Halloween 2009

This year, instead of staying home and handing out candy for the neighborhood kids, we decided to go to a Halloween party at Brooke & Dewayne's house (friends we've made through Nick & Stephanie). Our theme this year was "cheapness", so I used my cat costume from last year, and Matt dressed in a pair of my old scrubs and went as a doctor. He added a headlight and enhanced his costume to a specific type of doctor" OB/GYN. Ha! We had a great time!

N.Y.C.

A few weeks ago, I had to head back up to New Jersey for a round of training with B&L. Luckily I only had to stay for a week this time, and not 2 interminable weeks like last time. Anyway, Matt and I decided that this would be a great opportunity for him to fly up to Newark at the end of my training session, and spend a long weekend in New York.

October is a perfect time of the year to visit the city. The weather was nice and cool, and the leaves were just starting to turn in the parks throughout the city.

Matt got to Newark early Friday evening, and we took the train from EWR to Penn Station. The look on Matt's face as we came up onto 7th Avenue out of Penn Station was PRICELESS. I could tell he was immediately overwhelmed by all of the lights, people, and noise that NYC has to offer. I felt the exact same way the first time I was there, too. We stayed at a cute little hotel in a quiet neighborhood in the Upper West Side. It was a few blocks from Central Park, and a few from the 96th Street Subway Station (which made for quick trips into downtown).

First thing Saturday morning we went to the Empire State Building and viewed the city from the observation deck. It was absolutely breathtaking (and WINDY!). It was really cool seeing the city from so high up, and even cooler to be in places later and remember seeing it from the ESB.

We spent the rest of the day exploring Midtown. We walked up and down 5th Avenue, seeing numerous beautiful churches amongst the high-end shops. We visited Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, the New York Public Library, and, of course, Times Square. New York is such a great place to people watch, and I think that's why Matt enjoyed it so much! Times Square is a freaking madhouse, with so much going on at ALL times. It is a tourist trap, but it's a must-see. We enjoyed some food from a street vendor and had a beer in Times Square, which was really cool.

We spent the rest of that day in Central Park, which was beautiful. It's amazing that you can get far enough into the park and completely forget you are in the biggest city in the nation. Kudos to NYC for keeping the park so clean and well kept! We walked down the Mall (which is probably the most recognizable part of the park), saw a bunch of street performers (seriously, they are everywhere), and took a rowboat around a small lake in the park. It was such a pretty day, and so much fun.

On Sunday, we took the Subway down to the financial district. It's so weird how different this part of the city is from Midtown. It's like we were in an entirely different place. Matt was really excited about seeing the NYSE. We also saw where Washington was inaugurated as the first US President...and that was REALLY cool. We visited the South Street Seaport and had a beer while looking out into the harbor and over to Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Bridge was really a sight to see. We had some very somber moments visiting Ground Zero and seeing some of the memorials for 9/11. Just being there gives a whole new dimension to what happened that day. We got some shots of the Statue of Liberty, but didn't take the ferry out there. We wanted to spend as much time as we could walking the city.

We had a great time, and can't wait to go back someday!

Pumpkin-Off 2009

Matt and I did our annual pumpkin carving for Halloween this past Friday. This is a tradition we have, since we have done it every year since we've been together. We look forward to including our kids in this one day, and look forward to it every year.

This year I carved some creepy dolls into my pumpkin, and Matt used Lola as a muse for his. His turned out sooo good! I could not even believe how much it looked like Lola! Yes, we know we are THOSE people, but we don't care. It's hard to see the detailing on mine in this pictures, but you get the idea. Matt's shows up really well though.

"Little Darlings". It turned out a lot better than I had expected!

Daddy and his muse.

Pumpkin head!

Each of our pumpkins turn out really good every year, but I have to say that Matt takes the blue ribbon this year. It was just so dang good!

Dove Hunt

Well, only a month and half late on this one! On Labor Day we went to exercise our right to shoot some birds. I, as you might guess, did not partake in the actual shooting of these birds, because I just can't bring myself to purposely kill an animal. Unless of course we were hunting snakes. Then I'd lead the pack.

I was Matt's "spotter", so I sat with him up in the brush and trees and helped him spot birds. We had fun just sitting around and having a few cold ones. Matt really loves to hunt, so it was fun for me to watch him have fun.

Matt and his prey.

My Best Friend's Wedding

So my best friend in the whole world is MARRIED! I can hardly even believe it, even though it was over a week ago. I am very, very proud to have been such a big part of Katy & Tyler's day, and SO blessed to call her my best friend. It was so cool to be able to stand next to her as her Maid of Honor as she said her vows to Tyler before God and everyone, as she had done for me almost a year and a half ago. We have truly come full circle for one another, and it warms my heart that our friendship is stronger today than it has ever been. I guess I underestimated the magnitude of what it is to be a "Maid of Honor". I mean, I always knew she would be mine and I hers, but I suppose I didn't realize the impact it would have on me. As I was waiting with her in the Bridal Suite in the church, waiting for her Dad to come back and walk her down the aisle, I had the most powerful feeling of what it is to be a best friend to someone. That she wanted me there, needed me there, depended on me, was leaning on me. It was such a surreal feeling, and one that inspired my passion for our friendship and what she was about to embark upon.

I had stayed up until 2 a.m. the night before with her. Putting together all of the programs, tying them together with the most impossible of leather strips. But there was nowhere else I'd have rather been at that time. I woke up the next morning around 7, and sat at the computer to type up directions to the reception hall, and then cut all 350 of them into separate strips. I loaded up the car with her and Tyler's luggage for Matt to drop off at the hotel, after I shuttled her to the hair salon and back, complete with an in-between trip to go back and get her veil. And I'd do it all over again. I sweated off a good 5 pounds bustling her dress, and certainly didn't make any friends as I ordered the emcee around and gathered up the wedding party. And I won't even mention the wedding cake debacle. But she is worth every second of it to me. To know that whatever it was that I was doing, and whoever it was I was chewing out, that it was one less thing that would take away from HER day with Tyler, is priceless to me.

I hope that I did her justice up there, because she certainly has always come through for me. And like I told Tyler in my toast to them that night, if she is even half the wife to him as friend she's been to me...he's in very good hands. And then some.

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Tyler Merrill!! I love you both!

Katy's Bachelorette Party

As Katy's Maid of Honor in her upcoming nuptials, I had the pleasure of throwing her Bachelorette Bash last weekend. I had a lot of fun putting together the invitations, getting decorations and making plans, shopping for lingerie (!!!), and just getting to spend time with my girl and other friends. We kept it pretty simple (and PG-13, for the most part) and had the lingerie shower at the Worthington in Ft. Worth, followed by dinner at Reata and then Billy Bob's to see Sara Evans. I'd be lying if I said we didn't end the night at Katy's favorite place...The White Elephant (Walker, Texas Ranger anyone??). It was a ton of fun watching Katy squirm and be uncomfortable opening racy lingerie and novelty items, and then watch her stumble her way through a "How well do you know Tyler" game (she didn't know many of the answers. At all.). Reata was excellent as always, and Billy Bob's was, well, Billy Bob's. Sara Evans looked great (seriously, her legs are a pair to be envious of), and the White Elephant did not disappoint either. We had a great time just being girls, and celebrating Katy's "last" night as a bachelorette!!

The Bachelorette and I after the shower, and before dinner.

Katy and some of her "presents".

The life of the Party!

The entire gang after dinner at Reata.

This picture pretty much sums up the night.

The final three, the morning after...

Sunday Funday!

Today we had a great day up at Lake Ray Roberts with Matt's family. They invited us up to spend some time on the boat and eat some DELICIOUS hamburgers with them, and Jen, Justin, & the kids. The weather was absolutely perfect...a nice breeze coming off the water made it just perfect. Matt and Jen did some water-skiing while I played photographer, and Julia & Jack got some QT in the sand. Just a few shots of Matt from out on the water...

We definitely look forward to spending more time out on the lake...it's too bad that the summer is already winding down!