AP's First Birthday Bash

Oh my!  Where has the time gone?  My little man is over a year old and it's already 2015.  Since it's been a while, there may be a couple look backs over the exciting things that happened in 2014.  I've finally found the time to sit down and write!

One of the first things I had to share was our fun day celebrating AP's big birthday. First of all, December birthday parties are difficult to figure out.  Between holiday plans, company Christmas parties and people being out of town, it's hard to figure out a time that works where all the loved ones can be there.  But, we figured out a good day, so we were off to a good start!

I decided to go with a black, white and brown theme.  I figured I would go for a classy, modern vibe this time, since I'm sure I am destined for plenty of super hero, train, and cartoon parties in the future.

The menu had a Chili Bar.  We had mini corn muffins, baked potatoes, Fritos and hot dogs as the options for what to put your chili on.  Then for sides we had baked beans and J's famous potato salad.  For dessert, we had a Sweetheart Trifle, Reese's Cupcakes, a Naked Yellow Chocolate Chip Cake and a sweets bar.  I ordered these kraft food trays on Etsy that were so fun to use as dishes, and definitely made the clean up a lot nicer!

It was so much fun having our family and close friends with us.  And the cousins had a blast helping AP open his birthday presents!  Can't wait to celebrate many, many more birthdays with our favorite little guy!!

Showered by Friends

Two weeks after my first shower, my sweet friends threw me a shower.  My family loves traveling overseas...we've gotten Jason hooked on it, and this guy will undoubtedly get to join us on our travels as he grows up.  So, Payton, Andrea and Natalie threw a cute "Around the World" shower for my little man. All the appetizers were different foods from around the world and we played a fun game learning traditions that other cultures have for newborn babies.

It meant so much to have my dearest friends there and to have friends that spent their time and resources to throw a lovely shower!  Thank you all so much!

Blessings in the Form of a Shower

Grandma Cam, who has already done an incredible job of spoiling our little man who has yet to come, went even further, this past Saturday, and outdid herself!  With the help of my sister-in-love, Lessye and dear family friend, Maria, my mom threw me a gorgeous shower!  These three ladies managed to overwhelm me with all their attention to detail.  From the theme, to the party favors, to the appetizers, to the decorations, everything was put together beautifully. 

And on top of all that, I could not have been more thankful for all the ladies that came and helped celebrate our baby's impending arrival!  Ladies drove in from all over Oklahoma and it meant so much to have them all there.  After opening gifts, all the ladies went around and shared their best advice for this first-time-mom and it was so great to hear their nuggets of wisdom.  I truly felt blessed in so many ways and it was encouraging to know that Jason and I have a supportive "village" to help us as we navigate this new chapter of our lives.

 

Thunder Up!!

Last night was the end of the NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat beat the OKC Thunder.  Sad day.  But, over the course of the playoffs, I became more of a Thunder fan, and we got to spend lots of time with Eric and Ashley!  We got together with them at our house for every possible Thunder playoff game of the last two rounds that our schedules would allow.

These were our sad faces after we lost in Game 5.

Trying to be more normal.  Eric was super excited about getting to take home leftover cake.

Cherry-Vanilla Layer Cake.  We were hoping we would have something to celebrate.

We met a mouse.  He hung out with us for like 10 minutes.  Chloe had lots of fun dreaming up ways of killing him in her head.  Jason named him Gerald.  I wanted to name him Stuart.  I hope he doesn't come back.  He's cute.

L.A. Trip

I've been wanting to visit my best friend, Laura, for quite a while. I was unable to visit her while she lived in Miami. So, we finally decided that her birthday seemed like a great opportunity to come visit.

And I desperately needed a vacation. A real one. Where you get to pack and travel and leave your home. One of the disadvantages of working from home is that days off from work, holidays, don't come with the same relief that one gets from working in office. When you get to stay home from work, you normally are excited to sleep in, do things around the house, and relax. Well, I already get to do all that, so holidays are not much different than any other day, for me. So, the change of pace was something I was looking forward to and I love finding sweet notes from my hubby hidden in my suitcase!

I left for L.A. on Wednesday night. Since, I'm able to work from anywhere that has Wi-Fi, I thankfully didn't have to take off any days to make the trip. Thursday, I worked, while Laura was at her job. That night she took me to Santa Monica Pier. We dined at Bubba Gump's and enjoyed some shrimp. We walked up and down the pier and got to watch a beautiful sunset.

Friday night, we went to Katsu-ya, a sushi restaurant. The fresh fish was amazing and the prices for sushi were very affordable. Then we decided to check out Mulholland Drive, even though it was dark. What resulted was a quick stop at an overlook to get a beautiful view of the L.A. at night. It was amazing!

Saturday, I finished up some work while Laura ran some errands. Then we headed out to Malibu for the day. The drive down was amazing! The scenery is gorgeous, and you eventually end up driving on the Pacific Coast Highway, along the water. So, we laid out and enjoyed the beach for a while. The weather in L.A. is definitely a lot nicer than Oklahoma! Highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s and 60s, with a nice breeze and no humidity! After relaxing on the beach, we headed further along the coastline till we got to Neptune's Net, a seafood dive bar where "The Fast and the Furious" filmed a scene. (Sidenote: Laura and I loved this movie when we were in high school, so it holds a special place in our hearts! Don't judge!) Then, we headed home and just took it easy, watching the NBA playoffs and other TV.

The last day we headed out to Hollywood. We grabbed a bite to eat than walked up and down the Hollywood Boulevard. We took a Celebrity Homes Bus tour and had so much fun checking out celebrity homes, Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. After that, we stopped at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and had a little bit of fun before heading out. It was a great way to wrap up the trip.

Softball Nights

I felt like there was too much I had to do at home today, so I had to pass up watching J play at his weekly softball games tonight.  But, I figured I could share a little of what goes on at one of these things.  J has been a part of his work's softball league since he got hired on in 2009.  It gives him time to hang with the guys and be a part of some light-hearted competition.

I thought it would be a great idea to bring Titan along to get him socialized and in different environments.  Clearly he has been deprived, because he does not know how to act around other dogs!  While he's a total sweetheart around people, he's not the nicest dog to others of his species.  I felt like horrible parent, trying to keep him on a tight leash, so that he wouldn't get too unruly.  Embarrassing!  He needs lots and lots more doggie socialization time! So, I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of more visits to the park just to help him adjust!

So, here are some pics from last week's softball games and of some of the sweet dogs that put up with Titan!  The boys played well and won both of their games for the night!  Woohoo!

Catching Up

So, I'm waaayyy behind in posting.  Life has been keeping me super busy.  So, here are some things that have been going on lately.

We babysat Zoey one night, and I think Jason looks pretty good with a baby on one arm! ;-)  This pretty girl is exactly what I hoped having a niece would be like.  She's freaking adorable with a precious spirit.  Jason and I are super scared that our kids won't turn out near as cute and cuddly as she is.  It's the truth. 

I made cupcakes for a charity fundraiser my mom was doing at her office.  Andes Cupcakes and Pina Colada cupcakes were on the menu!  Ahh, cupcakes are my friend!  I still have many cupcake recipes to test!

We went to my dear, dear friend, Rachel's wedding.  And I got to catch up quickly with some childhood friends!  These three ladies I have known for a very long time, and hope to continue to be friends with for many years to come.  Rachel (top) I have known since 5th grade.  We went to CEA together till 11th grade, where I decided to try out Jenks HS.  I also met Ashley (middle) at CEA.  She's got two precious children, that I wish I had gotten to see at the wedding!!  And Taylor (bottom), I've known since I was seven years old.  Umm...I don't know that I still stay in touch with anyone other than a handful of people that I knew when I was that young.  So excited to see where life takes her!

Erin, Payton and I hit up the Norman Music Festival. I'll admit, I'm not a very good Normanite, because I never make an effort to check out the Norman scene.  This was really probably one of the first Norman community events I've checked out in my seven years of living here.  It was quite the people watching event!

I hosted a Stella & Dot Trunk Show with the fabulous Christine Rorabaugh.  It was so fun to spend time with all my girl friends.  And, I finally had an opportunity to try out a whole lot of Pinterest recipes at once!  I keep thinking maybe I'll make this a monthly or semi-monthly event; hosting a little soiree.  Ehh, we'll see!

Anyways, that's about all the excitement I've had lately.  And, I think I'm about to get my life back.  So, keep an eye out for more regular updates!! 

2011 In Review

2011 was a good year. It was busy and full of changes. New jobs, babies and trips! There was so much to be thankful for. And we're looking forward to what the new year brings.

January
-We bought a GMC Yukon
-I officially started as SCAS Implementation Manager
-I was offered a new job

February
-Started my new job as a Staff Accountant
-Jason turned 27
-Spent 4 weeks in Dallas training

March
-My parents took the kids and spouses to Panama to meet the extended family

April
-Jason followed me down to the annual Key Club convention and got sucked in to doing more for next year, hehe

May
-I took a photography class with Lessye and Payton
-My parents sent Jason and I and Michael and Lessye to Weekend of a Lifetime

June
-Jason went on his first work trip to Rockville, MD/Washington D.C.
-We celebrated the coming of Zoey Marie with a baby shower
-Jason had his oral surgery

July
-Zoey Marie was born!!!!!
-Went whitewater rafting in Colorado

August
-We were so busy with work, we didn't really have a life

September
-Jason and I celebrated our first anniversary as a married couple
-We went on a Mediterranean cruise

October
-I turned 24

November
-We had our second Kobza Redneck Weekend
-Jason and I completed our first 5K

December
-We saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert
-We trekked down to Glendale, AZ to celebrate New Year's Eve and the Fiesta Bowl with our friends, Ty, Matt and Lauren

Experiencing New Things

Jason and I have been wanting to try the Royal Bavaria restaurant out on Sooner Road. So, when Payton invited us, we jumped at the opportunity. When we got there they were serving a buffet in the Bier Garten. We figured we might as well try that since we'd get to try several of their well-known dishes. Only drawback to this buffet is that it's outside. So we sweated and swatted at bugs while we tried to enjoy our meal.

Jason and Payton ordered the King's Weizen beer. I'm not a huge beer drinker and it was actually good! Although, Jason was upset that he couldn't drink his beer from a boot. Apparently they don't allow that outside in the Bier Garten. Halfway through our meal, the waitress had some extra glasses of King's Gold that she dropped off for Payton and I. So, we got to try that one as well, and I liked that one too.

 Overall, it was a fun experience and we all agreed we'd actually like to try some dishes off of there menu next time. The homemade noodles, sausages, and the pork schnitzel with brown gravy were all yummy!

Best Friends are like Diamonds

It's been said that "Best friends are like diamonds, precious and rare. False friends are like leaves, found everywhere." As my best friend graduates from graduate school at the University of Miami this week, I can't help but reflect on how we got to where we are in our lives and still managed to maintain being the very best of friends.

We became friends playing basketball for a homeschool league in Tulsa in 2002. And while friends have come and gone in my life, Laura has always been a constant. Sure, we've had our ups and our downs. We've yelled at each other, cried with each other, judged each other, and gone days without speaking to each other. We've celebrated in each other' successes, laughed at each other's mishaps, and shared in enjoying many of life's milestones, and through it all we've remained the very best of friends. Laura is one of the very few people that I can spill my guts to and not fear that she's going to use my secrets against me. We know everything about each other. And even though we've lived the last seven years apart, I still dream of the day that we'll live in the same town and and our children will become friends and we'll sit on the patio and reminisce about the crazy times. The crazy times that consisted of racing cars across 101st and Sheridan and cutting across parking lots to see who could get home the fastest, partying throughout the summer nights of our Sophomore year in college, and having competitions about who could do wall-sits the longest.

Never once has Laura turned her back on me. She's stuck with me through a lot. In fact, I'll never forget the feeling that ran through me when I told her I had gotten my first college acceptance letter, to the University of Miami. She was genuinely more excited for me than I was for myself. I couldn't believe that I had a friend that cared so much. But clearly she cares. Shoot, she even talked her dad into switching wireless phone companies when my dad decided to switch plans, so that we could talk for free while we lived apart.

So, here's to you, Laura. As you graduate from grad school, I pray that God leads you down the path that is perfect for you and that you may find a home and a job that you are proud of. Whether we are provided the opportunity to see each other every day in the future, or only on our yearly girl's getaway, I look forward to what our friendship will grow into. If 10 years has been a blast, I absolutely cannot imagine what 20 more will be like. I love you.

These are a few of my favorite things...

So, two of my most favorite things are good friends and sushi! And last night, Jason and I were able to enjoy both. We both love entertaining, and since I am finally back home from my training in Dallas, we decided to have two of our favorite married couples over, John and Amy (top) and Eric and Ashley (bottom). And since Jason is a 5-star sushi chef, we had to treat them to some yummy sushi!!

We started the afternoon off at Super Cao Nguyen in OKC. This Asian supermarket is brimming with all kinds of international foods, so we stocked up on sushi essentials and headed back home.

After Jason had prepped all the food and John and Amy had arrived, the sushi rolling began! Amy wanted to get a crash course in sushi-making, so she tried her hand at the art, and she was a quick learner! While they were making sushi, my parents stopped by with Aunt Debbie, one of my mom's best friends who was in town for the weekend. Aunt Debbie had never had sushi before, so she watched Jason make some rolls and tried a couple, and she liked it!! It was definitely fun having them over for a little bit.

After several hours of hard work and 16 rolls of sushi, made with love from Jason, we all finally sat down to a delicious dinner. Also, since John is not a sushi fan, we bought some Rudy's barbecue for John and tried to make him feel like part of the sushi club. :)

After dinner, we watched the basketball games and had mochi, a Japanese rice cake that has sherbet in it. But that wasn't before we all tried some durian. It's a stinky fruit that is popular in Asian countries. Amy and John were kind enough to bring it so we could indulge in this fruit. It was quite the experience! Eric likened the smell of the fruit to mildew and I thought it smelled like a dirty locker. But the taste was quite offputting. Now it's not quite as revolting as I had imagined it was going to be, but it tasted pretty bad.

Last night was a fabulous night! I could not be more proud of Jason and his amazing sushi-making skills. He undoubtedly exceeded our guests' expectations and it was a yummy meal. And last, but not least, I could not be more thankful for the sweet friends and couples in our lives. It was so much fun spending time with them and talking about all kinds of things, and watching the Final Four games. I definitely hope this becomes a routine event, because friends and sushi are a few of my favorite things. :)