Arrangments for Grandma

A Memorial Service for Grandma will be Monday March 10 at 2 PM Texas Avenue Baptist in League City.

Ethel Maxwell

Another angel (a feisty angel I must say) moved into heaven today. My Mom's Mom, Ethel Maxwell, passed away today at 3 PM. She moved from Fairhope, Alabama about 16 years ago to live with us here in League City. We were able to care for her in our home for 14 of those years up until the point we decided to move her to a nursing home in March of 2006. She has been slowly deteriorating since that time until she passed this afternoon.
She was such a big part of our lives and we will miss her greatly, but it gives us peace to know she isn't suffering anymore. She's up in heaven with a clear head smiling down on us drinking a Budweiser with our Grandpa, George. (About 4 years ago after a few too many Bud Lights, Grandma wanted to get in Richard and Lisa's pool in just her UNDERWEAR. Since that time we had been secretly giving her O'Douls instead to avoid another streaking incident- so she's REALLY enjoying those Budweiser's tonight.) :-)
Sunday was such a wonderful experience for our family and I would not feel the peace I do now if I had not been for yesterday. Three of my mom's friends who she sings with at church, Suzanne, Marie, and Celeste all came to sing to Grandma and pray over her. A look of peace came over Grandma's face when they started to sing to her and it was so therapeutic to hear the church songs we had grown up with. She almost looked like she was trying to open her eyes when they sang her favorite, Amazing Grace. After singing we all prayed over her and loved on her some more and it was such a unifying experience for our family- it gave me such a great sense of peaceful closure about her death.
Thank you to everyone who's been keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. And in keeping with what Ethel would have DEFINITELY wanted - the crawfish boil must go on. Let's all have fun this Friday, bring extra jackets for the cold weather, and remember to peal a few extra crawfish and drink a few extra beers and our Ethel.

Teagan's soccer game

We went out to Kory and Gia's today to see everyone and watch Teagan play a soccer game. Here's Teagan's team of 4 yr olds - The Dragons - and coach Kory getting ready to take on the other team. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Teagan started to get tired toward the end of the game - here's a pic where we almost caught him laying on the ground. After the other team scored a goal he threw himself on the ground and said 'Daddy are we done yet?' :-)

Action shot - go Teagan!

Madelyn and I were busy making flower halos - just like the ones the girls are wearing for the wedding! She also practiced tossing flowers.

Little Simon peaking out of the window.

Madelyn playing with the camera...

And then Teagan took some pics! Thanks for such a pretty day everyone!

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo - Cookoff 2008

Last night we went to the Cookoff with Jason, Christy (Crason) and half of Malicia, (Alicia was resting at home recovering.) Christy got us in to the More or Less tent and we had a great time drinking 3 beers at a time and eating some really tasty bbq.

The line to get a beer was a little long so Jason was stocking up - in his pants.
Blake in his bright orange, or as he likes to call it 'salmon', shirt. It was Go Texan Day also!

One of the cookers who encouraged Christy and I to eat 'extra estrogen' cake - DELICIOUS. He was also carrying around a sprayer that you usually use to spray ant beds or something - his was filled with Crown Royal. Nice idea but he needed to work on his aim.
Crason



Hiking back to the truck.
Somebody fell asleep in the truck on the way home. He looks so sweet when he's sleeping.


God bless America...

...and belt buckles.

February is almost gone?

So that means less than two months to the wedding- da da dum! (As a matter of fact - 46 days until we walk down the aisle!)

So what have we been up to... February 9th was our first wedding shower (girls only) and it was a lot of fun. I was new to the 'bow breaking' tradition (Every bow that you break when opening a gift at a wedding shower means you'll have one baby, ie: break 5 bows = 5 babies.) So of course my mom was yanking at all the bows trying to break as many as possible but I broke NONE. I'll save all my bow breaking for the couples shower in March. The shower was great though - the hosts Carol, Cheryl and Gia thought of a cute idea - everyone was given a sheet of paper where they were to write advice relating to money, children, in-laws, sex, vacation, cooking, cleaning, etc. With all that advice I know Blake and I will make it to at least our 5th anniversary. Just kidding! I think the best advice was from Becky Jamison - for cooking: 'Never start, restaurants are great,' for cleaning: 'Always hire a maid.' :-) Thanks again to the hosts and everyone for coming!

Blake and Jason went to a deer lease with an old friend from Clear Brook, Jason Silva, this past weekend. They went out there with the intent to shoot some pigs but came home empty handed. Instead they came back with a lot of mud - I think they spent most of the weekend mudding on some 4 wheelers.

Jason had the smallest 4 wheeler...

Poppin wheelies

Karate moves

Is everyone enjoying the beginning of crawfish season? We've (and when I said 'we' I mean Matthew) have already cooked some twice - once at our parents house and then once again at the Limas' out in Baytown. We also went and ate boiled crawfish and oysters on the half shell this past Sunday at Sam's Boat on Richmond. We're warming up our hands so their ready to peel lots of crawfish at the couple's shower.

What else - oh ya so I know it may seem like a little thing to some people but we finally FINALLY have a kitchen table. WOO HOO! We're not eating Japanese style anymore on the floor in front of the tv watching Blake's DVR recording of Two and a Half Men. We bought a draw leaf table and 6 Queen Anne chairs at the Westheimer Antique Flea Market. We just need to re upholster the chairs - but we got a great deal! We had our first meal at the table tonight: salad, beer butt chicken and spicy spinach. Our little apartment is coming together.

The clock on the wall was a gift from Aunt Dianne at the shower

Antique school desk - gift from Mom

On a sad note - a friend that I swam summer league swim team with and also swam with at Clear Creek passed away recently, Candace Caudel (married name Candace Austin.) She passed away unexpectedly and left behind two daughters and a husband. Please keep Candace and her family in your prayers as they work through this difficult time. Candace loved her country music and was a sweet girl with a huge heart.

Yes, We're still alive!

So someone has been teasing me lately (SALLY) that it's been too long since we've posted so WE'RE POSTING OK? We've been DROWNING in wedding planning since the New Year; when it turned over to 2008 and I couldn't say, 'Oh the wedding isn't until next year!' I got a little frantic. So things are coming together... Blake and his boys have all their clothing (I thought they were going to go without pants for a while there) and the bridesmaids' dresses have come in. They're super cute. And I went for my last dress fitting this past Friday!
So as far as updates go - we all survived New Years. Sara Kramer and Luke Schmidt both came in town and we all went with a big group to a new bar called Open City to ring in the New Year. We had fun getting all dressed up and made it home in one piece.
Towards the end of January - Chris and Aerica drove in from Austin one weekend so Carol, Gia, Madelyn, Aerica, my mom and I could all go to the Galleria to shop for flower girl dresses. We got lucky that day and got dresses and pants/shirts for the ring bearers. The trip wasn't so lucky for Chris though... he got really sick but thankfully everything worked out ok.
Blake got back from the first of his TWO Bachelor parties this Sunday. Mark Arceneaux, Andy Greek, Jason and Blake all went to Vegas for this past weekend. I don't know much of the details but I know they had a fun time and Blake made some money betting on some horse races. Their connecting flight to leave on Sunday night was coming from Seattle so they were delayed leaving and Blake didn't get home until 3 that morning.
We've also started taking dance lessons! We're taking private/group lessons at Fred Astaire dance studio off Memorial. Our instructor's name is Stephan (Steph-ON) and he moves his hips better than me (which isn't saying much). So we now know the rock step, rumba, tango, and salsa. All we want to learn is the two step - but they told us that's the most difficult step and we're not ready for it. HA!

Here are some pics from New Years... at least the ones that are G rated. :-) The invitations for the wedding have gone out so I hope everyone is making their plans! We're getting excited!!

The first night Kramer got in town we took her to the Firehouse for a concert. From L to R: Alicia, Matthew, Kramer, myself, and Blake.
All the girls from L to R: Jennifer, Kramer, Kellie, Kate, Haley, myself, and Carla.

The girl who keeps me sane at work - CARLA!Blake and I with his close friend, Jon Herrington. All the boys, L to R: Luke, Jon, myself, Blake and Jeff.Lauren and Travis.Kellie and Luke - we were all dancing queens that night. :-)Kramer and IJeff and his girlfriend!!

Happy Belated 2008!

Christmas at the River

Our trip to the Guadalup! It was a great time... some people almost got punched for snoring, some got shot with the BB gun (CLENCH!), some walked in on people passed out in the bathroom, but for the most part everyone got along. Thanks to the Jacobson's for letting us use the house. Hopefully the cleaning ladies liked the ham and potato salad we left behind.

Playing Battle of the Sexes on Friday night- I don't remember who won. Matthew successfully read a clue card though. Speakadahouse! George W Bish! Then we moved on to a friendly game of Kings. Here's Jeff stripped down to his ribbed wife beater after saying the word 'drink' too much. That's for not giving us the point in Battle of the Sexes when we said a wife beater was a white sleeveless tank top, "NO... it's a white RIBBED tank top." Jerk. But this is the game that got Christy in trouble because she got the king cup. It was either that or the not being able to rhyme on 9 busta rhyme. Don't ask.I'm all bundled up for the fire. It was cold! Something like 30 degrees and it was windy too!! Like the slippers? Jeff and I won gift certificates at a grand opening of some outfitter in downtown Gruene. So I bought slippers and Jeff bought beenies. You'll see the beenie later... I'm surprised he didn't lease the beenie.


All of us at the front of the house next to the horseshoe pit. Nice fire huh?
Jason and Christy.
He pumpkin and she pumpkin. She pumpkin looked like a oompa loompa in all her gear. A cute oompa loompa though. Too bad we don't have video of her doing that dance.
Jason's idea of a good time. CONSUME!
Dancing around the fire - part of a rule in Kings - I think I was doing the soulja boy.
Here's Lauren (is that the beenie?) "Hit me again Ike and put some steak behind it!"


Jeff trying to remember how many boxes of Cheese it party mix is left, either that or where a Fit could fit.

I was also pretty good with the BB gun. Who said they didn't like the potato salad -DANCE!





Can you canoe?
The river is so calm without drunken flashing tubers.

"I'll just paddle on the left, you adjust."
Thank God the BB didn't have long range.

Flashback to New Year's Eve 2006 with the cowboy boots out. Jeff was trying to give us dancing lessons......they didn't go so well. Blake didn't have enough strength to hold me up - he didn't eat enough heart your stop that morning.

I can't figure out how to turn the video - for some reason I dance better with Jason. Maybe we'll sub Jason in for our first dance at the wedding. Either that or Lauren - Lauren and I worked on a pretty sweet dance move too. It mostly involves her dropping me on my face but it looks pretty sweet when we pull it off.

You know what I need? A NERD ROPE!