Nona and Papa Visit

Nona and Papa came to visit the little miss a few weeks ago and I am just getting around to posting.  While they were here we tried to keep EK as busy as possible cause she likes to Go Go Go (which while they were here she learned to say!)

Saturday we took a little trip to the zoo which not surprising Ella loved.  Here Papa spoiled her and picked her up to see every exhibit which she just loved!

The lions were out sunning themselves and I had to get a picture of the King of the Jungle.  This was after he had been sunning his belly but that picture didn't come out good!

We let Ella run around a bit and she just loved it!  The Caldwell Zoo is great because it is so spread out that it never feels like there are lots of people there.  It was Boo at the Zoo the weekend we went and still we never had to fight people to see the exhibits which was just great when you have a 1 year old that wants to constantly go!

Ella and her Papa tried and to take a picture in front of the big spider web.  If you can't tell by EK's face, she was squirming to try and get free so she could go and run around.

 Sunday we spend most of our afternoon outside which Ella would love to do 100% of the time.  That kid just loves the outdoors.  She was having a blast with her Papa driving her around in the wagon. 

She also had a blast playing on her little playhouse.  Unfortunately she has not mastered the art of going down the slide just yet, but I did get some great action shots.  These just crack me up!

We had a great time with Nona and Papa in town and can't wait to go to LA for Thanksgiving to spend more time with them and the rest of the Underwood family!

Ella's First Playdate

Last weekend we agreed to watch a friend of our's daughter so they could finish moving into their new house.  Kloe is three weeks older than Ella Kate so we decided to brave having both girls and learn what it would be like if we ever had one year old twins.  Needless to say it is really true what they say, kids really do have more fun when they have someone to play with.

Ella Kate and Kloe played so well together the whole time!  Ella just loved showing Kloe all of her toys and I think Kloe enjoyed playing with them.

They even shared really well.  Well that is after Ella showed her dominance over her favorite toys and stole a few from Kloe.  Luckily that didn't last to long!

They even enjoyed snack time together!  If you notice Ella Kate is eyeing Kloe.  That little girl sure enjoys her food and always wants to make sure someone is not eating something that she wants!

I love this picture!  It looks like Ella is explaining to Kloe how to use the toy.  Needless to say the girls had a great time and we would be happy to have Kloe at our house anytime.  Good thing too cause they have just moved into our neighborhood which we are SO happy about!  I am sure these two girls will have many more playdates together!

 

Visit with the Nephew!

This past week my SIL was in Dallas for a conference so we decided to go and spend the day with Austin while she was busy in class.  Since it has been about 100 degress plus for the past month here we tried to think of something fun for a 2 1/2 year old and an almost 1 year old to do.  We decided a trip to the Dallas World Aquarium was in order.  Unfortunately since I am so great at remembering to use my camera while we are out and about there are no pictures from our time at the aquarium.  It was so much fun having Austin tell me all the colors of all the animals and even telling me what some of them were.  Ella really loved sitting in her stroller and pointing to all of the animals she could see.  Austin's favorite was the Jaguar (or as he said 'that thing that looks like a Cheetah).  Ella's favorite was probably the Manatee - the biggest thing she could see haha!

After our trip to the aquarium and some lunch in the West End at Sonny's BBQ we went and spent our afternoon hanging out at the hotel.  Here are a few pictures:

 I told my mom I would try and get a picture of her two grandchildren together.  This unfortunately is the best I could do.  Austin was all about sitting next to Ella and posing, but Ella really didn't want to sit still no matter what toy Austin tried to give her (you see how she ended up with her food bowl).

Austin was so great with Ella the whole time.  He shared all his toys with her and even some of his snack.  I told him that Ella couldn't have blueberries which he happened to be eating so each time he went to eat one he would say 'Ella, you can't have these' which I just thought was so funny.  That kid seems to remember everything!

Austin hamming it up for the camera - as I said he was all about taking some pictures!  It is amazing how much he has grown just since we saw him in May!  I can't wait to see what it is going to be like at Christmas time.

Here is the 2nd best picture I got of the two of them.  Don't they look like they are in time out!

Unfortunately it was only a one day trip to visit.  I sure could have stayed and hung out with the little man for many more days!  I guess that will have to wait until Christmas!

Holiday In The Pines

If you are in the Tyler, TX area...


Tickets will go on sale in November and can be bought at Potpourri House and The Gipson Girl!

I am still alive... I promise!

Sorry for the no posting, but I have been so busy since my last post, it is not even funny!

The dinner party was a success and I have a few great recipes to share and I hope to get those up this afternoon. We really enjoyed the fellowship and the great meal and I can't wait to do it again soon! It was a bit stressful trying to get everything ready so that you make sure you have all of the parts of the meal nice and hot when it is time to serve, but it all worked out!

On Monday I started my new job at the UT Health Science Center that we are so lucky to have in our area! With five days down, I am still enjoying it immensly and I can't wait to see what each day holds for me. I am working with the teaching faculty of the school and they are all so incredibly nice. I have been put in charge of Physician Recruitment (you know showing potential candidates around the school), some hiring for our ambulatory clinics (we have three very large clinics in some of the surrounding towns and we run the student clinic at UT Tyler), and I will also be acting as backup if we have someone out of one of the main offices that supports the medical staff. Everyone I have met there is fabulous and so willing to help if you have questions and I am just so glad to be back in an office setting! I even have a nice big office (with a door, if you knew what my last office was like you would understand why this is so important) and I am working on the decorating of it and I hope to post pictures sometime next week!

Yesterday we had our Re-assembly Tea for the women's group I am in. I am actually in charge of our big fundraiser in December so I spent most of my time there begging people to volunteer to help. It was a really great afternoon and I got quite a few volunteers and am really excited to finish up the planning!

Here are a few pictures from the afternoon.

Noami running the Mah Jongg sign-up table.

Barbara (President and fellow LSU grad) and Gail (Programs Chair). Both of these ladies are professors at UT Tyler.

Myself and another member. This is probably while I was begging for her to help out with the Holiday Home Tour!

Well I hope everyone is having a great end of summer. School starts here in Tyler tomorrow so the stores are packed full of last minute shoppers so I plan on spending the rest of my day just hanging out. We are grilling hand made pizza's tonight on the grill and I am very excited about it. Just waiting on the pizza dough to rise now. Hoping to share that recipe too, hopefully if I get free time soon!

Much Happier Now...

I have never been one to spend a lot of money on haircuts, but being here in East Texas and having been to about 4 different places trying to get my old hair back without looking like I just stepped out of the 1980s thanks to the fascination of the very large round brush I finally decided that I was just going to have to suck it up and pay. Let's just say, that was the best 60 bucks I have ever spent. If I was one to just randomly take pictures of myself (which I am not, cause I hate pictures, and especially close up pictures) I would have taken pictures of my fabulous new haircut thanks to Lisa over at The Rage Salon. I will definately be going back... I sure hope that Keith thinks that his 60 bucks were well spent, cause I plan on doing it every 8 weeks now! We may be in a recession and we may both have just received very large pay cuts, but I do believe that keeping me and my hair happy is something Keith will agree to allow!

I hope everyone has a great weekend... I know I will especially if LSU wins their game today... that is if they ever get out of the rain delay!

Just Another Day...

Well it is my last weekend unemployed and it looks like I will be spending it stuck in the bed... cause once again I am sick! Seriously can someone fix my health issues. I actually think I am fine now, but my lovely husband has confined me to the bed for the time being as I stupidly said "I felt fine while laying in the bed." So that is where I stay! Oh well at least I have a TV and internet in here, oh and did I mention I have a husband that is happily waiting on my hand and foot! Maybe I should just pretend to stay sick!

I had a get together for AAUW (American Association of University Women) on Thursday night and I forgot to talk about it. I have only been a member since January, but have really enjoyed the group and the women that I have met. It is really the only thing I am involved with here besides the church. I have done my best to get invovled quickly in the group and am actually the chair for the Holiday Home Tour and also for the Academic Spelling Bee! Guess it is a good thing I only took a part time job, both of those events are going to keep me really busy through the end of the year!

Our event on Thursday was a Salad Supper which honored our scholarship receipients. We give out 6 scholarships to the local highschools, junior college, and college here and it was really neat meeting the young women who received these scholarships. I actually had one at my table and she was great to speak with! We also did our induction ceremony and had some awards given out. I actually won a Women of Worth award for jumping in and getting involved so quickly which was neat! I wish I would have had some pictures but as usual I forgot my camera! I really have to get better at that!

Alright I am off to continue to lay in the confines of my bed... enjoy your weekends... and go do something fun for me!

Just a Relaxing Weekend...

We had a great weekend here in East Texas... not much going on and not much to do around the house. Personally that is a great weekend!

Friday we were lucky enough to meet a few new people thanks to a co-worker of Keith's. We went over to his house and just had a good time relaxing and spending time with new friends.

Saturday it was time for Saban's annual visit to the vet. Man I wish I would have had a camera for this experience! Not only was it storming when it was time to get out of the car, but there were 3 other dogs waiting in the office for their turn. Now our cat as I have said before... is NOT normal. He believes that if you can not see his head, then you can't see the rest of his body. Well this proved true to him once again during this visit. You see, we do not bring Saban to the vet in a carrier as he feels safer in Keith's arms, so as Keith was holding him, he found a little spot to put his head in between Keith's upper arm and forearm and just sat there for his 30 minute wait. In his mind, those crazy dogs could not see him and he was perfectly safe from their attacks. Luckily he was great for the doctor and was sent on with a clean bill of health! Poor little guy did have to get 3 shots and was ridiculously sluggish yesterday, but seems to be much better this morning.

Sunday consisted of a trip to church and this...

Keith playing golf while I drove around in the golf cart. I wish I could have taken a picture of myself though... I had my legs kicked up on the cart with a magazine and just enjoying the day. Unfortunately about 15 minutes after this picture was taken and I had really gotten comfortable, the wind picked up to about 30 miles an hour and the sun went away and I froze... and we were only on hole 5! So for the next 13 holes, instead of kicking back and enjoying the day, I was in a little ball trying to get my shorts to cover as much as possible and being very thankful I had decided to wear tennis shoes instead of flip flops and that I brought a jacket. But it was still a nice day and I enjoyed the time with Keith in the outdoors... he even let me take a few swings... yeah golf is not ever going to be my sport!

But now it is Monday, and we are now T-minus 11 days until I am officially unemployed! Still no hits in the job search department but oh well, just still praying about it and I know whatever is supposed to happen will happen and it will happen with time. So, if you are reading this, say a little prayer for me especially for my patience in this time!

Don't Feed the Seagulls

I thought this sign was ridiculously funny for some reason... It was on the boardwalk at Kemah and I just couldn't help but take a picture of it. Keith did not find it as funny as me, but oh well!

We had a great time at the Kemah boardwalk on Saturday with my parents... Here are just a few pictures

The roller coaster Keith and I rode on... it was a great old time wooden roller coaster!

Keith and I on the Boardwalk

Keith and my dad racing the monster trucks... ok well actually Keith racing the truck, my dad yelling at his cause it was broken!

Saturday night we went to the Laff Stop in Houston and saw a great comedian, Claude Stuart. If you are ever in Houston and have a free evening, I recommend going to the Laff Stop. We are yet to see a bad comedian there and we really enjoy it every time we go!

Yesterday we went to church with my parents and had a great Easter lunch with them, then it was time to head home. It was a gorgeous spring day, and this was the sight along the side of the road...

Yes, it is bluebonnet season here in Texas... and oh how I love it. I really think it is the prettiest sight ever. More than once I contemplated asking Keith to pull over so I could take some pictures (I had to get this one off of Yahoo! Images), but I decided against it, maybe on the next trip!

Well lot's of things to do around here today, along with work. Laundry, grocery shopping, and other errands to run. It is going to be a LONG day!

What A Beautiful Day...

I just had to take advantage of it this morning and go out for a jog. 2.15 miles... not bad. I have to thank www.mapmyrun.com for doing the measurements. It was 65 with a slight wind and beautiful sun when I went... now its about 78 still breezy and still VERY sunny. It is just gorgeous here in East Texas!

That is definitely one thing that I have loved since we moved here... I never knew what 4 seasons were until we moved here. My previous residences of South Texas and South Louisiana are 1 1/2 seasons... Summer and maybe a week or 2 of winter! Add in the 100% humidity about 360 days of the year and it's not the nicest weather. Though living there for 24 of my years I never thought I would say that... but back then I didn't know what I was missing!

Tomorrow night is the first night of my cake decorating class and I CAN'T WAIT! I am so excited about learning how to correctly ice a cake and how to make the little flowers. Next I will have to learn how to bake a really good cake from scratch. Any recipe suggestions? I have made cupcakes from scratch once now, but I am yet to attempt a cake... guess that will probably be coming early next week. Oh and we get to learn how to make butter cream icing! MMMMM! More to come about the class, and hopefully some pictures of my creations!

We are off to my parents right after class tomorrow (hopefully barring no work emergencies for Keith) to enjoy the Easter weekend! I can't wait to go shopping with my mom and Keith and my dad are going to try and get in 2 rounds of golf. We always have a great time when we go to my parents, and we both get to do what we want this way! Plus there is always good food to be had in Houston! I mean there are like 4,000 restaurants there! I wonder where I should convince them to take me :)

On To Monday...

Well the weekend is now over... and I wish it was still Saturday... now it is Monday, and it is 46 degrees outside and windy (like 20 mph). I wanted to go run outside so bad today, so I got dressed made it halfway down the street and turned around. I just was not able to do it with the wind. I guess instead I will do some cleaning and laundry... not really in the mood to drive to the gym.

We had a really great weekend here with the in-laws. I did lots of shopping with my MIL and got lots of bargains.
I got this shirt at Ann Taylor Loft... and thanks to a coupon and a gift card from my mom... only had to spend 13 bucks!
I was so excited to see all the cute spring clothes in the Loft... unfortunately can't spend the money right now, but let me share with you some of the pieces that if I could I would buy!
I tried on both and wanted to buy them so bad... but I let my head win instead of my shopping self. But I do have to say the best thing about my trip to the Loft, was the fact that I would have needed a size 8 in those shorts. Now this might not seem like a big thing to most people, but I have been a size 12 for as long as I can remember. I go into my closet, and I only own 1 pair of size 10 pants, and to need an 8 just makes me ridiculously happy! It feels so good to know that the past 10 months in the gym have really done something for me.

I also bought a new pair of workout capris and Nike zip-up at JCPenney's and had a 15% off plus they were already 20% off, so I got a great deal on those too! I just LOVE getting a good deal!

Sunday my in-laws left, and I had the opportunity to be a greeter for the Tyler Historic Home Tour. Here is a link to the house I was at. I had such a good time and the house was AMAZING! Unfortunately, I was at the front door and decided to wear a dress, and almost froze to death thanks to the wind, but I toughed out my 2 hours and really had a good time. Makes me really excited for when I am in charge of the AAUW Holiday in the Pines home tour in December!

Blog Makeover!

As you can see I did a little bit of a blog makeover this afternoon... I really wish there were more headers on cutestblogontheblock.com, but I guess beggers can't be choosers! Guess this will work for now until I get bored with it again.

Not much to write about over here today. Had a great day at the gym and ran 1.25 miles today! I have to say that I am proud of myself as I never thought I would even hit that mile and now look at me... going to try for 1.5 on Saturday.

Did get some sucky news today and it looks like I will no longer be employed as of May 1. In a way, I can not be more excited as I am so ready to be out of this job. I am bored with it and tired of working from home. I can't wait to be out there interacting with the world again! In other ways, it sucks! I know I am never going to be able to find a job here in East Texas that can pay me what I am making, especially in this economy. I have met some wonderful people while doing this job and I hate to not have to interact with them anymore (even if it is just through email)! So the job hunt is really on now! Anyone out in East Texas world that happens to run across this blog... want to employ me???

I hate the job search process... I know I am capable of doing all of the jobs that I apply for, but you never know what the person reading that resume on the other end is really thinking. Most of the jobs I have applied for so far are jobs with the State of Texas and all resumes have to go through Austin, so you can't even try and get in with someone here! I just wish I could bring my resume to someone at a job I want and they can say YOU'RE HIRED! Ugh but only time will tell... I just have to pray about it and I know when the time is right, what I need will come to me.

So we wait...