Saturday, November 29, 2008

Custard's Last Weekend

You have probably noticed the ticker at the top of our blog counting down the days until Rusty's Frozen Custard will no longer be serving pumpkin custard. It is a specialty flavor only served during the months of October and November. As you can see, the end is upon us. If you have not yet purchased yourself a pumpkin custard, you are denying yourself a euphoric experience. Pumpkin custard is basically edible heaven. If you still aren't convinced, maybe a visual aid will help:





In my opinion, it is best served with whipped cream on top. So smooth and creamy...yummmmmmm.....

And don't get some namby pamby, sissy-sized custard. Treat your body right. Custard does wonders for your physique. Why, look what it's done for me:




You, too, can look this good - IF you go get yourself some pumpkin custard. Might I suggest a Rusty's run during halftime of the OU-OSU game tonight? Maybe I'll see you there.....

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My favorite things....

Well, it happened. Again. I got tagged by my sister-in-law. I'm supposed to write about "8 Things" or something like that. But I'm a rebel who loathes being tagged, but can't say no to my sister-in-law. So I did a little twist on "8 Things" - which I have entitled "My Favorite Things". Just sing my new lyrics along to the Sound of Music classic that we all know and love (well, at least I do). I've even provided some horrible midi music to help you along ( it might take a minute to start). Eat your heart out, Julie Andrews:


My Favorite Things:

Sushi consumed with soy sauce and wasabi



Awesome deals at Target and Hobby Lobby


Kenta,


my family,


triathlon training


These are a few of my favorite things






Miniture horses and soft baby bottoms



Pumpkin custard, OU football in Autumn



Crocs,



Birkenstocks,



BPA-free Nalgenes






These are a few of my favorite things




Any reality series on Bravo






Thanksgiving dinner with orange rolls and pavo (that's "turkey" in Spanish)



















Watching the sun rise (most) every morning




These are a few of my favorite things



When my feet swell

When my back aches

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel sooooo bad


So that's my little list of a few of my favorite things. Probably not as extravagant as Oprah's list, but these are the little things that I am thankful for because they really do bring a smile to my face. And how appropriate that it's the Thanksgiving season. I hope you are all able to take some time during the holidays and reflect on what you are most thankful for. What are a few of your favorite things?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Nerds Just Wanna Have Fun

Last Friday evening, Kenta asked me if I wanted to go on a little date the following morning. I wasn't really sure what date he had in mind for Saturday morning so when I asked he said (nervously):

"Um...they're having this, uh, weather festival at the National Weather Center tomorrow morning and it's supposed to be pretty cool. There's gonna be storm-chasing cars and stuff. I don't know...I thought it might be interesting". I guess he thought I was going to shoot him down. Little did he know how enthusiastic I would be.

My immediate reaction was: "It's like Touch-a-Truck for nerds! I'm totally down! Let's go!"

I really didn't know what to expect. I thought maybe a few kids would be there. Boy, was I wrong. We got there around 9:00 a.m. when the festivities were starting and there were already hoards of people milling about.

We entered the weather center and were given some snazzy stickers, which we proudly displayed




And a bingo card to fill out.



We were promised that if we filled out the bingo card, we would win a fabulous door prize. I wanted to go for a blackout, but as you can see, there was too much to do and we ran out of time.

First, we stopped at the booth that Kenta's friends were working at (think: science fair for college students). They all work together in a group called "Atmospheric Radar Research Center" (ARRC). What they do, I don't really know. I just went to the booth to get a sticker on my bingo card. Here's Kenta posing in front of the group's poster:



Next stop was to see a local celebrity:



Yes, my friends, that is Rick Mitchell of the KOCO-TV First Alert Storm Team. And by the way, pregnancy and camera phone pictures aren't good for your self-esteem. I promise I look much better in real life. Moving on....

Then, we went up to the seventh floor observation deck to check out the view. We didn't see any storms, but we saw a whole lot of rooftop and Highway 9.



(sorry about the picture quality - all we had was Kenta's cell phone).

After that, we made a few more stops to collect some stickers. Then we went outside to see the weather balloon launch. Apparently every day at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. a weather balloon is released from the weather center. It has all these sensors and things that measure stuff in the atmosphere (that's the really diluted version of what happens - if you want more details, ask Kenta). Anyway, they did a few special launches that day during the festival. They didn't have any of the sensors attached to them, but you still get the point of what the balloon is and does.


As you can see, it was a beautiful day for weather balloon launching.

And, as was promised, there were storm chasing cars on display:



Apparently these guys are on the Discovery Channel quite a bit. Check out the hail damage:



There were some pretty fancy schmancy cars.



One of the highlights (for me, anyway) wasn't even weather related. As I was going about my business, I saw a very (fortunately) rare creature out of the corner of my eye. Its very appearance terrified me, but I couldn't take my eyes off if it. Kind of like driving by an accident. I followed it, trying to capture footage of it on the cell phone. My first two attempts proved to be futile:



The creature proved to be very elusive and was being followed closely by more mature guardians. It wasn't until we were out in the open that I was able to capture this rare photo:



It's tragic, but true. Under the Mullet Classification Section III, No. 21, this would be described as the "parental negligence/child abuse" mullet. I haven't seen one of these in years. I thought that they had become extinct in this part of the state. I guess the weather festival affected its migratory pattern. Kenta was not very happy about me following this kid around. I was more worried about his WWE-looking dad finding out that I had taken a picture of his son and beating me up for it. I managed to get the picture without them finding out. If anyone knows this child, please take some scissors to that hair and put him out of his misery.

So, all in all, it was a fun date. I met a celebrity, saw a weather balloon launch, followed a mullet, and perhaps best of all, we won a set of magical plastic cups.



When you pour something cold into it, it turns blue. Cool, huh?



Monday, November 3, 2008

Teach Your Children Well


I've discovered an interesting phenomenon. My growing belly is increasingly attracting the attention of people who are very eager to give me unsolicited baby/parenting advice. I welcome all of it - it is our first baby, after all, so why not listen to everything? - but I also have learned to put a filter in my brain (there are deifinitely some parenting tips that I would never try). When all is said and done, however, I think Kenta and I really lucked out in the parenting department. Everything we ever needed to know about raising kids we learned (are learning and will yet learn) from our very own parents.

We happen to be the children of some expert parents. Combined, they have somehow managed to successfully raise (so far) ten college graduates - six of which have completed or are working on advanced degrees (including a medical doctor, a dentist and Masters of Psychology, Education, Enigineering , and Geophysics). Seven of their offspring are return missionaries, and twelve (so far) have been sealed in the temple. Considering their ages span from forty to (almost) twenty, we are amazed when we think about all our parents were able to accomplish. How did we survive childhood, high school and beyond, relatively unscathed by a society with deteriorating morals? How did they keep us from killing each other (or keep themselves from killing us)? I really have no idea. They are just normal people who started out like all other young couples:


Okay...maybe Kenta's parents aren't really the norm. My parents are fairly "normal", but I unfortunately don't have a picture of their wedding to show you.

After a few years of marriage, our parents found themselves in fairly similar circumstances:

That's Kenta on the right, by the way, and his sister, Ami, on the left

This is my Mom and Dad (circa 1972) with Doug and Shelly - long before I was ever a gleam in their eyes.



Eventually, their families were complete:


Hoods, 2004


Michaelsens, 1989 (probably the last time we had familiy pictures taken that were NOT at a wedding - and I'm the super-cute one with the blue dress and pink bow on the front row)

One by one, their children have left home, (hopefully) taking with them all of the principles and values that they tried so hard to teach. It's been fun to watch our siblings become parents themselves and to see them doing the same things that our parents did with us - even the stuff we *swore* we would never do. Like make our kids walk to school if they woke up late, skipped seminary, and missed their ride (Shelly, Mom would be so proud of you for doing that). In fact, I find myself doing things everyday and thinking, "ohmygosh...I'm turning into my mother!" But I'm okay with that - you saw the pictures. She's one foxy lady:)

So when times get tough and I think I'm at my wits' end with the kids, I know I have two very capable, wise, and experienced mothers I can turn to (among all the other sisters, in-laws, and friends).

There you have it. Our parents are basically amazing. Am I bragging too much? Oh, well. I don't have any kids to brag about yet, and our parents brag about us, so why not return the favor? They've survived parenthood and are now reaping the spoils (i.e. grandkids).



Hoods, March 2008

Michaelsens, June 2006 (three grandsons have been born since then - and, of course, more on the way!)


And if you still don't believe our parents are great, just ask one of their other (collective) fourteen children. Or twenty-five grand children. I'm sure most of them would agree :).

But please don't let that stop you from passing along your parenting tips. Our parents weren't perfect, by any means - and like I said, we are very open to creative ways to teach kids. In fact we found this little gem on the internet. (you will probably have scroll down to the bottom of the page to turn the music off first



Sorry :). I couldn't resist. It cracks me up every time and it seemed appropriate for this post. But I promise that I really won't take advice from a cartoon dressed in a Mexican wrestling suit. That's what the brain filter is for, remember?