March 26, 2009
Happy 1st Anniversary!
On Sunday, March 22, we celebrated our one year anniversary! This past year has been filled with so many wonderful memories. Our wedding day was the best day of our lives, and the past year has been beyond our greatest expectations. Honeymooning in Hawaii was unforgettable. We went to Mexico for a work trip and saw ruins at Tulum and Xel-ha. Last April, we adopted Kodi and had a great summer with trips to Hudson, Austin and Chicago, settling into married life and thoroughly enjoying our time with each other and our new puppy. We took a really fun road trip in CA (Napa, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite), and we went out to Lubbock for a Texas Tech football game in the fall. The holidays brought quality time in Austin and Greenville with family (we love you guys!) And, we've stayed busy in the new year with a weekend in Vegas, driving Super Cars, an O.A.R. concert, and a surprise visit from M&D! Here are some pictures celebrating our first year of marriage ...
March 17, 2009
Birthday Surprise!
My precious husband planned the greatest birthday surprise EVER for my 27th birthday. He flew my Mom and Dad in from Hudson to celebrate with us for a fun-filled, fabulous weekend!
Here's how it all went down. A couple months ago, Jeff's parents asked what we were doing the weekend after my birthday because they had something special planned. We both checked calendars and confirmed that would work. We proceeded to talk with each other periodically about what we thought it could possibly be, and we both agreed we had absolutely no idea. Turns out, Jeff had asked his parents to play a part in the larger surprise. Because we knew we were going to be doing *something*, we were able to clear our schedules, get the house ready for guests, etc. Fast-forward to the scene of the surprise. I was picking Jeff up from the airport the day after my birthday. He said his plane had - at the last minute - pulled into a different gate, so I needed to go to a different terminal to pick him up. No problem! (Turns out it was so Jeff could meet up with my parents as they arrived!) When I pulled up to Jeff's terminal, I grabbed Kodi Bear and sent him running on the sidewalk to his Daddy. I followed quickly behind and jumped into Jeff's arms. I was just so excited to see him! Then, Jeff got really serious and took me by the shoulders and said that he had a birthday gift he had wanted to give me the day before, but he couldn't til now ... then he turned me around and MY PARENTS WERE STANDING RIGHT THERE!!! My knees went weak and tears welled up and I just kept saying "Oh my gosh!" I couldn't believe they were HERE. In DALLAS! Across the country from their home! My mom was on crutches recovering from foot surgery and my Dad was *supposedly* on a biz trip. Hugging them tightly and laughing and freaking out in happiness at being together was not supposed to be even possible! It was truly one of life's great moments of joy.
It meant so much to me that Jeff knew what would be the best possible gift, and that's time with family, especially because we live far apart.
We had an awesome weekend ... ate at fun restaurants like Cyclone Anaya's and Roy's, went to see a King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, saw where JFK was assassinated, went to the park for a windy picnic and had game night with Blackjack (my current obsession) and Cranium.
We even drove by George and Laura's new digs, only to be turned away by Secret Service. I really think my car is on their watch list now, since Momma Carol decided to yell out the window at the group of suited men with earpieces running towards us, "Aw, we just wanted to get a peek!" ha - classic Mom! I love her so much. Here is the Secret Service protecting our former prez's street (before they came running at us, arms flailing.)
It's only been a couple weeks, and I miss M&D already. I will always be grateful for the elaborate plan Jeff orchestrated to pull of this most excellent birthday surprise! Great memories will last forever :)
XOXO
Here's how it all went down. A couple months ago, Jeff's parents asked what we were doing the weekend after my birthday because they had something special planned. We both checked calendars and confirmed that would work. We proceeded to talk with each other periodically about what we thought it could possibly be, and we both agreed we had absolutely no idea. Turns out, Jeff had asked his parents to play a part in the larger surprise. Because we knew we were going to be doing *something*, we were able to clear our schedules, get the house ready for guests, etc. Fast-forward to the scene of the surprise. I was picking Jeff up from the airport the day after my birthday. He said his plane had - at the last minute - pulled into a different gate, so I needed to go to a different terminal to pick him up. No problem! (Turns out it was so Jeff could meet up with my parents as they arrived!) When I pulled up to Jeff's terminal, I grabbed Kodi Bear and sent him running on the sidewalk to his Daddy. I followed quickly behind and jumped into Jeff's arms. I was just so excited to see him! Then, Jeff got really serious and took me by the shoulders and said that he had a birthday gift he had wanted to give me the day before, but he couldn't til now ... then he turned me around and MY PARENTS WERE STANDING RIGHT THERE!!! My knees went weak and tears welled up and I just kept saying "Oh my gosh!" I couldn't believe they were HERE. In DALLAS! Across the country from their home! My mom was on crutches recovering from foot surgery and my Dad was *supposedly* on a biz trip. Hugging them tightly and laughing and freaking out in happiness at being together was not supposed to be even possible! It was truly one of life's great moments of joy.
It meant so much to me that Jeff knew what would be the best possible gift, and that's time with family, especially because we live far apart.
We had an awesome weekend ... ate at fun restaurants like Cyclone Anaya's and Roy's, went to see a King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, saw where JFK was assassinated, went to the park for a windy picnic and had game night with Blackjack (my current obsession) and Cranium.
We even drove by George and Laura's new digs, only to be turned away by Secret Service. I really think my car is on their watch list now, since Momma Carol decided to yell out the window at the group of suited men with earpieces running towards us, "Aw, we just wanted to get a peek!" ha - classic Mom! I love her so much. Here is the Secret Service protecting our former prez's street (before they came running at us, arms flailing.)
It's only been a couple weeks, and I miss M&D already. I will always be grateful for the elaborate plan Jeff orchestrated to pull of this most excellent birthday surprise! Great memories will last forever :)
XOXO
February 24, 2009
What Happens in Vegas ...
We went to Las Vegas this past weekend for a little getaway and to celebrate my 27th birthday! We loved playing Blackjack at Encore and Caesar's Palace. And, I knew it was going to be a good weekend when we walked up to the Roulette table and I hit my lucky number on the first spin. Woohoo! 35:1, baby!
We saw The Cirque du Soleil show LOVE that goes along to Beatles songs.
It was really cool. My favorite parts were "Something in the Way She Moves" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".
The most visually stunning show was Le Reve.
It was an intimate, round theater with a huge water tank in the middle. The show involved aerial acrobatics, synchronized swimming, high diving off platforms, dancing, contortionists, singing, and more. They even had an amazing smell permeating the theater ... we think they did it on purpose for the whole "sensory" experience OR they just needed to cover up the smell of chlorine. :)
We had two fun, unique dinners out.
Friday night was at Japonais ... a trendy sushi/Japanese place. They had one in Chicago too that we always wanted to go to, but this was our first opportunity to go to one. I HIGHLY recommend "The Rock" ... yummy marinated thin slices of New York Strip steak, served with a lava rock that's heated to 450 degrees ... you place the slices of meat on the rock and cook them yourself at the table (about 5 seconds/side for medium). WOW ... the best tasting steak either of us ever had.
Saturday night was at a cool new restaurant called SWITCH at Encore ... the new Steve Wynn hotel/casino that just opened in December. The ceiling, walls and lighting literally "switch" all around you about every 30 minutes while you're dining. It is a really innovative concept and definitely gives the sense of something that would only happen in Vegas!
On the way there and back, we flew over the Grand Canyon. I had never seen it before, so even just getting a glimpse from the air was awe inspiring. Would love to go there someday to see it up close. What a beautiful world we live in!
We saw The Cirque du Soleil show LOVE that goes along to Beatles songs.
It was really cool. My favorite parts were "Something in the Way She Moves" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".The most visually stunning show was Le Reve.
It was an intimate, round theater with a huge water tank in the middle. The show involved aerial acrobatics, synchronized swimming, high diving off platforms, dancing, contortionists, singing, and more. They even had an amazing smell permeating the theater ... we think they did it on purpose for the whole "sensory" experience OR they just needed to cover up the smell of chlorine. :)We had two fun, unique dinners out.
Friday night was at Japonais ... a trendy sushi/Japanese place. They had one in Chicago too that we always wanted to go to, but this was our first opportunity to go to one. I HIGHLY recommend "The Rock" ... yummy marinated thin slices of New York Strip steak, served with a lava rock that's heated to 450 degrees ... you place the slices of meat on the rock and cook them yourself at the table (about 5 seconds/side for medium). WOW ... the best tasting steak either of us ever had.
Saturday night was at a cool new restaurant called SWITCH at Encore ... the new Steve Wynn hotel/casino that just opened in December. The ceiling, walls and lighting literally "switch" all around you about every 30 minutes while you're dining. It is a really innovative concept and definitely gives the sense of something that would only happen in Vegas!
On the way there and back, we flew over the Grand Canyon. I had never seen it before, so even just getting a glimpse from the air was awe inspiring. Would love to go there someday to see it up close. What a beautiful world we live in!
February 19, 2009
Duck Hunt
So, there is this wooden duck standing on a speaker in the first floor of our house. Kodi Bear thinks the duck is lording over that area of the room. We entertain ourselves by throwing toys into the vicinity and watching how he handles the incursion into enemy duck territory.Check out the video below (warning: it's kinda hard to see the duck because it's camouflaged ... brown duck against brown wall). If nothing else, you have to see the "Kramer" moment about 1/3 of the way through. Ha!
By the way, this duck has been in the same place for all of Kodi's life and has never once done anything to elicit such respect (or is it fear?!)
February 10, 2009
Triathlon, Here We Come!
Jeff and I have decided to participate in the Dallas Triathlon on October 11, 2009! We're going to do the sprint distant, which is 800m swim, 25mi bike (it's usually half this distance, but the layout of this course makes it longer) and a 5k run. We are starting training this week ... which for now really just means getting back to the gym on a regular basis. Ha! Hopefully in the next month or two, we will get on a more structured training regimen.
I am nervous about the swimming part ... apparently there is a lot of contact when you first start the race in the water. But, hopefully a lot of training over the next few months will get us really prepared! We'll keep you posted on progress :)
Trip to Hudson
A couple weeks ago, I went home to Hudson, OH to be with my Mom as she recovered from foot surgery. I took our puppy Kodi with me ... he stayed in a bag underneath the seat in front of me on the plane. As a side note, he actually doesn't mind planes. He's been on commercial and private planes a few times now. Here is a picture of him on his first plane ride.
Anyway, the time in Hudson with my Mom and Dad was really wonderful. Mom is SO strong and she's a great patient. The surgery on her foot went smoothly, and after the first day or so, the pain was under control. We had time to visit and catch up. We also worked on a couple projects to help keep Mom's mind off her foot. We worked on finding paint colors for the dining room, hanging wildflower prints in the kitchen, and a collage of b&w photos in their entryway.
The dogs - Kodi and Jasmine - provided a lot of comfort and entertainment.
It was hilarious to see Kodi Bear play in snow for the first time. He loved it! This is Jeff's favorite picture of him :)
The snow really clumped in his fur! It was hilarious :)
Anyway, the time in Hudson with my Mom and Dad was really wonderful. Mom is SO strong and she's a great patient. The surgery on her foot went smoothly, and after the first day or so, the pain was under control. We had time to visit and catch up. We also worked on a couple projects to help keep Mom's mind off her foot. We worked on finding paint colors for the dining room, hanging wildflower prints in the kitchen, and a collage of b&w photos in their entryway.
The dogs - Kodi and Jasmine - provided a lot of comfort and entertainment.
It was hilarious to see Kodi Bear play in snow for the first time. He loved it! This is Jeff's favorite picture of him :)
The snow really clumped in his fur! It was hilarious :)
January 14, 2009
Let's Start at the Very Beginning
... a very good place to start.
Our Family was officially established on March 22, 2008, the day blushing bride and her handsome prince charming were happily wed.
Those two characters are fast approaching our one year anniversary, and we're quickly realizing that big moments and little moments are happening all around us. We want to establish a way to record our memories ... everyday happenings, big milestones, random thoughts, joys, sorrows ... basically the texture of life that makes it so interesting. We will learn and grow on this journey, and we want to have a way to look back on the tapestry of life ... for ourselves and hopefully someday our children.
So the disclaimer - for those of you following along - is that this will not always be polished or pretty or interesting to you. Our primary purpose is to build a collection of stories and memories we can look back on and cherish. We look forward to creating many of these memories with our beloved family and friends.
Here's to the great adventure!
Our Family was officially established on March 22, 2008, the day blushing bride and her handsome prince charming were happily wed.
Those two characters are fast approaching our one year anniversary, and we're quickly realizing that big moments and little moments are happening all around us. We want to establish a way to record our memories ... everyday happenings, big milestones, random thoughts, joys, sorrows ... basically the texture of life that makes it so interesting. We will learn and grow on this journey, and we want to have a way to look back on the tapestry of life ... for ourselves and hopefully someday our children.
So the disclaimer - for those of you following along - is that this will not always be polished or pretty or interesting to you. Our primary purpose is to build a collection of stories and memories we can look back on and cherish. We look forward to creating many of these memories with our beloved family and friends.
Here's to the great adventure!
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