Peek-a-boo!

Yea! Here is the other photo I was trying to load last night. Glad it finally loaded.

Playing

Been playing with my camera and photoshop today. Here are the best from today's work. There is one other shot that I keep trying to download but it won't take on blogspot. Don't know why. It is one of her smiling. A nice contrast to these more serious photos.

singing in the rain

We received a true down pour of rain yesterday. It was such an unexpected and welcome occurance. It rained on the 4th and now again on the 27th. Is this really July? Our yard might actually be green in August! Last night, once the skies had cleared, we had the pleasure of walking in 70 degree weather. When we returned home, Georgia did a rendition from the Sound of Music and had me and Rodolfo as her back up group. It was so funny because every time Rodolfo would try to get up to leave she would tug on his neck and nearly choke him because she so wanted us to continue singing with her. And of course we did. We all sang for about half an hour and then played like we were on an airplane and then at the doctor. Interesting how play imitates life. Kids are so fascinating.

Wild Coyotes are Magical

Just spent the past 5 days sleeping in this tent on an expansive estate in Ojai, California. I haven't slept outdoors in ages. The experience was breathtaking. Because our tent faced east-west, I literally awoke every morning as the sun was rising. The sunlight would ever so gently peek its head up above the trees and the rays of light would stretch out their arms to shine straight upon me. I felt like it was God saying goodmorning. The experience was grand. I picked oranges, lemons and a fig straight off of their trees. I hiked. I lived. I breathed. It was wonderful. The most memorable part though was the night the coyotes ran by our tent. My roommate and I heard them rustle around but we didn't know what animal they were until they were some distance from us and they cried their pack howl together. It was frightening and magical. I won't forget this experience ever. I told Rodolfo that maybe we should set a tent up in the backyard. That way, whenever we want, we can sleep under the stars. Wouldn't that be nice? I think so.

Tennessee Family Reunion

We spent a long weekend in Tennessee relaxing and having a fabulous time hanging out with a side of the family we need to see a lot more often. Many thanks to Chris and Barbara for opening their home to us-- what a resort nieghborhood you live in! It was very touching to listen to Uncle Ronnie talk about family. His role of family patriarch suits him nicely. He reminded me a lot of Papa. Besides all of the lineage information he shared, I would like to add that if the innate stubborness of any Johnson is a clue, I'd definitely say that we descended from the William Wallace clan. :)

Georgia had a great time hanging out with all of her new-found cousins. She vividly remembers swinging with Trent and sliding with Kendal. Just today she asked me where "the boys" went to (referring to Hunter and Oliver). I had to break it to her that they were still back in Tennessee. She and Sophia had fun chasing each other around and brushing each others (and their own) hair (see photo above). But my favorite memory of Georgia and Sophia is from Big Ed's when they were licking parmesan and eating chocolate cupcakes-- what a mess indeed!

Interviews

Rodolfo and I had our interviews for the adoption last Thursday. I was so nervous and I don't know why. I was more nervous with this interview than I was even with Rodolfo's green card interview (which was way more intimidating). Maybe my emotions were high because these interviews signify that we are that much closer to actually, physically, tangibly holding our next baby. I mean, the interviews were conducted in the same building where birthmoms enter and exit. Who knows, our birthmom could have been in there the same time we were! She there with the baby in her womb. It is so strange this type of waiting. While you are pregnant you prepare for the baby that you feel inside of you. You know that it is coming because your belly grows, you feel the kicks you see the heartbeat. When you adopt the sensations are different. It is more a matter of the heart. You sense it all, the coming of your next child, its development, its being, but you sense it in a spiritual sense and an emotional one. You know that baby is there but you just can't see it. It is all very strange becoming parents again this way. But I am ready and I am learning so much about love through this whole process. Little one, wherever you are, I love you and can't wait to meet you. Grow strong! We are praying and thinking about you all the time!

Happy 4th!

July 4th was surprisingly cool and rainy this year. The Graves invited us over for a cook out. Georgia and Ashleigh had a good-old time running around in their bathing suits even though it was a little chilly. We popped kid-friendly fireworks, ate and talked. It was very low key and relaxing. On our drive home we passed downtown just as the grand finale was shooting over the night sky. The timing couldn't have been better. Was a nice way to top off our 4th!

Out to Lunch

As my diet has drastically changed due to a Traditional Chinese medicine diet I have adopted (no wheat, dairy or sugar) it is high time for another restaurant review of OKC. Here are my 2009 recommendations:

Mediterranean Deli - A quirky, diverse clientele of academics, socialites, and Mediterranean immigrants frequent this quiet little secret inauspiciously placed on busy May avenue. The food tastes homemade and authentic, like recipes passed down through generations. My favorite items are the lentils, hummus, grapeleaf rolls, cabbage rolls, olive salads and baklava. Everything I have sampled at this restaurant has been tasty. My only complaint is the atmosphere-- it would behoove the owner to add a little music to really put people in the mood for some great Mediterannean dining! Lots of imported products are available for purchase. I have heard the yogurt, herbs and feta are fabulous!

Saturn Grill - Although I cannot eat this now, I still have day dreams about the Thai Broccoli salad offered at this popular and way-too-busy-at lunch-time bistro.

Cafe do Brazil - This place is sexy. It always makes me want to hop a plane to Brazil and drink a caipirinha on its legendary beaches. I love the building where the restaurant is housed, love Anna the friendly owner and I especially love their vegetarian dish with beans, rice, and collard greens. My mouth is watering as I type.

Cafe de Antigua - A Guatemalan diner run by a Guatemalan family. Serves gigantic licuados straight from heaven. Georgia loves the strawberry banana one while I am partial to the honeydew cantelope combination. Rodolfo always orders some other drink that has red beans in it, I forget what it is called but his mom and grandmother ordered it too when we took them. If you are from Guatemala you probably will love it. Food wise, this restaurant excels at breakfast and makes a leisurely Saturday morning outing.

Boulevard Steak House - Hands down the best steak house in Oklahoma City. I have also been to the Range (which is way more expensive and still quite great) but I have to give the award to Boulevard. We went on our anniversary and my steak came out tender, sizzling, perfectly seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth to die for good. I really wanted to try the oven-roasted Boursin from their appetizer menu, but seeing as dairy is not on my diet I courageously declined.

Irma's Burger Shack - Get the No Name burger. It is local oragnic meat and made the way a burger should be. Great laid-back, family restaurant.

Sushi Neko- Okay, okay, I know that there are other, "better" sushi restaurants around but I'm loyal to my first love. This is the first place I ever tried sushi and I'm addicted to the way they prepare my favorites. Plus I like their miso soup the best and you have to admit their fried banana icecream with choclate dessert is pretty darn fabulous. In terms of atmosphere, this place has got the music down to a T. Not too loud, not too soft, trendy but not in an uncomfortable way. Plus they always give Georgia a balloon when we eat there. The last time we did her balloon blew away after about 2 minutes outside. The staff was so nice because before I knew it, a waiter came outside and gave Georgia another, brighter balloon. So considerate!

Sage - This is a new downtown restaurant started up to supposedly meet the high-end grocery needs of the residents of this trendy, venture-capitalist community. While there are some specialty groceries tossed around the place, overall the restaurant seems more like a bar/sandwhich shop to me. I find the atmosphere rather cold and uncomfortable, but there is one item on the menu, Steak and Potatoe soup (for only $6) that knocked my socks off. So much so that it would be amiss for me not to include it here. The bowl is huge and the soup delicous and filling. It is a steal at $6 and even worth sitting in hard chairs to eat.

Cafe Nova - I've only eaten here once in the past year and it was for brunch. Apparently this is a hot-spot for the after-party morning crowd because they have cheap mimosas. I enjoyed swanking it up with Rodolfo and Gigi that morning, ate a really delicious breakfast and treated myself to a mimosa as well. The portions in the morning are much more generous than the lunch and evening menus. Fun place with wild atmosphere.

Bellini's Ristorante - Still my favorite outdoor spot for dining. Wish I could eat their pizzas. The margarita pizza is divine. Good spaghetti too, but not as good as my next entry's spaghetti. Lovely place.

Victoria's - Used to be the most romantic spot in Norman for a date. Now it seems grimy and slimy to me (perhaps it is just my perspective that has changed). Thank goodness the food is still as delicious as ever. Fresh, handmade spaghetti noodles that are so thick and chewy they make the stuff from the stores seem like an entirely different species of food. And the spaghetti sauce!!! I don't know if it is cinnamon or what but there is some kind of savory/sweet combination that makes this sauce hands down the best I have ever eaten.

County Line - Potatoe salad and brisket heaven.

OKC Museum of Art Cafe - Food is fab or bad, but the windows and atmosphere are spot-on big city glamour. On Thursday nights they serve drinks on the roof. Very cosmopolitan.

Old Kaiser's icecream building - They have an old fashioned soda fountain and bar. I need to take Gigi here for a banana split. Love their warm potato salad. Nostalgic place to lunch.

Prairie Thunder Baking Company - Owned by a Geologist (who happens to share Georgia's birthday) that always wanted to own a bread baking store. This is the place to go to for baguettes and fresh bread. Man that place smells good when they are cooking.