Showered with Love

Baby showers, round 1!

This weekend was Jacque Johnson's baby shower. The Nottingham crew helped me to give it at our house. Jacque and Matt are big nature enthusiasts, so it was a camping theme. Their little girl is expected to arrive in February (I'm pulling for the 13th - my bday. Our friend Cathy's son was born on Jacque's bday, so I think we could start something here!).

Nottingham crew! Well, technically Beth and Cathy do not work with us anymore and Gloria is at Richter, but you get the idea;=)

Jacque and I with the yummy cake Ruby made.

It was a little too much excitement for Noah. He took a nap in the "camp ground".

Jacque with her mother in-law in the "camp ground".

A close-up of the cake. The camp fire has tootsie roll logs.

Jacque got the piece with the camp fire (of course! ;=)

Last month I helped to host a shower for my good friend Andee. She and JD are also expecting a little girl. The shower was at Angela's house and she went all-out rock-n-roll diva for Aubree. JD is in a band, so we know Aubree will be Daddy's biggest fan!

The hostesses - including the cutest, little Miss Ava!

Andee with one of Aubree's new onesies.

Well, we still have a few showers to go! My family gave my cousin Aaron and his wife Celina one this weekend. I am also looking forward to my cousin Brittney's and my bestie Court's in the next few months. Bill and I will have plenty of babies to spoil and tide us over until we decide to grow up:)

The Princess is 5

Today was a looong day! We began with Mackenzie's 5th birthday party. She had a blast! A jumpy house, lots of friends and family, more presents that she could have hoped for and a small cake fight courtesy of her daddy;=) I can't believe Lil' bit is 5! I clearly remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. I was in the middle of teaching a lesson dominant and recessive genes when I got the call that Pam was in labor (ironic enough). I can't imagine my life without this child. She has truly been one the all time greatest blessings of my life. I'm so lucky to have her.

I also had the opportunity to go the McNeese game while I was in town. Bill and Josh blew me off (of course!), but Bill happily funded the trip for me to go with Sage, Brittney and one of Sage's friends. The guys kept Brit and I laughing the entire night! We also got to meet up with Jim and Peggy Smesny (Ford is starting on defense for MSU!!). It was great to have a "date night" with my godchild. He's so grown up! I remember him being so tiny he could cuddle and nap on my chest - now he's bigger than me!

Well, we have enjoyed our weekends with family, but are also looking forward to one at home next weekend. It is time for a small break in the schedule;=)

Sage and I after the game!
MK after Daddy smashed cake in her face!

Bill and I

Sage and I

Libby and John Wyatt

Me and the Princess

Cuddle Bug (Thomas Grayson)

MK w/ Mommy and Daddy

Club Benders 2009

Every year Bill plays in the Club Benders Golf Tournament with Blake, his BFF from high school. It's always a lot of fun - practically everyone he grew up with comes out to play or to watch. This year was a little different, though. First, I couldn't go meet him until Friday night. I usually make it up by Thursday. Secondly, the tournament's last day of play was cancelled. We had terrible rain almost nonstop the entire weekend. It was still raining when we left this morning! The club did a great job compensating. They had all of the social events, and they used the scores they had to determine the winners. They also doubled Friday's day money payouts to count for Saturday (or something like that - I don't understand the details, lol).

Anyway, Bill and Blake did an awesome job! Bill qualified for the Shootout, which I missed :( He told me never again can I miss, he plays better when I'm there. They also ended up placing third in the Championship Flight for the second year in a row. We had a great time, as always, and are looking forward to next year.

On a side note, Saturday's rain allowed for some wedding planning. Vicki, Amanda, Sheritan and I took Christa to put a depositon she and Josh's reception hall. It's a beautiful building! We also made a quick trip to do some wedding and bridesmaids dress shopping. We do have one of each picked, but I wanted her to sleep on it. It was a lot of fun to get started and I'm super excited about our bridesmaids dresses. Everything is going to be so beautiful! Please pray for them as they get ready to commit themselves to each other. Marriage is a wonderful but complicated relationship. We wish them the best and can't wait for Josh to an official part of the family.

The gang
The girls

The guys

Braylee's first ride on the golf cart!

Ready for the awards dinner

Third place!

With the girls after the awards dinner

It's Our Anniversary!!

Bill and I celebrated our third anniversary with a little vacation. We went to the Mandola Winery in Driftwood to have lunch, take a tour and do a wine tasting. Bill (not a wine drinker) bought 5 bottles of wine! It will take us 5 years to drink that much!

Next stop was Barton Creek! We went to dinner, lounged at the pool, had spa treatments and, of course, Bill played some golf:)

The trip was so much fun! Everything was so beautiful. It was definitely the best anniversary yet! He does tend to out-do himself every year. I'm a lucky girl:=)

Bill relaxing in the pool

The whole place was landscaped beautifully

Dinner at Z'Tejas

Bill's new golf buddies

Us at Mandola

Because I don't spend enough time on the computer yet...

I have decided to take the plunge and start a blog! I have been following several friends for a while now, so it's time for me to jump on the bandwagon. I also thought it would be a great way to keep intouch with some of the extended family we have found online. This is the perfect time, too. Bill and I just celebrated our third anniversary on Wednesday, so it is the beginning of a new year in our marriage. Time for a new tradtion!

So, as of right now, I'm on a break. I've been working on an essay for my multicultural education class. Exciting Friday night, right?? Bill has actually only been home from work for about an hour (it's 10:30 pm). A truck for a customer had an electrical problem, so he's been working on it with a mechanic to make sure it's ready for his customer in the morning. He's such a hard work;)

Well, I hope you all keep up with us and leave comments! Also, check out the other blogs I follow.