Catching up!

Wow!  Over a month has gone by since the last post!  I have been a slacker when it comes to updating the blog, just seems that we have been so busy...but what's new!  There is a lot to cover for the last 5 1/2 weeks, so here goes getting everyone caught up!

Since we have been married we have come to enjoy evenings at home together or with friends just hanging out more than going out.  But, the weekend after our 4-wheeling adventure, we decided to go out for a change and do something fun!  We went bowling with our wonderful friends Stephen and Anna.  Anna and I both forgot our cameras, so I captured the night as well as a person can with an iPhone in a dark bowling alley.  We had a really good time!  I have to say I was by far the worst, and was given lessons on technique by the other 3 throughout the night.  And, Carter and Stephen were battling it out to be the winner!  Here are few pics, excuse the quality!

Anna

Carter

Anna & I

Stephen & Anna 

Let's just say that, boys will be boys...

The very next week after our bowling night, I traveled to Temple, Tx for a nursing workshop over trauma patients.  I went along with another ICU nurse and our ICU manager.  My good friend Jenn Barnes works in Temple so I got to see her and spend a little time catching up, which was fantastic!  Overall, it was a fast but informational few days and I got to see Jenn!

On February 5, it was the Super Bowl!  Although, none of us had a real interest in the game or either team, we decided to have a little get together at our house to watch it.  After Anna and I had each planned to cook several different finger foods, we had a few couples cancel on us, so it ended up just being Carter and I and Stephen and Anna...and A LOT of food!  We had a really good time hanging out and EATING!  Here are some pics to show you just how much food we had, and how yummy it all was!

Chocolate fondue and fruit and marshmellows 

Red Velvet Cheeseball and Nilla Waffers

Lil Smokies, 7 layer dip, and pepperoni roll ups 

Stuffed mushrooms, buffalo chicken bites, and Spinach-Artichoke dip

 The next week following the Super Bowl, on Wednesday, February 8, Mike flew down to San Angelo for a snowmobiling trip to Colorado that he and Carter had planned.  I had also taken off work planning to go along with the boys and go skiing, but all my friends have "real" Monday-Friday 8-5 jobs and weren't able to go.  (Carter and I always joke that we don't have "real" jobs because our work schedules are so flexible allowing for multiple days off in a row.)  So I got up on Thursday morning and made breakfast and saw the boys off, then I went on to Welch to spend some time with my family.

I got the spontaneous urge to want to learn to sew a few months ago.  I had mentioned it to Momma-D, who is a fabulous seamstress, but had kind of put off finding somewhere to actually learn.  For Christmas, Poppy and Momma-D got all the granddaughters a little sewing kit with some of the basics that you would need to sew.  This motivated me to actually learn to sew!  After exhausting the resources, such as classes where I could learn, in San Angelo, I called up Momma-D.  She told me that she would be more than happy to teach me the basics and show me how to make a few things if I had a few days off to come spend some time with her learning. It worked out perfect to spend that time with her and Poppy during the time that I had planned to go to Colorado with Carter and Mike.

Some of the best parts about learning to sew were:
1. Getting to learn from my grandmother, Momma-D, who is one of the best
                                                 AND
2. My great grandmother, Me-Ma, had an old Singer sewing machine that was still in excellent condition and was not being used.  Poppy asked her if I could use it and she said she was happy that someone actually wanted to use it!  So, Poppy went and got it and cleaned and oiled it up.  I got to learn and practice on the machine that was my great grandmothers, and was now my own!

These 2 things I will truly treasure the rest of my life!  I got to make several things while I was with Momma-D, including baby blankets, pot holders, a couple of scrub tops, a scarf, and a few other things.  I have some pictures of a few things, but the others are gifts, so pictures will follow!  I am so excited about my new found hobby!

My great grandmother's sewing machine 

It fits down in its own little wooden desk!  My sewing station

The pool table has become my new cutting out table

The pot holder I made our of some scraps

The scarf I made...I LOVE it!

I wish I could show pictures of all the stuff I've made, but this gives you a little insight!  I just bought material to make valances for the kitchen and dining room windows!  I will let everyone know how that turns out!

While I was in Welch spending some time with my family, Dad had got some Lady Raider Basketball tickets to the game on Sunday in Lubbock.  Dad, Mom, and myself went to the game even though it was snowing pretty hard!  We had a really good time, including getting to eat at the famous Spanky's Restaurant in Lubbock (they have world famous fried cheese, each cheese stick is HUGE).  We decided to pause and take a moment in the blowing, hard falling snow to relish the moment and take some pictures, even though everyone was looking at us like we were crazy!

Mom & Dad, look at those huge flakes!

Dad and I 

Mom & I

A little early, Dad and I watching the girls warm up 

Carter and Mike had a really good time on their trip.  In fact, Carter said it was some of the best snow they had ever ridden in!  They returned on Monday, February 13, and came through Welch on their way home around 4:00 in the afternoon.  I was still at Poppy & Momma-D's so they stopped by and Momma-D cooked supper for us all.  She allowed all of us to try some of the Wood Smoked, Indian Harvested, Minnesota Wild Rice that she bought from an Indian trading post on their trip to Minnesota last summer, and it was delicious (there is a slight bit of inside humor to this)!  Here are some pics of the boys snowmobiling!

Mike's snowmobile stuck 

Carter riding 

Carter stuck

Mike riding

Mike flew back to Minnesota on February 14, Valentine's Day!  We sure enjoyed getting to see him and I know Carter loved having some father-son time!

So, for Valentine's Day, I got Carter an iPad.  He has been wanting one since Christmas after he played on my mom's while we were there.  And, he travels a lot so I knew he would get good use of it. He had already been sorely disappointed after accepting an Apple package from the FedEx guy while I was at work, hoping it was an iPad.  Turns out it was only our "Our Life 2011" photo album I made on my Mac.  If you are wondering wether or not he likes his gift....well if he isn't working out in the shed on a project, you will most likely find him playing games or surfing the net on his iPad!  I'm so glad he likes it!  I also gave him a little gift that was a craft project for me off of Pintrest.  He loved it as well!

A frame that you can write with an Expo marker on...so a new reason everyday!

As for what I got for Valentine's Day....I got a sweet card that said I could pick out some princess cut diamond earrings for Valentine's Day and our 1st Anniversary!  I was ecstatic!!!!  We just stayed home on Valentine's Day and recovered from being away.  I cooked chicken fried steak for supper which is one of Carter's favorites.  We celebrated Valentine's with Stephen and Anna on Saturday, February 18 with a nice date at a very nice restaurant called Silo House here in San Angelo.  Afterward, we had some drinks downtown.  In my rush to get ready and out the door to make it in time for our reservation, I forgot my camera!  So we have no pictures to capture our night out on the town...: /  We really had a great time though!  A few days later Carter took me to see a movie that I was dying to see, The Vow.  I loved it!  He is such a sport!

On February 18, Aubree turned 21!  Her good friend, Jessica, came to visit from Lubbock for her birthday weekend.  She had a good time going out with her friends on Friday before her birthday and on Saturday they all went out to the Rodeo here in San Angelo.  I think she had a great weekend packed with fun!  I made Aubree her favorite, red velvet cupcakes, for her birthday.  Wish I had taken some pictures or at least made Aubree take a picture with her cupcakes, but again...FAIL!  They were VERY good, if I do say so myself!

Lastly, Poppy & Momma-D came to San Angelo this past week to visit.  My cousin, Steeli, had a birthday on February 20, so they brought her favorite, cheesecake, and her birthday gift.  I love when they come to visit!  They treated Carter and I, Aub, and Steeli to dinner at Chili's, then we got to eat up some of the cheesecake (which was EXCELLENT)!  Thanks Steeli for sharing!

The cheesecake Momma-D made for Steeli

Steeli with her cheesecake

Poppy, Momma-D, & Aub

Carter and I with the birthday girl

Ok, I think I have covered just about everything since my last post.  I am going to do better the next couple of weeks about both taking pictures AND updating the blog!  Hope everyone is enjoying 2012 as much as Carter and I!