OKC Trip

Well it certainly is good to be home. Maddox and I spent 12 days in OK and had a great time but there is nothing like the feeling of home. Mostly because I don't have to constantly get on Maddox to stay out of stuff at home. Right now I am sitting at the bar and I can see him and the doggies playing downstairs - happy as clams to be reunited.
We got to spend some good, quality time with lots of family and a few friends while we were in OK and I thank you all (you know who you are) for carting us around, letting us crash your pads, driving across town to see us (Linse and Hammons family), and for any inconvenience in general we may have caused. And of course we apologize for any destruction that was cause on behalf of tornado Maddox as well.
While we were in OK we stayed with the Caves family for a while. Jamie said that she wanted to learn some new recipes and try some new foods. Of course I was happy to oblige and I took over the cooking for a few days. It was no surprise that Tommy liked everything I made but Jamie and Azlyn are a little harder. The fact that they hate onions is a real problem in my cooking - we eat them in everything at our house. The first thing I made was quinoa tacos. The quinoa salad is a recipe from Whole Foods but I like to put it on corn tortillas with melted mozzarella cheese and top with avocado. We also made a simple spinach leaf salad with strawberries, mandarin oranges and pecan with a light Greek dressing. We decided to have Azlyn try them "taste test" style and close her eyes. I came to the conclusion that this would be best after Jamie saw all of the ingredients and said, "she won't eat that, she won't eat that either". So we talked about it and Azlyn was game. She tried the tacos and said she like them and ate almost a whole one. Then we told her what was in the m and she made a fuss of the red pepper and how "red peppery" they tasted. So we decided that she did not eat enough with her eyes closed. She only tried one bite with closed eyes and skipped to judgment. The salad was different. She loved it - ate the whole bowl (and asked for some the next day)! Yeah for us! Oh I would also like to tell that after 9 long years of being a broccoli hater- Azlyn now likes it when steamed with a little butter. She was very adamant about not liking it but after I agreed to eat something I don't like then she tried it my way. She liked it and ate 3 helpings. Poor Tommy, he has been trying to get her to eat it for years. Kids are so weird like that. Some of the other things we made were tortilla chips, guacamole and hummus - all of which were a hit.

Maddox and I also had a very fun afternoon with Elsa, Chloe and Ezra at the park. We went to Regional Park in MWC and had a picnic lunch first and then pla yed on the toys. We played so long and hard that the kids actually asked if we could leave because they were tired. How often does that happen? After the park we met Mimi and Uncle Joshie at Braums for a tasty treat. When I am in OK I eat Braums as much as I can. I know that is bad but I LOVE IT ! Plus, I only eat frozen yogurt and not ice cream. Does that mean I can eat twice as much since it has way less calories and fat? Apparently it does, because I do. Anyway, Chloe and Ezra, with all the magnificent choices available to them at Braums both eat vanilla cones. Chloe said sometime people give her a hard time about eating vanilla and say it is boring. I say no, it is "classic" and "classic" never goes out of style. But I remember goin g to Braums after soccer games as a kid and getting a banana split with peppermint, mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream ice cream and eating the whole thing. Boy o boy could I eat when I was young, and I sure ate weird stuff.

The Saturday before Easter we went out to El Reno to Papa Jim and Annee's and saw their new baby horse that was about a week and a half old and some new kittens. We thought Maddox would like the horse but he was only mildly interested in comparison to all the dogs, and the rakes. He loves dogs and stick like objects and will wholeheartedly go after both. We also went to lunch with them and enjoyed some delicious queso - a delicacy you cannot find here in the Tri-Cities. M addox enjoyed it so much he just started drinking it from the bowl, the chips were just getting in the way. Who was I to stop him? I almost joined in the fun but he wouldn't share. After lunch we headed back to the bustling metropolis and decided what to do nex t. It was too late for the zoo so we thought we would try a dollar movie since Maddox had not been to one. He lasted through about half but started to get cranky bc he was tired so we left. Plus the movie was lame. Then we went to Penn Square Mall to find a few bargains. When I was checking out at Express I made sure to go to a amicable looking gay guy. After we exchanged pleasantries I asked if there were any coupons or discounts that would make my purchase cheaper. He said,"let me see what I can do" and produced a little accordion envel ope filled with wonderful little coupons. He scanned and POOF, I walked out saving $10 extra bucks on my mere $35 purchase. I was thrilled to say the least bc I did this last time too and I saved about $35. Anyway , I will be doing this more often at other retail establishments. The worst they can do is say no. Try it too and let me know where it works for y ou. After our power shop we went back to the Caves residence and Sheri came over with the kids. It was a fun day and we enjoyed having a few hours of family time, just the 3 of us, in our old stompin ground.

Easter Sunday was full of family fun and Maddox had a blast. He loves hanging out with the kids and everyone doting on him. Who wouldn't? He has figured out though that the Thai women will try to swoop in and steal him away so when they come near he yells out a big "bye" as in, stay away. But he will just chat with anyone else. It is quite fun ny. We had an egg hunt for the kids as usual and feasted on Thai Noodle Soup with appropriate ethnic sides and ribs, roast and other delicious home cooked yummies. Then of course came the adult egg hunt. I think we get more excited about it than the kids. Pon and Eddie and lots of other grown ups (peeps older than us, we are clearly not the grown ups if we are hunting eggs) pitch in and fill lots and lots of eggs with bills and change and even a few casino chips and hide them all over the yard. Then we run like mad. Julie, always the strategic one tells me which was she is going and which way I need to go and to make sure not to follow anyone. (Thanks captain obvious!) We scurried and scattered and got all huffy and sweaty. There was even one real egg that was worth $25 to the one with the lucky eye. Of course it was the last one found and after several clues from the hiders and lots of wandering from the hunters, Julie was victorious and found the golden egg and was awarded $25 big ones. Once we were all ready to plop down and count our loot, Eddie announced that there were a few more eggs in the front. He hid them well and we needed hints to find them. There was a $20 egg and he was giving hints and Julie nearly ste pped on it and found it but someone else saw it first so she lost that one. So then we caught our breath and counted our loot. The MusGus family left that egg hunt at $59 and some change richer that day. What a treat! The crazy thing about the hunt is some people are less aggressive a nd find nothing or a couple bucks or some love t

he thrill of the hunt and the competition (like us) and bank. No matter what though, we ALL have a blast!

On our last night in OK, Maddox and I went to dinner at Hideaway Pizza with my mom, Victor and Teo. We had a great time and the food was delicious. We also go t a few great pics that night.

Our travel back w as less than ideal though. I don't know if I can take Maddox on a plane without a car seat anymore, it is just too much work. Maybe it was because I was so tired but whoa. We had to get up at 2am PST to catch our flight, then after 2 flights and no sleep for Maddox (or me) I had to drive us 3 1/2 h ours home. It was a tough drive but we made it and Maddox woke up from his nap right as we turned on to our stre et. Of course I was ready for a nap but Maddox was ready to explore his toys again. I think I was up for like 20 hours that day, which I'm sur e lots of people do a lot but I'm not used to that and I'm s till recovering. But we are home safe and sound and happy to see our puppies.

Julie gets back on Sunday night and we can't wait. It will have been 3 weeks since we have all been together in our house. Just a few days left.
It is late now - must sleep. Night