Counting down to the big 2.9.

I have been super MIA.  Today officially started my birthday week! In the process, I have been gearing up for the big 2-9 by having lots of fun :)

This past Sunday, a few friends and I took a little road trip to Grand Junction for the final day of Country Jam!  The show was amazing!  I heard over 80,000 people attended.  I don't doubt it, it was packed! Then last night, we went to Keane with some friends.  It was awesome!  I loved seeing them and was thoroughly impressed!  Tomorrow we are going to see my favorite band... The Avett Brothers!  I can't even tell you how excited I am!  Last time we saw them, it was at the same outdoor venue.... only it was pouring and freezing!  I am thrilled to see them tomorrow in the warm weather :)   Not to mention, they just announced their new album will be released September 11th!  Oh the anticipation.

Friday and Saturday, my husband is playing some shows in SLC.  So it is definitely a jam packed weekend.

With that being said, I seriously can't believe it's almost my birthday!  What?!  Where did the time go? I swear it doesn't feel much like summer... let alone, almost the 4th of July!  Crazy!

Speaking of July ... I haven't mentioned it much but I am on the planning committee for our 10 Year High School Reunion.  I feel in many ways that Facebook has ruined the whole Reunion idea.  We all know exactly what everyone is doing, what they look like, who they married and where they're living.  No Surprises.  No Anticipation.  It makes planning the reunion difficult and anti-climatic.  Don't get me wrong, we are going to have a fabulous time!  But it's just a different thing then it was pre-Facebook. 

It's only a couple weeks away so I spent the last hour scanning photos for the slide show (while also participating in our weekly call).  I can't help but share some here.  I can't believe it's been 10 years! Crazy.

Juniors - Christmas Dance

Juniors - my favorite ladies

Seniors - Cheer & Pom

Cheer Float in Parade

Seniors - Football / Cheer Car-wash

Seniors - Cheer & Pom

Senior Class Officers

My favorite ladies

Senior Skit

Senior Skit

Graduation

Graduation Trip - Cancun

 I think the reunion will also be a good place to honor the 3 friends that have passed away over the years.  I couldn't help but get a little teary at the photos of these 2:

JT - Senior Prom

Todd (on Right) - Football game

Todd, JT and boys at my parents for Christmas Dance Freshman Year

Here is to the next week - My Birthday Week!  And to the upcoming Reunion... it will be epic :)

Coffee Games

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook but I am unsure where she got it.  Either way, I laughed out loud when I read it.   Wish I had the guts to do this :)

Epic :)

E-town: The Emerald City

I tend to brag about Salt Lake.  True Story.  I love it here.... took me a while to go from hate to love, but man-oh-man I adore Salt Lake!  With that being said, I wanted to give my hometown some love.  I saw this video on facebook and seriously got teary-eyed. 

I love my hometown and have enjoyed seeing it grow and mature from the days when my high school was surrounded by sheep farms.  It has blossomed and I love getting to see all the changes each time I visit. 

Over the past 2 years I made friends in Salt Lake who are also Okie transplants.  When someone asks me what town I'm from, they pipe in and say "The Emerald City" ... I was shocked the first time I heard this.  But the people who ask don't even have to get an explanation!  It's as if this was a secret nickname for my town that I never knew!  It was definitely its own little bubble. But I loved that growing up.  

And if you watch really closely, you can see a gymnastics statue behind the Edmond Library.  Fun Fact: That statue is actually my body.  I had to pose for the sculptor back a long time ago.  (It was also one of the first things my mom took J to see when he came to visit... she is a proud momma!) :)

So without further ado....


Relocate Edmond! from Insight Visual Media Productions on Vimeo.

Okie Shower

I have been super MIA, I know.  I have been traveling for work and playing catch up in-between.  But I wanted to take a minute to recap my cousin's baby shower that I helped host earlier this month.  I haven't been to an Oklahoma shower since my sister's 4 years ago so it was fun being able to help out with my cousin's.  Since I have a call in a bit, I am just going to recap with photos.  :)

The dress makes me look like I'm pregnant but I swear I'm not

My Mom :)

My Sis :)

My Cousin J

Thrice

Thursday night, J and I went to see Thrice at In the Venue.  It was incredible.  Incredible.  I have never seen In the Venue as packed as it was last night.  They usually have one bar and the upstairs balcony is usually pleasantly spacious.  Not last night.  3 bars!  Yes, THREE!  And barely any room to move ... in the entire venue! People packed the balcony in rows three deep.  The outside "smoking area" had the other 2 bars and was shoulder to shoulder.  We ended up watching the show from underneath the stairs.

This was the third time I have seen Thrice and my goodness.... they are amazing.  I loved being there.  I couldn't see much because of the barricade and our location, but it didn't even matter.  The show was worth it just from seeing the enthusiasm from the crowd.  People swaying and singing and dancing and just admiring..... This is their Farewell Tour so I am honored I was able to see them.

If you have not checked them out yet, you should!  Here are a couple videos just to get you started :)

and of course ....

Proud Aunt M

This past weekend I flew home to help host for my cousin's baby shower.  (I will post on that later) ... I was only home for about 28 hours so it definitely was the quickest Oklahoma visit I've ever had.

My favorite part of the trip was spending all 28 hours with my family.  My cute little niece just turned 4 and is a total hoot!  And of course being the aunt I am, I wanted to brag about her for a minute :)

Last fall she became slowly obsessed with Phantom of the Opera.  True Story.  To the point that her birthday party in March was a masquerade party.  She has always been a little singer but now she likes to break out her favorite Phantom song...

She kept refusing to do it on video but I finally convinced her that Uncle J was sad he was missing her performance... thus ....

Adorable, right?!  I kind of love it because J's sister actually played Christine on Broadway for many years.  (I married into quite the musical family)   :)   Phantom is leaving Vegas this fall so my sis and bro-in-law are going to try to take her before that happens. 

The rest of the evening consisted of my niece showing me all of her new tricks.  She ADORES swimming!  As in, swims almost every day!  Her favorite trick is her front flip and her "mermaid tail" ... but she is just learning how to dive and seems to be enjoying that too ...

I took this with my phone and can't figure out how to flip it... so you have to watch it sideways... oops... but here is her "big scoops" ....

She is so much fun to be around and I really wish I got to see her more often.  I will get to hang out with her again in July so looking forward to seeing her again so soon! :)