He is My Joy

For all this boy's craziness, loudness, business, and movement there is equal love, compassion, joy, and laughter.  I love him unconditionally:)

You Wanna Steal From Us???

 So, yesterday, we had an interesting thing happen to us.  Our mail was stolen and a thief went around the city of Tulsa attempting (and succeeding) at cashing our checks.  A little something about fraud that I was not aware of:  They have a solution/spray that these people spray on your checks that evaporates all the ink.  They leave your signature, so the check looks more authentic, and then they write the check to whomever or wherever they want. Boom.  Instant money!  

I am extremely thankful to the BOK employee who had a red flag about this woman trying to cash an $800 check written from me to her.  She was sketchy, wouldn't make eye contact, and he said my check "looked tampered with".  So, unless of just saying no and letting her walk out of his branch he called me and then the police.  Within 20 minutes this lady was sitting in handcuffs and arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail by 8pm.  Unfortunately, by 2am she had made her $1000 bail (maybe by using some of the $770 she had stolen from me hours before).  

This has been a very stressful situation and one that takes lots of time and energy on several peoples accounts to get this handled successfully.  Isn't that how it always works?  The criminal walks away with a few hours in jail and the victim is left to clean up the terrible mess. Oh well, I am just trying to be thankful because it could have been way worse, she was caught red handed with my checks, she was arrested, and she will face charges, and we will get all of our $1500.  What Satan meant for harm, God made good and I love that about Him.  He cares about us.  

Just like I care about my little (almost 8 year old)Will.  This little boy has worked his booty off this first semester in a new private school.  He has worked from behind grade level to catch up.  He does his homework without complaining, does even more work at home that is technically not required, still plays two sports with practices and games, and still made straight A's.  He barely scraped by with some of those A's but they were A's and I was so proud of him this morning as he received his dog tag.  Word to my readers: It was also PJ day at school so know that he normally does not attend 2nd grade in Mario PJ's:)  

In other news.  I need to get my ring resized.  It is much too large now for me and I don't even feel comfortable wearing it anymore as it has flown off my finger 2 or 3 times.  I need a few things done to it to make it all sparkly and new like it was almost 15 years ago.  Or....I could just upgrade.  I told Steven this one would work.  For the love.  This ring is perfect.  And $10,000.....so I probably will vote for option one to just get my ring resized.  Oh well, a girl can dream right?

Who Wants to Run Some Hills?

 This weekend I participated in my 3rd Tulsa Run.  The first one was laughable with how slow I ran/walked that thing.  That was the furthest distance I had ever gone that first time three years ago.  I was just thankful to cross the finish line in one piece.  

The second one was last year.  It was super cold out and I was layered up but ready to improve upon my time from the year before.  I knew I was faster (but not really in better shape)...I was just faster from running more throughout the year.  I had trained for hills because I knew from the previous year how hilly the Tulsa Run really was.  I was prepared as best as I could be and I gave it my all last year with a finish time of around 1 hr 33 min.  

This year was different.  1. It was beautiful weather.  2. I had trained way more throughout the year 3.  I am in the best physical shape since high school  4. I was ready for HILLS.  Then I hear that they changed the course for the run this year to be even more HILLY than normal.  I run a lot of races and this Tulsa Run route was already the hilliest race I've ever raced in.  This year was intense.  Not a great race for a first time racer.  Brutal hills one after the other.  9.3 miles was the total race distance and 4.5 of those miles were straight hills.  My calves and hammies are burning today, I'm not gonna lie.

This year I ran as best as I could.  I pushed myself through mile 7-9 when I was beginning to really wear down.  I never quit.  I never walked.  I kept going.  I finished in the top 9% of my age group and top 15% overall out of 5000 runners.  I was pretty proud of that one.  I shaved about 15 minutes off from last year and crossed the finish line at 1 hr 18 min.  

I'm thankful for my running partners, Kristi and Melinda, who encourage and push me to always try my best.  Without them, I would be slower and fatter:)  I'm also thankful for my hubby who took me out for an authentic Italian dinner the night before to "carb load".  Speaking from someone who doesn't really eat a lot of carbs anymore...this place was AMAZING.  Even Steven, who eats carbs all the time, loved this place.  If you have never tried Mondo's in Brookside than it should be a must go date night for you and your date. 

Happy Monday everyone!  I'm going to go ice my calves now!

My Husband is A Nerd

 See that hunk of love man with uber white thighs? Yep...that's my man of 17 years:)  

When we heard that this party had turned into a costume party we were thinking of ideas.  Me (being the ever practical one...please don't call me cheap) didn't want to spend money on something that I would never wear again.  Steven didn't want to be anything "lame".  He didn't approve of my idea to be a runner.  Hey, to some that IS A COSTUME, and I already had all of the stuff with NO MONEY spent.  It's a win-win!  Finally, after much scrounging around throughout the week and racking his brain with what to be, countless trips to the Halloween store...he finally relented on being a runner.  His version of a runner and my version are drastically different though.  He couldn't just be any ole' runner....he had to be an over the top runner!  Double water bottles, super short shorts, hot pink tank top, and multiple medals.  I can not tell you how many looks from other drivers and families Steven got as we were driving from BA to Bixby. That was pretty hilarious!  

So we get to the party and Kyle and Mel are decked out in amazingly funny 80's work out gear.  She even found a way in 2014 to find white tennis shoes, legwarmers, leotards, and tights.  That was classic!

We had a really good time at the Richison Fall Festival and were glad that we got to attend this year.  Now to begin thinking of our costume for 2015......

Pleasant Valley Farms

 Every Fall we like to take the boys somewhere to a pumpkin patch.  Usually we go to the same one, Carmichaels, out in Bixby.  It's great and has always been the perfect fit for a family.  Last year I felt like the boys were outgrowing that place a little bit, or just bored with it since we go every year, and honestly pretty much the whole Tulsa area goes to that patch so I wanted to find somewhere new and fresh to take the kids this year.  

I spent some good time researching local patches.  There are SEVERAL.  For my local readers I found 3-4 highly popular choices:

1. Carmichael's (Bixby)
2. Pumpkin Town (Tulsa)
3. Livesay Farms (Porter)
4. Pleasant Valley Farms (Sand Springs)

Honestly, all of them were going to be a bit of a drive for us except for Pumpkin Town but I pretty much REFUSE to go there because of the high prices.  So, I did my research and PVF seemed to have many things my boys would enjoy (included an 18 hole mini golf course, hayride, petting zoo, corn maze, pumpkin bowling, and a pumpkin canon launcher) just to name a few.

I am not kidding when I say the hayride was almost 20 minutes.  Talk about getting your money's worth.  My kids loved it and we were almost the only family on the ride (as opposed to other patches where you have to wait in line for everything!).  The animals at this petting zoo were eager for food (again most other patches the animals are in a drunken fat stupor from all the food they have been getting).  I felt comfortable with my boys running a little ahead of me, or around, or behind...because I could see them at all times and didn't have to hold such a tight reign on them (okay on Owen) due to the entire population of Tulsa being there.  

Owen found animals just wandering around because this place is truly a farm.  Sheep, goats, and dogs just walk the farm/patch.  Imagine what delight my little animal lover had when he had the freedom to just love on and talk to animals as they passed.  He is truly an animal fanatic and I love that part of him.

I hope everyone enjoyed your Fall Break as much as we did.  One more month and then my boys will be off again for the WHOLE WEEK of Thanksgiving.  I am super excited they get a whole week compared to only 3 days.  Yeah for the small things!  

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Gilligan's Island Makes A KILLING Off Of Us

 Yep, you read that right.  Gilligan's Island (our local mini golf establishment) makes a KILLING off the Kueny family.  Pretty much any time we allow the boys to decide our activity for any special occasion it involves mini golf and Chick Fil A.  I can't argue with the restaurant of choice because that place is pretty much just awesome.  Mini Golf is something I am growing to enjoy seeing as how I don't have much choice.

So, on Sunday on the last day of Fall Break we gave the boys a choice.  They could go see a movie or go to Mini Golf.  Yep, you guessed correctly which one they decided on.  It wasn't much of a conversation between them.  It was more just a look they gave each other and then they both proclaimed at the same time "Mini Golf!".  

It's amazing how much better at this "sport" I am getting.  Usually Steven murders me in golf.  There have been a few times when I actually beat him, a few ties, and then a few more times where he smokes me.  On Sunday he beat me by ONE STROKE.  I was actually leading the whole game until I lost it on one hole and triple bogied.  Oops.  

Three of us were lucky enough to get hole in ones.  Per Kueny tradition I require each hole in one person to snap a picture by their hole.  Owen was off "exploring" on each hole so he didn't make a hole on one in this trip.  Maybe next time....

A Birthday Celebration!

 October 19th was my Dad's birthday.  What a great time of year in Oklahoma to have a birthday.  Summer is too ungodly hot, spring has tornadoes and rain, Winter is unbearably cold and icy.  Fall?  Fall is usually pretty nice around these parts and I'm starting to like it more and more as I get older.  I love Summer and the freedom that comes with that season, but as far as weather, I am quickly becoming a Fall fan.  Okay, I digressed.  

We all gathered as a family of 10 and headed to University of Tulsa to take some family pictures.  It has been 3 years since all 10 of us took pics together and it was high time to try again. I say "try again" because pictures to my children are like pulling teeth out slowly and painfully.  When we have OUTSIDE pictures it's even worse because Outside Time is not to be wasted with silly dumb things such as cameras and smiling.  Outside time is for running, sliding, jumping, hiding, throwing, and swinging.  Those are just the things that Will and Owen did for an hour while we tried to corral them into smiling for 2 seconds.  More on that later when I get all the pictures in.  These two are just one's my friend, Melinda, sent me so I would have an updated picture to post of me and my Pops on his big day.  I think they turned out awesome!

My dad's favorite cookie is peanut butter so I woke up early that morning and found this super easy recipe for making such cookies.  4 ingredients and they were AMAZING.  Maybe it's just because I don't eat a lot of sweets anymore (because I've never really fancied myself as a peanut butter cookie fan) but I devoured these things.  He liked them too so that's all that really mattered that day!

In closing, I think we might have a budding little photographer on our hands.  After our family photo session at TU was over our family started throwing around a football (of course, why not?) and Owen wanted to take our picture.  He snapped this while we were sitting there waiting for him to actually snap a picture.  I think he might have some talent! 

Owen's First Field Trip

 For many years Owen has watched and waited.  He's waited for HIS turn to go on a field trip.  Owen and Will are 3 years apart and so many times Owen has been able to hear about the trips but he's never been able to attend one.  Until yesterday....

Oh man, this boy was excited. Super happy and joyful and ready to experience the farm, animals, pumpkins, and a picnic lunch (in fact he started asking me for lunch at 10:10am).  I mean, look at that face.  He was so thrilled that it was finally his turn to go on a trip.  

We went to Shepherd's Cross Farms out in Claremore. I honestly had never heard of this place before.  Talk about organized!  That is my kind of place.  They had cute little grandma's in their Fall/pumpkin vests on and little walkie talkies.  They would usher groups through 5-6 little stations at around 10 minutes each station.  It operated smoothly, the kids were amazing,and there were more parent volunteers than children.  That's a successful field trip!

I was thankful that Steven was able to go with us too.  I gave him about two weeks to plan for it and to be able to take a 1/2 day off so that he could go to a farm with Owen.  It's probably not something high up on his list that he wanted to do, but seeing as how Owen loves his "best friend Daddy" more than almost anyone else, I knew Steven would have to find a way to be there.  This is one benefit of owning your own businesses.  You can take off and make time for the things that are important to do.  With no questions asked...you are your own boss:)

I believe Will only gets one field trip all year and I am thinking Owen gets one more in the Spring.  I look forward to another adventure and memory making opportunity when I attend that trip as well.  So happy and blessed to be parents!  Thank you Jesus!

A "Trail" of a Birthday

 Yesterday someone very special to our family had a birthday.  A very special 36th birthday.  Man, we are getting old but that's besides the point.  In 6 short months I will be that age as well so we don't really need to talk any more about this:)  

For Steven's birthday, he did what any good Daddy would do and took his two sons and wife hiking and exploring.  Owen wanted to do Bigfoot calls and tree knocks to hopefully lure him out into the open.  Will wanted to use Owen's new binoculars.  Steven wanted to read the maps and find snakes to show the boys.  I just wanted to watch.  I love watching my boys (Owen especially) in this environment.  He's so happy, so at peace, so brave, so curious, so inventive...and LOVES the outdoors more than anyone in this family.  This is a boy who could live, eat, and breathe camping and tent living 24/7.  Sports?  Not his thing yet although that still might come.  Outdoor explorer?  That's a for sure love of his life and has been since he was old enough to realize what outside was.

I printed off a scavenger hunt sheet, sprayed us all with bug spray, and off we went on Daddy's birthday to explore for a couple of hours.  We saw birds, squirrels, bugs, spiders and webs, a few snakes, frogs, moss, cat tails, minnows, turtles, tree stumps, wildflowers, clouds, lakes, ponds, cranes, heard LOUD airplanes overhead, and explored many other things that I am sure I am missing.  Both boys were into using their clipboards and checking items off as we found them.  I really didn't know if that part would hold Owen's attention but he was very much a part of his clipboard marking off experience.  

After a couple of hours of us wandering around we decided to call it quits and let Steven pick where he wanted to eat because, after all, it was his birthday.  He picked Shogun.  Oh, I know there was a reason I loved this man.  This is also one of my favorites, if not my favorite, place to eat.  Yumm-O.  Speaking of O...Owen talked to our chef the entire time he was cooking.  He made small talk with him, cracked up at his jokes, asked questions, and whopped and hollered at all his shrimp throwing, egg rolling talents.  Will sat unimpressed.  He just wanted his food.

Hope everyone else had a great weekend with their families too.  Happy birthday to my husband Steven.  What a great perfect example of a hard worker, amazing father, and even better husband.  I couldn't be more thankful for him and what he brings to this family.  Happy birthday honey and many more to come!

My Personal Best

 39 degrees on a chilly Saturday morning.  I was scheduled to run in the Tulsa Zoo Run 10k.  Wouldn't you know the chilliest morning of the season and I had to run 6.3 miles.  Oh well, at least it was better than being burning hot.  So, I grabbed my ear warmer, 2 long sleeved shirts, and off I went.  I had no goal to speak of, I just wanted to run my best 10k ever.  Until my good friend Melinda grabbed me and said, "what's your goal?"  Um...I kind of had to think about that one.  I didn't really know.  So she and I sat there in the bathroom line and worked some numbers.  We said our goal was going to be 51 minutes.  That was still a 8:09 min mile for 6.3 miles and was going to be a stretch for us.

It's always good to set goals and has been an important thing for me during this weight loss and running journey.  So, we set our goal for 51 minutes and off we went.  We never really talk much throughout these races because we are "in our zone" but we try to give encouragement to each other through silent head nods, butt slaps, high fives, and thumbs up signs.  There were a few times we couldn't talk at all even if we tried because we were booking it as fast as our legs could carry us.  

I want to remind you that our goal was 51 minutes.  AND WE CRUSHED IT.  Check out these results!  We crossed the finish line for our age group in 4th and 5th place with a finish of 49:47.  BOOM!!!  We were so proud of ourselves and I just can't believe how much further I have come in only one year since running this race (last year my finish time was around 57 minutes).   I am thankful for Melinda for sticking with me and how we support each other through these races.  I am sure I could do it without a friend, but I wouldn't want to. 

Speaking of friend, I have to give a shout out to our other running partner Kristi.  She knocked it out of the park for her and also delivered a personal best for this 10k.  She's a full time working mom, with two kids of her own, and STILL finds time to train and run and take time for her and her goals.  I am so very proud of these women!  What a positive influence they both have in my life.  

Go shoot for your personal best today in all you do!  

The Sounds and Smells of Fall

 Attention People Watches Everywhere.  The Tulsa State Fair (or any fair for that matter) is where it's at!  Two reasons I love the fair:

1. People watching

2. Fair food

Those two things in itself are reason enough to go for me.  Now that the boys are getting older and not babies that we just push through in a stroller, the fair is becoming a much more expensive fall outing.  Still doable and still enjoyable but not nearly as cheap as it once was.  Once you factor all the foods like deep fried apple pie, bacon corn dogs, taffy, alligator sticks, donut hamburgers, indian tacos, fresh squeezed lemonade, and so on...it really does begin to add up financially.  I'm not confirming or denying that we ate any of none or all of the above listed foods:)

Another thing I love about Fall?  The smells.  The smells of fall candles.  The smell of pumpkin and cinnamon and dried leaves.  Crunchy leaves under your feet, leaves blowing in the breezes, the crisp air in the morning all around you.  I love all those things and look forward to them every season after enduring Oklahoma's hot and extreme summers.  Summers that continue many times into Fall.  Like Wednesday when we were at the fair on OCTOBER 1st and it was 92 degrees.  Something is wrong with that situation!

If you want the best fall candle out there than you need to hit up your local Anthropology store.  My friend, Faith, told me about this candle and it does NOT disappoint.  Man, I really love it!

My last thing I love about fall is the sounds.  The sound of football.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I am a girl that loves football.  Primarily college football but because I only birthed boys, the weekend NFL game on TV is usually okay with me too.  College football is my favorite though and I look forward to it all year.  I might, just might be, the only girl you know who downloads the ESPN college football app onto my phone so I can look at rankings, videos, and scores throughout the season.  Okay, Will uses that a lot too on my phone but I would be lying if I said I didn't look at it all the time too.  Like this morning...woke up to realize that number 2 Oregon went down last night to unranked Arizona.  That's awesome and just allows our OU team to keep on moving up.  Number 1 Florida State has already ALMOST lost a couple of times, so I am hoping they will do just that soon so we can continue to move.  The year 2000 and an OU National Championship was too long ago.  See, I told you I liked college football:)

Go enjoy your Fall today.  However that may be.  May everyone have a great and blessed weekend!