P/V Anniversary

Paul and Vicki celebrated 54 years of marriage with us this year.  We were excited about this milestone in their lives and decided we would go out to eat with them to celebrate! 

Anna sent them flowers and she picked out the same color they had at their wedding.  They were very pretty and we put them in a vase and set them on the mantle.  

We made reservations at Farm Table and requested to sit at Elaine's table (Noah's mom).  Farm Table is only open for dinner and it's a little on the pricey side so we didn't take the kids with us on this dinner trip.  Vicki and I both ordered mac and cheese except I got bacon mixed in and she did not.  B and Paul shared their meals which one was a steak and one was stuffed chicken.  All the food was delicious and I think we had 3 go boxes with leftovers.  P/V shared a key lime dessert which is one of their favorites.  

It was a really good day and evening for the two of them.  Happy 54th anniversary! 

12th Anniversary

We didn't forget our Anniversary....we just didn't make a big deal about it.  I believe it was Friday (December 8) when I asked B if he had gotten me anything and he said he hadn't.  I told him it was okay because I hadn't gotten him anything, not even a card.  We just wanted to be together.

Merge Christmas Party 12/8/17

Our 12th anniversary was on a Sunday and we started the day off like any other Sunday.  We went to 8:15 service with the family and then to Merge at 9:30. When I say our family, I mean the 9 of us because we had the Marsh cousin.  PM had his company Christmas party on the 9th so we hosted the 3 Marshlings for a fun sleepover.  Our kids love it when they sleep over and it's fun when they all play together.  B was teaching Merge so he threw some of our wedding pictures up and talked about our anniversary with the class.  It was really sweet of him to do that.  It's always fun to reminisce about our wedding day.  After class we picked up all the kids and came home for lunch.  B grilled burgers and we had left overs plus a cheese and meat tray.  P&A came over to pick up their kids so they stayed and ate lunch with us.  It was fun to hang out with them for a while.  After lunch our family took traditional Sunday afternoon rests before Awana.

On the shuttle to church 12/10/17

Our plan was to eat at Red Lobster while the kids were at Awana for 2 hours, but since College Park had their Christmas program that night, Awana was only 1 hour long.  We didn't have enough time to drive to hwy 6 to eat, so we just hung out for an hour.  Since Awana was shorter, we came home and got to hang out with the kids before putting them to bed.

Our real anniversary date will be two fold.  We are seeing Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Sunday December 17th and then we are staying over night in New Orleans before attending the Saints/Falcons game on December 24th.  I love BFH!

Star Wars 12/17/17

Date Night to Texans Game

B & were lucky enough to be invited to a Texan's game last minute one weekend. When I say "last minute" I mean I got a text inviting us on Saturday afternoon for a Sunday night football game.  We asked a few people to see if they could watch the kids but no one was available until we asked Anna.  She "owed" us for watching her kids at some point so she said she could watch them for us.  She offered to just let them spend the night because it was going to be a VERY late night, but with school and work, we decided to just pick them up after the game. 

October 8th, 2017, the Texans hosted the Chiefs for SNF.  We were invited by Pat and Barton.  I work with Pat at Logos and we've become friends.  We eat lunch together every MWF and sometimes talk on the phone.  I really like Pat and she's probably my best friend at Logos.  She teaches Algebra 2, but we always talk about math in general.  She and her husband, Barton, have season tickets.  They usually take their 2 daughters but since it was a late game, she said she didn't want her girls to attend.  Lucky for us, we found childcare and met them at NRG stadium around 5pm.  They tailgate before every home game and have parking passes too.  We ate some tailgate food and talked with Pat's friends and family before entering the game.  The seats were soooo good.  I mean the third row from the field in the end zone.  B and I have never had seats that close before.

I was so excited to see DeShaun Watson & JJ Watt.  Unfortunately, this is the game that JJ Watt broke his leg.  It happened really early in the game and he never returned.  The Texans fought hard though and made it exciting all the way to the end.  We had a blast!
 

Those guys behind us....haha

This guy kept leaning back in my space!

We are in the background of this picture.  This is from TV when Anna paused it and took a picture because she could see us. 

Valentine's Weekend

We've done a kid swap with the Marsh family for valentines before, so we did it again this year.  We took the Marsh kids for Saturday and they took our kids Sunday.  Sunday seems strange, but Friday didn't work because B was still out of town for work.

Friday was an early release day, but the kids had their Valentine Parties at school.  I was able to attend, and they were both super cute and fun.  R & A both love Williams and I'm so thankful God led us to this neighborhood.  R's class played games and had a Valentine breakfast, while A's class had an ice cream party.  R left school early with me, but A wanted to finish the day out so he rode the bus home.

A's best friend Brayton

Staying busy in Ms. Lucky's room

Minute to Win It games

A and Mrs. Barnett

B arrived home at 8:30 am Saturday morning (February 13).  We picked him up from the airport and skipped our workout and went to IKEA instead.  We bought a new toy chest for the girls' room and headed home.  The cousins came over in the afternoon and we played outside until dinner time.  We ordered pizza for dinner and we all watched Avengers Assemble together.   I don't even know when the kids finally fell asleep but I know it was late.

Sunday we all piled into Storm and went to church at SCBC.  I made lunch at the house and the kids watched Tomorrowland while E took a nap.  We brought all the kids back to the Marsh pad around 5 pm and that's when our date night started.  Our kids didn't have school the next day due to Presidents Day, so it actually worked out rather nicely.  I told B I wanted him to take me to see The Choice for Valentine's Day since I had read the book.  We drove to Katy Mills Mall since we had AMC vouchers and that was the closest AMC theater.  We bought our tickets and also got a coke and popcorn to share.  The movie started at 6:40 and lasted about 2 hours.  When we got out, we noticed there was a showing for Deadpool at 9:00 so we bought 2 more tickets and saw Deadpool.  It's hard for me to say it was good because it was Rated R and for good reason.  It was pretty rough with language, dirty jokes, nudity, and violence.  We were shocked to see kids in this theater.  How could parents take their kids (even teens) to see this movie is beyond me.  I will admit, I did laugh a lot.  We finally got home around midnight and boy, did we every feel 33 years old.  We don't go to the movies a lot but to see 2 in one night was pretty amazing.  If we'd seen The Choice second, I would have fallen asleep, I can guarantee it.

B had to go to work the next day, but I met him for lunch since we didn't actually eat a meal on Valentine's Day together.  Then after lunch, I got the kids back and we finished out our day like normal.  I love my hubby and spending time with him to celebrate our love.

cousin fun Valentine's night

taking Micah to school on Monday

Winter Woodsland Dance

I've been to a lot of dances over the years at WFMS but I went to my first elementary school dance on January 29th.  Williams Elementary School hosted a Winter Woodlands Dance for the students and their families.  It was great.  We used it as our family date night and we all got dressed up for the event.  A great time was had by all.

We ate dinner together at home before getting ready.  The boys wanted to wear their matching "red lobster" clothes and we found out that A's clothes are a bit too short.  His shirt was too short on his arms so we rolled his sleeves up.  W's clothes still fit him pretty well.  R wore her Christmas dress and E decided she wanted to wear her tutu.  I'm not sure where or how that idea came to her, but we agreed and she requested her hair be put in a ballerina bun.  I wore my new LSU dress and B work a nice button up shirt and sports coat.  We all looked pretty nice if I do say so myself.

The dance was pretty crowded but after getting inside, we danced a few songs as a family before A wanted to go off with his friends.  R danced with some friends, but always stayed pretty close to us and W/E stayed with us the entire time.  Once A found his friends, we didn't see much of him unless he was thirsty.  We all went to get some lemonade and cookies together and then decided to take a family photo with the photographer there.  The pictures will be developed and sent home with students later this month.  

The PTO that planned the dance did a great job and there was a hula hoop contest for students and parents.  I came in second next to the principal.  E was the cutest thing out there, dancing the cha cha slide.  I saw some high school volunteers watching her dance and taking pictures of her.  She pretty much stole the show.

When the dance was over, I took the kids home and B stayed to help break things down and clean-up.  He doesn't have a chance to volunteer very often so this was his chance to help out with the PTO and the school.   It was a great evening and just another reminder how God's plans surpass our own, because a year ago, we were considering renting the house in Alief again, but God knew better.  I'm so glad He knows what's best for me and I'm not left up to making all the decisions for my family without his guidance and grace.

10 Year Anniversary

10 years is a big wedding anniversary.  The traditional 10th anniversary gift is tin/aluminum and the modern gift is diamond jewelry.  We decided to celebrate our 10th with vacationing with our BFF's on a Carribean Cruise in June so for now, we just stayed low key with a free movie and people watching at the mall. 

Our anniversary was on a Thursday so we treated ourselves to Starbucks before school/work.  B had to work like normal and I had a day at home like usual. Aunt Mo took us to Canes for lunch and that was a special time spending it with her and remembering our wedding from her perspective.

December 10, 2005

Anniversary Lunch at Canes December 10, 2015

Mom and Chuck were coming into town for a Sea World trip so I cooked a pork roast and veggies for dinner.  We planned to do something together on Friday since we would have baby-sitters and B has off.  We went to an afternoon movie to see Specter courtesy of CBS with the AMC gift cards they gave B for Christmas 2014.  We even had some concessions credit so we got a popcorn and coke to share.  The movie was really good even for me who knows nothing about the James Bond storyline.  We weren't hungry after eating all the popcorn so we went to the mall to people watch.  I love to people watch and I don't get to do it very often because I have to watch my own little people all the time.  We joked and laughed a lot and also got nervous about when our girls are teenagers and how they plan to dress when they leave the house.  oh my word! 

People watching at First Colony Mall

Oh how I love my husband more today than in 2005 when we got married.  We often talk about how the last 10 years have flown by and we've had the best time being together.  We haven't dealt with a lot of tragedy or conflict in our marriage, but when the time comes, I believe we have the skills and knowledge to deal with them together.  We've been a part of many marriage studies and learned a lot about Love and Respect.  We know each other very well and I worry sometimes about B getting bored.  I pray daily for him and our marriage.  We've studied Ephesians chapter 5 a bunch and we will continue to do so to strengthen our marriage.  I'm thankful for my husband and the leader he is for our family.  I'm forever grateful and praise the Lord that He brought us together.