Spring is in Full Bloom

Look what I found after I returned home from Gray, TN. Spring is definitely in full bloom! The rose bushes in the front yard have really filled out and add so much color!

Rose Bush

Close up

Easter Saturday?

I've been slacking on the blog updates lately, but I have a really great excuse. I'm currently in Gray, TN working at a client site and I've been here for two weeks now working extremely long hours. I actually flew out on Easter Sunday, so after inviting my family over for dinner and realizing that wasn't going to work with a noon departure, we "officially" moved Easter Sunday to Easter Saturday. Thanks Mom, Dad, Jared, Alicia and Michael for being so understanding!!

My Mom and I got together at the house about three hours early and started cooking and setting the table. Michael and Dad enjoyed the Masters on TV while Jared and Alicia checked out a few of the stores at the Allen Outlet Mall. The menu included: brown sugar glazed ham, cheddar mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pea salad, brown sugar glazed carrots, deviled eggs and crescent rolls. What a spread! It wouldn't be complete without some great white wine too.

After dinner, we did an Easter egg hunt inside the house. A HUGE thank you to Jared and Alicia for bringing all of the eggs and filling them with yummy candy. For round 1, Mom and I hid the eggs upstairs and Michael, Alicia and Jared did the hunting. It was civil and tame. I think Michael was the winner of round 1. For round 2, Michael, Mom and Dad hid the eggs upstairs and Alicia, Jared and I did the hunting. It was brutal and nasty and street-like! (but so much fun and no one was hurt.) Alicia was the clear winner of round 2. Thank you for the laughs and the bruises!

Happy Easter to you and your family. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Table set for dinner. I finally got to use the wedding china for the 2nd time!

Aren't the flowers gorgeous?

Tamra working on the brown sugar glazed carrots

Shasha (Alicia's dog on the left), Max (in the middle)

and Sassy (Parent's dog on the right)
AKA: New best friends

This was so funny!

Max would not leave this area while my Dad was cutting the ham.

Mom and Dad did ALL the dishes! Thank you!

Round 1: Michael, Alicia & Jared

Round 2: Alicia, Jared, & Tamra

You can see Dad getting out of the way...

The loot!

P.S: Blog redesign coming soon!

Big News!

Ok, so I have some news to share...click here to find out more! It is not a 100% done deal, but it a huge step in the right direction. Please continue to keep Michael and I in your prayers as we move towards the contract signing!

(Please let me know if the link does not work and I will repost the information...)

Brynn turns 1!

Our neighbor and my bunko friend, Michel Ann, had us over last weekend to help celebrate her daughter, Brynn's, 1st birthday. It was a great party and a beautiful day to be outside. They had an amazing swing set that all of the kids loved playing on. I think the mini-rock climbing wall and slide were the favorites. Brynn also got some great gifts! The other kids were eager to get the presents opened and "broken in". Happy Birthday Brynn and thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

Delicious cake!

Michel Ann (Byrnn's mom) and Brynn

Brynn enjoying her own personal cake!

Michelle, me, Michel Ann, Katie & Julie

Light in the Attic...

Like most husbands...mine needs a steady flow of "projects". Michael is very handy and has a real talent for taking on projects around the house and doing a great job. He has been building things since he was a little boy. One of his best projects is the gorgeous pool table in our game room. Michael's latest and most recent project has been finishing the attic above the garage.

After having the gas line moved, Michael laid down a plywood floor, added electrical outlets around the base of the room, added 4 lights to the crown of the room, installed a vent for ventilation and insulated the walls. His next step will be dry wall installation. I'll post some "after" pictures once the room is finished!

Michael also had his first softball game last Sunday night. Hensel Phelps has another co-ed team this year. The season didn't get off to a good start. Only 6 players showed up and the team had to forfeit. Instead of coming home, they asked some people from another team to join them and had a scrimmage. I hope to make it out to some of the games this year and I'll get some pictures too.

Attic - Dry wall installation is next....

Added outlets around the room

Added 4 lights in the ceiling

It's Here!

Twilight is now available on DVD! As most of you already know, I am a Twilight fanatic and have read all 4 books in the Twilight series. I also saw the movie in the theater only a few days after it was released and have even gone so far as to read the partial manuscript of Midnight Sun which tells the Twilight story from Edwards point of view. If you are interested in reading this, go here. So, imagine my surprise when there wasn't a line at Target when I went to get the DVD on Saturday! There are plenty...in case you are planning to pick up a copy.

I returned home and ripped the plastic off the case, ran up to the media room and watched the movie for the second time! I just couldn't wait!! The DVD also came with a Special Featues and Bonus Material DVDs. I watched both of these Saturday night after the movie. For fanatics like me, I also wanted to mention that there are two songs on the Twilight soundtrack by Robert Pattinson. He is a musician and also actually played "Bella's Lullaby" on the piano in the movie. Anyway, the two songs on the soundtrack are "Let Me Sign" and "Never Think". Only downside, you have to purchase the whole album on iTunes to get these two songs. He sounds so tortured and wounded...just like Edward would.

If you have not seen the movie or read the books (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn), give them a shot!

Bella and Edward

This is not a shot from the movie, but I thought it was cool.

Cutie Pie Creations

I have to brag about two of my good high school friends, Jill and Tierra. All three of us attended Burleson High School and went away to college, but still managed to stay in touch. Jill and Tierra did a much better of job of it, but I'm still glad to see them every now and then. They have decided to open a business of their own called Cutie Pie Creations inspired by creating things for their own cutie pies...aka daughters. Take a minute and check out their site http://www.formycutiepie.com/ for diaper cakes & wreaths, tutus, bow & hair accessories, baby clothes, diaper bags and so much more! Congratulations to Jill and Tierra. The website looks great!

http://www.formycutiepie.com/