Memorial Day Weekend Trip

I know this is late, but better late than never... Over Memorial Day weekend my mom and I traveled to Salisbury, Maryland to visit my grandparents. We arrived Wednesday late evening and spent the long weekend relaxing, shopping, reviewing wedding plans with mommom, that is what I call my grandmother, outfitting both of them for the wedding, watching movies, and a wonderful crab feast at my mom's cousins house. It was a great trip and a nice escape from the Texas heat. Here are some photos from our trip.

Doesn't he look handsome in that hat!!!

Headed to the crab feast!

Engagement Party

We had a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family and lots of laughter. Saturday my parents and Jay's parents gave us a wonderful engagement party. My mom can sure through a party. She pulled out all the stops with catered Mexican food from Rico's with their famous Margaritas, beautiful sunflower floral arrangements, covered patio tent with colorful lanterns hung at all levels, and my surprise for the evening was our photographer, Clark Lara, came and took photos!

It was so great to see friends and family all in one place and kick off our wedding festivities. When I get more photos I will definitely post them for all to see.

We are DONE!

The patio furniture finally arrived last week and it only took 4 people and 6 hours to put it all together... yes, that was the actual time it really took from start to finish.

I pulled into my driveway to see this on Wednesday after work and was overwhelmed to see 9 boxes that weighted over 500 pounds ready to be assembled. Jay and I started on Wednesday night with little success, but did succeed in putting together the dining table.

Then Thursday we called in the reinforcements, Dan and Jennifer, to help us finish up the other 12 pieces.

YEAH we are DONE!!!

So Friday after work Jay and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 2 year anniversary and we were planning on enjoying the patio afterwards but it rained... what are the odds... the day after we finish our 2 week project it rains...

Here are some photos of the finished product... now the only thing that is left is to find a umbrella stand that fits our umbrella... who would have thought that they don't make a universal stand that fits ALL umbrellas...

First Home Improvement Project

One and a half weeks ago we started our first home improvement project. We had been discussing the idea for weeks and two Wednesdays ago we decided to bite the bullet…. Thus begun the adventure of our first, and last, do it yourself project.

The project – Expanding my patio, moving power and cable down from the attic, installing a fan outside, mounting TV outside, transplanting grass to front yard, and to find outdoor furniture – table/chairs/umbrella and conversation furniture.

The challenges – moving the sprinkler systems, 5 unites to be exact, running the power and cable down from the attic, moving mounds and mounds of dirt… and the list goes on.

We started the project on Friday after work by digging up the grass and starting the transplanting into the front yard. We decided to more the grass that we dug up to the front because the front yard was having some trouble, to say the least… you can see what I’m talking about in the photos. So Friday the boys dug out the area where the patio was going to be formed.

Then Saturday the forms were installed and the sprinklers were moved. We also had to level out the new patio area… that was one of the more difficult tasks because of the endless hours it spent.

Then Sunday we spent the day installing the fan outside, and dropping the power and cable down from the attic, buying a TV, mounting the TV outside and cleaning up and getting ready for the cement.

That next week was spent collecting tools to help us with the cement and collecting wheel barrels to help with the cement laying on Friday.

Then Friday came… I had the cement company scheduled for 1pm and also had planned for a few independent works to come and help then as well. The workers arrived and we put them to work. They did a wonderful job transplanting the last little bit of the grass we took from the back yard and then the truck arrived…

When the cement truck arrived the thought of “we can’t turn back” crossed my mind. This is when the real work started… as you can see from the photos Dan was in the “pit” and Jay and our workers were the ones bringing the cement by the wheel barrel load. Once it was to a point where they could pull a board accrost the forms they would and it would even out the surface… I’m not sure how many times they had to do it but within 4 hour or so the cement was laid, smoothed out and ready to dry.

When our workers finished with the cement we had them finish up the backyard flower bed and let me tell you it was the best thing EVER… what took Jay and I two weekends to do they did in an hour. AMAZING.

Then we spent Saturday taking off the forms, putting the finishing touches on the sprinkler system, getting and laying the bricks for the backyard flowerbed, planting the flowers for the two side flowerbeds and cleaning up… who would have thought that clean up would take so long. It was my least favorite part of the entire process, but it also meant that we were DONE!!! YEAH, finally!

Jay and I are so excited the project is done. We could not have done it without Dan. He was the brains and had the plans for this project and really was the one who made it happen and why it turned out so good. Thank you Dan for all your hard work and time. You are welcome to come enjoy it anytime you want!!!

Then Sunday we enjoyed Mother’s Day and relaxed on the new patio. Jay mowed the yard and fertilized one more time… he is trying to hard to get the grass green and growing… I will keep everyone posted on the project… grass takes a while and is a tricky one, as all of you homeowners know.

Lastly, I want to say a Thank You to all the mothers out there. I have the best one in the world. She is the most giving, dedicated, loving, honest, selfless person I know. Mom, thank you doesn’t even begin to express how thankful I am to have you as my mom. Your example of unconditional love, and service is such a blessing to all who know and love you. I love you very much!!! Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Jury Duty

This week I spent Monday through Thursday serving on a jury in Conroe... It was a very interesting experience that I will remember forever. Being apart of the judicial wheel was very rewarding and a great learning experience. It was fun to have a case that I understood to talk with Jay about. I told him yesterday that I might have missed my calling… being a prosecuting attorney. Just kidding… I think I will leave the law to him.

The case was an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with 4 counts charged... the testimony and evidence was very sad and definitely kept my attention. The folks involved were homeless, day labors; just trying to survive day to day… they stayed in abandoned houses with no running water or electricity and at one time even lived in a tent behind a shopping center. Most of them didn’t have cars, which made it very difficult to keep jobs and keep themselves safe. It opened my eyes to the basic daily blessings we have that I so often neglect to realize truly are blessings from God. Just recognizing that having a roof over my head is a blessing and gift changes the perspective of so many little non-important things.

If you ever get chosen for jury duty I encourage you to take it seriously and give it the time and respect it is owed. A person's future along with their family and friend’s futures are on hold until a verdict is reached and the jury is responsible for that decision to be made.

In this case our jury was split 8 guilty to 4 not guilty and would have been considered a "Hung Jury", but the state and the defendant reached a plea bargain where he plead guilty on one count to a lesser charge - "aggravated assault with bodily injury” and received 2 years in prison. For some of the jury members they were pleased to have the weight of rendering a verdict off their shoulders, while others felt that not enough justice was served. I left feeling that my time as a juryman was well spent. The defendant got off with a lesser charge and a lesser punishment and the state got their conviction.

Now it is Friday and the weekend has begun. Jay headed north this weekend to spend time with his family and buddies in Dallas and I am off for dinner and a girl’s night with some great friends.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and takes some time to remember and thank God for the basic blessings in our lives.

Happy Friday.

Catch up!

So much has happened since my last blog... where do I start. Well, first we celebrated my 26th birthday and enjoyed a wonderful dinner with my family and a night out with our closest friends. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family so close by to share special days with.

And it worked out that quite a few of our friends were in town for Easter weekend and we were able to get everyone together to enjoy drinks at Crush on Friday night.

Then Saturday I had a special morning brunch with my wonderful bridesmaids at my house for them to be measured for their dresses. It was fun getting everyone together even for a short time and I got to try a new recipe for everyone. It is called "Monkey Break", one tip for anyone who wants to try it make sure it has cooled a bit before you flip it over... if you do it too soon it will ooze out everywhere. Click here for the recipe.

We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing and enjoying our 4 day weekend. I volunteered Saturday at the Muddy Trails Race and enjoyed some AMAZING crawfish... probably the best I have ever had. I am really looking forward to next years event.

Then Sunday we enjoyed church at Woodsedge with my mom and sister, dad had to work, and even got to see some friends from Dallas who were in town for a quick weekend trip. And Monday Jay prepared for the Duke game... it was a nail bitter till the end. Jay was super excited to see Duke win. I was almost more entertained by watching Jay then watching the game... if I can get the video I took of Jay watching the game to work I will upload it for all to enjoy.

This last weekend we enjoyed The Masters, Arnold Palmer Ice Tea, Pimento Cheese Sandwiches, The Annual Landry's Crawfish Boil and great weather... not exactly in that order, but all equally enjoyable. Jay even petted a 1 year-old crocodile... the guy said he will get up to 24 feet long, and could bight off a finger with one snap... Good thing the nose was taped.

Go DUKE!

Tonight is the NCAA National Championship Basketball game and we are cheering for Duke. If you know Jay you know he is a die heart Duke, Blue Devils fan... and is extremely excited about tonight's game. Once the game starts here will be no chatting or non-game related conversation... he will be zoned into the game and cheering on his favorite team and coach!!!

GOOOOO Duke!!!!!