Oscar Night, at home? What??

I love the Oscars. Okay, I love competition. Any competition- sports, beauty pageants and award shows. Add fashion to the competition and I am glued to the TV.

This is my first night in 4 years to watch the Oscars from home. Every year, the Texas Association of Convention and Visitor's Bureaus invite planners from Texas associations to an Oscar's party. It is a fun night of dress up, amazing food and competition :)

Since I am a corporate planner now, I wasn't invited to the party. So this year while the stars wear Oscar de la Renta and Valentino, I am sporting black cotton jogging pants and a Hanes t-shirt from a vacation 2 years ago. Wow, how times have changed.

Here is a look back at my previous Oscar adventures:

Last year, I attended the party with my good friend Heather.













In 2005, Marcus and I enjoyed the party together.

The year before, my cousin Kristi and I attended together.

Weekend Fun in Dallas

Marcus and I spend the weekend in Dallas visiting old friends and family.

Friday night we met up with Russell and Kenny in Frisco. Russell is one of our oldest and dearest friends. He was there at ASU in the University Center the night Marcus and I met. He was the student senate secretary and was such a wonderful person! We hadn't seen him since our wedding, 7 1/2 years ago.

Russell, it was so great to see you and see how happy you are! We love you!



After dinner Friday night, we drove into Dallas to see Jason and Courtney, two of the coolest people we know (Jason and Marcus are cousins). Jason plays guitar in a rock band and Courtney is a roller derby girl! They are so much fun!

We always love spending the weekend with them. Courtney and I shop and the boys play video games. It was a super windy weekend in Dallas, enough to break off some pretty sizeable branches in C & J front yard.

Thanks for having us!

Dinner, Take Two

We finally celebrated Valentine's Day Saturday night. It was so depressing to be in Las Vegas on Wednesday. We actually finished early that night, around 7:00 PM. My roommate Brandi and I went back to our room and ordered cheeseburgers and watched a movie. Only, our food took 2 hours and we fell asleep during the first 30 minutes of the movie. Not what we had planned!

So, Saturday night was our night to celebrate! We had decided to try out Fonda San Miguel, known in Austin for the best interior Mexican food and yummy drink. It is said to be a beautiful restaurant with fountains, art, and original saltillo tile. Everyone else in Austin knows this as well. The wait at 6:30 PM was 2 hours and we just couldn't stand that long, so we hopped in the car and left.

Our second choice was Houston's, a steakhouse nearby with big over-the-top salads. They had an hour wait, but we put our name on the list and walked around the nearby shops to kill time. When our name was finally called we were happy to sit at a nice table and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Our waiter so nicely agreed to take our picture. Here it is:

Back to Normal

Well...
Yesterday afternoon, Anna got back into twon from her stay in Vegas....she was a bit worse for wear for the 120+work week...mainly sore feet and the need for a 12 hour nap.


I didn't realize it at the time, but I was a bit worse for wear for the time too.....I kind of slipped into that rough and tumble way of life....and I didn' shave too much either....

















but once we got back into our happy normal way....things became much more serene....andso did I...

















Here's to having us back in the same state...and house!

Heart Day!

Today is Valentines Day...a day of love and squishy icky disgusting lovey stuff that make single people sick!

Well I wanted to post to my girlie that I love her and miss her bunches! Even though Vegas is kinda far from Austin....you aint got to worry...

the nice meal, flowers and all that romantic stuff that husbands have to do on VTines will be here on Saturday...with interest accumulated! (that pretty much means more than just a dozen roses...)

Lots of love babe!

















wait...single folks....don't be disgusted yet...













NOW...be disgusted.


Marcus

Las Vegas Baby!

I am in Las Vegas for the next seven days for Keller William's largest convetion, Family Reunion. It is a crazy 5 days with 10,000 agents.

The best part is the beautiful hotel we are staying at... THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay. It is a small private all suites hotel hidden within Mandalay Bay. Here is a picture of the lobby near the restaurant where we have breakfast albeit at 5:00 AM.

Peyton's Big Day, too!

We could only watch Peyton's big day on a big TV. So, we watched the Super Bowl from the biggest TV we know- Rob and Christi's TV. They have the most lovely media room with special lighting, a big comfy leather couch with recliners and built in cup holders, and even a special fridge just for cold beverages. Thanks you for always having us Rob and Christi!

Looks like a whole lot of other people had the same idea! Lots of friends from church and Rob's office joined in for the game.

From the couch, to the little green chairs, to the bean bags, and finally on the floor, everyone had a great view of the Colts victory. WAIT JUST ONE MINTUE... the COLTS victory. No, I wanted DA Bears to win DA Game!

No Bears win AND Griese didn't even make a little screen shot on TV? That makes me very very sad. You could have beat those silly little Colts, Brian! It is time for Rex Grossman to go. We Want Brian! We Want Brian!

Zee's Dedication

Our little friend Zee had a big day today- her parents publicly dedicated her back to the Lord. After a brief visit to our Sunday School class, we drove across town to Red River Church, where Bill and Kay worship to see Zee's dedication. It was wonderful to be among so many friends and family that love Zee and see everyone show their support for Bill and Kay's decision.






Marcus and I are so grateful to be in Zee's life and to see such a wonderful beginning for her. As their pastor said, giving a child a loving home that includes Jesus is the greatest gift that a parent can give. We agree!

Juggling the January Birthdays...

Well, there was one more birthday that we have to celebrate....Morgan, my friend from Church, turned 6 on Saturday. She and her mom and dad let me come out there an juggle for her at her birthday party. I got to use a bunch of the props....

including the bouncy balls.....some fruit...(including a real apple)

and of course....chickens.

I don't understand it, but apparently, 6 year old LOVE plastic and rubber chickens. I'm going to get some pics of the me and the birthday girl to post!.
Happy Birthday Morgan! Thanks for letting me come out!
Marcus the Juggler

Making way for Baby T

This is Katy. Katy is a Goddess, really, she is! I have an amazing set of college girlfriends that live all over Texas. I adore them and love that every now and then we see still get to each other. We humbly proclaim ourselves to be Goddess Girls.

Katy lives in San Antonio is going to have a baby! And, that baby has a wonderful big family just waiting to meet him. Because we know he has so many amazing times ahead of him, Katy and I spent the afternoon pre-making scrapbooks of his first year. Katy is planning to give these to her parents, her husbands parents and her sister and then will mail them pictures as Baby T experiences them. They are both first time grandparents and a brand new Aunt! I've heard it said that everytime a baby is born, so is a grandma. I love the sentiment behind that!

Katy and I had lots of fun making the pages and visiting my favorite scrapbook store. Thanks for having me Katy and I can't wait to meet little Baby T!

The Birthday Train Rolls on!

Happy Birthday wishes to Shaun, our brother-in-law and Kyleigh and Cohen's daddy. To celebrate, Tiffany and Shaun spent the weekend in Louisiana gambling. That meant K&C spent the weekend with my Mom and we got to see them!

After church we went to Pokejo's BBQ for lunch. Kyleigh's bright colored poncho was a Christmas present this year. See the super easy online pattern at http://familycrafts.com.

This Sunday was extra special as it was Cohen's first Sunday to be left in his own classroom.... although he was a little scared to let go of "Nanny" (my Mom), he ended up doing great. He told us all about his snack and toys.

Coco and Kyleigh love the train at Pokejos. Today, Rudolph was the train engineer and his favorite snowman was a passenger!

Happy Birthday Shaun- thanks for sharing the kids with us!

Card Making Party

Last night I hosted a card making party with some of my friends. It was lots of fun!

Meg from Stampin' Up brought us all of the supplies and pre-cut papers to make 10 fun cards- just what we'll need for the coming year!

Check out our fun crafts and look for a cute card in a mailbox near you!

Stormi and Kristi stop to smile for the camera!

Tabriah, Jessica and Natalie are hard at work. Doesn't this look fun?

Stephanie, Kanice and Kelly get a little advice from Meg.

Another Birthday...

Happy Birthday Dad! I hope you have a great day filled with your favorite things- golf, uh, and more golf?

Love,
Anna

(Marcus' Mom is just one day older than my Dad- same year!)

Happy Birthday(s)! Take two...

Right around this time, we have a slew of back to back birthdays...the first one was Georgia, a kiddo of one of Anna's college girlfriends...The next up....my Mom!
....and we want to wish her a happy birthday today!












Now, for my personal safety, I do now want to say which birthday this is...but let's say that she old enough to be my mother! (I'm 32....so you know, at least, this is NOT the big 4-0).

And yes...when she reads this...I drove safe on the wet and icy roads...I buckled up...and I talked much less on the cell phone while driving...

More birthdays to come! Stay tuned!

Happy 1st Birthday Miss Georgia!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Miss Georgia-

Happy Birthday to you!

Anna

(Georgia's Mom is Alison, one of my very best friends)

Winter storm 2007....day 3

Well, on day three, the tree above my car started getting a little intimidating to my vehicle's well being. While I believe the inch of ice on the Escape may also prove to be shielding, no doubt a tree branch could at least hurt some paint....So for the first time this week, my car moved. 20 feet.










As we go in day three, supplies are running a bit low....we are out of orange juice...scrapbook photo squares and dishwashing soap. We may have to risk the weather in order to get our Starbucks lattes and scones....

Winter Wonderland II

Yea! We got another snow day!

Although I like being home and working in my pajamas is not bad, I'm going a little stir crazy! Why doesn't Starbucks deliver? And, Hobby Lobby? I could be scrapbooking, but I'm out of those little sticky squares..... I need those sticky squares!

The rain turned to ice and the ice has turned to snow! This is the third day we have captured the weather on the back porch. Each day is felt a little colder when I swung open the screen door. Brrr!

The back woods look so cold! I'm not going out there for nothin'!









This is the view (from my scrapbook studio) of my neighbor's roof with snow. This window faces north/west, so it seems to have the most action. I can hear the ice trickling onto the window regularly.








Jean Grey does not seem to notice anything different about the day. Get up mid morning, eat breakfast, go back to sleep, get up mid afternoon, eat, move from bed to couch, sleep. Wait for dinner time.

Winter Wonderland

Yea! The winter day came on a Monday! Snow day! We got a snow day from school!

Wait. We have laptops...and logins. hmph. Homework is still due.

Oh well, at least from the home office, no one knows if you are in the full work attire...or fuzzy slippers and pajama pants!

And in case anyone from our offices read this...we are in full business attire. We work for companies of business. Serious business.

MJ

Football Sunday

Well, The lousy weather conditions continue...and while I had a great day planned of doing tons of yard work, errands, and things of that sort, I was forced instead to a day of napping, and watching football....

Speaking of football, this is about the time when you look back to four months ago and review the things that were heard and said at the beginning of the season...and just see if it turned out like everyone thought...and get your story straight.

Some of the things...

"Steelers won't even miss Randel El, or Bettis. I smell repeat."

"After Drew Brees' injury, and they have that Reggie Bush kid, I give the Saints two wins all season."

"Favre? Heck, he has five more years."

"The Cowboys have Bledsoe, TO, and Vanderjagt as kicker....come on. They'll be at the Super Bowl with that team..."

"Rex Grossman...ha. He'll be on the bench by week 3, and Griese will be the Bears starter."

"Vince Young's style of play will never be successful in the NFL, and Bush is too small to be tough enough....Houston may have been smart to pick Mario Williams in the draft..."

"This is Eli's year to outplay big brother Payton."

"Titan's were smart to get rid of Steve McNair...he is done for..."

"Romo? Who the heck is Romo?"

"The Dolphins finally got a stable QB with Culpepper, and a good coaching staff for the next few years. This should be a great year for the Dolphins."

"and if Bama doesn't work, I'm going to UT in two years.."

Cold and Wet

Yucky! Today was supposed to include a trip to the grocery store, a nice jog in the park and maybe a few errands (aka shopping). That all changed early this morning with some stroung thunder and lightening.... at 4 PM it hasn't stopped. We are in for some more cold rain and possibly ice in the next few days.

Here's hoping for a bad weather day on Monday. I'd like to sleep in and be trapped at home. Bad weather days are not just for public school kids anymore!

Our very wet back patio. I don't think we'll be sitting on the green chair anytime soon!
The woods just past our backyard are flooded from the morning's rain. Let's hope it brings green grass this spring.
Even with our new gutters, the front walkway is flooded.