Trip to Dallas

Every year Tol has an Athletic Director Conference he goes to and I usually tag along with him. This year we went to Dallas, Texas. We stayed in the amazing Gaylord Texan. It is a beautiful hotel. We arrived Friday evening and stayed until Wednesday. Tol was in classes a lot of the time. So while he sat in lectures I slept-in, used the hotel gym (one day :o)), shopped, walked around in the huge hotel, and enjoyed not having any responsibilities for a few days. When Tol did get some free time we went and saw Dallas. It was a fun, hassle-free 5 days!

Outside the Gaylord Texan. It is so big we couldn't fit the whole hotel in, but here is the front.

Sitting out by the fire Sunday night

Inside the hotel

The Gaylord has a huge atrium inside, so, the lighting changes from day to night. It feels like you are outside. So beautiful.

A manmade river runs through the hotel

This is so cool! It is a real, life-size gingerbread house! This was also in the hotel.

Dealey Plaza

Looking out to the spot where JFK was shot. They actually have it marked by an X in the middle of the street.

Dallas Mavericks game

Rangers' Stadium

The massive Dallas Cowboys' new stadium

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was at our house this year! This was my first attempt at having a huge dinner like this at my house. I was really excited and maybe a little nervous. I got some great advice from friends and family and my favorite magazine, Clean Eating, on the best way to cook my turkey to keep it moist. It was so good! I will always brine my turkey. That is the secret to a tender, moist turkey. :o)

The night before, my mom came over and helped make pies. It was fun working in the kitchen together. Taylor and Brayden wanted to learn how to make their favorite pies, apple and peach. So, I helped them along and they did awesome! Parker and Nicole entertained themselves and us as we baked. Tol was the "errand boy" for me when I was in the middle of a recipe and realized I was out of an ingredient. He was also the "fireman" putting out the fire I started in the oven with my pecan pie. My friend Megan warned me not to say the "b" word (burn). But it brought a little excitement and a lot of laughs! The boys thought it was hilarious! Tol was a little sarcastic...surprise.

Brayden had an activity for the family before we sat down to eat. We had to tell 3 things we are thankful for and explain why. Taylor made color-coded name plates for everyone and while we ate dinner he stood up on a stool and explained what each color meant. He used three words for each person to describe them. The funniest one was when he got to Grandma and Grandpa and the first word that described them was old.

Overall, it was a really great Thanksgiving. I loved cooking for my family. I can't wait until it is at my house again.

Parker and Nicole. They are just like brother and sister. I love it!

Brayden and his Peach Crisp Pie.

Taylor and his beautiful Apple Pie

Me and Mom weary after an evening of baking

Tol exaggerating a bit.

Up at the crack of dawn, peeling potatoes, preparing the turkey, wondering who's great idea was this to have Thanksgiving at my house...oh yeah, it was me.

My moist, delicious, beautiful turkey!

The clan I fed, minus the late-comers, Wade and Gina.

After everyone left we got our Christmas decorations out.

Out with one holiday, in with the next!

13 Years and Counting

My how time flies when you are with the love of your life. I can't believe I have been married 13 years already. It has been more than I ever thought it would be. I have the best husband (at least for me) I could dream of. Sometimes I wonder who is looking out for me on the other side to have led me to him. May sound sappy, but I don't care, it's true. We have our ups and downs as do all marriages, but, I would say they are just little bumps in the road here and there. It would be boring if it was smooth sailing. Sometime or another we have our differences. I like to think we compliment each other most of the time. Tol's goal everyday is to make me happy and I him. That is what has made this 13 years go so fast. Time flies when you're having fun and enjoying life to the fullest!

Tol and I celebrated our 13th anniversary on November 22nd. I got the weekend babysitter and he made the plans. We were short on funds this year so no big trip to see Cold Play this year. But we did stay downtown in a hotel all weekend and had a marvelous time.

Friday night we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Love that place! It was yummy! After dinner we went to the hotel where Tol had flowers and a card waiting for me. He is such a romantic...I love it. The next morning we slept in (heaven) and headed down to BoDo. It was the opening weekend for the movie, "New Moon". Tol and I have both read all the Twilight books, so we went to see the much anticipated movie. It was great, much better than the 1st. We then had a light lunch at Tulley's (they have a really good Chicken/Walnut Salad) and walked around the Farmer's Market and different shops around downtown. That evening we went and did a little Christmas shopping and went to Chili's. We hit a late movie, "Blind Side," and got back to the hotel around 1am. It was great having the weekend all to ourselves.