Monday, February 14, 2011

Tulsa

This past weekend, Bree, Riley, and I went to Tulsa to visit Bree's parents. The drive was easy there and back. The roads were not crowded and it was a super pleasant drive. After going to Tulsa, I am happier than ever to be living in Dallas! As most of you know, my family and I lived in Tulsa for 2.5 years prior to living in Dallas and Bree and I both despised it then and, we realized, we still dislike it! It was great to see family: hanging out, eating, laughing, etc. Our dogs came with us and they were happy to see Grandma too. We got back Sunday around 4PM. When we got home, it was confirmed, once again, that our home we currently rent was being placed on the market for sale. We have lived in this home for 2 years and we really like it but the landlord has decided she wants to sell the home now. Now that we know the area of Dallas in which we really love, we are going to purchase a home when our lease is up. Looking for that forever home! Last night Bree and I exchanged some early Valentines Day gifts. I got a telescope; something I am so excited about... I have been wanting a telescope for a while so I am so stoked! I was a little less creative; I got Bree a spa candle, a one hour massage certificate, candies, and a new spice rack.

This morning we gave Riley her Valentines Day gifts. It was a gift bag filled with goodies including lotion, loofahs, nail polish, a GLEE t-shirt, some funky socks, and a few other things.

I am going to cook dinner for the girls tonight: stuffed chicken breasts, asparagus or corn, and sweet potatoes. I also have a little surprise for them after the dinner. ;)

Also, because we just cannot fill our schedules enough, Riley has Soccer practice tonight. It is the first practice of the Spring Season. I am excited for her...

And, of course, The Bachelor comes on tonight... which, I hope to watch. I am currently finishing up my day at work. I just took a little break because I really have not taken breaks today! Oh and before bed I want to squeeze in a little sky time with my new telescope

Happy Valentines Day to you!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

SUPER BOWL: I love Football!


Less than an hour until kick-off and Bree is about to make some Chicken Mole for dinner. My throat is still killing me and my cough hurts too. I did my quiz for Collective Behavior and my final score was 10/10. Riley and I went and braved Wal-Mart to go grocery shopping.


Why I decided to go grocery shopping 3 hours prior to Super Bowl kick-off, I am not sure. However, what is done is done and, thank goodness, they grocery shopping is done! We should be good for a couple weeks.


I think I wore Riley out at the grocery because, as I write this, Riley has fallen asleep in the recliner. My poor little baby.


My predictions for today: I am ROOTING for the Steelers! Unfortunately, I think the Packers may take the win.



SDH....

Good Morning, it is Super Bowl Sunday!

Today, I awoke next to a beautiful woman. My wife. My favorite time is often just hoping for 5 more minutes to lay with her and hold her tight. We both awoke still sick today. We did a Yoga/Pilate's exercise video together this morning. Some of the stretching exercises felt quite good on my hamstrings and back.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday and, I have said before, I am rooting for the Steelers today! They are a good clean team and deserve another win. As I sit here at the dining room table, Bree is already whipping up some super bowl treats. I smell the crushing of avocados so I know there will be some fresh Guacamole involved. Bree is making breakfast too. Mmmmm. I love that Bree cooks and, more importantly, that she is good at it.

We are watching the movie "W." on Showtime right now and it only induces more sympathy than I already had for George W. Bush. How sad that he, literally, could not even understand a third grade lettuce analogy.

As the multi-tasker that I am, I am also about to take quiz for my Collective Behavior course. So, wish me luck. I hope that you all enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday with your friends and family as I intend to do as well.

SDH

Saturday, February 5, 2011

2011: Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am speaking is already far from me (Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux)

It has been a while since my last update and, goodness, time flies! I believe the last time I wrote it was the eve of Riley's first day of 5th grade. As of today, Riley is almost done with the 6th grade. Riley continues to make all A's, although, it appears to come easy for her. Riley is growing entirely too fast and is quite a young lady now. With a size 9 shoe in Ladies, we already begin shoe sharing.

Bree and I both attend college at University of North Texas (MEAN GREEN; Go Eagles) and we are so close to finishing, finally. I should graduate at the end of July with BA in Sociology. It is a possibility, based on course availability, that I take my final course in the fall and graduate in December. Bree will graduate in December as well with a BA in Anthropology. We both enjoy our studies however, we are ready to have the extra time to spend on other things. We both go to school full-time and it is quite an obligation. We are both thankful to have obtained the large university, four year experience; especially at a nice, well known university. Like I said, we are ready to spend our devoted study time for extra time with Riley ....

New Years Eve 2010, counting down to 2011, we had family in town: Brenda and Phillip. We had cocktails and played Wii as a family. None of the 5 of us actually made it to midnight. We all hit the hay early!

Throughout January we have just worked on getting back into the swing of things. With Bree and I working, Spring semester beginning, Riley's school starting back, and cleaning up from the holidays, we stay busy.

Living here in Dallas, TX, I am not sure that my family and I expected much snow, however, we have already had two snow events this winter. The end of January there was a light snow dusting. This past week was a pretty severe winter storm. The Dallas area received a large amount of ice. The storm came in on Monday evening and a thick layer of ice covered the entire Dallas area. My office closed on Tuesday and Wednesday because the conditions were too hazardous for driving. Thursday my office was open again and it was also the Chinese New Year (it is the year of the rabbit). We convinced our boss to order in Chinese food so we did not have to drive in the ice to pick up lunch and also to honor the Chinese New Year. Thursday night, snow came. We got about three inches of snow on top of the ice. The office was closed again all day Friday and it continued to snow all day on Friday. I think, we ended up with about 5 inches of snow all together.

I was out of work all week, Riley was out of school all week, and Bree was out of her office all week as well. Bree worked from home during the week. In addition, UNT Campus was closed all week as well.

Today, it was above freezing for the first time all week and the ice finally melted away. So, hopefully, by Monday we will begin getting back into our normal routine.

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers..... right here in Dallas. The event will be held at Cowboys stadium in Arlington. The locals (and even some non-locals) like to call it "Jerry World". I was really pulling for the Cowboys to have made it to the Super Bowl but, it did not happen. Ever since coming to Dallas, I have been a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan. My fandom was established in 2009. I believe that no person should be a "fair-weather fan". I will support my team through good times and bad times, good seasons and bad seasons, through player exchanges, and coaching terminations. I am excited about Jason Garrett taking over as head coach. We will see what happens. As for Super Bowl tomorrow, I am rooting for the Steelers. I know that they are NOT the underdog in this situation but I like the Steelers pretty well.

Right now, I am going to wrap this up and go to bed. Goodnight to all, and to all a good night!

Stephanie Dallas Hightower