Recent Happenings...(w/pictures..finally!)

Tristen - right before his Christmas band concert
(note to self- the fireplace, does not make a pleasant background for pictures)

Colby - at his 5th grade Christmas party. They had to wrap a package with one hand tied to their friend. It was quite comical.

My girlfriends and I at Pete's Piano Bar. Jolee and Beth were in town from Midland to see the Cowboys last game at Texas stadium. I loved having them in town and wish they lived closer. Our Friday night was fun filled at Pete's. Saturday, we headed out for a power shopping trip. (Side note: the malls in West Texas pale in comparison to even Vista Ridge Mall.) I tried to take them to Stonebriar or the Galleria, but a) we didn't have time and b) they were pretty much spent after our 2 hour power shopping trip.

Jolee, Beth, Me & Haylee (my sister-in-law)

Since it is has been awhile....last, but not least, a recent picture of the hubby and me.

My Life (thus far...)

The things I have done in my life, thus far, are in bold. I guess I need to travel more. Looks like that won't happen until we retire. LOL!

1. Started your own blog. Uh, yeah. That is what this thing is, right?
2. Slept under the stars. Many times! As a kid, we spent many nights on the trampoline in the backyard.
3. Played in a band. the BAAD Cat Band, thankuverymuch! Yes, that would be the band at my alma mater Wink High School.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world. When I was young.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. If you count singing in my car, as a solo. Fortunately, for the world, I have not actually sang a solo in front of an audience.
11. Bungee jumped. Not exactly, but some friends and I did the skydive thing at Six Flags on our Senior Trip.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child. No, but I was adopted.
16. Had food poisoning. Once.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked. - yeah, but it was in Wink, and in Wink, you KNOW everyone!
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. And I forsee many more in the future due to the changes that were just made to our Paid Time Off.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run. Yeah, right! Softball didn't really work out for me.
32. Been on a cruise. I prefer the land.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. - if I only knew who my Ancestors were. (see ques.15)
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. One day....one day..... a girl can dream, right!
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke. Uggghhhhh, yes, but only after a few adult beverages
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. Yes, on our honeymoon - fabulouso!
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain. Yes, but it wasn't all romantic like you see in movies and pictures.
53. Played in the mud. I grew up with 3 brothers, how could I not?
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie. Not really, but I am in a training video for one of my previous employers.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business. We tried, and will try again once J finishes school.
58. Taken a martial arts class. Didn't make it past the white belt with yellow stripe level. Yeah, call me a quiter.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. Hell yes! I was the top seller in my Daisy troop!
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason. Yes. :)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving..
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. Growing up in a town of 900 people, it isn't hard to get your picture in the newspaper, so yes, I've had my picture in the newspaper. I was lucky enough to have the most unflattering picture of me plastered on the front page of the Tech newspaper my senior year. I was shaking some seasoning onto crab cakes (in my Restaurant/Hotel Mgmt class).
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox. Yes
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous. Bob from the Bachelor, Mike Modano, Willie Nelson, I'm sure there are a few others, but my memory fails me at times like these.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one. Unfortunately too many.
94. Had a baby. Not yet.
95. Seen the Alamo in person. Uh YEAH.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee. Yes, but not anytime recently.

Christmas

Christmas season is finally here. We usually put the tree up the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but the boys were at their mom's and they wanted us to wait for them. Jason put lights on the house on Wednesday and we decorated the yard. We put up the Christmas tree on Friday and got it all decorated.

Jason - putting up our lights

The old tree...

Little did we forget, the stupid cord had a short in it. (It is a pre-lit tree.) Jason thought he had fixed it, but the lights would not stay on. Finally, after messing with the cord more times than he would've liked, he told me to go buy a new tree. Off on my trek I go! Of course, before I headed out at 8:30pm to Lowe's, I researched online to see what was on sale (everything was 50% off) and comparable to what we had, even though I wanted a bigger tree. I wanted a tree w/a wider base than our previous one. I went to Lowe's searching for the tree that was listed as $49. I found it, but decided it wasn't what I wanted! It looked just like our old tree. So after debating with myself and w/Colby who came along to help, we found the perfect tree. My luck, they were out and so was every store within a 10 mile radius! UGH! So, I called around and found that Lowe's by my work had 3 in stock. On my way to work the next morning, I went and picked up the tree, which was the last one!!!!!!!!!!

So, I brought home the new tree and got to go through the fun of undecorating one tree and redecorating the new tree. It really wasn't that bad, but I did have to go buy more ornaments b/c our new tree was so much bigger..

The new and improved tree...

Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving came and went a week ago. Our Thanksgiving was very low-key, but enjoyable. Since there really is not point in posting about it now and we really didn't do any very exciting, I'll just post what we are thankful for. With the state of the economy and all of the other stresses, we are a very lucky and blessed family.

• Our jobs - With myself being in the banking industry and Jason being in the automotive industry, with are both very fortunate to have not been HARD hit by the tough economic times. At Jason's previous dealership, they laid of both techs and advisors this week. Jason fortunately has been fairing pretty well at work and making good money (his pay is pretty much straight commission without having to go into a long drawn out explanation.
• Our healthy family
• Our home
• Our surrounding family
• Our marriage
• Our friends (even though we don't get to see some of them as much as we'd like)

Even though it is late, I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Marriage Survey

How long have you been married? 1 year, 5 months, 6 days

Is this your first marriage? Me, yes. Jason, no.

Is it how you imagined it would be?Yes, for the most part.

What would you change? Our communication. We both need assistance in this area.

Are you married to your soulmate? Soulmate...I don't know that I believe in soulmates. I do know that I cannot imagine not being married to Jason.

What do you argue about the most? stupid things.

What do you see eye to eye on the most? our future.

Where did you meet your spouse? Through a friend at Pugsleys

Where was your first date? Applebees LOL!

Where were you when you became engaged? At our apartment.

Did you live together before marriage? Yes, for 2 years.

What was your wedding song? My Best Friend - Tim McGraw

Who was in your wedding party? Lots of people. We had a large wedding party. I had 6 girls and Jason had 5 guys, 2 flower girls and 2 ushers.

Do you get along with the in-laws? Yes, for the most part. Compared to others, I've got it great!

Whats your view on children? We both want one more. There are days when we question ourselves if we really want another one, but we do.

Does your spouse feel the same way?See above.

Are you a 2 peas in a pod or opposites attract couple? When we met, we were oppposites! I think we've both adjusted and changed some since we met and we are more like 2 peas in a pod now.

Do you go out without your spouse? At times, but not often.

How long are you away from your spouse before you start to miss him/her? depends on the day! LOL!

Have you ever compared your spouse to someone you have dated in the past? Yes, in comparison that the life that I have is so much better with Jason and that it would've never been this great with anyone else.

Do you trust your Spouse?Completely and totally.

Does your Spouse trust you?Yes.

How well does your spouse know your favorites? Fairly well.

Do you get along with your spouses friends? Yes.

Does your spouse get along with your friends?Yes.

Did you go on a honeymoon?Yes, we went to Playa del Carmen and it was HEAVEN! Can't wait to go back!!!!!!

Do you watch the same TV shows?No, I rarely watch tv. I have issues with just relaxing on the couch for some reason. It puts me to sleep.

Can you agree on Pizza toppings? Yes, b/c I usually just pick off what I don't want.

Who takes out the trash? Most of the time he does or the boys do.

Who does laundry?? Me, I'm OCD when it comes to the laundry.

Who cooks dinner? Me, unless it is on the grill.

Do you have any traditions? We have a few holiday traditions.

Do you know your spouses passwords/pins? Yes, he is rarely on the computer.

Does your spouse know your social security number?No, he usually asks me for it if he needs it.

Do you ever nag your spouse? I try my hardest not to, but I'm sure I have my moments.

Do you admit wrong doing? I try to.

Does your spouse? He would answer yes. Honestly, we both have a very hard time admitting when we are wrong. We are both very strong-willed/opinionated and hard headed.

Golf Tournament

To assist with defraying the costs for the Spring Season of Colby's Select Baseball Team organization (consists of 3 teams) chose to do a Golf Tournament fundraiser. This was decided about 45 days ago!!! The tournament was this past Saturday, and it surprisingly went off pretty well. Jason, his dad, Allen, and John (2 of his good friends) all played in the tournament. It was a long day for me as I had to be out at the golf course at 9am to assist with setting up, as I was on the volunteer committee for the tournament. I began the morning selling raffle tickets for the raffle we were having during the dinner after the tournament. After all of the golfers were registered, another mom and I were rushed out to hole 14. Had I of known, I was going to be out in the cold wind all day, I would have been a bit more prepared. Amy (the other mom) and I were on hole 14 to entice the golfers to pay $5/person ($20/foursome) to move up 200 yards to the women's tee box. The hole was 543 yards from the white(men's) tee box and was a par 5. We ended up fairing pretty well and making $380 just from that. I'm anxious to hear the report on the profits that we made.

Again, sadly, I did not take any pictures. I had the camera with me, but everything was so chaotic I never got the chance to take any pictures.

Tristen's 12th Birthday

Tristen turned 12 this past Sunday!!! We are 363 days away from having a TEEN on our hands. Oh dear! I'm a HORRIBLE mom and could not find my camera on the day of his party, so I do not have any pictures of his birthday party. (It was later found under a stack of blankets on the couch!) Tristen chose to celebrate his birthday at Main Event. He and his friends had fun bowling and playing video games. Tristen's birthday wishlist didn't really consist of a whole lot besides gift cards. He did want a Texas Tech/Michael Crabtree jersey, which he received from us. He also wanted a Texas Tech hat. (Yes, I've trained him well!) My mom sent him money for him to go pick out his own hat. He was more than ecstatic to get to pick out his own hat. He received lots of gift cards, that will put to use soon, I'm sure.

**Insert picture of Tristen** (making a note to myself!)