These Colors Don't Run....

Oh how I love the Olympics...let me count the ways...

• Pride of country- USA! USA! USA!
• Women's gymnastics. (Although Jordyn Wieber...not.even.fair.)
• Watching random things like Archery, skeet shooting, water polo (yes, I sure did), sand volleyball...all in the name of moral support and the red, white and blue.
• Swimming. Phelps vs. Lochte, US vs. the World...let's.do.it.
• Opening Ceremonies
• Royals. Let's just end on this one, shall we?

At the ninth hour (Wednesday night around 7pm) Dave and I decided to invite a few friends over for the opening ceremonies. In a few hot minutes we had yeses from the peanut gallery and we decided a low-key affair was in order. Then Thursday and Pinterest hit. I decided we needed games, bracelets, medals, and maybe a few printables. *Adorable Olympic printables via Mirabelle Creations.

 I figured this was the perfect reason to try this bacon-jalapeno cheese ball from Homesick Texan. Y'all, it was delicious. I only got about 2 bites before it was G-O-N-E!

 This is the work of Bradley. She was in charge of dessert and I should have known she'd show up with Olympic torch cupcakes. Adorable! But not quite as adorable as these two little balls of fire!

Let the games begin! We had toss the tiny frisbee in the hula hoop....

When our hula hoops could stay on the ground :)

 Our gold and silver medals in this event went to Stacie and Ryan....In fact, Stacie was our leading medalist.

Then it was "Hanky Panky". Special thanks to Annalee for such a fun idea! Bradley was hard core...of course we would expect no less...

Spoiled rotten Rookie found someone to give him some lovin'....

And our final game of the evening was pin the sport on the athlete. Everyone got photos of 12 athletes and I called out the sports these athletes would be participating in. They had to put the correct sport with the correct athlete. It was hysterical! Our gold medalist got 9 out of the 12 correct!

All I know is that by the end of the night, Rookie had a medal around his neck and Avery was down for the count. I'd say it was a success!

Let's do this, USA! These Colors don't run!

Birds of a Feather...

Sisters are a lot of things...they are an additional wardrobe, someone to giggle with into the wee hours of the night, someone to shift blame to when your parents are investigating how nail polish got on the coffee table, they are loyal secret keepers, a built in slumber party, someone who understands you better than anyone else because they know every aspect of your life. If you're lucky, they are your best friend.

I'm one of the lucky ones. My sister and I have so much fun together, we respect each other, and we love each other. I had the honor of standing up as she married the man she had been praying for and the man I had been praying for for her. Although it was her big day, she thanked me for standing by her side and she gifted me with this precious bracelet.

We are

birds of a feather, peas in a pod, two of a kind, partners in crime, perfect pair...

She's my

BEST FRIEND EVER.

Real Housewives of Austin, TX

Bradley's 31st birthday turned into my extreme good fortune! Her mom wanted her to feel special and pampered so she planned a surprise spa party in place of Our regularly scheduled Tuesday night Bible study. It was one of the most fun nights I've had in a long time!

Mrs.Bradley selected the menu and my job was simply to implement! I love easy jobs like that!

Bradley came in, we all shouted "surprise" and told her what she was in for and the first words out of mouth were, "I literally feel like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!"

We sure didn't feel like our normal Austin Housewife selves that night!

Thank you so much Mrs.Bradley! What a fabulous night!

30, Flirty, and Thriving!

My 20's...how I loved thee...let me count the ways...

College- Check! Loved all of it. Made many precious, dear friends who are still by my side today. We made many wonderful memories and we continue to "do life together" even though life has changed a bit from fraternity parties and dance parties to baby showers and lunches planned around nap schedules. I wouldn't change a thing!

Dave- Who would have known that 23 would bring me you. It's so fun to think that you knew the 23 year old version of me, now the 30 year old version of me, and God willing, the 50 and 75 year old version of me!

My 20's brought me a breast cancer scare with my mother, a triumph over breast cancer with my mother, an appreciation for my family and friends and the understanding that life really is short and we're not promised tomorrow. My prayer is I would live each day as my last and never let my family and friends go a day without knowing how much I love and appreciate them.

My 20's brought me a wedding, made me a wife, and shaped the beginning my life with Dave. God is good!

I've loved the last decade and I praise God for who He is and what He has done in my life. Who He has made me to be and how He continues to mold me into the woman he wants me to be. Life is good and I'm hopeful that the blessings didn't stop at 29. So here's to 30 and the promises that lie in my next decade!

The celebrations leading me into 30 were nothing short of fabulous!! I enjoyed a wonderful family dinner on the lake complete with the most beautiful sunset! Saturday brought pedicures and brunch with my sneaky Austin girlfriends and then a wonderful dinner with my sneaky boo! After dinner we were "meeting Bradley and James for drinks" which turned into a surprise party for me! It was SO fun...SO surprising...and SO special to see all of my family and friends in one place! I am humbled and grateful that you all would celebrate with me! I love, love, love you! *PS...most of the pictures from Saturday night were taken with Bradley's camera since my camera card was full (who knew I was having a surprise party and needed more room??). So I will be sharing more pictures of my dear friends once I get those!

My sister- Kristen, Me, Nana and Mom

The whole fam...without brother! We miss you already!

Papa and Nana and Me and Dave

My boo...

My cute cake which had 30 sparklers on top that almost set off the smoke alarms...oops!

Birthday brunch and pedicures with my girls! They were so sweet (and sneaky) to still have brunch with me even though they were going to be celebrating with me again that night!

Kristen and I after the big surprise!

Mom and Dad

Dave was so sweet to plan such an amazing party for me! But he enlisted the right help with decorations! Mom, Kristen and Bradley brought fun decorations...yes, that is an Anthropologie candle...in the bar on 6th street. Mom thought it smelled "a little musty". Love her. Also, please note the personalized party favors!! Chapstick (I'm an addict) that says, "Life is Glamorous and Fabulous". LOVE.

All of the girls

Nana and Papa! Total troopers partying it up on 6th street! Nana said, "Do I need to put my drink down for the picture?" No way teeny!!

Alice and Jeff

And Sarah and Lauren!

There were other precious friends there, but the pictures aren't on my camera!! Know I am so, so thankful for you to! I can't wait to see the other pics!! THANK YOU ALL! XOXO

Here's to the dirty 30!

Rags to Richest Reunion...

Today, in honor of my slumber party tonight with some of my besties, I'm reliving our Decade of Friendship trip to Mexico. I can offer no beach and no cabana boys, but Casa Mendenhall will have taco salads, Pioneer Woman Cinnamon rolls for breakfast and plenty of vino. :) Is it 5:00pm yet?

Dear Catalonia,

It was fun while it lasted. The poolside chats, the 2 hour dinners, the poolside drink service, the lazy days spent sunbathing and reading, the sound of the Loj's best friend from Chicago talking to us incessantly (I think she wanted a t-shirt)...I had hoped it would never end. I'm not even sure how I've made it through the last 36 hours without a Miami Vice, guacamole and my afternoon Chocolate Lovers Crepe. I suppose it's possible to survive without it, but why would anyone want to??

You have also given me a new appreciation for well-lit hallways, running water and upgrades. I had severely underestimated those things but thanks to you I’m giving “thanks” where thanks is due!

You were good to us, Catalonia. I’ll never forget you.

XOXO,
T-Rog

Cast of Characters:

Liz/ The Loj- Director of Transportation: The DOT duties include transportation to/from Dallas and the airport, passport reminders, setting up transfers to/from airport to hotel and directions.

Laura/ L-Merc- Director of Food Services: DOFS duties include making dinner reservations each evening

Robyn/ Reams- Director of Wellness: The DOWs duties include, but are not limited to: sunscreen application and re-application, distributor of Imodium, and providing snacks during long, weary travel days (this duty could be perceived as a responsibility of the DOFS, but the DOW came prepared so realignment of that duty was necessary).

Allison A./ Lynch- Director of Spirit and Director of Interpretation/Communication: The DOS’s direct duty was t-shirt design and development. On site duties shifted to the DOI as it became critical that her Spanish skills be used. Her fluent tongue helped us negotiate that upgrade and also made sure that our baked potatoes came with butter and cheese.

Allison L./ Bradley- Director of Photography: Do you really need me to explain this one?

Me/ T-Rog- Director of Documentation: DOD duties include documentation of quotes and events as they took place. The DOD also works closely with the DOP to ensure accurate preservation of all events.

Our book swap the night before we left. The majority of them were the Loj's....

“Do you want to sit by the window? ‘Cause if you puke on me it’ll ruin my day.” Bradley to Lynch on our way to the airport at 4:40am

Room #1...aka "the dungeon". You can tell how we feel about it by the picture above. The picture below is how we felt immediately after we made our decision to upgrade....we decided to toast to that fantastic decision while our bags were being "relocated". :)

~ Bradley "It's only sixty dollars. I think I'll just tell James we just didn't feel safe."
~ Reams "I don't!!"

Room #2....

" It is astonishing what sixty dollars will get you! Rags to Riches!" ~Bradley

&

"I just don't think we're that high maintenance. I just don't!" ~ also Bradley....

These were taken at dinner each night. The dinners were amazing!

I love these next 2....our DOP was trying to get fancy and take artsy pictures. These pictures were taken about 5 seconds apart...oops!

"I'm pretty sure they're going to hand us one of these when we get to Heaven." ~ Lynch...stone cold serious.

Yes...the camera was on a timer....and yes, Bradley had flung herself into the pool a nano-second before the photo took. The things you have to do to be the DOP....

"You'll notice I'm in my workout clothes...not because I just LOVE to workout and even have to workout on vacation...although it made the director of wellness happy...but really I was getting in my 5 mile training walk! What you can't tell from this picture is that we were at the crepe/milkshake place....so I was rewarding myself with the lovely object shown about 4 photos above...

Special thanks to the Director of Spirit for our t-shirts...

I love y'all and had so much fun! I think this needs to be an annual trip...who's with me?? We should have no trouble talking our husbands into it ;)

“Does having snacks make me a better director of wellness?” ~ Reams

“Are y’all going to a CPA convention?” ~ the joker on the plane who read Reams’ “occupation” section of her customs form. We informed him that we most certainly were NOT!

“There are 2 guaranteed times I cry: 1. When a soldier comes home. 2. Extreme Makeover Home Edition. ‘Move that BUS!’ I’m done!” ~ Lynch

"Do you have Karaoke?" ~ Bradley
"No, but I can play the drums and you can sing." ~ The bartender
"Do you know Fancy by Reba?" ~ Bradley

*Originally posted June 30th, 2009