September 2009

I actually have quite a few non-wedding happenings this month. :)

Ken and I also had a fun day off in Ponca City. After our pre-marrital counseling, we made a very spur of the moment trip there for dinner and it turned into a great evening. I had been hearing a lot about this mexican food place , Enrique's, in the airport (of all places) in Ponca. REALLY??? A small town airport has a great restaurant??? YES THEY DO!!!! Oh my, do they ever!!!! Worth the drive, I promise! The fun thing is you can drive OR you can just fly your plane in...land right outside the restaurant's back door and just stop in to eat. Their flour AND corn tortillas are homemade....AND they use their homemade corn tortillas to make their HOMEMADE TORTILLA CHIPS!!! All our food really was fantastic! As we were leaving, to army helicopters (I can't remember the actualy name of them, but Ken doesn't read my blog...so I think its ok) landed right outside....of course, the guys were coming in for dinner! We took lots of pictures! From there, we took a little tour of Ponca and I "guided" Ken to the Marlin Mansion. I had been there for a wedding this summer and its really neat. We got there and just walked around and took pictures. It really was a great day! I like it!!! COWBOY BASKETBALL!!!! I know, football hadn't even started....but the eve of our first football game was the basketball banquet! It was GREAT! My friend from work, Steph, and I went to Gallagher for dinner and intro of the 2009-'10 team. We had a great time...and I got my picture with fellow Jenks-Alum, Nick Sadorkis! And then the following day....OSU upset Georgia! It was so fun!!! The Georgia fans were great and classy and just nice to be around! Mason and Raley came with mom and dad and we made a day of it! There was actually a home football game EVERY weekend in September. The only other game I got pictures was the last game when Spencer came!
I took a trip to OKC to meet with Michelle and her aunt for some wedding stuff. I pulled out my camera with the NEW lense (my birthday present from Ken) and took pictures of Finley. She is growing SO fast and I just love watching her change. In seperate posts, I will blog about my bachelorette party and the church shower I had.

And lastly, on Sept. 30th...the day I was heading to Tulsa for the wedding...Michelle met me in Stillwater, her SUV loaded to the BRIM with wedding stuff. The funnest part of the day was watching Finley while she had a hair appointment. Kenny and I had so much fun with her!!! We danced and played with dogs and ate....and the bestest part of all is Kenny gave her a "helicopter" ride!!! Finley's helicopter was the laundry basket...but I CANNOT express how much fun she had!!!!
Finley playing with the dogs:

Finley sharing cheese with Uncle Kenny:Finley with Aunt Beth:Finley "flying" in the helicopter:

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 18th - Today I am thankful for time I get with my husband!

Today is Wednesday and usually I am off work all day. This week, however, I had to work to make up for some holiday time that I will use next week for Thanksgiving. I only had to work half a day, but it made me appreciate, even more, my days I have off with Ken. I already love my wednesdays off, but having to work made me remember HOW VERY MUCH I love my Wednesdays off!!! Having the half day with him just wasn't the same. I am thankful that I am able to work 80% so we can spend a day together! I am thankful that God provided for us in this way since our "weekends" are different! I am thankful that Ken and I LOVE spending time together! I am thankful that we are best friends!

November 19th - Today I am thankful for good times at work and for OSU Football!

Today was our annual Thanksgiving lunch at work. Thanksgiving is so fun because we have a different theme every year. This year we each had to sign up for a different country and bring a food from that country. I had Greece and made homemade Baklava! YUM!!!! I had never made it before and was surprised at how good it is. I may be making this for Christmas! But, its fun to see what everyone brings...and its fun to get all of us together outside of "work". We have so many talented cooks and its fun to share a meal together. I am thankful for such a good place to work. I am thankful for getting a long with the people I spend most of my week with.

Today was also a special sports day...OSU moved their game against Colorado to TODAY instead of Saturday. Town was PACKED when I left work at 5pm. And the game was definitely an experience!!! They had the Army's Black Daggers parachute from a plane onto the field!!!! It was senior night!!!! And thre was a representation (IN UNIFORM) of every branch of the military at half time!!!! WOW!!!! It was pretty cool! Our game, was not so cool...it was a little too "exciting", maybe stressful is a better word, for OSU fans. Last week, Zach Robinson (our QB) got hurt and they didn't play him last night. We had to use our two back-up QB's and they were lacking. Thankfully we still pulled out a "W", but it was a LONG game!!!! My dad brought two of my nephews with him, so that was fun. I am thankful for season tickets to football! I am thankful for OSU...my alma mater! I am thankful for the Cowboys pulling out a tough win! I am thankful that my family was there to experience it with me. I am thankful that it was the last home game of the season (I'm ready for my Saturday's to be free again)! :) I am thankful for our military and that they were represented last night! I am thankful God gives us entertainment here on this earth!

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 16th - Today I am thankful for having friends at work!

I love my girlfriends at work! Its so nice to have people I ENJOY seeing on a daily basis...it truly is a blessing! We are getting ready for our monthly girls night for December and I hope its going to be really fun!!! We are drawing names and doing an ornament exchange!!!! I am so thankful that God has provided girls at work that I can build relationships with. I am thankful for the work friendships because it makes the days go by much faster. I am thankful for these girls and our friendships we have outside of work. I am thankful for Kari, Kacey, Rachel, Maddison, Stephanie, and Tia (I know...Tia doesn't technically work with us anymore....but I still count her!).

November 17th - Today I am thankful for my dad!

I know that its only 9am and I have the whole day to pick from all the day's events...but I don't need them!!!! Today is my dad's birthday and I am so very thankful for him!!! When I was little I didn't think that God would let any daddy die until he walked his daughter down the aisle....well, now I need to come up with something else! ;) I am so thankful that he was here to walk me down the aisle. I am so thankful that he is actuall part of my everyday life. I am thankful that he is a believer and taught be to trust my Lord and Saviour! I am thankful that he loves me! I am thankful that we get to celebrate his life! I love you dad!

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 14th - Today I am thankful that my parents came to visit.

Today was actually a pretty crazy day...but it was nice to visit with my parents. They came in town to go to the OSU Basketball game...the first REAL game, even though it was still non-conference. We got there about 15 minutes to tip-off...but when we got up to the arena, the clock showed we still had 50 minutes. A little confused, we asked one of the event staff what was happening. Turned out, the officials weren't there yet. We got our seats and some drinks and popcorn to share. When the clock was at 27 minutes, it stopped...so we assumed the refs were there. WRONG! They announced that the refs were still not there and tip-off was still at least and hour away. Mom and dad were heading back to Tulsa to be at Mason's last game of the year, so they needed to be gone by 4pm....tip-off wasn't going to be until at least 3pm....so we left. We left our seats, our drinks and popcorn, our paid parking, and my "un-used" ticket. CRAZY! Apparently, the officials were never notified of the time change of the game. Anyway---we left there and met Kenny out on the road as were walking to our car. He said he would give us a ride :-/ ...dad got in the front and mom and I in back....until mom realized that she was literally in a cage! There were bars in front of her and on the door window...and no handle to get out!!! She started getting chlosterphobic FAST! Kenny got her out and we just walked to the care. :) We then went out for mexican food!!! YUM! They also helped me pick out paint colors and played with the dogs. I am thankful that my parents live close enough to come visit anytime! I am thankful that they enjoy going to athletic events! I am thankful that they enjoy coming to see us!

I also just want to say that I am so excited that both the Cowboy teams (basketball and football) won their games! And Mason, my nephew, won his game too!!!! I am really excited and thankful for that!!!! It was his last game before he plays "real" football for Union. My brother has been Mason's coach for a long time and now he has to let Mason go play for the big, school coaches. I can't wait to see how God uses Mason with Football...he is such a GREAT athlete!!!!!

November 15th - Today I am thankful for our wedding pictures!

We got our wedding pictures in the mail on Saturday. I opened the disc today and downloaded them to my computer. I LOVE THEM!!!! I made myself stop looking at them when I got the website on my email last week...I was getting too nit-picky with them, so I decided I needed to take a break from them. I think I was getting frustrated b/c I wanted to them to capture EVERY SINGLE emotion I was feeling. I know...thats ridiculous! However, I looked at them today and LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!! I can't wait for us to pick out what we want to hang! I am so thankful for our talented photographers (Sarah is contracted by Storybook when she photographs weddings)! I am so thankful for Storybook Wedding Photography! I am so thankful that Ken and our wedding party were so patient with my desire for A LOT of pictures! I am so thankful that we captured so many wonderful details of our wedding day! I am so thankful for my husband!!!! I am so thankful for God's perfect timing and our marraige!

Here are a few pictures:

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 12th - Today I am thankful for God's blessings!

Ken received his Advanced Certification today. Now, I don't know exactly what that means, but he is really excited about it and I know that he can now have any position within the police department. Its the highest certification he can get!!! PLUS, he has finished over half of his Bachelor's Degree....he only has 49 hours left!!!! I am so very proud of him!!!! I am so thankful that Ken has a drive to better himself! I am so thankful that he wants to continue in education to provide for our family! I am so thankful that he enjoys what he's doing! I am so thankful for him being in my life!

November 13th - Today I am thankful for Michelle and Finley coming to see me!!!

This morning, I called Michelle to see what her plans were for the day because I was really missing her. Fortunately, she didn't have plans until the evening...and it didn't hurt that she needed to do a little Stillwater shopping....so she and Finley packed up and met me for lunch!!!! I loved it! Finley is changing so much and I just love seeing her! We met at Mexico Joe's, which is a place that she and I used to eat about once a week when she lived with me. Finley enjoyed chips, tortillas, and even a little pineapple. :) I am so thankful for my best friend! I am so thankful that she came to spend time with me! I am so thankful for her life!

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 10th - Today I'm thankful for COWBOY BASKETBALL and a date night with my hubby!

After work, I came home and made dinner. I was excited that the basketball game was late in the evening so we could eat at home. After dinner, we headed up to Gallagher-Iba Arena for the game!!! We had a great time visiting with my friend Trish and enjoyed some popcorn and twizzlers and a diet dr. pepper. I just LOVE basketball season!!! And I just love love love OSU Basketball!!!!! :) I am thankful for Cowboy Basketball! I am thankful that I am able to go to the games. I am thankful that Ken got to go with me to the game. I am thankful for our date night!

November 11th - Today I am thankful for Ken and I's day off together.

Wednesdays are the only day that Ken and I have the same day-off. I love that we get to spend the whole day together. Lately we have been trying to do things to the house, but it usually doesn't work out that way. We end up just being lazy and enjoying each other. Today was really good. We slept in until about 9:15...actually we HAD to get up and get going because we had to be at the "old" house at 10am for someone to get a couch I sold....then we had breakfast at Perkins Family Restraunt. It was YUMMY! After breakfast, we were exhausted...came back home and we both napped on the couch. Watched a little TV. Took a walk in the woods. Went to Atwoods. Had dinner at Palaminos. Back at home and watching some TV before bed. Its a been a really good day. I am thankful that we Ken and I get a day off together. I am thankful that we can spend a nice relaxing day together. I am so thankful that we are best friends. I am so thankful that we love spending our time together. I am so thankful that we enjoy the same type of entertainment. I am so thankful for my husband!

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 9th - Today I am thankful for my short day at work.

I know, its pretty sad....but today the electricity went out at work between 9:45am and 10:30am. I was over in the Student Union running some errands and when I got back to UHS, the lights were off....and they remained off the rest of the day. A co-worker and I went to an orientation for transfer students around 11:30 and got back around 1pm to find it still dark. I left around 2pm for the day. It was nice to come home and see Ken...and then I went about running errands. I'm thankful that I got a little surprise today. I am thankful that I had some daylight to run errands. I am thankful that I didn't have to cram my errands into my lunch break. I am thankful for then unexpected break!