Inquiring Minds Need to Know

Everytime we have someone come to OKC for a visit, I feel like we just sit around and look at each other. Or we go to the same places because it's what we are used to. I want to make visits to Edmond more exciting (so they'll come back more than once). I'm hoping to compile a list of great restaurants and places of entertainment for moments of visiting.

So this is my question - what do you do & where do you go for fun when your family comes to Edmond/OKC?

Please don't make me go buy a tourist book.

Thanksmas in Missouri

We had a great trip visiting Justin's family in Columbia, MO. It was a bittersweet holiday since both of his grandparents on his mom's side have passed away in the last year. This year would be completely different, but we were still planning on enjoying everyone's company.

We three Cornell's on Thanksgiving

Cash wanted to hold Haylie a lot this time around. Which at one point during a "holding session" - he got a little bored and just got up - rolling her off his lap. Thank goodness Brei was around - otherwise that would have been quite the mishap. (Don't you love her turkey bow?!)

Indian Jagger. It's much better to not wear clothes on Thanksgiving.

So I dislike deer season because it consumes my hubby and his family for atleast 2-3 weekends a year. This process of cleaning meat, grinding it up, making sausage and jerky took their attention almost the entire time they were there. It is just better to stay out of the way...no problem!!

Pigtails are the new way to go in our household. I have been waiting forever for her hair to be long enough!!

So happy after a bathtime - getting ready to open Christmas and birthday gifts!

Christmas @ Thanksgiving - we just gave the boys a bunch of pepsi. Just kidding...or not.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Haylie Was Here

I never have to wonder where Haylie is...I just follow her trail. I think I'll just give up cleaning.

Tutu's & Flowers

Do you have a little girl (or know someone who does?) Then enter my sister's giveaway today! She is giving away an adorable tutu and matching rosette flower to match. How can you pass this up?!?

You Saw it Here First

Before & After: Kitchen

So far our kitchen remodel is the most dramatic. When we moved in, we had lovely wallpaper and border in addition to those fabulous vertical blinds. (I hope you sense my sarcasm.) We took the wallpaper down and had to texture all the wallspace. It was a huge undertaking while trying to preserve the wood.


What the heck is up with that light fixture? It's like an ugly glass umbrella.

Pink floral wallpaper. Ugh.

We painted the walls a (cough) pretty green color. Funny story. We painted our old living room a green color that was a mistake. But we weren't thrilled with it but just used it after trying to re-tint it a few times at Home Depot. So I was excited to get the right color in our new kitchen - to only buy the exact same color. *sigh* I'm just going to make it work.

I now love my kitchen - color and all.

Emily and I went hunting for the right fabric. It's outdoor fabric but don't tell anyone. Then I made asked my mom to help with the curtains. I am sewing stupid.

When Justin's mom came to town, we made this fabulous drum shade. I used this tutorial found by my thrifty sister. Thank goodness for the internet. We also recovered the chairs.

So now all we need is some cute art, new countertops, new flooring (as much as I love the peel & stick...), new backsplash, new refrigerator...and then our kitchen will be completely done! Ahh, gotta love home projects.

We're Having What for Dinner?

I used to not give much effort when it came to cooking. After I moved out of my parents house and didn't have the good ol' OC cafeteria to keep me from starving, it was hard to cook for just me because it was just me (and maybe a roommate or two!) I think the closest I came was popping pizzas in the oven or opening a box - mac n cheese, hamburger helper, all that healthy stuff.

Since I've started staying home, I tend to take more effort into cooking and...I kind of like it! It's amazing how much people spend eating out when the food at home is usually healthier and better. It's just not as convenient, I know.

I know cooking can be such a pain - planning it out, going to the store, preparing it, clean up...but it's also fun to come up with new things to try. What is usually on your dinner table?

I used to scour through my recipe books that I was given but that just takes a lot of time and honestly - a lot of them just aren't good. I have found that this website and this website have lots of ideas that are quick & simple. (And cooking for 2!) It also helps that I found these fun magnets at Wal-mart (I've wanted these ever since I saw Katie's board) and it makes me feel more festive & organized when planning.

If you want some good, easy recipes, leave me a comment with your email (if I don't already have it) and I can send some to you. We've tried a number of good ones over the last few months.

Faces of Haylie

So happy - loves to play in the curtains.

Sassy

Kind of nervous that she has a Pebbles ponytail. But it's just too cute not to make her wear.

Planting the Seed

I persuaded Justin to teach the babies with me on Wednesday nights. We were put into Haylie's class and get to spend time with her and her friends for an hour during the week. Teaching them is pretty fun because you see them trying to understand whats going on. We usually only last 30 minutes - if that - before they just need to get more wiggles out. They have to sit one seat apart...otherwise Cheerios, stuffed babies & pacifiers get stolen!

The B-I-B-L-E...very yummy!

"Did you come to bible class in a plane?"
Bible class wears Miss H out.

These kids are so much fun. We are going to miss spending time with them on Wednesdays, but adults tend to carry on better conversation.

I was thinking of participating in "Random Thoughts Thursday", but then I started to plan out what I was going to say. I didn't think that was very random so I just skipped it. I'll try again today.

Haylie and I have been passing a cold/runny nose back and forth to each other this week. She got kicked out of bible class on Sunday because she was actin' a fool and we've been keeping ourselves low key this week. She is getting really good at wiping snot all over her face. I try to keep Kleenex's nearby, but if she gets a hold of one, she shreds it all over the floor.

She has definitely been showing me her mischievous side. Yesterday alone I found her playing in the toilet, sitting in a pile of dirt {where did that come from?!}, she broke a glass decorative bowl {she did not get hurt or even scared}, pulled out all spices and tupperware...and that was just yesterday.

Yesterday's Oprah was fantastic. The Backstreet Boys were on and I'm not afraid to say that I shed a little tear at seeing their reunion. I was seriously in love with that band. For my 18th birthday {yes, I said 18th} my birthday present was tickets to their show in DE. I'm not afraid to say that I definitely cried when given those tickets. At Applebee's.

I used to work at Applebee's...that's all I want to say about that.

I am ready for this weekend. Justin was gone last weekend so I'm looking for a teensy break where maybe I can get away by myself. Yes, I like that thought very much.

Happy Friday!

Halloween Cont'd

Since Justin stole our camera to take with him hunting, I had to steal these from my dad off Facebook. We went to my sister's for Halloween night. Her family is really into Halloween so they had us all dress up. Haylie got good use of her costume - she wore it on 3 different occasions! I dressed up as...can you guess? I don't think any costume is complete unless I can wear my hair in pigtails.

My poodle "walking" on all fours - it was really funny in person

I'm tacky and took my 11 month old trick or treating. I am not ashamed to say so and I definitely plan on eating all of her candy.

P.S. Haylie is 11 months old today! 30 days until the big day...let the countdown commence!