Huckleberry Fin

So I sat down at my computer about 2 weeks ago and got a surprising email from my brother Nathan.......he was coming to visit me and would be arriving in 3 hours! I was shocked and elated. I haven't seen my brother Nathan since Wesley was 2 weeks old (and he will be 3 this December).
After the shock wore off I immediately thought- oh gosh I have to plan something to do with him that involves nature- like go fishing, hunting, or boating. My brother is a Marine for one, and in addition to that he is the biggest outdoor enthusiast you'll ever meet. So within minutes of getting the email I made reservations for our crew (my family, my sister, mom and brother) to go rafting down the Illinois River. So here's a pic of me, Moms, my sister and the kids rocking our life jackets, and "floating" down the river.

Everyone was pretty excited about it- can you tell??

My sister Marissa and brother Nathan...paddling at the head of the raft.

When we got to the cabin to rent the raft, we mentioned in passing about all the "river rats" that were around (meaning people who go to the river all the time for recreation).
Fast forward an hour into the trip....we've pulled the raft off to the side of a bank to let everyone out to wade in the water. Sienna jumps into the water and starts swimming, and pretty soon fellow rafters/canoers float on by us.
With a smile stretched from ear to ear, and bobbing up and down in the water like a fishing lure, Sienna calls out to them excitedly, " I"M A RIVER RAT!!! " "I'M A RIVER RAT !!" And proceeds to tell everyone else we pass on the river till we got home.

More Huck Fin

Moms, Aunt Mimi, and Uncle Nathan......hanging out waiting for the bus driver to take us up the river.

Pretty pretty.....it's no wonder that they call this area "Green Country." This was the tail end of our rafting trip-thankfully.....we were all pooped!

Philbrook Museum

Before we even moved here to Oklahoma......I knew I wanted to visit the Philbrook Museum (this is a picture inside the museum looking out to part of the garden). It's pictures are displayed in every magazine and brochure about Oklahoma and is definitely considered one of Tulsa city's most precious "jewels."

It did not disappoint. In fact the museum is amazing and gorgeous. Long and fascinating story made short: In 1925 a ridiculously rich husband and wife bought a huge chunk of land in Tulsa and decided to build an Italian Villa. In 2 years they had a breath-taking 72 room mansion for their small family of 4. This eccentric, and interesting family threw wonderful parties and eventually moved out of the house after 11 years and donated the house to the city of Tulsa.

Voila! Today the kitchen, bedrooms, and other rooms in the house now make up the various galleries in the museum. Additions to the house were made to accommodate tourists and coats, but on the whole the museum today exists and is maintained as it once was in the roaring 20's.

This is known as the Great Hall. It is striking and beautiful and I love that it reminds me just a tiny bit.....of the King's Palace in Versailles. We're told that the two young children who lived at the house used to ride their bikes up and down this hall.

More Philbrook

It was such a deliciously green day what with all the rain clouds and stormy weather. This is a shot taken from the passenger side window in my car.
Are you kidding me?? It's so beautiful I started laughing.......I just couldn't believe it was real and that I was staring right at it....and it wasn't a movie back drop or something. I half expected a hobbit to pop out from behind a tree.
Moms had a different reaction. She started crying- happy tears. The lush greenery reminded her of her life in Colombia, and her time in Wisconsin as an exchange student.

Besides having a wonderful day with my Mom at the museum and having a fantastic tour guide shows us the grounds......I made a friend that day. It turned out that our Docent showing us the museum was the head of the Interns at the Philbrook......and she was very interested in having me apply to the program.

What's crazy is that I had actually looked into being an Intern and later an Art Docent for the Museum before we moved to Oklahoma. I was flattered! She told me to stay put and went and got me an application. And the rest is history.
I start classes in Sept. And 27 weeks later I will have some serious knowledge about art history and will begin giving tours on my own!

Balloon Festival

So I heard about this Hot Air Balloon Festival to be held in Claremore awhile back so I jotted it down in my planner and had been looking forward to it.
Turns out that the only thing full of hot air at the event was the hype.
We got lost trying to find the location.....only for the fact that we never saw any Hot Air Balloons. And once we got to the "festival" there were hardly any vendors, even fewer people, and it was blistering hot.
But- with the help of my sisters' good attitude and sense of humor, we made the most of it!

The highlight was letting the kids ride the ponies. Oh.......am I ever a sucker for those (admittedly overpriced) pony rides. And it was cute to see little bows in their manes.

More Festival

I was thrilled that Wesley finally wanted to ride a pony after so many failed attempts in the past. Could he be any happier??

I usually have a firm no eating hot dog policy (after a food poisoning incident last year that included among other festivities.....6 hours of vomiting), but I set aside my fears and enjoyed my corn dog and my first funnel cake.............and didn't get sick!

Wesley on a ride with Aunt Mimi. I am so glad my sister came with us. We laughed a lot and she helped me enjoy the the event (that in reality was a total flop).
Thanks for being such a good sport Mimi.....and for always reminding me that my glass is half full, not half empty.

Alley Cats

So cute....when Matt came to visit us we took the kids bowling. It was the kids' first time and we had so much fun! The kids, loved, loved, loved bowling. We used the little ramp for the two of them and they could barely sit still and wait for their turn.

And I loved that it was my brother who taught the kids how to bowl-what a fun memory.

Here's Sienna sulking while waiting for her turn. She insisted on pulling up her socks, "because it looks way better." We're going to have fun during high school.... I can tell.

Utica Square

Since we've moved here......I've had so many people ask me, "Have you been to Utica Square?" And the same people who asked me before will follow up and ask me again, "Did you go to Utica Square?" So what's all the fuss about?

Turns out it's an adorable shopping and dining district (?)....not sure what to call it. But it's stinkin cute. I'm not sure how many blocks there are, but the streets and stores are distinctive, quaint and vintage looking. Nathan and I went here for our date night and had a good time. I also wanted to see if this would be a good place for photo sessions....so I experimented with this alley.......me likes. We had dinner at Queenie's which has wonderful food, mouth-watering desserts, and a sweet and plucky vibe.

P.s. Did I mention there was a hot pink Volkswagen Bug parked nearby? with custom white leather seats, with hot pink ribbing? with pearls dangling from the rear view mirror? Are you kidding me? how cute! who drives this car? Where are you sassy-pants I've got to meet you!