A Valentine's Anniversary...

Well, three years ago on Valentine's weekend Marty popped the question.

It's still hard for me believe. I knew it was coming because we had been ring shopping in November and he was so excited the day he ordered my ring he couldn't help but tell me. It was just such a magical time in our lives.

I remember going into the ring store, I was SO nervous! I remember shaking and sweating...

It was so strange to me. I was the girl who never imagined her wedding day until I actually got engaged. I never thought about what kind of ring I wanted either. In my head I was going to graduate, move to OKC and work for a PR Firm, live it up with my girlfriends and worry about that whole "marriage thing" when I was in my later 20s.

Then Marty came along and my plan changed. I've always heard that God laughs at our plans and our situation helped me understand that.

After we went ring shopping I noticed every single girls' hand who boasted an engagement ring. It was CrAzY!

I won't go into the L-O-N-G story of our actual engagement, but it was so sweet and of course, I cried. Marty had to change his "plan" several times do to different circumstances, the weather, etc. But, he nailed it!

Here we are Sunday morning-the morning after he popped the question.

Valentine's Day fell during the week that year so I was at OSU on V day, but he sent me a dozen red roses and I felt like the most special girl in the world.

I hope you all had a VERY Happy Valentine's Day! Ours was very low key. Marty asked me what I wanted to this year and I told him go skiing. So, we are going skiing next month with the Spencers! We're so excited!

My Home Away From Home

I don't know why, but I have always loved Oklahoma City. I guess maybe because I thought I'd always end up there after college.

When I was in school and Marty came to visit we went to OKC almost every Saturday for our date night. It was also the place where my friends and I attended Broadway shows and concerts, went ice skating and did our shopping.

This past weekend I went to see a few of my very favorite people who still reside in the city.

I left work early and got to Oklahoma City around 6:45 p.m. and Whitney and I went to a new yummy Asian Bistro known as "Buddha Tao". We had A-MAZING sushi and then hung out Friday evening.

Saturday we spent shopping and then preparing for one of her friend's 80s themed birthday parties. It was down in Bricktown in this small art gallery. I can't believe the 80s are actually coming back. We went to several stores Saturday that were filled with neon colored shirts, paint splattered belts, a rainbow assortment of tights and everything else that hideously reminds us of the generation we grew up in.

On that note, here are a few pictures from our night! Whoever decided straighteners where in and crimpers were out anyways?

Sara, Whit & Me

Sportin' the Shades

Strike a Pose

Sunday morning I met Becky at a little place called the 501 Cafe. Brunch was so good! I love discovering new little eateries and this is one I will definitely go back to!

And yes, my hair is still crimped from the night before, but I tried to cover it up with a hat. I washed it before church, promise!

I met my cousin, Cade, who play basketball for OU and his girlfriend at church in SW OKC. I had never been to the southwest OKC Life Church and it always gives me butterflies when I'm traveling alone and navigating for myself, but this is something else I love about the city. I feel like there is so much to explore and see. I know people who actually live in OKC maybe don't feel this way, but I just think every time I'm there I learn something new...

Church was REALLY good. If you've never been to a Life Church they broadcast all over the U.S. You can visit http://www.lifechurch.tv/ for more information or to watch a lesson. It is a nondenominational church that I attended some in college. The messages are great! We sang a song Sunday that went something like "Great God, greater than us all, forgive us we have made you small." It just got me to thinking, "How true!". I think I sometimes try and put God in this little box reserved for Wednesday evenings, Sundays and right before I fall asleep and He's SO much more than that! It just seems like it happens so easily! It's like I only take Him down off the "shelf" and out of the "box" when I need Him for something. Does anyone else do this? Anyways, the service was great...

All cleaned up and somewhat normal before church.

And I am SUPER impressed with my cousin's girlfriend. He is a very attractive, talented yet humble, Church of Christ boy who I have always thought of as a younger brother...so I was a little apprehensive when he told me he had someone he wanted me to meet. But, Morgan, was the sweetest, most beautiful and down to earth girl I have ever met! Plus, she goes to OSU, what's not to love?!

Here they are...adorable, right?

I then made the long journey home to my parents to pick up little Tykester.

Here he is taking a break from pestering Lily. They're both doing weird things with their mouths.

After leaving my parents, I was then on to see my wonderful husband. He had picked up the house, put away laundry, vacuumed and done dishes. I am one lucky girl!

I Promise...

This past weekend Marty and I attended an I Promise marriage seminar by Dr. Gary Smalley. It was good and not what I expected at all. It was a lot more humorous and laid back than I originally thought it might be.


Everything they covered sounded like such simple concepts, but made so much sense. For example, they demonstrated "the hoola hoop law" in which you are only responsible for the person inside the hoola hoop. You cannot change anyone outside the hoola hoop and therefore you need to work on yourself first and foremost.


I was a little suprised however at all the negative feedback we got when I told people we were going. One of my close friends was like, "So, is everything ok. I mean are y'all having problems?" And then a family member was like, "People in town are going to be talking..." I was thinking, "Seriously?!" There were 18 couples from our church that went. Hasn't anyone every heard of being proactive?


Regardless, I think Marty and I both walked away with things we thought we could integrate into our daily lives and we got to spend some quality time with some of our favorite couples from church.


It's amazing how weekends like this remind me just how grateful I am for my husband. He has a willingness that I've never known in another person. His sense of humor never ends and he is simply my other half. As much as I love him, it never hurts to be reminded of how truly blessed I am to have him in my life.

Friends...

Mid-January Adam, Kristen and Caden Spencer came to visit us. I was so excited for a girl to come for a "hunting weekend". We usually have lots of boys which I enjoy, but it's nice to have a girl to visit with and help some in the kitchen.


We were super lazy, but we did give Adam and Kristen the tour of Canadian (it didn't take very long). We took them to the Soda Shop and the Cattle Exchange which are a must if you're ever in town.

Tyke could not figure out what all the commotion was coming from the kitchen sink.

It was Mr. Caden taking a bath.

After his bath, all nice and clean.

The boys with their harvest...

For some reason we waited until late one evening to take pictures-please excuse our hottness.

Me & Kristen

Caden making his way to Tyke.

Is he not the cutest little boy ever? He is so sweet too!

Marty, Tyke & Adam...don't they look cute in their pj's???

Hehe...they are all mine girls.

A Hunting We Will Go...

The last three weekends we have had company in to duck and goose hunt. It has been so much fun!

The second weekend in January, Stephen and "Big Lee" came to visit. I haven't gone hunting as much this year as last year. I think Marty's a little upset I haven't taken more pictures, but it just seems like there has been more going on the weekends.

That first morning it was 25 degrees and the wind was blowing so it was COLD. The boys had a great morning and bagged 27 birds including snows and everything. I'll have to get that picture from Stephen since I wasn't there.

The next morning we went to a new place and their were ducks and geese everywhere! But, it was a HUGE body of water so it was a little harder to hunt. I think they only recovered five birds, but they shot a few more that we simply couldn't find.

Here's a group of geese.

And a huge group of mallards.

Stephen setting up decoys.

Stephen shot his first speckled belly and he was so excited.

Did I mention he was excited?

Marty

Headed to the truck...

The Boys

I love this one...

Christmas 2008

Yes, I know I am VERY behind...

Marty and I always exchange stockings Christmas Eve afternoon before heading to my parents' to that evening. I love stockings...I think they're my favorite even over presents!

Here's a picture of our tree. I call it "outdoor chic".

We didn't take any pictures opening presents at my parents' Christmas Eve. Probably because I was feeling crummy (and looking crummy) and I usually take the pictures so...My mom got a gorgeous pair of diamond and sapphire earrings that were a sneaky suprise from my dad picked out by yours truly. My parents celebrated their 30 year wedding anniversary three days after Christmas so they were a Christmas/Anniversary present. My dad is really good about giving great gifts, but my mom was so suprised that she cried. It was so cute!

Christmas morning we got around and headed to my grandparents' house in Pampa for Christmas lunch. The food was fabulous even though my stomach wasn't. I apologize for my pale sickliness in all the pictures.

Me & Tyke back at Mom and Dad's.

Mom with Lily & Bella

One of my bff's from high school who now lives in Cali was in for the holidays so we went over for a little shindig at her parents' place the day after Christmas. This is right before we left my parents'. And yes, we took Tyke. He's the partying-est dog you've ever met!

New Year's Eve we headed to OKC to spend some time with my friends from school on our way to East Texas. We met Jacob, my best guy friend from college, and his wife, Amy, and my best girl friend, Becky, and her roommate, Emily, at a wonderful restaurant on the lake known as Red Rock.

Afterwards we headed back to Jacob and Amy's. We watched the ball drop in NYC at 11 p.m. and really considered going to bed, but we made it til midnight and then crashed.

Amy is due March 5 and we are so excited for that little boy to get here!

New Year's Day we made the four an a half hour drive to Gilmer from OKC... much nicer than the usual eight and a half hours it takes to get there from The Panhandle.

We kind of kept the fact that we were in town on the down low because last time we were in it seemed like we were SO busy rushing around trying to see everyone that we really didn't get to much of Marty's family.

Here's Kennith and Marty.

Miss Ciara loving on Tyke.

A picture of Jerrye's famous Christmas tree. She does Christmas up right!

Marty and Tyke.

Marty displaying his true feelings for my little dog.

Marty and me. I almost sent out late Christmas cards with this picture on them...so don't be suprised if you get a Happy Valentine's Day card with this Christmas picture on it...better late than never, right?

One of the booth's at Canton. I want to try and create a mini version of this in my house somewhere. Isn't it neat?

Happy 2009!!!

Well, we've been running all over the place as usual! We just got in from East Texas and had a wonderful time down there with Marty's family.

I was sick before and after Christmas which was no fun, but part of the reason I am going to blame not getting my Christmas cards out this year...

So for all you babes in toy land, if you didn't get a Christmas card from us this year, don't take it personally. I may be cheesy enough to send out Happy 2009 cards with our new address.

I will post pictures from the holidays soon!