May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, may the rain fall soft upon your face. And until we meet again, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

a little bit of catch up before Christmas....

So much going on lately....as always!

We have enjoyed the Christmas spirit this December in Dallas....doing lots of fun things!

Orie's office had their annual Christmas party....it was a lovely seated dinner at the Ritz Carlton. The food was exceptional and it's always nice to visit with the people in his world. They don't have a very large office so it was an intimate dinner of about 14 people. While we were seated there we realized that Orie is kind of the lone ranger at work....he is one of only two men and he was the only male employee present at the dinner! Poor Orie....having to work with such lovely ladies!

I headed out one evening to a friend's housewarming party. Her new place is adorable and it was a great evening to catch up with some girl friends.....Thanks LT for the get together! It was a fun night!

Orie and I headed out one evening to look at Christmas lights through the Park Cities....WOW....the lights were amazing. We had Grace in tow and she had a blast. She wasn't too sure about the horse drawn carriages though....mainly the horses. She would shake and whimper every time we got near one...it was hysterical! We tried to just meander the streeets and take a gamble on which way to turn....as soon as we saw a buggy we knew to follow it though....surely they knew the way to the best houses! If you are in Dallas this Christmas season go check out the lights.....also make sure to drive through Highland Park Village and check out their beautifully lit trees....AMAZING!

We also celebrated Christmas with Audrey and Chris at Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant. It was a fun evening full family and laughter. We tried to exchange gifts in the CVS parking lot afterwards (our gift was a little bit too large to bring in to a restaurant) but were run off by a man struggling to find money and his Christmas spirit. So....what to do in this situation....why head across the street to the classier Burger King parking lot! So that's just what we did! Our gift exchange was super fun and the evening was perfect!

Orie and I did pretty well this year with getting our shopping and stuff done early so that we weren't stressed out right before Christmas. I had my presents nicely wrapped under the tree and had lots of wrapping supplies waiting for Orie when he was ready. So one day he brings home his gifts to wrap.....I got to watch! Now don't worry....I couldn't tell what anything was or where it was from. Y'all....this was the funniest site I have ever seen. It took Orie about 2.5 hours to wrap about 4 packages. He had ribbon and stuff everywhere and used more wrapping paper than I probably did for all of our packages already under the tree. I told him next year he didn't need to buy me anything....watching him wrap empty boxes would be all that I wanted! It was sweet though to see him work so hard on my packages....he chose each color of ribbon with a purpose and put lots of extra flare on his packages too. Thanks Orie for wrapping so pretty....it makes my day!

We now think we are ready for Christmas.....presents are wrapped....items are baked/cooked....we have our home made Christmas crafts ready to go....and we are ready for family and friends!

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Monday, December 20, 2010

A Holiday Treat

Our sweet friend at PSG brought us over a very special holiday treat. I was thrilled when I learned she put the recipe on her website.....here is the link!

Pink Slip Gourmet - Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwiches

It is one of the most delicious treats I can think of for Christmas time.....I'm so glad mine were delivered though and I don't have to bake them! Happy baking to you though!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Poinsettia....

I lost this year in the battle of the poinsettia. I tried really hard to give them a loving home but the conditions were just not right. Farewell good friends....you have seen better days. I am forever grateful that I no longer have to pick up the hundreds of leaves that fall off of you each day!

Guess Who?....again.....

4 show i watch
CSI
NCIS
Good Wife
NCIS Los Angeles

4 phrases I say a lot
hello buddy
I love you boys
Up we go
How was golf

4 things I've learned
Dogs are always eager to see you
some people are never pleased
children are the best entertainment
you get from life what you give to it

places I would like to go
Europe
Maine
Hilton Head
New Orleans in the spring time

4 things I did yesterday
bought Christmas gifts
bought Christmas gifts
bought Christmas gifts
Had a nice lunch out and evening out

4 things I'm look forward to
having my family here for the holidays
seeing the faces of my grandchildren on Christmas morning
hosting a party with my grown up children
celebrating John's birthday

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Merry Christmas Blog Friends.....

and the winner is....

Josh wins!

He guessed that it was his sweet wife Kat in the guess who game! Way to go Josh....you faithful blog reader!

Here's a pic of the newlyweds.....enjoy!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Guess Who?

4 Shows I Watch....
Brothers and SIster
Modern Family
Gossip Girl
One Tree Hill


4 Phrases I Say A Lot...
"Seriously?"
"Did you feed the dogs?"
"What are we going to do for dinner?"
"Need to go potty?"


4 Things I've Learned from the Past....
always count your blessings....
good things can come from the bad....
it's never too late...
smile even when your sad and you eventually get happy :)


4 Places I'd Like to Go...
Napa with Josh
New Zealand
All of Italy
back to London


4 Things I Did Yesterday
ate at Roly Poly with the Knicelys
upset with dogs for eating my pretty wrapped presents
laundry
hung Christmas cards on the banister

4 Things I'm Looking Forward to...
Christmas crafts!
the Cotton Bowl!
a week off of work
seeing you for Christmas!


4 Things I Miss...
Central Market
watching the Saints games with the Hunters
walks with Holly
Jersey Mikes


4 things I love about Winter...
pretty coats
my favorite jeans
a fire in the fireplace
Uggs


4 Things I Love About Your Blogging
staying connected to ya'lls life
your creative writing
pictures of ya'll and sweet Grace
makes me smile every time

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

List of 4....

4 Shows I Watch....
The Office
Modern Family
90210 (I know....it's sad)
Desperate Housewives

4 Phrases I Say A Lot...
"Did you shut the gate?"
"Hmmmm"
"Do You Need to Go Outside?"
"Interesting...."

4 Things I've Learned from the Past....
always count your blessings....
don't complain so much....nobody really likes to listen to that
even adults are bullies...
you can make anything into a home....

4 Places I'd Like to Go...
back to the southern region of France...for a long time
Italy
maybe the UK
Jackson Hole

4 Things I Did Yesterday
went to the grocery store
picked up a gift for someone
laundry
hung Christmas cards on the mantle

4 Things I'm Looking Forward to...
Christmas with family and friends
the Cotton Bowl
a real job again
when Orie comes home from work

4 Things I Miss...
friends and family who aren't here
Century 21 department store in NYC
being at LSU
getting new school supplies and organized each year

4 Things I Love About Winter....
hats, scarves, gloves
a fire in the fireplace
the way the cold air makes Grace go bananas
the possibility of snow

4 Things I Love About Blogging
staying connected to my friends and family
it's a great excuse to take pictures of just about anything
others like reading it
hopefully....it will keep me from forgetting anything about life

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Get Excited....

We are so excited about LSU coming to the Cotton Bowl! Super convenient for these Texans....! Orie were talking a while back about how this was our first season in a VERY long time to not be at an LSU game....well guess what....not this year. We have secured tickets and a parking pass (thanks sweet Geoff!) and will be on our way to tailgate with the masses!

Friends and family are coming to town and we are ready to cheer on those Tigers! I'm not sure that there will be any "smack talk" with our A&M fans....we're never really sure which LSU team will show up so that could end poorly for us in the blink of an eye!

Who are you pulling for?

GEAUX TIGERS!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

a little catch up...once again





Wow....we have been in such Christmas spirit around here that I forgot to post about our happenings over the last few weeks. We have really had a lot of fun....

One Friday night Orie and dressed up and headed to the Beaujolais event at the World Trade Center. Our friend Camille works for Les Trois Petits Cochons (a sponsor) and she got us tickets....VIP tickets!

We strolled up to will call, received our tickets, showed them to the ticket man and were then told that we were VIP's and to go immediately up the escalator to the private party! HA! It was so fun...we felt quite swanky and cool!

I donned a mask for the event....

which was a sign that I was either a VIP or a VIP's guest....Orie did not partake in the masked festivities...oh well...does that surprise anyone? We sampled wines from all over France and even a few local ones. The Beaujolais this season was excellent! We watched a few dance performances...to the tune of Lady Gaga....watched Miss Texas sing some Kelly Clarkson and even sang a few lines of Aux Champs Elysee...it was a magical evening for this French girl at heart. Thanks Camille for the thought and the tickets....it was so fun!

Hmm...what else have we been up to....oh yes...we had our last "tailgate party" of the season for the Ole Miss game. It was so fun...and I loved seeing so many friends pop over for some LSU fun...even if they are die hard TCU fans! We had a great day cheering on those Tigers!

Thanksgiving was really fun this year....we had lots of different things happening.....Orie stayed in Dallas to watch the Saints vs. the Cowboys....he and Chad headed off to Jerry World and hoped for a Saints victory...I watched in Shreveport with family over a delicious turkey dinner. Good thing those Saints pulled off a victory or Orie might have regretted his decision of staying back! He had a blast and I was so glad he was able to finally see a Saints game!

In Shreveport we turkey trotted again...soaked up lots of E and C time....gave a baby shower for Baby W....met Charlie H for the first time (awww....love).....celebrated a 30th for Patrick and Frannie....did the turkey thing with some great family....played some train with my Mama Tee....and the list could go on....it was a great holiday weekend!

After Thanksgiving I was in full Christmas spirit....I put on my Christmas Pandora station and it has pretty much been playing ever since. I just love Christmas music...and decorations....but you know that already!

This past weekend we had some house guests and some family in town. David and Michelle hopped over to do a little house shopping on Saturday and stay with us Saturday night. We had a great evening of visiting, watching football and a delicious dinner at Campisi's....Sunday we woke up to a very cold Dallas. Orie and I were glad we got to bundle by the fire and not drive back to Shreveport!


Kat and Josh were in town for a party. We met them Saturday for lunch at Corner Bakery in North Park Mall...wow was that a mistake. The mall is CRAZY this time of year and we were there on a Saturday...oh well...I think fun was had by all....! Kat and Josh even made it by the house on Sunday to sit by a cozy fire and watch some of the Saints game....it's always fun to have guests!

We've even made time for a little bit of work in the middle of all of this. Orie has been VERY busy with his job...bopping around from one client site to the next....luckily most of them have been local. He continues to work exceptionally hard and continues to love what he does....that makes me so happy:)

I have been subbing more and more at the same special needs school. The days are very interesting and often fun...some times I ask myself "what am I doing...I do not want to be in the classroom again?"....usually the moment goes away and the smile comes back! I'm glad they like me but it's just the wrong school for me to get my foot into...boo!

We hope your days are full of merry and bright Christmas cheer....what are you doing for the Holidays? Is anyone having a festive party...going on a vacation....going to see family or friends?

Enjoy the promised pics of the outside and sweet Grace....the queen of this castle!