Another year bites the dust...

Oh 26, how that sounds so much older than 25.  I am no longer in my early 20's, but now I have reached my mid 20's (I believe 25 is still "early").  There's still a positive note to this aging process or what I prefer to call "number games":  I still get carded, which means I still look like I am 20...no wait 19?  Could it last forever?  I am one girl with a lot of birthday fever so....

I can't say I didn't celebrate in true birthday form.  This was the first year that I wanted to hide in the bushes and forget about it all, but a great husband, great friends, and great family changed that thought real fast! William made it as special as it could be, and I had friends come from near and far to celebrate my day, and it all ended on such a good note with my family!

It all helped ease the pain of leaving my young 25 year old self and welcoming my older and wiser 26 year old self ;)

William made a great birthday cake ;)!

My sister-in-law also made me one amazing looking birthday cake! 

Ladies and Gentlemen: She bakes...She makes adorable baby clothes... & She handles 5 kids....I give you SUPER MOM and I thank her for staying up till the wee hours in order to make my amazing cake!

Baby Kate oh how I love her!  Don't we look related? HA!

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628 More Days Until William Graduates

10 More Days Until OU Football <-----Game Day! OUOUOUOUOUOU

M.I.A.

Are you sizzling yet?  Or better yet Melting?  Is it really dreaded August already?  Sorry for being M.i.A....July was one spectacular month full of celebrations!  4th of July....First Wedding Anniversary...and well my birthday as well...here's the update...

July 11, 2010

William and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary
We did it.

We Survived.

We slowly eliminated those tall tall tales of first year of marriage.

The momentous occasion snuck up on us way too fast, oh how time flies!

The day was spent in the dreaded heat that mirrored the heat of our wedding day.  Of course on both occasions, the heat was the last thing on our mind.  We (of course) spent most of the day at the golf course.  William playing and me spectating, enjoying some cocktails...*cough cough*...bud light.

After witnessing William play his best game so far this summer...it was off to dinner!  I won't go into detail, but our romantic night turned into me getting sick at a very nice restaurant...yeah you heard me... sick...as in couldn't look at our three course meal once, and William had to practically drink the entire bottle of red we ordered as well...but that's why I married this man...always catching me when I fall...although this fall was delicious and yummy.  Good thing marriages last a lifetime, because we have a lot more anniversaries to perfect!

One Year Ago....

it all started here...

i wore this....

and he looked as handsome as ever...

i wiped her tears....

and he wiped mine...

they stood by his side....

and they stood by mine...

I walked down that aisle

and we united....

and then we became Mr & Mrs....

Here's to one anniversary down and a lot more to celebrate


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634 more days until William graduates...

4th of July

Happy Birthday America

Thanks for letting me...

lay on your sandy beaches

ski through your majestic mountains

get sun burned in your lakes

parade in your wide open spaces

conquer your most intricate cities

and most importantly thanks for letting me be FREE

Have a safe & full o' fun 4th of July!

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680 more days until William graduates....

"Can We Move Here?"

"Can We Move Here?"...Top Spot #2

C.A.L.I.F.O.R.N.I.A

Oh California...

You + Me = One Long Love Affair

SAN DIEGO

My entire life, especially the pre-college portion of it, was traveling back and forth from Orange County to San Francisco and back home, several times a year. My whole extended family lives there, so it became a second home to me.  The beach, the palm trees (again..my favorite tree), the shopping, the skiing, and eventually all the memories made in that great state that are always kept near and dear to my heart. Now, my memories coming back to Oklahoma---crying and lots of it (and it wasn't pretty crying either).

California stole my heart. 

Needless to say its about time for Will and me to venture to the west coast for a bit and indulge in their free spirited way of life.

I can't picture myself living in Orange County, San Francisco, and defiantly not LA (gag), but I visited San Diego last May and BOY oh BOY I couldn't stop convincing William how great it would be to live here. The soft wind in our hair and an actual chill in the air that left goosebumps on our skin...at the END of MAY (who would have thought?). There is an energy about the city that promotes life, a kind of life that makes you addicted to spending all your free time outside, a life that is indulged with the serenity of the ocean at your footsteps, and a possible work commute that drives along the west coast.  Everyone seems happy, unstressed, and really enjoying the way of life that San Diego brings (which is so not LA).

The convincing seized when we were at Urban Outfitters and lo and behold, people were taking their dogs shopping in the store. Yeah, we are those kind of dog loving people.  But, I think the cherry on top was the train ride from San Diego to Irvine, the ride left us drooling over the spectacular views of the west coast and kept making me think "Seriously, why DON'T we live here?".  I hope that maybe (just maybe) we can live there when William grad-u-ma-tates.  Until then, I give you San Diego....

*Even on a gloomy day, this coast is still so beautiful*

Torrey Pines

 View of Downtown San Diego

William on the lawn of Petco Park

San Diego ZOOOOOOO!

the scenic views on our train ride

You can't beat dinner on the water..

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686 more days until William graduates...

"Can We Move Here?"

Every summer when William and I travel our hearts out (or at least try to), I always ask the inevitable question: "Can we move here".  Sometimes it is asked as quick as the plane landing on the runway, then asked again mid vacation, and then eventually it's all I can talk about at the end of a fabulous vacation. 

"Can we move here?"

"Can we move here?"

"Can we move here?"

(Am i annoying you yet? )

William's responses:

When the plane lands: "OH GAH, your already starting this?"

(he is a patient man)


Mid Trip: "Maybe"

Flying out of destination "YES!" The wheels in his head start spinning with "I can do this ____", I can work here ___", "I can maybe get my LLM at _____"

I guess this is why I married this one...

I can honestly say that I am fortunate to have the opportunity to have visited several cities all over the country, some even several times.  I always have this burst of energy to power through all the sites, indulge in all the food, and take in each cities culture and way of being.  Some cities I just love to visit and the others I just fall head over heels in love with. 

My #1 City that the inevitable question is asked "Can We Move Here" about 1.5 million times is:

CHICAGO 

I.LOVE.CHICAGO.  No words can express the happiness of when the thought of Chicago pops in my head.  It's euphoric. Your probably thinking at this point I am a freak...well you clearly are mistaken and have never visited the GREAT Chicago.

When William I flew into DC last month, we had our connection in Chicago.  As the plane took off to DC, I pressed my nose against the plane window and as the buildings got smaller and smaller, I secretly thought about stealing a parachute, jumping out of the plane, and well if I was James Bond landing right on the beach of Lake Michigan.  Yup, that's how much I love the GREAT Chicago.

I have to admit the first time I stepped foot on the soil of Chicago...I wasn't truly.madly.deeply.in.love. I had just visited NYC--and well the dynamics of both cities are quite opposite (your thoughts may differ).  NYC is fast paced, HUGE, attractive in the sense of being a tourist, yet parts of the city seem very cold and the people...are kinda loud and mean.  Chicago has a slower pace (which took me awhile to get used to), yet it is clean, young, attractive in sense of actually living there, the people are kind hearted...you know in that wholesome mid-west charisma kinda thing, and the city itself glows to me day and night.  It didn't take long on my first stay to grasp what this city has to offer and I left that fabulous vacation feeling very smitten. 

  

View from the John Hancock building 

 

 

Beautiful

 

 WHITE SOX!

Do I like Baseball? No

Do I love the White Sox? Yes!

My first baseball game I ever attended...and they win the world series...Thanks Chicago

Am I a biased bangwagon fan?  You betcha...sorry Cubs you always feel the need to have away games when I am in town...

Do I like Football?  I love football
Da Bears are our #1..

Okay...I don't want to bore you my little readers (I hope I have readers?).  My #2 top spot, you will have to wait and see....

Thanks for Reading!

689 more days until William graduates...

then Chicago HERE we come! <----Wishful thinking again...