Fun weekends in September

Bryan and I traveled to Lubbock for the Texas Tech-SMU game in September. One of the things I was most excited about doing after we moved back to Texas was a Tech game. We both loved going to school there and equally love going back for a football weekend and spending time with college friends. Bryan's fraternity, Pike, was having an alumni/fundraising event, so we chose that weekend to go back. We ate at many of our local favorites, shopped, and spent quality time with friends that we hadn't seen in quite a while.

My friend, Stacy, also drove down from Amarillo to shop and do fun girl stuff...sorry Stac I didn't get a pic of us!!

Dinner with two of B's fraternity brothers and their wives (my friends)

L to R: Carrie, Tim, Bryan, myselt (Brooks' version), Chris, & Kasi

Chris and Bryan were roommates when I met B. Kasi and I were also living together. Bryan and I started dating, introduced Chris & Kasi, they started dating, and then we got married. Isn't that cool, roomies married roomies???

Kasi is having her second son, Harry Charles, the first of December...congrats dear friend!!

Frazier Alumni Pavilion where we tailgated before the game


Can you see the guys in front of me with his guns up before the players enter the field
The masked rider running across the field during the fight song

Carrie and I during the game
Tech defeated SMU...Go Red Raiders
B & I after the game

My two favorite "Cowboys"

Every Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys are about to play ball, Brooks and his daddy put on their official game day attire. When asked about the quarterback, Brooks says, "Tony Romo throw the ball." I really like that B is interested in sports at an early age. Looking forward to soccer and t-ball games when he's a little older. To be honest, I hope he does not want to play football. This mama would be a nervous wreck!!

TAG you're it...

I've been tagged twice. Here are the rules:

1. Open your pictures folder.
2. Go to the sixth folder.
3. Open the sixth picture.
4. Import into your blog and tell the story.

Brooks is 5 months old in this photo. We were living in Mill Creek, WA (north of Seattle) and it was taken on our deck in the backyard. July in the Pacific Northwest is the perfect place to be in all of the good ol' USA. It's sunny everyday and in the 70's, no humidity or bugs, with a clear view of the mountains on one side & ocean on the other. So, Brooks and I spent most afternoons on a blanket in the backyard practicing rolling over. Such sweet memories....

Thanks Flo & Ang for tagging me!!

I now tag: Jamie, Holly, Allison, Ame, Micaela

Fall Decor & New "old" Chairs..

I just adore this time of year. I also love to decorate/change things up in our home. Check out a few of the things I've done to spruce up the old casa...

Probably my favorite, a polka dot pumpkin sitting on a bed of candy corn.

Our dining room table scape, apothecary jars are so versatile.

Can you spot my new favorite nephew?
Front door display...notice the adorable welcome pumpkin sign from one of my favorite blogger's, Jamie
New Halloween flag


An accent table off of the kitchen with decor that can be used in October & November. Notice the adorable fall tassel I ordered from TheNester

She is so very talented and full of great ideas. I love visiting her blog each week!! Hope this display would make her proud...

OK, now on to the chairs...

B & I purchased a kitchen table and chairs several years ago after one of our many moves. It's a beautiful round table with iron scrolled legs. We've decided to keep the table until our children have gotten a little older and don't enjoy jabbing forks into it during dinner. I decided a few weeks ago while B was on a weekend hunting trip that the chairs needed a little love. So, Brooks and I load up, head to Hobby Lobby, purchase some fabric, & I attempt for the first time to recover them.

Before:

And AFTER...

I think they turned out great and absolutely love the hounds tooth fabric I chose.

This chair below holds a very special place in my heart. It sat in my Nana's house for many years in her formal living area and then moved with her to assisted living. I inherited it after she passed away and it now sits in our master bedroom. I recently had it recovered and think it too turned out great. Forgot to take a before pic, but the fabric was an ivory diamond pattern and was very worn. The chair also has marks on it from when she'd run into it with her wheelchair that will never be covered up. I look at it everyday when I wake up and think of her. She was a beautiful woman inside & out and truly was the epitome of grace. I miss her very much...

Dad's 61st Surprise Birthday

This wonderful, sweet, loving man..my dad..turned 61 on Saturday, September 6th. We celebrated with a surprise Mexican fiesta honoring him. Last year on this exact date, September 6, 2007, we did not celebrate his 60th birthday. My mother had a stroke on that very day. I don't even think I told dad happy birthday and certainly didn't recognize that he was entering a new decade. So, this year we went all out and he was totally surprised!! Dad, I hope you had a very special day and know how much we all love you.
My sister and I hosted the party at our family's lake house.

Location: McCoy Lake house~Caddo Lake

Menu:

Beef & Chicken fajitas~Homemade salsa~Seven layer dip~Queso~& all the fixins

Homemade apple pie and ice cream(dad's favorite)

Warning...this post has tons of pictures:

Decorations:

My sister, Tonya, lives in San Antonio and has access to an abundance of cute Mexican decor that is CHEAP. We put flowers on each table with pictures of dad and a sombrero or two. Also, a few maracas thrown in for good measure.

Hot tamales..a party must have. Don't they look adorable in the clear vase???

Fun paper mache flowers wrapped around the silverware & napkinI love the vibrant color scheme.
This is our resident alligator holding mums. The lake house is on Alligator Bayou.

Sweet baby boy waiting on his Poppa to arrive

Dad truly was surprised. This was the first surprise party I've thrown and I'm proud it was a success. The anticipation was fun!!
Chef Dane grilling the fajitas
Ton, our cousin Lacey, & I decked out in our Mexican attire

BaBa & Brooksie headed down to the lake to throw rocks

Dad with his two son-in-laws & grandson

My grandparents, Mimi & Papa, with our lake house neighbors/friends Bob & Beverly, and Dale

Uncle Greg sporting a flower...they truly served many purposes

Aren't they a cute bunch

B needed to help his Poppa open all of the presents.

Labor Day In Llano

We spent the long, holiday weekend with my family at "El Rancho Not So Grande." Our brother in law's, Dane, family has a place on the Llano River in the Hill Country that we love to visit. It is such a relaxing place. Our time there was filled with yummy food, fishing, hanging out in the river, fellowship!! It is so nice to be able to hop in the car and spend a long weekend with our loved ones. Thanks D & T for hosting us, we had a blast!!

Family dinner at the Hilltop Cafe

Brooks' uncle Dale working on counting with him
He looked so cute in his madras shorts and monogrammed polo. I love the simplicity of dressing a little boy.
View from the "watering hole" where we love to hang out..isn't it beautiful



B & B fishing in the river
Maggie Mae(golden) & Rambo(chocolate lab) enjoying the cool river
Tonya & Dane's children..

The fam hanging out at the river My little "river rat", he swims so much while we're there & just wears himself out.