fun with visitors! It is quiet now. Bummer!

Starting the adventure were Kelly, Ava and Henry for my birthday weekend. We had great fun playing at home and visiting the Aquarium and Zoo. We celebrated my turning 45 and had a law school buddy of Kelly & Kipper, Liza McGinn and her family, over for pizza and cake. It was great fun! A super birthday! Failed to mention the massages Kelly & I had, that was awesome!

Then they Left Monday morning and Tuesday evening Jeanne (Jeanne the dancin machine) came from Austin. She was "here on business" and was able to tour BAMA Foods. Then we had pedicures/manicures and hung out together for two days...it was so nice to have girl time!

Friday mid-day a trip to the airport sent her on her way. And Saturday evening about 6, the Dickinson's arrived from San Antonio. We spend three days with Kids playing and visiting the sights again, the aquarium and Zoo! Tried to see the Air and Space museum and realized it was closed when we pulled into the parking lot and there were only two cars...oops! Next time!

We really enjoyed their visit. Kids played great!! Just sorry they left in a terrible rain storm.

Wednesday was the arrival of Bella, Bennett, Anne & Will! It was a sunny evening. They brought great weather with them and we spent a good portion of our time together OUTSIDE! Yes we did the Zoo and aquarium together, but we also got to sit by our "riverwalk" and have dinner in lovely weather.

My friends are all so great, they all brought coffee so I am set for a month or two, or at least till I get home!!! So many flavors to choose from! Thanks for all the coffee!!!!!!!!!

Easter Sunday we went to St. James Presbyterian for their early service. We have visited there three times now. It is small but lovely and it was a nice Easter Service....but no Alleluia Chorus like UPC.

It was a great birthday and spring break and I am grateful for such great friends. I can't believe everyone was willing to come visit US!! The girls had so much fun with all the kids and Kipper and I so enjoyed all the adult conversation and friendship. We miss everyone and look forward to coming to San Antonio in May/June/July for visits....watch for that schedule once we figure it out.

So, who is next....Oh yeah...Jeanne and Priscilla on April 4th....YEAH! Can't wait!

Ok, time to plan YOUR TRIP! You know who you are!!!

Enjoy the photos posted below and around!

Thanks and love to all for a great Spring!

SPRING BREAK 2008 PHOTOS

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

SPRING BREAK!!!

watch for details!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a difference a few weeks make.

It is Monday. It is morning. I am tired.

It stormed last night from about 11:00 till this morning. Saturday was 72 degrees and we spent the whole day outside doing whatever we could to be outside! Today, it is now 34 degrees and is sleeting, mixed with snow. It is cold and windy and about 2-4 inches of accumulation is expected by morning. (I bought flowers to plant Saturday....I guess I will wait)

Over the past few weeks, we have become more settled and feel more like Tulsa is becoming our home (away from home!!).

I have had a couple nice mom's approach me and they have set up "social outings" for me. At a lunch last week, I met with 5 other mom's from the school, all mom's were just so kind. One thing we all decided together was we wanted a book group so Viola! I was excited to hear that. We will have our first gathering March 31st!!!

Another Mom was kind enough to ask if we could have an ice cream social (today after school weather permitting). It will be a social for Campbell, Addison and another new family with a first grader and pre-k child to get to know some other families at Jenks SE (school). I just hope the snow does not stop this....if so, we will make it work later!

I was able to help in the Valentine parties and worked at the book fair last week. At both, I was able to meet more mom's. It is just such a relief. I was wondering if I would ever make a friend. I even have a coffee date Wednesday!! Moving right along!!

Now, many of you who read this (if anyone actually does) may think....why is she so worried about meeting people. Well, you try moving to a city (or another state)where you know your children, husband and husbands co-workers....oh and my darling realtor! That is a tough one. Not to mention we have no church home or community group or major hobby. I need to learn tennis because EVERYONE here plays! OK, that won't happen soon! I know some of you have done this and have been pregnant or with new born children while doing this...but it is tough!!!

Now for more good news. Kipper likes his job alot!! YEAH! He is really feeling it was a great move for his career and for his ego, men are so into the ego part of things. He is receiving the overdue respect he deserves. I am so proud of him! He is traveling some and that has not been a problem. Well this Friday it will be because he goes to the Rio Grande Valley for a hearing at 2:30 FRIDAY! He will return at 11:30 at night!! YUCK FOR HIM!

We are about to begin our visitor month! We are excited!!!

This coming weekend to help me celebrate my birthday, Kelly & the kiddo's will visit! Next week is Jeanne, she has a new client here!!!!! Then spring break we will keep totally busy with the Dickinsons and Hardins! Then April 4-6 Priscilla and Jeanne will visit!!!! YEAH! YEAH! WHo will be next? Mom, Dana, Jen, or maybe YOU?????????

We are frantically planning our summer. Addison wishes to return to Camp Capers....she is on the cover of their brochure by the way, with Laura and Cami!!! Front and Center!! Then we are still trying to see if we can make it to the beach, Leakey or just to SA to visit family and friends. Too much to do and too many folks to see! We do want visitors in the summer too. We hope to visit the Ozarks or an area lake cabin during the summer too.

OK, I will be updating photos this week. I will add more snow photos if we have some and will add visitor photos too. I hope you are all well....I want to hear from everyone!

OK, it is now snowing, blowing snow and BIG flakes!! 10:00am Monday March 4th, that is WEIRD!!! I imagine you in San Antonio have the AC on!!!

Love and missing EVERYONE!

GO SPURS!

We are still here

Busy couple weeks....staying warm is the main objective. Woke to another dusting of snow. I will update again this weekend...love to all!

Weather men are not always right......

Well, last week it snowed on Thursday about two inches total where we live. As you could see from the photos, the girls were happy to play and make snowmen! Then on Saturday and Sunday, they were running around in shorts and tank tops! Well, this morning, we awoke to snow on the ground yet again. Granted, it was only about 1/4 inch, but it was snow. Go Figure!!...............


Girls are getting used to the changes and the unknowns but getting tired of leaving with coat, gloves and scarves and coming home with a very heavy backpack full of all of it! Campbell looks like a stuffed sausage most mornings!............


It is some excitment for our otherwise un-event-filled lives. Hopefully we are on the BRINK OF CHANGE THERE!!............

Last weekend, we attended a Jenks SE (elementary school they go to) fundraiser. It was FAMILY BINGO NIGHT! Loud but fun enough. No winners in our group...........

The girls have both started an afterschool program that lasts 6 weeks. Addison on Wednesday called MAD SCIENCE (which is when Campbell has her brownie meetings twice a month) and Campbell on Thursday called YOUNG REMBRANDTS (which is Addison's brownie day). Addison learned about air and space today and had a blast. Hope tomorrow is the same success for Campbell..............

Both girls are still enjoying brownies and their new friends. Thanks to all who bought a few cookies! No sports on the horizon though. We thought Softball for Addison, but that did not work, she was too old for the group who invited her..........

Kipper is a traveling fool. He has traveled every single week thus far. He left today for Austin and Dallas and will return Friday. Next week is Houston and the following is Phoenix. He is beginning to "really get it" and feel as though he is not so new anymore. That did not take long!!............

I guess I am the lone ranger in the "something to do" catagory. I have found a bible study that meets on Monday. I have also decided to join a group called the TULSA NEWCOMERS CLUB for women and thier spouses. Tomorrow is my first attempt. I am going to LOFT, Lunch on First Thursday! Clever. I plan to meet up with a women who I have been emailing with (who I am anxious to get to meet in person) and we will attend together. Meredith is her name and she has given me lots of insite to this group. She is also a non-working mom with kids my girls ages. I am hopeful!!! They have several activities each moth to try out as I feel like it! Next will be BUNKO!..........

Monday I will join a group of Junior League Sustainer for "Dinner Club" and go to a restuarant I have not been to. They meet monthly and try new places all over town. And then JL bookgroup meets the 19th of February and I will attend that as well...........

I have not started working at the school, will do that the 21st. I will get to go to Valentine Parties next week and help with their Teacher Appreciation events the following week, so I will finally get up to the school. It is just so different there. Not sure I am 100% convinced it is the best choice we made, but it has only been a month and the girls are happy and making 100's on most everything! So Proud!!..........

But I do have "SVEN" and SKY FITNESS (gym)who are both kicking my butt, my much smaller butt I might add! I am enjoying it all!! (Shhhh do not tell) Any of my upcoming visitors want to work out....bring your stuff and I will take you!!!..........

Kipper and I also have established DATE NIGHT. We have a darling baby-sitter who is a senoir at ORU and so cute. (Looks Swedish) Girls love her and she loves the girls (or so she says)!!!! This is a great thing since we have nothing but family time otherwise. We are getting to try new things!!!..........

We have a dinner planned this weekend with Kipper's co-workers and spouses and next weekend his Dad and Barbro come for a visit!......

Ok, so the weather man said tomorrow will be sunny and 48.....we will see. Today was supposed to be sunny and 48 but the sun just poked through about 20 minutes ago and I think it may be 39 now. BURR...BURR....BURR!..........