Boo Packers -- Yay Bucks!!

Monday night (12/22) we hung out in our hotel room and watched the Packers lose. Dave and Katie were still able to smile, even after the disappointing game. :)

Tuesday Uncle Ray & Aunt Pat bombed out on us for lunch, but we can always count on Uncle Bob & Aunt Chris and Dick & Pat. Even though snow was coming down, once again, they braved the slippery roads to join us. It was a great time!

Later that evening Dave, Katie, Chris & Uncle Rick went downtown to watch the Bucks win and Kellie and I spent a nice evening at Gramma & Grampa L's house. Another lovely wintery day in Wisconsin!

Over the river & through the woods

Early Sunday morning, December 21st, we headed out on our long drive to Wisconsin. Except for a strong wind, all was well until we hit northern Illinois. We were greeted with icy roads and blowing snow. The trip took about two hours longer than usual, thanks in part to a wrong turn, but we arrived safely to subzero temperatures and a windchill of 25 below zero. BRRRR!

We checked into our hotel, unloaded the car and got the beer on ice.

The first stop of our visit was for a nice dinner at Gramma & Grampas. The next day was a must visit to Kohl's, a nice lunch at Suburpia with Amanda (best sub sandwiches ever!) and then back to Gramma's again for a little wrapping party.

On the Road Again

In an hour we'll be on our way to wonderful wintry Wisconsin. YAY! Thought I'd do one last post from home before we leave.

Friday night Katie spent the evening with her best friend, Kiley. They talked non-stop while making a cute little gingerbread house. Unfortunately, they cut the hole in the frosting a little too big so they had to apply most of the frosting with their fingers.

I think it's adorable!

Ready or not, here we come!!!!!

Bowling Buddies

Since we didn't get to have our Christmas party at bowling on Monday because of the weather, I had the ladies over for lunch on Thursday. I made salad and enchiladas and the ladies each brought something. We had lots of fun!

Dog Days

Three days off of school this week because of a little freezing rain and ice. Yes, the subdivision roads were horrible. I admit I did wipe out once. Good thing I have lots of padding on my behind. Since school was out, Kellie had three days off from work. She braved the icy subdivision roads and came over a few times with Pogo. He loves it here, especially my fuzzy slippers!

An empty paper towel roll was lots of fun too.

But an empty wrapping paper roll was the best!

Having a picture taken on the couch -- not so fun.

My old girl.

BRRRRRRR!

Yesterday we had a record warm day of 75 degrees. This morning it is 15 and schools are closed because of icy road conditions. Unfortunately, when schools are closed bowling is cancelled. We were suppposed to have our Christmas party today, which is the most fun day of the entire season. Everyone brings a dish and we just graze all morning while we bowl. It's such fun. Oh well, think of all the calories I didn't consume.

Yesterday Katie and Maddie came home with their Christmas gifts to each other so they could open them by the Christmas tree. Here they are with their treasures.

They stayed for lunch and a movie before they headed back to school. Katie will be back on Thursday for Christmas break and will be home for almost a month.

2007 Ice Storm

One year ago much of Oklahoma looked like this, with trees down everywhere. Power was out for days; weeks for some people.

We're supposed to have weather near 70 the next few days, but cold and ice are expected next week. Sure hope it's nowhere near what we had last year.

FYI - gas is down to $1.38 here. Wow!

Christmas Spirit

Katie has always wanted a white Christmas tree with blue lights.


This year her dream came true! Every day I look forward to night to see that white Christmas tree all aglow.

My Snowmen

How do you like my happy little snowman family? A lady selling them at a craft show was nice enough to make me a special order with all of the colors I requested. Then I personalized the hats with the logos (Green Bay/G, Wisconsin/W, Oklahoma State/OSU, University of Tulsa/TU and University of Oklahoma/OU) representing all of the different fans in my family. They make me smile. :))

TU Soccer Banquet

Last night Dave & I headed over to TU for the soccer banquet. It was a nice dinner in the presidential suite overlooking the basketball court, two videos and a few speeches honoring the outgoing seniors. Here's the team, all cleaned up.

Katie and Maddie with their coach.

Some of the freshman

Now for my Oklahoma college football update. Oklahoma will be playing in the National Championship game on January 8th against Florida. Oklahoma State will be playing in the Holiday Bowl December 30th against Oregon, and the University of Tulsa will play Ball State in the GMAC Bowl on January 6th. Hurray for all of our teams!

St. Nick's Day

At one of the craft shows we went to a few weeks ago I picked up these fun stockings and sewed Katie and Maddie's names on them with beads. I filled them with little goodies and gave them to Katie last night to take back to their dorm room for St. Nick's Day. This morning Maddie will be surprised by the stocking and they will both open their little surprises inside. Can't wait to hear from them.


Last night Dave and I went to the home of some friends for the best Christmas party around. They go all out and even hire help so they can have a good time along with all of their guests. Here we are, before we left in front of our tree.

While we were at the party there was a crowd back at our house. Katie brought five of her girlfriends home from school to make Christmas cookies together. Meanwhile, Drew had a bunch over to watch OU win the Big 12 football championship over Missouri 62-21, topping 60 points for the 5th straight game. Yay OU! Earlier in the day Katie and her friends were at the TU game where TU handed the Conference USA championship to East Carolina with 7 turnovers. Grrrr! Now they will likely head to the GMAC bowl. OU will find out tonight if they will go to the BCS title game. Go Sooners!

Rhema Christmas Lights

After the football game last Saturday night we drove through the spectacular Christmas light display at Rhema Bible College. Then on Sunday night Katie and I took Uncle Rick to stroll through winter wonderland (minus snow). Maddie and her dad also met us there. Last year it was destroyed by the ice storm that devastated the Tulsa area. They have made many upgrades and now it's the best display of Christmas lights I have ever seen.

You can't tell by these pictures how terrific the lights are, but trust me, they are incredible!

Bedlam Game - OU v OSU

Next up on our long Thanksgiving weekend was the bedlam football game Saturday night. Kellie & Chris invited us over and they had a houseful. Here's Kellie showing her cowgirl "gun."


Unfortunately for OSU fans #3 ranked OU beat the Cowboys. Kellie absolutely hates the Sooners (OU) and Drew absolutely hates the Cowboys (OSU). They have a fun little rivalry going. If Kellie heard the Boomer Sooner song one more time Saturday night she was threatening to throw her tv out the window! Now the Sooners have moved up to #2 and will play Missouri for the Big 12 Conference championship game on Saturday night. Woo Hoo!

University of Tulsa (TU) also had a great game on Saturday afternoon and will be playing East Carolina for the Conference USA championship on Saturday morning. I'm proud of our Oklahoma teams and have to say "Go Sooners! Go Golden Hurricane!"

Tulsa Tour

Saturday we took a little Tulsa tour. First stop was a visit to Katie's dorm room and a short walk around the campus. It was a blustery day.

Rick was amazed at the size of these leaves.

We drove through downtown Tulsa, past our new convention center and Tulsa's little version of Rockefeller Center where there is iceskating, a big Christmas tree, caroling, hot chocolate and chili. Not really much to look at in the daytime.

Next stop was this little Route 66 memorial plaza. These are the flags of every state Route 66 passes through.

Rick and I were the only ones to get out of the car. Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge

On top of each of these concrete posts is a plaque with information about Route 66.

Black Friday

After a day of eating, football, eating, and a marathon game of Phase 10 (did I mention eating?) we were all ready to do a little shopping Friday morning. After only a few stores, we all realized it was not fun battling the crowds and traffic so we met up for lunch at a little Mexican Restaurant. Look how happy we were at the thought of more eating!

Finally, I have to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY today to my sister, Nancy, possibly the best sister in the whole world. When we return to Wisconsin Nancy and her girls take time off of work and really go out of their way to spend as much time with us as possible. We faithfully call each other a few times a month and talk for hours. We cracked the two hour mark yesterday. Love ya, love ya, buschel and a peck and a hug around the neck!

Belated Happy Thanksgiving!

Dick, Pat & Rick came down to spend Thanksgiving with us. It was a beautiful day, both outside and inside.

Katie helped Dave get the turkey prepared for baking in the oven. Every year her job is to give the turkey a nice oil massage.

Once the turkey was in the oven, Dave & Rick started frying turkeys outside -- one for us to eat on Thanksgiving day, one for Kellie and Chris to take home and a third for Rick to take back home with him. Everything went well until the last turkey. It was larger than the other two so they had to take about three cups of oil out of the fryer. Guess who had a nice thanksgiving dinner of turkey oil? And guess who was throwing up and pooping all night long? Please tell me why two intelligent grown men would think a dog would not love to lap up three cups of oil?

After all the cooking the preparations were done we all sat down to a nice Thanksgiving dinner.

Hope you all had a good one too!

Monday=Bowling Day

Monday mornings I bowl with a fun bunch of ladies. Most of them are golfers who bowl in the off season, thus it's called the "Golfers League." I started off well with a 218, then forgot how to bowl and got a 126, then redeemed myself the last game with a 181. After bowling we went out to lunch to celebrate two of the ladies' birthdays -- one the day before Thanksgiving, the other the day after Thanksgiving. We went to a nice little Italian restaurant where Katie joined us for a little while, long enough to share my lasagne and take a picture for us.

Pris, ME, Mary, Ann & Priscilla

Another Fantastic Football Weekend

It was another good college football weekend. TU beat Tulane (56-7) Saturday afternoon. Katie didn't go to the game. She was busy driving friends to the airport so they could return home for Thanksgiving. They have the whole week off so it's nice to have Katie back home for a while.

The biggest story in Oklahoma was #5 OU's victory over #2 Texas Tech. They didn't just beat Texas Tech, they creamed them 65-21. Sooner fever is rampant in Oklahoma! Unfortunately, the biggest OU fan in our house had to work, so he had to settle for text updates and quick trips into the nursery, which is the only place in the health club he works at with regular television.

Drew belongs to a MMA (mixed martial arts) club so the other day he was excited when a neighbor gave him this cool punching bag. He goes out in the garage and works on his punches and kicks. Sure is different having a boy around!

OSU had the weekend off, but this Saturday is the big bedlam game -- Oklahoma (OU) v. Oklahoma State (OSU). They are both having terrific seasons. It's a bitter rivalry and just about everyone we see on Saturday will either be wearing orange (OSU) or red (OU).

This weekend I was fighting off one of the worst allergy attacks I have ever had, but it didn't stop me from hitting up a few craft shows again with my girls. We never fail to find something we just can't live without. ;-)

The Winner!

I met Chris at the radio station today and helped him get his prizes -- a Samsung 40” 1080p Flat Panel LCD HD TV and a Sony PlayStation 3 (total value of $1,500). Since he took so much time off from work yesterday for his radio and tv appearances, he had to hurry back to work and I brought his prizes home with me. I was given strict instructions that no one could try them out. Darn!

On my way home I had to stop and fill up. We're down to $1.67/gallon. It's been a long time since I've been able to fill my tank for less than $30.

Yesterday we were close to 80 degrees. Now the winds are blowing down from the north and we're around 50. We're dropping down to the 20's tonight though. BRRRRR!

Finally, HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK!

Congrats to Heather & Tim!

Congratulations to Heather and Tim, who became engaged last week in Cancun. I'm happy for them and am looking forward to another family wedding.

The video contest comes to an end this afternoon. Hopefully the radio station will think Chris has the best commercial, I sure think so.

I'm going tomorrow to have a root canal. What really sucks is that I had one on the exact same tooth in December. The endodontist said 95% of root canals have no problems at all and about 5% have to be redone. Aren't I special. GRRRRRRR!

Holiday TeaOff

We've lived here for over 10 years and every year I say we should go to the Holiday TeaOff in downtown Broken Arrow. We've never had the time or bothered to make the effort until last night. It's the kick off to the holiday season with trolley and carriage rides, treats at most of the stores which stay open late, and Santa himself. Here are a few of the highlights of my fun night at the TeaOff with Kellie.

Inside a chocolate store this little guy was handing out chocolate covered marshmallows. He was such a little gentleman, offering everyone who entered a treat, making sure to thank each one in his sweet little voice and even bowing as he thanked people. He was such a joy to watch.

Inside the same store these girls plucked away a Christmas song.


Then we ran into this colorful pooch. The people with her were promoting some kind of doggie store.

We had such a good time and it was the perfect kickoff to the holiday season.

By the way, Kellie wouldn't let me take her picture with Santa. :(