Add on to #6 and #19; starting #22 and #97; done with #57!

Writing this entry excites me, because I feel like I'm actually accomplishing stuff. :)

We'll start with No. 6...J and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings on Friday night for wings and basketball. Some people may not consider that a date night, but that was definitely a date night for us [and the perfect one for two wings-lovin', basketball-watchin' people]. Our server was someone that used to live in Stout with me...such a small world! Next weekend, H and I will do a Valentine's Day lunch somewhere and exchange gifts. Still not sure what I'm going to get him...probably something small since our anniversary, birthdays and Vegas trip are quickly approaching.

I added three more books to JJ's book collection. My mom bought three Mary Engelbreit [of course] Mother Goose books from Sam's today that JJ absolutely loves. She started reading them to him in the store, and he was totally into them. He really loves being read to, which is awesome. He doesn't sit still all the time when I read to him, but we do try to read a book every night before he goes to bed.

No. 22 will be coming around at the end of the month. Alicia and I are going to a Thunder game for Girls' Night Out! We have seats in the 200s, get maragrita glasses, will have a group photo after the game AND get a chance to meet a Thunder player. I'm really curious as to who this player will be...I'm super excited about it. I haven't been to a Thunder game in weeks, and now that Alicia's moved out of Stillwater, I don't see her as much. It'll be nice to do this.

I also started no. 97, which is to add comments to other people's blogs. I actually started this one a few days ago and forgot to mention it. AND, I got to cross off no. 57, which was to advance at my job...now that I've moved on to bigger and better things, I feel like I can cross it off the list. So thrilled! I've also written in my personal journal for three days in a row [that's big for me, considering I usually leave big gaps in between my entries] and added more to my freerice.com entry.

Things have been a little crazy lately on our end...JJ's been really sick, which has sucked. We were snowed in last week, and while we were there, he developed a bad cough and cold. At one point, he had a 104 fever, and I was freaking out. I took him to the doc on Monday, and they gave him cough medicine...but didn't say if he had anything else. I'm pretty sure he had the flu, but he was never tested. He also developed pink eye in both eyes AND a double ear infection [not nearly as bad now that he has tubes though]...it's been a rough month for him. He's finally getting better and is almost back to his old self - walking, babbling and eating. It's so nice to see my little boy back to himself [almost], because for a couple of days, I was really worried about him. He's well just in time, too...looks like we're under a winter storm watch for Monday. Joy.

We came home this weekend, and there are trees EVERYWHERE. Lawton got hit by a pretty bad ice storm at the same time we got snowed in, and it's ridiculous how many fallen trees and branches are hanging out by the road. My neighbor cut their tree down...so weird to be able to see straight down the block from their house; that tree's been there since we moved onto the block.

We got our taxes done last week [well, i did them]...so glad that's out of the way. Now, we have to start paying down on the cards and finishing the planning for the Vegas trip, and we'll be good to go. I'm so stoked about Vegas, but I think I'm planning myself out. I need to lay off on it before I wear my brain out. I'm trying really hard to prepare ahead as much as possible though...the last time we were there, we winged it. This time, I want to know that we've got things to do so we can actually get out there.

The Super Bowl is later on today. I'm cheering for the Colts, but I wouldn't be upset if the Saints won. They've been through so much the past few years that this is their moment. It's incredible how alive that town is now that the Saints are going to the Super Bowl. I'll definitely be ready to watch and am excited for the outcome. I'm also looking forward to the commercials...they should be good this year.

That's all I've got for now...I should join my husband in bed, since he's already been knocked out for an hour. More later!

Out with the old.

I would like to note that tomorrow is the last day of January. We're already one month into 2010. Before we know it, it'll be the holidays again. Sheesh. How in the world does time fly by so fast?!

So a couple of entries ago, I mentioned that I was starting a new job in a couple of weeks. Well...trim that couple by one week. This past Monday, I started in the Honors College, and I've loved every freaking moment of it. I feel like I have my life back. I'm not worried about anything anymore. My travel schedule is down to zero. Don't get me wrong...I loved being a recruiter. It was so great to work with the students and parents. But being an academic counselor has been one of the things I've always wanted to do, and I really like where I am. My office is freaking sweet, too. :)

My last day at work ended up being on the same day as another co-worker's last day, and one of our tour guides made this freaking sweet cake so we could all wish us well on our new adventures elsewhere. The party was a blast:

Here's the cake. Three tiers...almost looks like a wedding cake. Bottom layer was white cake; middle was chocolate; top was strawberry. ALL delicious.

Shelby and I cutting into the cakes.

So I guess the party was also supposed to be a dance party, and one of our tour guides made himself a tailfeather. :P

I'm definitely going to miss our tour guides and everyone I worked with...but the great thing about still being on campus is that I still see them all the time. I saw them last week, matter of fact. Twice. :)

My first week there was cut short thanks to another storm that moved in. I'm so thrilled the weatherman was actually wrong about how bad it would hit Stillwater...my parents got hit pretty bad [didn't lose power for too long though, thank goodness], but we were totally safe here. I actually overprepared for once, and JJ and I weathered the storm just fine. I'm hoping we can get out of here tomorrow though, because we've been stuck inside since Thursday afternoon and are going a little stir crazy. There's only so many ways you can entertain a nearly 14-month-old active baby boy before you HAVE to get out. I wasn't brave enough to try the roads today, but I think we'll be OK tomorrow.

So, I'm really starting to get into this whole Vegas trip thing. I've booked dinners, am trying to figure out what kind of spa treatment I want, and I'm just throwing myself into this. I'm hoping that pre-planning will help us make the most of this trip and guarantee that we won't get bored. I also want to learn poker, so I'm trying to find casinos that have free poker lessons and working that into our schedule. I found TripIt.com, which is helping me plan our days out. Love.It.

I'm getting better at this whole cooking thing. Now that JJ can eat table food, I'm forcing myself to cook more and am more willing to experiment with things. I'm not that great at dinner planning yet, but I'm getting there. With February just around the corner, I've got to plan my meals out, figure out which recipes I want to try and stick with them. The main goal is to make meals that I can put together fast - JJ usually eats by 6:30, which leaves me less than an hour from the time we get home to have dinner ready. It's creating a unique challenge, but we're getting better at it.

Time for bed. Back to the list later.

Oh. Ending note. I FINALLY legally changed my last name. Only took nine months, but I did it. I finally feel married. Legally.