6 Wonderful Years

Today, Tom and I celebrated our 6th Wedding Anniversary. Since Tom is in Japan and I am in Kansas, I did a little celebrating of my own. Three of my wonderful friends from work and I went to a restaurant called The Melting Pot.

The Melting Pot is a really yummy fondue restaurant in Kansas City on the Plaza. We had so much fun. I don't remember a time when I laughed so hard. This is Carol and Carice.

This is Lisa and I.

When we came out of the restaurant, we came out to this bus that had jumped the curb somehow and was kind of blocking the entrance and exit out of the restaurant.

Next weekend, I will be in Utah for my cousins wedding reception. I am very excited about that.

The Maple Leaf Festival

Every 3rd weekend in October, Baldwin City, Kansas has something called The Maple Leaf Festival. Basically, you walk around to a bunch a different booths that are selling art, crafts, clothing, jewelry and food. It is a fun thing to go to, even if you only go and look. The leaves are usually changing into fall colors around this time. The first year we lived here, Tom and I went. I think it was kind of a cool day. Last year we didn't go because it was raining. This year I went with our friends Jen and Jason and their baby Joshua. It was about 80 degrees out, but very windy. All in all, it was a pretty nice day to be out and about.

I am looking forward to next weekend. It will by mine and Tom's 6 year wedding anniversary. Even though he isn't here with me, I'm not going to sit home and sulk. On Friday night I am going to go and see the movie Dan in Real Life with Steve Correll. Then on Saturday night, some friends from work and I are going to the Plaza in Kansas City to a Restaurant called "The Melting Pot." It is a fondue place. We are all very excited about that.
Other than what I have already mentioned, there isn't a whole lot going on.

In Town Football Rivals, Red and Black vs. Green and White

The evening started off with my good friend Twyla (the Central Junior High Cheer Coach) and I going to a Native American Pow Wow. We were only able to stay for 15 minutes or so, but it was neat to experience something from a different culture. We then went on to have a tailgating party with the Central Junior High School Cheerleaders.
In Lawrence, there are two high schools that are obviously rivals. You have Lawrence High School and Free State High School. When LHS and FSHS play each other in football, all of the cheerleaders from the four junior high schools in Lawrence learn the cheers of the high schools and spend the first half cheering with one highschool and the second half cheering with the other school. It was a lot of fun. The atmosphere was filled with excitement. It brought back a lot of memories of when I was in high school and I participated in the football games by being in the marching band. As I was people watching, it caused me to reflect on the behavior of some of these kids and wonder if I acted the way that some of them acted when I was in high school. Sad to say, that yes...the drama was there. Looking back now, it is kind of funny to see how much I have matured since those high school days. I also realized that it has been about ten years since I have been to a high school football game. Time sure does fly. Free State High School won 27-0. High school football is so much more exciting than Junior High football.


Tailgating Party with Central Junior High School Cheerleaders.


Lawrence High School Cheerleaders and Free State High School Band.


Twyla and Erin.

The First Month and a Few Days

It's hard to believe that Tom has been in Japan for a month and a few days now. The time is kind of flying by quickly. Of course I don't mind that part. Tom seems to be enjoying himself and I am glad. He seems to be picking up on the language way better in Japan. I guess immersing yourself really might work. =) The pictures that I have seen really make me wish that I was over there with him. Unfortunately there were too many "cons" for both of us to spend 10 months in Japan. Seeing the pictures really make me want to visit. Now that I know that they have KFC and Denny's and Ramen Shops and Hamburger places, I am sure that getting me over there won't be so hard.
As hard as it is having Tom so far away, I am glad that he is able to have this experience. He seems to be learning quite a bit. We get to talk to each other several times a week, so that makes it a little easier.
I have been managing to keep myself busy lately. I am working quite a bit. It is kind of nice to have distractions so I don't focus so much attention on the fact that Tom isn't here.
There are a couple of events that are coming up that I am really looking forward too. The Maple Leaf Festival is this weekend. I am trying to find someone to go with. I am flying to Utah on November 1, to attend my cousins wedding reception. I am glad about that. I didn't think that I would get to go, but things worked out. For Thanksgiving, I think that there are several people in our ward who will be getting together to have dinner at the Institute Building to watch movies, play games and of course....eat Thanksgiving Dinner. Then on December 21, I will be flying to California and counting down the minutes until Tom's plane lands at LAX on the 22nd.
The hot weather in Kansas seems to be subsiding. I am very glad about that. The fall weather is approaching. With all of the warm and cold weather fronts, we have been having some exciting Rain/Thunder & Lightning storms. All of Friday night into Saturday morning there was thunder and lightning. Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well that night. At about 6:30 am, I witnessed the brightest flash of lightning and the loudest clap of thunder I have ever seen and heard. Later that afternoon, I found out that a tree was struck by lightning on the next street over. It was split in half and had to be cut down.
I like walking outside to the crisper fall weather. It beats walking outside and immediately sweating. I am sure that once winter hits and the snow/ice come and I have to scrape my windshield... I will be wishing for summer all over again.