Vancouver Bound

Derrel's parents and grandparents are visiting for the next couple of days, so we decided to check Vancouver out today. As we reached the US/Canadian border. Derrel and his father broke out into song. There's no doubt that these two were cut from the same cloth.
For your enjoyment, and any blackmail needed for the future.
Turn the volume up, I had to record this recital from two rows back.

I just want to be able to wear a t-shirt without feeling like I should be floating over the Super Bowl.

Well, it's true. But I couldn't think of any catchier titles.

Getting the bonus day with the family this past weekend meant having precious nuggets like these:

(sorry, can't flip it, not savvy.)

I was walking into R.E.I today...

and got to the front door at the same time as a large group of guys who were more than happy to let me hold the door open for them. ALL of them.

Get a good sleeping bag, guys. It must be cold in that woman-less cave you live in.

The Grammy's

We watched a good chunk of the Grammy Awards last night.
(Thought to self): We're pretty hip. Look at us, watching the Grammy's.
Derrel: Who's that?
Me: I don't know.
Five minutes later.

Me: Who's that?
Derrel: I don't know.

It was a sad day.

Times, They are a Changin'

At the beginning of next month, our church is starting a 40-day ministry called "Faith by Hearing". For 28 minutes a day, we'll listen to a reading from the New Testament and, in 40 days time, we will have heard/read the entire new testament. When the church did this 15 years ago, only tapes were available. Now they have it in CD AND MP3 formats. Pastor then played a video that attempted to explain how each format should be used, the technology required to use it, and how to set up each technology with each format...in it's own right, it was very confusing. I can only imagine what it must have been like for the older folks, who started shaking their heads before pastor could even finish saying "MP3". We'll see how that goes.

In other news...
A couple of years ago, not long after Derrel and I started dating, he learned that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is my favorite ice cream flavor. That spun into a conversation about how, in my house, more cookie dough gets eaten before the actual baking process than what actually comes out of the oven. He told me it was really unsafe to eat so much raw cookie dough. Even in the beginning of our marriage, he still held the belief that my intestines would give in at any moment, yet I persevered.

Fast forward to today at Coldstone.
Derrel: "Can I get extra cookie dough in my cookie dough sundae?"

Who says wives can't change their husbands?
I love this guy.

Anniversarypalooza...arriba!

So we did it. We've been married a year (and a week). It's unreal how time has blown by and how much fun we've had, not the least of which would be the last week, when we celebrated on our Caribbean cruise. Here's a little picture (little in size, a ton of pictures in content), as well as the highlights.

*Unless otherwise noted, please assume that food was eaten at least every half hour of each day.

Saturday, Jan. 24: Arrive in Houston. Took $50 cab ride for $4 Potbellys sandwich (reuniting with an old flame? Priceless).

Sunday, Our Anniversary!: Wake up and have magical,velvet box thrown at me with shiny goodness inside. Meet Rich and Genie, the couple sharing a shuttle with us to the cruise ship. Drive to Galveston, a town slowly trying to revive itself after Hurricane Ike. Enter cabin decorated for our anniversary and meet Stanley, our amazingly friendly stateroom attendant from Honduras. Meet our tablemates: the mayor and first lady of Spur, Texas, and their friends from Phoenix.

Monday, Day at Sea: Played Bingo. Got stylin' Bingo shirt for playing Bingo. Shuffleboarded with help from a spectator, mini-golfed. Squeezed into dress for formal night. Had special anniversary cake.

Tuesday, Cozumel, Mexico: Went on 4 mile jungle hike and explored Mayan ruins in pouring rain(which was really awesome. No, seriously, it was). Met Matt and Sarah from Wichita on hike. Watched mosquitoes eat us. Watched tour guide eat termites. Managed to still want lunch and ate at taco stand. Nachoed to death. Napped. Went to Country Music "Night". Left 45 minutes later when it was over and turning into a battle of the sexes gameshow. Talked Derrel down. Did not sunburn today.

Wednesday, Roatan, Honduras: Went on snuba excursion. Disappointed by lack of color, fish, and heads up about how the tour company's boat had broken down the day before, which is why we were in sea grass off shore, and not out on the actual reef. Went to onboard ice skating show. Still did not sunburn today.

Thursday, Costa Maya, Mexico: Went on Rhino jungle excursion (it was super rad) to beautiful beach. Got jostled and muddy. Napped. Saw magic show. Spent rest of night telling Derrel to stop trying to figure out tricks. Cram a Love Connection into is belly. Early night. Sunburned today, in very random places.

Friday, Day at Sea: Played more Bingo. Had lunch with Matt and Sarah. Went to Art seminar. Destroyed Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll" at Kamikaze Karaoke in the onboard pub with new friends watching.

Saturday, Day at Sea: Played more Bingo (three numbers away from $4,700). Elbowed children and knocked over elderly ladies to find and purchase pictures. Learned there's no good way to pack chocolate-covered strawberries in your suitcase. Got Kamikaze Karaoke survival t-shirt. Spent evening out on balcony with a bottle of wine, a plate of cheese, and the most wonderful man in the world. The best part of the entire cruise.

Sunday, Day at Airport: Boarded three planes, got home at 9:30. Just recently woke up.