New Apartment

Ryan and I are thankful for our new apartment. It's much closer to his work and it's very spacious--just our size. Wal-Mart is just down the street and it's pretty new, so it's nice and we're very close to new developments here in Moore. Last night, Ryan and I walked to Starbucks about a 1/2 mile and had a date! Being close to a coffee shop has its perks! (no pun intended :)
We purchased new couches at a pretty good price! Wow, we're buying furniture..we're getting old.

The living room area is very open and it just flows into the kitchen

This is the study/office--we have a futon so people can stay over with us!
View from the golf course

Crockpot Creations

One of my favorite things to do is to take an idea from a recipe and make it my own by adding a thing or two. This is a combo of white wine, bbq sauce, spices, onions, and apples with chicken and turned out great! Ryan really liked it, which makes it a success!

country road

When I go running down this country road, I always look for the sheep. They're so cute! I finally got some pictures of them...

Natty Boom Boom

That's my new nickname from Ellie because we had fun dancing to an alphabet song called "chicka chicka boom-boom. I guess the name befits me. . .

Nanny Nattie

Once a week I've been going to Daniel and Allison's house to help out with the girls. I look forward to it every week! I get to be Allison's sidekick and see what life is like with 2 girls. I have to admit, I'm pretty tired at the end of the day! People are probably beginning to think that my blog is about my sisters and my nieces and nephew! (If the shoe fits. . .) Ryan said a guy told him at work that you shouldn't let your wife spend time around the family's babies cause then she'll get the "fever." haha.The Zoester! She is saying all kinds of funny things and displaying such antics! She's hilarious!
Wivvy Bug is such a sweetheart. She's very cuddly so we're great friends!

Sista Time

My favorite part of Caity's house is the KITCHEN!

Here's the outside of the house..It's only about 5 minutes away from Cherith...convenient babysitting!
I just love these little girls!
Here's a naughty one (just like her mama!)

Here's sweet little baby Gabby...Ellie calls her "Dabby Doo"

Graduation Day

We're so proud of Caitlin and Johnathan...They both graduated and moved into a beautiful house in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I've already been to visit once! I have a feeling that the road to my sisters' houses will be quite worn!

Marathon Day

Today was a memorable day for me...I completed my first marathon. After having such a turbulent last year in so many areas, training for this marathon and completing it has been such a wonderful restoration for me. Thank YOU Lord!

I couldn't have done it without my wonderful sister and friend, Bethany. She trained for the half marathon and provided me with companionship for parts of the long runs. We talked together, prayed, giggled, and told stories...(well, I mostly told stories!) The day began early at 4am! We arrived at 6 and it was cold and raining! About mile 17, the sun came out and it was pretty nice after that.
Everyone said I looked so energetic at the end...I was concealing the pain (I think) and I was just excited to see everyone cheering me on...especially...
My sweetie!!!!! and family!!! I was surprised at how I finished. I aimed for 5 hours and I made it in 4 hours, 39 minutes! I didn't know what I had in me! (I am a bit competitive, though) :)

Allison is my hero. She trained for the half marathon and took care of a wonderfully energetic 3 year old and a sweet 16 month old doll. She is super mom. I want to be like her when I have kids!


Ryan finally met up with me at mile 17..It was still pretty cold at this point, but he took my jacket and sent me off with some gluten-free chips for sodium (cause that's what the expert (jason pagel) told us)! It was so good to see him!

Star Soccer Player

Here's a video of our star soccer player! This is one of her favorite things to do! Obviously I'm not because I accidentally hit her with the ball!

Cuteness...Need I say More?

He's just like my brother...a bit stubborn.
Having fun with his favorite aunt! :)
Again, just like Joel used to do to me..."Hey...can you see up my nose?" Gross

Other than replacing our Honda transmission, Spring break at Joel and Zanny's was super fun. We lazed about, went to the Y, hung out with Joel and Zanny, and I got to watch Luke Daniel....It was confirmed on the Myers-Briggs personality test that I should be a journalist, so here's a little clip...
FYI...this was taken very early in the morning...:)

Get That Cricket!

Watch Scooter's first encounter with...the infamous cricket! Committed to our safety, she encircles the creature, weaving about... After my command of "Get that cricket!," she begins to chomp and bite her teeth near him, so as to warn 'em that he's not wanted 'round these parts. You show 'em who's boss, Scoots!

Getting Work Done

As you can see, I'm trying to study and Scooter has found her favorite spot to be...coiled around me breathing her dog breath on me...

But how can you say no to a face like that? Pitiful.

Hot Diggety-Dog!

Instead of hunting badgers underground, Scooter is uprooting the couch cushions searching for...I don't know...stale popcorn, pens, pocket change....She'll eventually surface.

Dog Training 101

Here Scooter is learning to come when she is called. As you can see, she has flunked her first training class.

The faces of Scoots

No, please don't scold me..I didn't do it.
Anything? Food? Toys? Love?...

Come closer...I want to smell you...

Luke Daniel

Finally I got to hold and smooch my little nephew, Luke Daniel. He's so adorable...He likes to dance like his aunt Natty...Here he's doing a jig to an Irish tune....Watch and giggle

Family Time

Last week was kind of like the calm before the storm. By "storm" I mean the new turn my life has taken, from which I have a bit of "whiplash," metaphorically speaking. In a period of about 3 weeks, I went from being done with school to starting a masters. Anyway, before all that started we went to see our Pagel family up in Iowa. Burr. Chill. It was pretty cold.

So, yes we got a dog. I had been persuasively encouraging Ryan how cool it would be if we had a dog...I didn't really think he'd catch on, but all of a sudden we found ourselves lookin for puppies on the internet! As my mom would say, I guess I "put a bee in his bonnet." :)

Allison came over and helped me give Scooter a bath...we had fun hanging out...us girls had to stick together! (Scooter included).

I think Ryan had been storing up most of his competitive energy to spend at home playing Settlers with the boys. I'll have to learn I guess. I had fun just spending time with the fam...great conversations and stories with Kim and Sharon, lunch with Loretta, ice cream with the boys, helping out with Jason's apt, singing with Jon, (as well as throwing snow in his face after he pushed me), watching Cars with Josh, and of course, giving hugs to everyone!

Ryan told me one morning after he woke up (at 11:00)..."I like coming home...it's just relaxing and I don't have to do anything." I agreed. Except, oh wait...I asked for a dog and now I'm getting up early to take her out in the sub-freezing weather and trying to watch her like a hawk because she's not fully housebroken! I guess I got what I asked for. I'm just preparing myself for motherhood. :)
It was pretty awesome. Sharon kept us supplied with whatever we wanted in the kitchen and it just felt like home.

Red Rovin' Rough Ridin' Rootin' Tootin' Boot Scootin' lil Hot Dog

Meet Scooter Pagel! She's the latest addition to our family. She's quick, curious, fearless, and hopelessly devoted to ME! We got her here in Iowa, so she's enjoyed meeting all the boys and Sharon. She's eleven months old and still very puppyish...Here are a few pics Kim took.