Zack's 14th Birthday

You're right . . . I'm not the greatest cake decorator in the world but at least I tried! For Zachary's 14th birthday on October 20th, we at left overs for dinner (he had football practice and Abbey Grace had soccer practice so there wasn't a whole bunch of time for a huge festive evening) and then we had this fab cookie cake (one of Zack's favorites). On Sunday night before his birthday, we took him to Maggiano's in Buckhead for Italian and gorged ourselves anyway so leftovers were the perfect idea on Monday.

Here's Zack blowing out 14 candles - lots of breath to blow out that many candles (like I should talk!)

Opening Cards and presents.

Opening a huge card from Granny Spears.

The card played music and drums (loud music and drums).

Go Navy!

Doug gave Zachary a great electronic Spanish/English dictionary to help with Zack's Spanish Class. Most of what Zack looks up are "funny" words (things only a 14 year old would think are funny obviously).

Clearly, this is what his Mom gave him . . . goooo Dawgs!

Happy Birthday young man . . . . I love you!!

Zack's Last Football Game - Championship

My by on the field (as they lose) playing defensive tackle.

Zack is No. 94 on Defense.

This is Olivia, Abbey Grace and Noah doing "the wave."

No. 94 (big legs Kimmel).

Last Soccer Game

Abbey Grace played an awesome last soccer game last weekend. Olivia and Noah were here to witness the victory and see Abbey Grace pull some great moves as Goalie. She even did a great dive into the goal to block a great kick!

Wedding Planning

I don't have any photos associated with this blog. I really don't have much to blog on lately unless you want to know about the endoscopy and colonoscopy I had done last week while I was out of work for 4 days. Those were real groovy - I felt like someone took a Brillo Pad to my throat and one to my rear-end. I also had an ultra sound to my kidney, pancreas, liver and gall bladder. The results you ask? I have a hiatal hernia in my esophagus and diverticulitis. Oh, I have a lesion on my liver too. My poor 40 year old bod is all tore up.

Ok - so, I got a wedding dress. I tried on 25 gowns (once I discovered Doug would have NOTHING to do with marrying me at the Court House this wedding has blown up into 125 guests already). Friends, family and the like, please put on your dancin' shoes because this is gonna be a good old-fashioned throw down!!

Doug has planned most of the soiree mind you - I'm just along for the ride of my life! He has reserved the reception hall himself (the Community House in Mansfield where we have our family reunions). He has drawn the lay-out and detailed everything on his CAD program. It's quite lovely. We've booked the caterer and Doug chose the menu (it's fabulous). I booked the photographer (engagement photos will be in two weeks with save-the-date cards going out the beginning of December including details of the wedding). Church is booked. Minister and organist are booked. Doug booked and paid for the honeymoon already. I got a gown. We have booked a DJ already. We have picked a "signature drink" for the event. The only thing we don't have is a florist. I'm currently working on that this week.

Hard to believe isn't it?

This time next year I'll be on my honeymoon!!

Fall Break to New Mexico

This photo is of the beautiful mountains taken as we got off the plane in El Paso Texas and drove from there to Las Cruces, New Mexico to see Doug's Parents.

We started our 10 day trip by flying to Indiana for 3 days to go to Dick Kimmel's Funeral (for those who don't know who Dick Kimmel is . . . he is Zachary's grandfather who died of lung cancer - Zack's Dad died of lung cancer in 2001 and Scott's parents Dick & Greta Kimmel have stayed very close to Zack and me since Scott's death). Greta remains in a nursing home so we visited with her for several days after the funeral and then flew from Indianapolis, IN to Denver, CO and then to El Paso, TX. Whew . . . .


This is Abbey Grace and Zachary after we checked into the "Rama-Don" (i.e., the Radisson) in Indianapolis. (Zack could NOT get the name of the place right). p.s. - sleep number beds are not all they're cracked up to be!

Zachary killed (de-headed) a rattle snake in Las Cruces at Doug's parents house.

I'm not sure why we're standing in front of a jewelry store here - we didn't purchase any jewelry!

La Posta in Historic Mesilla.

In Mesilla.

Abbey Grace at Cloud Croft standing at the Welcome Center of the White Sands National Monument.

This was awesome fun! We went to White Sands and sled down a 60 foot hill of sand (like on snow but sand) in the heat of the day (the desert) - it was the best fun the kids had (and me!)

White Sands National Park.

Bob Houck (Doug's Dad), Doug, Zachary, Me, Abbey Grace.

Helen Houck (Doug's Step Mom), Bob Houck (Doug's Dad), Doug, Me, Abbey Grace.

A most beautiful sun set on the drive home that afternoon after White Sands and Shopping all day long - the fun was had by all - what a beautiful family day!!

Guadalupe Mountains. BEAUTIFUL!

Stopped along side the road for random family photos on the way to Carlsbad Caverns.

Ok, I'm gonna give this one away because it's just too dern funny. My son thinks I'm "blonde" as it is . . . . right? So, we're standing on the road side having this awesome "family moment" - having our pictures made - smiling - wind in hair blah blah - all the sudden . . . . "MOM . . . . YOU'RE FLY IS OPENED!!!!" - Yep - click on the photo to enlarge it if you need a better look - sure enough - I apparently am having trouble in about 7 photos Doug took with zipping up my jeans! Not sure why I can't remember to zip my pants lately??

This one is cute . . . I have my pants zipped!

Everyone is zipped up here!

Zipped here! This is at Carlsbad Caverns going into the Entrance.

This is obviously inside the Caverns. One of the 7 wonders of the world and we got to see it. We can check that off our bucket list now!

Stalagmites and Stalactites.

Stalactites.

Stalagmites and Stalactites.

Outside Carlsbad Caverns after a long day. We spent some time waiting on the Bat Flight Program at the end of the day which started at 6 p.m. or a little after. We got to see 500,000+ bats emerge from the Caves out into the night to feed. Talk about the most amazing thing we've ever seen!!

I have no comment here - it's self explanatory!

THE END!