My dad and Marilyn visit FL!

Wow I can't believe it has been over 2 months since I last posted.  I guess since we finally had some visitors and something excited to post about it was time!  My dad and Marilyn got into town on Wednesday and left today and we had a wonderful time!  I got to do things in Winter Park / St. Augustine that I have never done before and it was so great to experience it with them.

On Thursday I had to work and they ran some errands since my Dad's Marine reunion is going to be in Orlando this year.  Once I got off work, we went to eat at 4 Rivers and I think they were pretty impressed!  My boss gave me the Friday off, so that was very nice, to spend with them.  We got up and decided to do the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour.  We always see the signs for it on Park Ave. and have never done it.  Luckily we did the 10 AM tour because it was already really warm and there was no cover on the boat!  We have had really nice weather earlier in the week but boy did it heat up for the weekend.  The tour was neat and I got to learn alot about Winter Park and it's wealthy residents!  I can't remember them all but we got to see the founders of Wal-Greens winter home, the founders of Sinclair Oils homes, and what they say was Mr. Rogers house!  Which means I live in his neighborhood...sort of.

We got to learn alot about Rollins College and there is even a little public beach on the lake that I might have to lay out at some time.  The boat tour was a great way to see some of the homes and attractions in Winter Park.  Then we headed over to the Morse Museum of Art which has the largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany's artwork.  He was brilliant.  Now, museums aren't really my thing but we had a wonderful lady that held a little tour and knew so much it made it interesting.  LC Tiffany is the son of the Tiffany & Co people so he had more money then he knew what to do with so he was able to use his creativeness and daddy's money to create amazing glass windows, jewelry, pots, and of course lamps!

I did get really hungry and tired at this point so we headed home for some lunch.  Our plan was to go to the Polasek Museum, but we ended up all taking a nap and it closed at 4 so we didn't make it.  Then we went to Mellow Mushroom for dinner and of course Jeremiah's for dessert.  We also drove around Winter Park for a little bit and did some exploring.  It was nice to spend a day with them, it has been a long time since I have been able to do that.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Kyle was out of town. We certainly missed him, but I enjoyed having them all to myself!  I'll always be a daddy's girl and it was nice to just hang out!

On Saturday we planned to spend the day in St. Augustine.  Since it is our nations oldest city, I knew my dad would love it.  We had such a great day!  We took the Old Town Trolley that took us everywhere, and you could get on and off at different stops and see an exhibit and then move on to the next one.  We saw the old jail, history museum,  the bridge of lions, Castillo de San Marcos Fort, the landing spot of Ponce de Leon, the oldest drug store, pirate museum, Flager College and Flager Memorial Church, San Sebastian Winery, and then headed to the beach to stick our feet in the water!  It was a busy day but we all learned a lot and go to see so much from our nations oldest city!  There are certainly a lot of stories there.  We were all exhausted when we got home, but my dad and I managed to stay up and watch the end of the Thunder / Mavs games, it was just like old times when we were roomies!

Dubbers and I got up this morning to take them to the airport.  These visits always go by way too fast and most people don't know that I always cry as I'm driving away after dropping people off at the airport.  It just never gets any easier.  But we dropped them off and my dad kissed my belly, which was really sweet.  This is one of two times he will get to see me pregnant with his grandson( oh yeah...I'm pregnant, not one for a big grand announcement).  They did buy baby payne some cute clothes and they are so tiny that I can't believe he will be that tiny.  and they are for a 3 month old. 

Thanks Dad and Marilyn for coming to visit us and our home!  I enjoyed getting to show you around and hang out for a couple of days!  They are coming back for Christmas, and planned on that before they knew we were pregnant.  So it will be nice to have them out there as we spend our first Christmas with our son!

March Madness

Well this year is going by super quick!  I can't believe it's already March!  We have a couple of anniversaries in our world in March so I figured I would share them with you. 

March 2, 2009 -  Kyle started his new job in Orlando and thus the birth of our blog.  I think I was more nervous for him than he was to start his new position.  I was still unpacking and getting the townhome in order and it took us some time to get everything put in it's place.  I can't believe he's been with his company for 2 years! And that we have lived in Orlando that long.  We have now lived in Orlando longer than we (as a married couple) lived in Tulsa...which was 1 year and 9 months.  Whether we are here for the rest of our lives or Orando is just a chapter in our life, it will certainly alwas have a special place in our hearts.  We really do love it here and can see us raising a family here and being here for a while.  Sorry to our family back home reading this!  I know you seceretly hoped we wouldnt fall in love with Florida, but we're on our way! 

March 7, 2004 - The night Kyle asked me to be his girlfriend after a date party!  I can still remember that night like it was yesterday.  and yes, he actually asked me to be his girlfriend which I thought was really sweet.  We've now been boyfriend / girlfriend for 7 years!  It's weird when you get married and you no longer acknoweldge your dating anniversary, but I still think it's important to recognize it!  You're dating years kinds of get erased when you get married, but they don't have to!  Since we started dating on the 7th and usually would do a little something on the 7th of every month, hense why we decided to get married on 7-7-07.  Made it pretty easy for both of us to remember!  We still say happy anniversary on the 7th of the month so it can serve as both our daing anniversary or our wedding anniversary.  So, happy 7 years dating and happy 3 years and 8 months as husband and wife.

March 24, 1983 - My birthday!!!  I realize that birthdays aren't nearly as exciting as they use to be and I'm pretty sure 28 will be just as uneventful as I imagine, but I'm okay with that.  It's still my birthday and I do still love getting birthday cards in the mail.  I don't need or want a thing, but I love displaying birthday cards on the mantel.  I ususally leave them up there for a couple weeks and they make me smile.  One of my earliest birthday memories was my birthday party at Chuch E Cheeses.  It must have been my 3rd or 4th birthday and I remember it because all I wanted was Ghostbusters stuff.  I got the Ghostbuster backpack thing and ghost detectors.  I have an Aunt who's birthday is March 23rd and she turned 20 the year I was born.  I remember I would only sit with her in the birthday chair and I can always remember the rainbow frosting on the Chuch E Cheese cakes.  Then a day after my 11th birthday she had my cousin, Tyler!  So we've always had 3 exciting days in March in our family. 

On my 7th birthay, I had come down with the chickenpox.  But the good thing about having a birthday in March is it usually falls around the time of Spring Break.  My mom had taken us to Corpus Christi and Austin to visit our family for Spring Break that year.  Sometime near the end of the trip I got the dreaded chicken pox, but I got to stay home for an entire extra week!  I thought I was so lucky. 

March 25, 2005 - And I can't forget the most important birthday in March, Alphonse Walter!  He will be 6 this year!  I can't believe it.  We've noticed that his little chin and face are getting some grey hairs and he's starting to look like an old man.  Now one of his feet has some grey hair on it!  He still loves to play ball like a young chap though. 

Happy March!  Have a great week!

Shoot Straight Sunday

Today I shot a handgun for the very first time in my life.  I am 27 years old and was scared out of my mind.  If you know me, you know I am very paranoid.  I carry pepper spray and am always planning an escape route in the event I'm in a dangerous situation.  (hint: don't ever surprise me, it could get ugly).   I realize it's a problem, I just can't help it.  I've never lived alone and if I do have to spend the night by myself I leave every light in the house on, put my keys and peppery spray on my night stand, have an alarm and a dog.  (I know he's not terrifying but at least he has super hearing skills).  Even though we do not have guns, I figured I better know how to use one in case one of these paranoid scenarios actually happened to me!  I want to know how to use one if I ever need to know.

We went to a place called Shoot Straight in Apokpa.  It is a chain of gun ranges and some mom took her son to one of them last year and ended up shooting her 15 year old son and then herself. I had this thought in the back of my mind the entire time we were there (are you surprised).  We went with a friend of ours, John, who owns a couple guns.  We first went to Wal Mart to pick up some ammo and headed to the range.  Going into the gun range area was pretty intense.  I've never really head a gun fire in person, except at track meets I guess, and 14 other people shooting a gun right around you makes you jump.  It was really loud even with the ear things on.  Every time someone shot I jumped.  I had to get that under control before they put a gun in my hand.  I had no idea how to load the bullets, turn on/off the safety, or push the other button on the left that made it ready to fire.  As soon as the boys did all that for me I just grabbed the gun, aimed, and shot.  The first time was more powerful than I expected, but it was fun.  My hands were so sweaty I kept having to stop to dry them off.  I was scared it would slip out of my hands and I would shot my own leg! 

Here is my target!  I thought I did pretty good considering it was my first time.  The target was probably 15 feet in front of me, but still I managed to hit it!  I was pretty proud of myself. 

I can't remember the kind of gun I shot and Kyle is outside installing a new antenna into the X-terra (don't ask), but I'm sure he could tell you.  Maybe a 22 or 9 something.  Anyway, at least now I know how to pull the trigger of a gun if I ever need to.  And I am pretty sure my right hand and forearm are going to be sore tomorrow!

I can't believe it is almost March!  Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Happy President's Day!

My boss kindly let me work from home today!  I've never had a job where working from home was possible, and it was nice to have a different environment to get some work done.  I had a couple of things to work on and would stop to eat some lunch and take AW outside, and I've enjoyed it!  It is beautiful outside today!  I might take AW for a walk in a little bit.  Kyle is out fishing with a friend.  He's not what I would call a fisherman per say, but hopefully he's having a good time and catching something! 

We had a pretty relaxing weekend for the 3rd weekend in a row but I'm not complaining.  We rarely get weekends like that so we are embracing it until the busy season begins.  Kyle got some tickets through work to attend the Special Olympics Gala at the Gaylord Palms on Saturday night and that was fun to get dressed up and go out!  The dinner and open bar were a great way to spend our Saturday night that would have otherwise been spent with pizza and a movie on the couch.  We did rent Winters Bone on Friday night, but I fell asleep as usual so I can't give you a review on it!  Kyle said it was okay.  I really want to go see Unknown, maybe we can hit up the movies this weekend.

We did start being a support couple at our church for the newly engaged couples wishing to get married at the church.  We completed a training session in November to be a FOCCUS couple, and if you got married in the Catholic church you know what I'm talking about.  The dreaded test that the catholic church makes you take.  But its not meant to be a pass fail system, just a tool to get couples to talk about issues that will come up before and during marriage.  I know Kyle and I by no means have the longevity or experience to tell some kids wanting to get married what it takes to make a marriage work, but I do think we have some experiences and a solid relationship to hopefully help some of them.  Then we got involved with the other marriage prep course - UNITAS.  This program is an 8 week program and we go on Wednesday nights and do some activities and help facilitate conversations at our table with our 2 engaged couples.  It is also a great way for us to get involved and meet other younger couples at our church.  So far we've really enjoyed it.  We got "assigned" our first FOCCUS couple and we get to meet with them 3 times for 2 hours each mono y mono sometime between now and their wedding in the fall.

Other than that we've got a pretty unproductive week, which I am also not complaining about!  I will try to find something interesting to blog about in the mean time I promise!  I am convince that AW honestly does not move from under the covers on the couch from the time we leave to the time we come home.  Such a rough life.

Where's Woof Woof?

I realized that since it has been awhile since I last blogged about sweet Laney Alice, you all are probably wanting an update or at least some pictures of the cutest little girl in the world!  Well here she is today on her 2nd Valentine's day and she couldn't be cuter!  Don't you just want to eat her up!  She looks so big in this picture and I hope the next time I see her she will still let me hold her for a little bit.  

I have always said that being called Aunt Angela is just going to be way too much for a little kid.  This is something I have been a little selfishly worried about since my sister first told me she was pregnant.  My moms name is Anita so all my cousins call her Aunt Nita and it seems to flow quite well.  However, Aunt Gela just doesn't have quite the same ring.  My other sister Amy has turned into may-me which also does the job and is really cute and easy for kids to say.  Me on the other hand, I'm afraid for what my name might be.

She finally said a closer version of Angela, Kyle and Dubbers that last time we skyped and it was wonderful!  But I don't want her to just call me Angela, not that I would mind, but I'd like some distinction as her pretty much favorite an aunt to that sweet little face.  Well Laney was interested in "Woof Woofs" very early on. At one point any thing that resembled an animal was a woof woof.  (she would even make a wfff wfff sound when she got really excited about them).  She once had a very close encounter with my sisters best friends dog and the dog pretty much licked the entire inside of Laney's mouth and she loved it.  So by time Laney was all of 15 months she came out to visit us and I knew her and our woof woof would be instant friends.  As soon as they walked in the door she started playing ball with him and a friendship was born.  AW really loves having little people his own size to pal around with and she would just laugh and giggle when AW would bring her his ball.  Those 2 could have played all day and night.  

When they left Laney gave AW an adorable goodbye kiss and they have missed each other every day since then.  Now when we skype, and it started very subtly at first, Laney asks me "where's woof woof".  It was sweet and easy to ignore for a while.  However, recently as soon as the skype (or facetime) is turned on she is instantly throwing her cute little arms up and throwing out here wrists and exclaiming "wheres woof woof??"  Sometimes is so loud and that is all she is saying I have a hard time talking to my sister, but I don't mind.  It is just so cute.  One time before she could even see me, she could only hear me and kept asking where's woof woof.  So now, I have to hold up AW and let her give him a kiss every time we skype.  She will get really close to the screen and give him a big ole kiss! 

I'm pretty sure you all know where this is going now.  I am now Aunt Woof Woof.  and you know what, I'll take it!  Since the day she was born I always said I want her to know who we are and be as close to us as she is with the rest of her family that luckily lives down the road.  And just knowing that she recognizes us - even if just as woof woofs parents- I will embrace it.  I got to facetime with her for a second tonight and she cheerfully asked where's woof woof, then out of no where she said "Where's Dubbers?"  Be. Still. My. Heart.  the cutest words that girl has ever said. and she says some pretty stinkin cute stuff.

And here is Laney with the "pretty" (bow in Laney jibberish) that we got her for Valentine's day.  Of course there's a cute little owl on it I just can't resist. 

I know one day she won't remember the cute things she said when she was little, but I fully intend on reminding her!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's day!  We love all of you!

Love,

Aunt woof woof, Uncle woof woof, and Mr. woof woo

Fridays just aren't what they use to be!

Well we are officially in for the night! Just thought everyone would love to know our hot valentines day weekend plans.  We went to dinner at 4 Rivers (just like we did last Friday night) but this time we decided to spice things up a bit and got a red velvet cupcake!!  Then we ran to the store mainly to get firewood and they were out!  It's getting down to the 40's tonight around here and people are preparing for "cold weather".  I love that the 40's is a cold front!  So we went down the road to another Publix (I could write an entire post on how much I love that grocery story chain...and I just might one day) and they were out too!  Off to Lowes we went for firewood.  We are finally home after what we thought would be a pretty inexpensive evening and didn't turn out that way.  Now we are going to cuddle on the couch with our fire roaring and snuggling dog to watch...2 horror movies.  Nothing says I love on Valentines weekend like 2 horror movies.  He's so thoughtful isn't he.  But after driving around town just to get me firewood (it's either that or turn on the heater in here god for bid) I realize it doesn't really matter what kind of movie it is I am going to fall asleep during it anyways!  I'm always afraid of holding a glass of red wine during scary movies because I usually jump and scream at some point and will for sure spill it somewhere.  So I have to just take a sip and put it back on the coffee table before things get out of control. 

We are venturing to Sea World tomorrow which is a park we haven't done since we moved here so we're pretty excited to see it.  The main reason we're going...Huey Lewis and the News are playing and Kyle has not to secretly always wanted to go see them.  I love when he plays the Huey Lewis and the News pandora station right before bed.  He just can't turn it off.  It's one great song after the other.  He will finally get to see them tomorrow! 

It was actually 2 years ago this very weekend that we flew to Orlando to find a place to live.  It's so funny to drive around now and remember how lost we were when we first moved here.  That seems like forever ago.  Here is us 2 years ago playing putt putt after we found our townhome! 

Hope everyone has a happy and wonderful Valetine's Day weekend!!!  We LOVE all of you so much! 


Love,
Us

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Angela's watching "The Good Wife". I hijacked the Blog. Hope all is well with everyone.

Signed- A.W.
(Via Kyle)