Baseball Fantasy League Champion!

Congratulations Michael!

 

Ducks Unlimited Banquet

On Thursday night, Michael and I went to the Ray Robert's Ducks Unlimited (DU) Banquet.  Michael's brother helped start the Ray Robert's chapter of DU last year.  We enjoyed the banquet last year and came home with a guided fishing trip (which we're finally scheduled to go on in a few weeks) and some great tools.

This year, we didn't bid on anything in the auction.  Michael did buy some raffle tickets, though.  I was really hoping to win the free Babe's dinners and massage gift certificate, but I think Michael won the prize that he had his eye on!

Among other miscellaneous items, Michael won three hats, a duck call (which I've now claimed as my own since he already has one), a duck blind, a dozen duck decoys, a collapsible bin, a floating camouflage ice chest, a camouflage gun case, and a new shot gun!  (He tells me it's a Mossberg, 12-gauge, semi-automatic.  Mostly, he's excited that it has a camouflage finish.)

He was so excited!  Unfortunately, background checks have to be run before he can take possession of the gun.  He will have to go pick it up at Academy later.  In the meantime, he has been enjoying playing with his other toys.  This weekend, after he woke me up, he said that he had been up for a couple of hours.  When I asked what he had been doing, he very casually answered, "lying in my duck blind."  What a goober!

Tyler and Natalie's Wedding

Last night, some of our friends got married.  Tyler and Natalie had a beautiful ceremony at Royal Lane Baptist Church and a wonderful reception at The Palomar Hotel in Dallas.  We all had a lot of fun celebrating with them, and the food was delicious!  Here are a few pictures that recap the night (courtesy of our resident friend photographer, Lynn Packer).  Congratulations Tyler and Natalie!

Beautiful Mom with the Beautiful Bride

Father Daughter Dance

 Beautiful Reception Hall - Notice the gorgeous chair covers.  Grant, Lindsay, Michael, and I got the chair covers set up and tied on Friday night.  We weren't sure about them when we started, but it turned out beautiful!

Grant and Lindsay

Michael and Me

Family Photo

The Four Musketeers

Acting Silly (David, Cathy, Mom, Dad, Lynn, Bob)

Fondue Night

Last night we had some of our friends, Tim and Stephanie Avance, over to have fondue.  Michael's grandparents - Don (Jack) and Kaye (Ma) - got us a fondue pot, skewers, and a bag of chocolate as a wedding gift.  It was so much fun, and the fondue was delicious!  Thank you Jack and Ma!

The "dippers" (Rice Krispie treats, cheesecake, brownie bites, pound cake, strawberries, pineapple, bananas, apples, and marshmallows) are ready to go.  Since I had them leftover from a shower, I also included raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

Michael had requested that we have a "fall-themed" fondue night.  (No surprise there!)  So, to accommodate him, I got ghost-shaped marshmallows (which is a bit of a stretch) and used candy corns and fall-colored m&m's on the plates.

Michael preparing the best part...the chocolate!

 The table is set and ready to go!

Tim and Stephanie

Michael and Melissa

Melissa and Stephanie  (Michael and Tim decided they didn't need a picture together to remember fondue night.)

Christmas Garage!

On my way home from work, Michael called and said that he had a surprise for me.  I thought that I would come home to find a Christmas countdown in our front window.  I drove by the front of the house and didn't see anything.  Instead, when I opened the garage door, I saw this.

That's right...Christmas Garage!  My husband had set up the Christmas countdown and decorated around the door. 

I was laughing and reaching to find my camera in my purse when he came busting out of the garage door to greet me and wish me a "Merry Christmas Countdown Day!"

At this point, I'm still in my car laughing and taking pictures.  I hadn't fully experienced the surprise yet.  When I opened the car door, it was to hear that Christmas music was blasting from inside our garage.  I hope our neighbors like Christmas!

99 days and counting!

Our New Blog

There have been several things that I want to document to remember later and/or to share with friends and family.  So, I finally caved and set up a blog.  I don't know how often it will get updated, but I'll do my best.  I'm going to try to keep up with current posts, and eventually, I'll go back and post about the wedding and honeymoon.  I hope you enjoy our blog!