BIRTHDAY Boy!

Yesterday, my handsome husband/the love of my life turned

34!

This was taken before church.

Not the best picture, but as usual we were rushing out the door trying to make it on time to church. LOL.

And I just had to have a picture. :o)

We started the day of celebration by going to church and then came home for the girls to take naps. Then it was off to my in-law's (Nana & Pop) house for the evening. For Jeff's birthday dinner, I made sloppy joes with tater tots and for dessert I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing. This was all per Jeff's request and I was so happy to oblige! :o)

Are they not the cutest?

The little ones aren't too sure about the tight grip of the big one! :o)

Nana and the little girls.

Lila has such a sweet little smile on her face.

Emersyn has her serious face on. LOL!

(Actually Lila was laughing at me because I was jumping up and down acting goofy, trying to get them to smile. Emersyn was thinking "Hmmm...there she goes again trying to get me to smile.")

Pop and the big girl.

I'm pretty sure Jeff had a GREAT birthday! :o)

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm just LOVING all the responses I (or should I say Chad) have received on the blog post

"Show Us Your Life: Singles"!

In doing that post, I just thought it would be a fun way for Chad to try and meet his "Cinderella." I NEVER thought in a million years that I or he would get that many comments.

[Now don't misunderstand me here...I think he's a HOT guy with a GREAT personality and a BIG heart to go along with it (and most girls if not all think the same thing)!]

......

I just don't have many followers/readers(okay...if we're counting, I ONLY have 3! LOL! So if you read this and are not a follower, please sign up. I would LOVE to know who else is reading my blog, if any. LOL)...My only reason for blogging besides the fact that it's fun...is to record our family moments (sort of like an online scrapbook without all the cutting, gluing, etc. and not to mention it's totally free!) and for our extended family to see what's going on in our lives. :o)

So a BIG thank you to all of you who left sweet comments! I have now washed my hands of this "little" task and passed the torch over to Chad, since he's the one trying to find the ONE who the glass slipper fits! ;o)

P.S. Just to let you ladies know you have some major competition...Grace informed Chad she would be his "girlfriend, " if he didn't aggrevate her! LOL! :o)

[Footnote: I was on the computer last Thursday trying to finish my post on Chad and Grace walked into Jeff's office and wanted to know what I was doing on the computer with all of Chad's pictures...my response to her was that "I was trying to find him a girlfriend." And then she responded with the above quote. I thought it was too cute! :o) ]

Prince Charming

***I know a lot of you have been asking why he's still single...Well, the only answer I have for you guys is that he just hasn't found "his" Cinderella that God has set aside for him.***

Today, I've decided to try something new on my blog.

I read so many blogs and they are always doing these "linky" things (which I think are pretty neat)...whether it has something to do with sharing interesting facts, or fashion advice, or decorating ideas, or how to make something. The one blog I read the most is Kelly's Korner (I just learned how to do this today...I had to google how to do it...LOL!). She's a strong Christian woman and a mother of a beautiful little girl and about to have her 2nd child. I just enjoy reading her blog so much! :o) She does a series on her blog called Show Us Your Life and today she is doing a "single" series. Sort of a little match maker type thing. I immediately thought of my brother an d decided I would try this. LOL! :o)

Sooooo.....

Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to my brother, Chad.

This is Chad and I eating dinner with our family down at the coast.

One of our most favorite places to vacation as a family. :o)

What do you think?

He's 26 years old and is currently living in Galveston, Texas working on his 2nd bachelor degree of science in marine (better known as marine transportation or to give you a better idea what that means...he will be learning to navigate ships!) at the Texas Maritime Academy, which is affiliated with Texas A&M.

Chad saying "Gig'em" with the Cape Gibson behind him.

This ship will be his "classroom" on the water for the next 3 years.

He previously attended Texas State in San Marcos, Texas where he ran track and received his bachelor degree in Business Administration in December of 2007.

Little did he know when he received this shirt one Christmas that he would one day be attending college there.

Tailgating with friends at one of the Texas State football games.

Chad is in the middle with the striped shirt on.

Chad was chosen to be one of the faces of Texas State.

This billboard was on the side of one of our major highways.

There were even buses going around town with this picture on it. :o)

Hurdles at the Texas Relays.

Getting set.

As you can see he is very driven and extremely goal oriented. He's independent and knows what he wants out of life. Not to mention he's extremely good looking (can I say this even though he's my brother? LOL...I think I can).

Chad is a believer in the Lord and has such a big heart. He's very family oriented (we're an extremely close family). He's a WONDERFUL uncle to both of my girls. Even though at times he loves to aggrevate my oldest, Grace. They have a love/hate relationship! LOL. But they both love him dearly! :o)

Our family...see we 1 more "big" girl to even things out. ;o)

Eating dinner at the Salt Lick, which is a BBQ place.

Holding Emersyn when she was born.

She looks like she's crying in this picture...maybe he pinched her...just kidding. Not sure why she was crying...she hardly ever cries even to this day.

Grace and her Uncle Chad.

Chad will bend over backwards to help anyone.

He's very organized and likes things to be clean (You don't find this in many men). My mom taught him very well! He's passionate about the outdoors. He loves to fish and hunt! Enjoys watching/playing just about any kind of sport. He's willing to try anything.

Fishing for bass.

(I think?)

My dad, my husband Jeff and Chad fishing down at the coast.

Bird hunting.

A little baby hog that he caught while hunting.

Hog hunting up on the Red River.

I think he needs a girl that's a strong Christian, independent, loves to laugh, enjoys the outdoors, someone who is fashionable (my mom and I need someone to pass the reigns over to because from time to time he might need a little help...LOL!), someone who is somewhat frugal (Chad is a saver and plans for the future.), likes to workout, can be silly and have fun, and can just be herself.

These are just some random pictures that I thought were cute. I had so many pictures...I couldn't pick just 1 or 2. :o)

This is Chad and I.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Chad when he was little.

For some reason I think he looks like "Jerry Mouse" in this picture. LOL. :o)

Isn't he so stinkin' cute?

He was chosen to get in the dolphin pool down in Corpus Christi when we were on vacation.

Skiing in Colorado. Another one of his favorite things to do.

This was taken when, Chad, was interning (while in college) with the Houston Astros baseball team.

Hanging out with some of his friends from college.

He's on the far left.

So if you think this might be your Prince Charming or know of someone who might need a Prince Charming, please leave a comment for me and we'll go from there. :o)

Better Late Than Never, right?...Our Christmas!

We had such a FANTASTIC Christmas (5 total)! It was busy, but well worth it and so fabulous to have Jeff home for 3 weeks. :o)

Christmas #1 - We spent the night before Christmas Eve with my Dad's side of the family. We had a wonderful Italian dinner at my cousin, Jamie's house. The kids played and then they got to open up all their gifts after dinner. Grace received a microphone that she absolutely LOVES! She serenaded us with many versions of "Twinkle Little Star." Emersyn got a some cute clothes and a bee that vibrates for teething and plays music.

Singing really loud!

Grace and my cousin's little girl, Abby playing the piano and singing Christmas songs. I'm not sure what the future holds, but Grace loves to perform.

I just love this picture!

A little sleepy and sitting on her Great Poppie's lap.

My cousin, Jamie's daughter, Anna, reading the Christmas story from the Bible.

Getting ready for her performance.

Chewing on her bee.

Christmas #2 - Christmas Eve morning we went over to Jeff's parent's house to open presents and have prime rib! Yummy! :o) Grace got a "Fur Real" pet dog that she calls Fifi and/or Fluffy (depends on the day). It's perfect because she can walk it on a leash, it barks, cries and whines and if she decides to be mean (which sometimes happens with our real dog) it can't bite! And Emersyn received some much needed pjs and some toys.

Great PaPa and his girls.

My sister-in-law, Tracey, and our beautiful niece, Lila.

Christmas #3 - Christmas Eve night we went to my Mommaw's house to spend Christmas with my Mom's family. We ate a delicious steak and lobster dinner! A tradition my Papa started before he died. :o) Then opened presents and Santa made an early delivery for the girls. Grace got a scooter and Emersyn got a rider toy that has several stages as she grows.

The whole family.

Notice all the jars full of candy sitting on the table in the bottom right of the picture. My grandmother has always had candy sitting on her coffee table...that's one of the best part of visiting her house!

My grandma and her girls.

Not the best picture, but it was hard getting all of them to look and smile for the camera. LOL

This little rider is so neat.

A scooter from Santa.

We had a mountain of presents to open.

Emersyn sleeping on her Great Mommaw.

She never lets anyone hold her and rock her to sleep.

I guess she has the special grandma touch. :o)

Christmas #4 - Christmas morning we spent at our house with just the 4 of us! The girls received a book that Jeff and I recorded about the "First Christmas" and they, also, got to see what Santa left them in their stockings. Plus, Santa decided to help himself to our brownies and milk and left a million crumbs on our kitchen floor! He even found our Santa note pad and wrote thegirls a little letter! ;o) (Both girls had fallen asleep on the way home Christmas Eve and weren't able to write Santa a note or leave cookies out.) After looking at all Santa's goodies that he left the girls...they opened all their presents from Jeff and I. We made cinnamon rolls for breakfast and watched the Disney Christmas parade on TV.

Santa and his helper worked really hard setting all this up. ;o)

Grace's gifts from Santa.

Notice the black square thing...if you guessed makeup, you were right!

That's all Grace asked Santa to bring her when she sat on his lap.

Emersyn's gifts from Santa

Cheesing it because she was soooo excited about getting her guitar from Santa.

We've had many performances with her microphone and guitar.

She told Jeff he needed to build her a pink stage to stand on! LOL

Maybe another "Taylor Swift" in the making?

Riding on her zebra.

Checking out her zebra Santa brought.

Grace helping Em open her presents. So sweet!

Emmie's 1st baby doll

Princess Ariel

Taking a little nap after opening all their presents.

It was only 10:30AM and they woke up only an hour and half earlier.

Christmas #5 - Christmas afternoon we went over to my parent's house for a late lunch of smoked ham and brisket, which was to die for. My dad did a great job! Then we opened presents and Santa made his final stop! Grace got a doll house which is the ONLY toy that has EVER kept her attention for more than 10 minutes! And Emersyn got the cutest interactive play mat that plays music and has a mobile that she actually can pull on and won't fall on her face. LOL!

Then after all the presents were opened and the girls spent some time playing with all their new toys...we all headed back to our house for a "sleep over" (Grace has been wanting my parents and brother to spend the night at our house for a while and they so sweetly obliged! :o), cleaning up of our Christmas tree that decided to fall over (I was so very thankful that no was hurt, but we did have 2 of our most precious ornaments break...Grace's 1st Christmas ornament that my Mom bought her and Emersyn's 1st Christmas ornament that Jeff and I bought her...BUT great news is that I was able to find them on the internet and replace both of them. Thank goodness for technology!) and great snacks!

Jeff drying dishes after lunch.

Checking out her new doll house.

Hmmm...what's all this? This sure looks fun!

Showing off the matching dresses the girls got. I'm pretty sure they are going to wear these for Easter.

Grace eating snacks in the living room watching cartoons.

She looks really mad in this picture, but I promise she is not.

I just caught her off guard. :o)

Christmas pjs

Sticker fun with Uncle Chad

The girls, as usual, were spoiled with all the goodies they were given by everyone! I felt like it took an eternity to get everything organized again. And we were running out of room in the playroom...so Grace and I decided we needed to get rid of some toys. We went through them and decided we needed to give them to some boys and girls that don't have any toys. Grace wanted to go knock on their doors to give them to them, but I told her I didn't know where they lived and that we would take them to a shelter and she thought that was a GREAT idea! Such a wonderful lesson for her to learn. :o)

Our foyer...such a mess! This was only a fourth of all the Christmas gifts!

We hope all of you had a FABULOUS Christmas with your family

and

are off to a

GREAT start in 2011!