Thursday, December 20, 2012

A Quick Catch Up

Well, when you take a five month hiatus from blogging, you should probably do a quick catch up before just jumping into what's going on today. Sorry to leave you guys hanging on a few things... So, I'll do a very brief recap and then sometime before the weekend is over I'm going to blog all about our Christmas decor. (I'd be lying if I didn't admit that one itty-bitty part of the reason I brought the blog back when I did was because I am dying to share pictures of our fun trees! Brandon and I added quite a few things this year and I'm very pleased with how it all turned out!! So, pictures coming soon!)

Now let's get this party started:

Not a good sign when you are the ONLY car left in the lot.
July: The month of July was lost in an absolute whirlwind of being entirely overwhelmed by the new job. My bestest friend, Sheridan (who I also happened to be replacing at work), moved to St. Louis in June (her husband matched for his residency program at WashU - woohoo!) and left me in a swamp of work and best friendless. It was exactly as dramatic and pitiful as it sounds, trust me. Sad, sad month. Only four years and six months until she gets to move back!! Yes, I very selfishly have a countdown.
 
The girls LOVE their Uncle B.
August: Starting to get the job somewhat under control during the month of August, although it did require me to spend a few days in "enemy territory" as I traveled to Austin, Texas for an alumni event. (Ugly orange, but good food!) Brandon and I also had the privilege of keeping our two favorite girls, Blythe and Zoe, for a full weekend while their parents went to an out-of-state wedding. We had the very best time! We played at the science museum, built a big fire on the patio, watched the Lorax at least three times, made some yummy cake balls, slept in a giant fort Brandon rigged together in our guest room and somehow successfully got to school on time with lunches packed! Massive success!
 
Most beautiful beach in the world and we were the ONLY ones on it!
September: Boy does time fly! In September we celebrated our first anniversary in beautiful Turks & Caicos. It was the perfect way to top off a truly wonderful year of marriage. We were so incredibly blessed to have a healthy, overwhelmingly happy, joy-filled first year. People always say that the first year is the hardest - if this is true, I can't wait to see what the next fifty years hold! Year #1 was, hands down, the very best year of my life.
 
Happy Birthday to Me!
My mom always makes sure I have my favorite strawberry cake on my big day!
 October: My BIRTHDAY month! October was packed full of exciting adventures and therefore deserves three pictures instead of just one!

On work trips, I rarely ever have time for sight seeing,
but I made an exception for the White House. It's kind of a big deal...
I kicked the month off with a work trip to Washington, DC where I became re-acquainted with our nation's beautiful capital (I hadn't been since high school) and met some of our fabulous alumni and donors.

Boomer Sooner!
I hopped back on a plane just in time to land in Dallas for OU/TX weekend with my parents and Brandon. This is our second year for the four of us to go to OU/TX together and it has become one of my favorite family traditions... and OU has pummeled Texas both years, so we must be good luck! We drove back to OKC on my birthday and celebrated by going to see Les Miserables with Brandon's family. It was a wonderful month full of lots of fun activities!
 
This photo was taken at 2 am the morning of our Hall of Fame Dinner.
Seating 400 people including OK Supreme Court Justices, University Presidents,
oil & gas icons and the best attorneys in the state is a LOT of work!
November: My favorite month of the year - the month designated to being grateful for your blessings! This year, I was just thankful I survived this crazy month. November 1st was the law school's yearly Hall of Fame Order of the Owl event where we host over 400 of our alumni to dinner and the induction ceremony for some of our most prized alumni. In addition to the main evening event, we have our bi-annual Board of Trustees meeting AND a brand new Hall of Fame Luncheon for the recipients. All. In. ONE. Day. It was a smashing success!!
 
Zac playing some really impressive basketball!
Another one of my favorite things about the month of November is that basketball season finally tips off! Brandon and I have had the great pleasure of getting to watch my little brother Zac play quite a few games already this season. As it is his Senior year, we are doing our best to make it to as many games as possible. It always brings my heart great joy to see my brother doing what he loves and doing it extremely well! Go Eagles!
 
Thunder Up!
Speaking of basketball, in November we introduced our precious nephew Brooks to the Oklahoma City Thunder! Fun, would be an understatement. Brooks LOVED every single bit of it - the lights, the game and Rumble! He would clap when everyone clapped and for the majority of the game he just sat in my lap and tried his best to take it all in! So much for his little eyes to see...
 
There's no place like home.
Finally, it was Thanksgiving! We spent two nights at the Ranch surrounded by my sweet family. Brandon and I do our best to split holidays evenly between our families and when you know that next year you won't be home for Thanksgiving, it makes you appreciate the day so much more. This holiday will always be most special to me as we celebrate at the Ranch by playing cards, telling stories of the past, and enjoying each others' company. Since I learned how to cook a turkey last year (I still have nightmares from this story - read all about it here and here), I was designated "turkey chef" this year with my family. I accepted the position much more willingly since I had one bird worth of experience!
 
 
My OCD self has to presort all ornaments before hanging them on the tree!
 
December: And now it's already DECEMBER! Where do the days go?! Check back later this week for pictures of all our holiday decor!
 
 
Be Blessed!
Raegan

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