The Hunger Games

This past Monday, Jack and I drove down to the Warren Movie theater in Moore to see The Hunger Games in their new IMAX theater. I have read all the books; Jack hasn't, but I really want him to read them. They are such easy, quick reads that keep you turning the pages. I can't wait to own the movie and see the next two!

I didn't take this picture, but the place is beautiful!

In our seats, looking very, very blue.

The nice curtain that raises before the movie starts.

The movie was great. The theater was great. Definitely worth the drive down.

May the odds be ever in you favor...
-Jack and Kayla

Green Grass!

We are pleasantly surprised to have such green grass so early. We signed up for Scott's to come treat our yard this year (since last year wasn't quite the best for our young yard). It's exciting to see the weeds disappear and little Bermuda grow!

It looks great from the street. Up close, you can still see dormant grass. We are optimistic we will have great green grass this year!

And, I think our tree survived the drought! Hallelujah!


Happy Spring. Stay away allergens.
-Jack and Kayla

Yard of the Month

Jack is out win Yard of the Month next year (I'm not completely sure our HOA does a yard of the month award or not....). He has been working hard on weed pulling, clay softening and grass greening in addition to the regular mowing and watering. I guess it's never to early to campaign for Yard of the Month!

Last weekend, we sprinkled gypsm down in hopes it will start to soften our hard red clay. In addition, we sprinkled top soil. Next on our yard campaign, sprinkling some bermuda seed.

We still have a long ways to go. We are in the constant battle on how to kill the weeds in the backyard with Duncan Dog staying outside during the day. Surely the Yard of the Month award is just for the front yard; our backyard still needs a little help. Hopefully the 100 degree weather won't set us back any on reaching this award... next year.

Go Team Geurkink!
-J&K

Duncan's New Best Friend

My mom bought Duncan a new toy and we hvae named him Doug. He is a quail bird that honks/squeaks. Duncan loves him.

Duncan and Doug.

Duncan doesn't leave a room without Doug. Duncan doesn't sleep without Doug (he supringsly doesn't squeak him at night). Doug doesn't go outsife with Duncan, but Duncan spends all day thinking about him. Once we get home and let him inside, Duncan goes and finds Doug to start an evening play session. It's been so hot this week that their play time doesn't last long. They both end up on the cool tile to cool off.

Snuggle buddies.

Unfortnately, with all toys, they eventually have to get checked into the infirmary with stuffing hemorrhage.



Before.


After an overnight stay and several stitches, Doug is all better.

All better.

BFFL.

We think he knows the bird name is Doug. We can say "Go get Doug" and he will start looking around the house for him... at least we think that is what he is doing. He just loves this bird.

We hope Doug stays around for a while. He just makes Duncan so happy. And they can play with each other. We fear Doug will lose a leg before to long.

Thanks Mom. It's seriously his favorite toy.

-J&K

Mail Man

Is this the new car of the United States Postal Service?

The Jeep Mailman through me off. Congrats on your new wheels, Mailman.

Tomatoes!

Our tomatoes are growing, slowly. We still aren't sure how they will turn out. It's been fun watching them grow.

May 24 - Hello little mater.

6/11 - Hello somewhat big mater.

We hope to have at least one good mater this year from the plant. Until then, we will eat our store bought campari maters.

-J&K

Tornado Season

Growing up in Oklahoma, you learn about tornadoes early. Usually you can find a friend of a friend of a friend who has been through this devastating natural event. Today was one of those days where the weathermen weren't right on - they didn't take this lightly.

I left work early for several reasons. 1 - I had no idea what was going on. I knew an outbreak would most likely occur today between 3 and 5, but as 3:00 pm approached, I needed more information. I needed a TV. 2 - Jordan and Hanieh were both dismissed from their employers to take shelter. This tipped me off as well; people had a reason to seek shelter. 3 - Duncan Dog was safe in his crate in the laundry room, but not knowing what was going on made my heart hurt. 4 - I heard that these storms were going to be similar to May 3 tornadoes (which was a horrible tornado that struck Moore in 1999).

Once home, Duncan and I started getting important things together. It's time like this that truly make you think what is important and what isn't. My short list included: Bibles, passports, SS cards, marriage license, wedding video, wedding pictures, computers, camera, video camera (which I spent 4 minutes videoing the house for any documentation purposes), external hard drive, bottle water, food for Duncan, books (Jack's MBA books and our small group book).  Also, somewhat surprisingly, rainboots, umbrella, hammer and batteries made it into the closet with us.

We watched the weather on the TV until we lost power for a brief second and as the sirens sounded, we headed into the closet. We were in there for about 10, maybe 15 minutes. I was able to text my mom pretty easily. We turned on the radio (which also made the list) and listened. Praise the Lord, we are safe and unharmed. The tornado took a spin north and I believe let up significantly as it approached our area. The sirens stopped and Jack emerged from closet to turn the TV back on. Duncan was certainly the guard dog for those minutes; he snuggled up to me and even sat all 70lbs of him on my lap.

This was when Jack was watching TV, post sirens. He kept his cool.

Whoa, big tounge giving me kisses.

talking. wearing ski goggles.

Once we had the all clear, we sat on our bed watching the weather on the TV and the rain come down. Just heavy rain, strong winds, and some tiny, tiny hail.

We are so thankful to be safe, but our hearts are hurting for those in El Reno, Guthrie, Piedmont, Goldsby, and Joplin.

We are also thankful my sister and family are safe. They took shelter when the storms reached the Tulsa area. My 3 year old niece even packed backpacks for herself and brother. I'm not sure what was in the backpacks, but I'd imagine it's their favorite toys.

What a night. We are tired and ready for bed. Goodnight.

-J&K

Thunder Up!

Jack and I thundered up on Monday night for game 4 of the western conference finals. The Thunder played great, but lost in overtime. We were so happy attend and experience the excitement!

Thunder!

I think this is the video of a pretty awesome dunk by Westbrook. If you look super close, you can kind of tell.

Thunder Up, boys and girls - it's been a fun playoff season.

-J&K

Waterford Birds

I love watching these waterford birds (they are really canadian geese, but they are usually hanging around the waterford hotel, therefore - waterford birds; however they can also be found at the OU duck pond). I do occassionally see them at my office, about 2 miles west of the waterford. I thought this family was just the sweetest.

those baby birds sure look darling, with their fuzzy feathers.

I hear these geese aren't the kindest of birds. My dear friend Katie has a horrific childhood memory of these birds. I have yet experience such. I will probably just enjoy them from a distance.

-J&K

ps - sorry for that horrible punctuation of the sentence in the paranthesis. I'm sure that isn't my first error; it also won't be my last.

The Garden

I'm sure some of you are constantly wondering "How is the garden?!". We find ourselves asking the same question to each other. You just never know what could happen when Duncan is in charge.

I'm happy to say the tomatoes are looking good!

keep growing tomaters.

And, also happy to saw the cilantro is looking great!

some of you will be in my dinner tonight.

I regret to inform you the basil did not make the Duncan Uprooting and Playing with the Pot Scandal. 

I'm sorry basil. We tried. You must smell good to Duncan Dog.

I'd imagine we will plant more basil. Probably this weekend. We will probably also clean the pot from evidence of abuse (so the new basil doesn't get scared).

We will miss you basil... until we plant more this weekend.

again, we are sorry.

-Jack and Kayla

Royal Wedding

Along with millions of others, I got up at 4:45am to watch Prince William marry Kate Middleton. I am so glad I did. It was so spectacular. I have found myself very intrigued with the history of the monarchy this past month. I can rattle off several facts about various members of the family. I even feel like I was at Prince Charles and Diana's wedding; I have seen footage of their wedding all week and watched some pop-up video like show on their wedding. I wasn't there. Not even close.

I was negative 6 when you two married.

I absolutely loved the Bishop of London's sermon at this royal wedding.

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” So said St Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves.
Many are full of fear for the future of the prospects of our world but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one – this is a joyful day! It is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope. 
In a sense every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future.

If you missed the sermon - you can read it here

I feel like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are my friends. Does anyone else feel that way, or is it just me? Probably just me.

I'll mail you two a Christmas card!

All of this has made me want to visit England and buy a fancy hat.

Beautiful day. I'm still partial to mine:

-Jack and Kayla

PS. I am re-watching the coverage again. I love DVR.

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Jack turned 24 this month and I had planned a surprise for him! Those that know me best know there's another Jack in both of our lives.

Jack Bauer.

I thought it would be only fitting since Jack turned 24 to make him the star of 24 the show. Those that know us really well knows the importance of 24 in the beginning of our relationship.

24 - Seasons 1-3

24 Season 4 - 6

24 Season 7 - 8

Jack woke up to seeing these work of arts and to some cinnamon rolls.

I had his birthday off, so I started a baking a cake for him. I was nervous the whole time since I wasn't sure it was going to turn out good. But it didn't turn out too horrible.

It looks like an oreo cake,but it's chocolate with chocolate buttercream filling.

With white buttercream all over.

Since I wasn't confident in this cake, I had a back up plan.

Oh, you delicious cookie cake.

Once Jack got off work, we headed to dinner! We definitely got our steak fix in; we were full!

Yup, that is Jack's 22 oz bone in ribeye.

My wonderful, filet. Perfectly cooked. Perfectly seasoned.

Hello, chocolate molten cake.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Make a wish!

He loved celebrating his birthday with his sister, brother in law, parents and grandparents. We had a great time!

The sunset was beautiful that night, even as storms were brewing.

Happy Birthday Jack! I can't wait to see what this year brings you! Duncan and I love you!
-J&K

Duncan loves the backyard

The backyard is Duncan's territory. We have no idea what he does during day while we are at work. We have some theories. On this day, he was a lounge puppy.

Watching our plants.

 

Just a great day to lay in the sun.

He is such a funny puppy.

He loves naps. He especially likes naps on the couch.

The corners are his spot.

You drive us nuts Duncan dog, but we love you!

-Jack & Kayla

A Day in the Garden

What a fun Saturday! The sun was out, the wind was a simple breeze (unlike the tornado like winds we had yesterday that blew over restaurant signs), and Jack and I got to work on the yard a little bit.

Lowe's was our first stop. We were in need of another hose (since we kindly left one back at the old rent house) and a sprinkler (again, kindly left at the old rent house). We also purchased some pots, potting soil, and tomatoes, basil and cilantro - We are going to try to grow food!  It's going to be trial and error, but we hope we have some beginners luck.

Prepared to garden!

Cilantro

Sweet Basil.

Tomatoes. Coming in 50 to 75 days.

The trio.

We really hope the tomatoes work out. We have a feeling we may get overwhelmed since we planted two plants... we will share if our tomatoes grow abundantly!

We also found an awesome sprinkler. It's awesome because we don't have to water by hand. It's also awesome to see how far the little guy can reach. We have been paying a little more attention to the front yard than the backyard; everyone sees the front. We purchased some fertilizer for the back, but realized it needed a 24 hour soaking before use. Good thing we watered - we have little cracks in the ground!

Result of not watering/hard oklahoma clay. Not a result of a earthquake.

 Jack and I treated ourselves to a date night  - dinner at Saturn Grill and ice cream at Braums. Perfect way to end a great day.

Hope your Saturday was great!
-Jack and Kayla

PS - We were a little worried how Duncan would treat the plants while we were at dinner. All are still in tact, but I can't say the same for the pot...

Could have been worse.

The real test will come once the tomaters get here.