Happy 40th Anniversary, Mamaw & Papaw! June 19, 2008

This past weekend, we headed back to our hometown to join T’s sister and brother-in-law and numerous other friends and family members in surprising T’s parents with a 40th anniversary party.  T’s sister has been planning this since last year, and I’m thrilled to report that Mamaw and Papaw were definitely surprised. 

The plan was for them to think that they were only going out for a celebratory lunch with T’s sister and brother-in-law and niece.  The first surprise was that they would be taken to lunch in a limo!  The second surprise was that T, The Bean, and I were waiting for them in the limo when the door was opened.  Since we live a 7 hour drive away, our visits back home aren’t run of the mill, and the fact that we were there was a treat for us and for them. 

Here’s a picture of them when the door was opened to reveal The Bean sitting in her car seat.

I couldn’t get around fast enough to get a clear shot of Mamaw’s face since we nearly forgot to have the camera out to catch their expressions until it was too late!  But if you look through the window, you can kind of see her face too.  T’s mom said her first thought upon seeing The Bean was “that baby looks just like The Bean!”  She quickly peeked in the car to see if we were in there too to confirm to herself that it really was The Bean in person!

Here they are in the limo on the way to Red Lobster for lunch.

After lunch, we all used the “girls-need-to-lie-down-for-a-nap-just-ride-around-in-the-limo-for-a-little-while” excuse to keep them occupied until the driver would drop them off at the surprise reception T’s sister had planned a little later.  The girls did get naps, but we also used the time to finish setting up before T’s parent’s arrival.

They were surprised again to see so many friends and family waiting for them when they were dropped off at the reception site.

 

Here’s the whole immediate family at the reception. 

It was a lot of fun, and we were so happy to honor such a special anniversary milestone. 

If you look closely at the table decorations, you’ll notice a small, metal, heart-shaped basket on the table.  The baskets were filled with red hots which The Bean discovered are quite tasty.  Every time I looked up, she was scoping out which table had a chair positioned close enough for her to reach the red hot basket on each table.  She ate so many that she threw up when we got back to the house a couple of hours later.  We’ll see if she still wants them the next time she has a chance to have them again!

Hats off to T’s sister, K, for spear heading the whole thing and doing so much work to make it happen.  Other family members definitely contributed as well to make it a special day! 

Congratulations, Mamaw and Papaw on 40 years of marriage.  Thanks for being such a blessing and a wonderful example!

Go Texan Day! February 24, 2007

Let me begin by saying that this post is a day late.  I was at a women’s retreat Friday night and all day today, so I wasn’t able to post it last night as I would have liked.  But I figure that’s okay.  I’ll trade a day late post for all the blessings God poured out on me this weekend.  It was amazing.  I’ll be writing about that in a day or two.  But I digress…

Yesterday was Go Texan Day here in Houston to kick off the start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Even though I’m not a native Houstonian, it didn’t take me long to figure out that the rodeo was a BIG to do around these parts.  This link gives you a little information about what to expect on Go Texan Day. 

 It’s really something to see all the trailriders coming into town for in time for the official Rodeo opening parade on Saturday.  It’s the one time that most people don’t mind the traffic tie ups on the freeway.  Every year, I have colleages a little late to work because they were behind a bunch of people on horses, and we just expect them to arrive whenever they can make it. 

A good portion of the city spends the day doing whatever they have to do in their western wear.  I will admit that I actually have a cowboy hat purchased especially to wear once a year for this occasion.  Although, I have to also admit that I forgot it yesterday.  I did however, make sure M was appropriately dressed with a little help from her wonderful Mamaw who customized a shirt especially for her. 

I’ve been trying unsuccessfully for the past 20 minutes to upload a couple of photos of her for you to see.  For some reason, I’m having no luck with this tonight.  My brain is too tired to figure it out right now, so you’ll just have to wait for your cute photos until tomorrow.  Believe me, they’re worth the wait!

 *UPDATE*

I finally seem to have figured out the problem with uploading photos.  Here’s M in her western wear!

 

Playing at Mamaw and Papaw’s House January 25, 2007

M’s Mamaw got a little play kitchen for M and, when she’s older, M’s cousin, M, to play with when they are over visiting. It was still a little tall for M, but she didn’t let that stop her. She played with that kitchen every chance she got while we were visiting. Mamaw did a great job picking this out. I know there will be many hours spent “cooking” up some fun when the girls come over to visit.

A New Friend November 6, 2006

M and I went to the mall this past weekend to pick up a couple of things. Here’s a photo of her in the new pajamas we picked up a The Children’s Place. She likes that they are so soft and fuzzy.

We stopped in Build a Bear while we were there, and M got to make a new friend.

As we have discussed in previous blog entries, M loves dogs. So she picked out a dog for her new friend. We named him Ra Ra on his birth certificate that you make before you check out. Rah Rah is the name of Mamaw and Papaw’s dog in Louisiana.

I think she likes him. She’s been carrying him around to play with and goes straight for him if we tell her to “go get Ra Ra.”

Yummy July 16, 2006

Hmmm…yummy. Honey bun cake. Recipe courtesy of T’s mom. Thanks for sharing.

Stepping Up April 30, 2006

M has been taking more steps alone in the past few days. She still doesn’t walk for more than 3-4 steps without holding onto something, but she’s doing more solo steps. She’s getting very close to walking on her own.

She’s also figured out how to get into her little rocking chair on her own now. M’s Mamaw and Papaw gave her a little rocker for her birthday. She sits in it everyday.

Unfortuntately, that fact that she’s figured out how to get into it also means that she’s able to stand up in it. We’re trying to show her how to get into it and turn around and sit down, but she keeps trying to stand in it. I have a feeling that it won’t sink in until the day T or I can’t get to her in time and she ends up falling. We’ll see.