Austin Hot Sauce Festival

Sunday we went out to the Austin Hot Sauce Festival at Waterloo park. With the "cold front" that Austin got- the weather was nice and the sauce was HOT! haha! Our friends Wade and Kelly came along with us- just a great way to get out of the house on a Sunday afternoon.

Some of our favorites were the Big Daddy's Ass Burn sauce.... yes- that's what it is really called. And the crew was wearing shirts that said "Hell going in- Hell going out"

They don't kid around. Sauce names were:

The Orginal Ass Burn (my favorite), High on Fire, Amplified Heat, and Flaming Lips.



One of the others we liked was Big Dawg Salsa- they had some awesome BBQ and Dipping Sauces called Slobber and Drooling- along with some yummy hot sauce- even one called D.N.R (that's for Do Not Resucitate) Needless to say I didn't not try that one....

Then the live music really hit it off! Paula Nelson hit the stage and then we found a shaded spot and got comfy on our blanket to watch T-Bird and The Breaks and they were great! I am pretty sure I have missed my called to be a back up tamborine/ maraca/dancer and shaker. Those girls were having SO much fun! I could totally do that! If you have a chance to check these guys out around Austin- I promise you will not be bored. They were seriouly breaking it down~ and so was the crowd!

What a great Funday Sunday!

If you build it- they will come!

For those of you who don't know- we are building our 1st house! It's coming right along. Should be ready for move in by November- and I just can't wait. Here are some pictures of the progress. It's OFFICIALLY ours!

Clearing off the land.

All clear.

Putting up the forms.

Bottom floor framing. (is that an actual "rain" cloud? I have forgotten what those look like....)

2nd Floor framing!

I can't wait until we get to start the actual move! (not that I am excited about the whole moving process) BUT- getting to set up the house and decorate. (that's where our good friend Miss. Kelly comes in! she has that decorator eye- and she's single boys- and CUTE!) But the kids will get to decorate their rooms- and the nursery will get to be all set up- and the dogs are going to love it- it's just all SO exciting!

It's a BOY!

A boy......

Maybe I should say that just one more time- IT'S A BOY!

It all seems so surreal. I mean- seeing him up there on the sonogram, sucking his thumb- I think he even threw up a quick TX Longhorn sign!

(of course his Dad swears it was a TX Tech Red Raider sign.... but seriously- what baby would do something like that?)
Anyhow- everything is GREAT! Now the fun stuff begins. We can finally start shopping and picking out decorations and thinking of names- OH I can't wait!

Weekend of Showers!

Tell you what Wedding and Baby season must be among us! It seems like every time I turn around there is a baby shower, wedding shower, or an actual wedding to attend! I am in NO way complaining- I love attending these get togethers! Most of all- and I am sure you could have guessed this- I absolutely love planning these sort of events! Milestones like that give me an actual "real" reason to plan a party- I don't have to worry about convincing my husband that there really is a point in throwing a party for Elvis week (which is the 2nd week in August- for those of you who would like to know) Babies and Weddings are at the top of the list when it comes to deserving a celebration. Although I wasn't part in the hosting of these celebrations- it was fun to attend and to have the chance to celebrate with my friends as they start on this new journey!

So this week- I went to:

A work related baby shower for my friend Allyson. She is due Sept. 28! It's right around the corner and we all can't wait to meet Baby Jack!! I made this super cute diaper cake for her- and I have to say I was pretty impressed with myself. I had never made one before- and I think it came out great! I included 48 diapers, a bottle of J&J Powder and Lotion, Vaseline, gauze, gas drops, diaper ointment, baby wash cloths, baby socks, and that cute little dogie up top!

Then we went to a surprise Stock the Bar wedding shower for my friend Christi and Scott- who are getting married the 1st weekend in October. I won the contest for guessing how many jelly beans were in the wine bottle! (I tell you.... I know how much of anything can fit in a wine bottle haha!) I can't wait for thier wedding. It will be a lot of fun- and give me a reason to go shopping for something fun to wear!

The next day- I attended a Bridal Shower for my friend Logan. She is marrying Josh Sept. 12th- coming up fast! It was fun to hang out with all the girls and many had brought thier babies. I got lots of good advice and it's nice to have a group of friends that likes to have babies around.

Once I left Logan's shower- I picked up Cody and we headed out to my friend Allyson's fun co-ed baby shower! It was really cute! They had done a picnic theme complete with red and white table cloths, hamburgers, wings, popcorn and yummy potatoe salad. It was also her husband's birthday so we finished it all off with some cupcakes and ice cream.

All in all it was a great weekend! Only to think- not even a year ago we started ou wedding "shower" season. And now.... we are getting ready to start celebrating our baby boy! It's funny how true the old nursery rhyme is "1st comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage!"

20 Weeks- 5 Months- Half Way There!

WOW- I mean- I just can't hardly believe it! Already half way through this pregnancy.... that's just insane to me. (*picture coming soon*)

So far, I have really enjoyed everything. I wanted to make sure that I kept, and continue to keep, a positive out look on this experience. IF this is my only time to be pregnant, I wanted to make sure that I didn't look back with any regrets. I asked a lot of moms for advice, and learned what they would have done differently from one pregnancy to the next. Compiled my list- and so far- ALL has been just great!

How far along? 20 Weeks- that's 5 months- WOW!
Body Changes? I am still doing good in the gym- although I can tell I get tired quicker- but I think that staying active is really helping me feel great. Oh- and my feet hurt- good thing I have such a great husband to rub them for me.
Sleep: it's hard- and I don't see this situation improving much. I have a body pillow, I have stolen the cushions from the couch- but I still toss and turn through the night.
Gender: We find out Monday- Aug. 24th- yipeeeee!!
Best moment this week: feeling movement- finally-
Food Cravings: none- hmmm.... not sure how to feel about this one. I think it would be fun to have a "craving" but I haven't had any so far. On the other hand- I am glad that I am not craving something crazy, unhealthy, and/ or gross.
Milestones: I got my hair cut! and LOVE it!
Symptoms: swollen toes- they look like little sausages...big ones! Sore back, and creaking knees.
What I miss: riding roller coasters! not that I do this often- but we did go to Sea World this summer- and a trip to Six Flags would be fun!
What I am looking forward to: This week is crazy! Bunko Night, 2 baby showers, 1 wedding shower, 1 bridal shower, and 1 bachelorette party- plus in-laws are in town, kids start school next week- and Monday we find out if we're having a boy or girl! Whew- trying saying all that in one breath! It's going to be a great week!

Ciara's 11th B-day

What a fun party! We took Ciara and her friends bowling at Main Event. Then played some games- and headed back to the house to cook out steaks and bake potatoes! Everyone had a blast! (even the dogs! I think Gracie licked all the girls clean!)

Gracie was licking all the girls!

Getting ready to go out on the town!

The boys...

Fun times!Riding the roller coaster- wheeeee!Cody was scared to ride alone- Skyler was the brave one!Lots of birthday gifts!

See what it is!

Yes! new clothes

You can tell that Caleb is so excited.....

what?? who got that for her? That makes her the 1st one in the family with a flat screen! I am jealous.

Yummy cake

all passed out..... finally.....

My dog swallowed a towel..

Yes- you read that correct. Let me repeat it.


My dog swallowed a towel.


Sunk in yet? You ask "how do I know this?"


Well.... because he swallowed it on the front end- and when I woke up in the morning- 1/2 of it was hanging out the back end.


Completley in tact. But only 1/2 way out.


Guess who gets to "help" with the birth of the towel?


Is this the universe's sick way of preparing me for a baby?

Female McGyver

So here's a good story for all of you folks out there looking for a good laugh...

Wednesdays at lunch I go to an aerobics class at my gym that I love! Today was especially a great day! We had a sub for our regular instructor- and I asked her about doing the class while pregnant. She has a 1 year old and taught the class while she was expecting- that's great news! Put some of my silly fears to rest.
So the work out is great and I head back to the office to shower up and get back to work. While I am getting ready- my bra breaks.... well more like BUSTS open... front closure.... just hanging out....

Can I tie it together? No. Do I have a safety pin? No. Can I go freestyle? haha! NO.

hmmmm.... how am I going to handle this?

I find a bobby pin, a hair tie, and some tweezers.... that's all I have. (too bad I didn't have a pack of gum and a lighter- not to sure what I would've done with those items- but McGyver always made those work)

Anyhow- I go to work. Using the bobby pin and tweezers to stuff the hair tie in the loops of the bra. And I am now wearing some sort of front tie contraption that keeps poking in between the girls. Great.

You know- if it was time for me to go bra shopping- there were other, more subtle ways of giving me the hint....