Bedlam Came a Little Early...

I never thought I would live to see the day, but I did. An OSU flag flew at my parents' house. Now I know what you are thinking....have they lost their minds? Gone crazy? Luckily the answer is "NO"! We were actually celebrating Drew and Kristen's upcoming wedding with and OSU themed party. I will tell you that my dad wore an OU shirt all weekend just to make sure everyone knew he had not become a POKE! While I don't want to wear orange any time soon, the weekend was a complete blast! Lots of fun, sun and patio chats! Jeff and I made new friends and I got to catch up with old ones too. The weekend was a great reminder that what really matters in life are people! And no matter where life takes you, there are a few people that will always be apart of your life.

I am so happy and excited to see KB and Drew get married on October 1st! But more importantly I am excited to continue our friendship and experience all of life's big and not so big moments together!

Here's to a happy wedding day to you Mr. and Mrs. Speakes!

Cheaper Than Therapy...

A few years ago, I began running for all the wrong reasons. Along the way I found my inner strength and a new BEST FRIEND! (KB has been stuck with me since we were 4) Two full marathons and six half marathons later, I still enjoy a run. I joined a running club in Tulsa and met this out going, fun loving girl! Susie has become family. I love hers and she loves mine. Lita, her mom, jokes that I'm her "Gringa"! (I hope that is the right word)

                                                                   KB, Me and Susie!



Running not only helps me stay in shape physically, but mentally as well. My coach is 30 years older than me, but can out run me any day of the week! I love it! I wish Coach Judy would move to OKC! Susie, KB and I have also made running an excuse to travel. We have been to San Diego, Napa and Vegas together! People think I'm crazy for running, but it is cheaper than therapy. On our runs, we gripe, complain, gossip and help each other through the best and not so good of times. Now that I live in OKC, I miss my running buddies, but once again running brought a positive turn in my life. I have reconnected with a friend from high school and my "big sis" from OU! It has been so much fun! We are training for the OKC Memorial Half Marathon on May 1st!

                  

                                                              KB, Coach Judy and Me!



I always want to be faster, but I'm soon learning it isn't about the speed, but the will power to complete the race!

So here is to my 7th half marathon...everyone say 13 prayers on May 1st!!!

Favorite Quotes

I love quotes! They stir up many good thoughts for me! Here are a few of my favorites and a couple I borrowed from friends...

"Remember Who You Are"-Vic Clouse

"Let's hang half a hundred on them and go home!"-Barry Switzer

"Many things in life will catch your eye, few will catch your heart-pursue those."

"Well behaved women rarely make history" (Brandi Koskie's fave)

"If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger"-Steel Magnolias

"If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly" Vic Clouse

"Friends are the bacon bits in the salad bowl of life"-Anon

"Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker"-(Shawna Simpson's fave)

"In dreams and in love there are NO impossibilities."-Jane Arany (Amanda Kelly's fave)

"Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your sunshine!" (Devin Summerfield's fave)

" Many people hear, but few listen" (Jordan Formby's fave)

"Happy wife, happy life!" (Adam Thornton's fave...hope my husband is listening/0

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not carry you" (Jessica Tinney's fave)

"But you match..."

A few weeks before Sparky and I got engaged, we were talking to Mackenzie about where we lived.  I reminded her that I lived in Tulsa and Sparky lived in OKC. She looked really confused at us and said, "but you match!" We realized that Sparky and I began dating when she was about 18 months old and in her mind we had ALWAYS been together. It was so sweet. Of course Sparky thought I put her up to it, but I didn't. She is just one smart little girl! IT did work in my favor though. I told him if a 3 year old could see that we should be together, then we did! Well it worked! Sparky purposed on May 10th and we were married on Aug. 28th! Today we have been married 7 months. It has gone by so fast! Each day is so much fun and definitely a learning experience. I can't wait to see what life brings us next!

So here's to my great husband! I love you!

Mackenzie, Me and Sparky

Secret Millionaire

Sparky(my husband who refuses to be named in my blog) and I always joke about how we would spend (notice I didn't say SAVE) a million dollars. This money of course, would come from winning the lottery . (teaching is NOT going to make us rich) As we rattle off our list of luxuries we would buy, giving to a church and charity comes up, but usually as an after our "toys". Tonight as I watch, Secret Millionaire on ABC, my selfishness became very apparent to me. Now I'm not gonna lie, I would FOR SURE splurge, but I also feel like giving money to help others would be very rewarding. I am also reminded that giving money is not the ONLY way to help others. I have been meaning to find an organization to volunteer for and there is no time like the present!

So here's to paying it forward!

P.S. The show Secret Millionaire is really good.

Starfish Story

I read this story during my high school graduation speech. I still enjoy it today. I think of it often and I feel like the little boy as I teach everyday!

The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley


One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”

ABC's of ME

ABC's of Me


- Available: for my husband, Grady, niece, family and friends
- Age: 30
- Annoyance:dirty finger nails
- Animal: Grady Lee

B
- Birthday: October 31
- Best Friends: Lauren, KB, Kim, Melissa, Susie, Luthey, Meredith, Tiger,
- Body Part on opposite sex: Smile
- Best feeling in the world: happiness...
- Best weather: sunshine and a slight cool breeze
- Been in Love: yes
- Been on stage: yes
- Believe in Magic: yes
- Believe in Miracles: of course
- Believe in Santa: Well, he comes every year, so yeah!

C
- Cake or pie: cake-well both really
- Country to visit: Italy
- Cheese: melted

D
- Day or Night: Night
- Dance in the rain: yes, and splash in the puddles

E
- Eggs: scrambled
- Eyes: brown
- Ever failed a class: almost

F
- Full name: Melanie Kay Weaver
- First thoughts waking up: I need to get up and get to boot camp.
- Food: Mexican

G
- Greatest Fear: losing my parents
- Goals: to be happy
- Get along with your parents: yes I do
- Good luck charm: my silky blanket, ladybugs, a pen that was my Gran's

H
- Hair Color: dark black
- Height: 5'6"
- Happy: happier than I could have expected
- Holiday: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter, St. Pat's, Fourth of July...I like to celebrate
- How do you want to die: happy

I
- Ice Cream: frozen yougurt twist from Braum's
- Instrument: haven't played since high school...so my ipod
J
- Jewelry: wedding ring, pearl ring from my Gran, ruby bracelet from my mom and dad
- Job: 4th grade teacher
K
- Kids: 27 and they go home at 3:50!
- Kickboxing or karate: Kick boxing
- Keep a journal?: my blog!

L
- Longest Car Ride: Atlanta on a band trip, 24 hrs...
- Love: comes in all shapes and sizes...I see it everyday in many forms!
- Letter: M
- Laughed so hard you cried: all the time
M
- Milk flavor: Chocolate
- Movies: Beaches, Love and Basketball, Steel Magnolia's
- Motion sickness?: Oh yes.
- McD’s or BK: McD's

N
- Number of Siblings: One brother, Matt, sister in law Anne, brother in law Tim
- Number of Piercings: 2
- Number: 15
O
- One wish: to be a great mom or atleast half as good as mine!

P
- Perfect Pizza: green peppers, pineapple and Canadian Bacon
- Pepsi or Coke: don't drink pop
Q
- Quail: matt and dad shoot 'em

R
- Reason to cry: memories, Hallmark Commericals, LifeTime Movies
- Reality T.V.: Yes!
- Radio Station: Sports Animal
- Roll your tongue in a circle?:no
- Ring size?: 7 - 8

S
- Song: Angel Eyes
- Shoe size: 9 1/2
- Salad Dressing: Lite Italian
- Sushi: cooked...yes!
- Skipped school: only a few times
- Slept outside: no way!
- Shower daily?: yes...twice
- Sing well?: Nope...was asked to lip sing before
- In the shower?: sing in the shower? yes...as loud as possible
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Both
-Time for bed: Usually somewhere between 10 and midnight
-Thunderstorms: Love them, when I'm sleeping and my dad is in the house
U
- Unpredictable: Every now and then

V
- Vacation spot: There are soooo many.

W
- Weaknesses: dessert
- Who makes you laugh the most: Mackenzie, Jeff and Grady
- Worst feeling: loss, failure
- Want to be a model?: only a model person
- Worst Weather?: when it's so cold outside it hurts and by this I mean below freezing

X
- X-Rays: not unless I have to
- Ex's: must have them to teach you what you want and deserve
Y
- Year it is now: 2011
- Yellow: sunshine, wreath on my door, color that makes me happy!
Z
- Zoo animal: Monkeys, elephants, flamingos

Just another day in the life of Melanie...

I had such a fun day on Monday that I had to share!

5:00 am-Up for a fun morning at boot camp...was sore before I got home!
7:00 back home and back to bed
9:00 Up to get ready for a full day with Gretchen and Hallie Bear
11:00 Lunch at the Spicy Pickle followed by shopping at Spring Creek
2:00 Pinkitzel-A FABULOUS cupcake place in Bricktown...this is a must if you enjoy cupcakes and candy as much as I do!
3:00 Lime Leopard and more shopping
4:00 Home for a rest and to learn more about blogging
6:00 Dinner at BJ's...very yummy fried shrimp
8:00 BOWLING!!! I did terrible the first game...but won the second!!
9:30 Home to watch Bethanny before going to sleep early!

I love days like this...lots of fun, laughs and good friends!!!

25 Things You Don't Know About Me...

I'm an avid US Weekly Reader. (I cannot get to the mailbox fast enough on Friday nights to get it, get in comfy clothes and sit down to read it cover to cover) One of my favorite pages of the magazine is the 25 Things You Don't Know About Me, so I decided to write my own list.

25. I enjoy watching reality TV.
24. I would love to be a good cook, but still can't do much in the kitchen.
23. I want to run a total of 5 marathons which means I have 3 to go.
22. I love stationary and want to own a card store someday.
21. I'm terrible with money, I can only spend it.
20. I want to write a children's book.
19. Living in NYC has always been on my bucket list.
18. Chocolate is a food group in my diet.
17. I believe a pedicure makes everything better.
16. I have too many speeding tickets to count and could be a successful racecar driver.
15. Rollercoasters scare me...won't go on one!
14. I would love to see every country in the World...there is no place I wouldn't go.
13. As a teacher, my goal is to change the life of just one of my students.
12. I want to go on a Mission trip someday.
11. I believe you can't have too many bracelets.
10. Lip gloss makes me happy and I have quite the collection.
9. I have been in ten weddings...one more in October! yea!!
8. A pony tail is my staple hair style.
7. I have tried for two summers to wakeboard and still can't.
6. My favorite dessert is vanilla ice cream and peanut butter.
5. I eat chicken for most meals...with ketchup!
4. My grandma taught me to drive a boat in high school.
3. I couldn't swallow a pill until I was a Sr. in high school.
2. I can't be without my phone...I may have an addiction!!!
1.I may be 30, but I still sleep with my silky.(blanket)

Memory Lane...

Here are a few of my fondest memories...

• Eating popcorn and watching the Golden Girls with my Gran.
• Going to see Bambi at the Coleman Theater in Miami with my Grandma Clouse
• Spending the whole day on Grand Lake tubing and skiing, only going in because it got dark.
• Watching the Sooners win the National Championship in 2001 FSU Who?
• Nov. 16th, 2007...day I became an Aunt
• Silver Dollar City-Grandpa bought me twin dolls
• Winning a State Softball Championship in high school
• Graduating from OU
• Aug. 28, 2010...the day I became Melanie Weaver
• Eating vanilla ice cream and peanut butter with Grandpa Clouse
• Crossing the finish line of the Vegas and San Diego marathons
• Christmas Morning when Santa brought me the entire Barbie and the Rockers collection
• The time my dad took me fishing and my yellow ribbon fell out of my hair, he turned the boat around for it!
• Catching a hotel on fire in Ireland with Matt
• Waking up to find cards in my bathroom from my momma on important mornings or just because...
• Driving through Christmas Tree Lane only to want to go again, and again and again...
• My first day of teaching...what a day!
• Kissing the Blarney Stone
• The day we brought Grady home...man was he stinky! Thanks dad for bathing him several times.

I could go on and on, but I won't bore you! I'm one lucky girl to have so many great memories to share! My family is simply the best and I love them so much.

Here's to making many more happy memories!!!

A-Z Me

Sunday, March 13, 2011

A-Z Me

I stole this from the What A Girl Wants. I thought it was fun to read her answers and I figured I play along.

A. Age: 30

B. Bed size: King

C. Chore you dislike: Laundry.  Not the doing it, but the putting it away.


D. Dogs: Grady Lee Clouse Weaver

E. Essential start to your day: Tall  Skinny Vanilla Latte(Can't have one until Easter.)

F. Favorite color: RED

G. Gold or silver: Both!

H. Height: 5' 6"


I. Instruments you play(ed): Piano, Clarinet

J. Job title: 4th GradeTeacher

K. Kids: none yet...

L. Live: OKC

M. Mom’s name: Linda

N. Nicknames: Mel, MKC

O. Overnight hospital stays: none..knock on wood

P. Pet peeves: Being late, people who talk to loud!

Q. Quote from a movie: "He's so confused he doesn't know if he should wind his butt or scratch his watch"

S. Siblings: OLDER Big Bro Matt

T. Time you wake up:  5:00 for boot camp...6:30 other mornings

U. Underwear: everyday

V. Vegetables you don’t like: hmm...zucchinin

W. What makes you run late: Not wanting to get out of my cozy bed, cuddling with Grady, Matt Lauer, picking out my clothes....pretty much everything. Not a morning person.

X. X-rays you’ve had: teeth, left elbow, left thumb

Y. Yummy food you make: rotel, brownies,

Z. Zoo animal favorites: Monkeys, elephants, hippos, flamingos

To The Moon and Back!

It was the Easter Sunday after we lost Gran. The six of us were having breakfast at Grandpa's house. We were all a little teary and needed some good news. Little did we know our lives would soon change forever. Matt and Anne gave Mom and Dad a frame that said, "save this for baby Clouse, Due November 2007." Mom looked at it casually and handed it to Dad...we all knew she didn't read it. (I had a hunch something was up because Anne had turned a glass of wine down the night before...and that was a first!) All at once, we began to cry, laugh, clap and wonder. What would she look like? Sound like? What would her favorite color be? At that moment I was thrilled to be an Aunt. Although I knew I would love her, I didn't know how much until I saw her for the first time.  Her hands got me...they looked just like my Mom's. (Sorry Mack...you got the Clouse ears too) I realized that she was our baby. We were responsible for her. Now I realize the role of an Aunt is the BEST job...we introduce them to stickers, ketchup and M&M's and then give them back!!! I love it! Matt and Anne have to do the hard stuff and I'm there for the fun stuff.

Mackenzie Anne came at the exact moment our family neeeded her. God knew we needed happiness and that is exactly what she is. Even when she calls her mom an "Old Crazy Head" and blames it on me, I love her to pieces. She continues to be a blessing daily and I love watching her experince things for the first time.

I guess Matt and Anne thought I was doing a pretty good job at being an Aunt because they are giving me another one!!!! I can't wait!  They better watch out-this Aunt is ready to spoil!!!

Here is to Mackenzie Anne and Baby #2...I love you to the Moon and Back!!!

Super Bowl Sunday

    Growing up we  had several watch parties and it became a tradition to have friends and family over to watch the game, play air hockey, pool and eat! It was such a fun way to watch the game...even if we were just watching for the commericals. I can remember the first 3-D commerical. Lucas, Matt and I sat frozen in our glasses as the commerical aired. I'm sure we were quite impressed by the special effects. Today we would probably think, "Wow, that's all?!!" Either way Super Bowl Sunday has special memories.  

In January of 1993, my Grandfather called to let my parents know that he had four tickets to the Super Bowl that was being played in Pasadena. He was a long time Dallas Cowboy season ticket holder and they had offered him tickets! The "B Team" aka Mom and Dad weren't asked to go. Grandpa wanted to take Matt because the game was being played on his 14th birthday. Then he felt it was fair to take Sarah because they were the two oldest grandchildren. For those of you who know me well, know that this didn't go over very well. I may have pouted a little and Grandpa said he would try to get more tickets. It just so happened that the Cowboys were having a lottery for any left over tickets. Grandpa(who was the luckiest man on Earth) put his name in for two and got them! Rachel and I were on our way!!!! (Grandpa would have NEVER heard the end of it if we hadn't gotten to go!!!)  So here we go, Gran, Grandpa, Matt, Sarah, Rachel and  me! I can remember driving to the game and getting lost. We followed a stretch limo along with an entourage and realized later it was Michael Jackson. He was the half time performance! Garth Brooks sang the national anthem and we were having a blast. Matt and Grandpa sat in the end zone and high-fived Emmitt Smith after a Cowboy touchdown. Gran and the girls sat in the last row of the stadium, but we didn't care! After the Cowboy victory, Troy Aikman said he was going to Disney Land. Matt made us go to Disney Land the next day to look for Troy Aikman, but never spotted him! 

We had such a great trip and it wasn't until several years later that I appreciated what a great experience it was. Watching a Super Bowl in person is a once in a life time trip (to most!) but going with Gran and Grandpa was pretty cool too! That was the only time, we went somewhere with them and two of our cousins! It will forever be a fond memory!    (Don't worry, Scott and Molly went the very next year when it was played in Arizona. Gran wouldn't let them be left out!) 

So as you enjoy the game, food and family, remember it isn't who wins that counts(unless your team loses), but the people you are with! 

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!          

                      1993 Super Bowl XXVII

Date Played: January 31, 1993
Teams: Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills
Winner: COWBOYS
Final Score: 52-17
Location: Pasadena, California

Remember Who You Are...

After being snowed inside my house all week I decided to finally start a blog. I have been wanting to start one for a while and here I go!

I was fortunate enough to grow up on Grand Lake AND I met my husband there! What a lucky girl I am. Grand Lake is and always will be a special place to me, so it was fitting to name my blog GrandLakeGirl. My dad always says, "You can take the girl out of Delaware County, but you can't take the Delaware County out of the girl!" I hope to never lose my small town values. Although I haven't lived there in several years, there is still a sense of "ahh" as you come down the hill near Tom Kat Corner and see a small glimpse of Sailboat Bridge-that is the exact moment I know I am home. Honey Creek is the place I learned to ski, tube, ride wave runners and learn to drive a boat. Summers were spent sunburned and watching the clock to make sure Matt didn't get any second longer than I did on the wave runner! (I'm such a nice sister) Holidays and birthdays were all spent at the lake. The older I get the more I appreciate my home town. In the not so near future, I hope my kids will get to make the many happy memories on Grand Lake that I got to!

So here is to remembering who I am and may you always....REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!