Thanksgiving & Birthday {Or: How we ate and celebrated all week}

The week of Thanksgiving, I had some extra time off, so I had nine glorious days in a row to spend as I pleased.  It was amazing. 

I have no photos of this part, but Saturday morning through Monday morning, I was in Houston for Mary Ellen's bridal shower and also to visit Amanda.  We talked so much that I went to bed both nights with a sore throat and a smile on my face. 

Monday night, we had our Dallas "Brunette" dinner to celebrate my birthday, and Sarah happened to be in town from Georgia and was able to join us.  The girls treated me to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and showered me with the most thoughtful gifts.  I have such dear friends!

{The Brunettes: Lyndsy, SMoo, Me and Claire, along with Savannah Sarah}

I would also highly recommend their Blueberry Cheesecake.  To.Die.For.

Tuesday was spent organizing the house, doing laundry, grocery shopping and making dinner.  These are all things I usually can't do in one day, so I was quite proud of myself.  That's what happens when you have more brain space...you get so much more accomplished!

I didn't intend to grab a screen shot of Instagram, but it's what I got, so I'm just going with it.  It's just as well, though, because I feel like Instagram got used more over the holiday by friends and family than I've ever seen it before!  I post very exciting things, like our utensil drawer, of course.  Here's the before and after the organization.  I just wonder why I didn't do this a year ago when we moved into our house.  I was quite proud of myself!  And really grateful for Bed, Bath and Beyond gift cards still left from our wedding--hooray!

Wednesday, Adam worked, so Troy and I rode out to the lakehouse together with Rye Dog.  I love spending time with T-Roy and getting him all to myself.  Rye made it quite clear that he was not going to let me go anywhere without him.  He knows that suitcases mean an upheaval in his routine, and he is not a fan!

The lake was so relaxing.  We enjoyed spending Thanksgiving there with Papa, the 3 Dixons and 2 Paulsons (plus Bella and Rye).  Jonita was spending time with her brothers in Georgia, and the Flaggs were in Cancun for a family-of-four vacation, so it was a small group this year.  We had so much fun hanging out together.

 

 Everybody loved on RyeDog (that's his blurry face in the photo), which just warmed my heart!  Rye's a larger dog than my family's used to, so I think it just took a while to adjust.  He and Bella finally got along swimmingly.

 

There were many games of 42 played, along with Gin Rummy.  I happily watched, addressed our Christmas Cards and worked on my felt and wooden nativity for Christmas.  Everyone got to do their own thing.  Loved it.

I caught Mom and Troy catching up out on the deck.  I just love this photo.

 

I also spied them working on Christmas gifts, making plane reservations to come home at Christmas and make plans for Troy to come home in January for good (!) to pursue his music career here in Texas.  We are so excited to have him back!

Adam came in on Thursday morning and greeted me with several stories of working the night before.  Surprisingly, there had been TWO fires the night before.  TWO.  That never happens.  No one was hurt, and the firefighters actually got to fight some fire.  He was pumped.

Dad planned on making us a breakfast while we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but much to our surprise, the gas to the house was out on the stovetop burners and also the outdoor grill.  You know it's a small town and family-owned when a company takes your call on Thanksgiving Day and promises to be out in an hour and a half.  We were so grateful and rather shocked that they came to fill up the gas tanks for us.  (They only have to be filled about every five years, so it was just our luck to have it run out that day!)

 

 We had the Poole Gas Company to be thankful for on Turkey Day, for certain!  The man couldn't have been nicer.  This was especially appreciated because Dad was grilling steaks for our Thanksgiving meal.  We were going to have to think of Plan B if they hadn't been able to fix it!

Thursday night, we celebrated my birthday a bit early, since the fam was (mostly) together.  I'm in to celebrating all week long!  I requested chili for supper, and it was delicious.

 

I told Papa this already, but it was so much fun hanging out with him and not being confined to a lunch hour or an evening dinner.  We spent a lot of time together, and I'm so grateful!  I just love him to pieces!

 

{Cookie Cake!}

AMP and I headed back home on Friday for our Birthday date to Kenny's Woodfire Grill.  Seriously, it was so delicious.  Adam ordered a tenderloin meatloaf, and I got the Steak & Cake (steak w/ a crab cake).  Oh.my.word.  We very much enjoyed it!

 

Celebrating the 2-6!

Saturday, AMP went off to work, and I met Mom, Laura and Anna for pedicures.  It was a fun girls' day!

And to top it all off, the Bears beat the Red Raiders in Over Time, and RGIII was there on the sidelines to cheer his team on.  It was a stressful game to watch, but a good one, and I got my birthday wish! I will never forget Dad cheering at the TV for the Bears to win. He believed in them the whole time. Not one to be very vocal (that's usually my uncle Mark!), we were enjoying his positive commentary and I'm convinced the Bears won partially because of Dad's cheering!

We ended the night at Uncle Julio's for dinner, and Rye and I had a slumber party at my parents' house.  What a week of celebrating!  We have so much to be grateful for.

2012 Breakfast With a Champion

Last Wednesday, November 7, the event I've been working on since December 2011 finally happened. I was so thrilled it was here!  It seems I've just been recuperating for the last week or so. (More like hibernating!)

{In case you're curious, this is what a room set with 95 tables looks like--quite full!}

We had it at the new Omni Hotel in Dallas, and it featured LaDainian Tomlinson, an All-time NFL leading Running Back.

We had a record-breaking event, as it was the first time to host over 900 people and raise over $200k in its 18 year history. When we hit the goal three weeks prior to the breakfast, I literally ran up and down the hall of our office telling anyone who'd listen!

I had wonderful volunteers, great support from our staff, and most importantly, a great family who showed up to support!

Mom and I stayed at the hotel the night before and decorated the stage. I was quite thankful to be staying there--otherwise my 4:45 am alarm would've come even earlier!

{This was the stage after Mom was finished with it.  The Pipe & Drape wasn't up in the back of it yet, but you get the idea.  They've never had much on the stage before I started planning this event last year--surprise--I think you always need some decor!}

There are lots of fun things to remember:

• Mom and I enjoying the hotel room--it's quite swanky.
• Papa getting up early  (a rare occurrence!) to come to the breakfast, and later hearing what all he learned about March of Dimes (which he knew first, 75 years ago, as an organization that solved Polio.)
• Having Amp there dressed in a suit (!!)
• Dad getting to say the invocation
• Having Mark, Laura and Smoo at my table, too.  (Uncle Marky had to jet before we got the pic.)

And by the way, if you ever have the chance to stay at this Omni, it's really fabulous.  I wish I could've spent more time there just enjoying the room!  The view of the city was incredible, and they had all sorts of cool stuff in the room.  Mom's favorite part was when you put your feet on the floor, a light turns on under the bed to light your way.  Pretty cool!

{A TV was inside the mirror...we were fascinated!}

So now that it's come and gone, I'm really looking forward to having extra space in my brain to relax and do other things (like plan for Christmas!).  Adam was a trooper and made most of our meals, did the grocery shopping and house cleaning.  I was so focused on the event that I was exhausted when I got home every day from work, for about two weeks leading up to it.  Thanks, AMP, for taking such good care of us, as usual!

Thanksgiving holidays, here we come!

Baylor Homecoming 2012

2012 was the first time Adam was able to come with me to Baylor Homecoming!  I was so thankful to get to share it with him, finally!  (And it was so nice to be able to introduce him to people, instead of explaining that he was working.  I'm not sure he appreciated that fact as much as I did, ha!)

As usual, our BSB group met up and had a loose schedule to follow, just so we would have a plan. (With 50 people and counting, it's best if you have a plan...)  The email address Adam gave the BSB was one that he doesn't check very often, so when I referred to the "schedule," he was so confused.  Once he read it, though, I think it helped him wrap his mind around the weekend--at least a little bit.  Bless him.  I know it's a lot to take in! 

We drove in Friday night, just in time to catch most of Singspiration.  This is put on each year by the BRH Choir I was in at school.  It's not always been my favorite, mostly because it required me to bounce back and forth between it and Pigskin, where Tri Delta performed their act.  We didn't get Pigskin tickets this year, and it was nice to just do whatever, whenever.  

 

After Singspiration, we headed over to the bonfire.  I got to see all kinds of people I love, which is my favorite part.  

 

Clockwise from left:  Adrienne and her family adopted me in college.  I passed my one and only math class because her husband tutored me.  I love their family.  // We love Madeleine!  She was so wired and so cute.  She found the moon and said, "Madeleine's moon!" and when we asked who made it, she said, "I did!"  And then changed her answer to "God did!"// We ran into the Cash family, including Patriot!  So thankful for Molly! // Family bonfire photo, minus Troy. (we missed him!)

 

Annual Dad and Shay bonfire pic--pretty sure I have 23 of these!

 

AMP's here!  Woohoo!

After that, we went to Whataburger to eat and hang out with our BSB friends again.  Then we woke up the next morning to go to the parade.  The KOT float broke down and blocked all the floats behind it, so there was quite a lag, and it wasn't quite the typical experience.  But AMP quickly gathered it was a social experience and yet another opportunity for photos!

 

Grateful for Kelley!

 

Hanging out with Allison and Madeleine

 

Adam helped her learn how to jump down (the girl has NO FEAR).  We love Madeleine at our house!  We affectionately refer to her as "chunky legs," because she had some as a little baby, but she's grown out of those now...we just can't stop!  Adam and I talk about the funny things her family posts on Facebook that she says (and she says the darndest things!).  

 

Green and Gold Family.  (Can we photoshop Troy in?)

 

With my Mama

 

We did get to see the Tri Delt/ Phi Chi float come through

 

This is Miss Ava Yates.  She's a tiny little doll of a thing.  We laughed, because it is so clear that she is not our child.  But...

 

She sure looks like she could be Kelley's!

We ate lunch at Fuddrucker's, and then AMP headed back to work a half day.  I was so glad he could experience Homecoming with me.  It meant so much to have him there.

Tailgating is rather new to Baylor, so I met up with some friends and tailgated with them before the game and then headed in.  We sweated our way through the first half and left after half time (with a sunburn) and before the torrential downpour.

For 20+ years, we've met up at First Baptist Waco's gym and had dinner on Saturday night, watched football and sat around and chatted.  This year was no different.

 

Moms chatting and laugh/crying

 

20 somethings chatting (not laugh/crying, but I'm sure we'll get there!)

 

The Baylor purse is a tradition we have every year, and you pretty much have to made it through a major illness, done something amazing, or have a life-changing event to get it.  :-)  This year, Chrisey and Brett got it, after battling lots of health issues and being pregnant with a Baby Girl!  We are so excited to welcome a little Baby Billman in 2013! 

We headed back Saturday night with another Baylor Homecoming under our belt.  Homecoming is such a "Fall" thing to me, and it started off November just right.