TRIPLE Birthday!

Two of the most important people in my life are celebrating their birthdays today! And another important person (also one of the most important people in my life)celebrated his birthday 15 days ago and I am a bad sister in law and didn't post!

How fabulous is it that my mother was able to have her first and ONLY son on her birthday a quarter of a century ago!! What a great birthday present! So...I'm going to go in order...Oldest first:

Momma....You are the sunshine to our days. When things have been bad, you have made them better. I can't thank you enough for always being there for our family. I am truly blessed to have you for a mother. You've taught me so many life lessons and I admire you more than anything. Your strength and guidance have made me who I am today. Thank you for being the mother that you are....I love you

Preston....
I couldn't have been blessed with a better brother in law. You have always stuck by my side through everything! Walt was so right to choose you as his best man. You are truly a wonderful brother and a fabulous friend. Thank you so much for everything that you have done for me...I love you more than words can say!

Spencer.....
I've loved every minute of having you for a brother! We have shared secrets, bedrooms, clothes (yes clothes) and even chores! I'm lucky because you are so close in age to me, so I feel I had a big brother and a little brother. You've talked me out of dating certain people and encouraged me to follow my dreams. I'm blessed to have you in my life. I love you!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

OU vs. OSU

Football season is here...and living in Oklahoma is hard. I'm a Baylor fan and while I know that Baylor is not the best at football, we are great at tons of other things. But... while I am on the subject of OU and OSU football....Walt brought to my attention today something that was said during one of my classes the first year I was teaching in Oklahoma.
I had forgotten about this...but now that he mentioned it to me.... I knew I had to blog about it.
My 3rd grade class in Owasso was in the library and the librarian....whom I LOVE very much was so proud of the way they had acted during her lesson she wanted the kids to stand up and do a "celebration." Obviously this was a celebration that they had done before because they were excited about it....it went a little something like this...
OU are great! (imagine your arms making an "O" and a "U")
OSU are! (arms making an "O" "S" and "U")
I just about threw up in my mouth when she said this.... and to this day when I think about it, I almost throw up... this is one of the many joys of living in Oklahoma... GO BAYLOR! ha!

CAN'T WAIT!!

Friday Night=Stud Saturday Night=Dud

This weekend I drove to Tejas for so much needed mother/sister bonding time. I spent the night at my sweet friend Emily's house Thursday night, so that Gracie and I could leave right after school on Friday. This way I wouldn't have to back track to Owasso. I ended up making it to Dallas around 7:45. Poco and I then went and ate at Mattito's, and I proceeded to order a Rumba Rita... now this wouldn't normally be a big deal, but considering the fact that I eat lunch at school, (excuse me, I should call it brunch) at 10:46... I was a little food deprived. Well, halfway through dinner I decided that I definitely needed another one. Goodness were they yummy!

After dinner Poco and I met up with some of her friends and went to Uptown Bar and Pub and then finished the night at The Loon. I consider myself a HUGE trooper for staying out until the bartenders turned on all the lights and told us it was time to leave. We got home around 2:15ish...and for me to stay out that late on any night, much less a Friday night was a huge accomplishment.

Saturday I got up and went to work with Poco (correction, Poco got up and then about 2 hours later, I drove my tired butt out there) While I was getting ready I realized that I could not find my keys anywhere. Turns out when I was getting my wallet out on Friday night, my keys, ipod and my keys to the school slipped out of my purse. Thank goodness that my description fit the keys that the nice employees picked up. My mother came over to Poco's and we then went to NorthPark to go shopping. Of course with my mother you spend ALL DAY at the mall, and walk away with nothing. My mother is the type of shopper who finds all these really cute clothes, puts them on hold, and then once we walk out of the mall she then proceeds to say something like, "Oh goodness, I really wish I would have gotten that shirt. Hey, I think those pants would have been really cute, should I go back and get them? Nah... it's ok... Ill get them another time." I love her to death, but she can't make a decision for the life of her... and unfortunately, this has rubbed off on me! We then came home and watched the UT/Rice game, ordered pizza and I was soundly drifting off to sleep around 10:30. Obviously I can no longer hang.... if I stay out late one night, the next night is shot.

Sunday morning me, mom and Poco went to Highland Park United Methodist Church...after church we went to eat at Mi Cocina. As we were walking out Poco said to us, "Gosh, I feel like everyone is staring at me." Come to find out they were.... Poco had on a gold dress... and she had on one black patent shoe, and one gold one. My mom thought people were staring because her daughter's were so beautiful (such a proud mom thing to say)but in all reality it was because Poco looked like an idiot!

I had such a fabulous weekend. I love spending time with my family and when I go to visit mom and Poco they always think of all the right things to do to make me miss Dallas even more!

Me and Poco

I always have to have a pic like this!

SISTERS!

All the girls

Oh towards the end of the night... laughing about something we were discussing

Current Faves

Nothing new to report around the Bass household here. Gracie and I spent a very relaxing weekend around the house. We got up on Saturday and Sunday and went for a nice run, although today's run was much, much nicer... that cool weather is upon us! I stayed in Friday-Sunday...except for 2 brief outings...one to watch one of my student's play football and the 2nd outing was to get my hair did. I've cleaned, cooked, folded laundry and graded over 4 hours worth of papers. I've watched The Wedding Date, Failure to Launch, Wedding Crashers and the entire Second Season of Sex in the City. I needed a weekend like this....just chillaxing. However, while I was doing all this stuff around the house I stumbled upon some current faves of mine that I feel need a shout out:

I bought these at the grocery store Friday...yes, I've had them before and they are rather addicting...not the greatest food for you...but OH SO GOOD! Totally made my weekend!

I've been making a batch of black bean soup every Sunday since school started. I take this batch to work with me all week as my lunch. I've also become addicted to this. It is very healthy 150 calories in one cup and very satisfying. I bought this cardigan from jcrew in August and it is the most fabulous cardigan I own. Comfortable, adorable and something that every teacher needs. In fact, this is the cardigan I am wearing for picture day on Thursday!

I love the way that autumn smells. I am obsessed with it actually. So, when febreze came out with a limited edition scent called pumpkin harvest and fall, I bought two bottles and two air fresheners! I have one of each at the house and one at school. I spray constantly at school and the kids love the smell. I love spraying at home and looking at my fall decorations....it makes me feel like fall is already here. (any of you parents that read my blog... if you would like to donate a bottle...feel free! haha STEPHANIE! love you!!)

Another fave is the Christian Radio Station Air 1. I listen to it in the morning on the way to school and it just puts me in a better mood. I also like to look at their verse of the day in the mornings. This radio station is also great because it is on satellite, which means NO COMMERCIALS! Here is the verse for today:

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Galatians 6:9 NLT

My last thing on the list are the ponds clean sweep cleansing and make-up removing towelettes. I LOVE these things! I use them on my face before I go work out and after and when I need to remove make up. If I use this first and then wash my face I find that nothing is left on my face. These are little miracles!

*this post was done specifically for Katie... you know why...I had to post about all the great things in my life...just to get back at what you said! I LOVE YOU nokasheekalochaleeka!!

Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike has affected (effected?) my family in more ways than most people realize. Sure, I am a Texan...born and raised, and I will NEVER ever claim to be anything but that.......but I am also a beach bum. My mother was raised in Beaumont, Texas, a city that is about 90 miles away from Houston. She would spend her weekends and summers on the beach, and thank goodness she instilled the love of the ocean in all four of her children.

I remember every summer we would go to Crystal Beach, TX for two weeks. We would pack up our cars and make the 5 hour drive to the Texas coast line. We would wake up at the butt crack of dawn and get out on the beach... stay out there until about 12, go in for an hour and make lunch, then go back out at 1 and stay out until 5:30-6...it was the life. I am being honest when I say many people thought we were crazy... why drive 5 hours to the Texas coast line...when you could drive just a little bit further and enjoy the Florida coastline. Why?, because we had history there. We grew up with my mom's best friend's children, we created friendships with these families that will last a lifetime. My mother knew people that had beach houses there, we had the exact same beach house for more than 10 years, and this.....this place became our summer home. Every summer we experienced a new and exciting adventure....whether it was traveling to Galveston to shop on The Strand, hanging out at our beach cabin playing rummy all day because it was raining, or driving my dad's truck at 14 up and down the Crystal Beach Zoo...it didn't matter. This was our vacation....our time to be away from the drama of living in a small town. Spending summer vacations at the beach I experienced a lot of firsts...I remember driving for the first time, having my first crush, getting my first sun burn, eating my first piece of seafood, writing my first letter to friends back home, taking my first sip of alcohol, watching the most beautiful sun set that I have ever seen, playing my first game of volleyball, , building my first sand castle, creating a "float" that won 1st place for the 4th of July parade, the first time I actually loved a dog, the first place Walt and I traveled to other than our hometowns... my point is this place...this wonderfully, majestic place that I have so many memories from might just be ruined tonight. I spent every summer at the beach from the time I was 5 until I was 22. EVERY SUMMER. I have a lifetime of memories just from that one place. Bonfires, parades, sunbathing, cookouts, the best tomatoes I have ever eaten, scary movies, karaoke, limbo, Stingaree, Mama Teresa's Flying Pizza, late night parties at the Broussard's...the memories are endless.

Officials have said this: At 600 miles across, the storm was nearly as big as Texas itself, and threatened to give the state its worst pounding in a generation. It was on track to crash ashore early Saturday near Galveston, the same site that suffered the nation's worst natural disaster when a legendary storm struck without warning and killed 6,000 more than a century ago.

Please pray for all of the Texas coastline. Pray that we will have more than memories to hang on to.

I was 6 my brother was turning 5 and we were at our beach cabin, celebrating our birthdays.

It's always fun to bury your brother, right?

Just chilling on our beach cabin couch with our dog, Puddin. Don't you love the glasses?

I think I was all of 14 here... with a seatbelt on, driving

This was the summer before 9th grade... we thought we were so cool

Just another night at the local karaoke/limbo restaurant...that night my brother got hit on by an 80 year old woman!

On the way to Galveston...summer before Junior Year.

About to go eat at our favorite restaurant, Stingaree!

Just having a great time on the beach with all the fam + Ryan... one of my mom's best friend's kids... who ended up going with me to my senior prom.. see.. I'm serious about the connection here! (oh and don't worry, my brother, far right, is holding a soda can, not a beer)

Summer after my senior year and after Poco's freshman year (of highschool)

Celebrating our birthdays (19 and 16)

Walt' s first trip...summer before Senior year of college... (21 and 22)

Visiting Katie and Rick in Kema before Eric and Angela's wedding

My Man Walter

I got this from Kinsey's blog....thought I would fill it out, and just wanted to let you know, I updated her blog too!

MY MAN

1. Who is your man? Walter Creagg or Waltie as I call him

2. How long have you been together? 6 years...dated for 4 married for 2 years and 3 months

3. How long did you date? 4 years

4. How old is your man? 26 about to be the big two-seven

5. Who eats more? the winner in this category would be Walt

6. Who said "I love you" first? I did...after only about a week of dating..hey, when you know, you know!

7. Who is taller? Walt...by a lot

8. Who sings better?Me...but Walt does some pretty good impressions of Willie Nelson

9. Who is smarter? Walt wins again...

10. Whose temper is worse? Well it just depends on the certain thing that either one of us is getting mad about

11. Who does the laundry? I do when he's gone, when he's home he helps out

12. Who takes out the garbage? Definitely Walt

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Well looking at the bed, I do...but when he's away...Gracie does

14. Who pays the bills? Thank goodness he does

15. Who is better with the computer? me

16. Who mows the lawn? Me again

17. Who cooks dinner? Seriously, Walt cook?

18. Who drives when you are together? He does...he likes getting behind the wheel of my car

19. Who pays when you go out? The man of course

20. Who is most stubborn? ME....I think I've told him I'm sorry 5 times

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Obviously Walt...he's always wrong :)

22. Whose parents do you see the most? HIS

23. Who kissed who first? Oh goodness...he kissed me AND I had a boyfriend! That is awful, I shouldn't write that!

24. Who asked who out? Well technically I made the first move, but then after that initial phone call and my mad up story, he fell for me and asked me out.

25. Who proposed? He did and it was perfect!

26. Who is more sensitive? Me...well would you call taking bubbles baths and eating chocolate covered strawberries sensitive? Cause then it would go to Walt....HA!

27. Who has more friends? I have more friends in Tulsa, but if you were to look at our "Baylor" friends...I bet we tie.

28. Who has more siblings? Me....2 sisters and a brother

29. Who wears the pants in the family? You can ask Walt this question at any time and he will always tell you the same answer...... ME!

Take a Look At This....

Ok, so I really wanted to learn how to create my own blog page. Well, my sister, Nichole was nice enough to let me experiment with hers....and eventhough this was my first attempt... I will only get better... take a look here and tell me what you think! I think for my first time... I did pretty darn good!

Who ever said romance is dead, didn't marry my husband

For all of you wondering, Walt made it to London safely. On the way to the airport I asked him what type of food the airline serves Walt, since he rides first class, and the list of courses was amazing! Oh first they bring you a wine and cheese sampler, then they bring you a nice big salad, then you get like 5 main courses to choose from, but Walt always chooses steak, then at the end, (and this is Walt's favorite thing), they come around with Hagen-Daaz ice cream and a warm brownie and make you your own personal sundae. Of course, I had to ask him what was for breakfast, (being that breakfast is my favorite)...oh scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, yogurt. Man, no wonder Walt likes riding first class!

Before Walt got out of the car to go to London he told me that when I got home to look in his top dresser drawer because he left me a card and a treat for Gracie. (The day before I got home from school and he had gotten me a dozen roses.) It is a great feeling to know that your husband still thinks of the little things, I mean he had to pack, get his hair cut, pick up his clothes from the cleaner, secure a lawn man for a month (he just didn't think I needed to be mowing the lawn with me being back in school and all), do his laundry....he had a lot of things on his mind, but he still thought of his two loves.

I was so excited to get home and read the card, I think I might have hit 85 on the highway. Walt knows that I am a card lover and you MUST write something on the inside and it MUST be from the heart. Well, he definitely passed this test because by the time I was through reading, I was crying....because I KNOW he loves me and he would rather be here with me. Gracie doesn't like very many bones, but this bone that Walt picked out was a HIT....she ♥s it!

Romans 12:10 "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

My card with Gracie's Bone

The inside of my card....

Gracie, getting after it!

She ♥s it!

My gorgeous flowers!

As for now, Gracie has turned back into a bodyguard, I'm going to be grading papers for the rest of the weekend, and we are going to be watching some movies on this rainy Sunday.

By the way, if you haven't noticed my blog got a makeover! My makeover is from Fabulous Kelly, she normally gives out a blog makeover once a month and I won this month! She is amazing!

Woofstock 2008

Every September Tulsa has their very own "Woofstock" for dogs. It is held at the one of the local dog parks in Tulsa and you can go and adopt almost any kind of dog you can think of. I really had my mind set on adopting a dog and calling him "George," but Walt won that battle and we came home with only Gracie Mae. I seriously think if Gracie was given a playmate she wouldn't be so awkward around other dogs. I know this is totally my fault because I spoil her to the max and I believe that if she had a brother then she would adapt to other dogs and not be so snooty around other dogs. Don't you think Gracie Mae and George Henry would be so cute together?
Anyways, Gracie loved the dog park. She literally started running after all the dogs the second we got out of the car. I think every male dog at the park came up and sniffed Gracie and boy did she love it! I even think that I am starting to get my wish of fall coming to town... I started out wearing a sweatshirt this morning because it was rather chilly, but then it ended up warming up quickly. We had a great morning at the dog park!

Gracie SOOOO excited! Checking out one of the boxers...her name was Addy

That dog's name was Giant Samson Polar Bear (they call him Sam for short)

One of the many tents set up!

Look how happy Gray Gray is!