April in Review

Or is it "revue"? Nope, pretty sure it's "review" unless we are talking about a chorus line, which we most definitely are not.

April was pretty crazy. So crazy, in fact, that I did not have time to post much, even though there were lots of happenings to post about.  We started the month with my continuing attempts at living up my NY resolution to be more social.  A friend and I went to Tatas and Tinis, a fun pink martini-themed event benefiting Oklahoma Project Woman.  It was a great event, and I will definitely plan on going back next year.  A couple of days later, John and I went to another alcohol-themed event (because we are clearly driven to drink) at the Cain's Ballroom called Mix, benefiting Philbrook Museum. It was a mixology contest among some of Tulsa's more notable bartenders, and the people watching was excellent, especially after the event-goers had had an opportunity to partake in some of the contestants' wares.

The second weekend of April, I accompanied my mom and some friends to a great food and wine event at OSU in Stillwater -- Of Wine, Women and the West. The highlight of the event (for me, at least) was getting to see Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, in the flesh. I love love love her recipes, and she has a great sense of humor.  We also had the opportunity to taste some really great wines from a Napa vineyard owned by an Oklahoman.  All of that day drinking led to a nice nap in the car on the way home.

The last weekend in April we took a little road trip to KC for a sweet friend's baby shower.  This entailed me skipping the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon, and while I'm still very disappointed in myself for not running, I'm glad I got to spend some time with some of my awesome college friends. We also introduced Henry to John's aunt, uncle, and cousin - so it was a fun friends and family weekend all around.  And did I mention that we got to go to Trader Joe's? Oh, how I took this place for granted when we lived in Chicago and the closest TJ's was a mere mile away. My shopping experience was pure bliss and quite possibly (not really) the highlight of our weekend away.  Henry still has some improving to do before I will feel joy at taking him on a road trip again.

We hope to be better at posting in May - we've got lots of fun stuff on the schedge so far, which makes for great blog material (because let's face it, our everyday lives are just about as interesting as watching the grass grow).

We took Henry to Woodward Park in an attempt to get some cute pics of him. Unfortunately all he wanted to do was run away from us. Fast.

Henry playing games at a cousin's birthday party. It was out in the country and he kept running to see the cows.

Steph came in town and we did a little celebrating of some fun stuff going on in her life right now. Although, she's 23, so everything she does sounds fun to me.

Microscopic Pioneer Woman. She was hilarious!

Sara, Leigh, and me at Leigh's shower. She is going to be the best momma!

Amazing Technicolor Dream Race

If you're not up for a sappy post about fitness, community, and fun, then you might as well stop reading now.

I got up bright and early and joined my mom and some friends for The Color Run, a race that (when in Tulsa) benefits the River Parks and involves being pelted with technicolor dream paint along the course.  There were around 14,000 participants this year, all in a field of white, waiting to start the  race along Riverside Drive. There were so many people that people were still waiting to start when I finished, and believe me - I did not break any records. The race was untimed (thank goodness) and more like an obstacle course with all the weaving and dodging around walkers and other just general mosey-ers of all ages.  It was pretty cool seeing that many Tulsans doing their bodies, and their city, good.

After the race, everyone got in a big mosh pit-type formation and threw even more color up in the air, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but definitely was not once the air was thick with powder and people. I was convinced I was going to suffocate to amazing technicolor dream death.

After being blown off by a leaf blower and several minutes of major scrubbing, I'm back to my pasty pale self (except for maybe some blue in my ears).  Definitely a fun event, and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year (hopefully with John and Henry in tow).

The before: shiny happy people

After: Rainbow Brite

Easter Number 2

Like Easter Number 1, it was great to spend time with family (and to eat fried chicken).  Also like Easter Number 1, Henry was not the least bit interested in Easter eggs.  In fact, the only thing he was interested in was playing outside while whining. But, at least he looked super cute doing it! Hope everyone had a great Easter!

Henry and his amazing technicolor Easter pants

Henry, John, me, and my incredibly blousy shirt

The crew for Easter round 2. Love being able to spend holidays with family!

Easter, Take 1

I've been looking forward to Easter for quite a while. Maybe it's because Henry has been so interested in the decorative Easter eggs I've had around the house, so I thought he would be super into hunting eggs his first Easter as a mobile human being. Or maybe it's because I love the candy coated Cadbury mini eggs.  Either way, Easter weekend has been on my radar for quite some time.

Our dance card for Easter weekend is pretty full. One of the things I was most exited for, however, ended up being a total bust because of the craptastic weather we had this morning. Tulsa Zoo was putting on a fun Easter event called Zoobilee, with egg hunts, train rides, pics with the Easter bunny, and other fun Easter activities.  Unfortunately, the sky decided to open up and rain, thunder, and lightening right when all the fun stuff was supposed to start. So, we just hung out in a pavilion, got Henry's pic taken with the Easter bunny, and people watched until we felt like there was enough of a break in the downpour to run to our car.

The second egg hunt of the day was a little more successful. My dad, stepmom, brother, and his fiancee came over for lunch and to watch Henry attempt to find eggs in the backyard.  If only the weather was as gorgeous this morning as it was this afternoon!

Trying to stay dry at the zoo

Yummy bunny cake

Pickin' up eggs

I may or may not have put those eggs in his basket

Henry and Dad (aka his favorite person in the world)

Enjoying the amazing afternoon weather

Just a Little Bit of Paint

It all started with needing to have the hand rail on our stairs repaired (because it fell off the wall, most likely from being yanked on by me as I fell down the stairs, Henry in arms, tried to catch myself on it).  Repairing the hand rail meant repainting it, which also meant repainting the rest of the banister. Which then meant repainting all the trim upstairs, which led to just repainting the whole shebang up there. Throw in the front door, and we had a two week painting job on our hands.  Being banished from the upstairs, and thus Henry's play room, nearly drove us nuts, but we love how everything turned out.  So it was all worth it.  I think.  Below are some pics of the play room and the extra bedroom upstairs. We also repainted the bathroom as well, but I'm still trying to figure some things out in there.  Whenever that happens, I will post some pics of that as well.

Where we hide all of Henry's plastic toys

(Ignore the bedding on the floor)

Henry's First Haircut

Henry got his first little haircut on Saturday. It was just a little bit of a bang trim - no way am I cutting those curls anytime soon!  He handled it like a champ. Not really. Every time we go someplace where we receive a service, be it the shoe store, or in this case the salon, Henry thinks that the person helping us is going to give him a shot. So he cries hysterically until it's clear that he's not getting poked with any needles. We went to my stylist, Abby Fisher, and she took the whole fiasco quite well. Like a true new mom, I saved his hair in a little baggie, for what future purpose I have no clue.

The rest of our weekend was pretty uneventful - the haircut was the highlight. We ran a bunch of errands, I did a bunch of laundry, Henry headbutted me in the nose so hard that it bled and still hurts like crazy.  The usual.

Perhaps the other, slightly less momentous, highlight of the weekend was the completion of the painting in our house. When we moved in, we had the entire downstairs painted. At the time, I didn't have the sanity to extend the project even further, to include the upstairs, so we just left it at that. A few weeks ago, the banister in the stairway fell off the wall, and the repairs required some painting.  I figured that while I had the painter out doing that, I might as well have him repaint and trim the entire upstairs, as well as paint the front door.  So for the past two weeks, we've been confined to the downstairs - meaning no playroom for Henry, which made me think I might lose my mind.  Fortunately, the painters finished just in time, and we now have our upstairs and playroom back. Henry loves it, we love it, all is good. Pictures to come (when I get around to taking them).

The before: Happy as a clam, but blinded by his super-long bangs

During: OMG this lady is going to kill me

Well, maybe this isn't so bad after all

After: Still a little uncertain, but super handsome

Fully recovered and wreaking havoc at the salon

Fun St. Patrick's Day Weekend

We rounded out an absolutely gorgeous week with a fun and festive St. Pat's weekend.  The weather here's been absolutely gorgeous, with temps in the 80s on Friday. I took off work a bit early and picked up Henry for some fun afternoon play time outside. I have to admit that I was a bit wistful as we drove down Brookside, past all the full patios of people enjoying a sunny and warm happy hour. But the free afternoon with my little guy more than made up for my mojito craving.

We all rallied on Saturday morning and went to the St. Patrick's Day 5K, which took place on Peoria. Henry enjoyed the people watching, and the weather was great for a race. Like many things about my body and my life, running just hasn't been the same since having Henry.  The pre-Henry me could go out and lose myself in a run. But this new me runs like a Clydesdale, and it ain't pretty. Needless to say, my finish time was stupid, but at least the race was a reasonably entertaining way to start our Saturday.

We rounded out the weekend by getting Henry a semi-ugly playhouse for the backyard.  Another plastic toy to add to his repertoire (see below post). But it makes him happy and keeps him (if even momentarily) distracted from the destruction he could be causing in the house.  For that, I can live with the eyesore in the backyard.

Just walking around, waiting on Mom to eventually cross the finish line at the race

Wearing green for his school SPD festivities

H and me, pre-race. His enthusiasm was just too much.

Just chillin' in his playhouse, reflecting on its plastic awesomeness

Favorite activity: opening and closing the door. Incessantly.