It’s always funny when I wish my family members happy birthday on my blog, because the majority of my readers are not family members. That’s ok though, I’m sure you all still want to see their photos anyways right?

Good.

Yesterday was my dad’s birthday and today is his mother’s birthday. So happy birthday to Dad and Grandma! I love you both. As is evidence by my stellar photo taking skills.

Here, I’ll just wait until you are looking at someone else’s camera to take the shot. We’ll pretend I did it on purpose to be arty.

Also, my dad grows a sweet handlebar mustache wouldn’t you say? (that’s my Uncle Danny in the photo with them) (his mustache isn’t quite as impressive)

I’m just sad that you all live so far away and we can’t be together to celebrate.

It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since we jetted off to Las Vegas to get married. It’s also hard to believe that it took us seven years to get to that point. I’ve now spent a third of my life with you.

Sometimes we are silly.

Sometimes we are sweet.

Sometimes we’re just plain weird.

But usually we’re just us.

I love you baby. Happy Anniversary.

You are my baby sister. You are my best friend. You are a fierce recommender. You make me laugh. You make me cry. You make me want to be a better person.

We didn’t always get along. We still bicker and fight and chase each other around. We still don’t see eye to eye on everything.

You have the better hair and the bigger savings account. You have more patience and understanding.

You’re generous and thoughtful and you make everyone better for having known you.

Happy Birthday Kiddo. Thanks for being born.

I decided in August of last year that I would not be going to BlogHer this year. Even though I’ve been the last four years in a row. It used to be something really special that I looked forward to all year, but it’s just not the same when your closest blogging friends can’t make it and you’re left wandering the streets of New York City by yourself. And even though I’d love to go to San Diego, the expense of it all is just not something I can swing this year. Besides, that money is much better spent improving my house.

However, when I heard that The Blathering was going to be in Austin this year, I knew I had to go. My fabulous cousin Erin moved there last year with her baby and husband and I’ve been wanting to visit the city for a really long time. So now not only do I get to see loved ones, I get to check out the infamous Austin and also hang out with some awesome bloggers that I adore. The best part is that a) I can drive there myself, thus saving lots of money on airfare and transportation fees and b) I don’t have to pay for a hotel because Erin has a guest room. And it’s right before my birthday so it’s like a present to myself. Wheeee!

Is anyone else going?

My mother in law, Patricia passed away on Sunday, the 19th. Her funeral was Thursday. She was buried next to Thom’s father, who passed away in 1997. And also her other son, who passed away in 2008. I cannot imagine what it’s like to have your whole family gone like that. Especially when you’re as young as he still is.

I hope that I can continue to be strong for him. I made his mother a promise that I would love him forever. And I plan to keep that promise.

This past weekend at my grandmother’s house, I discovered she had gotten one of those pillows they show on tv that can bend any which way and do your laundry for you. And I tried it out. It was pretty cool. Then I got to thinking about all of the other things I’ve seen around her house that she’s also seen on tv.

The Total Pillow

The Shake Weight

Easy Feet

Handy Gourmet Swirl

Ped Egg

Not pictured: The Snuggie. It was packed away.

Oh my dear sweet adorable grandmother. Don’t ever change.

Vegas was a lot of fun. And exhausting! We Tulsa girls are just not used to having to walk so much. Thankfully we had sensible shoes. There was still a lot of whining. Mostly mine.

The Highlights: Shopping! Food! Shows!

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for Fossil products. I went nuts at the Fossil outlet store. The sad thing is, I could have totally gone back and done more damage. I’m actually kicking myself for not buying up more of these to give away as gifts. (if there’s a Fossil outlet store near you please email me and let’s discuss you doing some personal shopping for me ok?)

It’s the perfect size to be both a wallet and a coin purse. It has slots inside to hold your cards and ID.

Then there’s this beauty:

When you find cute Fossil Fifty Four for 80% off, you don’t hesitate. You just buy it. And then you either keep it or flip it on ebay. I’m keeping mine though. It’s just so gorgeous.

The food in Vegas is expensive, but good. Here’s a few photos of things we ate while there.

And then there were the shows. We saw three total. Of course you can’t take any photos, so here’s the best I can offer you.

We did not get called down to be contestants on The Price Is Right Live show. It was still fun though. And it was hosted by these two guys:

I didn’t win any big money or meet any celebrities, but I had a great time with my sister. You can see my entire set of trip photos here.

I keep sitting down to blog and abandoning drafts. Life is just kind of boring lately. Vegas is in two days though, so I’m sure I’ll have something of interest to say when I get back.

In the meantime, please enjoy these Christmas card photo rejects from over the weekend. Where the wind decided that it would destroy our plans to get decent photos.

This shot of my sister turned out quite lovely though. I think she’s planning on sending out Holiday photo cards that read “with my by myself….”

Just kidding sis. You know I love you.

I did manage to squeak out a precious few photos that were decent enough to put on a card. I can’t wait to see them in person.

And if I don’t blog again before Thursday, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We’ll be having our turkey dinner tomorrow night and flying out around noon on Thursday. Oh and wish us luck on Saturday as we’re going to The Price Is Right Live show at the Bally’s hotel. We want them to tell us to come on down!

It’s hard to believe that my sweet baby girl* is now sixteen. I remember the day she was born. I was seventeen years old and a senior in high school. I was in Stillwater at a singing competition of some sort. I was hoping she would arrive as a Matthew, but instead she arrived as a Laura. And thank goodness she did! I can’t imagine my life without her.

Happy Sweet 16 girl. (whose birthday was actually last Monday, but since we just had your party over the weekend, I’m posting this now)

*By sweet baby girl, I don’t mean she actually belongs to me. She’s my cousin, lest you think I was knocked up in high school.

My weekend, in photos (and video)

It was a perfect weekend.