Catch Up Blog

It's been awhile since we have posted. I apologize that it will be a hodge podge post but to help explain my absence here is what has been going on.

Things have been crazy, hectic at work for me. My boss, Lyly Pham, had been with the company for nearly 14 years before she resigned the beginning of Decemeber. **For those of you who didn't know my former company (OPE, Inc.) was purchased during a merger back in April of this year. I (along with many of my coworkers) were brought over from OPE, Inc. to Foster Wheeler USA.** It was a sad loss for the company seeing Lyly go but a great move for her own career goals and future. We all wish her the best of luck in her new line of work, and I will miss her greatly. Yes, I did inherit all of her work, but not her title or pay (becuase those were all asked when I shared the news). Ha! Her replacement recently started and I'm excited to have her onboard.

Things have been even more crazy for Phil at work. Not only is this a busy season for their boarding season, but Phil took particular interst in a sweet puppy. Her name is Charlie and here is her story. She is a 6 month old German Short Haired Pointer. Her owners (who gave her the name) dropped her off the day before Thanksgiving and said that they would be back the day after Thanksgiving to pick her up. On Friday Phil called the number that the owners left and noone answered. Phil told me that it was common for the owners to say "after Thanksgiving" and really mean the Monday after Thanksgiving. So, the weekend came and went and Charlie was still at Phil's work. They called the owners again on Monday, and again no answer. They called the Emergency Contact provided and he did not know Charlie's owners. They Google Mapped the address that was given which pulled up a local soccer field. So, it appeared as though Charlie's owners provided incorrect information to the clinic when they dropped her off. By law Charlie could not be put up for adoption until 20 days passed, and in the meantime she stayed at the clinic. Phil would see her everyday and gloated about how sweet she was, and how she loved to play and such. **Side note: Phil and I had been talking about wanting another dog (a "big" dog) but couldn't agree on the breed. I had always wanted a border collie (which are apparently rare in Texas) and Phil wanted a number of different breeds. So, day in and day out Charlie sat and patiently waited for her owners to show, but they never did. This was a blessing for us becuase we decided to take her into our home! Jack loves her, and Stormy - well she will come around (and has shown much progression). Charlie came into our home Sunday Decemeber 13, 2009 and it's been an adventure ever since! She loves to run around the backyard with Jack and play fetch. She is slowly learning her commands (sit, stay, come) and loves to point (especially at Stormy). She is super sweet and loves to be next to us. Phil loves that she plays fetch in the backyard. I especially love her big brown eyes, and her big brown floppy ears. Jack loves her too and is adjusting nicely. Here are some pictures and videos of her!

Here is a sweet picture of our Charlie...

Sorry for the poor quality of the picture but here's a shot of her trying to sit on Phil's lap...


After being couped up at Phil's work for 20 days here she is running around the yard...





Here she is learning to play fetch...

I also decided this year that it was time that I volunteered my time doing charity. My charity of choice was Elves and More. They are an organization that build bikes for children who live in impoverished neighborhoods. See thier website www.elvesandmore.org for more information. My good fried Betty and I built 4 bikes to assist in thier 2009 goal of 100,000 bikes. Here are some pictures and Merry Christmas to all the little boys and girls who will be gifted with thier very own bicycle this year!

Here I am with the last bike that Betty and I built...


Betty behind the wheel...


Yes that is a wrench in my hand...


Betty and I...


Here are all of the bikes that had been built so far, they are still building...


And this year my family and I decided to start a tradition of pot luck and white elephant! Everyone came over and we had a fabulous time eating all the food that everyone brought, playing taboo and exchanging white elephant gifts! I enjoyed spending time with my family and I wish it could have lasted a million years! I cannot wait for next years pot luck and white elephant!

A Snow Day in Katy, Texas

Yes, you read that correctly! It snowed in Katy, Texas on December 4, 2009! What a beautiful and magical day! It was my off Friday so I ran some errands until Phil came home. After he got home we put on our jackets, mittens, boots and we joined our neighbors who had already kicked off a "Snow Party"! Anyone who knows our neighbors knows that we will come up with any reason to gather in the cul-de-sac (Hurricane Party, New Years, a Tuesday night...). We are very grateful for our neighbors who are our wonderful friends! (Note: add that to my previous blog titled "These are a few of my things"!). We enjoyed the day barbquing on the grill, all gathered around a small fire and drank hot chocolate! What a fun day! My camera died on this day, so I was only able to use the camera on my phone and even then only got a couple of decent shots. I'll try and see if others were able to capture the day and might have some pictures to share (*ahem* - Monique?). Enjoy!!

Snow on the car...


The front of our house...where the snow has already started to melt...


Our sweet neighbors Kim and Kai...


I was at a stoplight and loved how the snow had collected on the tops of the streetlights...look closely


It's snowing!!!!


Jack "playing" in the snow - he enjoyed eating it and licking up off the ground...

Thanksgiving 2009

How was your Thanksgiving this year? Mine was wonderful (except for that I was fighting a minor allergy/sinus thing). I had my Mom and J helping in the kitchen (although I wasn't much help) cooking up a storm. They did an amazing job!! Thanks to all who helped and contributed. Everything was just wonderful! Phil and I had my Mom, Bill, J, Gran Gran, Aunt Marty, Aunt Barbara, Wally, and Lauren (Wally's girlfriend). It was a full house, but I wouldn’t have Thanksgiving any other way!

If you didn't know before, you do now - Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! On the table we had about 40 lbs of turkey (yes 40). We had a Cajun fried turkey that my neighbor Todd so graciously fried for us (Thank you Todd), as well as a roasted turkey and a roasted turkey breast. In addition to the turkey we had mashed potatoes (because my brother loves my mashed potatoes), sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, orange-cranberry sauce (that my mom and J worked on together), stuffing, gravy (I helped make that this year in absence of my Aunt Betty who normally makes gravy), and an assortment of rolls, which is a funny story. Wally was in charge of bringing rolls and so he brought every type of roll that was sold in the store. I think we had over 8 varieties of rolls - ha! I wasn't specific, so out of fear that he would choose the wrong kind Wally just brings it all. I will learn to be more specific with him in the future. I digress, back to the table! For dessert we had key lime pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie (Bill so graciously cracked fresh pecans for us that morning for the pie), pumpkin bread and a pumpkin cream cheese roll. Yum-Yum!!! We had lots of fun, food and family!! What an amazingly fun day. We missed all who could not make it this year and know that you were here with us in spirit.

I have lots to be thankful for this year! I am thankful for all the troops who sacrifice daily to let me live freely, thankful that I have a job as many are losing theirs, thankful for an amazing husband and wonderful family, and most importantly for waking up each day alive and healthy. These are things that I am most thankful for. Most people forget the important things in life and get caught up in the details of everyday life and tend to let those things leaving them feeling "un-thankful". In Arabic there is a saying "Alhumderallah" (pronounced exactly as it is written), and it means "God, I am thankful for what I have". So, on this day I say "Alhumderallah" and wish all of you the same peace in your heart!

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving Day!!! Enjoy...



Sweet potato casserole - no that is not a white potato - it's a white SWEET potato!
Fried turkey (yum) and sweet potato casserole...

Bill carving and J and I in the background...

Bill carving and me trying to get in the action...

My mom and I - isn't she so pretty?

Bill carving away - Aunt Marty in the back taking a peek...

Gran Gran and I...

Lauren, Wally and Aunt Barbara helping set up...

The makings for gravy, turkey drippings and roux...

Pecan pie, pumkin pie and key lime pie...

My mom and J working on the cranberry sauce...

These are a few of my favorite things (re-post)

My friend, Ashley, just recently posted a very similar post to her blog. Inspired by the song "My Favourite Things", she created a list of all of her favorite things and asked others to participate and post thier "favorite things" list. Inspired mainly by her blog in addition to the season of giving and sharing coming upon us (and well now that I have the voice of Julie Andrews in my head) here is my list of favorite things:

-my amazingly understanding, patient, handsome, thoughtful and bestest friend who is my husband
-fall and spring, I love the anticipation of both seasons, but right when I'm knee deep in one I am already excited for the other!
-puppies and kittens, but who doesn't?
-being at home during a rainstorm
-a clean house
-the smell of fresh mint, basil and rosemary
-Moscato wine
-the smell of freshly baked anything
-cooking and baking, especially when it's for others
-Godiva mint chocolate truffles
-weddings and showers
-good freinds, great friends and best friends
-browsing through stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond, Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma
-deep fried almost anything
-giving
-sipping coffee on the back porch in Wimberley
-looking through old pictures
-new socks
-Thanksgiving
-my bestest brother, amazing mother, loving father and wonderful extended family

What are some of your favorite things? Post to this blog and share with all...

Happy 31st Philip

Sunday was Philip's 31st birthday! I still cannot believe that we met and started dating at 18 years old, and here were are now in our 30's. Here's to many more celebrations together.

I have been asking him over and over again over the past couple weeks "Hun, what would you like for your birthday?", with no real response. I say "real" response becuase when I ask this question (regardless of the occassion) the response almost always is undershirts, underwear, or socks. This just wouldn't be right becuase if ya'll can remember his birthday/Christmas gift to me this year was a new car. So, I most definitely could not give him underwear and socks. After much prying he finally remembered that he's been wanting the missing piece to our bedroom set, the chest. So, that was his birthday present from me. We had a small (and very informal) soiree - barbque style at our house! Here are some pictures of the event. Thank you to all of our friends who came and shared this occassion with us!


Todd, Phil and Wally outside grilling...


A picture of the birthday boy while we're singing "Happy Birthday" to him. Instead of cake he requested Key Lime Pie!


Some friends sitting around the table after dinner and dessert was served...

Baby Siwiak's Shower

What a fun day! I was honored to hostess a shower for my best friend Monica today. She will be having a baby boy - Marek Evan Siwiak. She had a wonderful turn out of friends and family. They received lots of gifts to fill thier nursery, as well clothes and other necessities to welcome thier sweet baby boy. It was a fun filled day with great food, drinks, games and fun! Below are some pictures from the shower.


A wreath for the mommy to be to take to the hospital with her and hang on her door when she has her sweet baby boy...

A picture of the Mommy to be and I! What a wonderful day!


Lindsay and I! We make a great team as hostesses! Notice our mum's that Mrs. Japon made! They were gorgeous!

A picture of the hostesses, moms and guest of honor!

A cute picture of Monica's mom playing a game with Monica...

A picture of some guests playing the game "guess the baby food" - it was so close we had a tie! The tie breaker was spaghetti - blech!

Monica and her oh so proud and beautiful mother!

The hostesses and the mommy to be...

A picture of the table and all the food! It was so much fun to announce the name at the shower today! Everyone was surprised and had so much fun with it!

Caprese salad - only bite size....

Cucumber sandwiches and caprese salad toothpicks...

A beautiful baby carriage fruit basket that my mom made...

An amazing cake that Lindsay brought! It had a layer of brownie, chocolate cake,and topped with chocolate ganache, chocolate covered strawberries, and vanilla and chocolate buttercream! Yum!!

A picture of some baby bottle cookies that I made.

Here is a picture of the diaper cake I made. Note the A&M baby items on there in support of his dad who is a former Aggie.

Instead of stringing garland that say "it's a boy" the trend now is to string onsie's on a line instead for the mom to be! Look closely at the brown onesie. It has a calf on it and it says "pint sized" - how cute!!!!

We did this at my friend Ashley's shower that I helped hostess and it was such a big hit that I decided we should do it again. Baby themed candy, with lego blocks, baby M&M's, baby rattles and other delicious candy. Guests got to package thier own favors and seal them with homemade labels...