Friday Night Hockey!

We have had a really busy couple of months! We got back from Dallas on Thursday, January 22nd, around 8:00 p.m. And, I had to work Friday and then Friday night we were invited to the Tulsa Oilers/OKC Blazers hockey game. Spirit Bank has a suite and the girls I work with were hosting the suite that night and invited us up for the game. I am not a hockey fan, mainly because I really don't understand the game, but we had a great time eating, visiting, and chasing Bryson around.

The night was filled with some drama outside the game. After we had to pay $10.00 for parking. I put our tickets in the diaper bag and did not zip it all the way. I asked Brian to grab the bag without thinking. Well, that was the night the wind was blowing so hard you had a hard time walking. So, Brian comes around to my side of the car and I feel something hit my leg. This is how the conversation went from there:

Me: "what was that?"

Brian laughing: "hope it was not our tickets?"

Me furious: "did you not zip up the diaper bag?"

Brian: "how was I supposed to know to zip up the bag? You had it. Where did you put the tickets?"

Me: "just give me the bag!"

Yeah, we could not find the tickets. Brian even walked up and down the road and could not find them. So, I called my friend Connie who was already there and told her what happened, and she said to meet her and she would get us in. So, minus the tickets we still got into the game!

But, the tickets were not the biggest fight of the night. I was changing Bryson's diaper and missed the biggest fight where every one from both teams were fighting. Two players for OKC were ejected. One was a goalie - how in the world does a goalie get ejected?

The "ladies man" Bryson, me, Allison, and Connie (my girls)

Bryson striking a pose!

The family - I swear Brian always looks like a dork in pictures. He hates to have his picture taken so he gives the cheesiest smiles.


Side note #1: I did apologize to Brian for blaming him for losing the tickets.
Side note #2: This past weekend I found the tickets in the car stuffed between the seat and side.

Going to the big "D"!

Around the end of January we had to take a trip to Dallas for Brian to do some management training with Lowe's and I had some work down there also. Brian's mom went with us to watch Bryson while we worked. We left for Dallas on Sunday, 1/18 and headed home on Thursday, 1/22. Brian had training Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (long day), and I worked my schedule around where I just had to work on Monday. When I got back to the hotel Monday afternoon Bryson, Cheryl, and I headed for the Galleria (huge mall in Dallas - 1.2 miles from our hotel). This mall is amazing. I felt like the Beverly Hillbillies the way were probably walking around with our mouths wide open. It was 3 levels, and they even had an ice skating rink on the lower level (so it would be 4 levels). On the top level they had this really neat play area for kids. Everything was made of a soft foam. No lie - we went to this mall everyday just to walk around and then we would go back after dinner to let Bryson play. Brian thought this would tucker him out. It did not work - he was up until after 10:00 p.m. every night. I guess he was just too excited to be in a new place.

One day we drove to Rain Forest Cafe in Grapevine, Texas, and what do you know it was inside an outlet mall. The restaurant is so neat. They have one in Orlando at the Animal Kingdom, but we did not get to eat there, so I was really excited to find out they had one near Dallas. They had three main characters - gorillas, elephants, and a leopard or maybe it was cheetah (which we sat right next to). And, every 30 minutes there was a "thunderstorm" where the lights flash and all the animals start making noises. This totally freaked Bryson out. Below are a couple of pictures from the restaurant.

On Tuesday we went to the Dallas World Aquarium. All I have to say is step aside Jenks Aquarium and Tulsa Zoo because this was so much better than both! It had a three story waterfall that was just beautiful. There was also a jaguar that we could not pull Bryson away from his area. The jaguar would pace back and forth in front of the window and Bryson would follow him.

Shark tank - Bryson thought it was so cool when the sharks were right above us.

You can't really see the waterfall, but it is on the far right through the trees. When you walk into the aquarium you start on the third floor and wind your way down to the bottom. You can see this waterfall from all floors. When you get to the very bottom floor you can see the large fish and other animals in the tank the waterfall is falling into.

Bryson watching the otters eat at the aquarium! We went to the Dallas Zoo the next day, and of course I forgot my camera. But, it was really cool because it was very interactive for kids. Bryson even rode on a pony all by himself, and we were cracking up because he had the posture right and rode like he knew what he was doing. Anyhow, my point of telling you about the zoo was because when we got to the otter exhibit there were tons of otters. However, I think a couple of otters thought there were not enough and they were trying to "make more" (if you get my drift)! I honestly felt really dirty standing there trying to pull Bryson away from the window while he is saying "Ook Mommy, Ook!" There was one little boy that was around six or seven years old standing there with his parents just bawling because he thought they were hurting each other. Cheryl and I were trying so hard not to laugh.

In the mall (talked about above) they had this toy store right across from the kiddie play area of course. It is not your typical toy store. They had an area for kids to draw, tunnels to crawl through, build-a-bear area, and then a train right in the middle. Bryson had to ride the train, and it was the last ride of the night so he got to ride all by himself. I really did not think he would stay on it, but he loved it!

This is the track and the area the train went around.

Here are some pictures of the little play area we went to every night.

There was a play palm tree in the middle, and Bryson was not paying attention when he was running (go figure), and he ran smack into the tree. He got up and looked around and then kept running into it on purpose (kind of trying to make it seem like he meant to do that)! :)

This was a crocodile that was in three pieces and anytime any other kid would get on this Bryson would stand there looking at them like "uh, you are on my crocodile." It was so funny.

Like I said lots of shopping, eating, animals, and playing. It was a really fun trip.

Branson Trip

We went to Branson twice in less than two months. We went with my family the night of Thanksgiving and stayed through Sunday. Us women plus my brother went shopping at 12:01 a.m. on Friday morning after Thanksgiving. It was fun, but I don't think I will ever do it again. :) We also went to Silver Dollar City a couple of days, and shopped some more. It was really fun!

Then two days after Christmas we left for Branson again. We went with Brian's parents. It rained on us the whole way down there. When we got into Branson we decided we would go eat and see if the storm let up. After lunch we checked in our hotel, and then the sun was shining. We headed to Silver Dollar City. They were open until 11:00 p.m. that night. It was not as cold as it was in November, but we were also better prepared with a lot warmer clothing. Bryson had so much fun this time because he actually stayed awake to see the Christmas Tree light up and the parade. He also rode a bunch of kiddie rides, and when I say a bunch I mean he rode the same two rides he was big enough to ride over and over again. He was such a blast to watch!

The next night we went to Dixie Stampede. Brian had never been, and we all really enjoyed the show. Brian thinks the competition part is rigged somehow!?!? He over thinks things way too much! Bryson really got into it especially since they had a bunch of animals. When we were leaving he had to say good-bye to all the horses.

You can't go on vacation with out shopping, so here are the men waiting while us women shopped! :) Oh, and like nice gentlemen they held our bags.

On the way home the following Monday we stopped in Springfield to look in the Bass Pro Shop. They had a really neat Christmas area set-up! Bryson had so much fun looking at all the animals, and throwing pennies in the water - the signs said we could!

Checking out the big catfish.

A Night Out with Sisters and Dancing!

My aunt Kelly bought me and my two sisters tickets to Dancing with the Stars at the BOK Center. Katie really did not think she wanted to go, but she ended up going after much persuasion. We started out our evening with dinner at Olive Garden and then we were off to the show! It was so good! We had such a great time - we laughed so hard and just really enjoyed a night out together. Next year we are getting a table on the floor because the dancers and stars actually came out and interacted with the people sitting at the tables around the stage. Amy thought it was a good idea we did not have a table because I would have embarrassed her and Katie! Here are a few pictures from out night out on the town!

Me with my two dates - Katie and Amy

Derek Hough actually came up our aisle - I about tackled some people trying to take a picture of him! :)

The whole cast!

The band brought these bongos out and it was awesome!

Okay, I love Maksim, he is in the white. Fabian Sanchez is in the black, he is Marlie Matlin's partner.

Maksim and Derek

Lance Bass was serenaded by Cheryl Burke, Edyta, Karina, and Lacy (his partner on the show). They danced to Michael Buble's song "Feeling Good," at least I think that was the name.

Marlie Matlin was Marylin Monroe in "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend," and Derek, Alec Mazo, and Fabian were her partners. She is deaf, and she just amazes me how good she is.

Cheryl Burke and Olympic Gold Medalist, Maurice Green doing the jive (I love the jive)!

Singer Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo. Toni sang a couple of songs and she would come out into the tables and mess with some of the people - one guy got really into it - I laughed so hard tears were rolling down my face!

Dancers Kym Johnson, Maksim, and Karina dancing to "Come Fly With Me."

Not a very good picture, but this was actually one of the cutest numbers they did.

We had so much fun - hanging out just us girls! Thanks for going girls! Oh Amy and Katie, I LOVE THE JIVE!!! :)