What a Difference a Year Makes....

So this was us last year....driving halfway across the country to come home for Christmas.

What a difference a year makes....thank you Orie for bringing us home! I love always being a car ride away!

Catch Up..

Wow - I feel like we have had a lot going on lately...perhaps this is due to me working during the day now and no longer being a lady of leisure!

I had a blast with some girlfriends looking at Christmas lights in our limousine. It was certainly good times, good wine, good food and good fun. A few of us got together again last week to see A Christmas Carol at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. It was such a cute play. I am embarrassed to say that I wasn't 100% sure of the story line of A Christmas Carol...I had no idea that Tiny Tim and his God Bless Us, God Bless Everyone was from the same story as Scrooge....Oh well....it was so fun to watch with friends. Thanks Lee-Taylor for getting everything organized....you are such a good friend.

We had a big weekend a week or two back with our first trip to a Mavs game...thanks Josh for the tickets....our Platinum Level seats were fantastic. We had great company....joined by Kat, Josh and Keyea....and a great night cheering on the Dallas Mavericks. They pulled out a win in overtime...I have a pic of the winning basket by Dirk....so proud of myself! It's awesome to finally live in a city where we can cheer on the local team....at least until they play Boston and Big Baby Davis! Check out some pics....

outside of the American Airlines arena
teams warming up
It was Military Appreciation Night (so amazing) and many service men and women were given front row seats to the game, cool t-shirts, dinner at Abacus and a fun weekend where they were able to just be a fan! So cool to watch them all walk in and hear everyone's continuous applause.
great to see the Who Dat nation going strong in the armed forces
very cool....local ticket holders donated their front row seats to the men and women
Now the game is getting started...I love it when the lights go down and they start announcing everyone....
Mavs starting lineup
Di and Orie pre game
Kat and Keyea pre game

getting their game plan together...GO Mavs

Kat and Josh...way cuter backdrop!

Dallas Mavs cheerleaders...they could dance!

Half time entertainment....a game of Simon Says....I found it super interesting that the final five or so of males and females were mainly adolescents....two kids tied in the end for the win...great Simon Says players....I think this says a lot about their listening skills and coordination....go kids!

Di and Kat....

Di and Orie....better background for us now!

That's Cuban down their standing in the blue in front of his seat....trying to see what the plan is since the Mavs sent it into overtime....

Dirk is so cool....his winning bucket to bring the Mavs up by 1!!!!
Ball game....

Josh and Orie at our after game outing on Knox/Henderson

Orie always orders some funky beer....this was his tonight
We had a super night cheering on the Mavs....thanks again Josh!

Not to long after that Mom and dad made a trip to Dallas for a mini visit before they headed over to Fort Worth to see Wynonna....We met at my house for Poinsettias and apps before heading to dinner at Neighborhood Services. It was so yummy....thanks mom and dad for making the trip. We're glad you had so much fun at the concert....and even caught a glimpse of mom Naomi Judd!

I put cute ribbon on our beverage glasses....such a festive night during Christmas time!

We have had so much fun lately I am surprised we have had time for work....or that new job! I have spent several days at the children's store and will start full time on Monday. It's always fun to work in a baby store....everyone is so happy and the clothes are just beautiful. Everyone I work with is super nice and I think it is going to work out just fine!

Last Friday night we celebrated with Orie's office for Christmas. The party was in their building at the new restaurant Ocean Prime. It was a lovely evening with co-workers. Orie's boss sad nice things about them and how proud she was of everyone and then we all had some hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. We even stayed a bit after the party with a few people and went outside to their fabulous heated patio. The restaurant is pretty new and I think it's already a huge hit with Dallas!

Well....I think that brings everyone up to date with our lives. Now we are just waiting to go home for Christmas and so grateful that we are only a car ride away from our family for the holidays!

We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

posts to come

we're still out and about....having some fun new adventures....posts to come...have no fear!

onward tonight to watch some Saints action....WHO DAT!

Hip Hip Hooray!

I'm off to my first day of work! Not sure if I'm actually hired yet or what it pays....but I'm dressed and ready to go!

I think my sister is very pleased with this new possibility at Hip Hip Hooray! It is a precious children's store that she loved when she was in Dallas...and one I have visited a few times for her since living here. It's located in Snider Plaza pretty close to our apartment.

I hope they like me....hire me....pay well....

I'll keep you updated!

employment on the horizon

Well - it's not what I went to school for....by any means....but it seems it is the career in which I have the most experience....

I might have a job at a Dallas children's store! It is very much like Oh Baby! where I worked through graduate school. I met with the owner today and she is super sweet and was very interested....as was I....

Afterwards, Orie and I drove to an open house and we were talking about the job etc. and I realized that I have definitely had a longer career in children's retail than school counseling...sad but true.

We'll see if it pans out!

christmas lights....in a limo.....

That's right....tonight I am joining some girl friends for a night full of of Christmas lights AND in the comfort of a limousine. It can't possibly get any better than that.

Good friends, champagne, Christmas lights, limousines....I could get used to this!

this just in.....

I know some of you are really sad that I don't upload my photos to Kodak anymore. It prevents you from getting to order precious photos of all of our adventures for your own photo albums!

Well....I have found a solution....any photo I put on our blog can be saved to your own personal desktop/picture folder. Isn't that great. You can save our pics, print them, order them, use them as your background, e-mail them to a friend....the possibilities are endless.

I know you are all going to sleep better having this new found information!

Brrr.....

Wow - I did not expect to wake up to 24 degrees in Dallas this morning!

Good thing Grace's NYC coat was not far.....I bundled her up....got out my gloves, my down coat, my scarf and headed out for her walk. Wow - it was cold - I think I am going to have to get in our winter box for my hats....my poor ears were just a little bit cold.

I guess this is what I get for feeling sad that I would never be able to wear all my pretty cold weather things from NYC....okay I wore them....now go away cold weather.

Today I am taking Orie's car to get an oil change....lucky me...his car has heated seats! I'll stay warm all day if I have to get out and do something!

What are you doing with your day?

What Have We Been Up To Lately?

Hello friends....sorry for the hiatus but I have been on "vacay" since Thanksgiving and it was fabulous!

Orie and I headed to Shreveport for Thanksgiving with the family. It was so much fun. We started off our Turkey Day with a nice Turkey Trot down on the Red River. It was a great event and we enjoyed getting to do it with some of our family. Such fun....I think it should be an annual event!

Yeah! Mom and Gail finished!!!!

Mom and Dad smile for the camera....or iPhone...

Dad and his girls....minus Jen who got a pass to the event....newborns/strollers/toddlers/cold apparently don't mix well...

Kat and Josh....the runners of the crew....

Di, Orie & Debbie....such a fun way to start our day!

After our Turkey Trot....we headed down to the Lake for some Thanksgiving fun. I love being at the lake this time of year. It is so beautiful. We enjoyed lots of family fun, good food, games, a little hard work, some great family photos and only one injury :)

The boys had some power washing to do. Orie was really excited about this because he saw that Dad had just purchased an awesome new power washer...he was all ready to use it. Rodney informed him that John's power tools were just to look at....not to touch! Poor Orie....he really wanted a turn.

This photo looks like Dad is walking away from the power washing on the pier....is that Orie in charge of the power washing?

Poppy surveying the grounds and Ethan's play set....

Coffee break....

I guess Rodney wasn't allowed to touch the power washer.....looks like he's picking up sticks!

After all their hard work I guess they deserve to have a silly moment!

We managed to get in our family photo before Orie fell off the deck steps and rolled his ankle....ahh that was fun. I do have a picture but I would probably lose my life if I posted it! Let's just say we got our Meldrum family photo and all is good in the world again! Here are some clips from some of our photo shoots.....

After our stop off at Velocity Care for Orie's ankle....we were on our way to Baton Rouge to watch the LSU/Arkansas game. It was SO MUCH FUN! I love being back in Baton Rouge and especially Tiger Stadium. Thanks Dad for our seats....always a great view. Check out some pics from our adventure to LSU....

Orie and Jarrod....never to be left unsupervised!


Di and Orie
Is that my husband dancing with Pat....on a bum foot/ankle? No wonder it didn't heal well....you only live once though!

I love silly pics....here's Jarrod....

and Matt....

and Brooks....

and Orie....
and Pat....
and Michael....trying to rescue some kids' frisbee....



Mr. Kopec, Sarah, Michael....what a great pic!
Jarrod and Kenney....


Di and Jarrod....

announcing the Seniors and their last game....
the FIGHTING TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What a fun trip....we loved every minute!

After we headed home from BR....I sent Orie back to Dallas and I stayed in Shreveport for a week full of fun. I got to play with family and friends, celebrate Betsy's 60th and sip n see with Cooper, Ava, and Frances.....I love being so close to home....I don't miss a beat these days!

Hope your days are full of lots of fun....