National Barrel Horse Association, Saturday in Boyd

This past Saturday was the 2nd to the last NBHA of the year. Madison placed 3rd and 4th in two separate races- which means she got enough points to stay in first place. She placed first in three of the four categories for the year. Each horse she rides has won first in its' category- that means she will win 3 saddles Feb. 1st- there is an annual banquet in Sanger- that is where they will present the saddles to her. She has won a saddle in this association before- 2 yrs ago- but THREE saddles in one year is a MAJOR big deal!!!! We are super excited for her. This is a big deal for the horses too- the little girls will have nice, fast, well-trained horses to ride as they get better and want to go faster- thanks to their big sister, Maddie.

Hannah Hope is HERE!!!

Wednesday morning, this precious angel was born... 9lb. 9oz. She is so beautiful, I love her already... cannot wait to hold her and kiss her all over those chubby cheeks!!! My cousin Andrea is her mommy, and I love them so much!!! Please add Hannah to your prayer list- she is having to receive oxygen (just a little bit) but she needs to be weaned off quickly, so get can get home to her big brother, Luke.

Playing Beauty Shop...

My sweet cousin, Andrea, was 9 months pregnant, miserable, and didn't want to leave her house- so my Mom and I brought our 'magic' to her!! I had so much fun bonding with my sweet, beautiful (inside & out) cousin & her family. I am truly blessed to have her in my family. I highlighted, cut, conditioned, and styled her hair. Then my Mom & I gave her a pedicure- along with her little mister, Luke's help- he kept dipping his little toy monkey in the water. I had a ball chasing him all over the house- he kept hiding from me. I fell in love with him. Andrea's husband, Jon, made Mamu & I the yummiest chocolate and Bailey's latte with whipped cream- then he served us delicious pasta with chicken in a creamy sauce with pita pockets- he got the food at a little bakery down the road- he is a wonderful host! I can't wait to go back to touch up her hair- and then I'll get to play with little Hannah!!

WYATT'S FIRST DEER HUNT!!

I took Wyatt on his first deer hunting trip this past weekend. We had a blast! We left the house at 4:00 a.m. When when we got to DEER KAMP, we woke Blake, my cousin, so he could put on his skirt! We saw 8-9 deer about 60-70 yrds away. It was just a little too early to shoot. The law says you can't shoot 30 mins b4 sun up, or 30 mins after sunset. Anyway, we sat super still. Just trying to blend in and NOT move. I am SSSOOOO proud of Wyatt. He was so disciplined. Long story short...the wind blows right b4 sun up. I knew it was going to be at our back, and it was! They smelled us but couldn't see us. So they casually drifted off to the woods on the other property. It's not ALWAYS about the shooting or the killing, it's about the hunt! It's about spending time with someone you love and care about and sharing the outdoors! I had the privilege, two weeks in a row, to share those special times with two of my three boys. I had the opportunity to share these lessons, and love of the outdoors with them, just as my Dad did with me. It's a legacy I feel we all have the obligation to pass on to the next generation. There is already WAY too much disrespect for Mother Nature out there. What we instill in them now, will hopefully change a small, or large, part of this. Pick up your trash, follow the rules and don't take(kill) anything you don't need(to eat). And LOVE nature! Those are the words I can still hear my Dad saying to me. Chance had a b-day(Nov. 14th) and just wanted cammo. That was after his 1st hunt. I am very elated, proud and overwhelmed with what the outdoors can do for our youth! Take a child hunting or fishing. Enjoy the memories, as well as the lessons, that will be shared forever!

Love and Happiness,
Mark

p.s.
Madison asked me this evening, if I could take her hunting next weekend! I tried to use my pokerface to hide my excitement! My plan is working!!!!
CARRY ON!

One of the new babies...

Shooting the breeze...

This is Mark; This set of photos is of Tyler, Chance and me doin' a little target shooting. We took two .22's and Tylers' shotgun. We had so much fun! Laughin', learnin' and talkin' and just enjoying each others' company. We made our own targets. I drew faces on the left over piece of our countertop that I had cut off(see previous blog of kitchen remodel). We called the faces "Wal-Mart", "Drunk", "Goofy" and, of course, "bin laden". Chance is a dead eye with a .22 rifle. Tyler is ALWAYS on target with his shotgun no matter what kind of shell he shoots. I am so proud of them. They are all great in their own ways!
The next day, Wyatt and I got up early and went fishing. We always have so much fun, whether we catch anything or not! I am VERY thankful that my boys enjoy the outdoors as much as I do. My Dad and I used to do the same things together. I just want to pass it on! Stay tuned for our deer hunting trip. Should be interesting

Love and Happiness,
Mark

Our Romantic Weekend...

what love looks like...

Halloween craft-night...

Trick Or Treat!!!!

This was one of the busiest, most fun weekends, I have had in a long time...

FRIDAY: Mark and I took the day off, and had Date-DAY! First I had to make Halloween costumes. Then we went shopping for new clothes for our date- checked into our hotel suite in Ft. Worth (with jacuzzi in the room), enjoyed that for awhile-took a shuttle to P.F.Changs in Sundance Square, had appetizers and martinis- walked over to the Bass Hall for 'Tuna Does Vegas'- walked over to Razzoo's for more appetizers and cocktails- ended up at Pete's Piano Bar (the best part of the night)- then took a cab back to the room. WHEW!!! What an exciting night- it was like a mini-vacation!!!
SATURDAY: Breakfast at the hotel- it was really good; back to the room to enjoy jacuzzi again ~wink~ - off to Lowe's and WalMart- then back home. I drove to Brad's to get the little girls- went back to my house to get them ready for Trick or Treat night. Neither of them had seen their costumes before then, they were so excited and thrilled to get dressed up. Mamu drove us through town and we rode in the back of her truck- met up with Brad later and he took the girls for the night. Then Mark, Clay , and Amy (Clay's GF) came back from his house and Clay drove us to Wichita Falls for dinner and a game of pool. I am exhausted at this point... and... just... wanted... to... lie... down...- but I had a Coke and played some pool and that was that...
SUNDAY: Can't get out of bed- Mark woke me up at 10 with coffee, told me the game starts at noon, and not 3 like we had thought... So we had not much time to get ready, and prepare food for the game. My mom, Mark's mom and step dad came over- COWBOYS WON!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! We had rib-eyes, baked sweet potatoes, yellow squash, garlic toast, red wine- we sat outside with the flies and had a wonderful time... I was so overly tired- you know when a baby has missed it's nap, and it's way past bed-time, and they get the giggles over everything? That was me last night- I laughed so hard at America's Funniest Videos that I almost peed my pants, and tears were streaming down my face, and Mark was looking at me like I had lost my mind... I had...
MONDAY: At work today- got a good-nights' sleep- overslept by an hour- pony-tail day... keep thinking about our weekend- can't wait to do it again...
I have better pics of the costumes my mom took with her camera- will post soon- I took these with my phone- just to be able to post some with my blog entry...

XOXOXO
Amy
"I am a magical unicorn, with powers in my horn!"

"I am a dancer from Hollywood."