New Normals

We've successfully moved into our new place and now it's time to create new norms for life.  You know, the annoying stuff like finding a new grocery store.  I'm a small store snob and hate to have to navigate the aisles with several other people toting around their screaming kids (no offense people...just not my current phase of life), so I've been a huge fan of the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets.  Smaller parking lot, fewer people, familiar layout, I like.  I've got one 2.7 miles from my house.  I'll take it.

I've been making trips out to my new classroom to set things up.  So far I've timed it at around 14 minutes from our place; we'll see what morning school traffic adds.  I imagine the commute might look a little different when I'm on the road before 11am, but why rush things just yet? T-minus 16 days. The room is really coming around and feeling like my own space.  I'm one who has to invest a chunk of time in a place for it to feel familiar and comfortable to me.  I'd say I'm accomplishing that in room 610.  Pics to come in a future post.

We've had two visitors in our new place.  Jana entrusted the kiddos to Matt for a night and we enjoyed some girl time.  If you checked out my Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving list for her birthday, I would have to add that she is a very hard worker!  Seriously.  You can tell she's a mom of two little ones and is used to going non-stop because she helped me knock out hanging all of our decorations in the house and we crossed off a lot of things in my classroom.

If you check out Jana's blog or follow me on Instagram (gentrys10....you totally should!) then you've seen this before.  But know that we enjoyed a Sonic picnic in the park, worked hard, and enjoyed a night out together!  Thanks for coming, Jana!

Then a good friend of mine from college, Ellie, came to visit.  We enjoyed a dinner out and some chocolates and hot cocoa at Cocoa Dolce.

Yes, hot cocoa in the summer.  But in our defense, we had a crazy rain storm where the weather dipped into the low 70's.  It's been a good week adjusting to the place and creating new normals.

Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving

Happy 30th Birthday to my older sister, Jana!! So, she's not really flirty, as she's been happily married for almost eight years.  But...surely some of you caught on to my Thirteen Going on Thirty quote, and she is definitely thriving! :)

Here's a tribute to the birthday girl--

Thirty Reasons to Love Jana!

(in no particular order) 

30.  She let's me borrow her Friends Dvd's to watch at night :)

29.  She's one of the greatest moms out there!  Seriously, her kids adore her

28.  She has a very large capacity...she's known to say yes to random things 

27.  She's a regular at the zoo and any other fun, unique place with her kids

26.  She gives great advice!

25.  She's always available (Remember my summer in Brazil when I never slept and we'd have phone dates??)

24.  She likes a good glass of wine now and then :)

23.  She randomly busts out toe touches (hasn't been a cheerleader for over 10 yrs) Impressive.

22.  She uses just the right emoticon at just the right time 

21.  She loves the pool and the beach

20.  She's a great teacher who has the patience to teach 12 yr old boys how to sew 

19.  She makes for a great phone date on commutes home from school

18.  She's always giving me great new recipes

17.  She lets me sleep with her if Matt's out of town when I visit

16.  She brought the two cutest.kids.ever into the world

15.  We have several inside jokes to laugh about

14.  She loves Dairy Queen ice cream cakes 

13.  She's ambitious with her crafts (totally re-doing her bathroom right now)

12.  She's a very efficient shopper (don't have to "shop till I drop" with her)

11.  She made me an aunt

10.  We can still laugh about "She'll have pretzels" years later.  (see #15)

9.    She's taught me to be annoyed by the "just calling to say hi" voice mails 

8.    She plans fun things for us to do when I come to town

7.    She follows all kinds of sports news (and is shocked when I don't know who someone is)

6.    She's great to "collaborate" on school stuff together

5.    She's a night owl

4.    She's a nurturer to her kids

3.   She's a great example of a woman following after God

2.   We have 26 years of memories together

1.    She's my BGF (Best Girl Friend)  

Love you, Jana!  Have a fabulous day!

Cute Kids and Crafts

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times.  My niece and nephew are the cutest darned kids ever.  (Of course that will reign true until I have my own).  I got to spend some time with them a few weekends ago in GB and have these precious pictures to share with you all.

What's a weekend without fort making, bubbles, and watering flowers?

Oh sweet Reesie girl

Cader-tot is becoming such a big boy!

What's a stay in GB without a craft project with mom!  She whipped up a case for my sunglasses in no time.

Then we got into the refurbishing business and turned a drab chalkboard into fab.  Have I mentioned how talented my mom is??

 In other news...we're moving to the east side this weekend, which means our house is full of bare walls and boxes.  And today marks the first day of my LAST master's class!  Wahoo!  Light at the end of the tunnel.

The Only Sooner Post I'll Ever Make...

 WARNING! The following views expressed in this publication are those of the pictured and do not necessarily not at all represent the official poster (me).  You're about to see plenty of crimson and cream, but please let me remind you that purple runs through my veins.  :)

 My cousin, Zach, will be a Senior this fall at OU and he has a sweet gig working for Sooner Vision.  He helps run the cameras for OU sports and has even worked with ESPN!  The extended family all united in Norman recently and we got a backstage tour of where the magic happens.  

We found a few props along the tour and of course, had some fun.  Like these microphones used for our own mock interviews.

We may have also come across a few OU friends along the way.  Now, of course my Wildcat ways would not consider these men friends...but Nathan and Matt sure didn't mind getting up close and personal.

A green screen for shooting

With the help of this wig we found, I'm impersonating a Sooner fan :) 

Nathan trying to prove to us that an alarm will sound if someone steps on their coveted field. Please.  Though I must admit I freaked out just a bit when my flip flop blew down closer to the field and I had to scramble to grab it.  No alarm.  Safe. 

Dad pointing out the Oklahoma State license plate spotted on campus

  We spent a day down at Bricktown and enjoyed a boat ride tour along the river. 

Closest we got to a group pic.  Only missing a few of us. 

We made a stop by the OKC National Memorial.  Very sobering. 

Found our own corner of the lobby for game night

Lots of statues along the river

What's a summer post without a Sonic reference?!  I was told this location was Sonic Headquarters.  They actually had a restaurant inside where you ordered and could sit down and eat.  Sonic dreams complete.  

Cade and Reese are great entertainers! 

Pool time

And because I just can't end a Sooner post any other way...I leave you with this :) 

Future Wildcats!