Way-Back-Wednesday #26: Happy birthday, Nora

Hello blog world :)  I've been MIA for the past month.  Sorry about that.  There are lots of reasons why, and I have been avoiding blogging to avoid having to deal with questions.  BUT, since Way-Back-Wednesday fell on one of my dear friends birthdays, it was too good an opportunity to pass up NOT to post some old school pics.  I hope to start blogging again tomorrow....with a long explanatory post. For now though, it's time to wish Miss Nora Hall a wonderful happy birthday :)

Meet Nora.  

I don't remember when I actually met Nora...sometime freshman or sophomore year of high school.  My guess is that it would have been at church.  And ever since then...we've done a lot together :)

if you need help remember the outfit I'm wearing, you can go to this post

There are so many things to comment on in this picture of Semi-Formal from sophomore year.  I'll just let y'all decide...

This picture is a precursor to the video below.  This is what my friends and I did in high school...we had dance parties at each others houses.  You think I'm joking...

but I'm not.

Rose, Jace, Anna, Amy, Lydia, Nora

Row, row, row your boat...

Nora, Rose, Lydia, Anna

North vs. High football. Amy, Lydia, Nora

Just hanging out in Seattle on the Space Needle

Anna, Nora, Lydia

Mission trip to Camden, NJ

Tayler, Gracie, Lydia, Nora

Mexico one year...note my shirt and Nora's bandana

Mexico the next year...note my shirt and Nora's bandana. 

Niagara Falls.  NBD.

Hanging out in Toronto

Brycey, Nora, Pirtle, Lydia

Mount Rushmore

Tayler, Kendall, Lydia, Nora

Club 69er--aka TLC.  

Just another fun time in a McFarlin mini-bus.

Glacier National Park in Canada

painting in Montana

Dress-up time with Nora and Rosebud

When I came back to the states, Nora was one of the people that I surprised.  I scheduled a "Skype date" with her even though we wouldn't really be skyping.  Instead, I rang her doorbell just as she was supposed to be signing on to Skype.  After many persistent knocks and doorbell rings {while she was sneaking around the house trying to see who was at her door}, she finally answered :)  Nora, I hope your birthday is filled with lots of fun times and laughs.  Love you dearly :)

Way-Back-Wednesday #25: Happy Wedding Week, Kyle & Bayley!

It's my favorite post of the week day--Wednesday!  I wish every blog post were about old and awkward pictures.  Today's is no exception :) Get ready for some really old and super embarrassing pictures.  But first, you've gotta have a little background.

Meet Kyle and Bayley

*picture stolen from Facebook*

I met Kyle {the groom} when I moved to Norman 11 years ago.  He's a year older than me, and although we went to different high schools, we became good friends at church.  Summer of 2002, we traveled to Los Angeles on a mission trip.  Kyle and one of his best friends, Brandon, sat by me while I used a CALLING CARD {way before the days of cell phones} to talk to my parents during the trip.  Pretty sure our friendship was solidified after that.  

During my sophomore year of high school, I took Kyle to our winter semi-formal at Norman North.  This is where the super embarrassing pictures come into play.  And it involves a funny side story with my PC friends in Ukraine.

Side story: At some point over the last few months, my friends and I {in Ukraine} were discussing the evolution of clothes.  Kym and I got to talking about our old prom dresses...and eventually I described the dress {if you can call it that?} that you'll see below.  This was during the time that showing your belly was uber popular.  So, for the record, I thought this outfit was incredibly cool at the time.  But, now, I realize how really embarrassing it is.  

the top of the outfit...not too bad!

There it is, in all of its glory!  Sheer overlay, pants, and black lace.  I can't imagine what Kyle's parents thought of my outfit.  

best of buds--Brandon and Kyle

obligatory picture with the parents

Wally (who happens to be my dentist!), Lydia, Kyle, and Cathy (who happened to be my boss for 6 years!)

So now that those pics are out of the way, we'll start with some other goodies of Kyle.  Don't worry Bayley, yours are coming too :)

Kyle and Darren--ballers.

some youth event...Kyle is in the back left doing one of his infamous dance moves.  

Kyle's mad dance skills.  Hope I get to see this in person again at the wedding...

totally in his element!

going to see Tim McGraw

Darren, Amy, Nora, Kyle, Jacey, Lydia

Wonderful memories after Timmy...a flat tire in the parking garage!

Harry Potter?  Or Steve Urkel?  

Kyle, Darren, David, Bennett

hanging out in Seattle--2005

After high school, Kyle and I both headed to OU.  We would see each other occasionally, sometimes through studio classes in the College of Architecture.  After a few years though...he began to come around more.  That is, once he met Bayley :)

Bayley, now an architecture grad from OU, and I met during the good ol' days of studio.  We happened to be in a class together that involved combining my interior design class with her architecture class.  After that, our paths crossed every day.

Lydia and Bayley {with Robert in the background, who actually introduced Kyle and Bayley}

Winter White Out--Bayley, Lydia, Drew

Lydia, Bayley, Drew, Beth

Bayley and one of her best friends, Drew

I know I'm being long-winded, but their engagement story is one of the sweetest things ever.  Bear with me. 

I can't remember all the details, but the pictures speak wonders. According to a Japanese legend, whoever folds 1000 paper cranes is granted a wish.  So, Kyle got to folding...

and folding...

and folding...

His wish?  For Bayley to marry him. 

Pretty magical, isn't it? 

So happy for the both of y'all :)  Happy Wedding Week!  And just because this is one of the best engagement shots ever...

Kyle & Bayley--May 19, 2012

Way-Back-Wednesday #24: Interior Design classes

**This was supposed to be posted yesterday but I never got around to it.  So, I'm posting it anyway, even though it's Thursday!**

Once upon a time, I went to school at the University of Oklahoma and got a degree in Interior Design.  My class started out with 120 students freshman year.  By the time we graduated, there were 18 of us.  Quite the weeding out process, no?  

OU's Interior Design program is situated in the College of Architecture.  For 2 of my years of college, we were located in the old Hobby Lobby building on Main Street.  Why, you ask?  Because Gould Hall (the College of Architecture's building) was getting a {much} needed renovation.  I still have yet to see the finished product of the new Gould Hall because they finished it since I've been gone to Ukraine.  But, someday, I will get to see that new building and new groups of Interior Design students, going on zero hours of sleep, just to see a project turned in on time!

The other day on facebook, I saw some new pics that one of the Interior Design seniors posted of their graduating class.  They are fabulous and made me find the pictures that my class took our senior year of college.  We called upon a friend of a friend {Stancy Higley} who now co-owns a hip photography company called Half Orange Photography.  She does truly great work and we had such a fun time shooting these.  Enough with the chit chat though...on with the pics!  

**all pictures by Stancy Higley Photography

OU Interior Design Class of 2009!

Julie, Khoi, Amanda, Casey, Amber, Lydia, Jenna, Kristen, Hayley, Kelsey, Beth, Marissa, Tiffany, Laura

This was our "excited to be done with school" face/we're {finally} graduating!

hanging out in the Biz

OU has quite the campus...great for photo shoots!

Khoi, our token male, was probably making a joke at this moment...

We really do love each other...

Traditional jumping pic.

Stancy also took individuals of us {you'll see why in a second}.  If you ever need a photographer in the Austin area, I would call her in a heartbeat.  

I didn't remember that this picture showed my cement burn scars on my left arm.  That's another day and another post...

The reason for the individuals was to be able to send out graduation invites to our capstone exhibit.  I totally stole and copied the ideas/wording {Thanks, Kristen :)}.  

one side of the card

other side of the card

While I was reminiscing about our college pics {I think we started a trend with taking senior pics!}, I had to find the class after ours.  These girls were fun-loving, easy-going, and super great all around.  

**I think my {high school} friend Kelly Miller took all of these pics...

There were only NINE of them in their graduating class.

They were quite the group... :)

Friends since freshman year of high school {thanks Senora Grady!}

So now, flash forward to this years senior Interior Design girls.  Their pics are phenomenal and creative.  These girls were freshmen when I was a senior at OU, so I really don't know that many of them.  And, I don't know who took the pictures {if someone does know, please let me know and I'll give credit}. But, enjoy nonetheless!

Pretty freakin' creative

{the new Gould Hall is behind them!}

South Oval

18 girls.  That's a lot of estrogen!

Gould Hall

Fine looking group of designers!

So, that's a lot of pics.  But most way-back-Wednesday post are.  And since I'm posting this today (on a Thursday), I have to include a birthday shout out.

Happy happy birthday, Chris! 

These two guys are roomies now {Schlegel on the left and Chris on the right}.  Wish I could be there to celebrate Chris!