I Am Rather Proud "draft #3"

Number three in the draft series...this was last year.

When our daughter was just 3 months old my brother came to live with us.  We opened our home, hubby gave him a job and took a chance.  We wanted Matt to have the relationship we had with Jesus.  We pushed aside all of the what-if's and took that chance.  (My brother was a lost druggie with long hair living in Alaska.)

No one would've ever known he'd be a pastor let alone a missionary on the other side of the world touching people for Jesus.

 Showing some native items.

 My brother's family in native garb.  My family just happened to be in all red.  A few of my sister-in-love's family.  It was hard to say goodbye!

 Love these girls.

Just a funny video.  I thought it was in photo mode and it was in video mode.  Love this little man.

Sisters "Draft" Post #2"

*This was from a year ago..almost to the day.*

While in cali us girls had some free time.  My sister and I did something that we haven't done in years.
I did her hair.
My sister has a ton of hair, thick, curly hair.
Her only request was that it be off of her face.
Here I am trying one of those braids that is like a headband.
It didn't look good.

I ended up curly her whole head!!  It looked so pretty.  I wish I had a picture, but my camera's batteries died.

Spending time with my sister is such a precious treasure.  We are so different and yet so alike.  There is no one like her.  She is truly one of a kind.  God knew what He was doing when He made my little sister.  She is an awesome woman of God.

More Visitors

Earlier this year we had my sister and her family come for great visit.

We went to Tulie Creek.

The boys.

The girls...not too happy about getting their pics taken.

Auntie (me) and Beautiful niece.

The kids were going to go down the Poop Shoot, but it didn't work out.

Visitors

My grandma and mom came for a short visit.  We had such a good time.

Here's what happened.

Four generations.  

We drove to the mountains and stopped at The Old Apple Barn.  Great place for photo shoots.

Hubby (being hubby) and my mom.

Family shot.

Grandma was nervous to go all of the way out on the look out.  Hubby convinced her to go and she wasn't disappointed.

Hubby is such to jokester acting like they are falling.

The Zoo with my Brother

 You may or may not know that my brother and his family are missionaries in America Samoa.  We haven't seen them for 2 1/2 years.  We had a very nice (short 2 days) visit with them.  We took them to the zoo.

 Here's our son narrating  for you all.

 There was a pigeon with a stump leg.  Our daughter really felt for it.

 Our son seeing how far he could jump.  Not too bad
.

 My awesome brother and his family.  Miss them tons.

 I think I got everyone, except me.  We were all looking at the bears.

My brother was really into these birds.

Going back to Cali to Cali...

...hmm, I don't think so.
(by LL Cool J)

Okay so we did go back.  That drive is getting VERY LONNNNNNG!  But always worth it.

Here are a few photos from the trip.  We left NM @ 4:30 am on Friday.  Had dinner with my sister and her family.  Which is always a good time.
Sat. most of us went to our niece's soccer game.  Then us ladies hung out and the guys went to Bass Pro Shop.

 "What's for lunch?" was the BIG question.  Since I had never been to Chick-fil-A, we went there.

 The salads looked good, since it was my first time I wanted the CFA experience.  Nice place, nice employees, nice (not great) food.

The cousins waiting for their food. 

In the afternoon, we all met up at my dad's.
We went to the Spectrum, ate at Pieology.  Which was yummy!  GF crust, yay!   Hubby and I got to catch up some with the bride and groom, which was nice.
The Older guys and their fiances did their own thing after dinner.  The rest of us walked around the outdoor mall.  About half of us rode the ferris wheel.

 Son, with cousins.

 Hubby and I with Dad.

Group shot minus the olders w/fiances.  We asked a stranger to take the photos.  He was more than willing.  The kicker was his daughter holding a stuffed animal on her dad's shoulder, etc.  Like a photo studio.  She was a hoot!  Good times.

Brother #2 got Married

This past weekend one of my four brothers got married.
It was one of the most beautiful, Christ-centered weddings!  What a blessing to know that the baby I once babysat (we are 17ish years apart), the little boy who was our ring bearer is saved and starting a beautiful life with a wonderful lady.

 My dad and his girls, right before the wedding...from left to right...My daughter, me, Dad, my sister and her daughter.

 Two of my brothers.  Josh is the groom and Zach will be next to get married.

 Isn't she gorgeous?!?  Her dad gave the best "speech" at the reception.  I don't think there was a dry eye!  (By the way, she's a home schooler...see we're normal.  heehee!)

 Part of the fam, starting at the boy at the bottom, working clockwise, our nephew, my step-mom, brother #2, brother #3 and down to the fine gent, that would be my dear dad, the half man is my brother-in-law.
OH, Right to the right of my dad is brother #4.

Josh reading the vows he wrote for Heather!  They both had such sweet vows.  You can see a little of the gorgeous scenery.  Simply beautiful.  Perfect day.

After this shot of Dad and Debbie, our camera died.

Random, just Random

Life has been different lately, and that isn't all that bad.
*Son is bustin' his boo-tay  (and I mean bustin') to finish 9th grade homeschool so he can go to public school next school year.
*We didn't get matched for the boy we REALLY were hoping to get.  So, more inquiring and waiting.
*Daughter bought me this after her work the other night!  So sweet!

*I ran a mile yesterday!!  Walked two.
*Hubby's beard is growing on me.
*I actually sang a line of a song in tune the other night!!  The WHOLE line!  Too bad I didn't have it recorded or I would play it for you!
*Daughter is busy car searching...mustang, car searching!  She test drove one and is going to make an offer.
*Made this for a fellowship.  YUM!  I will have to post the recipe.  (I always say that and then forget.  Remind me!!)

 *Made these and this the other night for dinner.  The potatoes look better than they tasted.  (this is before they are cooked.)

 The fish was caught by my step-dad.

Hope you have a great (long) weekend!

The Food

Okay, so the food has to be one our favorite parts of the trip to New Orleans.  We did eat at Bubba Gumps...okay.  One of our favorites was N'awlins Cafe and Spice Emporium.  It is right in the French Market.  Good 'ole southern/cajun food.  So good we went there twice, and would've gone there daily had we stayed longer.  That poor fellow had no idea I was taken a photo.  The waitress was right up there with some of the best.  It was a cold, cold day when we took the photo.  The red beans and rice which we mixed with our mixed greens was perfect on the cold day.  If you ever go to New Orleans, you've got to go here.

On one of our first days we had a muffuletta at the Central Grocery.  People line up for this sandwich!  Hubby bought a jar of the fixin's before we left.  That is half of the sandwich below.

I can't write about food without mentioning Cafe du Monde.  Beignets and Coffee.  Personally, I thought it was a bit over rated, but still yummy.  I do love that this cafe has been such a success with selling just two main items.  Note, make sure you aren't wearing black and it's not windy when you eat there.  The beignets are COVERED in powdered sugar.  I used the extra sugar for my coffee.  We actually got coffee from a different coffee shop.

This was another fave.  We ate there twice.  The pizza is awesome; the kids loved it.  The red beans and rice are thee best!  You can get a wide variety of food here. 

 See the brick building?  It is an US Mint which is also right across the street from our hotel.

Our last night there, we had Krystals, which you can skip.  Though Hubby liked it...he likes almost everything food.  Then we met up at MIL's place and some of the fam went to get oysters and came back with a small buffet. 

Overall, the food is AWESOME in New Orleans.  Something for everyone and most at a good price.