summer work projects and some fun

Allen is working on the stones that we used for the walk way.

Allen and I put in a stone walk way from about 5 feet into the yard, out to the alley. We had to dig out about six inches to put the sand down and then the stone. We filled with a crushed granite. The picture below is Allen putting in the final stones on the house end. We used 3/4 pallet of stones, 1/2 ton of sand, and 1/4 ton of crushed granite.
We watered the granite to pack it down and then two days later came back and refilled with granite where it had settled.
I don't know who that person is watering.

Rodeo weekend, Amanda, Amy and Isabel enjoy themselves outside before it is time to drive home.
Isabel is learning to eat by herself.
The BOYS
The rodeo parade was on Saturday afternoon, after the kids had already been to the rodeo the night before. Those longhorns were a little scary.
Well, for JT but not for Turner.
And here it comes, the parade! It was also very hot, so we stayed in the cars until the parade got close.
Parker loves on Aunt Amy

This was Friday night, the kids were chasing the little calves to get the scarf to win a bike. No luck on Friday night. But Saturday, watch out Altus, Nathan got it. He said the scarf was all wet, but he didn't mind eating a funnel cake later in the evening. The bike was really nice. I rode it myself on Sunday.

Isabel is learning to sit up alone without listing to the side. Parker is the great protector.
She really was doing very well.
Parker and I discovered how to make Hostess Cupcakes ourselves. They even had the cream filling on the inside. I have the recipe for Twinkies and Snoballs too. But we didn't do those.
JT was playing and decided he was "ready to go" with his suitcase, cars and balloon and Turners tennis shoes. Some clothes might have helped his cause a bit.

Another pic of Parker taking care of Isabel. The boys really do enjoy her.
July 3rd at the Friendship Inn for Birthday breakfast. Look at all those 24 candles. Sarah helped Allen blow them out.
Bettie came with Lori and Landon for a wedding in June. This is Aunt Bettie with Landon, and Grandpa with Isabel.
JT and Isabel play. He loves his little sister (except she can't crawl yet to get into his things. Just wait)
It sure is quiet when evenone is gone.

OSU Grand Parent University

Turner and I went to Grandparent University this week at Stillwater. Turner enrolled in the Fire Protection major at Oklahoma State University GPU. A required course was geology which was very interesting. We learned how to "read" rocks.

At the fire lab, he got to try on all of the fireman equipment. We also learned about sprinkler systems and how they work. We watched a fire start in a lab trailer and then saw how quickly a sprinkler system can put the fire out. Turner got to keep the sprinkler head after it did it's job. They are not any good after they spray.
Rolling the fire hose up after the drenching. It was difficult to keep it straight.
After the canon shoot (see below) the kids played in the back end of the water hose. It was very hot out (I didn't want to know exactly but I would guess 100 with heat index of about 110) That is Turner on the right in the brown shirt.
The class all got to try on the outfits and some were a bit too small. Turners pants and boots fit pretty well.
The 1950 Fire truck from OSU. It is being repaired right now and restored, but it continues to be used in the Homecoming Parade each year. OUR CLASS of Fire Protectors/ legacies and grandparents.
Turner got to help turn the hydrant off and on for the shoot.
The kids each got to shoot the "canon". Couldn't water the grass or the van, because the water is so powerful it would dig a hole in the ground or blast out the windows on the van that was in the parking lot. One little guy got awful close to the van windows.

At the Tail Gate party, Turner got to meet Andre Sexton and get his autograph. Turner was so excited. We got to meet the football team, girls basketball team and some of the cheerleaders and pom girls.

Turner was also excited to have Pistol Pete sign his shirt. What a night!

On Friday morning, we toured the stadium as part of the class- to inspect the water sprinkler system (of course), but we had difficulty finding any sprinklers on the field so we had to go underground.
The locker room showers......Turner needed one after this tour, it was hot.
The boys lounge on the couch in front of one of the many rows of "cherry lockers with leather seats and a drawer under neath, with humidity and air flow in each locker to dispel any "smell"......
In front of Hunter's locker

The actual locker room is quite different than I expected. The wood is cherry, the carpet is plush and the couches and pillows are of course, orange and black. In many places the OSU logo is in the ceiling. I will try to post more pictures later.
Each player has a section of space for their equipment, separate from the "locker" room. This is "Thomas's" stuff. This room has rows of storage cabinets that roll on rollers to open up, they are open to each other, and store shoes, equipment, towels, t shirts and lots of other things that we didn't see. There were many boxes that had not been unpacked yet. The University has only been in the area for two weeks. We found some shoes in the bottom drawers of the locker room so I am thinking the players are using the rooms now.

Under ground we found the jersey room. These are the new jersey's for the fall 09 season.


And Coach Mike Gundy's locker. Turner is sitting on his seat! I don't know that Mike has done that yet!

The equipment workout room. We were not allowed to touch anything because it had all been sanitized already.
Isabel is learning to eat cereal. Maybe one of these days it will go down her throat. Tee-hee. I just had to put a picture of her in....

It has been a while since I last posted, I think. I spent 10 days at Amy's house after Isabel was born, came home and a week later, Isabel, JT and Amy came to stay with us for a few days. JT is feeling quite grown up now and does not want to sit in the high chair. Who can blame him, now that he is a big brother! Of course we would not consider putting Isabel down!


He also enjoyed helping me make some French toast for breakfast. He is a good cook! Almost as good as Parker. With a little more practice, I may not be able to tell the difference.


This last weekend, we traveled to Tulsa and Isabel was baptized. She wore the same baptismal dress that has been worn in my family for 6 generations. In fact all of us in the picture, except Ralph were baptized in the dress. Amy worried that Isabel would gain too much weight to be able to wear it. She and Amanda (and Allen too) were all well over 10 pounds when they were baptized so I wasn't concerned at all. It fit her perfectly. More importunately she was baptized and now is a part of the family of God. I was blessed to be able to assist with the baptism.



Afterwards, Allen gets some neice and nephew time with the boys and Isabel. Turner and Parker love JT and I know they will have a fun time with Isabel too. Allen looks like he has it down, after 7 babies, I think he is getting to be pretty comfortable holding the little ones.



And of course Parker is JT's keeper. A baby taking care of a baby- no offence Parker. :)





Amanda and Isabel enjoy a squeeze and pink together.


And Grandpa and Isabel have some tummy time. She looks so much like Amy.

And now it is spring break and Parker, Turner and Amanda are here for a few days. More pictures to follow.

Our New Granddaughter

Miss Isabel Rothrock come into this life on her Great Grandmothers' birthday, whom she was named after. We were able to get to Tulsa before she came. In fact, Amy and Jim were moving into their new remodeled old home on Wed. when Amy called to say that she had been to the Dr. and was in labor. We got to Tulsa at 10:45 PM and took Amy to the hospital at 12:30 am. We didn't have to wait very long till she made her first big entrance.



Our first picture of our new granddaughter Isabel Marie Rothrock.
She was born on Jan. 15, 2009 at 3:45 am. She weighed in at 7lbs. 6 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long. We think she came with the pink bow.


JT is resting on the fireplace of his new house.

Amy and Isabel are dressed up (on her 5th day of life) to go to her grandpa Rothrocks 60th birthday party.



Dressing to go home, Isabel is quite content.


Uncle Allen gets to know Isabel. A fine father in training!


JT helps to get Isabel ready to leave the hospital. He doesn't know quite what to think yet. He has petted and kissed but hasn't poked or hit yet.


Parker, Turner and Nathan all take a turn holding their new cousin.





Soon after Amy and Isabel got home from the hospital, JT decided to "hold" Isabel.

Isabel gets her first baby bath. I just couldn't help cuddling her bare. She is so tiny.

The picture below is of JT working the cans. While we were busy doing something else, he decided to build a tower. I was pretty darn impressed that he managed to get it as high as he did before it fell.



JT loves Isabel. He kisses and pets her all the time. He only gets upset when Grandpa goes from him to the baby.


This is Amy's new kitchen. The oven and micro wave is around the corner on the left (you can kind of see the door). The sink in on the counter and storage is on the left and right sides of the arch and fridge. Very nice granite counters.

This was part of her second bath.


JT, Isabel and Amy came to stay with us for a few days this week. They spent a little time bonding on the living room floor. She is 2 1/2 weeks old in this picture.

We would love to believe that Isabel really reached for Grandpa's moustache but I think she just was flailing and I sort of caught it on the camera. Of course she is way ahead of other children her age! :)

This is Isabel and Grandmom at the end of 10 days. As always, no makeup and a bit tired but oh so content (Isabel of course).
No trip to Altus is complete without a meal at Roberts. Grandpa and JT are paying the bill for the two corndogs that JT scarfed down for lunch. Aren't they sweet?