Mother Nature wins the battle

Spring storms are typically normal for me since I have spent most of my life living in Oklahoma, but they now have a whole new meaning when MarinaMan and I are responsible for keeping the family business floating. Early Thursday morning a good storm came through and decided to take with it most of our breakwater dock, Dock A. Thankfully nobody was on the dock and customer's boats took only minor damage. Below you can see the before and after.

Luckily, we have a great staff and everyone has been working hard to get things safe and in working order. We are anxious for the nice weather as traffic is already starting to pick up for the summer lake season. Just another day in the Life as a MarinaGirl.

Simple things in Life

Always late, but guess better than never. Kelsey tagged me to do the happiness list, things that bring a smile to my face or simple pleasure. So here it goes in no particular order:

1. Family
Now more than ever being around family makes me happy. Its the time when I truly don't have to worry about anything and can just be myself. Nights with mom and my sisters. Dinner dates with dad. Small chats with my mother-in-law. Or just hanging out with the whole family at the lake. I love when they get to come visit us in Arkansas and even more when I get to make a quick trip home.

2. Scrolling through old photos
When Scott tried to convince me to get an iMac computer years ago, all he had to do is show me iphoto and I WAS SOLD. Not only do I love taking photos(not very good at it), but I love looking back through them. Next project is cleaning up iphoto with just my favs and best photos because it is starting to slow down because of too many photos.

3. Coke
This biggest addiction- pain in my side. Coke. I would love to be more healthy but this one is always that thing slowing me down. I love coke. I love coke. I can even substitute with pespi.

4. Getting stuff done
I know this is weird. But marking things off a list or just completing a project makes me happy and gives me that sense of self worth and accomplishment.

5. Watching movies
This is one of my favorite activities for Scott and I. We love movies. Going to movie in the theater, going to the mailbox to get the next netflix, or adding to our growing collecting of dvds and blue rays. This seems to be one of the few time when I can just sit and relax. Lets me mind take a break. Cause if you know me, I constantly have to be doing something or I fall asleep.

6. Sleeping in
We all know I love sleep. Feels so great to sleep in on the weekends and not have things I HAVE to get done. These days are too few lately.

7. A clean house
Even though this normally stresses me out during the process and before its complete. I love the feeling of coming home to a clean house. Just puts a smile on my face.

8. Old Navy - especially when new season clothes arrive
Love going into Old Navy and browsing through all of the summer clothes before summer arrives or fall clothes during the summer. They have the best deals. I am a total sucker.

9. Mexican food
Kelsey has this one on her list too, but so true. I swear every time we do make it in to town to go out to eat, Scott always asked what I want but knows deep down I probably just want Mexican food. Love chips and salsa. But love queso and guacamole just as much. Homemade guacamole always make my day.

10. Never-ending love from the dogs
Whether its watching the dogs chat and play, Einstein trying to sneak up on the couch or into the bed to cuddle with me, or them greeting me at the door with excitement. They always bring a smile to my face and keep me entertained.

11. Visits from friends
Now living in another state from all of our friends and family, visit from friends bring me much happiness. Even if its just for a few days. I love sharing our home and beautiful surroundings with them. Catching up like no time has passed.

I could probably go on, but those are a few that come to mind. It was great to sit now and think about the simple things that bring us happiness. I invite you to take time to reflect and share.

So long Rambling Road...

The new year brought a bittersweet goodbye to our first house. After re-locating to NW Arkansas in February of last year, it was a long road in a tough housing market to sell our house in Oklahoma City. After many months, we decided to stage the house thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law. Within a few weeks, we had an offer and a great new couple is now enjoying.

A few pics as we say goodbye...

Snow Storm January 2010

As if the Christmas Blizzard was not enough, more snow has hit Arkansas. Luckily it came towards the end of the week. I am not for sure on total of inches we have gotten, since I rarely watch the news. But think we will be staying put for a few days. Glad we have plenty of food.

Notice MarinaMan's gloves...Go Pokes...think my dad got him those for Christmas and since we didn't have our ski stuff here in Arkansas, he had to manage.

The dogs have been enjoying the snow, but don't stay out for long.

To occupy our time, we luckily bought the first three seasons of 24 on DVD earlier this week. Anybody 24 fans?

Coming out of Hibernation

This past month has been great and busy(hence the not blogging for a month). We were fortunate to make some trips back to OKC for the holidays including getting snowed in with the Oklahoma City Blizzard. 14 inches, come on that is insane.

We have been back home and daily life has been more of survival mode. Weather in the single digits and snow has resulted in frozen pipes (aka no water) and trouble getting around on the roads and up the driveway. Lets just conclude that I am ready for this winter adventure to be over and ready for spring.

You know when the marina starts to get calls about boat rentals and reservations for July - that I am not the only one ready for spring and summer.

I will try to get some photos up soon.

Adventure story: Scott was out working in the well house a few weeks ago, probably adjusting the heater to help the frozen pipes, and he found a package that appeared to have been carried from our front porch down the driveway. Just guessing that the UPS guy delivered the package to the porch instead of just throwing in the driveway. As you can tell from the picture something decide the present inside was worth trying to get. A whole corner of the box had been destroyed and the tin can inside had claw indentations in it, but lucking the animal did not succeed. The can of nuts and candy was still there just with a few addition decorations on the outside.


Lesson learned: Warn vendors about sending packages with food

Dear Santa, I would like grass and a front yard for Christmas! It's ok if I don't see it until spring

Ok, I know this is weird, so I will start off by acknowledging my weirdness.

Since our move to rural Arkansas, I have gain a new appreciated by being surrounded by God's work and beautiful landscape. Our house (mini house/cabin) sits on wooded acreage and you get to drive up a windy and curvy road to get to the cabin. All great especially the roadside lake views you see on the way.

The first picture I saw of this cabin online was a winter picture with the house in snow. So cute, then I saw a few summer time photos with a small grassy front yard surrounded by trees and woody stuff.

Since we bought the house, the yard has never been groomed or mowed and is now taken over by weeds or wheat growing tall, sticker bushes, you name it. Nobody's fault in particular, but we were a little busy this summer, you know, figuring out how to run a marina, opening a motel, moving, etc.

Lately, I have been on a kick to try to rake some of the leaves and trim some weeds to see if there is signs of life under all this mess. To my great surprise I think there is. The dogs love to run through the trees but the also love to lay in the yard and bast in the sun. Kinda hard to do with sticker bushes under there paws and weeds taller than them.

All this to say, I miss green groomed grass and am hopeful I can create a patch next year. Probably on my own since Mr. H is not so excited about creating more work and stuff to maintain. Understandable, but it will look pretty.

Who votes for a small front yard amongst the jungle I now call home?

Every 50 feet in Arkansas - Curvy Road Ahead

Every 50 feet in Arkansas
Originally uploaded by adhumphreys

Car sickness. My husband I don't think truly believes in this, but that is probably because I get nausea almost every time I get in the car.

There are a few things that increase the likeliness of this happening - sitting in the back on a car, not eating that day, afternoon sun, etc.

I continue to surprised myself. Normally this only happens when i am a passenger, but there is always a first. When driving to the marina from the cabin early afternoon recently, I had not eaten yet that day and manage to make myself car sick.

You literally see one of these signs every 50 feet which does not help.

Upon arriving at the Marina, Mr. H looked at me and said, "Why do you look so pale?"

Normally this is because I haven't been in the sun much, but no, not this time. Me, "I got car sick".

Mr. H, laughter.

Add this to the "Things you should consider when moving" list.

Meet my nephew, Wesley(the chihuahua)

My sister, Katie, and husband, Daivid, got Welsey earlier this year, but I don't get to see him often enough. He has only made one trip to the lake and lets just say I didn't make it back home very often this summer.

Katie prepared dinner for the family and Scott's early birthday celebration, so I was able to get some Welsey time in. He is the cutest little thing. I do love my dogs, but he fits in your hand.

So I thought I would introduce you to him. The other big dog that he is sitting on is Sammy, their other dog that does really cool tricks(like when you sneeze-brings you a Kleenex, go and gets firewood, etc).

I am thankful for to have more time to visit home and hang out with the family.

Annual Craft & Baking Night

About 5 years ago, I started a tradition with Scott's two cousins (Morgan and Taylor). They are like having little sisters that I don't see often enough. So to give their parents a night to themselves(they normally go shopping), we have a slumber party and craft night each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kelsey started joining us a few year back after joining the Humphreys family. Always an all girl party, but the boys don't seem to mind.

Some of the activities we've done:
Concrete Stepping Stones
Pottery & Jewelry Making
Ornaments and Craft painting
Wire Letter Ornaments
This Year - Bulletin boards and fleece blanket

Each year there is not enough time to get everything done, but that never prevents us from trying. Along with a craft project each year, we bake sugar cookies and do lots of decorating with icing and sprinkles. Morgan's favorite part is putting flour on the counter top to roll out the dough. This year we did cupcake instead but was just as much fun.

Bedlam Football: Sonners and Cowboys

Thanksgiving weekend is not complete without some OU and OSU football. This is always entertaining since this OSU alumni married into a OU spirited family. This year we were fortunate to have both sides of the family attending the bedlam bash down in Norman. Outcome did not favor my Pokes, but smiles all around just to enjoy fun times.