Pre-Anniversary

I have SO much to catch ya'll up on. Nothing life changing, just the normal details of our lives :)

Last Saturday we drove to Tulsa for 2 nights to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. I had never been to Tulsa, and was pretty excited. Here is the view from our hotel...LOVE the fall colors!!

One of my fave things about the weekend was how beautiful it was. There were so many trees and they were all changing colors, the weather was just cool enough, but not too cold, and it felt so great to be outside!

It's funny to look at this first pic of when we got there and how tired we looked and felt, compared to how refreshed we felt at the end of the weekend.

We shopped around Utica Square, which has a lot of cute shops. It was a nice cool autumn day and made everything just cozier and cuter! We'd been saving up for this trip, so we each got a little extra spending money! I got a cute top from the GAP, and will probably wear it too much, ha!

We decided to get all gussied up for a really nice dinner out. Technically our anniversary was on Sunday, but it worked out better to really celebrate on Saturday.

I love wearing my hair curly, i wish i had the time to do it more often.

It's so fun to get ready for a night out!! At home, i make Daniel leave our bedroom so i can feel like i'm actually getting ready for him, which involves a lot of "close your eyes!" as i'm running around our apartment.

We went to Polo Grill, which i would TOTALLY recommend if you're in the area. We had not only great food, romantic atmosphere, but by far the best service i've probably ever had. Since we were splurging we go appetizers and desserts! The pics aren't great, but oh well!

Some type of prosciutto flatbread.....

We both ordered salmon...

DESSERT!!!! it was called fudge, but it was more like a crackly hard moist brownie thing that i would give my right arm to eat again!

 

a lovely night...

disclaimer: we did not sit next to each other for the meal, daniel moved next to me for the picture. I think it's weird when people sit on the same side...how do you talk??

We suckered a lot of people into taking our pic...

Stay tuned....tomorrow is the zoo, rockclimibing, and more food!

love

 laura

Pioneer meets Awkward

Look, it's the Pioneer Woman!! and look, it's me!!! we're totally hanging out!!!

But seriously, TPW was in town speaking today, and i took a couple hours off from work so i could go hear her. I was SO nervous the whole day cos i was so excited about seeing/hearing her. I can't remember the last time i came close to seeing someone famous!

She talked for about an hour, then took Q&A for almost an hour. (i did feel SO uncomfortable when some guy went on and on and on about his sisters blog and trying to get TPW to read it.....we all were in pain). But she was just delightful and very down to earth. i think we're meeting for coffee next week. you think i'm kidding. ha!

anyways, even though i was only on the 5th row, my pics came out pretty bad. i blame the lighting.

She was talking straight to me here....

She signed cookbooks and things afterwards. I don't have her cookbook, so i just awkwardly introduced myself, ha!

I had a great time and can't wait to see the movie about her whenever it comes out! and yes, i'm going to try to randomly bring up how i "know" the pioneer woman into as many convo's as i can!

love

laura

Happy ONE Year Anniversary!!!

A year ago, yesterday I married my best friend. We were married November 14th in Cedar Hill, TX.

 
I was thankful that we had perfect sunny weather that Saturday. And were blessed with so many great friends standing beside us.

The first year was A LOT easier than we both thought it was going to be. I know we are going to have hard times, but am so thankful that our first year was so great! Part of the reason (we think), is that we didn't let ourselves get too busy the first several months. i have no problem saying "no" to people. :) We spent so much of our time with one another, learning about one another, and making our marriage a priority. I think it definitely paid off. Now if every year from here on out can be as great as this last one, we'll be in good shape :)

We enjoyed the weekend away and are now back in the 'real world.'  I'm so thankful for our marriage, for Daniel, and for this stage of our lives. It's been better than i could have ever imagined!

love

laura

Weekend Rewind Part 3

ok, where were we???

So we had just finished with our walk, which ended up being one my favorite things from the camping trip. It was a beautiful day!!

We came back and played Ladder Golf. I've heard of Ladder Golf having different names, but that's what we call it.

Just look at that form!!

(yes, that is Ethan's little potty next to me)

You  throw these strings with 2 golf balls attached and try to get it on one of the rungs on this makeshift ladder. you can play against 1 other person or in pairs. quality time let me tell ya. We had to be quick when we played bc Ethan kept stealing the balls and running away with them.

Grant having his story time. I think it was Bernstein Bears go to Camp....very appropriate.

Then all the adults played Catchphrase. I really brought this game for my own entertainment. Both my parents had a hard time not acting it out. It was so much fun!

I don't think anyone has more camo than my dad. (he's actually sitting in his deer blind as i type this)

For dinner we roasted hot dogs and hamburgers, with beans, potato salad, chips, and halloween candy.

Then of course we went all traditional with Smores. yes, Sandlot was quoted a few times.

it was quite the romantical night.....

cute Ethan....

We all woke up the next morning about 6:30. Daniel and i slept great!! We were warm and comfy in our sleeping bags. Everyone else who brought air matresses and blankets were jealous.

GOOD MORNING!

i think this is his "too cool for school" face, ha!

Ethan lounging around while everyone else makes breakfast, sheesh, you think he'd at least offer to help!

speaking of breakfast....we had scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and made breakfast burritos.

sweet pants Sarah.

what i love about this picture is the look on sarah's face. i can almost guarantee you she's watching one of the boys and about to correct them for something they're doing.

After breakfast we played a little more ladder golf then hit the road. And by that i mean, Daniel and I drove to REI and slobbered our way through lusting after everything in the store. I tried not to get too close to anyone, bc we reaked!!!!

and that is the First Annual Grant Family Camping Trip. I will leave ya'll with this......

love

Laura

 

Always Random

I'm in the middle of finishing the camping trip post, but pics are at home (i'm at work) so i thought i'd do a little snack of a post.

So the bathrooms at the campsite had water but no soap. If you know Sarah, this is not ok. Well she went in to use the bathroom  (not her first trip in) and when she came out there was some handsoap in a bottle with a papertowel next to it. (the bathroom didn't have papertowels, which should've been her first clue....)

Sarah walks up to the hand soap, and in a voice i totally wish you could hear, she said

"Well, don't mind if i do....." And dramatically picked up the soap and used it. RIGHT then a lady comes out of one of the other stalls and was like "oh, you can use my soap i guess. But could you please leave my papertowel?"

cue Sarah's mortification.

She is already easily embarassed, so this was classic!!!

Also random.....

When we went to the OU game not too long ago i brought a little shoulder bag thing. like very small. Daniel told me several times that they are weird about bags and i might have trouble getting in.

Whatever, I tell him. Girls have to be allowed to bring bags in.

The guy who took my ticket freaked out and was like "you can't bring in a backpack!!!" I was like clearly, this is not a back pack. And tried pulling everything out so he can clearly see that i'm not a risk to anyone. Then he gets this other guy involved to try and determine if my bag was a purse or a backpack.

One guy reasoned that bc it had 2 straps it was a backpack. reallly???? how many 1 strap purses have you seen??

They get ANOTHER guy involved and he makes the final decision that this is indeed a purse.

Because Daniel loves me he didn't give me a hard time about it, but let's be honest, tables-turned i would have, ha!

Running tonight, hopefully 4!

Also, black bean quesadillas for din din. PURE delight i tell ya.....

We layer our torillas with black beans (smashed), grilled chicken, green peppers, cheese, tomato, and (me) black olvies. Then grill that bad boy. It is seriously one of our all time faves. promise me you'll try it.

love

Laura

Weekend Rewind Part 2

We were on the road by 10 with a Sugar Free Vanilla Iced Coffee in one hand and a Chicken Egg and Cheese Bagel in the other. What can I say, i run so i can eat!!

We got to the campsite, Cedar Hill State Park, about 1ish. My main goal was to get to the site before Sarah and Mike put up their tent. I was pretty sure it would be good entertainment.

sidenote: Ethan got croup on Friday. But the dr. said since it's in his vocal cords and not his lungs, the air and campfire wouldn't bother him. He did sound like an 84 year old emphyzema patient when he breathed, but he was in good spirits pretty much the whole time.

Remember how i said i wanted to rough it??? CLEARLY the memo was missed on the other members of my family.

(yes, that is a fold up table that my parents brought, and i'm pretty sure there were at least 6 coolers, and that is not an exaggeration my friends)

yes, that is a coffee pot. While i was SO grateful to have it on Sunday morning, really???

Not only were we celebrating family time while camping, we celebrated Ethan's 2nd birthday a little early, bc this is the only time we'll be all together for a while.(my mom makes all kinds of cakes)

the boys eating cake:

sidenote: Ethan got a recycling truck that plays music and counts. ALL weekend i had the song in my head

"Not everything is garbage, think before you throw.

If it can be recyled then in the truck it goes!"

Sarah and Mike bought an 8 man tent for their little family of 4. I told them it was just a good excuse to have more kids. Turns out Mike actually was a pretty experienced camper...so no funny stories about the tent :(

Our tent!!!

mom and dads....

Random pics from the day:

 We all went for a walk while Ethan and mom napped. i love this pic!!

the men:

Sarah and I took pics of us on the big log by the lake. someone made a joke that it looked like engagement pics. so i went with it.

Joe Pool Lake:

i taught him this.

another good one (i'm such a sucker for these feel good pics)

After the walk we headed back for some ladder golf, food, Catchphrase, and more food.

Stay tuned ya'll!

love

laura