Catch up on the Blog

I'm just catching up on happenings from this Fall a bit, so if you check the blog directly (rather than receive by email), you may have missed a few posts!

Christmas at the Fire Station  new!! (1/6/13)
Christmas in Iowa 
Christmas in Texas
Thanksgiving
Shay's 27th Birthday
Dad's Retirement Party

{2013} Recap

Well, it's safe to say that 2013 was full of good things--friends, family, weddings, babies and traveling.

It was also full of challenging things--waiting to hear about PA school, changing jobs and moving when it wasn't our idea (believe me, it's not nearly as fun).  And as for PA school, it turns out, we are still waiting.  We added a few more schools to the list, and their notification dates aren't until March at the latest.  So that made the last several months really challenging at time, trying not to play the "what if" game.

As has become our custom, we've recapped the year in list form.  I love going back and looking at what we've done in the past.  {2012} {2011} This has become our personal time capsule of sorts, so feel free to move along if this is too many words.  :-)

Major Events

1. Benefit Concert for Guatemala at WELD
2. Hosting Easter Lunch at our house
3. Shay started a new job in June
4. Adam submitted his PA School applications in June
5. Guatemala in July for the second year
6. Adam's Triathlons--August, September & the Half Iron Man in October
7. Saying good bye to Pops
8. Dad's Retirement
9. Blogging for 31 days on Friendship over at the Pocket Buzz
10. Shay started a little photography business on the side, offering Christmas Mini-sessions and also doing a wedding for a co-worker
11. We moved.
12. Celebrating Thanksgiving at the Fire Station with Adam and Christmas Day, too.

 Projects

1. Adam took up Triathlon training
2. Guatemala Fundraising--including Salsa making
3. I finished my t-shirt quilt made from college t-shirts
4. We refinished a mantle (which I never posted about!)
5. Cleaning out our house (And the five trips to Good Will)
6. Moving!

 Major Decisions

1. Adam moved forward in applying for PA schools in June
2. Shay moved jobs in June
3. We put an offer on our rental home in September.  It didn't work out, but it was a good lesson!

Traditions we've continued

1. Engagement anniversary cupcakes from Sprinkles
2. Shay wearing her wedding shoes on their wedding anniversary
3. Buying Lotto tickets...just occasionally!
4. Weekly Meal Planning

 New (to us) Restaurants

1. Nodding Donkey
2. Hopdoddy's
3. Grip
4. Ocean Prime (just Shay likes this Seafood restaurant!)

 Weddings

1. February-- Mary Ellen & Jason (Houston)
2. March--Ashley & James (Louisiana)
3. March--Kelley & Drew (Dallas)
4. May--Rebecca & Jeff (Houston)
5. June--Dallas Receptions for out-of-town weddings: Megan & Jacob (June)
6. June--Claire & Bryan (Dallas)
7. November--Dallas Reception for Katelyn & Jessi

 Trips & Adventures

1. Skiing in Utah with Church friends (January)
2. Chicago for Shay's work & Adam's birthday (January)
3. Houston for Mary Ellen's wedding (February)
4. Louisiana for Ashley Baronet's wedding w/ Katie & SM (March)*
5. Trip to Iowa for Adam to shadow his family doctor & Shay went to school w/ Norene (March)
6. Houston for Rebecca's wedding (May)
7. Lakeway (near Austin) for a getaway in between Shay's jobs (June)
8. Guatemala (July)
9. Arkansas for Adam's Triathlon (August)
10. Virginia for Pops' funeral (August)
11. Lost Pines, Texas (near Austin) for Shay's work conference, and Adam joined for 2nd wedding anniversary (September)
12. Nashville to visit Katie Emler* and then flew to Austin for Adam's Half Iron Man (October)
13. Baylor Homecoming (October)
14. Adam's solo PA School interview trip to Denver (November)
15. Houston to visit Mary Ellen's little girl, Lucie, and see Amanda (December)
16. Iowa Christmas (December)

*girls trips

Other things to remember

1. Brunette Dinners continued for Shay, Lyndsy, SMoo and Claire.  This year we took turns hosting a meal at each of our houses.  
2. Adam continued finishing up his pre-requisites for PA school, making A's again!

Christmas at the Fire Station

In 2013, Adam worked most all of the holidays, especially those in the last quarter of the year.  So that's why I've gone to visit the station more than usual!  On Christmas Day, after the original four Dixons opened gifts, made breakfast and went to see Saving Mr. Banks, we picked up Papa and headed to Adam's station.

Mom requested that we visit, with the promise of "bringing the guys some food!" she said.  After I checked with Adam to make sure that would be ok, I told her to bring fruit (nothing sweet!), because they always have more sweets than they can eat.  **So if you're ever in the mood to drop off food to your local firemen, consider fruit instead of cupcakes!**

This was the first time my family visited the station, so I asked AMP to give them a full tour, just like he would if they had regular school kids/guests.  He was great at it, and provided lots of insight.

I wanted them to fully understand the amount of weight firefighters wear in a real fire.  They held his bunkers (pictured above) and then also saw the air tank and mask he wears.  All in all, it's about 50 extra pounds of weight.  I always think this is astounding.

Adam explained all the levers, hoses and other contraptions on both the engine and the ambulance.   My family wanted to know a lot of details, so they got a lot of information!

Family Photo in front of the Fire Truck

We love our Papa!

Because this way of life is a little "old hat" to me, I love when Adam can explain more about what he does on a regular basis, and I love seeing it through someone else's eyes.  When I asked my family what they thought, I got responses like this:

"I had no idea they did all that.  I love seeing his world."

"I could never do what he does on a regular basis."

"Wow, there's so much to think about."

I'm so glad we could share this with family and they could get a glimpse into Adam's world.  Seeing all this prompted them to ask me if I was scared of Adam running into burning buildings.  Thankfully, the Lord has given me an immense amount of peace in this, knowing that Adam is helping people, that his equipment protects him to a great degree, and that he is very smart about knowing when it would be time to get out of a situation.  Also meeting the guys he works with gives me a sense of great gratitude knowing they have each others' backs.  I am grateful for the protection the Lord has provided Adam so far, and I choose to keep trusting that He will take care of Adam.

These guys are all up for promotions this year, so prayers and good vibes for their success are always greatly appreciated.  This will mean that they won't all be able to stick together after May or so, but we also don't know where we will be, come summer.  But you know we'll keep you posted.  :-)

Texas Christmas

Christmas in Texas started on Christmas Eve afternoon.  We opened a few gifts at my parents with Adam, who got to open all of his gifts, since he worked Christmas Day.  Just as in Iowa, we were spoiled with gifts here, too! 

Family photo

A Laughing picture, just because.

Then we went to Laura and Mark's house for Christmas Eve festivities.  It's not a family gathering without dominoes, so they taught Rebecca (Austin's fiance) how to play "42".  She's so smart that she picked it right up.  Rebecca and Troy (playing with Austin) beat Dad and Papa.  Beating Papa is rare.

 

We were really glad to have Rebecca join us this Christmas!  She and Austin are getting on the same holiday schedule as her sister's family, so to alternate every other year, they both spent 2013 with us.  (I don't want to think about how it will be next year with Aussie (and Becky!) missing...)  Laura wanted to make her feel extra-welcome, so she fished around for a tradition or two that Rebecca's family does.  Rebecca's Mimi gives "Table Gifts" to all the kids at the dinner table, so we pulled out headbands to wear.  Papa joined in on the fun, too.

 

Austin and Rebecca 

Papa and Jonita

 

Sisters!  (And I just noticed my Dad's hand in between them...)

Christmas Eve is not complete without the Christmas Story being read by Papa

Party of 5

 

Christmas morning!  

I don't really have any more flattering photos of us, so I'll leave you with this one.  Doesn't Rye Dog look handsome with his Red Christmas Bow?!  As usual, Dad and I made breakfast after we opened gifts, and then we headed out to see Saving Mr. Banks at the movie theater.  I've decided to give a whole post to my fam visiting the fire station later that day, so stay tuned!

Iowa Christmas

We flew up to Iowa in early December to celebrate Christmas with Adam's family, and it was so much fun.  I was lamenting at Brunette Dinner how much of our vacation time would be spent driving the 12 hours and back, instead of with our family, but Lyndsy (who also has family in the area) told me that she'd just seen a deal come up on American Airlines.

That next morning, I looked really quickly, not expecting to find a good deal (not because I doubted Lyndsy, but just because I'd never seen one!), and LO AND BEHOLD there it was!  We flew, round trip, both of us for under $300.  Seeing as how it is normally about $850 or more, this was a huge deal!!!!!  (And now you know why exactly we drive...)  I snatched those tickets up so fast, you wouldn't believe it.  So that's how we got to fly to Iowa for Christmas, and it was so exciting that I just had to document it.  ;-)

So many presents under the beautiful tree.  Spoiled! 

Christmas Tradition--making Norwegian Lefse one morning.  The Paulsons have been doing this for generations, and it's always fun to make (ok, I just watched) and eat these thin, potato crepe/pancakes with butter and sugar inside.  Can't go wrong.


I also decided to bring a little project along, which involved putting Mike and Adam to work.  They sliced pieces of a branch for me, which I decorated and made ornaments with, thanks to Pinterest!

   


Final product!

That night, Norene's sister and brother-in-law drove about an hour and a half to the Paulson's house to have dinner with all of us.  There were so many great stories, tons of laughter and memories made.  We haven't seen each other since our wedding nearly 2.5 years ago, so we must do this again, sooner rather than later!  Adam was laughing so hard, his stomach hurt, if that tells you anything!

This is David and his girlfriend Jami's puppy dog, Gabby.  We call her Gabby Girl.  She is long in every way imaginable--long body, long face, long ears.  But precious.  She loves other dogs, is skittish around her human sister, Paityn, and pretty ok with other people...assuming you don't chase her around.  ;-) 

 

Saturday, we drove about an hour to a nearby town to visit Adam's old roommate, Dave, his wife, Liz, and their little boy J.  We visited them at their new house, had lunch and played Wii bowling.  J and I are definitely buddies.  

Saturday night, we had our family Christmas.  Jami and her little girl Paityn joined us, and it was so great to have them with us. Christmas with a three-year-old changes the dynamics--and boy was it fun (and exhausting!).  Paityn became friends with everybody.  We drew, played with blocks, built duplo legos with David and Adam, played "I Spy" (seen above) and opened gifts.  Paityn got a baby doll and wanted everyone to be quiet because "the baby is sleeping.  So Shhh.."  Norene has a gift, not only with teenagers, but three-year-olds as well!  She suggested that Paityn put the baby to sleep in the next room so we could continue to talk.  ;-)  

 

 David and Jami opening gifts.  So fun to open with seven people now!

 

Mike got new tools, and Shelby helped supervise, per usual.  In the four Christmases I've spent with the Paulsons, Shelby is Mike's gift-opening sidekick. 

 

Paityn.  Paiters.  Silly girl.  Too bad she has NO personality!!!!  

(totally kidding)

 

It snowed (just a bit) on our last day there.  You can't really see the flakes, but they were there.  Promise.  I asked Adam to take my photo in the snow, and we were out there exactly long enough for the photo.  

Meanwhile, I spent the rest of the time inside, with two layers on bottom, three on top, next to the fire.  And I was perfectly content, thank you!

Going to Iowa is always relaxing.  It's nice to step away from the hustle and bustle of Dallas to a place with fewer cars, time to spare, and a chance to have good conversations.  I could not be any more blessed with my second family.  I am truly grateful.

27th Birthday Celebrations

I'm fairly certain that Adam is confused as to how my birthday turned into birthday weekend/week/month.  :-)  But it did!  I felt so special and so celebrated.

Wednesday, Laura took me to lunch at Urban Taco.  It's near my office and has quickly become a new favorite!  

Brunette Dinner on Thursday before my birthday at Smoo's house.  We celebrated with a candle in the cornbread and pumpkin chili!  Delicious, and the conversations were good for my heart.  Love these girls!

Friday night, my parents took me to Nick & Sam's Grill for dinner.  Troy joined us, but Adam had to work.  We had a great time, and ate delicious food and fabulous dessert.

 (Apparently we all like wearing printed sweaters...)

Saturday, Adam and I enjoyed just hanging out together.  A cold front blew in with snow/sleet/ice in the forecast, so we made sure to get a good walk in with Rye.  The leaves were turning and falling, and Adam found a HUGE leaf on our walk.  We hated to move, but love that there's a great trail and the lake behind our new place.

 

The weekend before my birthday, Mom took me shopping for new work pants.  (I had a limited wardrobe for my new job and needed some help.  This one is a lot more business casual and no jeans.  I was kind of up a creek.)  So we went shopping, found work pants and ended up with a few more dresses for my closet as well.  I sent this pic to Mom on my birthday to show her that I was sporting my new dress.  Love it!

 

 

Mom and Dad were on a mission trip in McAllen on my actual birthday, but that didn't stop me from celebrating with family!  Papa and Jonita took Adam and I to Las Colinas Country Club for a delicious lunch.  I love made-to-order omelets.   This one did not disappoint!

Very thankful for grandparents!  They are so special.

Sunday, the ice storm that was forecasted never actually made it to Dallas (shock!), but we weren't sure what was going to happen, so Adam and I changed our original dinner plans to go to Uncle Julio's instead (it was a bit closer than our original plan).  It was delicious, as usual.

Monday was my work birthday celebration, so when they asked me what I wanted to eat, I introduced them to the wonderful world of Tiff's Treats--warm cookies, delivered right to you.  They even bought milk to go with them.

And Tuesday night, Adam and I went to Kenny's Woodfire Grill, which was our original Birthday Dinner plan.  So I got two birthday dinners with my man.  :-)

The following week was Thanksgiving, so I was celebrated some more by Anna and Laura & Mark with their gifts.  Seriously, my birthday spanned quite a long time--and I'm not complaining!

Dallas Ice Weekend {Houston Style}

 

This past weekend, all of Dallas has been covered with a layer of ice that began Friday morning, very early, and lasted until Monday mid-morning.  (Actually, there's still ice out there, but I'm at work, and it's not too bad.)

Meteorologists kept forecasting a huge weather system coming through, but I was more than a little leery since two weeks before, they said the same thing.  But just in case, I got home Thursday afternoon and AMP and I went to the store.  Turns out, we were there with the rest of the city, too.  Every checkout line was open and 10-people deep.  The bread shelves were already looking bare, and people were going into a mild panic.  Adam thought it was all crazy.   :-)

It turns out the weather guys were right, and I got to stay home from work on Friday.  It was much-needed, and I spent it organizing our pantry and spices, cleaning the bathrooms and straightening the house apartment.  We've been without a dishwasher for about three weeks, so I was finally catching up on putting our hand-washed dishes away and giddy loading up our brand new dishwasher. 

Friday, December 6 was also St. Nicholas Day, and after reading  several bits of info about this, I decided that Adam could use his new socks a bit early.  So we celebrated St. Nicholas Day!  You can read more about St. Nicholas Day here.

I continued to check the flights, as I'd been scheduled to fly to Houston this weekend since October.  I was ready to visit Amanda and Mary Ellen, and meet her new baby, Lucie.  I was hopeful to get out of Dallas but not totally convinced I'd actually be able to get there. 

We left with plenty of time to arrive at the airport, and my flight eventually took off without a problem.  Houston was still super cold, but minus the ice, and I was glad to get there!

 

My first stop was to Joey & Amanda's house, where a homecooked meal awaited my 8 p.m. arrival to their house.  Amanda and I enjoyed staying up late and hanging out, and we had our coffee (me) and tea (Amanda) in the morning, per our usual spend-the-night routine.  

They have two feisty little Huskies, and Harley has always been more aloof towards me.  She decided this weekend, though, that we could be friends, and she proceeded to lay right under my legs while I sat on the stairs near the kitchen drinking my coffee.  

 

We got ready, sharing makeup and hair tips (always fun now that we're married and have boys for roommates!), and worked on some Christmas decor for the Hance House.  Amanda stenciled "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" onto some old wooden fence post pieces, and she's going to attach them so that it's in the shape of a Christmas tree for their front yard.  While she worked on that, I made three wire-ribbon bows for some wreaths going on the front of their house.  It was so fun to talk and be creative together.  I needed that!

 

 We headed out about 2 p.m. for a late lunch at Cafe Express and to do a little shopping at Homegoods.  It's hard to pass up a chance to shop together!  Later that afternoon,  I headed over to Mary Ellen & Jason's house to meet little Lucie, just one month old. 

 

I got to hold her and bounce her and just spend time with them, and it was so fun.  Lucie is currently mastering eating, sleeping and filling her diapers, and she's just as sweet as ever.  I got to give her a bottle right before her bedtime.  (She only gets up once to eat in the middle of the night now--I'm taking notes and filing them away!)  It immediately took me back to the late nights I'd spend over at the twins' house 10 years ago, feeding and burping them with their mom, April.  Hard to believe how time flies, and how quickly those habits/instincts come back!

We watched the Bears win the Big 12 Championship and celebrate their last game in Floyd Casey Stadium.  I'm so grateful for the family legacy I have with Baylor and the friendships formed while I was in school there.  This weekend was a testament to the friendships I've made and kept because of my time at Baylor.  :-)

 

I may be a biased Aunt Shay, but I do believe Lucie is one gorgeous baby!

I arrived back in Dallas Sunday afternoon to a cold and still icy city.  Adam and Rye picked me up, and I was sure glad to see them!  We ordered a pizza, watched football, and I watched as schools started closing for Monday morning already.  Conditions weren't looking great to get out and about, so they were already making those decisions.  Adam and Rye enjoyed a major nap time (AMP was recovering from a crazy weekend shift at the station--ice means everyone needs 911.), and he fell asleep on the floor.  That's code for "Adam's really tired."  Our little "Wolfpack," as we like to call ourselves, is back together, toasty, safe and warm.  We are grateful.

I may be back at work today, but it's a short work week, as we're headed to Iowa to celebrate Christmas a bit early, and we're both excited!  There's snow on the ground with promises for it to stick around.  Can't wait.