travis didn't say much in our meeting with the photographer because he was still sick and really not feeling well. we stopped by tom's house to pick up bear root. it's a native american remedy and had helped tom and his roommate get back on their feet quickly after being ill. we swung by pottery barn on our way home so that i could pick up their registry guide. i could do all of the registration online, but i am so tactile; plus, i think walking through the store and looking at everything is half of the fun. travis is still up for going, so we're planning to go once he starts feeling better.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
31 january 2009: the photographer.
travis didn't say much in our meeting with the photographer because he was still sick and really not feeling well. we stopped by tom's house to pick up bear root. it's a native american remedy and had helped tom and his roommate get back on their feet quickly after being ill. we swung by pottery barn on our way home so that i could pick up their registry guide. i could do all of the registration online, but i am so tactile; plus, i think walking through the store and looking at everything is half of the fun. travis is still up for going, so we're planning to go once he starts feeling better.
registering.
on saturday, travis and i met up with eric for lunch at cheddars. eric has been going through a very sour divorce and has been spending quite a bit of time with us. we want to be his support system, but don't often know what to say. just spending time doing things together helps him keep his mind off of things. on our way to lunch we were charged with keeping him occupied for the day.
after a loooong wait at cheddar's we filled our bellies and started making plans for the day. i mentioned to travis that we didn't need to do it that day, but that we would need to set some time aside to register. the next thing i knew we were pulling into super target. i approached customer service for wedding registry information while travis and eric checked out the dvd selection. when i walked back over, i thought it was just precious when travis asked, "so, did you get registered?" i explained it was a bit lengthier process than that and that we would need to walk around the store selecting items that we would like our guests to purchase for our new home. "well i didn't know..."
we set out to pick out items on the registry checklist. not far into it travis said, "this is fun! we should have done this sooner." we spent quite a bit of time in target with eric offering helpful insight and suggestions, especially in the kitchen deparment. when we finished i never dreamed that the guys would want to continue, but we headed straight for bed bath & beyond. travis held the scanner in this store, and i think the guys had even more fun here than at target (& i came across some very random items on our registry list, i.e. a box of milk duds and "toilet tunes:" a toilet that plays music every time you lift the lid). we had a lot of fun and it's those things that help make the wedding feel real and like we're actually making progress. we have now decided that we will probably close our bed bath & beyond registry since we're registering at pottery barn and since we will need to register at dillards so that guests from muskogee will have somewhere to shop without having to travel. it's a little overwhelming to think that i have to merge that registry into another, but we're having fun and enjoying it.
after a loooong wait at cheddar's we filled our bellies and started making plans for the day. i mentioned to travis that we didn't need to do it that day, but that we would need to set some time aside to register. the next thing i knew we were pulling into super target. i approached customer service for wedding registry information while travis and eric checked out the dvd selection. when i walked back over, i thought it was just precious when travis asked, "so, did you get registered?" i explained it was a bit lengthier process than that and that we would need to walk around the store selecting items that we would like our guests to purchase for our new home. "well i didn't know..."
we set out to pick out items on the registry checklist. not far into it travis said, "this is fun! we should have done this sooner." we spent quite a bit of time in target with eric offering helpful insight and suggestions, especially in the kitchen deparment. when we finished i never dreamed that the guys would want to continue, but we headed straight for bed bath & beyond. travis held the scanner in this store, and i think the guys had even more fun here than at target (& i came across some very random items on our registry list, i.e. a box of milk duds and "toilet tunes:" a toilet that plays music every time you lift the lid). we had a lot of fun and it's those things that help make the wedding feel real and like we're actually making progress. we have now decided that we will probably close our bed bath & beyond registry since we're registering at pottery barn and since we will need to register at dillards so that guests from muskogee will have somewhere to shop without having to travel. it's a little overwhelming to think that i have to merge that registry into another, but we're having fun and enjoying it.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
dinner with the allens.
on wednesday evening travis and i met up with lexi and dylan for dinner. they had not really seen travis since their wedding (a year and a half ago!), unless you count the time we randomly ran into them while shopping at target. they were beginning to think he didn't exist anymore.
we met for dinner at el tequila (where i proceeded to out eat everyone). after dinner we then headed to kaffe bona to grab chai lattes (and a smoothie in travis's case). we spent several hours chatting and catching up. we finally had to call it a night before it got much later and before the streets had time to ice over again.
we vowed to do it again before too much time passed. i've really enjoyed getting to catch up with old friends lately. travis had a lot of fun, too, and was even saying that maybe dylan could be one of his groomsmen in our wedding.
i hope that 2009 finds us spending more time with friends.
we met for dinner at el tequila (where i proceeded to out eat everyone). after dinner we then headed to kaffe bona to grab chai lattes (and a smoothie in travis's case). we spent several hours chatting and catching up. we finally had to call it a night before it got much later and before the streets had time to ice over again.
we vowed to do it again before too much time passed. i've really enjoyed getting to catch up with old friends lately. travis had a lot of fun, too, and was even saying that maybe dylan could be one of his groomsmen in our wedding.
i hope that 2009 finds us spending more time with friends.
ice, ice baby.
while having lunch with the colliers on monday, the weather took a turn for the worst. as we were leaving chili's it was sleeting and drizzly. i wasn't at the office long before hearing that highway 169 had been shut down. the office began to buzz as everyone started looking up the weather and disussing the impending ice storm. it really began to come down, and we received an email that the office would be closing at 4:00 pm. there were 90 reported accidents between noon and 1:30!
travis and i both made it home safely and settled in for the night. school closings started coming hours before the evening new aired.
tuesday the ground was thick with ice. new management has taken over our apartment complex and the precautions that we are used to were not taken. there was no way to make it down the hill. the office was declared "unofficially closed" and all but four people stayed tucked away safe in their cozy homes.
on wednesday the hill had still not been scraped. travis took my car and made it into the office, but he said that all of the roads, even the main streets were still covered in ice. a few more people made it in, but most were out yet again. by wednesday afternoon, the sun had finally started to come out and melt the ice away. the parking lots and apartment roads were scraped, and i realized that work on thursday was inevitable ...
travis and i both made it home safely and settled in for the night. school closings started coming hours before the evening new aired.
tuesday the ground was thick with ice. new management has taken over our apartment complex and the precautions that we are used to were not taken. there was no way to make it down the hill. the office was declared "unofficially closed" and all but four people stayed tucked away safe in their cozy homes.
on wednesday the hill had still not been scraped. travis took my car and made it into the office, but he said that all of the roads, even the main streets were still covered in ice. a few more people made it in, but most were out yet again. by wednesday afternoon, the sun had finally started to come out and melt the ice away. the parking lots and apartment roads were scraped, and i realized that work on thursday was inevitable ...
meeting hudson.
last week i met jen and court for lunch at chili's. it was my first time to meet hudson, and i couldn't wait. he was such a good baby ... well, actually he slept for most of our lunch ... but still, he was so sweet and such a little angel. he is completely beautiful and look so cute bundled up in his car seat.
while at lunch we discussed my job (and how much i don't care for it). after we chatted for a bit, court left the table. when he came back he said, "i think i just ran into your boss." momentary panic set in as i realized that if dave or rob was there, they could have heard everything that i was saying. jen and i searched for a familiar face, but never saw dave or rob. as we were on our way out the door, we ran into rob! court introduced hudson and i tried to keep my heart from throbbing out of my chest.
on the way back to the office, i called claudine; she and laughed and laughed all the way back to the office ... what else could i do?
i don't think that he overheard anything and [fortunately/unfortunately] i still find myself employed by the addison group.
the highlight of the day was most certainly meet hudson and spending a little time with jen and court. it seems our time together has been sparse. i am definitely looking forward to the next outing.
while at lunch we discussed my job (and how much i don't care for it). after we chatted for a bit, court left the table. when he came back he said, "i think i just ran into your boss." momentary panic set in as i realized that if dave or rob was there, they could have heard everything that i was saying. jen and i searched for a familiar face, but never saw dave or rob. as we were on our way out the door, we ran into rob! court introduced hudson and i tried to keep my heart from throbbing out of my chest.
on the way back to the office, i called claudine; she and laughed and laughed all the way back to the office ... what else could i do?
i don't think that he overheard anything and [fortunately/unfortunately] i still find myself employed by the addison group.
the highlight of the day was most certainly meet hudson and spending a little time with jen and court. it seems our time together has been sparse. i am definitely looking forward to the next outing.
01.17.2009: celebrating amanda's 20th.
on january 17th, we helped amanda celebrate her 20th birthday. as she has been watching dirty dancing non-stop lately, it was only fitting that a dirty dancing birthday be thrown in her honor ... don't worry, we kept it pg. 
we spent the evening playing guitar hero and american idol karaoke. her family and friends from high school and college stopped in to make the night an unforgettable evening of celebration for her. travis can't believe his little sister is 20 years old. we're all having a hard time believing we're the ages that we are.
happy birthday amanda! we love you!
10 things about amanda lear.
stealing a page from jen & court's blog, we would like to honor our family and friends' birthdays this year with a special blog devoted just to them.
amanda ...
01. ... is original
amanda ...01. ... is original
02. ... has a nickname that she *loves*: amanda the panda. she can't escape it; even her boyfriend zach has started calling her this on his own, without any influence from the family
03. ... puts up a hard exterior but has a heart of gold
04. ... celebrated her 20th birthday this month
05. ... considers her friends family and treats them as such
06. ... loves to laugh
07. ... is ready to defend her friends and family at a moments notice
08. ... is a lover AND a fighter
09. ... is great with kids of all ages
10. ... is a fun & loving sister (and sister-to-be)
we love you amanda! happy birthday!
january 11, 2009: welcome hudson.
on january 11, 2009, our dear friends jen & court welcomed their baby boy, hudson gray to the world. we have anxiously awaited his arrival, and we were on pins and needles all day waiting to hear from the colliers about jen & hudson's progress.hudson, you have no idea how blessed you are to have the family that you have.
we can't wait to get to know you better and watch you as you learn and grow.
congratulations collier family!
ringing in 2009.
i touched on our 2009 celebration in my first post of the year. below are a few pictures from the evenings festivities.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
2008: a year in review.
travis, amelia, and i rang in 2008 at the colliers' house to start the year out right! ===================================================================================
february marked rhiannon's mom's 44th birthday. along with the celebration, we also had a loss in the family as travis's great-grandmother, bumba passed away. she had lived a very full life and is survived by multiple children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.=====================================================================================
in march, sierra joined us for a girls' night out at the apartment. we spent time doing pedicures and watching amanda bynes' movie sydney white. 
amelia and rhiannon often spent time on brookside listening to wink burcham and enjoying sushi at kampei ... so sad it's no longer there.
march also brought travis's 23rd birthday. we celebrated with dinner at a steakhouse with justin and amelia, followed by laser tag, and then cake at the apartment.
===================================================================================== a few days later justin celebrated his 22nd birthday, quickly followed by amelia and her 26th. unfortunately there are no pictures to document the festive occasions.
it was a month full of birthdays as we helped our good friend court celebrate his 31st.
april also marked rhiannon's movement from a recruiter with the addison group to account executive of business development ... a fancy schmancy way to say "sales."
=====================================================================================
in may travis began a new job at sixbyte computers. he became a network administrator and has loved every minute of his time there this past year. he has made good friends in tom and david and is able to bounce ideas off the owner, christopher.
both of our dads celebrated their birthdays in may, rhiannon's dad celebrating his 53rd, travis's his 51st.
=====================================================================================
in june rhiannon celebrated her 25th birthday. part of the weekend was spent with brunch at her parent's. the lears were also very sweet and threw her a birthday luau, since she has so desperately wanted a vacation to hawaii.
===================================================================================
we spent the fourth of july in edmond celebrating with our favorite "nephews" and the rest of the family. we also celebrated aunt sue's birthday. 
july brought the biker boyz show with it. we're pictured here at dinner after a hot day in the summer sun. below is one of the stunts.
one of rhiannon's friends from high school, jenny logsdon, found herself engaged to be married. girls loaded up and headed to dallas for a fabulous personal shower and bachelorette party. there are few girls that rhiannon keeps in touch with from high school; andy & jenny are two of them & the weekend together was a lot of fun.
we're pictured here at rockets over rhema. we spent the evening with amelia and bird eating yummy food and enjoying the fireworks display.
our dear friend jen collier also celebrated her birthday this month. it seems we're lacking in our pictures from some very special events this year. a new year's resolution may need to be in order here ...
===================================================================================
august closed one chapter and began a new one as amelia moved out of the apartment and returned back to stillwater to pursue a new bachelor's degree. travis and rhiannon moved out of the three bedroom apartment and into a much smaller one bedroom apartment. we remained at the vintage on yale, but found ourselves in much closer quarters. we've had fun making this place our own. it has been strange, though, not having amelia around, especially since the past two years she and rhiannon have lived together and spent most of their waking time together.
our friend morgan also married his fiancee mychal this month. the wedding was beautiful and everyone had a great time at the reception. while dancing at the reception travis said to rhiannon, "so you think we're next?"
justin and lindsay also got engaged this month! her parents said they knew from the first time that they met justin that the two were meant for each other. ===================================================================================
rhiannon started having serious medical issues in july. the symptoms continued and finally she saw a specialist who put her in the hospital the following day for surgery. during that surgery a cyst the size of a lemon was removed from her uterus, a large mass that had attached itself to the underside of her uterus was removed and put back in place, multiple cysts were removed from her ovaries, and while they were at it, they removed her appendix.
sierra turned 15 (unbelievable!) and for the first time ever, rhiannon was unable to make it to the party because of the surgery she had. the surgery was actually scheduled on the day of sierra's birthday. the recouperation was long and lengthly, so the next weekend, the soiree was missed.
we also took a trip to dallas with justin and lindsay. it was our first trip together. they were spending the night at our apartment pretty often, even before we moved to our new apartment, but the visits were less frequent now since we no longer had a spare bedroom in the new apartment.
later in the month the four of us received our scuba diving certifications. we've yet to take a trip to some place fabulous to use our new certifications.
===================================================================================
most of october was spent working and getting things ready for justin and lindsay's wedding. the economy was beginning to fail, so a lot of makeup was being done at work for the time rhiannon had missed due to her surgery. wedding invitations and bridal shower invitations were being designed and mailed out.
===================================================================================
in november, a new member joined our family. a little neice named layla. justin and lindsay got a gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous baby pyranese. every week we've watched her grow and can not believe how quickly she is growing up.
november was even more special. on november twenty-first, travis asked rhiannon if she was ready for her next fairy tale as his wife. the answer of course was yes. now we find ourselves booking venues, attending wedding shows, and planning our big event for 2009.
we spent thanksgiving with both of our families and it was our first holiday with lindsay. for the first time, we had thanksgiving at the lears/aukerman's first and then at mom and dad's. layla and ivory spent lots of time together, and my dad's sister "nanny" joined us for the first time in years.
===================================================================================
christmas was perfect. travis brought our first little boy, connor, home on christmas morning. we spent christmas eve at rhiannon's mom and dad's and everyone woke up there on christmas morning. after opening presents, we went to the lears' and justin and lindsay went to the aukermans. we spent most of the day at the lears' introducing connor to his other set of grandparents and getting to know him a little better. christmas dinner was delicious and then we all met back up at rhiannon's mom and dad's for a game night and buffet dinner. it's interesting to see the changes the expanding family brings.
====================================================================================
two days after christmas justin and lindsay got married. they had a beautiful wedding and all of the families came together for the special night. everything was beautiful and everyone had a great time. one of the best parts of the night was after, though, when everyone went together for a big family dinner all together.
===================================================================================
we said farewell to 2008 with time at the pool hall and time at the lears'. rhiannon actually didn't make it to the pool hall as she had to work on the 31st and was too tired to drive down immediately after work. travis, justin, and lindsay spent time with mom and dad and then we all met up at travis's parents'. we toasted the new year with our loved ones surrounding us.
=====================================================================================
all in all 2008 was a monumental year for us as we experienced many exciting changes. milestone birthdays. new homes. new jobs. friends announcing their pregnancies. friends getting married. families announcing their engagement. our engagement! adding a member to our family at christmas. adding a new family to our family two days after christmas.
we can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for us!
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