The Thrill of This Mama's Life

I got to go to the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, TN! Y'all, I'm telling you, it was the thrill of my life!

See, Daddy got these tickets for he and Dawn to go. Only he had something come up and couldn't go. It was a tough job stepping up and taking his place, but I'm his girl, and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! **giggle** Can I just say, as a side note here, that as I sit here and type the post, the nerves and stress of this last month fades away just talking typing about this? A thrill, y'all, for real!

So anyway, Dawn and I met in Nashville on Halloween. My childhood

friend, Mr. Wade Hooker,

-- who I haven't seen since like the 5th grade -- picked us up and showed us the local's take on Nashville. He took us to the Whiskey Kitchen and then some bar where the locals hang out...on Halloween. It was so fun.

The next day, Dawn and I went to have our piggies done for our big night out, did a little shopping, and Wade picked us up again for a little more local flavor at the Loveless Cafe. Dawn and I did a little more shopping, and then it was back to the hotel to get ready.

There are no cameras allowed. It's live TV. It's amazing. It's awesome. It's three hours long, and I could have sat there another three hours. I snuck in a COUPLE of pictures with my phone when I thought I could get away with it.

I have informed Daddy that if he ever gets tickets like this again, he is NOT going...unless he can score THREE tickets.

Halloween 2012

Introducing Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch

Blaine won top honors at school for Oscar, meaning he won first place of all grades...for the second year in a row!!

Kylee went trick or treating with dance friends, and Blaine and Joey went to trick or treat with Matty.

I was in Nashville.

So....

...there's some stuff going on, a lot of stuff. I guess one post in November about October may have been a giveaway. If you could see my November pictures, that may be a giveaway, too. There are only 54, and that includes a birthday party and Thanksgiving. So, yeah, there's stuff going on. Prayers are always appreciated.

Now for a quick catch up of what you've missed. Christmas is coming, and I'm determined, no matter the circumstances, to keep this blog up...for my babes.

Thanksgiving 2012

Surprise, Pops!

Pops turned 60 this year, so DD decided to have a surprise party for him. We knew if we did it anywhere near his birthday, he'd totally figure us out so we did it before Thanksgiving. Dawn wanted a slideshow to play on a screen throughout the party, so I was in charge of that. Everybody helped, though, to gather pictures, even my mom!

There is no music because the party had a band. You know Pops; we gotta dance. I think I get that from him!

We all got purty and waited for him to show. And the party...and dancing...commenced. Even Mom took the floor with her boys. It was a great party and made great memories!

Thanks, DD!! And happy birthday, old man!

Spooktacular 2012 - Playing Catch Up

What a month! I mean, our lives are hectic and busy, but this month takes the cake! Between Ryan's wedding, dance, baseball, Spooktacular, Halloween, Blaine's fall festival, and craziness at both jobs, it's been a doozie. Oh, and let's not forget this Mama's surprise trip to Nashville to the Country Music Awards. Yup, you read that right! But that's for another day.

October 21st was Kylee's annual Spooktacular.

While we waited for our dancer to take the stage,

Blaine had some fun of his own.

And then Kylee danced her heart out.

Not only did Dad Dad and Mom Mom come to watch,

but both kids had a very special visitor.

TERRY came, too!! She is such a special lady, and we were so glad we got to visit with her.

Before we headed home, the kids made their annual pumpkins

and rode the slide.

And it was another spectacular Spooktacular.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

She Drives

Kylee had an orthodontist appointment Wednesday, so she skipped going to work with me, as she's done every day we were actually in town on intercession. After her ortho appointment, the boys 'convinced' her to go to the farm with them.

She's growing up so fast, and we've been talking to her about learning to drive. Joey and I both could drive by her age. You know, because we're so country and she's so city, her words. She hates driving my car because she says it goes too fast on just a little push of the accelerator. So Joey put her on the Gator. Evidentally she loved it!

And was totally not afraid.

So after a little practice, she got behind the wheel of Joey's truck.

The best part? She sent me a text with this picture,

telling me SHE is now in control of the radio!

She's gonna be driving in town in her own car with a driver's license before I know it! She better not be taking any pictures then!

Toby Taylor

I almost forgot to introduce you to Toby Taylor!

When we drove back through Midland after the wedding, we stopped and had Taco Ca-Villa (as Blaine said) with Pops and DD. DD was telling us about a Chihuahua she had seen at PetSmart and taken home for a few days before the wedding to see how he got along with her dogs. He was a rescue dog, and she had taken him back. She had now decided she loved him and needed him. With coaxing from my two littles, we went back to PetSmart to get him before we headed home.

With all their other creatures, I think Pops was less than thrilled, but I know it won't be long before he's in love with him, too.

The Hummer House

Pops and DD rented all of us a place in Christoval very close to the Chapel called The Hummer House. It is kind of a compound with three house in three different sizes on beautiful grounds set right off the lake. They stayed in the Hummer House while her parents stayed in The Hideaway, and Kyle and I's families stayed in the Lodge, the biggest of the three.

Saturday everybody gathered in The Lodge for a dual birthday party.

Very typically, Kyle and Myra manned the grill for burgers and dogs,

and we all chowed down.

The bride and groom dropped by for a little bit before they headed out for their honeymoon.

And most of Dawn's family headed out. Kyle and Daddy went to the deer lease while Myra and Connor went to do a little shopping. Joey and I just hung around the house with the kids. While Blaine and McKenzie were playing in their clubhouse they made, McKenzie got an unexpected surprise. She stepped on a sticky mouse trap. When she couldn't get off of it, she just took her socks off and brought it to Joey to "fix".

Since Emily is going to school in San Angelo and she and Conner are friends, she and Myra picked up Emily to bring her out so I could see her face!

The kids were as excited to see her as I was! They acted like Justin Bieber showed up. They had pillow fights and wrestling matches, played charades and truth or dare.

They even made Blaine a toilet paper mummy.

It was a great weekend with lots of food, family, friends, laughs, and memories. I can't ask for more than that.