Happy Birthday Austin

Today Austin turns 5. I can't believe how big he is. He is very independent, hot and cold and still so snuggly! We've had many changes (which will eventually be blogged about) and he has been a trooper through them all. I get one more year at home with him before he starts school, so we are going to live it up this next year!

He still loves the blanket from this picture!

Happy Birthday Austin!

Roses, Roses

Look what Shane brought home for me!!  He even got my favorite colors!!  I wish I had taken a picture of them wrapped neatly as 16 roses. 

 

Happy 16 Years!

Today, Shane and I have been married for 16 years.  Since I can't find any of my wedding pictures (I know where they are, just can't get to them at the moment.) I found an engagement picture to share...as Austin said "You and dad look different.  You look like Gemma and you have lipstick on!"

It has been the best 16 years...looking forward to more!  I love you Shane!!

Meanest mom giveaway

Check out the Modbe swimsuit giveaway at a blog that will give you laughs!!  Go here.

Hill Country Charm!

I met a fun friend Amy at school (she has a girl Amy's age) She's the kind who never knew a stranger! And she LOVES people with 4 kids...lucky me! since she has 4 kids too. Anyway, she started an Etsy store.*

Amy brought me a gift on Monday (it was a nice surprise since I was sick in bed for 3 days!) and the only thing she asked was that I tell people who made it for me and where they can get one...I'm all about advertising for free merchandise! So I decided to take it one step further and blog about it too! It's this cute necklace...You have to have 4 kids/grandkids/friends/random names to put on it, but she does have other charms here!

So if you head on over there and get something...be sure to let her know I sent you! ENJOY!

*I have to confess I have NEVER looked at Etsy...heard great things about it, but never looked. Probably because I knew I would find WAY too many things I want and with our household finances right now I can't buy, so my theory is why look?!

Valentine's Day

I haven't posted in a while....still haven't put up Christmas. Oh Well! But I had to post to say thanks to my friend Kelly.  We had a fun time!  She had a 7 course meal with waitresses (ok her daughter and a friend) but I didn't have to cook OR cleanup, so that is my kind of night!

  Here's the meal (borrowed from Kelly's blog!)

• Pan-Seared Scallops with Saffron Sauce
• Tomato Basil Soup
• Mixed Field Greens with Stilton, Blackberries and Citrus Vinaigrette
• Shitake Mushroom and Spinach Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
• Potatoes Horseradish Gratin with Caramelized Onions
• Profiterole Puffs wiht Chocolate Glaze
• Dutch Hot Cocoa  
• It was fun to hang out and get to know some people we haven't had a ton of time to really get to know!

Here's our hostess and host: Kelly and Kelly

This is Michelle and Jim Freeze (I have their daughter Jordan in Beehives...a

 dream!)

Here's our friends Buddy and Tom Roberts (Gemma spends as much time at their

 house as at ours with their daughter Jordan!)

Here's us!

These are just a few of the delicious courses!

Our lovely servers/part chef!

The set table...I am always impressed with a set table.  I have never really seen the need to have a dining room table, (we just put our piano in that room) but I

 might have to start thinking about investing in a table and fun dishes to match!

A few more pictures of the girls and gals!

*FYI: Not sure what happened with the spacing/bold/everything with this post...I saved and came back to this and I have no more time to try and fix...so you 

either get this or nothing! :)

Quick update

Christmas and New Years were great...maybe I'll get pictures up by next Christmas/New Years!

Yesterday I spent the day at the hospital with Shane.  We had the first (and biggest) surgery to correct his jaw.  This has been a many year process and we are glad it is done...I'm sure we'll all be even happier when recovery is behind us as well!  Doctor said it went really well (he actually seemed surprised by this) and that it will make a big difference in not only eating, but breathing and speaking as well.  Maybe I'll see if I can find some before x-rays to show you just what we were dealing with! (nothing in place or straight!)  We have had some amazing doctors and dentists helping us out along the way!  Now to finding soft foods Shane can eat for the next 3 months! Any non-dairy, soft food recipes you have, email them to me!  Soups? Pasta dishes?  Bring it on!