WE ARE MOVING!

Yes, it has been 3 years in wonderful Oklahoma and we are moving again! Can you guess where? We will stay in B-ville until the kids get out of school and then move on down south. Tim has been transferred and it is a great opportunity for him and an exciting new job in Transportation but still in logistic/procurement. Blah, blah, I really don't know what he does for work! Tim's new job start officially April 1st so he will be back and forth and I will be here getting ready to move us. I think I am experiencing DaJaVu! The kids took the news well and are hoping to get a pool in the backyard. Kendra is a little upset to leave her BFF Lucia but we are hope that she will be able to come visit. They are already ploting to hide in suitcases or convince Lucia's family to move to Houston. Noah & Lily don't really care either way as long as the movers pack all of their stuff. They were excited to announce to their classmates that they were moving. All in all we were prepared for this announcement but not sure where it would be, so it isn't shock but not really to excite to live in Houston/Katy! I am going to die of heat! I am just have to survive one more tornado and thunderstorms season but am trading it for Hurricanes. I will take an earthquake any day! I AM JUST AN ALASKAN GIRL!

Dominican Vacation

Tim & I just got back from a great vacation in the Dominican Republic. We started out by staying the night at my sister Joanne’s house in New York. It was great visiting with all of them. We then stayed for 4 days in Putna Cana at a very nice resort and went horse back riding, snorkeling, golf and ate some great food. Not to mention relaxing on the beach and by the pool a lot. I managed to read 2 books completely and start on a 3rd, it was fabulous. Then we went to Juan Dolio and stayed at another resort which was nice also. Tim played more golf while I rode in the cart and read a book. We went to Soana Island which was very cool and rode on a catamaran to the island. There we really got to have some traditional Dominican food, rice, chicken, and beans. I got eaten alive by mosquitoes on just one of my legs. I am talking about 14 bits and was a little worried about malaria because some freak in the store asked me why I didn’t take malaria pills before I came. Well a doctor in the Soana tour told me that I would be fine. But I smelled like a nice combination of mosquito repellant and tanning lotion, it was lovely. Of course I got a little more burned then tan and Tim got red (“not burned”) then just dark. It is so wrong that I am such a white girl. In fact we weren’t even in the DR but 2 hours and we got to the resort and the concierge asked Tim if he was Dominican, he hadn’t even been in the sun all winter. SO WRONG! On our drive from one resort to the other we really got to see some of the towns and the sugar cane fields which were very fascinating. It really makes you appreciate the USA and every child should see that type of poverty to really appreciate what they have in their life. There was garbage everywhere and I can’t even describe it because it really can’t be put into words. The people are very happy and polite and know that the tourist help their country and we never really didn’t feel unsafe. Baseball is huge there and every clean or open field has children playing baseball. We saw one girl playing with 3 boys in front of her apartment building in hair curlers. She was batting better then the boys. It was funny to watch. We really had a fabulous time and enjoyed ourselves very much. This was the first vacation we have taken together just us and not for Tim's work!

Beautiful Scenery!

It was very beautiful there. I just didn't get a picture of the sun going down because we were always in our room getting ready for dinner at that time. At the one resort you had to dress up for dinner.

Snorkeling!

We went snorkeling and it was my first time. Like the picture of me? Thanks Tim. I jumped into the water without a lifevest and freaked out because I couldn't breathe with the mask on. So I went and got a life vest and that helped a lot. We saw some cool fish and they swam right next to you.

Tooth Pulling!

Well yesterday I had one of the worst experiences of my life. I had one of my back teeth pulled. It was the weirdest sensation having it pulled and a little scary. Luckily I was able to listen to my Ipod, I had a book on tape. My face is now swollen on the left side and a little painful but should be better in a couple of days. I will have an implant put in to replace the tooth in about 3 weeks which isn't supposed to hurt like the removal of my tooth. I was glad to know that it was not all for nothing......the tooth was fractured and abcessed. Tim was concerned this morning after seeing my swollen face that I wouldn't be recovered before we leave for our vacation next friday. I assure him that I will be and that is why I had the tooth removed now rather then after the vacation, I want to make sure I will be able to enjoy the food in the Dominican Republic!

Congratulations Kendra

Kendra auditioned for the Bartlesville Children's Choir and made it. She was very excited and did a great job on her audition. She will be performing with other kids her age at different events this spring and summer. After her first practice she came home and said that they were singing a song in Latin. I was impressed. She is going to be auditioning for the Wizard of Oz in April and this will help with that. She must get her musical talent from her Dad, because I can't sing and her acting talent from me. I am extremely excited for her and think that she has found one of her future talents.

Fun in Stillwater

Last weekend Tim & I got to get away with Tyler & Amanda and go to watch an OSU westling match. It was a fun getaway! We did the 3 things that we have wanted to do since moving here. Go to an OU FOOTBALL GAME, Go to an OSU WESTLING MATCH and eat at ESKIMO JOE'S! Our experience with living in Oklahoma is complete. The cheese fries at Eskimo Joes were great and we got a free cup. I think that the only thing that is really famous there are their T-shirts. Which everyone in Oklahoma has one but we still do not. The westling was awesome and we got to see the #1 & #3 ranked Heavy Weights wrestle against each other, Missouri guy won. OSU lost the duel meet to Missouri, ranked #5 in the nation. It was Amanda's first experience at a wrestling match and she is not sure if she really wants her son to wrestle now but Tyler says that he will be. I loved it!

Snow & Cold

This was some snow that we got right before Christmas and it last for about 2 days and the kids didn't have any school. Well we woke up this morning and it snowed again just about the same amount and it was about 10 degrees but the kids had school but the bus was late so I took them to school myself. Now I know that doesn't sound very cold but it is cold for here and I was freezing all day long. It will be 50 or 60 on saturday, thank goodness. I have come to the realization that I have become a wimp since I have moved away from Alaska. I guess that is what happens when you get used to wearing flip-flops until october. I have actually been having to wear a coat.

Noah's 6th Birthday

Noah got to Celebrate his 6th birthday in Arizona this year! He got a lot of speed racer stuff and we went to Pide Pipper Pizza and played video games with his cousins. He enjoyed getting the tickets from the machines! I can't believe that he is already 6 years old, times flys! It was a fun time for all.

OVER THE RIVER & THROUGH THE WOODS......

Well, I should say over the woods and through the desert to Grandmothers house we go! Yes, we are off today to Yuma, Arizona to spend Christmas with Tim's parents and Sister's family. WE are very excited to be spending Christmas with family and not staring at each other for 10 days while Tim is off work. I think the final deciding factor for Tim was the gas prices, yes we are driving, and he didn't have to put up any Christmas lights or decorations. I know it is pretty sad that we have no tree or decorations in our house at the present time but after you hear about my last week I am sooooooo glad I decided not to mess with all of that. I have been in bed for the past week off and on with a severe head cold and on top of that I had to have a Root Canal fixed for the 2nd time. Yes, this one tooth was worked on 3 times and 3 books later. When I left the dentist office on thursday he gave me an antibiotic, steroids and pain killers, I have felt like I have become a prize fighter that has lost repeatedly. HA, HA! Luckily for me Tim has been home off and on and I have had a really good book/books to keep me entertained while suffering and feeling like death. There is nothing like a good book! Well I am feeling human again and we are all ready to go. I have to apologize to any friends that will desperately miss my annual Christmas card, YOU AREN'T GETTING ONE! I had the best of intentions but it just didn't happen this year! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL and I hope that the season brings you all the joy and happiness that you desire.

OU to National Championship

I have always loved to watch Football and any other type of sports. I have become a big Baseball fan since marrying Tim. Growing up in Alaska and going to college there, I never fully understood the craziness behind college football, until I moved to Oklahoma! Let me just say that I have never seen anything like it before in my life, football is everything. There is OU & OSU and you are either a fan of one or the other, period! On saturday, game day, everyone wears their teams shirt, hat, coat, hoodie, pants, shorts or any other attire that you own. After 3 years of living here I have to say that myself and all my kids own OU attire and wore them this past saturday in support of the big OU vs. Mizzou Game. Lily has a pink OU sweat suit and even her own OU cheer she has made up. We had the Vaclaws over to watch the game. Tyler is a huge OU fan, he has one room in his house that is a shrine to OU and was thrilled by the OU Mr. Potatoe Head that we gave him for his birthday, I have never seen such dedication. OU won 62 -21 and are now going to play the Gators in the National Championship! All of the craziness is very addictive, so all I have to say is BOOMER SOONER! GO OU! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

Twilight & Shopping in Dallas

I got to go to Dallas with friends to see the Twilight Premiere and do a little earlier Christmas shopping. It was a lot of fun and a much needed break from the day to day, not to mention that Tim had just returned from a 3 week trip! So let me just say that I was more then ready for some time to myself. We saw Twilight, which I enjoyed very much, of course it wasn't as good as the book, but how could it be. We stayed up late playing games, did shopping at outlet malls and ate way to much food. It was also nice to know that Tim was able to handle the kids without any problems, I even came home to a nice clean house. I will have to go away more often!

Thanksgiving With Family

We had a great Thanksgiving! My sister Sam & Kids came from Minnesota and stayed for a week. The kids played great together, the Hagels were nice enough to bring their Wii, which was a lot of fun. We went bowling, saw Madagascar 2 and the weather was nice enought that we got some time at the park. Sam helped me organize my pantry and spice cupboard, which is only a thing a sister can do and they look so great! In return the favor and transformed her life and introduced her to the Twilight books. It was a lot of fun discussing the books with her as she read them. Sam tried to teach me how to knit and I have come to the realization that this is one craft that I can not do and will not be mastering. It is extremely frustrating to me and I am completely uncordinated when it come to it. We did miss having Bob with us, he only has 1 week left in Afghanistan and then he will be home. I was thankful to have family in my home for a few days. FUN TIMES TOGETHER!

Tim's New Look!

Tim got this hat on his hunting trip and now he is wear it often. We got ready for dinner one night and Tim came out looking like this, I started laughing at first because I think I was in shock! I never thought that I would see Tim replace his typical baseball hat with a cowboy hat but it has happened. I think we've been in the South to long. He looks good in a cowboy hat! Who knows cowboy boots could be next!

My 6th Dinner Theater

Right after I moved to B-ville Marilyn asked me if I wanted to help cook for her "little dinner theater". I vividly remember Lori, her daughter, yelling RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Well I didn't because I love to cook and 6 dinner theaters later, it was that time again. One of the DT I was the head cook, which I have never done again and another I acted in a play, which they sent me back to the kitchen! So thursday Lori, Amanda, & I cooked for 36 people. Lori picked the menu, a chinese theme - it was good and we had great reviews. I mastered Egg Rolls (75 of them)! Then we gathered again on Friday at Lori's house and did it again but this time with the master supervision of Marilyn, who started it all! Marilyn joined us friday night and I was sad that I didn't bring my camera with me to get her picture. It is a lot of work but we always manage to make the best of it and have fun in the process! We usually forget something the first night, fortune cookies, but we get the MOJO going and as Amanda says "Stand back and be amazed." Marilyn, Lori and Amanda represent 3 generations in their family and are all amazing cooks and full of many talents. I have come to enjoy this annual event because of the time that I get to spend with these 3 ladies.