Visitors to OK

Shortly after getting moved in and settled in Norman, OK, the visitors started pouring in. Jon and I were worried that once we moved Stateside, no one would want to come and visit us anymore, but we were wrong and had so much fun with family and friends who came to see us in September and October. (And a special thank you to our first visitors; Beckie, who came our first week in Oklahoma to help us with Conan, and also my parents and Mandy who came in July when our household goods arrived. With their help, we managed to get completely moved in (to include pictures hung and clothes organized in closet) in one weekend!).

In September, we had the pleasure of hosting the Spencers at our house for four days. Nick gets to recruit at OU twice a year, and Kelly and the girls usually join him to experience an all-things-Sooner weekend. As they are both OU graduates, they relish the time to come back to their alma mater and visit all their old hang-outs. It was a great opportunity for Jon and me to learn more about Norman through two people who have such a passion for the city and university. Allison and Charlotte are absolutely precious and were so very sweet to Conan. He loved all the activity and busy-ness they brought to the house.

Three cuties!

When Allison saw my Pip Studio tea set, she asked if we could have a tea party and I said of course. Every 30 minutes from that moment, she asked me when we could have our tea party. The next day, I brewed some Harrods tea and we enjoyed a mini tea party together talking about the weather and other appropriate topics. It was a whirlwind time together and, as always, I wish I had more pictures, but am so grateful for the time we were able to spend together and can't wait until they return in the spring!

Tea party fun

Immediately after our return from Hawaii, Beckie came to visit again, just in time for Conan's 5-month birthday. A few days later, David joined her and Conan had the opportunity to meet his grandad for the first time. Needless to say, they both were pretty enamored by each other.

Cooking breakfast and making the famous Clough cheese biscuits

The weather was superb and as usual, we managed to get David and Beckie to help us with some yard projects. We did spend an afternoon touring downtown OKC, walking along the river and visiting the land run monument.

OKC land run monument

Relaxing in the hammock on a beautiful October day

The following weekend, the Wards came to visit from Dallas. Aaron and Jon were roommates for 3 years in college, and despite Jon living all over the world, they have done an outstanding job keeping in touch. Other than short visits here and there in Dallas over the past several years, we have not had the opportunity to spend much time with Aaron and Molly. They just had twins in July and were eager to visit us in Norman for an overnight for some much needed catching up. It was a great opportunity for the babies to meet and to see how much their oldest, Owen, as grown.

Tex and Click + babies

 It's still so bizzare to me to see these two with kids, considering the stunts they used to pull in college. I spent a little too much time trying to keep them out of trouble (unsuccessfully!). I'm thrilled we'll be so much closer to them for a few years and look forward to some more reunions!

At the end of October, the Blues came to visit! We had been looking forward to and planning for this weekend for so long and were so excited to have some time with them in OK. The weekend was cut short due to Jason's mom tragically and unexpectedly passing away after complications during a bypass operation. They had to rush back to Texas after only a day to be with family. We were so saddened by this loss and hope their next visit will be much more un-eventful. 

Before receiving the upsetting news, we did manage to enjoy a full day together exploring campus corner and later that evening, attending the downtown Norman Fall Festival. Costumes were encouraged, so we dug around our costume bin and made sure everyone at least had on a silly hat. We loaded up on the bikes (all three kids in the bakfiets) and rode downtown. 

There was trick-or-treating outside the storefronts for the kids, tons of arts and crafts stations and blow-up fun houses. Braxton, I mean, Spider-Man had an absolute blast!

Thank you to all our visitors who have come to see us and we look forward to hopefully many, many more in the future!