So, I've been contemplating this year's Christmas cards and I'm drawing a blank on ideas. We did the whole professional family picture last year and I plan on taking my maternity pictures in January or we could potentially use those.
So, I can't decide if we should do another photo or something simple and boring...what are your thoughts. What are y'all doing this year for Christmas cards?
Last week, Marty and I flew to Corpus Christi so I could attend the annual Texas Municipal League conference. It took a full day of flying Monday with the flight delays and trouble at Houston Hobby, but we finally made it and we were beat. We changed clothes and grabbed dinner at Blackbeard's close to our hotel. I had the fresh red fish with a garlic cream sauce and Marty had surf and turf. It was so yummy!
Tuesday I had set Marty up with a little suprise fishing trip in the bay. He had never been before and I appreciated he taking the time off from work to come with me, I wanted to do something for him that I knew he would enjoy. They had a great day on the water.
Here's Marty with his biggest catch of the day.
Jeri Lynn, Marty's sister, also drove in from Houston to spend the day with us. She's such a sweetheart and we don't get to see her enough living so far away! She and I ate at this wonderful place downtown called City Diner and I had an entire platter of you peel 'n eat shrimp. It was SO good! As was her "greasy burger" and onion rings. Afterwards, she dropped me off at my resolutions committee meeting and came and picked me up when it was over. We stopped by the office of some of my dad's colleague's and then went and met Marty and his fishing partner at Pier 99 for a frozen lemonade.
We said our goodbyes to JL and got ready for dinner at Water Street. I had a platter of coconut, pecan crusted and fried shrimp. Again, YUM! I miss seafood so much living up here!
Wednesday morning, Marty and I woke up and went for a walk on the beach. I wanted to take advantage of our hotels close proximity to the water and you can't go to Corpus w/o at least taking a little stroll.
The USS Lexington.
Oh and just so you know, there are three of us in this picture!
YES..
Marty's actual birthday was two weeks after his suprise party. Another reason, he said he didn't suspect that I was up to something. We ended up having a small group of his close guy friends from "up here" out to my parents' ranch for the weekend. We shot skeet, fished, rode horses and enjoyed the country.
Beautiful Texas Panhandle Afternoon.
The boys decided to "chap" (beat him with a pair of chaps, typically worn when riding horseback) Marty 30 times instead of birthday spankings. We "lured" him in by telling him I wanted a group shot in front of the water tower. It took all of them to take him down.
He was so unsuspecting...
The banner made multiple appearances.
I'd been waiting to move forward with my regular posts until I got some more pictures from Marty's suprise party. Unfortunately, some of the pictures I just printed off my sister-in-laws camera and don't have pictures on my computer. I promise I took more of the birthday boy...Here's a recap of July...
I volunteered to organize and implement our church's VBS all in a month. It was a bit stressful right at the beginning, but it turned out to be a lot of fun and we had a great turn out! I should learn to shut my mouth and know that God's going to take care of me.
The weekend after VBS, we drove out to a cabin on a friend's ranch and went for a horse back ride. We watched the sunset and rode home by the full moon. It was a bit of "outdoor experience". The cabin was really nice, but it's ran by generator. I convinced the boys to start the generator before we left for our ride that evening. In order to do this, though, we needed jumper cables which had been forgotten and left back at civilization so we had to go borrow some from a nearby oilfield hand that didn't speak English. When we got back to the cabin after our ride, all was well. They left me at the cabin while they left to tend to the horses. In the meantime, I discovered the largest centipede I have ever seen. (see picture below-YUCK!!!)
Shortly after, the generator went off. Thirty minutes later the boys show up. We had to drive out to the generator and restart it. It took until at least 2 a.m. before the house really cooled off.
We rode the next morning and it was absolutely beautiful! Then we came back to town and go around and headed to Amarillo for dinner dancing. I also ran around trying to tie up loose ends for Marty's suprise party.
Me and Kinsey before we left to go dancing.
The following week we left for East Texas after work on Wednesday and pulled in to my in-laws' about 2 a.m.
Here's Marty dad with Lily. They are quite the pair. Yes, we brought the dogs. And East Texas in July is too hot for anyone, but especially our furry little friends.
The next few days were an absolute whirlwind. My mother-in-law, mom and I ran to Longview on Friday to run a few errands. Then Mom and I went and stayed the night in Canton so we could put all the finishing touches together. The next day we all met up at First Monday to shop. Meanwhile the ENTIRE back of our car was full of Marty's birthday stuff. We drove back to G-town for the night and got up the next morning EARLY to go pick up all the cakes, pies and goodies for M's suprise party.
We got everything set up just in time. Everyone was amazed that I fit ALL the decorations in one huge suitcase. I purchased plastic table cloths in brown, blue in green. And bought rolls of burlap to use as table runners.
Here's the dessert table. Instead of doing a fancy, themed birthday cake, I had Gina of Creative Cakes in Winnsboro make several of Marty's favorites including Lemon Ice Box Pie, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Chocolate Pie, Southern Pecan Pound Cake and a Missippi Mud Cake. They were truly decadent.
Marty's mom, Aunt Scarlett and Aunt Luana.
Me with Marty's cousin, Morgan.
Robin, aka one of the cutest pregnant people ever, my mom, me and Jerrye, my MIL. Robin and Justin were such troopers. They stayed 'til the VERY end! Poor thing! I appreciated it, though!
Caden, Adam and Marty. Adam had to leave early because they were leaving for an Alaskan vacation the next day! But, we're so glad they came!
The birthday banner was made by Bekah Jennings. She has fabulous banners for every season. I want several for my mantel! And I had little name cards made for each of the pies and little stickers to go on the party favors. The ones on the gumballs said, "Hope You Had a Ball!" and the ones I had made for the bread from our local sourdough bread bakery, The Bucket, said, "Thanks for Coming!" and "Marty is 30!!!".
Thanks to Design Girl 16 for all your hard work on those. I wish I would have gotten more detailed pictures, but I just didn't have a chance. That's my #1 regret, along with not getting a group picture of everyone that was there.
Marty had NO CLUE. Even after he walked in and we were all standing there, I just knew he had figured it out, but he just thought his friends were all having a get together and I didn't tell him because I was afraid he wouldn't go. Silly boy! There were so many little kids! It was great! They loved this one corner that had several sofas. Then most of them went swimming. Those pictures are already printed, dangit!
Here's a picture of the the centerpieces. I used pictures of M from birth until now on brown, blue and green cardstock and also had smaller tags that had his monogram and "Marty is 30!!!" on them. 
Here's a picture of the banner. There's also part of a centerpiece. Marty's cousins, Houston, Mark and Mark's girlfriend are also in the picture.
The goody table. The cinammon raisin bread and cattle bread is on the right and the gumballs in the center. I had everyone bring a picture of Marty or of them and Marty along with a note and we put them all in an album. It's there on the left.
A dear friend of mine and her husband are true fitness buffs. They've done several half marathons together and numerous races individually. Smith, is raising money this fall for a very awesome charity. I stole the following from his site...
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48On December 5th, Kristin and I will run the White Rock Half Marathon in Dallas, Texas and as if that wasn't challenging enough, God has laid it on my heart to do what I can to change the world before I cross the finish line.So, what's all of this about? Every week, millions of women and their children walk more than 14 miles (or about 10 hours a day) just to get water for their families. Most of this water is contaminated, but it's the only water they have. They are forced to take the chance of getting diseases because there are no other options. More than 45,000 people die every year due to waterborne illnesses. With this information in hand, God has made my goal pretty simple: Go 13.1 so they don't have to go 14.I've made it my mission to raise $1310 to provide clean, safe drinking water to those that need it. If my goal is hit, 65 people will get clean water for 20 years. Your donation, be it $5 or $50, will literally change someone's life.Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to water projects, and each donation is "proved" using Google Earth when projects are complete. It's a pretty awesome operation.Please, do what you can. Help me change the world."Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthian 9:6-7
Watch the video by clicking on the link below.
You can visit his site to donate here.
I applaud you in your efforts, Smith! This is definitely a worthy cause.
I can't believe four years ago today I married my best friend! It just doesn't seem possible! It's been a big year with me celebrating my 25th, Marty about to turn 30 and us embarking on the journey of starting our own family (other than our 'fur baby,' Tyke, of course). The page below is from our wedding album. If you click on the image you can read our vows. I personally think they were the best vows ever written, but I could be a little prejudice!
I hope you all have a safe, Happy 4th of July holiday! I'd like to thank all the troops and their families for the sacrifices they make for us and our country! Let Freedom Ring and God Bless!!!
