Grillin' and Chilllin' :)

Saturday, after the Redman and some recovery time, we got to hang out with our friends and families at Russ' parents' house.

There was lots of food for everyone, which was important to Russ because, after 70.3 miles, he was VERY hungry. (So was I - we'll call it sympathy hunger after mentally and spiritually supporting him for 70.3 miles. :)

It was so much fun to have our friends come over and hang out with us.

We've missed them all so much. It used to be a regular thing for us all to get together for dinner and games. :(

I have no pictures from Friday night, but it was wonderful! I went with my parents and sister to dinner and then we met up with my friend Marge for a show that was starring my friend Holly. :) It was so much fun to sit for a relaxing hour with my family and just get to chill. And then Holly's play was hilarious and enjoying it with Marge was so much fun.



We're so blessed to have friends and family that will take time out of their busy schedules and see us during our less than 48 hours in OKC. And, contrary to this picture of the boys, we had lot so fun during our relaxing Saturday night. 

Thanks, guys!

Redman Triathlon

This last weekend, we went to OKC so that Russ could do the Redman Triathlon for the fifth year in a row. This was his fourth time to do the half ironman distance, 70.3 miles total. There was one crazy year when he did the full iron distance.... yea, he's nuts.

We got up at 4:40 to be leaving Russ' parents' house around 5:40 for Lake Hefner. That was crazy early (especially, since 4:40 OK time is 3:40 NM time, ugh) but it did give us a chance to see a beautiful Oklahoma sunrise.

Here the half iron distance triathletes are about to start the swim.

It was 1.2 miles long, again, triathletes are crazy.

Thomas hadn't slept much the night before, so he took a nap while Russ was out on the bike. And Pirate was really cold after walking through the dew covered grass and getting his legs and tummy soaking wet, so he wanted to cuddle under the blankets with Thomas.

Roxy just wanted her belly scratched. :) Both of my dogs were so good during the race. Everyone wanted to  pet them and share water with them.

Here he is heading out on the run course. I didn't get any pictures of him biking but that was the leg of the race that Russ felt the strongest. His training here in Los Alamos has gotten his lungs used to the altitude so they use oxygen more efficiently and his legs have gotten used to the intense hills that are all over. It was an awesome bike ride!

Here we all are hanging out and trying to find some respite from the super hot sun.



Russ' friend Stephen came to watch the end of the race. When Russ came into the turn-around for the run, Stephen ran with him for a few yards and even patted him on the back, which made his hand wet because Russ was super sweaty and had been pouring water on himself to stay cool. Eww.



Here he is looking good. His shoulders didn't look too sunburned yet also.

Here is Zach, one of Russ' friends from the OSU triathlon club. This was his first half iron distance triathlon and he got second in his age group! Lot of talent and skill here.

We were all so glad that Sabrina came to see the race. Hopefully, we'll get to hang out longer next time.

Doesn't Pirate look good with a faux-hawk? Sabrina did his hair after pouring some water on his head to help him cool off.

Russ got seventh in his age group.  Not his best time but it was still awesome and he had his best bike time ever! 

The Oklahoma heat was way more then we've gotten used to here in NM; it was hot!

Kaitlin, a friend from my sorority and the OSU Tri Club, finished her first half iron distance incredibly strong! She looked awesome and I love her pink sunglasses.

I'm so proud of him and, though I will never do a triathlon, I'm proud to be your triathlon groupie. :)

OKC weekend - We already miss it

Sunday was pretty low-key. We went to church and then back to my parents' for lunch.

Here's my friend Kate (we've known each other since sixth grade and for all of middle school and high school we took dance and went to church together). She actually lives in Paris, France right now and happens to be visiting home for the month of August. What a lucky coincidence!

Becca helped me wrangle my pups for a photo in my parents' backyard because, even with the triple-digit Oklahoma heat, they've made it beautiful!

They held still for this one millisecond. :)

Please excuse the yellowness of the picture, it was taken with my phone.

I love her to the end of the universe and back. AND, I need her in my life because, otherwise, I would have no idea what drink to order at Starbucks (Passion Fruit Lemonade Iced Tea).

We had missed Braum's burgers and ice cream so much. On our way into Oklahoma we grabbed dinner from Braum's and on our way out we grabbed milkshakes. :)

This is the sunset that greeted us shortly after we crossed the New Mexico state-line. God paints the sky so pretty!

OKC Trip - Good Moments

Here are several pictures I captured over the weekend that just put a smile on my face.

My parents' dog Dolly crawled right into Roxy and Pirate's porta-crate and stayed there for a while enjoying their comfy bed.

A view from the ninth floor of the Skirvin of downtown Oklahoma City,

Contrary to what this picture leads you to believe, she really is a pretty girl. (Pictured here with her boyfriend, Clinton, and Russ' brother, Thomas.)

See gorgeous! (Now, Thomas is making a face. :)

Eating yummy cupcakes at Russ' parents' house. Nancy found some of our favorites at a bake sale, so she bought a dozen.

My doggies did really well in the car for such long periods of time.

See. She'll just curl up (awkwardly) and take a nap.

OKC Weekend - Time with Friends

Saturday afternoon, Russ and I went over to the house of my good friends Holly and Hillary.

We had margaritas and fruit snacks and just sat around to catch up.

Here Hillary is expressing her extreme distaste for my need to take lots of pictures.

I've missed them so much! Both Hillary and Holly do all types of theater and I'm so excited that I will actually be able to see Holly's next show because it is the weekend that Russ is doing a triathlon in OKC!

I accidentally cut off most of Tonk's face. whoops.

Tonks really liked Russ. She cuddled up right next to his leg for almost the entire time we were there. :)

Russ' friend Stephen came over to hang out with us, too.

Unfortunately, the boys had done a bike ride earlier in the day and he was pooped.

Holly wanted to check and see if her carpet was as comfortable as Stephen seemed to think.

FYI: I love my friends.

OKC Par-tay!

Friday night was the Oklahoma City reception for Andrew and Melissa. Andrew's mom/my godmom, Michele planned it at the Skirvin Hotel in Bricktown and it was fantastic!

 

Since there were many people who couldn't make it to the wedding in Minneapolis, there were tons of pictures for them to look through.

 

And the happy couple was ready to get out on the dance floor once again and show us all there moves. :)

We rocked out all night to The Wise Guys. They're an incredibly well-known classic rock band in OKC and Michele's brother, Mike, is a founding member.

Larry and Michele dancing with Melissa (and Andrew) in the background.

Becca and Harris

Harris dancing with James and Becca

Me and James

Larry and his mom, Dorothy. (Dorothy and her husband Dee won the anniversary dance at my wedding, they're an awesome couple!)

James and my mom/his godmom

My Papa Hardin, Nana Schoeb and my Daddy watching the dance floor.

Russ with his mom, sister and brother. They sure are a good looking bunch, aren't they?

Andrew and Becca.

I'm pretty certain that everyone in attendance had an awesome time at the party. The music, dinner, dessert, champagne and company were all top notch!