Bella

Mom and I arrived in Tulsa at about 6:00 in the evening and since Stacy and James were in class the routine was different.

Usually we are greeted at the airport by Stacy and Bella. We then head out to a few of our favorite stores, dinner at Olive Garden (with a glass of wine for me) and then home, but this time we were on our own. With minimal directions and dark lonely Oklahoma roads we started our trek.

James had texted me the instructions and did a good job (other than they came in 5 separate texts...have you ever tried to read a text on a dark deserted road?) until I got to text 4 telling me I should see the house on the left. I knew I was still about a half hour away... my phone was running out of battery (where my vital directions were living) and my mom was asleep. Luckily I scrolled through the texts again and saw that instruction 4 and 5 had been reversed. This was the step I needed which brought us safely to their house.

You have no idea how proud I was for making it in record time without getting lost. James and Stacy were surprised too as was James' mom who was waiting at their house with Bella.


I brought gifts for Bella since I was sure

she remembered Mickey Mouse from our last visit...but I was certain she didn't remember me. The gift of choice (thanks to a hint from Stacy) was Dora's backpack. Just to be on the safe side I brought the purple backpack with Dora's essentials and another backpack with Dora's picture on it, I wasn't taking any chances.

Does she look a little suspicious?

Baba helping her put the backpack on

She warmed up to us immediately

But the girl never stops thinking... and when she

is deep in thought, she sticks her tongue out to help her concentrate

We had a great time waiting for Stacy and James to get home.

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A

Where the corn is as high as an elephants eye. That's where I am minus the pretty little surrey with the fringe on the top, and the corn for that matter, unless u count the soup.

I am enjoying the Vanderheiden's hospitality. Bella and her mom and dad are making my and Baba's stay very memorable. We are enjoying a crisp 57 degrees, surrounded by the beauty of fall and her slightly changing trees. It is so beautiful here and after chatting w/Kevin this morning and being informed that it is a sweltering 100 degrees in California, I shall enjoy my stay even more. No I'm not laughing at ya'll I'm just...no I am laughing. Lol neiner neiner. Fall is the star of the landscape which is vibrant green as far as the eye can see with the contrasting oranges and reds of the falling leaves and it's as though every property is dotted with a pond.

Baba bought Bella a dress-up trunk filled with more beauty treasures that one could imagine and Bella is having a blast... she has been Cinderella, the Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, the other Belle, and a mix-match combination of all of the above. Some of you could you take some "What-not-to Wear" advice from her. She is a little cutie.

Just thought I would check in... now off to bake some cookies in our heart shape cookie pan and maybe polish our nails. Aren't little girls fun?

Outdoor Wednesday - Surf's Up

Welcome to Outdoor Wednesday... Surf's Up

I haven't played for quite some time but it is nice to be back. Thank you to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for hosting. Be sure to check out the other Outdoor posts.

While Kevin and I were in Hawaii, we would plan our day around where we would watch the sunset. We would take our beverages and head to the selected beach. On this particular night we happened to be at the resort, so we headed over to the pool bar to watch the sunset.

We called it our 20.00 sunset. A beverage each, a tip for the lovely waitress and a gorgeous show. This evening we got a bonus attraction. Unseasonal waves graced our little bay, and with the waves came the surfers.

The hotel is out on the point so we got an amazing view of the surfers. I felt like I could catch the waves with them. We started watching just before sunset. There is something about a group of surfers waiting to catch a wave with the sun preparing to set.

I would love to go back when the really big
waves show up.




Doesn't it look great out there?


I took way too many pictures of the sunset.

We had several surfers come by to chat on their way home.

Fun

Slow and easy

Here's Kevin... he chose the weinie wave.

That's me on the wave...what do you think?

This doesn't even begin to show the beauty of the evening

They hung on until the very last piece of light crossed the ocean.

My new Favorite

I can't believe Dancing with the Stars is already into Week 4 and I haven't posted about it. I have a new favorite this season....and I don't mean one of the celebrities. I am now infatuated with Dmitry who is partnered with Mya. After last week Kristi and I were wondering if there was a love connection between Mya and Dimitry (this week I'm not so sure). I think she may be a bit of a control freak. What do you think?

I definitely think there is a love connection between

Chelsea and snowboard boy and I think

she felt bad this week because she wasn't as familiar with the 2-step

and didn't give him much to do...hence bad marks. I hope they stick around.

What do you think about that one?

Only time will tell.

Dmitry

Did you see him with that shear black shirt last week?

At least he should stick around longer than last season... Mya is
a great partner.

Who are your favorites?

Favorites:

Dmitry with anyone (Mya doesn't have my undying love yet)

Donny Osmond (am I showing my age?)

Kelly Osbourne (love her enthusiasm and I think she loves her partner)

Derek (amazing dancing last night)

Mark and Melissa - (he gets the absolute most out of his partners...

now I hope there is a love connection between him and last season

partner Shawn)

Mark can stay awhile just because I like him and Lacey

Ready to see go:

Wrestler guy - Chuck (even though he has a cute smile)

Football guy - Michael (two left feet)

On the fence:

Aaron Carter can go or stay... if he would stop crying I think

he could be great and give Mya a run for her money.

Who are your favorites?

Extended Week-end Warrior

No... I didn't do a project or work around my house, but boy was I busy. It started during this past week when we celebrated my mom's 76th birthday.

Our bunco group went to Wood Ranch for dinner.

We had 3 birthdays to celebrate:

Diana

Vivian and

Cynthia

Next came mom's actual birthday.
(Mom must think she is like Kris with this
entire birthday adventure going on)



On Friday we continued our birthday celebration with our annual trip to Oak Glen.

We started at Peggy's beautiful wreath decked door, where she was waiting to welcome us in.


We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and some light shopping in the local shops.
The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the company, divine.



On Saturday I did a little prep work for my contribution to Festival of the Trees. A quick trip to Tai Pan and home for a rendezvous with the FU. Frank and Laurie came out for Sushi

No pics of Sushi night but it was great.

On Sunday we celebrated Tim's birthday. Mom was sad to see her celebration end but she had fun celebrating with Tim. We all went to the Happiest Place on Earth. It was the first time for Riley and Madison and I'm sure it won't be the last. I'll let Kristi fill you in on the details.

Birthday Boy hanging out with Minnie Mouse

The whole family (minus a few of course)

Pop Pop and Minnie

Pop pop and Madison

So my posting drought has come to an end.

It's good to be back :)

Frankie's Back

or maybe a form of Frankie.

For some reason I love Halloween, maybe it's the crazy witches and colors... I don't really know. For years I have had a 6 foot blow up Frankenstein ... or Frankie as we have fondly called him, that greeted my bunco girls each year for our Halloween Bunco. In fact it is common knowledge that he was madly in love with one of our Bunco girls (Cynthia) and always had a special place in his eh, heart for her.


Several years ago Frankie sprung a leak, in a very delicate place. He hung in there for years, the good sport that he was, but unfortunately it is time to put Frankie to rest.

RIP Frankie

we will miss you.


To my delight, my friend Peggy, knowing my love of Frankie, gave me a gift. A new and improved Frankie. He will never fully take the place of our dearly departed Frankie, but we are looking forward to the greeting he will give us at Bunco. So I introduce you to Frankie N. Stein Jr., who will start my Halloween decorating.

Welcome to Frankie.

Large and in charge and a fine figure of a man....eh.... monster

deep down, I think he's just a pussycat.

Can't wait for him to meet Cynthia

Endless Summer .....

this is the mantra of the North Shore...

I know summer is over, hard to imagine when we came home to 100 + temperatures, but you can't deny the days are shorter and the nights are cooler.

Kevin and I were lucky enough to extend our summer just a bit longer with a wonderful vacation.

The North Shore of Oahu is truly a beautiful destination. Anyone planning a trip will not be disappointed. The beaches are everything you would imagine Hawaii to be like.... long and sandy and the most vibrant shades of blues and greens.

I took over 700 pictures (don't worry I will be gentle and try not to post them all .. haha) and I don't think you can ever capture the true beauty.

While we were there we had a few days of unexpected high surf... waves 20 + feet and what a show they put on. You could feel the force and strength of these waves thundering through the sand.

We flew into Honolulu, grabbed the rental car (we were treated to an upgrade by Kevin's cousin, who works for Enterprise, to a convertible) and of course headed straight to Costco for the essentials. From Costco we headed across the island to the North Shore and Turtle Bay.

Kevin and I have decided that we really enjoy a condo feel rather than a hotel because we don't like to eat every meal out. Don't get me wrong... this vacation was one giant eating fest, but it is nice to have the option... and I do enjoy my coffee on the balcony in the morning (especially when Kevin makes it). We opted for a Villa on the beach, which turned out to be just perfect and the best of both worlds.

Kevin grabbed his towel ... and we headed to the beach for a swim, a beverage, a bit of exploring and our first sunset of the trip.

Would you believe that was me in the lounge chair... ? I didn't think so.
Do you see the caution tape to Kevin's left?

This big guy was on the other side. I guess he has priority on the beach and he was stretched out for a little snooze.

A few pics of the Villa before we gave it that lived in look.

Nice big TV and Bose stereo system. Can you believe
we never turned the TV on?

Shot from the balcony in.

Kitchen

View from the balcony to the pool



That lived in look...


Our first sunset of the trip from our beach looking onto the hotel.
Kevin's Heaven
Room pictures courtesy of the Little Mule
Outdoor pictures courtesy of the Big Dog