Fun Activities and Things To Do at Beaver's Bend State Park Broken Bow Oklahoma

We spent a few days in Broken Bow, Oklahoma during the Spring Break.  My darling daughter liked to go back to the Beaver's Bend State Park. It's a very relaxing place with lots of things to do. 

K was looking forward to see lots of deer again. And we did. We also went hiking and night walking (we called it - night investigation). Then we rode the train at the train depot inside the park. We weren't able to ride the horses this time because the tickets were sold out due to prior reservations.  There were a lot of campers as well. My husband and I were talking about camping at Beaver's Bend State Park in a couple of years.  Aside from fishing, camping is one of main thing to do at Beaver's Bend park. If you enjoy camping, this is the place to go.

Another fun thing to do is boating on the lake. The Broken Bow Lake is huge that visitors to the park can enjoy boating, jet skiing, and even swimming (only in swimming areas in the summer).  Just being near the water brings you peace and serenity.

We cannot wait to go back and ride the horses next time we visit Beaver's Bend State Park.

Back From A Long Vacation

I'm back!  Yes, I was away for over two months. I was on a long vacation with my darling daughter. We went to the Philippines to visit my side of the family and have had a wonderful summer vacation. By the end of March, school is out and summer vacation starts over there.  So my nieces and nephews were with us in all our getaways.

So, I am back now and will start posting about our adventures and new experiences from the vacation.  Hopefully, I won't forget a thing. :D  See you around.  Have a wonderful day peeps.

Valentine's Day 2016

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! 

May you have a wonderful day.  Happy Sunday.

Chocolates, cards, and red roses.

Enjoy Life Because Life Is Good

Happy Monday!  How was your weekend.  Super hot or no? Here in Texas we're getting really high temperatures again.  Well, it's summer so there's nothing new about that. :)

We went visited the folks this weekend.  Just me and and DD because my dear husband stayed home for he did some yard work and relaxed after stressful work last week.  The grass was so high that some of them were almost 3 feet high.  

As usual we had a great time at Mom and Dad's. Mom made some Beef and Broccoli stir fry and fried rice for dinner.  And a very good sweet iced tea.  We were so full.  Then we head out to the patio and visit.

"Let's sit here and enjoy life," Dad said.  Ah, life is good.

Nothing More Precious Than This - A Day By The Lake

Cute tiny blue weed flowers.

My family and I love going out together.  We went to see the Lake Lavon to see how the water level had gone up since the past rainy weekends last month.  We were happy that it went up to 80 percent. That was according to my brother-in-law who checked the lake water level status online.

So we went down to the lake and threw some rocks into the water.  My darling daughter likes to do that.  Then we found a small playground close to the picnic area.  We took a few of our pictures there.   I just couldn't resist not to take a photo of these cute tiny blue flowers.  They're actually weed flowers.  But they're so pretty.

By the lake with my loves.

It was a beautiful day that weekend.  Perfect day to stroll and just enjoy the beauty of nature with your family.  There is nothing more precious than this.  

The Cleanliness of Electronic Cigarettes vs. Traditional Experience

Sometimes in life it is difficult to give up old habits for good.  Some people got used to doing something just because they feel the need of it or just because it's part of their routine in connection to their dependency to a substance or a habit.  I am talking about the bad habits associated with addiction to nicotine.  

I never liked cigarette smoking.  I definitely dislike it if somebody, in my family or in my circle of friends, smokes cigarettes.  But I hate to say that my husband, my dad, and a few of my uncles were cigarettes smokers.  They have been doing that since they were teens.  I felt so frustrated every time I see them go outside and lit a cigarette.  My mom and my siblings asked our dad to quit smoking.  He tried his best to, at least, reduce the need to smoke by eating a menthol candy – which was effective, I think.  

When I met my husband, he was already a smoker.  I liked everything about him except his smoking habits.  But I accepted him because I love him so much.  Yet in my mind, I want him to stop it because it's BAD for everybody's health.  If you're smoking cigarettes, you have unpleasant smell (bad breath, body odor...etc.)  I talked to him about quitting.  It's for his overall health and of course, my daughter and I want him to live a longer life.  And guess what?  It's over a year now that he got rid of smoking cigarettes.  He switched to e-cigar.  Hey, it's a little better than an actual stick.  Though there is still nicotine intake, but it's in the least amount than an actual pack of cigarette contains.  21st Century Smoke e-cigarettes has affordable kits and supplies.  

I know that smoking is a hard habit to break.  But in this way my husband is getting there slowly and I completely understand it.  This is the important thing right now.

Back to the habits associated with cigarettes smoking, hubby has got rid of the following:

• going out to the garage every morning just to smoke

• going out the office every hour to light a cigarette
• leaving in a middle of conversation
• spending much money on packs of cigarettes
• unpleasant smoke smell and bad breath

He has complete focus on everything he does now and has more time for us.

I am not saying that e-cigarette is an alternative to quitting smoking.  But, it can be a tool for a transition to completely stop cigarette smoking. This is a serious issue and I am hopeful that my husband, and my dad also will totally get rid smoking.

Remember:  Cigarette smoking is a health hazard.

DD Had A Great Time On Her Birthday

"Look how many cards I got, mom."- K

It's my darling daughter's birthday. She is growing up fast. She definitely will become taller than me when she turns 9 years old. That's okay. I will be very happy if she will be tall.

Anyway, we celebrated her birthday at my sister-in-law's place Saturday afternoon.  I was surprised when my sister-in-law told me that she planned a small birthday party for DD.  And they bought some birthday balloons for her. Gladly I got the cake and brought it with us.  That's so sweet of them.  My darling daughter a great time with her cousins as well.  And then we watched The Nutcracker show that evening.  That was her Na-na's birthday present to her. :)

Gratitude Challenge - Day 5 of 5

Day 5/5 - Gratitude Challenge

Today I am thankful:

1.  for the online tasks received today.  It is great to have regular online jobs that I can do on my free time.

2.  the cousins' visit.  My little one is always anxious to see and play with her cousins.  It's a pleasure to have them.  Not only they have a great time playing, they also get the chance to be with each other.  

The girls were just enjoying the play time.

3.  that I am getting by...somehow.  I may not have the big opportunities that every one else has but I am very thankful for the comfortable life I am enjoying right now.

So, it's the end of the 5-day gratitude challenge on my part.  But it doesn't mean I will cease.  No.  It doesn't end.  As long as we have air to breath, gratefulness shall always be.

Tagging Emz, Anne, and Elenie.

Gratitude Challenge - Day 1 of 5

Yesterday I received a tag from a blogger friend.  She is challenging me to post three things I am most thankful for.  The  challenge runs for five days.  Well, I accepted the challenge.  And here they are.

Day 1/5 - Gratitude Challenge

Today, I am very thankful for:
1. yesterday's family time out of town.  My dear husband promised to take darling daughter to the park and let her ride her bike there.  The weather was nice.  Though it was sunny, we strolled on the trails where there are shades from the trees.  We had a great time feeding the...turtles.  Yes turtles.  There were ducks around the pond but seemed like they were shy or regularly fed because they just ignored the popcorn.  But the turtles came and ate some popcorn we threw into the water.  

2. it's Fall season again.  I am ready for cool weather in the Fall.  And so happy that it has come again.  In the next few days, cooler breeze and changing color of the leaves will be felt and seen.

3. regular communication from family and friends here and overseas.  This always makes my day.

Have a wonderful week y'all.  By this weekend, I will be tagging three people (family and friends) to do the challenge. :)

Weekend Snapshots: Na-Na And Paw-Paw's Flowering Plants

My darling daughter and I went to visit her grandparents this week.  We spend the nights Wednesday and Thursday.  When we arrived Wednesday afternoon, the folks were at the back porch.  Mom was picking flowers and Dad was tending the backyard.  Oh what a lovely time to spend in the backyard looking at these colorful flowers of different shapes and sizes.  I felt so relaxed after a long drive.

Gardenia

Hydrangea

Lily

Sorrowful

Today is a very very sad day for my side of the family.  My grandpa passed away early this morning.  He got very ill.  He was admitted to the hospital Friday.  My mom said he had a fever, high blood pressure, and breathing difficulty.  The doctors placed an oxygen mask on him and, according to my mom, a monitoring device that beeps was placed on one of grandpa's fingertips.  I believe it was a pulse oximeter.  

We will miss him so much.  Grandpa was 85 years old. 

Lazy Day After The Trip

When I work so hard for long hours or being on a trip for a day or two, tiredness doesn't get to me much on the same day.  It will kick in the next day that will make me feel so lazy and tired.  And that's what I felt the other day.

We went on a trip to Oklahoma Sunday to visit and to have a family adventure in Beaver's Bend Park.  We went to the lake and had quality time just me, dear husband, and darling daughter.  It was a very pleasant day.  There was a forecast of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in some cities of Oklahoma but not in Broken Bow.  I thought we won't be able to stroll around the park the next day which is Monday.

It was only a two day adventure but I was tired and worn out.  My dear husband let me drive to and from.  We got back home Monday evening and we didn't do anything after dinner.  We're all tired and slept early.  Tuesday was a lazy day for me.  I did nothing but eat and watch television.

Just hanging out and feeling the cool breeze.

Sure the water was inviting.  A couple of kids were playing on the beach while the other one was swimming in the cold lake water.

Happy Easter To One And All!

Weekend Snapshots

Texas Bluebonnets at Mallard Park

A beautiful butterfly visiting the garden.

Kids are picking the eggs scattered on the ground and hunting the eggs hidden in the small trees during the Easter Egg Hunt.

 

It's a beautiful Easter Sunday.  The weather is pleasant and the temperature is just right for the Easter Egg Hunt and pictorials.  We attended the worship service at the Community Church in Tyler.  It was a great service and a strong sermon.  I got emotional for a moment when we were singing songs.  I was touched. After that, we head home and some lunch.  Then took family portraits.

How about you?  By the way, Happy Easter!

 

Gorgeous Mother Of The Bride Dress For My Mom To Wear On My Wedding Day

Seems like it was last Spring that my husband and I got married.  Our wedding was a garden wedding in the Spring of 2008.  It was my very first time in the United States of America and I didn't know how chilly the breeze is in the Spring.  My wedding dress was a Princess Halter style gown.  With a little bare in the back, honestly, I was quite shivering during the wedding ceremony.  No joke!  Gladly the ceremony wasn't that long.  We had some few portraits taken then we headed immediately to the reception in Holiday Inn Hotel.

I sure missed my family on my wedding day.  If there were opportunities available for them, especially for my parents, to come over to witness my special day I could have talked my husband to that.  Celebrating my big day would've have been more awesome.  And I could have got this Mother of the Bride dress for my mom to wear.

There are so many gorgeous Mother of the Bride dresses and bridesmaid dresses at JJsHouse.com that all I had to do was shop and wished that my parents and siblings have had witnessed DH and I on our wedding day.

Wordless Wednesday: Clear Blue Skies in Austin

I Wish To Have A Garden Full Of Roses

Hello!  I hope you are doing well today.  We just came home from a visit to my MIL and FIL.  My darling daughter and I had a great time, as always.  DD enjoys being with her grandparents.  And she likes it when she spends the night with them and sleep in Na-na's guest room.

We visited our favorite attraction the Rose Garden in Tyler.  I forgot that the Rose Festival is held in October and I missed it.  The roses are in full blooms.  My little one couldn't get enough exploring.  She liked watching the fountain so much that she won't go anywhere else.  We also visited the area where my husband and I got married-the pavilion.  When we were at the Garden, I was imagining my own garden at home has full of different kids of roses.  Oh how fragrant my house would be.

Anyway, we finished our tour in town with a big lunch at Popeye's. 

What's Your Adventure Plan This Summer?

Summer is here!  I know most of us don't like the super duper hot days.  But, yeah, we love the outdoor activities we can do this season.  The kids, especially, were looking forward to explore and have a fun adventure this summer season.  Camping and swimming are two of the most enjoyable activity for the family.  In fact, lots of people sign up for camping adventure ahead of time so they can prepare all the necessary things to take.  On the other hand, swimming is the most common excursion for everyone.  Kids enjoy this so much!

Visiting with the family is also the ideal thing to do in the summer.  If your close family live out-of-State, this is also a good time for family reunions.  Some of us want to stay in a hotel so exploring places will be convenient.  What I like about hotels is that, they have nice luxury rooms.  Feels like I want to move in already.  :)  The furniture, equipment, and vanities.  I wonder if they buy those stuff from a Hotel Supply Online.  

When I was out swimming my my girl friends two weeks ago, we were talking about road traveling out-of-State for an adventure.  Some of us haven't been to another State before.  One of my friends suggested going to Atlanta.  She and her husband went to a family reunion a month ago and she said, they found a very reasonably priced luxury hotel with great amenities.  She showed us some pictures taken from her cell phone.  The rooms are beautiful and Hotel Bar Supplies are neat.  When I searched for that hotel online that night, I saw lots of good reviews.  Well, must be a well-managed hotel.  That's great, though.  Guest love staying in a place like that.  It takes a lot of hard work to maintain a customer-oriented hospitality establishments like hotels and resorts.  And looking for Atlanta Hotel Supply can be challenging.

Well, this is our temporary plan so far.  Hopefully, we can come up with a good decision about road trips this summer.  It'll be fun!

Sending An Invitation Is A Formal Gesture Showing Importance

My husband's niece had a bridal shower party two weeks ago.  It was a pretty party attended by family and close friends of the bride-to-be.  The shower was held at her step-mom's house in Allen, TX.  My mother-in-law and I had a great time.  I love parties you know.  It was nice that the invitations were sent to us guests two weeks before the party.  That gave guests to check and finalize floating appointments or plans.  Like everyone else, I have appointments set and events planned two weeks ahead.  So if ever something comes up or special invitations come in, I still have the time to check and prioritize.

That's what I do with my own events.  I send invites to people early as possible so I do not have to rush on my party preparations.  When I had my baby's first birthday last year, it was successful and well attended.  No pressure and stressful days at all.  I searched for invitation designs online that fits the birthday party theme for my little girl.  It did not take me very long to find one that I really liked.  A simple yet informative style of birthday party invitations were perfect.  My friend helped with cooking the food for the guests.  My husband and I took care of the chairs and tables.

Same thing with my husband's niece's bridal shower.  It was pretty neat and pleasing to the eyes.  An invitation does not have to have a lot of things going on in it.  As long as you have the information about the event, time, venue, and specifications indicated, it's fine.  Remember that invitations have to be clear so the guests will be well-guided about the event or occasion.

 

Sending party invitations is another way to show family and friends that they are special.  It is a formal gesture of showing importance. 

Bonding With Cousin

It's Friday. My cousin and I usually get-together for bonding time on this day of the week. If we do not go to the mall for a shopping spree and dining out, we just spend the day either at her house or mine. Today we pretty much hang out at her place. While our little ones are busy playing in the kid's bedroom, my cousin and I have fun talking just about anything. It's been a year since her family moved in to their new home.  I am glad that I have a relative living close to me here in Texas.

Weekend Snapshot: A Pleasant Play Day

We had weekend date-me, hubby, and baby.  The plan was to take baby to the Play Area in Stonebriar Centre Mall.  Before that, we went to McKinney and bought a couple of jeans for hubby in Academy.  He likes Wrangler jeans and Academy has a very reasonable price on them.  Then we ate lunch at Panda Super Buffet by Hwy 75.  We had a big lunch.  The seasoning on the food is not overpowering so that's good.  I was not able to eat the dessert because there's no more room in my tummy.

Then we went ahead and drove to the mall.  Hubby haven't been to Stonebriar Centre in Frisco.  I showed him where we go to when I take baby out for a play.  At least he got to get familiar with the place too.  The Play Area is always packed with kids whenever we go there.  My baby enjoys running, crawling, climbing, sliding, and interacting with other kids also.  It was a fun family weekend.