Livin' on Tulsa Time... Briefly...

Last week I finished school on Monday (June 6) and loaded up my car to head home to Tulsa early on the 7th. I had a phone interview scheduled with Jeffco Schools at 11:15 am, so I had to plan my trip wisely so I would have phone signal when my interview time arrived. I left my house just before 9 with the intention of being in Burlington, Co for the interview. I passed the time practicing what I was going to say in response to the questions that they had sent me and listening to my awesome new playlist on my ipod from Tracy. My interview came and I answered the way I had practiced, forgetting a few details that I really wanted to kick myself for forgetting and the interview ended... 20 minutes... no idea as to how it went... I called my mom and while talking to her (about 45 minutes later) I had a call come in that was a 303 area code so I took the call... only to realize that it was the area Sped Director calling me back offering me a job!!!! Uh yes I am interested I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs for all to hear!!! So... I left Denver at 9 am (MST) without a job lined up and arrived in Tulsa at 7 pm (CST) with a job in place with Jeffco Schools!!!

The 7 days I was in Tulsa were a blur! I honestly feel like I didn't stop moving or sleep while I was home, but the trip was a success!!! I was home the 8-14th... during which time, I had a hair appointment, meeting with the seamstress to alter my dress for the Tulsa reception, a first "fitting" with the veil and Ian's mom, a final "fitting" with the veil and Ian's mom, two bridal showers, a dance recital, dancing with my little brother, a bbq, two hair run-throughs with my mom, dinner with Jason's family and a movie, shopping and time with my nieces!

The wedding details are coming along super smoothly! Regina Banks of Arjaybi's Stationary in OKC (and one of my good girlfriends) brought me the thank you notes and programs for the ceremony! They are amazing and beautiful and I couldn't ask for a better person to create our invitations, thank you's, programs, etc than Gina! She was super patient with me and shared ideas with us to make our stationary one of a kind!

The first bridal shower was hosted by the McMahon/Thomas families and Emily Renberg. I have always looked up at Carolyn (McMahon) Westervelt, Mary (Thomas) Trotter, and Martha (Thomas) Cobb as aunts and their children as my cousins... Emily has been like a cross between a second mother and an aunt... and Ms. McMahon, another grandmother figure in my life. These ladies are beyond amazing. The things they have done for me since I was born, I will always be indebted to them for their love and compassion, as well as role models for how to live throughout my life. We received some awesome gifts and I had a great time seeing these women that I have called family for the last 31 years.

The second shower was hosted by my "grandma" Glenda and my mom at the church where I was raised. This shower was mainly high school friends and co-workers. It was great to see so many of my Hornet girls!!! I had a lot of fun catching up with everyone. I will post pictures later as Tracy Smith took a few cute shots of her, me and Regina...

The week also brought McKenzie and Syrina's dance recital which I was beyond cloud number 9 to be able to attend! Both the girls looked AMAZING on stage and performed their routines without error! To think both of my girls are shy!!! Ana got to go with us to the recital to see Kenzie, which was fun for both girls!

Mom and I got our dresses ready for the wedding, took Kenzie's back to be re-altered and corrected the error with Syrina's dress. I am looking forward to seeing them all dressed up, and my daddy in his dress uniform for the fire department!

I also spent 2 different times with Sherry, Ian's mom figuring out how to place the veil in my hair! I am so excited about this veil!!! Not only will I be the 21st (that is unless there are other bride's whose pictures are missing from the album) bride to wear the veil since 1934, the veil is going to be a perfect fit for my dress!!! Words can't express how beautiful the veil is, or how honored I am to have been asked to wear the veil! I can't imagine NOT wearing the veil in the wedding!

I drove home on Wednesday just before Oklahoma and Kansas were hit by thunderstorms all day on Thursday! Thursday, my first day back in Co wasn't the most relaxing... it seems like it should have been... a mani/pedi in the morning... spray tan at noon... lunch with my bestie Ilene, drop off and pick up wedding dress from the dry cleaners, pick up jewelry for bridesmaids, pick up flowers for my practice bouquet and bridal portraits and finally relaxing time with Ian... Friday we got up before the sun (or at least before the sun in summer) and had Buddy at the clinic by 8 am for his surgery... came home, took a brief nap (thank goodness I did this!), started doing my hair, finished my hair with Ilene, had a 3 1/2 hour bridal portrait session in Boulder, drove back just in time to start our jewelry party at my house!!!

I can't wait for the wedding! 22 days until we say I DO!!! Until then, we need to order the willow, finish paying the caterer, schedule our final walk through of the venue with the caterer and event coordinator, write thank you notes, clean house, and pick up our flowers to make the decorations for the wedding!!! No stress here!!!