What to do with your old pictures:

It's that time again! A few months back I posted this and this about my family's awkward photos. I've been digging through the box of pictures again and found these little beauties:

Russ was so shocked to have his picture taken as he came out of the bathroom that his hair immediately poofed into an afro.

Orange County, California's version of "The Shining"

"Come play with us Danny, forever and ever and ever....."

What are you guys talking about!? A speedo IS the only way to run a tri-atholon!

(editor's note: Dad is NOT wearing the speedo)

My mom is yelling: " Yay! I'm in a line, and my outfit is FABULOUS!!"

Being the youngest had it's advantages, a disadvantage? Your bed was a storage tub.

"No Jessica!! You cannot add "200 cases of beer to my shopping list AGAIN! 

....I was totally tricked last time!"

The wine was no match for Aunt Heather's 'magic hands of wonder'

The bright sun caused Grandma temporary blindness and instead of aiming and shooting the fake deer, she shot a bald eagle....

Be ye warned...

 Facebook and I go way back. Like wayyyy back. Like, I got it in 2005 and have been addicted ever since. Chris used to have an account too, but quickly became disinterested which is a good thing because I probably would have spent my time stalking him rather than go to class.

Facebook is more involved than it was back in the stone age of 2005. For instance, you couldn't even tag pictures until 2009; this means there are pictures floating around from 2005 that aren't tagged and I MIGHT not even know they exist (or haven't seen in years)! This idea excited and terrified me. What pictures of myself or Chris are out there in the great internet facebook land!?

Well this one, of Chris and one of his best friends from college, for starters:

Yes, that is his real beard, and not extensions.

or this one of Chris and I:

and this one at my niece's birthday party:

Nice hat, Aunt Jess!!

Here's me and Christian being our weird sibling selves:

Why am I holding a pizza crust and pointing at the camera like a gun?

Who knows?! This is from 2006 ya know!

I found some really fun ones like this one of Chris getting a tattoo drawn on his bulging bicep:

 I can't tell you how grateful I am this is marker. 

I just don't know if Chris' student's would react positively!

So go ahead, take a look around your friend's photo albums. 

You may find something sweet:

 Hi mother-in-law! I found pictures I'd never seen in your albums too...don't worry, I'll tag them! 

or something really embarrassing silly:

But be forewarned: finding pictures you've never seen cause some deep burning questions. 

The main one being:

What the heck were we doing?!?

Happy photo hunting!

Let's party

In my early to mid-twenties (not that long ago!), the majority of my friends were getting married. Chris and I traveled far and wide to attend their glorious weddings. I love weddings, well....let me be frank:  I actually love the receptions. When we got married, I felt like I was always arguing: "Yeah, I get the ceremony is important and all that, but the reception! Now that's where we want to spend the most money!"

 I think the ceremony part of a wedding is an intimate moment between the two people standing together at the alter. It makes me itchy to think of all the people staring as you say such sacred words to your beloved, and on top of that, watching you kiss the first kiss as a married couple! But it's all worth it because after that comes the absolute best part: the reception. It means you get to hang out with your friends, drink cocktails, dance and eat some form of cake. It seems that as I get older the wedding invitations became more and more sparse. So when I had a chance to fly to South Dakota last weekend to celebrate at just a wedding reception,  I jumped at the chance. 

Bill and Kyle have been together for about five years, and eloped in Iowa back in May. 

They had their reception in their hometown, Mitchell, South Dakota. It was perfect:

First of all, I should mention that Mitchell is home to the "Corn Palace". 

I insisted we take a picture on the way to our destination: 

 Ta-da!

The entire outside of this building is covered in corn husks making an amazing corn mosaic!

The reception was near a lake. The weather cooperated wonderfully, and shade from the trees and breeze off the lake, instantly had us relaxed:

Friends gathered to talk, 

and eat:

  

The bruschetta was so delicious that at one point we sent someone back inside to get "community bruschetta" 

A plate almost over flowing with tomato goodness and piled high with bread. 

Of course large amounts of wine were consumed:

But we managed to stay classy, and represent Missouri with pride.

Work it!

 By the way, Lesley, every article of clothing you buy, from this moment forward, needs to be 

that fantastic shade of hot pink. Love it. 

Speeches were given, toasting the couple: 

Hi Ryan, lovely speech!

 I loved the simple elegance of these wild flowers in mason jars, the flowers covered the hillsides of South Dakota, making it look like a fake picture:

   Cork screws were the party favors. I loved mine, but quickly realized I didn't want to be tackled by a TSA agent for trying to carry it onto a plane, and begrudgingly had to leave it behind.

Billy, Kyle, and Me. 

I should add that Chris and I left our house Saturday morning at 4:30 AM to catch my 7:05 flight. Then the very next day, Sunday, I caught a 1:10 PM flight home with a 4 hour lay-over in the Minneapolis, Minnesota airport. If you would like to know the best places to get a quick bite, sneak in a nap or buy some starbucks in the Minneapolis airport, I'm your girl. I did manage to land safely back in Tulsa Sunday night, but exhausted.

However, I shouldn't complain too much because if I hadn't been on the exact flight I was on (heading to my four hour layover in Minnesota),  I would have never got to see this beauty of a hair-style:

You stay classy South Dakota!

3 reasons Chris teaches: June, July and August.

The following are some of my favorite photos from Summer 2012. 

More than a few pictures have been run through the 'Instagram' app, but I can't help it..

....I love they way they look:

A sunset cruise on The Lake.

Christian, after watching a baseball game, dunking his hot head in a cooler full of ice water. 

Chris and his mom after lunch. I love the mustache.

No, really! I do:

I think I should entitle this portrait: "American Badass"

A fun, festive, family photo of Betty, Layla and me. Clearly we're ready for a great weekend! 

On our way to the lake in Andrew's jeep.

Amber and I at Jordan's Birthday party. 

Johnny and Chris having an intense back porch conversation. 

You would actually be surprised to know what they were talking about at this moment.

Andrew looking like a big kid.....cut your hair already, dude!

Jana taking her role as an "Apples to Apples" judge VERY seriously.

Chris and I lounging in the Dominican Republic.

And finally, a picture that tells me I'm old and summer is officially over, all in one:

dropping Andrew off in his dorms for his first year of college. 

Bring on Fall!

I'm still recovering....

Every once in awhile something special happens in the United States: a 3-day weekend . When we are blessed with a 3-day weekend it's usually something to celebrate, this time it was MEMORIAL DAY.

I always think it's interesting when people don't live near an ocean they find any body of water they can play in, whether it's a river...lake....pond...stream..pool...canal....moat...you get the idea. My family? We go to the lake. We've been going to Grand Lake in Oklahoma for so long, we consider it OUR lake. I just say: We're going to the THE lake and expect people to know which lake I'm talking about (duh). So last weekend, in addition to remembering and honoring our veterans, we invited our friends to THE LAKE and had ourselves a damn good time.

Since we had SO many people spending their weekend with us, we had to bust out the air mattresses. Lesley and Blake graciously agreed to "air-mattress-sleep" the first night. Ten points to Gryffindor if you can spot Betty....hint: she looks like an alien that about to shoot lasers out of her eyes.

The next morning, breakfast was made. In my opinion, as a master chef, the easier the better. Chris wanted to have an omelet bar, waffles, eggs benedict, pancakes and mimosas- although that would have been amazing-I said no. We made homemade McMuffins, and they were much appreciated:

You are going to start noticing a pattern: Every picture I take of my two closest friends,  Lesley is masterfully posed and Jana is... posed in her own special way--she was obviously REALLY excited about homemade McMuffins!

Chris ate his the fastest because he really wanted to be here and breakfast was just getting in the way:

This is the new boat my hard working dad just bought. We haven't named it yet. My brother Christian wants to name it 'The Duke' but I think she looks more like a girl, don't you? Wouldn't Sandy the Suncruiser be a PERFECT boat name (say yes so I can win the boat naming war).

When everyone was done stuffing their faces with breakfast, we loaded the boat and were ready for our voyage.....

These two lovebirds could have cared LESS if we were loading or unloading for a great adventure on THE lake...they were just happy to be together.

My dad is an expert at loading the boat into the water, no big deal:

ANNNND WE'RE OFF!

Jana promoted herself to honorary first-mate.

After driving to "our spot" on "our lake" we dropped anchor, rode the jet skis, 

and floated to our heart's content. 

What does that mean?

PARTY TIME

 

Who knows which boy I'm bossing around here....dad is just glad it's not him.

I would just like to point out that a lot of beverages were consumed, and there was not ONE time anyone asked to be taken back to the house for a bathroom break....

After hours of relaxing and floating, it was time to head back to the house for dinner. 

Christian beat us there and was really ready to eat.

"Ummm could you guys PLEASE hurry up? I'm needing some bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos right about now!"

I think we could have all just hung out on the boat all evening...

but we knew there were S'mores waiting for us that night:

The bonfire was so hot Jana had to go to extreme measures to roast her marshmallows, but she is fearless and showed all the boys how to do it properly. 

Lesley is saying: I'm not sure why there is no S'more in my hand!

There was even a 'meeting of the minds' on the back porch with deep philosophical questions being asked, like: "What will it take for Kobe to win a championship next year?"

After we solved the world's problems and made ourselves sick with S'mores, it was time for bed. 

The next morning we all woke up...

....and argued over who had the best time and who was most tired.

 But I think Jana may have demonstrated how we all felt the best: