Wish they all could be...

California Girls!

Living like a California girl with my sis and Reagan has been amazing. I get to spend 10 days here and I could not imagine a better trip so far. First off, when I am visiting, I do not have any expectations because all I care about is seeing my sis and her family. Some of my favorite memories are us just sitting around in our pjs in the morning watching GAC! But they always go above and beyond to entertain me. This time, we started off the trip by going to dinner to a place called Cafe Coyote- some of the BEST Mexican food I have ever had. The restaurant is in Old Town San Diego which is a neat place to see if you are ever there. We walked around Old Town and found a neat store with really authentic Mexican looking things. Really just all of the stores are fun to walk around in.

The next day, the three of us girls went to Fashion Valley to shop. This is a really good mall with a lot of big stores like Nordstrom & Neimans (which I don't waste my time in!) but just to give you an idea of what kind of mall it is. We did a little shopping but mainly just walked around. The weather is just so pretty in Ca, it is nice to do as much as you can outside!

Another shopping center we visited that I enjoy going to when in town, is Otay Ranch. We had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory there and again enjoyed walking around, stopping in a store once in awhile. So nice to do those kinds of things because we don't have anything like that in College Station!

We took Reagan for a ride that night in the wagon. :)

I took this picture for Forrest because it has a little history behind it. Long story short, his nickname for me derived from this ice cream store!

Here, Reagan is officially 17 months old! Big girl! We celebrated with a big milestone: TWO bows in her hair. Later we got some pictures of her having fun at Gymboree, making it easy for us to shop for her. We stopped at McDonalds afterwards for some sweet tea and Reagan LOVED it- she hogged it all! She had the tightest grasp on it, we couldn't get it back from her!




The next set of pictures are us girls at Coronado Beach. We caught the sunset which was beautiful and walked around some little boutiques there. Later when Darrin came home, we went back for ice cream at the Coronado hotel, a good historical place to visit. We found a cozy spot by a fire and all indulged, especially Reagan!

Overall a fabulous first half of my trip. I am looking forward to the rest!!!

2009 Wrap Up & NYE

The year 2009:

First I want to remember three loved ones we lost this year: two of Forrest's dear grandfathers, Papa Sug & Papa Honey. He shared a special relationship with both and the family gatherings will never be the same without them. We also lost my Aunt Rosa. We will never forget the memories made during their lifetimes.

Highlights of the year:

Visited Mahan Estate and took Papa Honey to see it

Had a "Girls' Weekend at the Houstonian

Ashtie turned two in March

FREE fourth row tickets to Taylor Swift at Houston Rodeo

Accepted into A&M nursing program

Spring trip to California with Amberly:

Visited LA, Santa Monica, San Diego Zoo

Spent Easter at A-Team beach house

Vaughn Party in the Woodlands

Celebrated Cheri's 50th birthday

Last day of work at Central Texas Heart Center

Started nursing school

Forrest started tradition of making my birthday cake

Celebrated our TWO YEAR anniversary on June 23rd

4th of July crawfish boil at the beach house

Sister & Reagan home for a month:

Visited Morgan in Houston and went to American Idol concert

Reagan turned ONE!! Had a big birthday bash at the Snider's

Rescued Lil Girl

Aiden turned 4

Vacationed to Las Vegas

Started football season with a new tailgate spot

Boys Trick or Treat in College Station

Forrest's parents got the ranch they dreamed of

Surprised Big Forrest with Bevo & Raider for his birthday

Thanksgiving at our house

Sister & Reagan home for a month for the holidays

First time to have Christmas at the ranch

We spent New Years Eve night with Kara and Anthony and met up with some friends at Christopher's for dinner. Afterwards the four of us went out in downtown Bryan where we brought in the new year.

All in all, 2009 has been a great year for us. We are very grateful for each other, our family & friends, and the fun memories made this year. Looking forward to seeing what is in store for 2010!

Christmas at the Ranch

We spent Christmas eve night and Christmas morning at Forrest's parent's new place. They were determined to get moved in in time and with hard work they were able to get all of their things moved in the day before Christmas Eve. Phew! Cuttin it close! Anyways, we drove in and helped them unpack then that night we all curled up on the couch by the fire, watched a movie, and drank hot chocolate. The cozy night ended with Forrest's parents dancing in the living room to an old song...it was so sweet. I know they really needed that time to relax after all of the moving. Then the next day, we did some more things around the house until Amberly and the fam could make it over around lunch. We had some chili and tamales then went in to the living room to open gifts. Some of the highlights of the gifts were: Forrest's new Aggie boots, his parents new rocking chairs, Amberly & Aaron's new popcorn machine, and the last gift the boys opened, their new John Deer tractor. We spent some time outside watching them ride around on it and take treats out to feed the longhorns. It was so cute watching them act like country boys! Before going to bed, we all sat by the fireplace and Lala (Cheri) read some new books to the boys. Then the adults stayed up and played games.

Overall Forrest and I had a great Christmas. Hope everyone else has enjoyed their holidays as well!

Our Christmas

Forrest and I celebrated "our" Christmas a little early like we do every year since we are usually out of town the day of. We like to be at our house and have it just the two of us to exchange the gifts we have for each other. For the past three years (while we have been married) our night goes like this: Forrest gets home from work, I cook a nice dinner, we have some wine or mixed drinks, and then we exchange gifts in the living room with of course, the dogs.

Forrest is the best gift giver, I have to brag on him for that. This year, he got me a new purse which was a rarity because I do not buy purses. He got me a LV purse and wallet 5 years ago, the first Christmas we spent together (when we were dating and did not have a mortgage!) so since then I have carried that purse. Well the purse I got this year, I actually get to call it a handbag because it is HUGE compared to my last one. It has so many zippers and compartments that I have already gotten used and it matches EVERYTHING. I am in love.

He also bought me a wishbone necklace because I have been wanting one for probably a year now. It is gold, very simple, and my favorite quality- it matches everything. I am in love with that as well.

For him, don't make fun, I am not the best gift giver when it comes to him. I just feel like I am spending his money to get him a gift and I know how he is- he swears he doesn't need anything. Well, this year it was a little easier for me to shop for him because of his new "hobby" I guess you could call it. He has decided to do triathlons this year and then by the end of the year, complete the Ironman 70.3 in Austin. I am super proud of him and find it really exciting that he has decided to do this. Anyways, he is all set now with some good running shoes, new ipod and accessories, and triathlon books.

Lil Girl got a new bed for the house, yes she is sleeping in the house now. She is just so good and the weather is too cold for her to be outside all night. I know, I know she is spoiled and we have officially become those dog owners.

All in all, good Christmas in College Station. Up next, Christmas at the ranch. :)

Aunt Rosa & Christmas Round One

Christmas plans at my family changed due to my Aunt Rosa’s (Mom’s sister) funeral this week which was a very beautiful service and my grandma (Dad’s mother) in Iowa breaking her back after falling on some ice. We have had quite a bit of things come up in or family close to Christmas but everyone is getting through them fine. Grandma is okay now- she is in the process of recovering from her surgery and my aunt has been laid to rest. The family is coping well because she was a Christian and VERY spiritual lady. We all know she was ready to go and is now in a better place.

Due to these unexpected events we celebrated Christmas with my family earlier than we had planned. We had a nice Christmas lunch and dessert, then opened presents. We hadn’t planned on opening gifts at the time but it just happened that way. We did have one little problem with the picture- we were missing REAGAN! She was playing at the Snider’s getting some good Honey, Pop, & Uncle Potter time which they were in need of- so we didn’t want to interrupt. We understand we have to share her and that we had been getting a lot of her attention since they have been home. Plus we wanted Reagan to open her gifts Christmas day. So the five of us all opened gifts and had a great time. My sister and I got a few pairs of shoes and a cute personalized cookie jar, Forrest got an ipod, my dad got a car cover for his new car, my mom got some jeans, a couple of velour sets, and a new pair of tennis shoes. Well that about sums it up, we had a great day and I love it when my family is all together!