Ags vs Hogs...

At the beginning of October, we headed to Dallas and stayed with Emily & Brad in Ft. Worth for the weekend and enjoyed the famous Joe T Garcias Mexican restaurant for the first time with them, my family and Laura & Erich. We also went to the new Cowboys stadium for the first time to watch the Texas A&M Aggies fight it out against the Arkansas Hogs. Well, there wasn't much of a fight, but we can always hope for next year. It was fun meeting up with friends at the game anyway. Mom, Ernie and Jim were also in town for the weekend so we got to spend time with them and celebrate with Mom for her birthday.

Jarrod, Mom, Ernie, Jim

And me.

Gaither Garden Gnomes

A gnome is a mythical creature characterized by its extremely small size and subterranean lifestyle.

Our Aunt Anne recently sent us 2 Garden Gnomes for our birthdays, but not just any Garden Gnomes, an A&M Aggie & LSU Tiger Gnome! We thought they were cute and got some giggles out of it. I told Jarrod "mine had less wrinkles and was younger and more vibrant looking" and his response was, "well mine has more national championships". LOL

So I've seen Gnomes before in random places & obviously on Travelocity ads on TV, but I have never really understood what they were for or why the Gnome is Travelocity's symbol. So I did some research on Wikopedia & found that the "gnome" is similar to what we speak of as "fairies". They are thought to guard wildlife, but became an ornamental figure which people like to place in gardens. The garden gnome originated in Germany in the mid-1800s as decorations based on local myths as a way for people to enjoy the stories of the gnomes' willingness to help in the garden at night. Stealing gnomes to "take back to the wild" ("gnoming") also became popular so it is said that they "travel the world"....hence the reason Travelocity uses it as a symbol -- "The Roaming Gnome". For more detail (I didn't know there was so much history!), go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome

We haven't decided on a home for them just yet, but I'm thinking that instead of guarding the wildlife outdoors, we may need them to guard wild outbursts by human creatures in the TV room during the NCAA tournament this next week...especially if the Aggies come up against the LSU Tigers! Not that we have a history in this or anything...lol...we watched them play against each other in the tourney almost exactly 3 years ago in my old Sunnybrook house (awww...memories...gotta give a shout out to Laura ;) while celebrating Jarrod's bday. Let's just say, it wasn't the best way to celebrate as there was lots of tension in the room. It would be some miracle for the 2 to come up against each other this year though considering they are in different brackets & different sides of the draw so I think it's a good bet that we will be safe this year! I doubt that anyone predicts an A&M vs LSU championship game! ;)

Dad visits

Dad came up to visit us last Thursday. We went out for some tasty dinners at an italian place called Rocco's on Thursday & tried out the new steakhouse in Steiner Ranch on Friday. Both were very good. The steakhouse is 3 stories and has an amazing view of Lake Travis, but also serves up some really great food! We'll definitely go again. Dad & I also explored a Texas vineyard near Austin called Stonehouse Vineyard. They only have 6 acres of vines so they make only 2 wines at their winery, but they partner with a vineyard in Australia and have some pretty good bottles from there. The tasting was fun and the drive out to the vineyard through the hills was beautiful. Saturday we headed down to San Antonio for a Massey Reunion, but detoured through Lockhart so my dad could taste some of the wonderful BBQ we keep talking about. Then on to the reunion. It was great to see family on my dad's side that I hadn't visited with in a while, some in 10 or 20 years! The gathering was to celebrate my grandfather's sister Josilee turning 100.

The Massey cousins that were able to make it to the reunion: (from left) Charles & Jackie Lowery, my dad & his 3 sisters to his left, Kay, Becky & Sue, and Patricia Hopkins in front.
Jarrod & I with my Mimi
Josilee blowing out her candles with grandaughter Kimberly's help.

I wonder what you wish for at age 100?!?

Cayden, The Pianist

A Gaither Christmas in Austin

This year was our year to have Christmas with Jarrod's side of the family and our first time to host at our new house. We spent a week enjoying time with them, celebrating Christmas, and eating lots of good food.

We went to a Christmas Eve service at our new church...

Gaither Family Photo

Christmas Eve Service with Rick Trevino

Sing Along with the kids

Candlelighting and Snow

Rick Trevino has roots in Austin and he has led music for the Christmas Eve service at our church for 18 years.

We were entertained by our nephew Cayden....

He learned to play the piano

& to climb stairs

Enjoyed opening gifts on Christmas morning....

Ate a yummy Turducken for Christmas dinner...
and also explored Austin with Jarrod's family, watched lots of football & movies, did lots of eating, lots of playing with Cayden, only a little of playing Bridge since I discovered I may not like the game so much after all (or maybe I just need to practice up a little on the computer like Jarrod has!) & had many friends stop through to visit. It was a fun time having Jarrod's family here at our house for the first time and enjoying our first Christmas in our new house here in Austin. Hope all of you also enjoyed time with family & friends this Christmas season and took time out to remember the birth of our Saviour , Jesus Christ, that our loving God sent to us to save us from our sins and allow us to have eternal life. What a wonderful reason to celebrate!

House Divided

SUPPORTING OUR TEAMS

We traveled down to Houston to visit Jarrod's cousin Sarah & her husband Mike and go to the A&M vs LSU basketball game at the Toyota Center. (I have to add that Mike actually wanted to wear his Aggie cap with his LSU shirt and Sarah said there was a reason he couldn't find that cap -- I'll get you a new one Mike ;) Our tix were also good for the TU vs Michigan State game which was just prior to our game so of course we went to that as well to catch as much college basketball as possible. I didn't clap for the Longhorns, but since they were the TX team and ahead the whole time, I actually was pulling for them until the end when Michigan State pulled ahead in the last seconds and won the game -- the good Ag in me could not pass up the chance to delight in the Longhorns being upset! Jarrod reminded me to take a picture of the final score of that game....

but he conveniently forgot to remind me to take a picture of the final score of the A&M vs LSU final score since the AGGIES WON! No worries though, I got it covered...the final score was....

AGGIES 72

LSU 61

GIG 'EM AGS!! I have to rub it in when I can b/c it is not often that I can! (yes, I admit it, LSU is usually better than the Ags at sports)

Christmas Tree Decorating...

After we returned from Thanksgiving, we went out on our Christmas tree hunt. After an attempt at one of those Christmas tree farm places, we quickly proceeded to Wal-Mart & Home Depot to find some more affordable trees. I had no idea how expensive a decent size tree had gotten. Last year was our first Christmas together and we were not going to be home much so we bought a tiny tree that could not have been taller than maybe 5 foot. We only needed 2 strands of lights so that gives you a good idea how small it was! Anyhow, we found our 9 foot Noble Fir that we were looking for at Home Depot. Their prices are extremely reasonable and had some nice looking trees. It was a REALLY big 9 footer too! Jarrod suggested that the guy cut the trunk shorter b/c of its thickness, but the Home Depot dude insisted that where he was cutting it was fine. Well, when we got home, the trunk wouldn't fit in the tree stand as Jarrod had suspected so being the great husband that he is, he got out his hand saw and began sawing away. After some minor setbacks, we finally had it standing straight up, but no time for decorating this weekend. Here is the before:

After I returned from Dallas the following weekend, Jarrod helped me string the lights, and I had fun finding just the right spot for all our ornaments the rest of the evening. One night later that week, Jarrod began hanging candy canes on the tree & I was like "what are you doing?" He was appalled that my family did not put candy canes on the tree every year. We laughed, he only put 2 of the boxes on instead of 4 he had bought and he took the other 2 boxes to work. His co-workers were very thankful that our family didn't put candy canes on our tree. LOL The tree was not finished off until my mom and grandmother came in town for my birthday this passed weekend and I climbed to the top & added the gold star. Here is the after picture of our decorated tree: As I mentioned, mom and Patsy were here for my birthday. We drove up to Salado to their Christmas Stroll on Saturday and did some shopping at the cute antique stores there. It was a fun day. We returned back home to some great smelling steaks being prepared by my wonderful husband. He grilled up some steak, pork, vegetables & baked some potatoes for us. It was all yummy! I opened up my gifts and then on to dessert! My mom baked my favorite chocolate cake (which has become a running joke amongst us, but not room to go into the details about that now). It was delicious!

Guess, that gives it away -- this is my last year in my twenties! Better make it a good one!

Gobble, Gobble

Our Thanksgiving was filled with food, football and card games. As usual, Patsy's house (my grandmother for those that don't know) was the gathering place for lots of eating & chatting on Thanksgiving. It was an all day affair with family members stopping in throughout the day. We were grateful to have family members in from Lufkin & Grapevine in addition to all those local. Jarrod made his families sweet potato casserole recipe to take & I made my dad's pumpkin gooey butter bars.

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 Cups sweet potatoes (4) – peel before boiling
½ cup sugar
½ cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup milk

Topping:
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Boil & mash potatoes. Mix in sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla & milk. Put in 13x9 baking dish.
Topping: melt butter and mix in remaining ingredients. Sprinkle on top of potato mixture.
Bake 25 minutes @ 350 degrees.

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Bars (recipe by Paula Deen)

Ingredients
Cake:
1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

One of our cousin's from Lufkin taught my brother & I how to play Bridge, which I had thought was only an "old people's" game, but boy was I wrong. Jarrod already knew somewhat how to play b/c his parents had taught him so the game was on! I learned that Bridge is sort of like Spades on steroids. Anyway, I am proud to say that the girls, Josie & I, beat up on the boys, Jarrod & Jim. I have a feeling a rematch will be called at some point so they can redeem themselves. It was lots of fun, but the competitive juices were definitely flowing! We also had some entertainment featuring Mary Grace Polk and her dance routine.

The guys watching football

Our teams didn't fair so well in football, both the Aggies (not surprising) & the LSU Tigers were defeated. But, I guess it is about time that the Longhorns pull one off. I know the Ags haven't had a great reputation over the past few years, but as I recall, we have managed to beat those Longhorns for the past 2 years! This year was just too much of a long shot & even though they are a rival & I'll never like them, in a way I do feel kind of bad for the Horns since they beat the Sooners, but got beat by the system and were left in the shadows. I was actually pulling for the Red Raiders to win out over both if you can believe that! And I dislike them about as much as the Horns! Anyway, moving on, we also had a mean game of Hearts during the weekend and Jarrod managed to pull out the victory there. I also got some gravy making lessons from mom, which hopefully Jarrod will reap the benefits of on our next dish that requires gravy. I have made it a few times, and have been successful a couple, but I'm not consistent so I called on my mom to give me some pointers. Good call too b/c we got to enjoy some really good chicken fried steak for dinner one night so she could help me make some gravy. All in all, it was a wonderful Thanksgiving -- restful, relaxing & good times with family all of whom I am very thankful for!

Down South where it's "Gruener"...

Mom told us about a music & wine festival in Gruene when we were in Corpus a couple weekends ago so we decided to make a day trip down South to Gruene, TX this past Saturday. We met up with mom and Ernie and had a relaxing time listening to some music, trying a few TX wines & of course hitting up a few of the "cute little shops" in Gruene. We ate at the famous Grist Mill restaurant & conversed about why the restaurant would be named a mill if its history went back to a cotton gin? Oh well, the food was really good. We had great weather and a great time! It was so great to be able to meet up with them on a daytrip! We never would have been able to do that in Dallas. Here's some pictures.

Aggieland is close, but Corpus is Home...

Although we got to visit my surrogate home, Aggieland, last weekend, this weekend we made the first drive home to Corpus from Austin. It was such a relaxing drive. Especially b/c it was 3 1/2 hours less than we are accustomed to from Dallas!! We took a back route to miss Friday afternoon traffic, but also with ulterior motives to go through Lockhart and stop for some BBQ at yet another talked about joint! This one is called Kreuz. We decided that they have the best brisket that we have ever tasted! Jarrod and I have differing views on the pork ribs. I liked them better than several of the places we have tried (although, all have been wonderful!), but Jarrod wasn't to keen on the seasoning. Nevertheless, we left there with very full stomachs!! And on to Corpus we went. It was a great time visiting family and friends. We went to a wedding of a friend of mine, Licia Dodson, from grade school who also went to business school at A&M with me.

I caught up with quite a few familiar faces whom I hadn't seen in years so that was fun, but also got to see Amber for the second weekend in a row! That never happens these days!

We were also able to celebrate with my mom on her actual birthday, which has probably not happened in quite some time -- usually it is a card sent in the mail & a phone call. Love you Mom! And I am thankful for the ## years (I won't tell) that God has blessed you with & the almost 29 years of it (getting close to the big one!) that I have been blessed by having you as my mother! Wish I had taken a picture to put here from the weekend, but these older ones will have to do.