Halloween - Part Deux

Here's a couple more costumes I've done: This one was for a date party last year for Kristen's sorority. I made this young man's costume too, can you guess who they were?
I made Kaitlyn a Dorothy costume one year. This was a colonial costume I made for Kristen in middle school for a Colonial Fair but they ended up not having it and no one ever wore it. I did win an art contest with it though. I won a $20 gift certificate. Seeing it hanging up doesn't do it justice.
I've also made a female pirate that both girls wore at various times. There's been so many over the years. Kristen still asks me to make stuff for themed date parties. This was a egyptian costume when Kaitlyn was portraying Cleopatra in a "wax museum" book report/project in 4th grade.

Halloweens Past

I love to make halloween costumes. Over the years, I've made costumes for the girls that were a cow costume (and the udder "bag" was for the candy), Little Mermaid, Jasmine costumes (2), a nurse, a prom queen. Here's when I made a 50's day costume for Kristen in the 5th grade. Kaitlyn had one too with a pink jacket I made her.

An 80's day costume for Kaitlyn in middle school.A little house on the prairie outfit for the Rose Hill School visit in 4th grade for Kaitlyn. (Rose Hill was a one-room school house in Oklahoma at Statehood in 1907 in Perry, Ok) I went with the class and made myself one too.A Medieval costume for a Medieval Faire in Middle School for Kristen. Norman has had a HUGE Medieval fair every April for about the last 30 years. Thousands of people come to it and dress up. It's a lot of fun.

Clarification on Post Below

I mentioned below in my post about the Westmoore pom squad and how good they are. I had forgotten until I got on www.varsity.com this morning that there is a web documentary about their squad on there and their road to Nationals (when you first go to the webpage) and you can see when they went to pom camp this summer at the University of Oklahoma (with Kaitlyn's squad). I even saw Kaitlyn a couple of times in the background of Westmoore's video. Westmoore has an amazing routine. Check it out!

Wayback Wednesday - 2006

Here's the picture of Kaitlyn at the State competition for cheer in 2006. She was on the large varsity co-ed squad and they were runners-up.

This is a picture of her stunt group. She's on the bottom right.

Pom Squad Wins State

Due to a string of bad luck this fall (fortunately, if you want to look at it that way), Kaitlyn's pom squad won their 1st state competition (in a long time) in Small Varsity Jazz. At the beginning of the summer, they started out with 16 girls, which put them in Large Varsity Jazz. This also meant going up against Westmoore HS out of Moore, OK (where the F-5 tornado went thru in 1999, 7 miles up the road from us). Westmoore has been the national dance champion for the last 2-3 years. It's the competition you see on ESPN each year out of Disney World in Florida. They are big-time good. Anyway, one of Kaitlyn's good (??) friends, who was one of the captains on Kaitlyn's squad got DRUNK AT LUNCH before a big pep rally back in August and was carted away by the Norman police and school administrators and is no longer on the squad. The other captain has a fracture in her back and is under doctor's orders not to do ANYTHING until they release her (possibly in December after the 2nd State Competition). So that put Kaitlyn's squad down to 14 people, putting them into the SMALL varsity jazz category. So, Norman High finally won a state competition and we didn't have to go up against Westmoore nor did we have to compete against our crosstown rivals, Norman North, who most years have a state winner in either pom and/or cheer. Last year our pom squad went to a Nationals competition in Fort Worth, TX (where we will go again this year) and won Nationals in Large Varsity Hip-Hop. However, we didn't have much competition in our category.

When Kaitlyn was on varsity cheer they were state AND national runners-up in the large co-ed division. They had a boy on their squad that just happened to be in Kaitlyn's stunt group as a base. I have a picture of Kaitlyn at State as a flyer. Anyhoo, the pom squad is all excited and looking forward to their 2nd State competition in December where they will compete in Small Varsity Jazz and Small Varsity Hip-Hop. As I mentioned above, we will go to Fort Worth for the Nationals competition in February. We're going to ride the Heartland Flyer Amtrak train down to the competition. It should be a lot of fun.

Walking in the Neighborhood

When I'm walking each day, I try to put my thinking cap on and think while I'm listening to my ipod. But I also enjoy the various things to look at and be thankful for while I'm walking. I pass by the elementary school (Monroe) at the top of my street where my children both went to school from Kindergarten to 5th grade. And I think about all the little children that go there and also that this is Kaitlyn's senior year. Wow, how time flies. It seems like yesterday when we ran up to the front door in August to see what teacher she got and which one of her friends was in her class.

Then I pass by houses that are more decorated for Halloweeen than ours is. Joe is a fanatic about Halloween. These people go all out....

I'm thankful I have a sidewalk to walk down a busy street. And that the street is tree-lined and in a few days will be covered with bright yellow and red leaves.

And then I circle back to our little house. The one we've lived in for 21 years. The one where my children were brought home from the hospital and I'm very thankful. Thankful that I have a home, a family, and yes, even the crazy halloween decorations that scare the pants off me whenever they start moving or making their various noises, etc. when I walk by them. And this is tame compared to our next door neighbor. It's usually a contest (think the Griswold's in the Vacation movies) between our two houses. But it's all in fun.

State Routine

Tonight was the parent showing of the state routine for Kaitlyn's pom squad. They perform it on Saturday at the state competition. Kaitlyn is in the front on the left.

Here's a picture of Kaitlyn and Lindsey in their costumes.

New Lil' Sis

This is a group picture of Kristen's sorority "family" last year. Starting from the right side of the picture there's Ellen from Edmond, OK (she graduated May '08) Kristen's grand big-sis, then there's Kira from Tulsa, OK (Senior '09) Kristen's Big Sis, Kristen, and then Kristin (with an I) from Yukon, OK, Kristen's Lil' Sis.
Here's this year's version, again starting from the right side: Kira, Kristen, Kristin, and Victoria from Jenks, OK, Kristen's new grand lil' sis.

Neil Diamond Concert

Here are our pictures from last night. We had a great time (Randy, Kay, Joe and I). We went out to dinner first, then headed to the city for the concert. We had cheap-o seats ($5.00) because they were "obstructed view." Doesn't look too obstructed to me! Actually we sat to the back of the stage on the right side, but Neil walked around the whole stage, even stopping to sing right in front of us (actually about 10 feet in front of us). We were on the bottom row (which if all the seats were pulled out would be about 10 rows up) so no one could stand in front of us (they would have fallen into the "pit"). So it was great. When Neil was on the front of the stage, we couldn't physically see him but we could look up at the big-screen and see just fine. He sang all his big hits and we all sang with him. The crowd really got into it. He has such a distinctive voice.

Fall in Oklahoma

This weekend has been a beautiful fall weekend. No clouds in the sky, just a brilliant blue color. The University campus is in full color - yesterday was homecoming. I don't have a picture of the mum beds from this year but I do from last year. Last year was Oklahoma's 100th year of statehood and the beds at the University reflected some of the things special to Oklahoma. I don't remember where I downloaded this picture but I did not take it.

Tonight (after I get off work at Kohl's) Joe and I and some other friends are going out to dinner and to the Neil Diamond concert. He took me a couple of years ago when Neil was in town and I enjoyed it very much (I initially didn't think I would). Maybe I'll have some more pictures to share after tonight.

Anniversary

October 16, 1984 24 years ago today (a Tuesday), at 4:00 in the afternoon, I married Joe. I was very, very nervous. I was 29 (a month away from being 30) and I was afraid that something would go wrong. Looking back, I don't know why I was afraid. I had kissed a lot of frogs to find my prince, I guess I was afraid he would hop away. Well, he hasn't hopped away yet, and I have two beautiful princesses from that wonderful day long, long ago. I have to say the top three most wonderful days in my life have been the day I married Joe, and the days my daughters were born. Here is some background on that day..... We got married at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church (where we are now members) in a Chapel. There were only a few of us there: me, Joe, the Rev. Dick Smith, Joe's brothers, Drew & Chris, and my matron of Honor, Barbara Elliott. One of Joe's friends/employees at the time, Karl, said he was going to "crash" our wedding (the ORIGINAL wedding crasher) and he did!! He showed up and crashed our wedding. Poor Karl, we don't know where he is now. We heard he's a chef at a posh country club in Texas somewhere. Anyway, we got married then walked across the street to the restaurant/club Joe managed and went to happy hour. Then we drove to DFW airport for a 10-day honeymoon on St. Maartin in the house that Joe's grandfather built. (Frangipani House, and yes, it is for rent from Joe's uncle).

Afterwards, we had a fun Halloween dressed up as gangsters. I was sitting on the bar where I met him 3 years before. This is my favorite picture of the both of us.

Wonderful day, wonderful honeymoon, wonderful husband & father. I LOVE YOU, JOE! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! GO SOONERS!!!

October 11, 2008

The OKC Thunder

Last night Kristen and Kaitlyn went to the first preseason game of the new OKC Thunder (formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics) basketball team. They each took their boyfriends and sat in the SMG Corporate Suite (the company that Joe works for that manages the Ford Center arena). Joe finally got to meet Kyle, Kristen's boyfriend. They have been dating for six months and I've only met/seen him once. Of course with her not living at home, it's a little harder to get to know him on a more personal level. I was asleep when Kaitlyn and Joe got home so I assume they had a good time. I read where the Thunder got beat at the last minute by 2 points. Oh well, better luck next time!

Senior Picture

This is Kaitlyn's senior yearbook picture. They made them wear graduation robes (ugh!). We still haven't taken her to have her "senior" pictures made yet. Haven't found the time....

Dallas - Part I - Friday

We made our annual trek down to Dallas for the OU-TX "Red River" rivalry this weekend. Joe and the other husbands left Friday morning to play golf. I waited until the girls got out of school and we left late Friday afternoon. Here's my car before we left (and before Kaitlyn washed everything off but the Boomer Sooner). She refused to get in and ride with the writing on there.

Friday evening, the adults (there were 12 of us) went out to dinner. It was Monty's 50th birthday so we gave him gag gifts and had a cake with black icing that stained everyone's teeth!! The girls all went to the Galleria to shop and have dinner while we were gone. There was a professional baseball player at the table next to us in a big group and he sent over a "red snapper" shot for everyone at our table. When they left, their tab was $3000!!!!! OMG!

After dinner, Joe was a little inebriated and he wanted his picture taken with this indian out front of the restaurant. So here he is.....

Dallas - Part II - Saturday

Saturday morning we had to get up early because the game sarted at 11:00 AM. Here's a picture of Kaitlyn and Lindsey in the lobby before the game.Here's a picture of Joe and I outside the Cotton Bowl by "Big Tex". He talks too, saying "Welcome to the State Fair of Texas."

Here's Kristen and her cronies (she's the short one!)

Here was my view from my seat in the Cotton Bowl. I had the last row on the upper deck (it was definitely cool up there). The Dallas skyline is in the background.

Dallas - Part III - Sunday

Sunday morning we slept late then went down to have breakfast and say goodbye to our friends. We all go our separate ways from the hotel. Here's a picture of one of the swans in our hotel lobby.
Kaitlyn and some of her cronies - from the left, Hannah (was on cheer with Kaitlyn in middle school), Rainey (on pom with Kaitlyn), Erin (was on cheer with Kaitlyn in middle school), Kaitlyn, and Lindsey (on pom with Kaitlyn and the new homecoming queen).

Matt had a "new" ride to sport Kaitlyn around in when we got home!

Wayback Wednesday - circa 1916

This picture is one I got from my sister, Lorna. It is a basketball team and the person on the far right (standing) is my grandfather (Bobo's father), Mac Doyle (Thomas McNeal Doyle). He died before my parents were married so I never got to meet him.

Newspaper Article

This was in the paper this morning (in the Norman supplement to the Oklahoma City paper). Kaitlyn said a photographer was snapping her picture during the homecoming parade and asked her name, etc. So, Kaitlyn made the paper. By the way, her friend, Lindsey, won Homecoming Queen.

Homecoming Parade

The Norman High School homecoming parade was this evening. Here's a video of the pom squad walking behind the band. Naturally my camera just happened to be pointing at Kaitlyn....

Here's a picture of one of Kaitlyn's really good friends, Lindsey, who is on the pom squad and is a nominee for Homecoming Queen. All the senior nominees rode in BMW convertibles, the junior nominees rode in convertible jeeps, and the sophomore nominees were all crammed into the back of a pickup.

Wayback Wednesday - Circa 1948/1994

This is to show you what Kaitlyn will look like when she grows up. Joe's mother (Chris) is tall and blonde and very pretty. I have a picture of her when she was 7 (in 1948). She's the one in the right corner of the picture.

Here's a picture of Kaitlyn (she was a fairy for Halloween) and Muzzy (that's what the grandkids call her) when Kaitlyn was about 3-1/2. Can you see the resemblance?

Don't you wish you knew what you'd look like when you grew up?