Can you guess?

Can you guess where we went this weekend?

Yep. That's Big TEX and this was the first time in over 30 years I have been to the State Fair!

So many memories. Watching them make saltwater taffy,

The SkyWay, the rides, the lagoon with the swan paddle boats, Fleischer's Corn Dogs, all the exhibits. It was so much fun. And of course, we had to try all (or at least some) of the new fried foods. Fried frito pie, Fried Margaritas,

...Fried Beer (My husband said it was 'nasty').

And topped it off with a visit to the Vietnam Veterans's Memorial. Placed a flag by my cousin Ronnie's name and Donnie Tidwell's name.

Fun in the Kitchen

The best part about baking cupcakes with GiGi???

Licking the bowl!!!

And sharing with little brother...

And EATING them!

Is It Time Yet?

Sneak Peak...

More pictures to follow...

Seems like yesterday...

Busy, Busy, Busy...Just a week away til the Wedding. Rain is in the forecast :( but we will make it work!

Been gathering some pictures together...it does seem just like yesterday...

Run Like a Mother

What a blessing! The 2010 Run Like a Mother event had a great turn-out. Over 200 people! And the proceeds all went to the Rhodes family who lost their son last week. It was awesome to be a part of this great event in our own Community!


My friends and I knew the parking would be horrible...so we had the 'brilliant idea' to walk from my house to the event (almost 2 miles), then after we arrived, we mingled and walked around for 45 minutes before the event started. Then 2 miles run/walk for the event. Then another 45 minutes of mingling/walking around...then the 2 miles trek back to my house! Whew! Those hills about killed my legs!

Saw so many sweet friends and cousins and loved visiting with them! Here I am chatting with my cousin Nikki! And below are cousins Lacy & Shelly. Great to visit with family at these events!

I was thinking to myself that next year we will drive over to do the event...then I saw pictures of myself and decided I needed the extra miles! I hate pictures of myself! But I'm posting anyway for motivation!

The boys!

EMERGENCY!

I returned from Houston on a Sunday night only to turn around and go back on Wednesday morning! Cara didn't feel well Tuesday night and by 6:30am the next morning was on her way to the ER...Apendectomy before noon! Two nights in the hospital and two nights with her at home before I came back home! Truly THANKFUL it happened now and now near wedding time or honeymoon!

I Can Hear the Bells

Wedding preparations are in full swing...Invitations mailed, RSVPs are pouring in, lots of last minute preparations!

Tux Fittings, Dress Fittings, Pictures, Showers, Program Fans to make, Water Bottle Labels to Print, Final choices on Flowers, Decorations, Hoursedouveirs, Cake, Candles, Favors....

Pouring candles this weekend! Still need to decide which dress I'm going to wear! Maybe I should post pictures of both and ask for advice? Starting on the programs this weekend!

Due to my EMERGENCY trip to Houston last week I was able to sample all the cake flavors! Yum! It's going to be Awesome!

Countdown!

2 days until “Run Like a Mother”
3 days until Mother’s Day (I miss my Mom!)
5 days until Kaleb’s last final...then he can come home for the summer!
9 days until Cara’s Wedding Showers in Diana
11 days until Jesse’s promotion/new job in Marshall
14 days until my Birthday!
23 days until my 30th Class Reunion
29 days until Morgan’s Graduation
30 days until the Bachelorette Party
31 days until my Anniverary!
34 days until the East Texas Council Spelling Bee
36 days until my Family Reunion Weekend
44 days until Cara’s Wedding
79 days until Maddyn Grace is due to arrive (if not sooner!)
163 days until our CRUISE!

Good Friday!

Yes, it was a Good Friday! I was able to sit out side and enjoy the sun and my grandbabies! I think it was a pretty Good Friday for them too!

I can climb!

Aren't these two simply precious! They are both just so sweet! They can just melt my heart!

Idle on Idol

I have lost interest in American Idol...partially because the talent is just really not that great this year. I see them getting better...so I will probably pick back up towards the end (Maybe when they have 6-8 left!) I have even lowered the priority for it on my DVR! So it may not even record!

I am encouraged that of the 16 left thus far...5 of them are from TEXAS! 4 Guys & 1 Girl! So if they remain for a few more weeks, the TEXAN in me will be forced to watch and cheer them on!

Idol Men

Got back late from Houston today...so I have missed the 1st half of Idol (will go back and watch it later when I'm not so tired -- I don't think I have missed too much according to my son!). So my blog won't be as complete as it was last night.

Nothing too impressive with the ones I have seen so far tonight. And now I'm just sitting down to the computer.

Tyler Grady (still like him even when the judges do not!) Maybe cause we both love the same decade! But I thought he did pretty good singing American Woman!

DeWyze? -- Love the song! Started out good, but got shakey. I like him though!

Big Mike -- I like this guy. I thought it was pretty good. But the judges are very impressed.

I'll pause here to say that I'm just not getting into Idol as much this year. The talent was SO GREAT last year...and I just don't see it matching that talent this year.

Alex Lambert -- 'awkward'...good voice...need to work on the stage prescence! It was like he didn't know where to stand, where to look, where to hold his hands. Like I said, 'awkward'. But I agree with the judges -- great potential!

Casey James -- He's got the look! Have loved him all through the auditions and leading up to Top 24. And he has chosen a Bryan Adams song. Awesome! He is miles above the rest (not counting the first few that I haven't watched yet!) And Kara, you are too old for him!

Andrew Garcia -- I like him! But the judges; not as much. But I thought it was a good song choice for him.

Well...I'm tired and not sure I'm going back to watch the 1st part of this (especially when I watch the recap -- don't think I missed much.). So I don't know who will be going home....but I feel sure Andrew, Casey, Big Mike & Tyler will be STAYING!

Idol Girls

Here it is -- 3 nights of Idol this week! Girls perform tonight.

1) Paige goes first -- I wasn't that impressed. The judges like her voice...but I didn't care for it. But she won me over when she told the whole listening audience that she was 'sewn in' to her outfit and had been waiting for 5 hours to go pee! lol She deserves my vote for that!

2) Ashley R -- She is a beautiful girl. I think she chose a song a little too big for her. But I think she has a good voice. At this stage of the competition, the contestants should pic songs that are a bit more upbeat and fun...rather than the big Diva songs.

3) Janell W -- most of it sounded off-key to me. Not a very strong voice. And I didn't like the pants she wore...were they pants or tights with pockets?

4) Lilly Scott -- from living out of her car and performing on the street to being on American Idol...nice storyline -- and singing a Beatles song :-). She has her own unique style and that will get her quite far.

5) Katelyn -- Good voice, don't know what I think of the song choice? But a good performer.

6) Haeley -- Another Beatles song. It was shakey...but I liked her bringing her own style to it. She's young (16) and that will get her lots of votes. (Simon did hit upon what I was thinking the entire time -- she smiled the entire time -- almost too much!)

Half-way through the night...and Let me say I love Ellen as a judge! She tells it like she sees it and is the first to admit she may not know all the technical points of someone in the 'business' but she loves music and she knows what she likes!

7) Lacey -- a Texas Girl! She's got persistence (not her first time on Idol) and has a very unique look. Singing Fleetwood Mac song...Stevie Nicks is gonna be a hard one to be compared to. Very Good Voice. Not sure I liked the rendition, but I like her voice. The judges hated it. I do agree with Ellen -- she is better than that performance. We'll see. Come on Texas Voters...let's give her another chance!

8) Michelle -- So pretty! She looks like a model! Very confident and I think she did a great job!

9) DiDi -- Very unique! I love her vest! She has her own style and I like it (hope it doesn't grow old on me like some past contestants). She will have to shake it up some to keep it fresh.

10) Siobhan -- A glass blower? Interesting...She's got a different look tonight and she sang that song pretty well. -- though something tells me she is not the brightest crayon in the box!

11) Crystal -- I like her. And she picked a great song! Very talented! (I don't like the dreadlocks -- but I like her!)

12) Katie -- So cute! I have liked her since the first audition! Who wouldn't like the girl that loves her grandma so much! Great Song choice and awesome voice! She was the best performance/volcalist of the night! But my, my the judges are raking her over the coals. Yes, she needs to sing something more 'her age'.

So...2 of these will go home? I'm guessing it will be 3) Janell and 6) Haeley or 2) Ashley. What do you think?

Tomorrow night it's the guys!

It's A Girl!

Jake & Kourtnie are expecting their 3rd child in July! And this one's a Girl! I'm heading out to buy all kinds of ribbon and start making bows! :)

Loving these Olympics!

I do believe I am enjoying this year's Winter Olympics more than any other year. (I prefer the Summer Olympics)...but I have just loved watching every night and hearing the stories. I love Apollo Ohno!

Eerie Tuesday...

For those that know me well...you know I'm not a morning person. But for some reason I was up at 4:30am this morning. I watched Rachel Ray then got up and worked out on the gazelle. Checked my email. Watched the news. Showered, washed my hair; dryed my hair and styled my hair! Cooked breakfast; Ate Breakfast; Cleaned the kitchen; Fixed my lunch; And still left 15 minutes early for work! My husband is trying to figure out what is up with that? I just told him not to get used to it!

It's now nearing 10am and I'm getting a little drowsy. Time for my FRS energy drink! I love this stuff! The lo-cal orange concentrate has only 15 calories, tons of vitamins (including B12!) and just a little caffeine! Can't start my day without it!

Winter Wonderland

I woke up early, bundled up, and took out for a 6am walk Friday morning in the snow! It was beautiful and I was in awe! I spent time with my dad just enjoying the morning! I love the beautiful birds that come to his feeders...and the red ones looked so amazing against that snowy backdrop!

It's My Life

My kids are grown (pretty much)...I don't have school functions to rush to or last minute school projects to work on...or dozens of cookies (etc) to make...so where is all this free time I should have? I've been thinking about this alot...and I guess that means I HAVE A LIFE (outside of my children!) Yea Me!

But on the other hand...my blog is pretty weak without writing about my kids! It is easy to blog about my kids and their activities and post their pictures... But this stage of my life is supposed to be about ME (& my wonderful hubby!). So get ready blog readers...I have got to start blogging about ME!

Which I hope is not boring :(

Idol Talk & Pants on the Ground...

I seem to forget every year how cruel American Idol producers can be. The way they made fun of the country sounding guy was just beyond mean! And on the other hand, I have to agree with my friend Christine...Please people, quit telling your cousin, your daughter, your friend, etc that they sing good! Love doesn't make you tone deaf...you have to know they will be embarassed if they try to sing on National TV!

My Tuesday night's American Idol favorites were Tyler Grady (the 70's looking guy that sang Let's Get It On)...and Justin (the guy who had cancer that sang like Michael Buble').

Wednesday night has several good female singers. I liked Keia (who sang the Titantic song). And Jermaine (church boy) was so sweet (sang What if God were one of us). I also liked the policeman -- wish Simon could have heard him too!

Two final thoughts...1) I know several people from Atlanta...and they DO NOT SOUND LIKE THAT! The south is NOT a bunch of hillbillies! and 2) How will I ever get the 'Pants on the Ground' song out of my head!

Love Me Some AI

Another Season of American Idol starts tonight! Yea! It's going to be so different without Paula this year...but I am looking forward to seeing Ellen later in the season. I'm predicting this may be the last year for American Idol...without Paula and next year without Simon...I think it had about run it's course!