Picture with Santa = Priceless

Gas it took to drive to Grapevine to visit Santa $10.00

Dinner because it was to late to cook when we got home $30.00

Quinlan's reaction to Santa = PRICELESS

Thankful for so many things

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. It was the first Thanksgiving in quite sometime that we were able to go somewhere. Dion usually works Thanksgiving so this was nice to be able to get away spend some time with family and enjoy a nice road trip.

Yes, we definitely had fun at Missy and James house. To much fun? Never.

The boys did a little fishing, or I guess we could call it throwing your line out into the water and feeding whatever may be under the water whatever was on the line...ha they didn't catch a thing. Thanfully we had chicken wings, ribs and a lot of other food.

Aw yes the sites and sounds of karoke, I mean dancing and singing over and over to the recorded American Music Awards...I wouldn't know anything about any of this :) raise your glass!

We were able to hit the beach for a little while and attempt a family portrait...yeah well you see how that turned out and this was the best one...

So thankful for my family and friends! 

My Bucket List

I have been reading a lot about bucket lists and I have seen several lately and figured it is time for me to write mine and start checking them off.

Watch my children grow up-Enjoy my grandchildren-Go dog sledding-Safari in Africa-Scuba dive-Ride a Camel to see the Pyramids-Stay in the Ice Hotel-Visit Greenland-Visit Iceland-Set foot in all 50 states-Stand atop the Great Wall of China-Go clamming-Ride through the Panama Canal on a Cruise Ship-Go on a Cruise-Wear a large hat at the Kentucky Derby-Go parasailing-Work as a storm chaser-Own Land-Remove money as a concern in our life-Take a vacation without computers or phones-Zip line-Remove toxins from our food and environment-See the North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon-See a glacier in Antarctica-Wear a bikini-Go on a night dive with Manta Rays in Hawaii-Sleep in a treehouse-Learn to use my camera-See the salmon run in Alaska-Swim with Dolphins-See Niagra Falls-Fly in a Hot Air Balloon-Go Skydiving-See the Northern Lights-Climb Mt. Everest (not summit)-Fish for Blue Marlin-Pet a Penguin-Watch Polar Bears in the Wild-Bungee Jump-Get my Master's-Run a 5K-Weigh 140-Attend a fashion show in Milan-Do 50 guy pushups-Learn to play a musical instrument-Grow my own Garden-Bring Cassidy to Seattle to see where she was born-Eat Baba ghanoush-Go to the Super Bowl-Swim with Sharks-Become a nurse-Age well-Attend an event with celebrities-Go to New Orleans during Mardi Gras-Volunteer at a homeless shelter-Learn to snowboard-Learn to surf-Attend the Olympics-Attend the German Oktoberfest-Achieve financial abundance with photography-Get married in a church-Make a difference in someone's life-be a mentor-Do public speaking in front of 10,000 people or maybe just 1000-Try to be a vegetarian for 21 days-Conquer my biggest fear-Fall in Love-Celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square NYC, NY-Donate a million dollars to a charity of my choice-Tell at least 10 people about my bucket list and encourage them to do the same

When they are not fighting it's pure Love....

Condolences

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
Psalm 34:18

My deepest condolences to my brother-in-law Ken for the loss of his brother. My heart aches for you and your family.

"If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character...Would you slow down? Or speed up?” Chuck Palahniuk

There is no place like home....

There is no place like home....

The prettiest Dorthy around!

My Knight in Shining Armor <3

The hungry hungry Fireman....

And of course all my lovies!!!



Seriously, delicious!

We had an awesome Halloween. The kids loved it, we walked and walked and trick or treated for hours. We were like a thief in the night robbing the last few houses of the rest of their candy they didn't want to have left over. Quinlan scored big time when a lady dumped her candy bowl into his bucket, he was in candy heaven and we paid for it until 10:30 that night. Can say sugar high! Oh yeah!

So now it is that time of year, my favorite time of year. The smell of pine candles burning, the thought of Turkey and the turkey induced coma you get after you eat your weight in it, the football games, the cold weather, the possibility of snow, the hot chocolate, the egg nog spiked with rum, family, Christmas Tree's, a million reasons to be thankful, and the area decorated for Santa's visit. Oh yes my holiday freak flag is flying! 

Blue Angels

Evan and I enjoyed the Blue Angels while they practiced today for the airshow this weekend. October 28 temperature 66! How awesome is that? Poor Quinlan was taking a nap. The Blue Angels will be here all weekend though, he will surely get to enjoy them as well :)

Family

Garza Family Reunion 2010

The most amazing people I know...

I love my mom and dad more than ever! They are truly the best people I know...cherish family "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them" ~Desmond Tutu



Music and Pretty Little Faces

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music" ~Ronald Reagan

Truly the most beautiful violinist I have ever seen. Her first concert was a huge success. They did so well, they dressed so sharp, and my girl was second chair. Oh yes, I am proud :)

And then you have these two little munchkins, who march to the beat of their own drums, but too fill our home with love and laughter. I have to admit "while we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about' ~anonymous

Quack Quack here Quack Quack There

Feeding ducks provided some much needed entertainment for these littles. The ducks were quite hungry and a bit agressive at first...scared us a bit, but they sure did enjoy our day old bread.

It took Quinlan a bit to warm up to the over agressive ducks, but once they were off land and back in the water, all was good.

These were the overly agressive starving ducks. They were pretty big and were not scared of getting up in your face for some bread...we had to throw the bread in the water to get them away from us.

The park we went to was right near our house, we have lived here for 8 years and have never been, now that we are trying to move we will try to be there as often as possible. It was a nice "getaway" from the boring scene of Texas. The weather was beautiful and the company was fantastic

Now we must save all of our old bread, there truly is no need to waste it when you can have as much fun as we did!

My favorite duck. So graceful, beautiful and a reminder of how much fun it is to just be outside!

It's Friday and I am in Love....

WITH THESE CUTIES!!

WHO COULDN'T BE IN LOVE WITH THESE FACES???

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Oktoberfest

Oh we like to throw our hands up in the air sometimes and have a nasty good time, and that is just what we did at the Addison Oktoberfest. Lots of beer, lots of carnival food, and lots of fun!

We love our Germans (love you mom) they know how to have a kicking good time!

Sometimes in life a mug of beer is not a enough, that sometime for Dion happened to be this day. It was so good to see him have fun and not have to worry about being the DD for once.

And you know you are having a blast when someone break's out into a pirate. It was hot, it was crowded, it was expensive, but it was FUN!

And there are those times when you just have to be a kid, a kid who has had to much to drink to much to eat and decides that a ride that flips upside down is a good thing to ride!

I am sure this is the part that started to make everyone feel a little, um, sick.

But don't you worry your pretty little heads, the boys had a blast too! They too enjoyed the heat, the food and the rides, ok so they did not ride, but they loved watching them.

Dion, Ryan and Cortney thought tackling the Starship would also be a good idea.

And you know what, it was a good idea! They were able to throw their hands up, and have a kick ass time!

Where have I been??

We were here....

hanging with all of these people....

watching a football game....

hanging out at 14,100 feet above sea level....

enjoying nature....

looking for bigfoot....

riding a train....

visiting this guy....

viewing the Royal Gorge Bridge...

stopping to smell the flowers....

playing in the water...

enjoying LIFE!