Proposal & Birthday

What a Week!

On Tuesday, July 28th, Ruben and I went to a concert at Ravinia Park to see...

We had a great time seeing these two amazing pianists in a duelling piano concert! After the concert Ruben took me to a beautiful area in the park and asked me to be his wife!!!! I was crying, I was so excited. He then gave me the ring, which had belonged to his mother. What an honor to wear her ring!

The next day was my 28th Birthday. :) What a fun day! My birthday and newly engaged! The day was all about me and my new shiny ring!!! Talk about fun. :)

My co-workers planned a little party for me with a big cake with enormous strawberries. I have to say they did well! I love strawberry cake!

My co-workers around to help me celebrate. :)

That evening, Ruben fixed a lovely dinner for me, and picked a fun movie for us to watch.

Here's a bouquet I picked from the garden. :)

The very first present Ruben has given me for my birthday was a bottle of wine for my 20th Birthday. I hadn't opened it, and we felt it fitting to open it for my 28th birthday. :)

I tell you what, he had no idea that when he gave me that bottle, we would be celebrating our engagement and my birthday 8 years later. It was really great!

(By the way, we love the wine chiller, Sandy!)

The yummy meal Ruben prepared!

I have also had lots of love from friends and family on my birthday! Thank you to all who thought of me! I am so blessed!

Ruben and I will be creating a wedding website where you can get updates on the Who/What/Where.

I'll keep y'all posted! Love you!

Party Like It's 1999!

Texas Bound Again!

Here I am at the airport making my way back to Texas for my final trip of the summer.

On my way to Fort Stockton for my 10 year high school reunion.

Wednesday July 15 I worked a half day and then headed to the airport to fly to Austin. There my best friend from home picked me up. It was almost 11pm by the time I arrived and it was 90 degrees! I'm beginning to understand what Dana means by the hot weather in Austin this summer! :)

The next morning Ashley and I made our way west to Odessa to see Ashley's dad, and my great grandmother.

On our way we stopped in Junction for some good 'ole Texas BBQ.

It was good! Thanks, Ash!

We made it to Odessa Thursday evening around 5:30pm. I went to see Nana and had dinner with her that evening.

Here she is, still on the move, even at 92 years old! :)

Here, Nana is showing me the birdhouses that she likes to decorate. :)

We had a great time chatting and catching up! It had been too long since I had seen her last. Love you Nana!

I spent the night at Ashley's dads house. The next morning we got up and went for a walk, each of us taking a hat. Hats were on parade that morning in Odessa! :)

Here's Mike showing Ashley and I a fountain in his neighborhood. :)

Then Mike took Ash and I to lunch at Rosa's! It's been like 5 years since I've eaten there!
Tex-Mex is SO GOOD!

After lunch we made it to Grandads house in FS. He's so cute! I love my Grandad.


That evening marked the beginning of the reunion events. We met at Stockton Entertainment Plaza, which is a new place in FS that has bowling and a movie theater and an arcade. We mainly just hung out and caught up. It was so great to see everyone!

Ashley with Chris Chavaria

The next morning was the Water Carnival Parade, which our class had a float. Somehow I agreed to be in charge of decorating the float, however, a storm blew in that Friday night and sort of ruined what we put together. The next morning was a rush of activity trying to make that float look presentable. It was still fun, and thanks to everyone who helped!

After the parade we met for a lunch at the small community hall.

It was so fun, to eat, laugh and look at old pictures! It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since high school.

This is Emily and Naomi who planned the reunion. They were wonderful, and had a lot on their shoulders. Thanks Ladies!

The night before we voted on our classmates, and who had changed the most and who had changed the least. Ashley and Sarah tied on the classmates who changed the least. I agree, they look exactly the same! :)

Me with friend Jennie Badley. She's in New Orleans now working as a Tech Vet. I'm so proud of her!

A group of us gathered for a group photo.

Out of 216 people who graduated with us, we had a small turn out. But, it was so great to see everyone who did come!

Ashley, Chris, and Bryana. Not much has changed. :)

The class of '79 had their reunion as well. Moms dear friend Kathy Himes Smith was in town and stopped by with her Mom to chat with me and Grandad. I haven't seen Kathy in a long time and it was so great to catch up and give her big hugs.

That evening we went to the Water Carnival. It was an interesting experience watching it. I have so many fond memories about WC, however, the was sort of disappointing. Maybe I've been working in professional theater too long. Who knows.

You can see how much we were paying attention to the performance. Really we're just standing around and chatting.

One pic that I got of the set.

After the Water Carnival we went back to the Small Community Hall and hung out till it closed.

Ashley laughed the whole night! There were so many fun stories and memories brought up.

The reunion was such a blast, and I was so glad to be able to see everyone who came.

The next morning Ashley and I got up and head back to Austin.

Only in West Texas would a convenient store need to remind their patrons to...

Ha Ha Ha!

Since we were making great time, Ash and I decided to stop and walk around Fredericksburg for a while.

One last pic of me and Ashley; friends since we were 9 years old. Friends for life!

I made it back to Chicago on Monday afternoon worn out and full of memories.

It was a great weekend!

Roadtrip Summer '09

Road Trip!!!!

One of my favorite things to do is take a road trip with Ruben! No matter how many hours we spend together couped up in the car, we always have good music and great conversation to keep us entertained! On July 1st Ruben and I set out for Kerrville TX where the Jenson Family Reunion is held every summer.

On the road again!

Day one: Chicago to Lawton, OK [15.5 hours]

Unfortunately the Inn of the Hills Hotel doesn't allow dogs, so Ruben and I decided that we would take the dogs with us as far as Oklahoma, and leave them with Rubens mom, Catalina. As usual the dogs were great on the trip! They're old hats at this by now! :)

About 5 hours down the road is St. Louis. It's our first big city on the trip, and since Ruben was driving I took the opportunity to snap a few photos.

Isn't Nikon cute?

They're taking a nap together in the back, while Canon and I hung out in the front. :)

Day Two: Lawton, OK to Dallas, TX to Kerrville, TX [about 8 hrs.]

On our way down we decided to catch up with my friend Leslie and her son Mason for lunch. It was a short visit, but was so great to see them! Mason is so cute!
He sat next to Ruben like a big boy!

Here, Leslie is enjoying a tasty burger from Fudruckers. I haven't been there in years and it was a tasty burger.

Here we are all together. Leslie is very pregnant with baby no.2, Mallory. She's due July 14!

After lunch, Ruben and I killed some time shopping at some thrift stores in Irving. With out even trying we found a strip of them! I love thrift store shopping it's like looking for buried treasure. :) At this Salvation Army, Ruben found an awesome print that was framed AND half off. We, of course, got it and brought it back with us!

After that we stopped by Ruben's brother, Angel's house and hung out with them for a little while. Ruben quickly got his nephew Michael and niece Hannah involved in video game. :)

The trip from Dallas to Kerrville took longer than we thought and we got into Kerrville around 11pm that Thursday evening.

The next day was full of Jenson reunion festivities!

The usual cut-throat domino's game.

Nap time. :) (aren't they cute!)

Time with the cousins laying out and swimming in the pool.

And general frivolity!

Friday night was cousins bowling night, which started off the Jenson Family Olympic Games.

Zach got his best score ever!

Jared and his wife Hillary are always enthusiastic to kick some butt!
I just mingled and took some pics. I'm not very good and bowling. :)
Look at Kyle, he's getting to be so handsome!



Matthew was the winner! Stealing the trophy from Jared's win over the past 2 years!

Here, Mom is playing video games with the boys! He first time using the wii. lol she was really funny!

Here we are Saturday, getting ready for the HELL tournament! I always suck! At least this year I was in the final round!

Me and my beautiful cousin, Heather!

Always loving to get her photo taken. Aren't they cute!

More games.

The weekend flew by, and on Sunday morning we were making our way back to Oklahoma.

I do love that Texas scenery! Mesquite trees bring back memories.


On our way to OK, we stopped in Granberry, TX to see Rubens other brother, Rick and their family.

And, of course, Ruben does the uncle thing and initiated a video game with the niece Allie and nephew, Ethan.



Ethan beat his uncle Ruben! lol



The family fixed us burgers for lunch.

We has so much fun visiting them!

But we had to head on down the road, all the while enjoying a great Texas sunset!

Shortly after the sun went down, we were attacked by a swarm of bugs. Within miniutes our windshield was covered!

On Monday, we spent the day with Catalina at her house. Ruben had hurt his back during the trip and we decided we need to give him a day to rest before heading back into Chicago

The dogs had a great time hanging out with Catalina during the weekend.

Here we are..."On the Road Again!" Look at Ruben's beard! He hasn't shaved since we left home. :)

We spent the day on Tuesday taking turns driving back. The dogs were doing great, but during the last hour, everyone was ready to get out of the car.

Here, Nikon seems to be saying "are we there yet?" His paws are on the framed print we brought home from TX.

At about 8:30pm on Tuesday July 7th we made it home. It was such a great week!

I still have one more Texas adventure this month when I head down to Ft. Stockton for my 10 year high school reunion. More pics and stories to come!