A Nice Surprise

Thanks to a lot of hard work and planning from some sneaky folks I was given a great surprise party on Saturday. It was held at Markus & Contanze's home and was very nice. Eric & Lisa, Jared & Felisha and Paul & Jen were all there to wish me a Happy Birthday. Amanda and Emily were even in on it... tricking me to think Amanda was working etc...

It was so nice of all of you to do this for me. It really shows what great friends & family I have. I am truly blessed.

Now if my "wish" to win the lotto will only come true! :)

My 40th Birthday

Well today I turned 40 and surprisingly I don't feel different. Not even a little bit! I expected to feel something, but nope nothing! I guess that is really proof that you are only as old as you feel and age is just a number.

I got this beautiful Magnolia tree from David (which is not an easy find in December.) I can't wait to get it planted so it will bloom soon!

I had a great day filled with lots of relaxing, cards, gifts, text messages & phone calls all wishing me well. It was one of the best birthday's I have ever had.

Train ride to the North Pole

After three years of trying to get tickets I was finally successful in booking us on the North Pole Flyer. The key is to do it early!!!!! I booked us in August and that was ALMOST too late.

The North Pole Flyer is the train that leaves from Cedar Park and goes to the North Pole (Bertram really). If you are considering a ride I hear they will start selling the tickets in January this year. It is really worth the extra money to ride in the Executive Car (EC) . It is very intimate and cozy and you have complimentary drinks & snacks. If you spend the extra money for it and you won't be disappointed.

The conductor came by "punching" tickets....

We were visited by Santa & Mrs. Clause. We sang Christmas Carols and read "The North Pole Flyer" story. It was amazingly similar to the Polar Express! :)

We had some great family time that helped get us in the Christmas spirit.

We Have Walls....

Sunday morning we had a really nice, but empty slab.... Then David, Markus & Eric got busy.

Thanks to all their hard work we are well on our way to having a building complete with another bathroom, a much needed washer & dryer and a LOT of additional living space!!!

In no time the first wall went up!

So you see Vivian....

Allie got in on the action too.

"Coffee" break

Measure twice, cut once

All walls were standing and square before 5 PM!!!!

Thanks again Markus & Eric for your great help!!!!

County Show and FFA Banquet

The week after Thanksgiving was filled with activities from county stock show. Both girls had their goat to show but Emily helped out with showing chickens and entered some of the youth fair events as well.

Both goats placed 12th in their division which is not that bad but we thought they should have done better. Hopefully the Major show in March will be better!

Allie did a wonderful job in the ring. She handled her goat with ease and had no problems with him at all. I was very proud of her.

Emily got excellent ribbons for her photo entries but she took us all by surprise and won Reserve Grand Champion with her Carrot Cake. She did it all on her own with a little coaching from Grannie. Both girls will be entering more in the youth fair next year as there are so many categories they can choose from.

This past Thursday was the FFA Banquet. Emily had to say the FFA creed in front of the entire audience (about 250 people). She did it flawlessly and did not even seem nervous. She received certificates for her achievement thus far this year - quite a lot of them actually....

Allie got a certificate for showing her goat in the county fair as well. She wants to have more next year so she is already thinking about what projects she can do.

The girls have really thrived in FFA & 4H. I am so very glad we took on this challenging yet exciting adventure as a family!

Lazy days... so lazy I didn't even want to blog!

We had a WONDERFUL, relaxing Thanksgiving week. It was so nice to just do whatever we wanted when ever we wanted... We spent the week with some great friends and had a great time. Can't wait to do it again next year.

We didn't go to the coast like we normally do at Thanksgiving. This year we spent it at lake Georgetown. The weather was weird but we made the best of it and really had fun.

Paul & Shan (a new Friend from Dallas) each fried a turkey. We had all the traditional fixing and lots of yummy desert! We all ate way too much as the food was so good.

Sue brought fancy table cloths, candles and napkin rings. We were really rough'n it! Really the only hard part was cooking everything in the tiny little ovens!

We filled the days with all kids of things. We went bowling, skeet shooting, goat shaving (yes I said shaving) and a bit of beer drinking.

Echo had fun chasing the skeet too!

Em' playing with Spot...

We are very blessed to have our health and such great friends!

FFA Competition

Saturday Emily went to regional LDE competition representing her school in both Jr. Creed Speaking and as a member of the Jr. Chapter Conducting team.

She competed individually in creed speaking against kids from 17 other schools. She did outstanding and took 1st place!!!!! Her chapter conducting team also took 1st place. She and her teammates are traveling to Blanco, Texas to compete in the area competition on Wednesday.

Christmas on the Farm

Saturday David had training in Buda all day, Emily was at her LDE competiton (more to come on that later) so Allie and I spent the day together. We went to Belton to a great Christmas event called "Christmas on the Farm". It was free to get in and they had all kinds of things for the kids to do. Allie and I had a great time playing games, making things and generally getting into the Christmas Spirit.

Allie is very glad that we no longer have to "hand pump" water any longer!

We had so much fun together!!!

Happy Veteran's Day

Since Mom & Dad were here to do the plumbing they stayed an extra night and went to the Veterans program at Allie's school. It was a very nice program. The kids sang and recognized Veterans that had received medals. They gave a flag and certificate to each and every Veteran that was in attendance. Then there was a parade from the school to the Veteran's Memorial where a burning of the flag was done. It was great to be there with my Dad and let him be recognized for his service.

My Dad waiting to get his flag and certificate.

The kids sang a funny song that named all the presidents. They put on masks and danced when they got to the last 5 or 6. Allie got to be George W. Bush. She had a blast dancing and singing.

THANK YOU to ALL VETERANS

100 things about me

I hear there is a tradition that when you post your 100th post you make it a list about yourself.


See what you did and didn't know about me. Some not so exciting facts.

1. I was in the musical “Oklahoma” …. And I can’t sing!!
2. Red is my favorite color
3. I have a minor in Religion.
4. My first car was a 1966 Ford Mustang.
5. It was red.
6. I am a roller coaster junkie.
7. I am afraid of heights.
8. I have two good friends from high school – Tammy Trent and Tammy Johnson.
9. Tammy Trent and I took a taxi across Houston to go to Astro World when I was 14.
10. I got an awful haircut in 6th grade and cried for a week.
11. My first job was at Golden Fried Chicken – now Golden Chick.
12. I have a weakness for pizza.
13. Math was my worst subject in both high school and college.
14. I HATE peas and tomatoes.
15. I was in a social fraternity in college.
16. I have only been to Las Vegas once.
17. The Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie.
18. I wore a Mickey Mouse watch until I graduated from college.
19. I was Miss Leander.
20. I was in the Miss Texas Pageant representing Williamson County.
21. I wear a size 8 shoe.
22. When I am really, really mad I cry – which makes me mad and I cry more!
23. I was a Blue bird & a Campfire girl when I was little.
24. I had hernia surgery when I was five.
25. I had a weakness for shoes growing up – I took 23 pair on a week long cruise with my sister.
26. My sister is 12 years older than me.
27. When I stared kindergarten she was a freshman at Texas A&M – Whoop!
28. I lived on a farm for a few years – we had cows, pigs, and chickens.
29. I can listen to one conversation and have another at the same time.
30. I broke my ankle in 6th grade during a pep rally.
31. I broke my tail bone in 11th grade during a pep rally.
32. I like country, pop and rock music but NOT rap.
33. John Stamos and Bo Duke were my teenage heartthrobs.
34. I Love the bands KISS, ACDC & Journey.
35. I met Paul Stanley (From KISS) at Six Flaggs in Dallas.
36. My first concert was Billy Squire. I went with Casey Clawson – His mother drove us.
37. I have never been fired. Yet – you never know!
38. I have a short temper.
39. I don’t hold grudges long – except for one!
40. I can remember phone numbers really well.
41. Making this list is harder than I thought it would be.
42. I am a horrible speller.
43. I will turn 40 this year.
44. I don’t manage money well.
45. I love the warm weather.
46. My ideal retirement home is on a beach in Australia.
47. I have passed out three times in my life.
48. I have a VERY sensitive nose.
49. I love rainy days.
50. I like to watch old home movies.
51. I am claustrophobic.
52. I have stepped on two different rattlesnakes in my life.
53. I had a play house with running water as a child.
54. I love to shop on-line.
55. I had a foreign exchange student during high school. Her name was Emma.
56. I had a pen pal from the Army during high school.
57. My comfort food is garlic toast.
58. I have been sick on my birthday at least three times.
59. I still have my tonsils.
60. I am a chronic “list maker”.
61. I hated having a December birthday growing up. I don’t mind now.
62. I was a band “nerd” from 6th to 9th grade.
63. I hate to run.
64. I wanted to be an orthodontist or a teacher growing up.
65. I was a real tom-boy until about the 6th grade. Complete with forts and toy trucks.
66. I was voted most likely to open a dance studio after college.
67. My parents are still married.
68. I was a girl scout leader but never a girl scout.
69. I like to bowl but am not good at it.
70. I did horrible on the SAT.
71. I can’t type very well and never took a typing class.
72. I was in high school when we got our first microwave.
73. My first cell phone was a “bag phone”.
74. I had big 80’s hair in high school.
75. I was a very chubby child from about 9 until 13.
76. I hate being late.
77. I am not a morning person.
78. I don’t read much only because I don’t have time.
79. I like to work out but rarely do.
80. I am still madly in love with my husband!
81. I remember the first time I went to the circus and LOVED it.
82. I loved playing poker with my Dad as a child.
83. I am not a sore loser.
84. My Dad taught me to dance in the kitchen while my Mom cooked dinner.
85. I got hit in the head with a fence post and have a big scar.
86. I still think George Strait is HOT.
87. I sing in the shower and car.
88. I talk to myself and sometime answer too.
89. I have zero nieces or nephews.
90. I have 39 first cousins and countless second.
91. I cry at sad movies.
92. I love living in the country.
93. I would quit my job tomorrow if I won the lotto – with NO notice.
94. I was in UIL story telling in elementary school.
95. I have a tattoo.
96. I have a high school letter jacket.
97. I have never had a surprise party.
98. I drive too fast.
99. I have never been without a job since I was 15.
100. I often have blond moments.

Not too old to do a little hard work....

Even though my Dad is 76 and my Mom is 75 they spent the day on Tuesday putting in the ground for our apartment / storage building.

David had the form all set up with the fill in place, but had a job and had to leave for most of the day. My parents ran the plumbing for the bathroom (shower, potty and sink) and the washing machine. It was not an easy task but they sure made it look that way!

Thanks so much Mom & Dad - we really appreciate all you do for us!!!!

It will be so nice to have two bathrooms and to not have to go to the laundry mat every week!!!!!!!!! Thanks again Dad & Mom!!

Fun at the "farm"

Markus and Constanze came out for the weekend. It was a lot of fun. We got to visit, eat good food and let the kids play. It was a nice relaxing weekend.

It started with a little gardening. Allie got a package of bluebonnet seeds from a program at school. They were from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. She and Vivian had a great time planting them. We will have a nice little photo spot once they start to boom next year around Easter.

The weather was beautiful - Markus and Julius took advantage of it and rode out on the bike.




It is amazing how much fun kids (of all kinds) can have on a pile of sand.

Relaxing with a morning coffee

It is so nice to be able to just hang out and enjoy the company of our friends without any drama.

Halloween at the DZ

Paul & Jenn held their annual Halloween event at the DZ this year.... They had a lot going on and expected to be very busy so we went down to help out. Allie and I checked people in, handed out t-shirts and sold jump tickets. David took photos of the jumpers and the costume party Saturday night. Emily worked hard - Saturday and Sunday loading one of the planes. She and Jack did a great job making sure everyone was accounted for and in place before each plane took off.

Allie taking a little break to do some pumpkin carving.

In addition to the normal tandem and fun jumpers they had a special 50 way event going on. It was really neat to see all 50 landing at once.....

Jenn having fun!

The best costume was this alien.... He was so realistic he scared the crap out of Allie.

Yes this is a costume and not one of the actual jumpers....

Can't have a party without a few drinks

A great time was had by ALL!!!!