Part A: OKC Zoo Trip!!

Hmm... which is the real one?

Time for a little pouting.

Complacent Degriditation.

This was a cool helicopter like fish. It spun the fins on its side, bottom, and top in circular motions just like a chopper.

If this snake seems enlarged, it is because it is. The picture below shows the facts better.

What you are here seeing is simply one of nature's food chain in action... and a mouse disappearing into a snakes gullet.

Jamie: 'Hey, look at me, I can do the slidy thing!"

Drew: "Yahoo, look at me, I can do it too!"

Mary: Jump...Jump...got it! 'Oh, I think I pulled an arm muscle.'

This King just sat and nonchalantly watched as his visitors paraded past, tapped on his window, and made faces at him. John and Cass were pretty convinced he looked just like a friend of theirs.

Part B: OKC Zoo Trip

JP was pretty tired by this time, and he was just slowly plodding along when all of a sudden, he was the monkeys and perked right up! "Take a picture of me with the monkeys!", he excitedly demanded... and then ran over to the picture instead of the monkey cage. Apparently, he relates well with these ape creatures.

This is like my favorite picture! The are so cute!


Tackle him! Get a real smile! Hang on to him Jake!



JP is at that stage where it is hard to pin him down for a good picture pose. Luckily, Jake is now stolid enough to just grab him and hold on complacently... while JP wriggles at his side.

Are you looking at me?

The giraffes! These amazing creatures were probably lavished with the most of our attention during our zoo visit... especially from John, who was truly amazed at the combined awkwardness and grace of these fantastic creations. We decided that going to the zoo and seeing all of the different crazy and unique animals is truly one of the best proofs to God's existence and omniscience.

Andrew was like,"The giraffe touched my front two knuckles! How many people can claim that their front two knuckles touched a giraffe?!".

So long folks! Thanks for coming!

The Domino Affect

The boys got a pretty funky-cool domino set for Christmas. After much diligent labor, a few failed attempts and a couple of accidental starts, we got a final result that made us all quite happy... especially Jacob. Are you ready? Get set..GO!

O Christmas Tree

The 1st Sunday in Advent brought with it the Christmas Tree Upheaval... or the setting it up process. We had the good old Cowboy Christmas music on, and everyone was scrambling around oohing and aahing at the different ornaments as they hung them on the tree. I was the self-designated photographer, and basically played more than I helped.



Can you guess what this picture is actually taken through? Can you see a face in the picture below?

These pictures where taken through a tube of Christmas paper wrapping, which had a cobweb at the end of it, as best seen in pic 1. It was fun to play around and see if I could get a good picture (which didn't happen). The face is Andrew's lit up with the glow of....cherubic angels.

This was fun too! - see, I told you I played.

Vest on, hands in pockets = Calvin Klein magazine model ( minus the hanger)

What would you label Jacob's look as? Please e-mail your submissions to me, seriously and please.

Look! There is an elf beneath our tree! Or just mom's feet.

Sometimes a fake Christmas tree just can't hide you as well as you might wish.

Look, look! They are decorating the tree without arguing!!
Merry Advent to all, and to all a Good Night!

A Christmas Dance

So, we all know by now that Jake is a good dancer.

He consented to dance for me to the Cowboy Christmas Music (do you all remember that cd?) we had going as we set up the Christmas Tree on Sunday. I was not disappointed! I love the way this kid dances.

Watch carefully, as he is full of twists and turns and flips!

P.S.- there is no sound

Happy First Sunday of Advent!

We thought this old photo from the family archives was an appropriate photo to wish each of you a happy first Sunday of Advent! Aren't Mary and Drew so cute....! This was taken after Drew had gone through his kidney surgery, and still had some drainage tubes in him. I was told by the doctors that if he got the flu it might make them dislodge....so it was the advent that nobody came in, and nobody went out!

Guymon Pt. I

Who knew that one could travel for so long in Oklahoma without crossing a border? It's a 5 hour drive to Guymon, which is located in the Oklahoma panhandle.

Group shot!: Back row: J, Me, Megan

Front row: Our young mascot and buddy (I don't remember her name!), Karen, Connie, and (Joshua) aka. Dutch

The cute little girl in the picture became our very good friend throughout the retreat day... once we started picking her up, she didn't want down! When Karen tried to put her down for this group picture, she started running after her crying! That is a loyal retreatant for you.

Group shot #2: Back row: Dutch, Karen, J, Megan

Front row: Me, Connie, Diane

How many people can fit onto one little board? (There is imaginery lava on the grass, one false move and you die!!)

Time for a talk! (I am scared!)

A Bit About Buckley

The Buckley Team hit the road in early November to host a retreat in Guymon, Oklahoma. There was only about 20 kids, and it was an over-night retreat... so by the end of it we had plenty of tired kids and youth leaders!

As usual, we had a great time. The pictures that you see below illustrate the Rule #2 of Buckley Team: to have FUN! (Rule #1 is to serve and love God in our Catholic Faith while having fun!)

However, you probably won't see many of the real - impacting/serious pics of these retreats, but more of the fun ones.. because serious pics are just pictures of us talking or praying.. and those don't make for very exciting photos. JSYK: We don't ONLY play games! (but we play;)

On these retreats, we usually start with intros and icebreakers, opening prayer. We'll move through a skit, then a talk that applies the message of that skit and expounds. Usually we do small groups to talk about the talk, do activities, GTKY, etc. More activities, skits and a revolution of that kinda format fills the day, so we are always doing something new, and moving, and trying to go smooth and keep kids' attentions!

It is really incredible being on the Buckley Team. I have some good teammates, and while I know that we could definitely still be more dynamic.. I really feel that we are serving Christ to the best of our ability..... and through His grace anything is possible!

My picture load button is not working anymore right now... so I will upload Pt. I of Guymon later! Keep posted!
Love you all!
-me

Guymon Retreat :Pt 2.

So, we're Catholic and like to dance! The cha-cha slide is sooo much fun in big groups! Me: "Hmm, how come I feel like an elephant when I dance?"

"Everybody clap your hands"

"Take it back now ya'll"

Playing Birdie on the Perch... who's the Perch and who's the Birdie? This is another fun icebreaker that we play.. do you remember it girls?

Above: The ultimate Panty-Hose and Tennis-Ball Remover Champion!! Not to brag or anything.

Our totally amazing and awesome Team Coordinator, Diane Willis, one of the few brave souls to take me on.. out of two.

Some boys going at it: They remind me of mountain goats sparring.. is that weird?

Jay and Dutch go at it.

He would be a very convincing hold-up man.

JP and the Flying Carpet.

I don't really know what JP is here enacting, but he goes through a series of blanket movements that could either be interpretive dance, ghostbusters, or ninja moves. Imagine what you will . Maybe it is his Parisian Zug.

PS> Did you notice the guy's ears? The song that comes to mind is Peter Pan's... "I can fly, i can fly, i can fly..."

JK. Don't worry, I love those ears.