Christmas Tradition

Ever since mine and Goose's first Christmas together. I have bought a cow ornament for our Christmas tree. I definitely have my favorites. Take a look and see which ones you like.

2003 This is my absolute favorite!! It was our first and it references the Dairy.

2004
This is "interesting" . I give it a 7 for originality.

2005
Now she is different! I like her cause she reminds me of...well..me! She dances to the beat of her own drum!

2006
I don't know what it is about fat cows with little feet, but when I look at her I can't help but smile.

2007
How do I explain her??? Well...it came down to the wire and I hadn't bought my cow for the year(don't judge...I was all but about to pop this time last year). So I had my Mom go by Kohl's. I had seen some really cute cows there. I thought this would be an easy task.

As you can see...I was wrong! This was the only one that Kohl's had...Thus...my cow for 2007. I would like to venture a guess that this will be the most memorable.

2008

And here is the newest addition to my "herd"! HAHAHA!! Sorry...sometimes I have to take a minute to laugh at my own jokes! What? If I don't laugh at them....who will?

I got this one when we took the kids to Miss Caycees to see Santa. I was so please!

Bonus...I also added Tenley and Miles 1st ornaments.

Tenley 1st Christmas...
Miles First Christmas...

Merry Christmas from our Family to yours!!!

Here comes Santa!!

When we took Tenley to the Lubbock Mall to see Santa her first Christmas she threw such a fit that she made the Lubbock paper.
I like to think it was also because she is so cute!! After that HORRIBLE experience I stayed away from Santa last year.

So this year I was really excited about trying again. I mean she knows who Santa is and she knows that he brings toys to good little boys and girls.

Well...
I guess...she still isn't quite ready!!!

We had Tenley go first thinking she would do great and we didn't want Miles to throw a fit and scare her!! Ha...the joke was on us! Miles did GREAT!!! No tears, No Fusing! He jabbered to Santa! Even tugged on his beard to make sure it was real!
Needless to say we should have let Miles to go first! Maybe Tenley would have seen how easy it is!
Miles knows what he is doing...he is already in with Santa!
If you think it is hard to get a picture with Santa and one kid...you should try six!!! Some one should tell Santa he is supposed to be ready at ALL times!!

Thanksgiving

Our plans changed a little bit this Thanksgiving. Usually, if we are spending Thanksgiving with Goose's side of the family, we would make the 6 hrs drive up to Oklahoma City, but this year we did things a little different. Thanksgiving day the kids and I ate lunch at Grandma's with the Stansell clan. Then it was off to my Granny's were the kids took their much needed naps. When they woke up. We headed over to Nancy's to see her family. After visiting for about a hour we went back to Granny's for supper. It was a long but great day! Packed with lots of Family and food. Who could ask for a better Thanksgiving?

You may be asking yourself were was Goose while all this Family and food time was going on? Well...poor guy! He was home sleeping. He had been battling a cold for over a week and in the end the cold won! He came home right about the time we were heading out for Grandma's, and he went straight to bed!

Friday, after the kids got up and everything was packed we left for Midland. We had such a great time at Chris and Alanna's. We spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday at their house. Cara, Beau, & Ian were down visiting family and Debra came in as well! Once again...lots of Family and food!

Tenley did get the stomach bug Friday night, but by Saturday Morning see seemed to be over it!

You have to forgive me...I missed a lot of photo opts. It seems I couldn't stop having fun long enough to go grab my camera, but here is some of what I did get!
Ian and Miles were playing so cute together, I went to get my camera, but by the time I came back Miles was already crawling off.

Miles is such a happy little boy...all grins & smile!
Kate is just too cute. She was definately ready for her photo opp.


Well, we decided we needed to get a picture of all the kids with their Granny before she headed back to Abilene. Needless to say Tenley was a little less than cooperative!!
Tenley wasn't the only one tired of taking pictures. Kate has had about all she can stand!!
Have you noticed the chain reaction Tenley started? First her then Kate now poor Ian!

Oops, there goes Miles. I think this photo shoot is over!!
While we were there Tenley, Rachel and Luke played dress up. Here is Luke aka Shaggy(Scoobie doo)!!
Have no fear...Super Tenley is here!!!!
Batman made an appearance!
Luke even shared his Spiderman costume with Tenley. They played so well together! I don't know why I don't have any pictures of Rachel. She was playing with them too.
On Sunday afternoon Nancy & Steve came over to Midland. Steve with the little guys! Can you tell the boys are teething?? Look at them chewing on their fingers!!
Awe!! Sweet kisses!!!

Thanks Chris & Alanna...we had a great time!

Jungle Gyms are GREAT Fun!

Several months ago Chris and Alanna asked us if we wanted their old jungle gym. Of course I thought it was a great idea. I had been wanting a swing set or something for Tenley to play on outside(keep in mind, this was when it was warmer).

Once we got it home, I couldn't bring myself to put it outside. I don't know how long they had it but it is still like brand new. They had it set up in their old house. It was in their HUGE living/dining room.

I wanted to post a few pictures showing how much the kids love their new toy.

You will notice it practically takes up most of the little bedroom!!



Proof that Tenley has a great time playing in the jungle gym. She almost never poses for the camera!!

There is fun to have, both inside and out of the jungle gym!!


They misunderstood...they thought I said to stop playing!! All I said was look at the camera!!

"Mom, this is the best toy ever! Tell Uncle Chissy & Aunt Alana, THANKS!!"

Such sweet babies! This is how they play all the time! Never a fuss or fight!! Well, at least that is how it is when I dream at night...maybe one day it will actually come true.
Until the dream comes true I will settle for the brief moments of when I can look at my children and say "Awe"

Chris and Alanna, Thank you for sharing the jungle gym with us! The kids love it!!

An Old "Friend"

Goose's Truck!!

For those of you who don't know this truck holds A LOT of sentimental value to Goose. He bought this truck when he was a Senior in high school. It started as something for him to drive while he was waiting on his '72 Chevelle SS to be restored.

This truck holds many memories for him. High school days when he would take Keila & Bradi to lunch. Jr College days where we met. We went on our first date in this truck. The countless hours Goose and friends spent working and tinkering on it.

Little did he know that over 10 years later his Chevelle would mysteriously disappear and he would still own the truck.

Shortly before we were married it got "sick" and was put on "bed rest". Basically it was not drivable! We have always talked about getting someone to redo the wiring. So last year, "we loaded up the truck and we moved to Beverly"!! Just seeing if you were paying attention!! No really, we took the truck to Joey in Abilene. Our intention was just to have the wiring done. Well, when Joey got started we couldn't stop him. He did the wiring and so much more. So I am happy to announce that after nearly 6 years of "disability" it's back. And I might add...better than ever!!! Brakes that actually work and everything!

I have been asked several times if Goose would ever sell. I have even been told that I should "make" him sell it. My response is always the same. No! He would never sell the truck & No! I would never "ask" him to sell it. You see, Goose and I are one! So his truck is my truck. And in a way, through it, I hold a key to his past. I love him and his truck is part of him. Why would I ask him to sell a part of what makes him Goose?

Plus, I have already been taken on 2 dates since we got the truck back and I have been promised many more!!

8 Things about me

I was tagged by Cara...Thanks by the way!!!

Here goes...

8 TV shows I love to watch?

We don't have dish or any kind of cable...but when I get the chance these are my shows

1. Army Wives
2. Numbers
3. CSI~LasVegas...and yes it does make a difference!!
4. House
5. UFC
6. Reba
7. Heroes
8. The Office...I know... it surprised me too!

8 Favorite Restaurants:

Basically we go out of town to eat out!

1. Taco Villa
2. Olive Garden
3. Pappasitos
4. Chick-fil-a
5. Red Robins
6. Schlotzsky's
7. Rosa's
8. Cagles

Not necessarily in that order!

8 Things That Happened Today:

1. I sat through a BORING 2 hr meeting at work.
2. Sold some Mary Kay~my new business. Hopefully it will get me home with the kids sooner rather than later
3.Played a little Wii
3.Cooked Enchiladas, Spanish rice, & Sopapilla cheesecake~Sorry Rick, it was last minute, we'll have you out next time.
4.Cleaned~man is that never ending job!
6.Talked to my sisters
7. Bathed the kids
8.Put the kids to bed all 3 of them so I could blog

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1.Christmas season
2.Cold Weather
3.Family time
4.Bath time with the kids
5.Reading a good book
6.Pay raise at work~in the near future
7.Staying home with the kids~in the distant future
8.8 more kids~hehe

8 Things On My Wish List:

1.More time to quilt~a new hobby of mine
2.SUV~don't get me wrong, I am loving the gas mileage! But I miss feeling BIG on the road. Now I just feel like if I look at a driver wrong they will squash us like a bug.
3.Pedicure~I have only ever had one, but it was oh so nice!
4.A date with Goose once a month
5.Did I mention my dream home??
6.Vacation to Ireland~I have always wanted to go there
7.Pearl Necklace
8.Mandatory naps at work...preferably after lunch!!

8 People I Tag:

1. Emily
2.Jennifer
3.Jenny
4.Shauna
5.Tonni
6.Jaci
7.Randi
8.Stacy

Mr & Mrs Josiah Trowbridge

My little "HarMangela" has been married for over a month now!!! If you are wondering why this post took so long, I had over a 1,000 pictures to go through...literally!!! Her photographer took 1,060 pictures and those are just the professional ones...her friends took some as well.

When we got there on Wednesday, Angela did seem a little stressed (the normal stress that comes before a wedding) trying to get everything in order. When it can down to it though she relaxed and really enjoyed her day.

Nicki, Lori, and I stayed with Ang the night before and helped her with last minute "chores," it was a very special time. Jage was there too, but the little stink was asleep before we got there!!!

Their wedding was simple and elegant just like Ang has always wanted!!! She was BEAUTIFUL!!! It seems like it all rushed by now, but we were there for a while. After the wedding they fed us BBQ, then they cut the cake and had the toasts. The day finished off with dancing and then we sent them on their way!!!

I think it was a day that both of them will cherish for a long time!!

Congratulations you two!!!

My top 3 picture choices:
#1. Tenley holding Ang's bouquet
#2. Josiah adjusting Dad's boutonniere right before Dad presented Ang
#3. Me with my sisters