Getting Back into our Routine

It has been a very relaxing and enjoyable two week vacation but now it is time to get back to reality. Zackary and I both have to go back to school tomorrow so we are trying to finish up all the things I have procrastinated on....last minute cleaning....laundry....just getting ready for the week in general.
Things are going to busy quick though. I'm the UIL Poetry sponsor this year and we have our first practice meet this coming weekend and then two more following over the next month. Kim and I must also start working out with our majorettes as we prepare them for UIL State Twirling competition this Spring...road trip to Austin!
We do have a day off to look forward to on January 19th and then I will be having a fun Girlfriend Weekend getaway the weekend of the 23rd with my BFF's in Dallas.

Please be in prayer for my dear friend Nan as she continues to battle breast cancer. She is having a difficult time with chemo and is very weak. Please pray for her family as well as it is very hard on them to see her weak, when she is usually the strong one.

I'll be back soon....I'm a little restless and have lots more on my mind to share. Have a great week!

New Year's Celebrations

(Photos: Scene at the chuch celebration, The Haden's, and Zackary at Boy Scout lock-in)

Byron, Zackary and I and my Mother-in-Law, Linda and her best friend, DeeNell, headed to our Cowboy Church for their New Year's Eve Celebration.

The celebration kicked off with a Chili Cookoff between the different teams at the church. If you can imagine...our church is a big barn like structure with concrete floors. The chairs were moved out of the way and the floor sprinkled with some sawdust to create a dance floor. Each team had a table or booth set up along the walls all around the church to entice guests to try their chili.

As I was scooping Zackary a bowl of chili, which had meat, beans, tomatoes, etc. in it, he asked me, "What is that?" I said, "It's chili," not really sure yet, what he meant. He looked at me kind of funny and said, "But I thought chili just had chili in it." It was then that I realized the only chili he has ever really eaten is Wolf Brand out of a can - LOL! I said, "Baby, this is REAL chili...not the stuff we eat out of a can." "Ohhhhh", he said. I thought the lady behind the table was going to fall off her stool laughing.

We listened to the church band play, watched the kids and adults two-stepping and line dancing (because my husband NOR my child would dance with me!), then went outside to check out the bonfire which was quite large and VERY hot!

We then took Zackary to his Boy Scout (Indoor) Camp Out over at the Methodist Church. The Boy Scouts have a Derby Car that they build and race with other Boy Scouts troops during the year. However, the rules state that they are not allowed to start building or working on the cars until January 1. So...Zackary's troop has a "lock-in" and asks the boys to bring their tents and sleeping bags to put inside the church fellowship hall. They play games, watch movies and eat until midnight and then begin working on their derby cars.

This was Zackary's first time to stay overnight, away from home, without a parent or grandparent. I didn't go to bed until after midnight but once I did, I still didn't sleep. So...around 2:15 a.m. I headed up to the church. I honestly had a reason....we wanted to take pictures for the paper of the boys making their cars but I had my own motives too. Zackary was still awake and laying on his sleeping bag watching a movie. I didn't stay long at all, just took a couple of pictures, gave him a hug and kiss and left. He made it through the night. Byron picked him up at 8:30 and he came home and went to sleep and slept til 12:30.

Linda then made pork chops, black eyed peas, cabbage and broccoli cornbread. It was delicious!

I hope you all had a fun and safe New Year's Eve and I wish you blessings in abundance in 2009!

Happy New Year

Christmas 2008

Christmas was a little out of sorts this year. For the last 7 years my parents have spent the night with us at the B&B on Christmas Eve and been there for Christmas morning, Santa, etc. However, this year, being out of place threw a kink in things. So, after having our Christmas Eve party with the Haden's and attending Christmas Eve service at our church, we headed to Lindale to spend Christmas Eve night with my parents.
Linda came over Christmas morning to enjoy Zackary's gifts and excitement with all of us. Of course Zackary awoke before Linda made it there and we made him wait in my parents room until she arrived, to go and see what Santa had brought!
I think Santa had a moment of insanity this year (or maybe he thought Mommy & Daddy had been bad) because Zackary got his very own DRUM SET!
He also got a metal steer to practice roping and some roping gloves. He already has the rope, which he bought himself in Canton a couple of months ago. There were many, many, many more gifts but these were the two big items of the day and proved to be quite a hit...or rather "bang"!
My favorite gift of the day was the Wii Fit which came from my Aunt Lynda. Although it had Zackary's name on it, I think I will be using it quite a bit!
We ate and slept and ate some more and finally headed home that evening, with the car loaded down.

Catching Up

So first things first.....for those of you that we haven't talked to in some time, here is where we are now:

In February of last year we purchased the Tatum newspaper, Trammel Trace Tribune.

Over the summer we left Jefferson and moved to Tatum.

We wanted to build a house so we moved in with Byron's parents temporarily (we are still here).

I joined forces with my Best Friend Kim to become the Tatum High School twirling sponsors.

I got a job at Tatum High School as a Teacher's Assistant in Resource and for those of you from
Tatum, I work with Coach James Conway (former head coach of THS in the 80's).

Zackary started 2nd grade at Tatum Primary with a little bit of a rough start but is enjoying it much better now. His teacher is Mrs. Phillips who formerly taught at his last school, Trinity Episcopal in Marshall.

Byron runs the paper on a daily basis and still runs his Amazing Lawn's business over in Jefferson too.

Byron joined the Tatum Lion's Club, and we also became members of the Athletic Boosters and Band Boosters.

I also took on the responsibility of UIL Poetry sponsor at the high school.

Zackary made Rhythm Jeans (a performing singing group at TPS). He is also involved in Boy Scouts as a Wolf Cub.

I teach a monthly Scrapbook Club at the Tatum Public Library which I enjoy very much!

A couple of months ago we found our new church home; Bar None Cowboy Church, which we absolutely love! Byron is the assistant drummer for the church band and Zackary is learning to rope.

So....now that you know where we have come from and where we are now, it should be a little easier to understand and keep up with our posts.