Anniversary Surprise

Our best friends, Cydney and Brandon McCullough, are our family. They cross the boundaries of friendship and have worked into a rhythm of life with us like only family can. We eat dinner with them weekly at our homes, in the summer there were long bike rides with snocones as the end prize, and there's always time for movies with them. When their anniversary came around in September, Adam and I dropped off a surprise gift them; some champagne, chimay (for non-beer people, it's an incredible, single bottled beer), and left them a note. Easy to do since we have keys to each others homes. (Like I said, family.) When we came home from our date Monday night, celebrating our anniversary, we were met with this:

The note on our log read, "Happy Anniversary! We love you both so much. PS: Share the wood and follow the trail. Love Cyd & B". We did just that and followed the cut wood throughout our home until it led us to the back door. Outside, waiting for us and our new yard, was a beautiful chiminea. I had to wait until the next day to get a good picture, but it was one of the sweetest gifts we've received, and we can't wait to share it with them, or anyone else who cares for a visit!

Also, just for fun, I've included a couple pictures of some of our "babies"....

Here you have Marzapan, basking in the sun and enjoying her new found freedom as an indoor-outdoor cat. Unfortunately Adam was attempting to build at the time, and her perch was his lumber!

And ofcourse, last but not least, Kitri, posing in all the bush we had trimmed over the weekend, smiling for the camera!

Two Years of Happiness and Excitement

Today marks the day, two years ago, that Adam & I became our own family. That once we turned towards our families and friends we became, as Holly said "Adam & Kaitlin, the couple that will never have to change their monogram". Every year has its ups and downs, and every year I feel our bond grow stronger, and tighter as if an invisible piece of twine runs between our hearts, no matter how far from each other we are. The perfect compliment to my soul and being, I can imagine myself with no one else. Every time we are struck with a moment of bliss I take pause to remember how much I love this man, and how lucky I am to be loved and cared for by him. Our love causes me to remember my favorite, and I feel the truest, line from Les Miserables, "To love another person is to see the face of God."

Disposable Cameras: Lost, and then Found

This summer, we stumbled upon an old (we learned after developing, 6yrs old to be exact) disposable camera and decided to use up the rest of the film and discover what was on there! It turns out that the camera was originally Adam's from his senior year of high school, and due to it's natural camera quality, and that it had spent years in the Accord, experiencing all of Texas's seasons...the pictures came out with a nice 70s effect to them. Either way, I thought I would share a few of our favorites of the roll with you!

Our niece Elizabeth, and nephew Ethan came for a week in the summer and we were lucky enough to have them for a day. The highlight for them, and obviously to Dutchess, was the time spent lavishing attention on our grunty sweetheart in the papasan chair.

Here I am apparently channeling Ryan as we took our "gangsta" photo at Sally & Donald's Rehearsal Dinner

Here we are...at our finest, and fuzziest.

Last, but not least, my favorite. Adam's AP-Calculas class at Amarillo High, the week of AP tests (we were in separate classes, so thankfully I'm not pictured).

Ahh, memories... :)

Finding a New Home

So, our decision has been made---a commitment to a year lease on an amazing house here in Amarillo. We're still staying in the Bivins neighborhood we love (f0r my Fort Worth friends, think historic district/craftsman style). Our new address is not far from our old, you can now find us at 1024 SW12th Ave! I will be sure to post pictures soon, we are VERY excited! Days before we found it, we had been talking about our needs and wants in a home, and happened upon this one, which meets all of them. To fully experience just how wonderful it is, you'll have to come down for a visit!

We're All Getting Older, And The Parties Are More Fun

Adam's 25th birthday was upon us about a week ago, September 19th to be exact. We've adopted the O'Connell tradition of a "friends" party the weekend of your birthday followed by a family party on your actual birthday. Growing up, family dinner was always so special because for me it meant an abundance of cheesy spaghetti and plenty of double chocolate cheesecake, as the rule was you got your favorite food. We started our weekend off Friday night with dinner with our partners in crime-Cydney & Brandon. Recently, Adam and Brandon have joined a Men's Group that meets for 4 hours on Wednesday nights, and they had all planned to meet out Friday night at our local wine bar with their wives. So, after dinner---which was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, and I have to slide in the detail that Adam told Cydney (who was trying to help by making reservations) "just pick something yummy", we headed out to meet everyone at Crush.

The first of Adam's birthday surprises was that his best friend Mitchell met us at Crush, having just driven all the way in from College Station for the celebration.

It was fun to get to meet most of the guys Adam spends so much time with, and their wives especially!

After hours of talking and laughing, we headed to Mitchell's to swim and hangout in the hot tub, a very lucky thing to have a friend with such fun things at his disposal! Saturday brought us out to Greenbelt lake where we camped, cooked HoBo pizzas, played games and Adam opened presents. His first, from Cydney & Brandon was a beautiful pipe that is so very much Adam, and fitting too since Adam gave Brandon his first pipe last year.

I swear they're both really 65, trapped in 25yr old's bodies! The best surprise of all, although I am quite biased, was getting to give Adam his violin he's wanted for 4 years. He was so excited, and a day later already had a song down!

Sunday, his actual birthday brought us family day, and Adam's choice was to watch Mythbusters re-runs and eat grilled cheese with tomato soup, a very, very easy request to fulfill. I love that our way to celebrate is to spend as much time with our friends as possible, and then to relax and cut away the world on our family day, even if it's just for some grilled cheese. Happy Birthday Adam! I love you very much, and can't wait to celebrate the next!

Wedding Magic

This past weekend has been a flurry of activity, with one of my childhood friends finally getting married to her military man. They have waited several years, and after their wedding and honeymoon, will have to wait 6 more months before they get the chance to live together as a real family, so keep them in your prayers. Bright fall colors, beckoning a break from the heat, a beautiful bundle of girls, and a night of dancing made a gorgeous Saturday! Weddings in Amarillo, or in any smaller town, are always a treat because there are so many people you know, and from so many circles! Always someone to talk to in line, someone to dance with when your spouse needs a break, and someone to laugh with while certain people (read, Brandon and Adam) show their dance moves. Adam, Brandon, Cydney and I were among the last to leave, the dance floor's call was just too strong. At one point I was literally dancing all alone on the floor, I believe it was Lady Gaga, calling my name! I give you now, proof of a wonderful wedding....

Adam, Donald, Sally & Me

Adam & I Show How It's Done, Opening Up the Floor for the Twist

Our Family of Friends

Have I Mentioned Before How Much I Love This Man?

Brothers and Weddings and Camping--Oh My!

The end of July was a busy and exciting time for us here in Amarillo. My younger brother's best friends were getting married and that meant that we were lucky enough for him to be in town for nearly 2 weeks!!! Ryan is a man of popularity, and has missed his friends over the last year with his new life in DC. While we were happy he got the chance to hangout with all his friends, and enjoy being back in town, it was a little sad to just see him a few days. I embarrassed him terribly when it was time for him to go, crying at the airport when it was time for his check-in. We did get the chance to go camping at the lake, eat at our favorite hole in the wall, and watch some movies. The wedding was great, and Adam and I enjoyed ourselves (perhaps a bit too much) on the dance floor, particularly for the twist!