reuniting with Blink 182

Kyle and I are off to West Palm Beach to see Blink 182 (and Fall out Boy) in concert! We've both liked Blink since high school and were so excited when we found out they were going to be touring again. They are playing in WPB on Saturday or Tampa (which is only like an hour away) on Sunday but we figured we would drive down to West Palm and make a night out of it. Kyle's actually been in Tampa for "work" (staying at the Ritz and playing golf...) since Thursday and I can't wait for him to get home.

Funny little story about Blink - Kyle and I were actually both at their concert in Dallas in the Summer of 2001, right before we went off to OU. Of course we didn't know each other at the time but I thought it was kinda ironic when I found that out. That's the story. Lisney went to see them in Dallas on Wednesday and said the show is amazing. They play all old Blink stuff and Travis Barker does an amazing drum solo. I can not wait.

I hope everyone is enjoying Fall. The one thing people constantly told us when we moved here was that it will be weird to not have seasons and you'll miss it getting cold. I thought - well how weird can it be that it's sunny year round, and I highly doubt I'll miss layers of clothes, sleeping with a heater next to my bed, and really cold toilet seats. But they are kind of right. Hearing everyone back home say how cool it has gotten and how excited they are for Fall, it is really weird to think we just won't have one. I guess it cools down to the 80's and we don't get rain every day, but that's still not that Fall weather that I'm so use to. Kyle is actually a hugh fan of Fall and to him Fall weather = football. But I am sure we'll find a way to deal with it ;-) We talk about how fun it will be to go to OK for Thanksgiving and get to wear sweater and coats and gloves again. We hope it's really cold for Bedlam, because it will be the one time we get to break out our closets full of winter clothes for the year.

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday and weekend! OU isn't playing today but the rumor is Tim Tebow has the flu so hopefully they'll lose to Kentucky today!

Love

Us

just catching up!

We attended our first OU Sooner Club of Central Florida watch party on Saturday. While it was fun to watch the game with fellow Sooner fans, I'm not sure it's for us. Unless maybe we can recruit more OU fans in our area that are a bit closer to our age! It was fun, the people were nice, it's just not the same. But we will get to go to the Miami game in a couple weeks so that makes me really happy. Our friends Bill and Paige and Matt and Courtney are also coming in for the game so it will be a mini tailgating reunion. And the way things are going it looks like it might be a pretty dang good game. Hopefully Bradford will be back for this one.

We didn't do too much this weekend. I headed out Saturday night to a bar called Cowboys with some girls from work. It reminds me a lot of what I would think Caravan in Tulsa is like (I've never been there but it has to be similar). I was excited to wear my cowboy boots and do some line dancing but these people are crazy line dancers. They have a different dance for every song and I was a bit intimidated. There really are some cowboys in Orlando, you'd be surprised! After a shoe change...I couldn't wear boots downtown...we headed to some bars downtown. Kyle went and saw the Informant with Brannon and gave it 2 big fat thumbs down. Too bad because I thought it looked really funny and actually wanted to go see it.

Today we've been really lazy, and by lazy I mean we didn't even wake up until Noon! Grabbed some "mexican" food and laid out by the pool. Looking forward to watching the Cowboy game and Curb Your Enthusiasm. And we were introduced to a Menchie's last weekend. It's one of those new yogurt places that has a ton of flavors and a huge selection of toppings...rolos's, fruity pebbles, sprinkles, coconut, fruit. It's amazing and is my new favorite treat. Hoping the hubby takes me there for a sunday snack. ;-)

Also want to say Congratulations to David and Katherine who got engaged last week! We are thrilled for you guys. Hope you enjoy this time and all the fun of planning a wedding.

And Happy Birthday to my cousin Justin who turns 21 today!!! Sorry we aren't in Dallas to celebrate with you, but we'll have a drink or two next time we see you!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Have a great week!

Love

Me and Kyle

it's official...almost

It only took us 6 months that's not to bad right?! We've talked about needing to get new tags for the cars for a while now but it's just SO dang expensive. About a month ago we printed out the forms and figured out what we needed to do to go get the stupid things. First we had to change our insurance to a FL company, which took us about a month to finally do. And by us I totally mean Kyle. He likes to shop around, compare, find the best deal...I'm more of a sucker and just go with someone who will give me what I want. We ended up going with Geico (you'd have to ask Kyle why I have no idea) and the Mr. then went to tag agency and waited in line. He did have some funny stories from the tag agency place, it is always a great place to people watch. Anyway, after 30 minutes in line, making sure the girl got one with as many "7" 's in it as possible, and $440.00 check later...yes that Four hundred and Forty dollars...we have 1 Florida tag! Apparently, as if the whole process wasn't frustrating enough, the price of tags went up September 1st. Naturally. This is why we only got 1 tag. And I don't think I'll ever be ready to give up my OU tag.

Another fun fact about the great State of FL, you don't get to keep the tag to your car anymore until it's paid off. So we had to turn that over. We'll get it back when the car is paid off and we actually own the whole thing. So odd.

Here she is...

Little piece of advise if your job ever pays for your move...make sure to include things like tags and license plates, would be nice to get reimbursed for these babies. Oh well I guess we will always have them have a souvenir.

Almost totally legal Florida residents,

A and K

our long weekend in Texas

We got back yesterday from a really good weekend (besides the game) in Dallas.  We got to see mostly all of our family and a lot of friends too.  Friday morning we got up around ohhh 4 AM to get ready for the day and make out 7 AM flight.  We got to D-town around 10 AM and my sister Amy picked us up.  side note:  we were freaks with washing our hands and the hand sanitizer so no H1N1 is going to attack us!  We went to where else but El Norte for lunch with my dad and Marilyn.  We were borrowing my dad's car for the weekend which conveniently enough needed to have the inspection done (don't miss living in a state that has that).  So after we did that we stopped by Lisney's house then headed to downtown plano for some drinks with my mom.  Downtown Plano has really stepped up its game.  There are actually some fun restaurants and decent bars down there.  We even found a place that had Boulevard on tap...so we went there ;-)

Then we headed to Top Golf which is the most brilliant idea ever.  Stuart, Kyle's step brother, had told him about it and instantly Kyle wanted to go...so we did.  We ended up playing there for a couple of hours enjoying some golf, beer, friends, and family.  Kyle's mom, step-dad, other step-brother and his girlfriend drove in from Tulsa for the game and met us up there too!  We then headed to Uptown and quickly realized we were not going to make it much longer.  Being up since 4 had just about worn us out.  We managed to grab some dinner and drinks but headed home pretty early.  We went back to Plano to stay at Kristin's new oh-so-fabulous-house!  She just moved in last weekend and we were so honored to be her first house guest.  

 

I don't even think Saturday really happened.  Is the first game this weekend?  We live in denial around here.  No, okay, so the stadium is cool and all that however I would have taken our first home game in OUr own stadium over that.  We just hope that Sam Bradford gets better and didn't ruin his career by being a loyal Sooner (unlike a greedy Adrian Peterson).  We tailgated for most of the day and after the devastating loss we headed home.

We spent all day Sunday with Alyson,  Ryan, and miss Laney.  Kyle got to hold her for the first time and it was adorable.  I think it finally hit him that she is his first niece.  We just hung out at their house (maybe all took a nap when Laney did) and went to Chuy's for our last Mexican meal of the trip.  It was so wonderful to see her and I'm sad I won't get to see her for quite some time.

 

Monday morning we had breakfast with Kyle's dad and step mom (this completed seeing all 4 sets of parents thank you) and it was soon time to head out.  We got to spend some time with Laney in the car on the way to the airport too!

Now we're back home and just found out we won't even get to watch the OU game this weekend.  It's on PPV and even the bar that they have the Sooner watch parties at are not going to purchase it for us.  haha.  Gotta love Florida.  So it looks like we'll be listening to it on the computer.  But we are looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend at home.  

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!  

Love,

The Paynes

p.s. the opening game of the season will always be special win or lose because that is when Kyle proposed.  (3 years ago before the UAB game...yes we're obsessed)

Happy Birthday Leah!

(sorry i'm a day late with this one too.  Leah's bday is the 2nd, I wrote it out yesterday morning and forgot to post it until today!  sorry leah!)

I want to wish one of my very best friends, Leah, a very happy birthday!  Leah and I became friends pretty much the day we met (which I still remember was bedlam our senior year of college and Leah was coaching FH at holland hall).  Jeff, Leah's husband, and Kyle have been best friends since 7th grade so it's only fitting that Leah and I get along as well as we do.  She is a true Jersey girl living in Oklahoma.  She is a wonderful friend and is always there when I need her.  She tells it to you like it is and some of my funniest memories definitely include her!  I am sad we can't be there to go to dinner and celebrate her birthday with her but I do know she knows just how much we miss her and love her.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEAH!  I can't wait to celebrate your 30th in Vegas with you!!!  Hope you have a wonderful day!  We will see you in a couple months!  Love you girl!

love Angela, Kyle, and AW!

Paige actually married Bill!

Well they did it!  Bill and Paige got married last weekend and it was beautiful.  Bill and Kyle met freshman year at OU through Kappa Sig and have been great friends ever since.  They've made a couple trips to Bill's hometown...Chicago...and always have so much fun when they are together.  Kyle was a groomsmen in their wedding and we were so honored to get to celebrate their big day with them.  We flew into OKC on Thursday night and had a blast getting to catch up with them.  On Friday the boys went and played golf and I treated myself to a mani / pedi and a hair cut.  The rehearsal was at a beautiful place called Cole Gardens and then we went out on the town after that.  Guess who came into town to visit us...

Jeff and Leah!!!  It was so wonderful to see them.  Even though our time was short, we had a blast like we usually do.  They drove in from Tulsa for a couple of hours and it certainly meant the world to us to get to see them.  It would have been so hard being that close and not getting to.  Thank you guys again for making that drive, you really are the best of friends!  I might have cried a little (okay a lot) when they left but that felt harder than when we left Tulsa for good.  

On Saturday we went to Norman and ate at Bison Witches.  We just love that place.  It made us feel really old being on campus with all the young students there getting ready for school to start!  But it was fun to see campus and do some OU attire shopping.  Can't get anything OU around these parts.

The wedding was at Christ the King and the reception was at the Petroleum Club in downtown OKC.  It was a beautiful reception and of course extremely fun!  

you may now kiss the bride!

Mr. and Mrs. William Ross in the limo!

Kyle and Paige

Me and Bill

We also got to spend the weekend with these crazy kids...

love and miss you guys!  thanks for driving us around all weekend! Can't wait to see you in Miami! 

Kappa Sig sweetheart song

and of course it's always good to see this guy

This was our first trip back to OK since we left and it was quite emotional for me!  But as good as it was to be surrounded by so many wonderful friends it was great to get back home to Orlando and see A.W.  

Congratulations to Bill and Paige!  You two truly are a match made in heaven!  Can't wait to see you on the last leg of your honeymoon at the Miami game!  only bill!  

Love,

Angela and Kyle

p.s. for everyone that made a comment about kyle's hair being "so long" you really got to him.  So he went and got it trimmed up a bit yesterday.  It's still longer than his normal do - but with a little bit of shag to it...just neater.  i'll try and post a pic soon.  Otherwise we will see most of you in Dallas next weekend for the first OU game of the season!!!!!

The Paynes in the Big Apple!

Two weeks ago we went to NYC for a mini vacation!  It was a lot of fun to go up there and spend time time with friends and just hang out!  And the flight from Orlando wasn't too bad.

Shannon, me, and Chris on the subway.

I also met up with a dear friend that I hadn't seen in 15 years.  Katie moved away from Plano in 5th grade and we kept in touch via letters for years.  She also went to OU (Ohio University) and was a Chi-O.  It was wonderful to see her after so many years!

Friday morning we got up super early and went to the Today show to see Kings of Leon!!  It was raining and we were exhausted but it was so worth it.  PJ got us tickets to stand right next to the stage and it was an awesome experience.  We got to see them warm up and practice for a while before the show started.  The rain finally stopped, although we were already soaked, for them to perform.  I asked Nacho their roadie/ guitar tech to take a picture of the OU helmet that they have on their drum set for me!  and he kindly obliged.  

After the concert we walked around for a little bit, grabbed lunch with Chris and PJ, tried to do a little shopping, then met up with Kyle's friend from high school Adam and Shannon.

Friday night we got soaked again at the Mets game.  Our friends Adam and Shannon went to the game with us.  The new stadium is really nice but I was so ready to get home and in some dry clothes finally.  

Saturday we went and ate breakfast and a wonderful little diner called the Kitchenette!  They have the best coffee. Then we took a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.  It runs like every 30 minutes, is free, and gives you a great view of lady lib and the NYC skyline.  We just rode it across and came right back.  We walked around some more and went to Washington Square and then to Central Park.  It was so nice to walk around Central Park and just relax.  It was a beautiful Saturday in the park...if only it was the 4th of July.  We also saw two weddings and a proposal on a gondola ride.  Kyle played a little football, shannon built a twig city, and I enjoyed sitting with my toes in the grass!!

Saturday night we went to PJ's place and rocked out on Rock Band.  We played for quite a while and enjoyed some Sweet tea vodka and lemonade.  Which if you haven't tried yet you must!   Then we headed to Shannon's fav karaoke bar which surprisingly was really fun!

Sunday was another rainy day and we just went to brunch at a wonderful place called hundred acres and Kyle, Chris, and I went and saw Hair...a broadway show.  It was okay.  nothing spectacular but we wanted to see a show this time around.  And we headed home on Monday.  We did some shopping but weren't able to find much this time around.  Oh well...maybe next time New York.

We are off to OKC on Thursday for the marriage of Bill and Paige.  This will be our first time back to OK since we moved almost 6 months ago.  Can not wait to see all our friends but most importantly we're looking forward to Bison Witches ;-)

Hope everyone is doing well!  We love and miss you all!  

p.s. hotel payne is now taking reservations for 2010...any visitors welcome!