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!!! :)

Better Late than Never....Right?

Okay, so I am so lazy when it comes to the blog. I never posted Christmas, New Years, or Birthday pictures. So, here is the long and short of it...

For Brian's 30th birthday I threw him a surprise party at Lone Star Steakhouse in Owasso, and I hired this comedian to come. She was so funny! Her name was Bertha, and she acted like she knew him from high school. One line she used was "don't you remember me, Skiatook High School? I was a cheerleader. You used to tell me you liked my pom-poms!" And, she shook her chest - it was hilarious. I thought he was going to kill me, but he played along really well. Here are some pictures of him from the party!

Brian and Bertha!
She sang a couple of songs to him - so funny!

New Year's Eve:

We went to my Aunt Tracy and Uncle Rocky's house. We had such a good time playing Apples to Apples and then some other game I sucked at. Brian played poker, and the kids played Rock Band (well, Bryson and Jamison watched Rock Band and danced). Bryson of course did not go to sleep until 12:45 a.m.

We have this tradition at Tracy's that right before midnight we pour everyone a glass of grape juice (some adults may have cheated and had the real stuff) and put on our hats and grab poppers and horns. Poor Bryson could not figure out which end to blow in on the horn. He would blow and just make the noise himself!

Now, he's got it right!

Bryson and Jamison checking out Rock Band - can we please go next?!?!?!

Christmas:

We had six Christmases besides ours to go to - it was wild! Bryson was so worn out! I tried at every house to get a picture of him opening a present up completely by himself, but he would start and then walk away and start on another. Leaving me to finish the unwrapping. Brian's parents' house was our last stop, and I had just finally given up and put my camera away when I notice Bryson sitting still for awhile. He had opened up a present all by himself, and then opened the box and brought me his shoes saying "Mommy shooooes, Mommy shooooes!" I love this kid - he gets excited about a new pair of shoes (so my child)!

Brian's dad found these new tackle boxes full of stuff at the school they were just giving away, so he took a couple. I don't think he really looked in them because below is one thing that was in Brian's (a magnifying glass-insert joke here). Bryson had so much fun with it. Oh, there was also a phone, wrench, and other misc. stuff in the box.

Bryson checking out his cho cho train from Santa!

Elmo talks to me mommy!

Cheesin it in front of our tree!

And, now I leave you with a little Rock Band!

Happy Birthday Babe!

My hubby will turn 30 tomorrow!!!! He has no idea what is coming his way (will post more on that next week)! We have been married for 7 1/2 years and despite the ups and downs I still love him with all my heart! I still sometimes look at him and think I can't believe we finally ended up together! This past October was our 10 year dating anniversary - that is just crazy!

I love you Brian Keith, and thank you so much for giving me the most wonderful gift - our little man Bryson! You are a great dad and you will be such a great friend to our son! He just loves to follow you around so you will play with him! When Bryson wakes up in the morning and sees me he will put up his hands and say "Daddyyyy"! It is so cute!

This was at the Tulsa State Fair. I know it does not look like it, but Bryson is actually laughing.
Happy 30th Birthday - Love you!!!

Happy Birthday Katie!!!

Today is Katie Marie's 20th Birthday! She is no longer a teenager (in age, but she still acts like one)! j/k! We have a big girl's night out planned to eat at Cheesecake Factory and then go see Bride Wars! I can't wait!!

I love you Katie Marie. You are not only my sister, but you are my best friend! I love all of our late night conversations and Grey's Anatomy watching time! Oh, and did I mention I love discussing our obsession with Edward Cullen (Twilight talk - sorry)! You are a beautiful person inside and out! I hope you have a wonderful birthday - next year is the big one! :)

Lack of Blogging!

So, I have been constantly reminded that I need to UPDATE MY BLOG (I won't name names-Kelly)! A few reasons why I have slacked from the blogging world include:

1. Bryson has had pneumonia and we thought he was over it, but he has had a terrible cold/virus for three weeks now. According to the doctor it needs to run its course. Run its course my rear - no virus takes a month. Below is a picture of his breathing treatments. We had to give him treatments every four hours even during the night for 3 days. I felt like I had a newborn all over again. It made for a very, very long week.

2. I had a huge test with work that I was studying for - and I passed yeah!!!

3. Work has been extremely busy.

4. I have been fighting the crowds doing some Christmas shopping.

5. I am completely and irrevocably obsessed and in love with Edward Cullen (Twilight) - seriously can't get enough (my heart is racing while I am typing this)! :) I have seen the movie 5 times and I have read through the books twice. Oh, and I am listening to the audio version of the books on my way in and from work. Brian is embarrassed I have seen the movie so much, but I really don't care. He just doesn't understand - it's Edward Cullen. Other Twilighters out there will understand my obsession. If you have not read the books - you really need to, but first see the movie because the books are better than the movie. Not that the movie is not good (obviously I think it is I have seen it 5 times), but the first time I went to see it I kept comparing it to the book the whole time. Oh, did I mention I even have a Team Edward shirt? I seriously need a new obsession, or a different book to read. However, there is a very small part of my brain that is enjoying the obsession and not ready to let HIM go! :) I know, I know I need help!


I will leave you with a few updates and a cute video.

1. Bryson has been pacifier free since the first of October - yeah!!! The first week I just knew Brian or I were going to break and just give it to him, but we stuck to our guns and he has not whined for it at all. The video below was taken before the removal of the pacifier - just to make it clear.

2. Bryson got a super cute haircut - he looks so much like a little boy (tear). I can actually spike his hair up now.

3. He is starting to talk so much, and I can understand some of what he is saying. Sometimes though I just look at him and ask "are you speaking Chinese?" He is so funny! He went through this phase where instead of calling me mamma it was mom, and now it is mommy, mommy, mommyyyy! I love it! It is the cutest thing ever. He is so animated and I love to just sit back and watch him go! Every night around 6:30 - 7:00 he is wired, and he will just start running circles around the living room again and again. Brian and I just crack up.

4. He is now calling the dog Ma, Ma (long a). He will chase him around the house until he starts coughing so hard he has to sit down (Bryson, not the dog).

5. He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and My friends Tigger and Pooh. Every night when Brian and I are winding down and watching tv Bryson will run in and say "me mou" (Mickey Mouse) or "pooh, pooh." I started recording the episodes so he could watch them at night, and he will watch the same episode over and over again until Brian and I can quote the whole episode. He is so funny because when toodles (a Mickey Mouse thing) comes on he gets so excited and starts jumping up and down saying "tood, tood, mommy tood." And, of course he has to boogy to all the dances!

Okay, I will try not to slack so bad again. Below are some funny videos. He got this zebra for his birthday, and he loves it.

Happy Halloween!

I am back into the blogging world! I can't believe it has been so long since I posted. I have so many updates I need to add, but that will have to come later. Now is the time to tell you about my little cowboy's Halloween. He was such a cute little cowboy. Only one slight problem - the kid seriously has no jeans that fit him. He can wear a 6-9 months in the waist, but they are too short. 12 month jeans fit in the length but they fall off of him. So, I thought we will buy him a gun holster and use it as a belt to hold up his jeans. Bad idea - we are walking through First Baptist's Trunk-or-Treat, and I look down and Bryson is looking up at me and he is taking little bitty steps. His pants had fallen down around his ankles. It was so funny, but I felt so bad for him. I guess the guns in the holster were too heavy, and his pants fell down three times. Someone thought it was just part of his costume - okay seriously?!?!

Bryson got to dress up three days in a row as a rootin tootin cowboy. Wednesday was my church's fall festival. He got to do the cake walk and an egg game where you open two eggs to try and find a ticket and then you win a prize. Well, he really just wanted to play with all the eggs, so he climbed in the little pool they were in and I could not get him out. Then it was time for Trunk-or-Treat. Every time someone put candy in his bucket he immediately pulled it out and either tried eating it with wrapper attached, or he tried giving it to the next person handing out candy. It was too cute. He kept putting the wrapped candy bars in his mouth like they were a bone.

Thursday we went to Hallowzooeen with Amy and her girls. We had a good time walking around and looking at all the costumes. Bryson went in a fun house just for little ones. He was a little hesitant because I could not go through it with him, but they let parents walk along with their kids on the other side of the railing. He had a blast. Brian took Haylee through the Haunted House, and then she said she was really scared but wanted to go again. Brian said she kept telling everyone in the house "don't scare me, please don't scare me." Amy and I decided we would take her. As we were walking the path before you enter the house these things that looked like statues jumped out and grabbed Amy and I. I thought we were both going to pee our pants. We did not even make it into the house after that, and then Brian gave me such a hard time about it I decided to go through it with him - freaked me out. Brian just laughed the whole time. Good times, good times.

Friday, we went to my aunt Kelly's and ate dinner and then we went up the First Baptist's Trunk-or Treat in the old Super-H parking lot. This is where the whole pants dropping thing happened. Brian kept calling him Don Knotts (I still don't really get the joke). Then we went to a friend's house and then back to Kelly's to hand out candy.

This is at Chick-fil-a after Hallowzooeen. Wednesday he would not keep the hat on, and Thursday he would not take it off. Look at him isn't he so sweet sharing his nuggets with me. Really he wanted my sandwich and he was going to trade his nuggets.

Nobody move or you all will get hurt! :)

Stick em up!

We had a great Halloween. Thank you everybody for the cards, gifts, and candy for Bryson. Brian and I are really enjoying the candy! :)