OSU Homecoming and Tulsa Run '14

Our weekend back home was so quick, but wonderful. I needed time back home so bad and it was so refreshing. I am already counting down the days until we are back in Oklahoma for thanksgiving break! This trip was too fast and I am ready to actually rest and spend time back home with family.  Not only was our weekend trip super quick, but it was so busy! I don't know that I have been that tired in a long time. Here is a little recap of our weekend...

We left Thursday to head back home and we thought we were going to get a semi early start, but that plan went downhill quick. On Thursdays Mitch has class from 1-5 for the first part of the semester and then the second half it moves to 9-12. So we were hoping it switched to the 9-12 so we could get on the road quicker. Well we found out he had his last 1-5 class that day, but he was done with the lab part so we figured it would get out pretty early. So I was ready to go by 2 and well he didn't get out until 4:00. So I picked him up and we were on the road right at 4. Well not only is the drive exhausting, but that put us arriving in OK at 1am!

Friday morning, we had to get up early to go get my race packet because I had several other things going on that day and that was my only time. So we were up by 8 and on our way to start our day- with lots of coffee!! After we got my packet I went home, cleaned up and I was surprising one of my students with lunch. I had this girl my first year when she was in kindergarten and we have just stayed super close. I love all my students, but some you just really connect with- Hadley is one of those. She has been writing my letters every week since I have moved so I was so excited about surprising her at school. I have been planning it out with her mom and it has been so fun trying to keep all of this from Hadley. I knew she loves Chick-fil-a, so Mitch and I went and had a quick lunch there and then I got hers to-go and went up to the school.

I stood outside her classroom when they left for lunch and she was so surprised. I wish I had it on video! I loved every minute of getting to see her and it went by too quick. After she left for recess, I went and saw some other teachers and ended up staying another 2 hours ha. I was able to go around and see all my kinds from the past years and it was so wonderful! It made me wish I was there so bad.

When I was done up at the school, we went straight to Stillwater for OSU Homecoming. We spent the afternoon shopping and walking around campus and then went back to my mom's best friends house to clean up and get ready for the walk around. My mom's friend, Kay lives in Stillwater and her house is my dream house. It is incredible! I also got to see another one of my sweet students at school that day and in Stillwater. I have become friends with her mom and actually her dad works with my dad. They are the sweetest family ever! I was so happy to hang out with them in Stillwater! I just love all the friends I have made through teaching at Jenks and miss them so much. I work with the best kids and parents ever! Anyways, we ordered in Hideaway since it literally takes forever to eat there on days like this. We picked up our pizza at 4:30 and the line was out the door and the wait was hours long!! We love our Hideaway- there is something about the original one in Stillwater, it is so much better!

After dinner, we went back up to campus and met my brother for the walk around. We started at the ATO house since that is Evans house. It was awesome. We walked around for several hours and got to see so many of our friends. We had Evan take us all around and give us the inside scoop. Its so interesting all the things you don't know.

Evan's house deck

Normally as a freshman you have to do so many pomping hours and do overnight pomp. It is crazy exhausting, but these decks are incredible when they are done. They start them as the beginning of the semester when school starts. Well the only exception to get out of pomping so many hours is if you are in Freshman Follies. And it is try out after try out and really hard to make it. Well not only was Evan one of the freshman that made it, he even had a singing solo. So he only had to pomp 30 min ha!! That is unheard of. He also found out 2 weeks ago he has mono. So he has been feeling awful and just trying to make it. He has had to miss out on lots of homecoming activities and he didn't get to do freshman follies. He was really bummed, and he is still feeling bad. He hasn't been able to go to some classes and he is just trying to make it through the semester. I can't imagine having mono at all, but at this time in the year it would be awful. It is the busiest time for him. He has hard classes, follies, homecoming, and he is still a pledge for another week or so he has to do so many pledge activities. We are praying he makes it through this semester.

After the walk around, my parents stayed in Stillwater, but Mitch and I had to go back since I was running the Tulsa Run in the morning. I knew we would be out late that night, but I thought we would leave Stillwater around 8:30 or so to get back home since I had to be up so early. Well we met up with some friends and lost track of time and we didn't leave until 10! I was so tired and super nervous about the run. But it all went great and I beat my time from last year by 12 minutes!! I had been training lots, so I knew I would probably beat it, but when I got out on the new course, I was second guessing myself. This course was brutal!!!! So many hills and it was down right hot that day! I made it through feeling fine and didn't have to stop any, but it was def more challenging. Yes the hills were bad, but honestly I think it was the heat that made it so miserable. It took me an hour and 47 min and I was proud of my time. The only thing I wasn't happy about was the water they were passing out on the course was hot, not luke warm, but hot. I could barely drink it. And then when I got done they had ran out of water bottles for the finishers!!! Who runs out of water at the end of a race!! I was not happy camper. They passed out small little snacks to the finishers, but that was kind of depressing too. They use to have so much stuff to eat and drink after the run and it has gone downhill. It makes me sad because it is my all-time favorite race and I love to do it every year.

When I was done I went to starbucks, got a coffee and we were back on the road to Stillwater. We had great time but I was exhausted and Mitch was trying to study for his test he had Monday. So we ended up leaving around 5 and coming back to Tulsa. We had to be up at 4:45 sunday morning to make the drive back to TN. I hate leaving that early, but with it being such a long drive it is nice to get home before dark and if you have ever been on I-40 you understand the frustration we have with the traffic. If you dont get up the early, you hit traffic between little rock and memphis and it is awful. Like stuck for hours awful. We always joke that all the places for him to go to school, we picked a place where we have to drive through the WORST traffic. It is seriously so awful. But we made it home by 3, took a nap and mitch continued to study-well he of course stopped to watch the Green Bay game, which we wont talk about.

Mitch had his test yesterday and it went well, as always. We have two other couples that after every test we also go out and eat mexican food. Well we decided to change it up a bit and they all came over to our house and brought something for our dinner. We had chicken spaghetti, salad, brownies and homemade ice cream. We love the friends we have made here and like that we can do things like this, but it just still isn't home. I miss my friends back home and I know Mitch does too. We are def keeping an open mind, but it is so hard not to compare everything to home when you loved a place so much. We seriously love Tulsa and both talk about how we can't wait to be back for good! On a positive note, after searching and trying several churches we finally found one. Its called Englewood and we are already getting involved and excited for our small group. Like I said, this will be great for us here, but nothing compares to fbc tulsa and the friends we made there. But we are excited about it and it is a great church and fits us well!

That was our weekend- and since Mitch's test os over we have a pretty slow week, which we need, and then next week we have our first house guests coming. I am soooooo excited!!!

Fall Break

So this first year, Mitch gets all the normal college breaks- but from then on out, zero, not even one. No Thanksgiving, or even Christmas Day. I guess thats what you get when you go into the medical field. But-we are semi use to this. He rarely got these holidays off anyways, so I am really looking forward to when he is done with school and he only works weeks, and no holidays. That is one perk about this field, mot likely there will not be surgeries scheduled on weekends or holidays, so that means they don't need a CRNA! I cannot wait until we do not have to worry about this anymore. 

So anyways- what I was getting at is... we had a fall break this year and it was lovely!! We went back to Arkansas on Wednesday and were able to stay through Sunday! We had plans to go to Devils Den and hike and spend a lot of time outside.. Arkansas is so beautiful this time of year. Well unfortunately it rained every single day we were there. But we had a good time anyway! We celebrated Mitch's mom and Michelle's birthday! The highlight of our week, was we go to attend the Arkansas/Alabama game!! We have a tradition of going to one or two razorback football games a year and I really thought we weren't going to get to go this year. Well we found out not only were the Hogs playing at home that weekend, but they were playing Alabama! So we went online and found our usual seat- the nose bleed section. I have been to several games and up until this, only had really good seats twice. Well we were getting ready to purchase them and got distracted and went to bed. We found out the next morning a friend had two extra tickets! We were so thankful we had not purchased the other ones! These were not only AMAZING seats, but free! It rained on us, well I should say mist- that awful mist where you feel like its hardly doing anything and before you know it, your soaked! But it stopped at half time and was perfect football weather!! 

We had a wonderful time and cannot wait until our next trip back. 

This thursday, we leave for OKLAHOMA!!! I have not been back home since the beginning of August and I cannot wait!!!! It will be a very short trip, but I have been looking forward to this trip for a while. We planned on going back for the Tulsa Run- I run it every year, and then we found out it was the same weekend as OSU homecoming. Since we were wanting to go back for that as well, it worked out perfect! I have grown up going to Stillwater for not just games, but homecoming is big for my family. My grandparents live and went to OSU, and so did my parents and now my brother- I am the odd duck of the family. Even though I did not go to OSU, growing up there makes it feel like a part of me. We never miss homecoming! This year is going to be especially exciting because my brother is an ATO and so we are super excited to be there and support him!!! 

As excited as I am about homecoming, I am also equally as excited about the Tulsa Run! Like I mentioned before I have stuck to my schedule and it has been going so well. My only detour from my schedule was when we were in Arkansas. I ran twice there, but not any long runs. But other than that, I haven't missed a scheduled run and today was my last long run! Its all downhill from here! I had to run 10 miles today and i'm not going to say I wasn't nervous, but overall it went great! I mean my knees are killing me and I can barley walk, but during the run it was good. I have three short runs this week and then race day!! I am not going to brag on my pace- because as hard as I work, it just isn't improving much, but the fact that I went out and ran 10 miles today in 2 hours was good enough for me! 

Elizabeth and I last year. This will be the first year in forever we haven't run it together. I'm going to miss my running buddy :(

Mitch has been studying a ton, but whats new?! I know I have said it before, but he is doing so well! He made an A in his first class and I couldn't be more proud, he is working so hard!

Thats about all we have going on around here- exciting huh? I do get my new iPhone tomorrow so I am pretty pumped about that! Oh and Mitch would be upset if I didn't mention how well the Packers are doing this season! Our Sundays are completely dedicated to Green Bay football! Go Pack Go! 

Nashville Weekend

One of the good things about moving to Tennessee is we are super close to some really fun cities- one being my favorite city of all time! We are right in-between Memphis and Nashville. We are about 40 minutes to Memphis, maybe a little longer with traffic and about and hour and 45 minutes to Nashville. We have both been to Nashville before, but not since we have been living in Jackson.  The drive there is gorgeous, especially this time of year with all the leaves changing!

Mitch had a conference in a town right outside of Nashville, so we thought it would be fun if I went and we spent some time in Nashville. Well he found out that his conference was going to take up most of his day, so I invited my friend Elizabeth to come up for the weekend. We had been trying to plan a time to see each other and I thought this would be the perfect weekend. Mitch and I made the drive up Thursday. Well I actually left that morning because I had to check Bella into her new boarding place- Doggies Day Out. She had to be checked in my 2 and Mitch didn't get out of class until 4pm. So after I dropped her off, I checked into our hotel, unpacked, shopped and explored the town! Mitch got in that evening and we went to Chuy's for dinner. We love going to new and unique places we haven't been before, but we LOVE Chuy's, probably our favorite Mexican food. And we don't don't have one in Jackson, so we had to get our Chuy's fix!  Elizabeth flew from Dallas and I had to pick her up at 9am on friday. We spend all friday in Nashville and it was so much fun! We ate at the famous Pancake Pantry for breakfast, shopped at some local stores, found several great malls, went to THE BLUEBIRD CAFE, and of course hung out on Broadway Street. Nashville is my favorite city, I love everything about it and Mitch always tells me, he could see us living there if it weren't for our families being over 10 hours away. Right outside of Nashville are several cities that I would love to live in, my favorite begin Franklin. I love this city so much. It is the perfect southern city and its only 20 min into Nashville. I can dream... right?

Saturday, we went shopping and site seeing some more. Elizabeth had never been to Nashville, so it was fun to taker her around to all my favorite places. We shopped all day and Mitch even let me get a new pair of boots! I loved my ones I had last year, they were tan, no heel, kind of that scrunchy look. Well they were kinda cheap and didn't hold up too well, so Mitch actually made me throw them away when we moved. So while I was in Nashville, he told me to find a new pair! I LOVE boots, y'all! Other than purses, they are my favorite thing to buy. I am extremely picky and have to love them, so it takes me awhile to find the perfect pair. I have to thank Elizabeth for not only helping me find these, but for literally looking all day for them. I ended up getting Arturo Chiang riding boots and I am in love!

You can't see the back, but they are super cute! I kept going back and forth between this pair and another one that was the same style and color, but it didn't have the buttons on the back. I had them both on and I had over 3 people tell me I had to go with these. So I did! They are so comfortable and I love them. If you are looking for new boots and like the riding boot style, check this brand out. For a good quality boot they were very decently priced. Most good quality boots are in the upper $300 range and I just can't bring myself to spend that on boots.  I am hoping to get several years out of them!

Saturday night, Mitch got out of his conference early and we went into Nashville for the evening. We ate at Slider House, such a fun atmosphere, and then walked around on Broadway and made a stop at our all time favorite ice cream place, Mikes!

This was the best weekend I have had in a long time. It was very refreshing and I loved getting to see Elizabeth! We had not seen each other since we went to Dallas in January!!! We both didn't realize it had been that long because we talk daily. But nonetheless, it was way too long and I am so thankful we were able to spend the weekend together! I am not going to post all my pics- you can see them on Facebook or Instagram. We made it back to Jackson Sunday and now we leave tomorrow for fall break in AR!! I cannot wait!!