I’m Still Here...Sort Of

Hello my friends! It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me. I will tell you part of the problem is I have been locked out of my blogger account on my computer. I can’t remember my password and the series of stupid questions they ask like “when did you set up this account” isn’t allowing me back into my account . I don’t understand why they can’t just send a link to reset my password. That makes sense to me but apparently that is too easy and they are trying to protect my account. Horse hockey is what it is to me.   I can still access my account on my phone but if I log out, I’m done. So I am being very careful to not do that because I don’t want to lose all of this. I have set up a new email address but it still won’t let me access this blog. I’m at a loss. I don’t really want to start a new blog but I may have to. I am hoping when I see my cousin Caryn at Christmas, she might be able to help me or at the very least help me link this blog to a new one if I have to go that route. One thing I know for sure is my memory on passwords isn’t as great as before so I will be writing everything down! The other downside to using my phone to post is not being able to upload pictures. I can never get it to work which is a total bummer.

Other than my blogging world having issues, everything is great. I’m still trying to finish up Christmas shopping but I only have a few things. Hank the elf is back but he’s pretty tame this year. He’s just been moving from place to place watching everyone. The biggest challenge has been the notes Bella will leave for him. She has done that a few times and not said anything. Luckily I have found them in the morning before she gets up. Sneaky kid! Chris has been the one moving Hank because he can sneak around easier than me. Bella still sleeps with me. He’s done a great job too!

I guess that’s all I have for now. If y’all have any suggestions on accceasign my blog, please let me know. Y’all have a great weekend!!

Catching Up

Hey there!  Its been a while since I've been here.  I've thought about blogging but something would always come up and I would forget about it and before I knew it, nearly a month had passed by.

Here's a little bit of what's been going on since I last met with you....

I went to an Aggie game.  Yes, I can hear you all saying "WTH" out loud.  My cousin Shari is an Aggie alumni and has season tickets to all the home games.  She had three tickets available one weekend and invited my brother, Bella and I to join her.  They had to talk me into it.  What ultimately convinced me was there was food, drinks, family and football.  Even if it was Aggie football, I couldn't argue with the food, drinks and family part of it.  I did not go to school at the University of Texas but I am a Longhorn fan forever.  Aggieland has a very different atmosphere and that's all I'm going to say.  I also wore my longhorn bracelet that day. You can see it on my wrist below. I had my horns up!

This was the only piece of clothing I took with me...my BURGUNDY scarf!  LOL!!

As I told my niece, brother and cousin.  I don't have a problem with the color, its the logo you put on it that I turn my nose up to.  Here is me and Toot at the game.  We made it through halftime and then went back to the camp to tailgate and watch the Astros.  Ok, everyone else finished watching the Aggies but this girl watched the Astros.  Hahaha

The following Monday, the Port hosted its Annual Golf Tournament.  

That's me, Nick and Lauren putting out sponsor signs at each hole.  

The next day was Halloween!!

Here's my Day of the Dead Cat (that's what she called herself)

She was the cutest!  Everyone LOVED her mask.  

I watched the World Series and lost tons of sleep like every other Astros and Dodgers fan out there.  

Of course the best part was watching the Astros bring home that championship!!

Veterans Day Bella and I went to the parade to see two of our favorite Veterans in their very first parade...my daddy and my brother.  Lena's brother-in-law Thomas rode in the parade with Daddy and Tony as well.  He served in the Air Force, while both Daddy and Tony served in the Navy.

 Here's Daddy and Thomas....

Tony was at the end of the float....

Here are all three of our Veterans ....

There was a ceremony at the stadium after the parade so we walked over for that.  It was amazing. The parade was amazing.  I have never cried that much through a parade before.  So proud of all our men and women.  We all stood for the entire parade and cheered as everyone drove by us.  It was awesome!!

I don't think I've mentioned that Christopher is taking a floral design class this year.  This momma is reaping the benefits of it.  He has done two "holiday" projects and I have been the lucky recipient. 

Here was October's project...

That was a real pumpkin!  It held up for so long.  

I don't know why this picture is coming out so fuzzy because its clear everywhere else. GRRRR...

Here is November's project.  A turkey!!  Isn't he adorable!!  

I love that he is taking this class and also a little bit envious.  For many years, my dream was to have my own flower shop.  Love, love, love that he is doing this and that I get to enjoy his class projects.  

Last but not least, its Thanksgiving week so I am working a couple days and then taking off the remaining week.  We are celebrating at Daddy and Lena's house Thursday.  I am making dressing and double-layer pumpkin pie, plus anything else I feel like making.  I am going to slowly de-fall my house this week and get ready to put Christmas up.  I do want to show you the turkey I finally broke down and purchased a couple weeks ago. I have been drooling over this guy since I first saw him way back in July when Hobby Lobby put all their fall decor out.  Bella and I had to run in there for crafts for a project she was doing for school so I told myself if he was still there, I would get him. I lucked out because there were only two left.  I love him.  He fits right in.  

So that's what I have been doing.  

I have made progress on Christmas shopping but not enough.  Hoping to change that this week.  

Happy Turkey Leg Week to y'all!!

Happy Halloween

May you receive lots of sweet tricks and treats this Halloween!  

Enjoy the evening and GO ASTROS!!!!!!

Fair Week - Part Two

Get ready for picture overload of my girl!  We wrapped up the fair this weekend and as usual, I'm glad to see it gone for another year.  Whew!

Since it was free entry Thursday, we went out after work so Bella could check out all the exhibits.  We really didn't do much, just kind of walked around to see everything and say hello to our friends at the cook-off.

"Brothers and sisters are friends".....Bella

And we all are most of the time.  haha

Friday we hit the rides and let me tell you, this was probably the most fun for both Bella and I.  Bella really loved the fast rides this year.  She would get off hollering "woohoo" and ready for the next.  I loved it because she was so happy and excited.

Decision, decisions...what should I do next?

  

These were the only two good pictures I got of her with the animals. There were so many kids in there that the animals were running all over the place.  I think it was overload for them.  It made me a little nuts too.  Needless to say, we didn't stay long because it was not as enjoyable as past years.

Back to the rides...

Before she got on this ride, she gave me specific instructions.  

"Now mommy, when I get on here, you need to take my picture and send it Paul."

These are the pics I got, and he loved them!

Pause for a selfie with my girl...

Later that night we were back at the cook-off.  Bella was content with some friends she made so Lauren and I took a walk to go see another co-worker who was in the cook-off as well.  We stopped for a pic of us with our matching koozies.  You can't see the writing on them, but they say, 

"I Love Jesus But I Drink A Little"

Me and brother waiting on awards at the cook-off.  

Our friends didn't place but the food and company were awesome!

Lastly, I didn't plan on entering anything in the Kitchen Pride Bake Show or the Rice Plus Cook-Off this year but after receiving holy hell from co-workers and friends on Thursday, I reconsidered.  They all said "you must defend your honor" so I came up with a recipe and look what happened.  Yours truly took home first place and grand champion in the Rice Plus Cook-off with a Rice-Pumpkin Bread.  The same recipe took second in the Kitchen Pride Bake Off.  Bella was so excited for her mommy.  I guess I have found my talent...baking!

Glad we are starting a new week and the fair is gone.  I do have an interesting weekend coming up.  I may or may not have been talked into going to an Aggie game.  I know, I know....I'm still struggling with it.  But as my crazy cousin pointed out, its football, good food, good drinks and family!  I can't argue with that.  Y'all have a good one!

Fair Week - Part One

Last Friday was the first day of the annual Brazoria County Fair.  Its no secret that I love the fair, but I will say that as much as I love it, it is getting more expensive every year to spend as many days there as I'd like.  The kiddos were with their dad last weekend so this momma had a free weekend.  I started Friday night by going to see Clay Walker at the fair.  Oh man, he was so stinkin' good.

I would love to be able to tell you he is singing his hit "Fall" right here but I can't.  I was so into the song when he was singing that my phone never made it out to get a pic.  I stole this one from Lauren.
The one below is mine.  :)

I went with Lauren, her husband and his mom.  Lauren and I were chomping at the bit to get there.  We didn't want to miss our man singing to us. 

My sister was working that night with the 4H group servings drinks.  I was just about to text her when she found me dancing and singing. She said she recognized my hips when they were swinging.  LOL!!  

And then I ran into these two cuties who obliged their Aunt's request for a picture with them

Saturday morning, Lauren and I went to the parade.  I hadn't planned on going but found it mid-week that Bella would be in the parade with her daddy on the BASF float.  I had to go now!  I also found out my niece Makenna was also going to be in the parade.  

Here we are hiding from the sun.  

When we first arrived, there was not a cloud in the sky but thankfully some clouds started rolling in to shield the sun off and on.  Lordy it was hot.  

Here's my girl with her daddy....

And here's Makenna on the YAC float...

Later that night, Makenna and Brandon were in the calf scramble so Lauren and I headed back up to the fair to watch them. I'd love to be able to share some great shots with you of them wrangling calves, but I did too much screaming and hollering.  I did get after pics though.  Brandon caught, Makenna did not.  However, Makenna snagged the hardluck/sportsmanship award so she received a calf as well.  Makenna helped several other kids out and in the process gave up her rope.  Luckily one of the committee members saw all of her efforts while in the arena.

Two nuggets post scramble...

Proud Aunt

That wrapped up the first weekend of the fair.  Roger Creager and Cody Johnson played that night but after we came back from getting a bite to eat, there were entirely too many people and kids everywhere so Lauren and I called it a night at 10:15.  I must be getting old because I had no desire to deal with a bunch of teenagers.  Funny story about Roger Creager.  So Cindy, Lauren and I are walking back from the arena to the 4H tent.  As we are coming out of the area where the concert is we here a gator honking so people will move and they can cross the road.  As they cross right in front of us and Lauren hollers "Hey, thats Roger Creager!"  Roger turns around around and gives her a wave!  So freaking awesome.  None of the other fifty million kids there recognized him. ha!

We will be back at the fair probably tomorrow since it is a free entry and then again on Saturday.  Bellamy Brothers are playing and I'd really like to hear a few of their hits.  We'll see if I can negotiate that with Bella.  

Have a good one!

Jace Andrew

Yesterday would have been your 15th birthday my love.  I have no doubt we would have spent the day at the fairgrounds since this is Fair Week.  Your Aunt Cindy texted me yesterday morning saying that she thinks you and Brandon would have been best buds...pool sharking at the fair, doing calf scramble together, and driving the girls crazy because of how good lookin' y'all are.  I have always thought the two of you would be two peas so I agreed with her 100%.  I also think Makenna would be right there with y'all.  Yesterday was not a bad day.  I cried only a few times.  I think having the day to myself was a good thing and very much needed.  I am always thinking about how things would be if you were still here.  How this permanent hole in my heart wouldn't exist, and how differently I would perceive life.  You changed it all.  Much of it was for the better and I consider that my blessing.  I wish I could have learned these lessons in a different manner, but this is the path God sent us on.  I have often said that I didn't ask for this path and it sucks big time, but its the path I'm on and I try very hard to embrace it rather become bitter.  Happy heavenly birthday my love.  I know you had a wonderful day and that Grammy was celebrating with you.  Every second of every minute of every hour of every day, I miss you terribly Jace.  Until we meet again my son, I love you forever and always, Mommy.

Round Top & Warrenton

This past Saturday, Bella and my friend Lauren loaded up and hit the road to Round Top to do some junking, antiquing and boutique shopping. I was a little hesitant to take Bella because I knew there would be meltdowns, especially with as much walking we would be doing but I was optimistic, thinking only of the memories we would be making. 

Our first stop was the Junk Gypsy Headquarters in Round Top.....

We arrived about 20 minutes prior to opening so we hung around and took pictures.

So cool...like it was meant for a photo op....

 

After that we headed to Warrenton for more shopping.  We did so much shopping and had so much fun that we didn't take a single photo.  Honey had asked that I take pictures of furniture and home decor pieces that had been made using reclaimed wood so he could get some cool ideas.  I had every intention of doing that and I tried at several places but was met with "ma'am, we don't allow pictures of our pieces." Fun suckers.  I do understand. They don't want copycats out there, and honey could totally make a lot of the pieces we saw. 

It didn't take long for my Bella to wear out.  It felt good in the morning but around lunch time it got hot quick and that will make anyone fussy.  Me!  I was fussy.  We walked and walked and walked and shopped until we had to make our way back to the car for a break to unload all the goodies and wine Lauren bought.  You may not think so, but four bottles of wine gets heavy quick!   After resting, eating a snack and refilling our drinks, we headed back out for more.  Bella had a skip in her step and caught a second wind.  We all were.  Late in the afternoon, we were more or less on the junk and antique side of things but happened upon a homemade see-saw and HAD to try it out....

We tried to get Bella to join one of us but my child refused to get on.  There were people nearby laughing at us.  I like to think they secretly wanted to try it out but weren't as brave as Lauren and I were.  Truly, it was one of the highlights of the day.  

We left around 7:00 and drove to Columbus for supper and I hit my wall.  I was so tired and so ready to be home.  We all could feel a layer of dust on us and desperately wanted showers.  We ate and hit the road for the last leg home.  My shower never felt so good and my bed felt even better.  I had so much fun and will definitely go back but I will add that its getting tougher to walk 7 miles up and down hill.  My legs hurt so bad Sunday and Monday.  Whew!  I did grab some fun things and will do my best to snap pictures of everything to share.