Lexi's Dance Competition

WHAT A DAY!!!

Shining Stars - Silver competed at a dance competition at Leander High School on January 21st, 2006. Her team won 3rd in Jazz, "Rockin' Robin", second in Pom, "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and a 1st division trophy in pom (their scores were 90 or higher). It was a long and stressful day (and we didn't even have to get there until 2pm,... I can't imagine the moms and kids that had to be there at 8am!!). It was only stressful because to make sure all of the girls had all of their costumes on and make-up done right. Plus,... we did NOT have A/C in our theatre room. When we asked about it, they brought us 2 box fans. Imagine 100 girls (gold and elite were in there too), plus a mom for each one... eeewwww!






Here is Lexi with her friend Madeline. Looking SO cute!!






Coop got to wear his "Lexi supporter t-shirt". VERY cute!! He actually did better than we all expected... he danced on the side-lines with all of the teams!! Didn't make it to the awards ceremony, but it also was past his bed-time.




Here we all are after competition at our house. Lexi had only one crying melt-down (did not understand why she did not get to take home a trophy) and not too sure why Coop was still awake! We were all exhausted!!

I would like to thank everyone who came to watch Lexi: Aunt Suzie, Grandma Cissy & Big Daddy, and Granny & Grandaddy. I would also like to thank everyone that wishes they had been there, but weren't able to make it. You know who you all are!! We are blessed to have so many wonderful friends!

All I have to say is,... THANK GOODNESS Lexi only has one competition a year!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

I just celebrated my 28th birthday over the course of 4 days, which is a much shorter celebration than normal. Friday night Suzie came over and Clarence cooked flat bread pizzas. Lexi made a brownie with peanut better (it was DELICIOUS!) and I got to open presents... the highlights were... Aggie fuzzy alippers that look like flip-flops, Elton John's greatest hits (i was a little leary about this one, but I really do love it), Hard Candy make-up, and a "Magic 8 Ball" pez dispenser. VERY FUN stuff!!

Saturday night, Suzie took me for a night on the town. We started out at Cuba Libra. It is a cuban restaurant in the Warehouse district. When you walk into the door, all you can first see is a closd curtain. We were thrown off by this,... "were they closed?" ... not too sure. Then, the curtain quickly flew open, revealing the restaurant inside. I only wish that there was a picture of our faces, because it HAD to be funny! Later, we also laughed at the "newbies" and their shock! Maybe, I could earn some extra $$ by selling the photos to the customers?? Anyways... this place is SO cool, for a split second, I even thought that maybe I wasn't cool enough to be there, but then I remembered how cool I really am!! So,... props to Cuba Libra, the unsuspectiong customers, and the bartender who could make some kick @ss martinis!!

Next, off to a concert at the Paramount starring Jason Mraz and Bob Schneider. It was FABULOUS!! I will pay to see them again and again!! I wanted to go out and buy all of their cd's, concert t-shirts, and join the fan club!! Maybe I am becoming one of the oldest groupies! Wonder how Clarence will take that? Probably good, because he loves Bob almost as much as I do! Lexi was upset she wasn't there. She has seen Bob before as an opener to Sheryl Crow, and she also loves him, but has learned from Suzie to call him "Uncle Bob". The downfall, was some BORING guy asked us if we could keep it down! I promise we were NOT being loud, obnoxious, anything... and,.... hello,... thought we were at a concert? I will blame this on his young age and his lack of knowledge of what seeing Bob and Jason, listening to them pour out their soul, and breathing the same air as them, REALLY means!! Seriously!!

Later we went down to 6th,... and not too much to say about that. It was fun, in a different type of way. As a younger twenty-something, it was all about getting dressed up, having fun with your girls, but also looking for a boy! It was kind of more fun now, because I didn't have to worry about what I was wearing or not acting like a total goof ball! We were just absolutely silly and did not care about anyone else... it was,... MY birthday!!

We followed the night at Katz's... also new to me. Didn't understand the whole "kosher" thing and the fact that their bacon was not from a pig. That's not bacon!! But, I got schooled and so now I know... had a cheesesteak sandwich that was GREAT!! I thought a little pricey, but it is one of the best places to go to at 3am. ie: College Station's Taco Cabana, San Marcos' Denny's, and "the castle" between Austin and San Marcos.

The next day I was SO tired... that also comes with old age,.... you just can't hang like you used to!

Monday, my actual birthday, was also great! Terri came and surprised me with a big ladybug balloon and some candy!! VERY sweet! Laura and Cole came over with pizza. We played and laughed! I ran to Starbucks and when I came back, they had decorated the house. VERY cute!!

I received many phone calls from all of my sweet friends and family all day. I REALLY am blessed!

Fredericksburg

So,... we were supposed to lay floors on Saturday,... but Clarence had arranged with his parents to take me to Fredericksburg. We DEFINETELY needed the break from everything! We ate at the "Brewing Co." (props to them for some AWESOME food!!). We went to all of the neat little shops! I did buy a t-shirt that says "Rock, Paper, Scissors World Champion"... pretty funny stuff! There is a new store there called "Funky Monkey" that is hilarious!! I LOVED it! Could have spent many $$$ there! It was a GREAT day and surprise!! (even though we didn't get to work on the floors... )

Go Longhorns

OK,... so here it goes... way to go longhorns! OK,... I said it... I hope that every single one of y'all are proud of me.... even Barry and Paul!! For that, I think the jokes should stop for,... at least a month! So,... Friday after the intense game between USC and UT, we went to see the UT tower lit up,... what other than,... burnt orange! yes,... i am swallowing back that little bit of vomit taste that hit the back of my throat! It was very cool and to see the Austinites actually participate in some sort of tradition was a breath of fresh air. I AM very happy that, not only a Big 12 team won, but that a TEXAS team won!! So,... my props to tu,... WAY TO GO HORNS!!! It was something that I will only see once in my lifetime and I hope that you all enjoy the pics! I WILL live to see the day that the good ole' Ags will be there... yes I still have hope! Everyone has their ups and downs, and I remember VERY well when I was a student at A&M and we won Big 12 champion. We will reign again! Whether it is with Franchionne (sp) or not,... you'll see!

OK,... here are some cute pics of my baby boy! He figured out how to turn the screw on the car with the screwdriver and was SOOOOO happy! Funny what we take for granted! He is so funny and full of personality. Coop keeps me on my toes and there is never a dull moment... he has learned to climb on the dining room table... there went the salt and pepper... all over the floor!! He now will bring one of his chairs into the kitchen and climb on it to get whatever he wants to off of the counter. So far, it's been scissors, paper, sharpie marker (on the linoleum... thank goodness we're getting new floors!). ok,... so he's ALL boy! however, he IS SOOOOOOOOO affectionate! He will love on us all day!! So the wildness comes with tons of hugs and kisses!!
XXOO

The Notebook

OK... so I know I am a little behind on watching movies.... I just saw "The Notebook" for the first time,... and Holy Cow!!!! ok,... for all the ladies that haven't seen it, I just want you to know, that I did NOT cry during the entire movie.... I sobbed!! It is excellent. I would also recommend the guys watching it alone, because I think it will reach deep down inside you! I was truely impressed and will definetely DVR it next time it's on! It's a KEEPER!!

As Lexi says, "Peace out like a snake bite"!

Happy 2006!!

Our New Year's Eve started out having no plans what so ever. At the last minute, we had our friends, the McGowan family, Paul, Kelley, Ashley, & Madeline,

over. We had a great time! We ate a TON of food and had lots of laughs! We played Mad Gab (if you don't have this game, you NEED to get it!!). Cooper pooped out about 8pm, and Madeline at 11:59pm. The rest of us stayed up and had champagne and apple cider on the back deck. I can't believe Lexi was awake, but she felt like such a "big girl".

The next day, however, all of us were dragging except for Cooper! I apologize for not having pics of him! I'll make up for it later!

I wish everyone a great New Year, and hope it's even better than 2005!!!

Love~

The Magic Christmas Tree

I am not too sure of who all had these growing up. Every Christmas, my brother & I got these "Magic" Christmas trees. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about,... let me explain...

In the package, you receive a plain, paper tree. There are cross notches that you can put inside each other to make it 3-D. Now, this tree HAS come a long way from when I was little, but it's pretty darn close.

Next, you pour this non-toxic liquid that comes in the package in the provided dish that the tree sits in. Within 6 hours the tree has blossomed these crystal-type leaves that have lasted, so far, for 4 days.

Our new one came with glitter, a red beaded garland, and a "gold" star tree-topper. We found the beaded garland a little too heavy and knocked off some of the leaves. Overall,... pretty freakin' awesome!! Lexi LOVED it and we've gotten a few "ooohhs and aaahhs." I'm sure Santa will bring another one next year!!

Lexi's sleepover

Lexi had one of her firends, Brie, stay overnight. Now, this is not Lexi's first friend to stay over for the night, but it's been a long time since we've seen Brie. The girls played dress up and took turns playing the guitar and singing. Pretty darn cute!! Lexi had gotten a Smores maker machine for Christmas, so,... of course we had to try it out!! It was actually pretty cool! If you have storage room, it is DEFINETELY a MUST-HAVE! They had a lot of fun and didn't stay up too late! The next day there were a few tiffs, but I think that's to be expected. Lexi is ready for her to come back!!