We had Family Pictures Made

We had family pictures made last Monday. These are the first ones since Cade turned 2. We didn't get nearly as many as I would've liked. Cade has hit that stage where he doesn't want to sit still (espeically in new places where there is lots to explore).

Check out the pics!

Shaunna

OU vs. UT 2008 - BOOMER SOONER!

Me and Lucas at the Texas State Fair



Shecoeta, Me, Jen and Courtney at Cadillac Bar on the West End Friday Night


OU/TX was so much fun! Let’s see… where should I start?

We left Friday morning around 10:30. Lucas’ friends from work Tyler and Jen rode with Lucas and me. There other friends from work Steve and Courtney followed us in their vehicle and Lucas’ cousin Shecoeta and her husband Boadie also followed us. So, we had quite the little caravan!

We stopped at the Bevo Bash (Bevo is the name of the Texas’ Longhorns mascot) at Carl’s Jr. in Marietta, OK. The Sports Animal guys are always there doing broadcasts. There are free Bevo burgers, and tents set up with OU gear and stuff. We stayed long enough to eat a free Bevo burger, use the bathroom at hit the road.
We arrived in Dallas around 2:30 Friday afternoon. By 4 o’clock we were all checked into the hotel and ready to hit the West End.

Boadie and Shecoeta stayed in a different hotel than the 6 of us. So, they got down there earlier. They went over to Cadillac Bar (a Mexican restaurant and bar) and saved a table for all of us.

As soon as we got to the West End, a Dallas based NBC news crew was down there. They stopped me and Lucas and asked if they could interview us. They were asking us about the economy and if it had affected our ability to come to Dallas for the weekend. They also wanted to know about how much money we’d be spending during our stay in Dallas. Then they asked if we had any messages we’d like to pass along to their viewers. Of course, we started yelling Boomer Sooner, doing the horns down sign and all that good stuff! I know we made the news because Lucas’ best friend’s mom saw us from her hotel room. She said her jaw about dropped when she saw Eddie (that’s her nickname for Lucas) on the news! :o)

We got down to Cadillac Bar a little before 5 and margaritas were $3 until 7!! Woohoo! I love a good margarita and they are sometimes hard to find. These margaritas were so tasty! They didn’t have tons of tequila in them like a lot of them do. Cadillac Bar was about 80% OU fans on Friday night. We sat out on the patio watching people walk by and talking with all of the other OU fans. (And doing a Boomer Sooner - Texas Sux chants on occasion!)

There was a group of older people sitting 2 tables behind us. They were already 3 sheets to the wind and were having a lot of fun. One of the guys got up and started dancing all by himself. He was having a really good time. Our friend Courtney went over and started dancing with him. You could tell he loved all of the attention. After a while Jen and I started dancing with him too and then we were all taking pictures with him. He was really nice and a lot of fun. We actually ended up running into him again the next morning at the fair. He called us his “dancers”. :o)

We ate at Cadillac Bar and then after Happy Hour was over we started walking down the street. By this time it was dark out and starting to get busier. We went into a couple of different bars. We ended up just kind of hopping from one place to another. Every place was so stinkin’ busy and a lot of places were charging cover charges. So, we decided to go back to the room and hang out.

We got back to the room and everyone crashed out pretty early. The game was at 11 a.m. the next morning and we wanted to get to the state fair pretty early since ESPN GameDay was supposed to be there this year.

I ended up being the first one to wake up Saturday morning. I set my alarm for 6:30 but ended up waking up at 6. So I went ahead and jumped in the shower first. This was a good thing because it got everyone else to get around earlier. We all got ready, ate breakfast downstairs and caught the DART bus to the fair.

I don’t remember exactly what time we got to the fair, but I think it was about 8:30. When we first got there, we went over and watched the GameDay crew. There were tons and tons of people over there. So many, that we couldn’t really hear or see much of what was going on. So, we decided to go and get some food and beer. We sat around and forced down a couple of beers and then walked around some. Lucas and I had our picture taken in front of “Big Tex”.

One of the most fun things about the game was the shirts that Jen, Courtney and I wore. We were the hit of the fair. They were homemade by Jen and Courtney and turned out to be so cute. We had people both OU fans and TX fans stopping us left and right asking were we got them and asking if they could take pictures of them. There is a picture in my slideshow of them, but it isn’t a close up. It had the picture shown below on the back with the words, “SUCK IT” on top. I know, I know it’s a little tacky, but in the spirit of this game, it was PERFECT!



Well needless to say, the game didn’t go exactly as we wanted it to. We cheered hard and had fun up until the last quarter or so. Lucas and I left as soon as Texas went up by 10 points. On the way out there was already a dumb Texas fan running around like a fool yelling at the Sooner fans on the OU side. Lucas and he got into a bit of a shouting match because they guy was getting in the face of a couple that was minding their own business.

After the game, Lucas and I went back over to the beer stand and waited for Tyler, Jen, Courtney and Steven to show up. We all sat around and ate and drank a couple of beers and listed to all the Texas fans hoop and holler. Needless to say there were way more Texas fans sticking around after the game than there were OU fans.
After that, we headed back to the hotel and took a nap. When we woke up we went to this little sports bar in downtown Dallas named Tens to watch the OSU vs. Missouri game. That bar was pretty cool. The food was really good. The owner was there and he was really nice and attentive. It’s always nice to go to a place when you know the manager/owner is making sure his people are taking care of you. After the OSU game, they started playing some good music. We stayed another 20 minutes or so and then left.

Our group went down to the West End and Lucas and I went back to the hotel. We were all getting rowdy and I was afraid that we’d end up getting in trouble if we went to the West End. Lucas and I ended up at the hotel bar and sat and had a couple of beers with 2 Texas fans and an OSU fan. (I know, I know, it was a weird night!)
I got up at 8:30 Sunday morning. I was so ready to get home and say my little man. I kept tearing up every time I thought about him. We left Dallas Sunday morning around 11. We stopped at a Dairy Queen on the way home (which took 45 minutes just to get food to go!) We got home around 3:30 and left to go get the little man ASAP!!

All in all it was a fun weekend. I’m real bummed that the Sooners lost. However, I do think that if TX falters, we can get right back in there. I would hate for us not to get to the Big XII Championship or a BSC game just because we lost one game. Granted it’s one very important game, but still. Texas is a good team, they played their hearts out on Saturday and truth be told they deserved to win that game. We said it over and over again Saturday afternoon and night, “Good game, Texas”.

Cade's 2nd Birthday

Cade's had a big birthday so far! We went to Tinker to see the airplanes and visit all the ladies at Lucas' work. Then we went over to the Tinker firehouse and got to visit with the fire fighters, play on the fire truck and see Sparky the firedog. We've had a lot of fun so far. Right now, the little birthday boy is down for a nap. Later tonight we're hoping to get some dinner, play and eat some cupcakes.

Check out the pics we've taken so far!

Also, I'm adding some pictures from a couple of weeks ago. Cade and I went to the fair with my Mom and Floyd. There are pictures of Cade riding a camel and a pony. There are also some pictures of him at the petting zoo. He loves animals very much and loved this part of the fair. There are also a couple of more pictures from when he got his truck.

Cade's 2nd Birthday Party

It's almost time. Cade will be 2 on Thursday. Wow how the time has flied! Cade has changed our lives so much. He has taught me so much about life and about love. He is such a blessing from the Lord.

We had his birthday party last Sunday. Thank you so much to everyone who came. Our family and friends always do so much to show us how much they care and we are very grateful for that.

When we opened the presents, it was kind of funny because Cade ended up with 3 fire trucks and 3 Mr. Potato Heads! He got lots of great gifts. So far, they all seem to be a hit. I think he's played with pretty much everything already.

Of course, I am putting in some pictures for everyone. The first slideshow is a few pictures from 23 months. There are some of Cade and Marti when we all went to the fair. There are also some of Cade and Teegan playing with Cadence during the OU / Washington game. In that slideshow you will also find pictures of Cade and his new Ford F-150. His Mema (my mom) bought him a PowerWheels ("Big Truck" as Cade calls it) for his birthday. It was too big to take to the party so he got it early. There are also lots of pictures from the party. And last but not least there are 2 videos of Cade with his new truck. The first video is of him when he first saw it. The 2nd video and the one you must watch, is of Cade driving the thing. He is a terrible driver and it's quite funny!!

Lucas and I are taking off on Thursday to spend the day with Cade on his birthday. We don't really know what all we're going to do just yet. We do plan on taking him out to Tinker to visit Lucas' work and to see some airplanes. I would also like to take him to see a real fire truck, but I don't know if/where you can do that. If anyone does know somewhere local where we could do that, please email me! On Friday we are off to Dallas for OU / Texas. Woohoo!!

I hope you all have a great week!

Shaunna

P.S. Boomer Sooner! Go OU, BEAT TEXAS!!!!

Cade 23 Months

Cade's 2nd Birthday Party

Cade Gets His "Big Truck"



Cade Learns to Drive His "Big Truck"

2 New Pets, OU Autograph Day and First Game Day of the Season

So much has happened since my last post!

Let's see. Last Friday Lucas and I took the day off to spend with Cade. We ran errands all day and just kind of hung out together. One of the places we went was Watson's to buy some chemicals for the pool. Anyway, while we were checking out Cade was sitting on the counter where they had a fish bowl. Cade saw the fish and really liked it. He just kept saying, "fishee! fishee!" So I asked him if he wanted to get a fish. Of course he said he did. For the rest of the day all he would talk about was wanting a fish. We would ask him if he was hungry, or if he wanted some chicken nuggets or whatever and he would reply, "I want buy fish!!" in the most demanding voice he could muster! Needless to say, later that night we went to Wal-Mart and bought this boy a fish. He's a blue Beta fish named Peedie. Cade loved him the first night however since then Peedie is more of a chore for me and Lucas to feed then he is a pet for Cade.

The reason that Peedie is no longer Cade's focus is because Cade got another new pet. You see Cade loves cats. His Nana (Lucas' mom) has 2 cats. One she has had for quite a while and the other is a stray kitten from the vet clinic where she works. Cade loves that kitten so much. I personally can't stand cats, but there is something about this cat that even I like. (Lucas also was growing quite attached to her.) So, Nana said that we could have the cat for Cade if we wanted it. We could hardly say no considering how much Cade loves her. So, last Tuesday Lucas went and picked up Jax from Nana's and brought her home to surprise Cade. Little did Lucas know, I had already told Cade that Daddy was bringing Nana's cat home. Cade was so excited. All the way home from my aunt and uncles all he talked about was, "Nana's cat?" "Nana's cat?" "Daddy get Nana's cat?" So when Lucas got home with the cat in a carrier Cade looks up at him and says, "Where the cat?" It was so funnny. Lucas looks at me and says, "You told him!?" Of course I was busted for ruining the surprise. Oh well. Anyway, now every evening the focus of Cade's attention is Jax. (Who by the way I'm calling Jaxi because it's more girly.)

Other than that we are super excited about OU football having started. Last Saturday we went to an autograph signing with Billy Sims, Steve Owens and Jason White. (For those of you living under a rock these are the 3 living Heisman trophy winners from OU.) Pretty much everyone knows that Lucas is a collector of OU football memorabilia. So, he had some cool stuff to get autographed. About 3 or 4 years ago someone gave him a 6 foot tall canvas picture of Billy Sims that used to hang in the Switzer center before they re-did it. It is a very cool picture. Lucas is always saying that he wanted Billy to autograph it, but just never got the chance until last Saturday. It was acutally kind of funny because Lucas has it all rolled up and tells Billy, "When you see this you're going to wonder where the he** I got it." Billy looks at him smiles and says "Oh, ok" with this look of yeah right kid. Then when he unrolled it Billy looks at him smiles real big and says, "Where in the he** did you get this?!?!?!" Lucas also has an original Sports Illustrated from Nov. 10, 1969 with Steve Ownens on the cover. This was the same season that Steve won the Heisman. So, we were able to finally get that autographed as well.

Last Saturday was also the first OU game of the season. Cade still isn't going this year. We still think he's too small to enjoy it. We want to wait until it will be fun for him. (Possibly until he's old enough to have a basic understanding of the game.) We did however get to go with tons of friends. This year almost all of our friends got season tickets so it was really cool to hang out with everyone.

Well October is right around the corner which means that Cade's birthday is coming. He'll be 2 this year and is acting more and more like it everyday. He's recently gained some weight and is getting so big. He is getting taller and acting less and less like a baby all the time. Time flys too fast!!!

P.S. There is one other thing that I want to share. I call it Cade's Binky Fit. You might remember around last Thanksgiving I posted a video of Cade's Binky Trick. Well now that he's older we don't let him have his binky during the day time. This video is of him getting mad at us for taking it away. It's so funny.

Summer Is Winding Down

Oh how sad I am to see another summer pass me by! But, in my sadness I have so much to look forward to. Fall is such a beautiful season that brings OU football, Cade’s birthday, OU/TX game and Halloween. So, there is much to look forward to.

I just wanted to write and send along our latest pictures. There are 3 slideshows. One is of Cade’s at 21 months, one is of Cade at 22 months the other is a slideshow of our Hinshaw family get together 2 weekends ago. (Although almost all of the pics in that slideshow are of the kids. They’re the best thing to take pics of if you ask me!)

We're about to get very busy. Lucas starts the SNU adult studies program Sept. 10th. I am so happy for him. If you think about it, keep him in your prayers. Pray that the Lord will keep his excitement burning and keep him focused. He has to stay focused through December of 2009, then he'll officially be a college graduate. And, we'll be having the biggest party you can imagine! Cade turns 2 on October 9th, so we’ll be having a birthday party for him soon. I am so excited for that. My life is all about Cade 365 days a year, so I love it when everyone else gets to put a whole day aside to celebrate what a wonderful little man he is!! OU games start next Saturday and we are so pumped. Several of our friends have season tickets this year so we are super excited about having lots of friends to hang out with. Also, Lucas and I finally got our name drawn out of the hat for OU/TX tickets this year. So, we'll be making that trip this year. Hopefully that will become an annual tradition.

Enjoy the pics!

-Shaunna

Hinshaw Family Get Together

Cade 21 Months

Cade 22 Months

Cade Rides the "Dog"

I have to write a quick blog about the latest cute thing Cade did. Of course he does multiple cute things on a daily basis, but every now and then there is something that I feel the need to broadcast to the world.

Yesterday afternoon I went to pick Cade up from my aunt and uncles. When I got there he was playing on his rocking horse. This horse has been put away in my old room (Cade's future playroom) for months. Well while he was rocking on it yesterday he looks at me and says, "I ride the dog". I smiled and excitedly said, "Yes, baby that's good. But, it's a horse, not a dog." He looked at me said "NO, DOG!!!" I laughed and said, "No, baby. It's a horse." He again replied with, "NO, DOG!!!". I again laughed and said, "Cade look at the mane on top of his head. Horses grow hair on top of the head, it's called a mane." Anyway, he kept arguing with me and saying "NO, DOG!!!" and occasionally would stop to look at me and say, "I ride the dog". It was so cute.

He was having so much fun. When I got ready to leave I said, "Cade are you about ready to go home?" He said, "No." So I waited a few more minutes and said, "Baby, mommy's going to go home, are you going to go bye-bye with mommy or stay here?" (Thinking he would immediately jump up ready to go home with me.) He looked at me waved his hand and said, "Bye-Bye".

He's growing up so so fast!!! I'm loving watching him get bigger full well knowing that one day I'll look up and he won't be a baby anymore!!

-Shaunna

That Little Boy of Mine

I just came across a poem/song in the book Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson. It brought me to tears and I wanted to share:

That Little Boy of Mine

Two eyes that shine so bright,
Two lips that kiss goodnite,
Two arms that hold me tight,
That little boy of mine.

No one could ever know how much your coming has
meant.
Because I love you so, you're something heaven
has sent.

You're all the world to me.
You climb upon my knee.
To me you'll always be,
That little boy of mine.


This is belived to have been written by Grace Wolgemuth.

It just makes me want to hug my little guy even tighter!! He's growing up too fast.

Summer-time!!

I thought I would post an update on the life and times of the Hinshaw clan!! Cade is now 21 months. In fact, in another week and a half he’ll be 22 months. 2 Years old is approaching so fast!! We are starting to work on poddy training. Cade is doing quite well to be so young, but still has a very long way to go. He is also talking up a storm. He uses sentences quite often now days. He loves to read books with mommy and also enjoys looking through photo albums of friends, family and of course himself!! He is very attached to his mommy and daddy right now. I think he’s going through one of those stages where he only wants us (and my aunt and uncle since he’s with them daily.)

We are starting to struggle with discipline. Cade is very strong willed and wants what he wants when he wants it! We are working on that though. I’m actually about to go and check out some of James Dobson’s parenting books at the library. I have never personally read any of his stuff, but I know he is very respected among the Christian community, so I’d like to read what he has to say.

Below you will find a few new pictures from the last couple of weeks.

There are some pictures of Cade on the 4th of July. I had to steal them off of Lucas’ cousin Jill’s myspace page. My camera broke so we couldn’t take any pictures for about 2 weeks. Luckily it has since been fixed. There are some really cute pictures of Cade playing on Jill’s old Barbie Jeep and some pictures of him riding an antique tricycle. He had a lot of fun over there because he was the only little kid and so naturally he was the center of attention. (Which he loves!!)

Cade got to go to his first baseball game on Friday July 18th. The Redhawks played Memphis at the Bricktown ballpark. I think Cade had a good time, but the heat was terrible!! Cade enjoyed watching all the people and also these blow-up mascot things that would come out and dance around and act silly. Actually Lucas and I really enjoyed those too. I think there are 2 pictures on here from the ballpark.

Cade and I also went to the zoo on July 19th with my aunt and uncle. We got out there around 9:30 and stayed until a little after 1. It was so hot!!! Cade did so good though. He was such a trooper and had a lot of fun. My uncle bought him this little back-pack that has a “leash” on it. Cade loved it. I know so many people say, “I would never put my kid on a leash!” In fact, I think I said that before I had a child of my own. But, truthfully Cade absolutely loved it. If he had not been on the leash he would’ve had to be stuck in a stroller. The leash gave him the freedom to walk around and be a big boy without us having to worry as much about his safety or keeping him close by. In fact, I don’t think he even knew he was on a leash. I think he thought he was free to roam. It was good for all of us. Also, he got lots of exercise walking around the zoo for over three hours. He also got to ride a couple of those little kid rides, which he loved. The coolest thing that happened was when he saw the chimpanzees. He walked up to the chimp window and saw the chimp sitting inside there. He pointed at it and said, “Monkey”. I thought it was so cool because he’d never seen a chimp/monkey before in real life. I was surprised that he recognized them from toys and t.v. shows.

Enjoy the pictures!!

Barbie Jeep Pics






Messy Face!!


Antique Tri-Cycle


Cade's First Baseball Game


Cade and his uncle Victor at the OKC Zoo.






Stopping for something to drink...


Riding the miniature carousel.




Cade and the gorilla statue. He was acutally too scared to go stand by the statue all by himself... so my uncle had to go and stand with him. He still wasn't happy about it.




Anyone reading this who knows Cade very well will know this ride was right up his ally! He loves cars and steering wheels. This safari jeep would move up and down and play music. We should've saved the $30 we spent inside the zoo and let him ride this ride outside the gift shop to his heart's content. He would've liked that much better!! LOL