Back in OKC

Last week: I got back from Oregon a week ago and I realized that the summer is gone! Where did it go?! Last week I wasn't feeling well so I didn't do much too of anything. On Thursday had some friends over for dinner and I made chicken lasagna and killer brownies, so that made it a doubley awesome day. And they have a cute little girl named Elena, which is fun too. We call her "baby Elena" and me "regular sized Alayna," since "big Alayna" was not the most flattering nickname. Then a couple days later we went to their house for a game night with some other couples from our ward. Then Sunday we had the missionaries over for dinner. On Saturday I went to the store to get some ingredients and decided to make carrot cake for dessert with the missionaries because it sounded SO GOOD. But then I made it on Sunday and I told Blaine, "Carrot cake doesn't sound good anymore. I wish I would've made something else." But as he was leaving to pick them up, he said, "Well maybe the missionaries wanted you to." So we eat dinner and I tell them we have carrot cake for dessert, and the new missionary in our ward said, "Carrot cake is my favorite!!" So that made me feel good. But apparently his mom makes wedding cakes, so I'm sure it was not as good or fancy as that.


This week: Today was Blaine's official last day of the summer term! It seemed to fly by to me, but I'm sure it felt a lot longer to him. The rest of the week he'll just be studying for his last test on Friday. He got As on his other 2 tests, so we'll so how it goes. As for me, I'm going to my school tomorrow for a little orientation with the secretary and payroll clerk and stuff. So tomorrow and for this next week I am going to be setting up my classroom and organizing and decorating. Woot-woot! Go Redskins ;)

On the subject of school, the AD called me last week and said that the board denied me as a coach because of my lack of head coaching experience. (Its only jr. high basketball, not head high school basketball. And they had no objections to my lack of pom experience (funny enough), but it was kind of a package deal I guess. He said it was just political and sometimes personal feelings amongst board and faculty members play a role and take it out like this) So the AD doesn't agree with it and he's trying to get it overturned, but if he can't, then I'll be teaching PE for 3 periods. So that'd be fun and easy and maybe even allow me to get some exercise in before my work day is through :)

I know these posts are kind of boring without a picture, but I don't really have any in relation to this past week. But right before I left for Oregon, we bought a new rug for our living room and we love it. This is what it looks like :)

Day 3: Extended Angelos' and Engagement Party

Saturday we went to a stake center for a reunion with the extended Angelos family, meaning my Grandpa's siblings and their children and grandchildren. In preparation for this, Grandma compiled a list of all the descendants of my great-grandparents and the order in which they were either born into or married into the family. So as part of the reunion, we went down the roster in order and each person had to stand up and say their name and their relationship. It was pretty fun and interesting- especially since I had been helping Grandma prepare a little bit for this big event. She even had little booklets with family stories and pictures of our great-grandparents.

this isn't even everyone in attendance for the extended Angelos reunion

I forgot to mention it, but on Day 2 at the camp, we received our family books like that for just my grandparents and their descendants. That was the big project that I helped Grandma a lot with. Every family member had to write their personal history, and then theres pictures of older family reunions and family trees.

Anyways, Day 3 was filled with socializing, eating, and sports. We played kickball, basketball, jump rope, and just hung out. We also took all our big group pictures.

Then later on in the day, the extended family left and it was time for the engagement party! We have 3 engaged family members, including my sister Alexis. Since the weddings will be in Salt Lake, San Diego, and Ohio, lots of the family won't be able to be at every wedding so we had a little celebration at the reunion. It was really cute. They made Alexis a veil and the boys boutonnieres and we all kicked off the party with a toast-- complete with plastic wine goblets and sparkling apple cider. Then each of them took turns talking about how they met, how they got engaged, and answering all the family's questions.

Then it was time for our closing ceremonies. Each family took turns singing their song again since some families didn't do it the first night, but my highlight was the little surprise I prepared. I gave Grandma and Grandpa a little book filled with pictures and messages from each of their blood relatives, plus many of their "married-in" relatives. It was just filled with memories of Grandma and Grandpa over the years. Grandma teared up, so I'd say it was a success ;)

After that, we had pizza, wedding cake, and everyone just played around and resumed our activities. It was a short trip, but lots of fun family time. The next day, our whole family pretty much took up the small Eugene airport. About 20 of them flew back to Salt Lake at 12:30, then I flew to OKC at 1:30, and then my aunt and uncle flew to Denver at 2:30.

This is my FAVORITE picture from the reunion :)

Luckily I didn't throw up on any of my return flights, which was nice.

Day 2: University of Oregon and Day Camp

To begin day 2 of our reunion, we got a VIP tour of some of the University of Oregon's athletic facilities. First we went to Matt Arena and got to walk on the court and through some of the suites.

This was a re-enactment of a picture at Ford Field in 2008

Thats one of her nicknames that her older siblings have forced upon her

Here is MOST of our group. Still missing a couple people

Pom Coach!! ;)

Then we headed over to Hayward Field, which is a pretty famous Track and Field venue. In fact, the 2010 NCAA National Championship meet was held here when Blaine threw the javelin and became an All-American. Except when I was here last, it was cold and rainy most of the time. 

Thats where I sat to cheer on my man, huddled under a blanket with some other throwers and their wives.

Grandpa and Grandma

Our last stop was Autzen Stadium. We got to see the indoor practice facility and the training room and let me tell you... those Oregon football players are spoiled! It looked more like a relaxing spa. 

 And then finally out to the field. There was another couple looking in the indoor practice facility when our big group came in, so they tried to blend into our family group so they could get the special tour.

Grandpa and Grandma and their 4 kids

Then we had a picnic lunch in the park by the hotel and moved on to phase 2 of the day. We went to a little camp run by the church. It had ziplines, canoes, ropes course, archery, and volleyball net. Oh! And a hayride :)

I don't have many pictures because my phone died pretty early on, but it was fun. My brothers rode with me for the 45 minute journey, but they were asleep 5 minutes into the trip.

Funny story about Alivia, but no picture :( We bunch of us were over at the archery station and Alivia, the youngest grandchild, was shooting the bow and arrow pretty well all on her own. And it was her first time! So Dad was saying stuff like, "Wow, Liv. Look at that. You're a master. You just may be our family's shot at the Olympics." Then he started joking about how if you give them too much praise, kids will just ignore you and it won't mean anything.... Or something like that. I can't remember the specifics. Anyways, so then me and my cousin were like, "Yeah, Dad. Give her a good insult." Just as I said that, she shot an arrow that was not really on track. So Dad said, "Wow, Liv. That was horrible!" It was sooooo funny!

That night all of my siblings and I (except 1) went down to the hot tub again. We decided to play the game where we each take a turn making up one line of a story at a time. You probably had to be there, but it was one of the funniest lines of the trip. Long story short, Austin started a story about a girl that was so beautiful that she couldn't even see it (how beautiful she was). Then a couple people later, Abbie starts talking about her reading a Braille book. Funny!!!

While we're on the subject of funny stories - After the hot tub, I was getting out of the shower and I called to Alivia a bunch of times and she didn't answer. So I was I finally said, "Abbie? Is Alivia in here?" and she responded, "I don't see her," which was apparently supposed to sound annoyed and obvious, but to me it suggested like Alivia was hiding in the room somewhere and I was supposed to play along and find her. So I come out in my towel and Abbie's laying in bed in the dark and I see something under the covers move, so I run to it and start tickling it (thinking it was Alivia) but it was actually Abbie's knee and Alivia was NOT in the room. You had to be there ;)

Last funny story since now we're talking about Abbie. Probably a little too personal, but I'm pretty sure only like 3 family members and 1 close friend read this, so oh well. Sorry Abbie ;) 

Anyways, Abbie was laying in one bed and me and Alivia were sitting on the other one and I said "Poor Abbie, she's sick." And Alivia said, "No she isn't?!" So I said, "Yes she is. She's menstrating."So Alivia said, "Abbie, who are you menstrating over?"... like it had something to do with men or being boy crazy or love sick or something. 

Ok, thats enough for day 2.  

Official Day 1 of the Family Reunion

So the reunion is all over now and I am back in OKC. Hopefully I can remember all the fun details.

So Thursday I woke up and went to get my family from the airport. Lots of our group was flying out of Salt Lake and ended up on the same plane together, which was kind of fun. Anyways, that evening we all met up at my aunt and uncle's mission home for our "opening ceremonies." There were about 40 of us total. We had dinner and dessert and then each family unit had to perform their little song. We had some people rap, some change the lyrics to real songs, and Grandma and Grandpa even harmonized their acapella number.

Then we got our t-shirts, made all the announcements for the next day, and sat and visited for a while. We even went around the room and shared how each of us met our spouse.



Then we all headed over to the park by their house to do what we do best. We played basketball, threw the football, swing on the swingset, and even play on the teeter totter. Then on the way home, I even got some special one-on-one time with my brother Austin.

Day 1 of Family Reunion

My paternal grandparents have been planning this family reunion for over a year now. Growing up, we would go to Lake Powell every summer and everyone loved that. Then on top of that, we would have additional family reunions every couple of years. We went to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming one year, we went to Ohio to my uncle's house, and everyone came to our house in Miami. But as all the grandkids grew up and got busy, those fun family get togethers became few and far between. So this gathering is a big deal.

They decided to hold it in Eugene, Oregon because my aunt and uncle are mission presidents here. For this past year living in Provo, I have been helping Grandma work on the computer and get everything ready, so I'm excited for the event to actually be here. When I originally booked my plane ticket, I thought I was booking it for Thursday (the correct day to arrive). But it turned out that I actually had made arrangements to arrive on Wednesday. After I realized it, I tried to change it but they were going to charge me over $1000, which is absolutely insane. So I just decided to get a hotel room and come a day early. I was hoping Blaine would be with me, but he ended up not being able to since he's in his first semester of Dental School and is stressed with a lot on his plate.

On that note, Blaine took his 2nd test this week and he got another A!! Yay Blaine! He's such a diligent studier and can do anything he puts his mind to. I miss him and understand why he couldn't come, BUT I do wish he was here with me. Just listen to my day:

This morning I got up at 5:30am and Blaine drove me to the airport to catch my 7:25 plane to LAX. I had had a big tension headache for 2-3 days and had only slept about 4.5 hours of sleep the night before, so I wasn't feeling too well. On the drive, I kept telling Blaine that I felt nauseous like I was going to throw up and he kept trying to calm me down and tell me to stop thinking like that.

So I got on my flight and tried to fall asleep... but it just wouldn't happen. Then all of a sudden I knew it was coming. So I asked the guy next to me if he could let me out to go to the bathroom and I ran to the back of the plane. So obviously, I threw up in the nasty airplane bathroom. After that, I felt good and thought, "ok well thats over. Now I can feel good and move on with my day as normal." But then 30 minutes later, I started to not feel well again and then got that sudden and horrible urge and made my same run to the bathroom and slammed the door open. This time I didn't even care and I knelt down on the nasty floor and just let whatever happens, happen.

And I thought, "wow! Twice in an hour? On an airplane?! But it's gotta be all out now." So I return to my seat again and the guy next to me says, "ok this is your last time. Not getting up again." I'm pretty sure it was meant to be funny, or at least partially, but it did not help my situation any. And then 30 minutes later, right on schedule, I make another quick run to the bathroom and this time the toilet seat was shut, and I started to throw up on top of it. So I cleaned it up, washed my hands, and went back to my seat for the last 30 minutes.

Once I landed, I thought I was fine and called my mom. But after about a minute of talking, I had to hang up on her and run to the bathroom. There was a couple people in line ahead of me, so I had to stand there and do the typical "i'm about to lose it all on this floor" thing from the movies. My cheeks would fill up and I would hurry and cover my mouth with my hand and swallow. It was awful. So I finally made it into a stall and threw up for the fourth time in 3 hours.

So then I found a corner, laid down on my bag, and was able to fall asleep for about 40 minutes.. AFter that I felt a lot better than before, but didn't think too much of that since I was worried about making my next 30 minute throw up session. I headed over to my gate and saw my cousin with her husband and kids who were also heading up to the reunion, so that was a funny surprise.

So... day 1 of the trip was not so fabulous. But at least I'm not sick. I blame the stress of travel and lack of sleep I guess. And on the upside, I think I've lost like 20 pounds in 6 hours. Day 2 is sure to be better because my family is coming!!!

(Sorry there are no pictures, but I was a little more concerned with some other things today. I did take one picture of myself on the floor of LAX when I just wanted someone to put me out of my misery, but it was not attractive.)

Quick update from the week of July 1st

First of all, Blaine's beard is coming along nicely. Its the longest he's ever had it and I did NOT want it in the beginning. But now its really grown on me and I'm kind of liking it ;) This is the best picture I have of it right now. Take that BYU. A well kept beard makes him presentable and attractive... unlike the creeper mustache that they allow now.

In other news, I went to the Department of Education last week and officially transferred my teaching license from Utah to Oklahoma. I start school in a month! I cannot even believe it. I have a lot of lessons to outline and a bunch of routines to choreograph. I need some people to start calling me back!

Other than that, not much to report. We realized we have a front row view of the fireflies on the hill behind our house at dusk. We love our new home. We miss Provo and our family. Lots of studying. Lots of activities with friends. High heats. (we got our first electricity bill this week and it costs a lot to keep our place cool. oh well) We're excited that Blaine got the IHS scholarship and that I got a great job. A special moment from this week: we sat on our balcony chairs one night and flossed our teeth while we listened to some of our favorite country songs :)

4th of July Weekend

Anyone who knows me knows that I love America and I love a reason to celebrate. But the last 2 years, Independence Day has been a bit of let down. Last year, Blaine took the DAT on July 5th, making July 4th a final study session, with fireworks and Cafe Rio at night time. This year we were supposed to have some out of town visitors, but they weren't able to make it. So we watched the fireworks in Edmond with another couple. Edmond is just about 10 minutes north of us where our ward is. CNN and USA Today named the Edmond Liberty Fest as one of America's top 10 places to celebrate the 4th.

The traffic was SO HORRIBLE. Our friends said it took them an hour and a half to make the 15 minute trip home. After about 30 minutes of not moving, we just parked and went into IHOP to wait out the traffic... and it worked. I loved my red velvet patriotic pancakes :)

Then Saturday night we had a BBQ with another couple  and then drove 35 minutes east to McLoud for their Blackberry Festival. The faithful followers will know, but for everyone else, McLoud is the town that I will be teaching and coaching in this school year. Blaine had never seen it so I was excited that he could check it out. He said the Blackberry Festival was just like Logger Days in Libby. It was petty much a little fair with a big fireworks show. We were all making jokes that we needed to scope out anyone that looked like they were of age and recruit for the basketball and dance team. "Maybe you should put down that footlong corndog and go jog a lap!"
Here are some pictures of what it was like. Note: the boys were happier than they appear in some photos ;)

Note the Red Solo Cup... Cake ;) Proud home of Toby Keith. Can ya tell?

 

hand washing station... complete with foot pump

Okie Old Time Root Beer. It was super cute :)

lots of camo and, of course, the flag

Fried S'mores, Fried Oreos, all that was familiar. But Fried Bologna? Thats an Oklahoma only delicacy

Then today at church, Blaine substitute taught the 12-14 year olds. One of the girls told me that my husband was a maniac. I was like, girl please. tell me something i don't know ;)