Blue Hole (Oklahoma Swimming Hole)

Friday, August 19, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

We had a great drive a couple of weeks ago — it’s about 79 miles away but so, very worth it. We left on a Saturday around 3 p.m. which we thought might be too late to do anything but we had the nicest evening at this little Oklahoma swimming hole. It was $10 per car load and the water was so clear you could see minnows and tadpoles. We had a really fun time and stayed until closing, which was 8 p.m. I highly recommend it! It was 8 miles east of the town of Salina, Oklahoma near Kenwood. Just go to Salina and ask at the gas station — they’ll point you in the right direction! Great short drive. We can’t wait to go again!

Oklahoma Aquarium in Tulsa

Thursday, August 18, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

So we had a great time in Tulsa at the Oklahoma Aquarium — AFTER we found it! The directions to get there are a little strange and since 75 South is closed in a section of downtown Tulsa and we didn’t have Lole, our beloved GPS, we were a little lost but managed to get there. We got to go on a behind-the-scenes shark tank tour full of bull sharks and it was really fun and fascinating, although I was afraid one of the boys would fall in! Now that the kids are back in school, I hope to be able to post more about what we’re doing and what we’ve done.

The boys waiting for the shark tour.

Cole took some great pics and this is a neat one of a special kind of jellyfish.

The boys searching for “clues”.

Summer fun in Bartlesville

Monday, August 1, 2011Monday, August 1, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

The boys are taking a Shotokan Karate / Mixed Martial Arts class here in Bartlesville. Cole went tonight and made the other teenagers (and instructor) gasp when he did his self defense techniques. I am so proud of him. Nobody wanted to volunteer to “attack” him after his very first demo. It’s a great dojo and it will take quite a bit of adjustment for him to learn their style, etc., but if anyone can do it, I know it’s Cole. I’m hoping it’s like learning a foreign language and the old will come naturally to him – I don’t ever want him to forget the instruction he’s received in Gretna and Taekwondo. Mr. Staack and his crew were the best teachers I have ever met and we miss them terribly! Cole has been so lucky to study under that organization.

This last pic is Benjamin sampling the cake balls that Cole made today. Thanks to Aunt Lili for the great Christmas present last year. They are so fun to eat – the kids just love ’em!

Moving In Pictures

Thursday, July 28, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

I’m just going to show a bunch of pictures. I think they speak for themselves. Frankly, I should still be too tired to type!

My office (above) may NEVER recover! I think I can get both large printers in there but the inlaid wood table was broken by the movers. :/

Here’s the kitchen island a little more presentable but we’re so not there yet! It’s going to take time, maybe a lifetime, but that’s just fine with me.

One last pic of the boys vegging out in the new family room. Who needs a formal living room anyway? This family room is “the” room and we are all loving it. We heart Bartlesville!!!

Scuba Dive Certified

Thursday, July 28, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

Cole made it back. Since he flew alone to Houston and then made it to Corpus Christi, sans camera, we don’t have any pics of the trip. We do, however, have this pic of his handsome face as he left us in a very messy home shortly after moving in. He made it out for his scout trip just in time to leave his father and me carrying Christmas decor into the attic in 102 degree Oklahoma weather. The things we parents do for our kids to have memorable experiences!

What I Designed Today: Organic Food Book Layout & Book Cover Design

Tuesday, July 12, 2011Monday, March 9, 2015 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

I picked up a new client from California and was asked to help out on the interior and the cover. They pretty much had everything already how they wanted it, they just needed someone to professionally lay it out in the correct software. It was a fun (if long!) job and it seems I made a new friend along the way. I love when I have nice clients who respect my time and efforts. It makes for a win/win all the way around. Now, back to unpacking boxes for a few more days — all in an effort to avoid the boys’ clothes closet, I can assure you.

Headed Home!

Saturday, June 25, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

We’re headed to Oklahoma – and we’re calling it HOME. That’s a major milestone. We never did call Texas “home” though we loved the people there. It just never felt like home. I can’t wait to see my hubby again and the next 4 days until we close on our new home are going to seemingly be the longest of my life, I am sure. I hope to have some great home pics to share with you relatively soon (we have lots of furniture buying to do to replace what we sold in Houston). In the meantime, check out these great house pictures I’ve found at www.houzz.com. Lovely site for browsing the night away — much more fun than television, anyway.

We’ve Made An Offer

Thursday, May 19, 2011Thursday, May 19, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

We’ve made an offer and it has been accepted – I think all docs have been signed until closing which isn’t until June 30th. I’m going to head to Omaha for a month after the kiddos are out of school while Don works his heart out here in Bartlesville. These next six weeks cannot pass quickly enough! I am so in love with this home — I’ve finally found everything I’ve ever asked for in a home: white trim, ranch, 4 bedrooms, farm sink, gas range, patio, good sized yard, fence, sprinkler system, all brick construction. Sigh. It will help justify the price tag. We hope this is our forever home. We really, really love this town.

Happy Mother’s Day & House Hunting

Sunday, May 8, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

Happy Mother’s Day to all! These flowers are from the crochet-a-long on Ravelry, pattern created by Claudia “delights“. Her blog posts many colorful versions – what a great idea!

I have a few extra minutes to write today because the boys went to visit the Skiatook Branch of the church we belong to today without me. I missed the children singing to their mothers! …but, on the flip side, I have a few extra QUIET minutes to write. We have been house hunting for 2 and a half weeks. I have mixed emotions. We’ve run the gamut: downsizing, acreage, old home, new home, in Bartlesville, in Skiatook, etc. We have some important decisions to make — there are pros and cons to each choice and combination of choices. The kids are begging for an acreage but the best one we’ve found has a FANTASTIC acreage but a really, really old ranch house that would need to be entirely redone. We found a fantastic house on an acre but no livestock (I want chickens!). We’ve found a fantastic new home in town with a large yard and also another, downsized fantastic new-ish home in town that would have little resale value (it’s the only newish home in the neighborhood). Lots and lots of decisions to make. I’m grateful to be able to make these decisions: thankful for my kiddos, for my husband’s job and for being blessed with the world’s greatest mother.

The Last Hurrah – Aunt Lili Visits Houston

Wednesday, April 20, 2011Wednesday, April 20, 2011 by Sparkbark | 1 Comment

My sister Lili flew in on late Thursday afternoon and we went to Mega Mel’s Cafe in Tomball and then to the boys’ favorite tire park (Jerry Matheson park, also in Tomball). We are going to miss those places. I heart Tomball. If we ever have to move back to Houston, that is where we would go! Then, Friday, we got up early and drove to San Antonio and went to Six Flags for the day and wore everyone out. Saturday we drove to Kemah Boardwalk for the Crawfish Festival with Zydeco music and, no, I did not eat any crawfish. We went to one of the best restaurants for my birthday that I have ever eaten at: Saltgrass Steakhouse. It was very yummy and I only had the steak salad! Sunday we went to church and then looked for dolphins as we took the ferry across Galveston to the Bolivar Peninsula and spent the day at Crystal Beach. It was a wild ride (with lots of time in the car!) but we had such a great time with Lili here to celebrate my birthday. When we dropped her back off at the airport on Monday, I think it felt like she had just arrived — what a whirlwind tour. It was nice to have a visitor before we leave for Oklahoma.

Big News! Moving to Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

We are excited to move to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. It sounds like the area is right up our alley (tornado alley, that is) and really our speed. We love smaller towns and are so excited to be closer to Omaha. ConocoPhillips (yes, I believe it’s all one word) moved fast and hired Don very quickly. He’s really looking forward to working with his new boss and team – they sound like great people to work with. It will be a big change after thirteen years at Hewlett Packard but change is good and I know this move will be really good for him. I’m worried a bit that the move has something to do with Bartlesville being the home of the largest Colt museum in the world…it sounds like Oklahoma is an outdoor paradise for hunting, fishing, and shooting. Don + Oklahoma + a Cabela’s catalog = a midlife crisis I can live with!!!

What I Designed Today: Graphics for Educational Systems

Wednesday, March 30, 2011Wednesday, January 21, 2015 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

I’ve been busy with some recent design work. It’s for kids so it’s relatively fun and kid graphics are so much easier! The teen segment, however…a little more difficult. Take a look at a few of these babies. I am not sure how they are being used, exactly, but once they’re outta my hands I don’t really care (unless, of course, it’s MY end project and I have a vested interest)!

Happy Birthday Gabe

Tuesday, March 29, 2011Tuesday, March 29, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

So today Gabe is ten (ten!) and in just a few days, Ben will be five. These are milestone years. It seems like Gabe was just the blue eyed kid eating chocolate (above) or the chubbo getting a bath in the sink (above). When Cole turned ten, I cried while he was at school thinking how quickly the time was flying by. Now that it’s Gabe, I can’t promise I’ll cry but I am equally — if not more — stunned at the speed of the years. I feel like Gabe is still just entering the nursery at church! He was such a cute baby and has grown into the cutest young man.

Brazos Bend State Park (The Alligator Park)

Monday, February 7, 2011Monday, February 7, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

I think I’m going to love the new church schedule. Ahhh….Sunday afternoons spent the way they should be – with family, friends and in the outdoors! We had a nice time yesterday with the Carrs (friends from church) and their kiddos. We only saw one alligator and he was in the water which was different from our last visit when they were along the paths so you had to double back instead of crossing over them! It was a nice, sunny day. I am thankful for this beautiful world. It is good to be outside.

Cute Etsy Bows

Monday, January 31, 2011Monday, January 31, 2011 by Sparkbark | Leave a comment

A very good friend from my Utah days recommended her daughter’s etsy shop HUGSANDWICH for hair bows so I’m passing the word along. I do not have any girls that need hair bows but I wish that I did!!! If this girl is half as talented as her mama, they have got to be fantastic bows. Genius runs in the family.