Last night we went to the Fort Worth Stock Show. We skipped out on the rodeo this year because when we bring Caroline with us, I find myself wanting to change places with the calf getting roped and tied up! So, we went out with Nana and Papa to eat, look at the animals and shop.

The Stock Show is very special to me for several reasons. First, I have gone every year since I was a small child and it is one of my favorite events of the year. As anyone from around here knows, the worst weather of the year is during this few weeks, so I have many memories of stepping over half frozen rivers of "something" as I walked from building to building.

The other reason it is special to me is because it was Chris and my first date! It didn't start off as a date, but because we were silly teenagers, by the end of the night we were *GASP* holding hands! This was our tenth rodeo together and I hope there are many more to come!

My favorite event from last night was having Caroline's picture made with the baby goats. It started off as fun (as things like this normally do) and ended... well- take a look.

Checking things out...

Sugar from the goat...

"He's getting me!" (We're still having fun at this point)...

She has not yet noticed that the goat is chewing on her skirt...

She noticed... Now there is a goat chewing on her hat and her vest and it is time to go.

In honor of Valentine's Day coming up, I added one of my favorite love songs to the blog. Hope it's not annoying!

Friday Fave 5

Here are my five favorite things about my Sweet Caroline

1. I love to hear her talk to her "babies" after we put her to bed. Some of you can attest to the fact that she has LOTS of babies in her bed and mothers every one of them.


2. I love to see her with her Daddy. She lights up the moment he enters the room. She loves to go to Cabelas with him or wrestle around. They are a pair. I only hope she can find someone as amazing as him to make a life with some day.


3. I love her memory. She can remember a name or place after just seeing it one time. We'll drive by something and she'll have to remind me all about who we saw there or what we did or what the weather was like. She always says "remember when we went there yesterday?" Her yesterdays refer to anything in the past...


4. I love to hear her sing. It makes me tear up to hear her singing "Oh How I Love Jesus" or "God is So Good." There is nothing like that little voice singing to God. I also like to hear her sing the Gwen Stefani/Akon song "Sweet Escape"...


5. I love to argue with her. Anyone who is around the two of us knows that we butt heads 25 hours a day. I have said many times that because she was a surprise that I prayed for a Chris but definitely got an Ashley. She's type A and opinionated. She loves to cook and nap. She looks like the carbon copy of her Daddy, but inside she is me. We could spend all day getting on to each other, but when she cries or is scared or hurt- she comes to "Mom" (as I am called now).

Here's one of my favorite pictures of her with my dad when she was itty bitty. Look how dark her hair is!!

Big Girl Boots

Something happened today that I have been putting off for a very long time. I bought my favorite pair of knee high boots a while back. They were Steve Madden and by far the most expensive accessory I have ever purchased. I won't bore you with all of the wonderful memories my boots and I have had together, but let me tell you, we've seen it all!

Well recently I yanked the pull off of the zipper on one of the boots. Did this mean I quit wearing them? Oh no! I would just dig in and pull it up with the metal that was left. Well, this morning, the zipper got stuck and Chris and I were both using pliers and fingernails and scissors to try and get it unstuck so I could head off to work. We finally got it "fixed" and I just threw them on and ran.

I had not taken 2 steps into school when my precious zipper began to slowly separate. It's been a cool day and I started feeling the breeze. I looked down to see my white sock sticking out of the side of my boot. It was not pretty. I always wear a pair of Chris' tall socks when I wear these boots with pants, so you can imagine how totally unattractive this was. Eventually the entire zipper had pulled apart and I knew it was over. I had this big boot leg flopping around inside my pants until I sent my kids off to PE and I could rush to Dillard's to buy a new pair.

This is such a bittersweet thing for me. I did get some new very fabulous boots, but they aren't my old ones. I considered finding a shoe repair shop, but I decided that this was the act of God that had come down to separate me from my boots. And let me tell you, that's exactly what it took to finally make me retire them.

Sooo, let me introduce you to my new friend. I am sure we will have a long happy life together!

Friday Fave 5

I'm not sure if it's the fact that I got some new songs on my ipod or if it's that I've been watching people belt their hearts out on American Idol, but I have decided to do my favorite songs to sing loud in the car. I'm not talking about the kind you just turn up and nod your head to. I'm talking about the kind that you hope no one is watching while you are driving and singing! For your enjoyment I have included the line that I put the most emphasis on while singing...

1.The raspy voice of Bryan Adams is one that we can all identify no matter where we hear it. I could have picked several songs (i.e. Everything I Do, Heaven, Summer of '69), but I picked Please Forgive Me.

Belt it Out Line- "So if you're feeling lonely... don't. You're the only one I'd ever want. I only want to make it good. So if I love ya a little more than I should, Please Forgive Me..."

2. The Dixie Chicks remind me of high school. They got really big right about the time I was learning to drive and getting to choose the radio station. Now, being the Bush lover I am, I have to say that I completely disagree with them personally and will never buy another one of their CD's, but as Emily said this very week, "they've already got my money so why not wear out the CD?" My favorite one is Ready to Run.

Belt It Out Line- "All I'm ready to do is have some fu-u-u-u-n. What's all this talk about love (and one of the girls does this high little thing here that I always try and hit)"

3. Whitney Houston- can you even sing her songs soft?? It's like we all know we could never hit it like she does, so we just give it all we've got and hope for the best. Even though I know I Will Always Love You is the classic, I actually think of I Have Nothing as my favorite.

Belt It Out Line- "Don't make me close one more door. I don't want to hurt anymore. Stay in my arms if you dare or must I imagine you there. Don't walk away from meeeeee... (it gets so good here) I have NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING if I don't have you."

4. This song was voted #1 of all of the 1980's on VH1 and rightfully so! Livin' on a Prayer by BonJovi cannot be beaten! Who doesn't love it?

Belt It Out Line- "Whoa, we're halfway there. WHOA, livin' on a prayer. Take my hand. We'll make it I swear. WWHHOOAA livin' on a prayer"

5. My last one is actually the song of the moment for me. I heard some awful rendition of it on Idol this week and have not been able to get it out of my head. Alone by Heart is a song that I could never aspire to do justice to, but believe me, in the car I give it everything I have. Caroline can testify...

Belt It Out Line- "Til now, I always got by on my own. I never really cared until I met you. And now it chills me to the bone. How do I get you alone? How do I get you alone?"

Kelly Clarkson really should be on here somewhere, but I had to pick 5! PLEASE TELL ME YOURS!!!

Sad Day

I wore the jersey. I constantly checked the scores on my phone or on TV. I held up my end of the bargain. But today, I am sad to post the final record for the Cowboys 2007 Season. No Super Bowl for us this year.

Ok I have obviously passed on the neurotic organization gene on to my child. Now neither of us are really obsessed with cleaning or whatever, but everything has to go in its place. We love things like grouping, ordering by size and symmetry. As demonstrated above. We just threw all of Caroline's new kitchen stuff into baskets and her stocking on Christmas morning and she went through each piece and laid it out on the fireplace just to her liking. I love my sweet little 2 year old! She makes me laugh... and worry.

This is the funniest website and I don't know if I am flattered or insulted... but it was funny! I mean who the heck is Ning Baizura?? Go to www.myheritage.com and try one and let me know! You may have to try several photos of yourself for it to work.

Friday Fave 5

Here are my top 5 favorite fast food yummies. Because I am trying to be good before we go to Mexico, I cannot actually sink my teeth into any one of these, so i am getting my gratification through this. And let me just say, it's really not all that satisfying...

1. Chick Fil- A Honey Roasted BBQ sauce. It is really the only thing I am tempted to steal in my daily life. I want to just drive through or walk up every time I see the restaurant and ask for a handful.
2. Sonic- Ice. In any drink at any time. No need to expand on that.
3. Dairy Queen- Steak Fingers. Even though I feel the need to vomit when thinking of the DQ on the side of a dusty Texas highway, I am in love with their steak finger basket. As a rule, I typically enjoy any variety of fast food "basket," but not just anywhere has steak fingers.
4. Chicken Express- Number 1. The number 1 is 4 strips and a side, roll and large drink. The sweet tea is perfection and the batter on the chicken is to die for. My dad eats this at least one day a week. This is why he runs marathons, he can do that sort of thing. When it comes to me however, this is probably why I have all of the mirrors in my house only showing my top half...
5. Taco Bueno- the best of Fast Food Tex Mex. In honor of my favorite fast food stop, I am just going to list the top items from here- Beef or chicken muchaco, Bean burrito (no sauce), Mexidip and Chip, Chicken Quesadilla, Cinnamon Chips and Cheesecake Chimichangas- Amen...

Ok it has been crazy lately so I haven't posted anything! But... I just added a little slideshow over on the side with some pictures from our Christmas season!