Turn the HEAT on!

Matt and I have been conducting a little experiment this past month. We did not turn on our A/C or our Heat at ALL for an entire month, just to see how it would effect our electric bill. Today the newest bill came. Guess how much we saved compared to the previous month's bill? That's right, folks. FIVE DOLLA'! Holla!




Glad we FROZE our HINEYs OFF!
heheheh

Molly & Pebbles

Dawg

I have been informed (thanks, Jon) that those African hits are just search engines indexing my site. Dawg. I thought we were going to make some international pen-pals :)

Who are you?

I love the Cluster Map that I've added to our page. It is so neat to see that people all over the world are checking out the blog. Out of curiousity, WHO ARE YOU? Just would like to know :) It looks like someone from Senegal or Guinea, Africa is checking us out.....

Andrea & Scott's Dallas Reception

This weekend was Andrea & Scott's Dallas wedding reception. It was so much fun to see all of my old high school friends! I was so glad that Andrea wore her dress again...how many brides get to do that?! Fun times!

Me, Katie, Sarah & Halie

Katie, Halie, Sarah, Andrea, Scott, Me & Roma

Mom, Dad & I

Katie, Halie, Andrea, Me & Ashley (old school Neeley Knockouts)

Amy & Jason

Amit & Roma

Our Celebrity Look-A-Likes

Brooke holding Emery!

Brooke got to hold Emery for the first time! I must say that I love blogger and digitial pictures! It's such a great way to stay in touch when your peeps live all over the country!

Happy Birthday, Sister!

Happy Big 2-6, KP! And bring this girl some bubbly!

Emery Kate Update

I have been checking Brooke's sister's blog for updates on her and Emery Kate and today I found a lot of information! Here's a quote from Heather, Brooke's sister:

"Mom and baby are doing fantastic! Miss Emery is 100% breathing on her own, no oxygen needed. That's a miracle too. Everything about Emery is a miracle. Thank you Jesus for bringing her to us safely. Of course she'll be in the hospital for a little while until she gets a wee bit older. For now, she's thriving in the NICU. No setbacks whatsoever."

Isn't she so precious? Tiny little one!

Welcome Emery Kate!

Emery Kate was born this morning! I don't have any other details other than that Brooke and baby are "ok." Brooke was still in surgery when her sister called me and Emery was wheeled over to the NICU right away. I'll let you know more when I hear an update.

Brooke & Emery Kate

Please pray for my friend Brooke and her unborn baby, Emery Kate. Brooke's in the hospital with complications and Emery Kate isn't getting everything she needs to grow. She's a tiny one (1 lb 14 oz) and is due in December. Doctors are working to keep Emery in the oven, but they need prayers for Brooke's complications to subside and for Emery to get everything she needs to grow. I'll keep you posted as I hear from Brooke.

Dancing DAD THE BIRD

Here's Dad dancing like a bird at Buca de Beppo...he'll do just about anything for a free piece of cake!

Keep reading, there are several new posts below!

Andrea & Scott's Wedding

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. SHEPHERD! The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. It was at a vineyard near Sacramento, CA and the weather and decorations were exceptionally beautiful! I'm so happy that Andrea has found her Mr. Right - they are great together! There will be more pics from the "real" photographer in about 30 days, so I'll post more then. I was so excited to get to see my friend Lisa and her hubby Jeb and new baby Mary Kate! They are an adorable family!

In other news, Matt and Dean made their first trip down to Austin for UT/Ohio State game. They had a blast even though they didn't win. Apparently there is a new jumbo -tron at the stadium that is so big that Matt thought it was a new hotel under construction when he saw it from the back! Dude, guess you have to spend your national championship money somewhere (of course, scholarships or academic things are out and jumbo-trons are in! haha)! They had great success selling their extra tickets to the game on ebay and the proceeds just about paid for their whole season!!! Gotta LUV EBAY!

Labor Day Weekend!

Kristi and Lexipoo came to visit for labor day weekend and we had a lot of fun! They hosted a BBQ party so we got to see a lot of people all at once! I only took a handfull of pics, so when I get copies from KP and Mom I will post more. Get ready too-- Kristi took some great ones of Dad dancing at Buca de Beppo at his bday dinner!! He had to dance like a bird!

Andrea's Bachelorette

Congratulations, Matt!

Congratulations to my hubby on his graduation!! Today is his last official day of classes at Asbury!!!!! whoooooooohoooooooooooo!

1st day of Fall Semester!

Today's my first official day for the Fall semester! I'm headed into it with a 4.0 --- after only 2 summer classes -- haha. We'll see how long it lasts :) I just realized, I don't even know the mascot for my new school. It might be a prairie dog...

Santa Fe

This weekend we went to Santa Fe to hear Matt's favorite piano player of all time - Doug Montgomery at Vanessie's. He was AWESOME. He takes requests and can play anything. We heard Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Les Mis, Sound of Music, Flight of the Bumblebee, etc. He's really talented (as he should be since he graduated from Julliard)! This pic is of us at Vanessie's. I always seem to forget how pale I am until I see pictures of me next to Matt! ha!

We had a great time, ate some great food and happened to visit right during the annual Indian Art Festival. I thought this would be a great opportunity to pick up a cool turquoise bracelet or necklace. Every single woman I saw in Sante Fe was wearing about 20 pounds of turquoise - drapped from everywhere imaginable. So the plan was to swing by the art show this morning and join the turquoise trend. That plan died when I saw the first pricetag! Unbelieveable - plain simple pieces were going for $300. So we ate breakfast burritos and walked around for a bit and that was that. We also happened to run across a TRADER JOE's! Yipppee! The only place that sells Two Buck Chuck. Gotta love that! We left Molly home completely alone for the first time (no one came to check up on her) and she did perfect!

Our UN-invited front porch guest!

Season Tix

Matt and Dean got season tix to the UT games this season! Only 4% of the people who applied for the tickets got them, so the odds were outrageous! They are SO excited!! Here's a pic of the 2 biggest Longhorn fans I've ever met...This might be the only picture of them in existence where at least one of them isn't wearing burnt orange!

Cast Your Votes Now!

Ok, time to register your opinions, folks! I've painted the forrest green shutters (see below) white. Now, should I also paint the columns? What about the maroon door? White too? Vote now!

The "Before" shot of our house

Happy Birthday, MOM & JONATHAN!

Hope it's a good one. I'm going to eat some cake today on y'all's behalf. It's really no trouble...no trouble at all.

My beautiful nieces!

Yay Brooke, Michael, and Baby Stone! So excited about your news :)

Curtis & Kristin's Wedding -- The Venetian, Las Vegas

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Gustin

Big D

We went to the Big D this weekend for a quick visit. Here's a pic from Mom's blog of (clockwise from top: Mom, Matt, me, Me-Maw, Dad). We also got to see Granny, but didn't get a picture.

FIRE IN THE FIELD!

Lightning struck Matt's tank yesterday and it BLEW THE TOP OFF OF THE TANK! It also sent his transmitter flying and then caught on fire. WILD.

Banff, Alberta -- CANADA

I finally have a couple of pictures online from our trip to Canada!

Newsflash!!!!!! Cindy Beats Matt at CHESS!!!! Newsflash!!!!!!!!

I've known Matt for about 4 years, and TODAY was the FIRST time I've beaten him at Chess. That may not be something to brag about to many people, but I'm pumped! HA. He's a chessmaster so now I have to brag :)

Banana Nut Bread

Mom's AWESOME banana bread. Made it this morning and it is so good warm!

Banana Nut Bread
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed RIPE banana
1/2 cup nuts
9X5 pan 350 for 45 to 50 min

Yorkie Couscous

YUM. This recipe is excellente and is quick to make! Nice recipe JaneT!

Grill some chicken breast and set to the side
make some couscous according to the package but add some green onions,minced garlic, garlic powder, and salt and pepper before boiling the couscous. When the couscous is done add some chopped tomatoe, feta cheese, and fresh lemon juice. Then take the grilled chicken and slice it at a diagonal and place it on top.

Mom Joins Blog World!

Mom's gotta Blog! YAY! Marys-pictures.blogspot.com

Digital Fortress - Dan Brown

Just finished a good book worth mentioning: Digital Fortress by Dan Brown (author of Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons). Very good book - again, it's a code breaking book but this one doesn't even mention the Catholic church. Seems like his other books are all anti-church, but this one is about the computer/digital world. Good read :)

Taco Soup a la Brooke

Mmmm, Brooke's comment reminded me of her awesome Taco Soup, so I'm going to post it! This is one of those recipes where you can throw in the kitchen sink. The secret ingredient is the Ranch Dip mix. This is my variation from Brooke's origninal recipe (I am lazy and use canned chicken :)

Taco Soup a la Brooke

2 cans corn
1 can black beans (juice drained)
2 medium cans Rotel or generic tomatoes with chilis
1 or 2 cans of white meat chunk chicken (drained)
1 can of chicken broth
1 packet of Taco Seasoning
2 packets of RANCH DIP mix (not the dressing mix)

Toppings:
Mexican Blend shredded cheese
Tortilla chips, crumbled
Onions

Boil everything together and add toppings right before you serve. Makes a HUGE pot and is even better as a left over. OLE!

I'll post the others after I actually make them and try them out. Thanks for sending a recipe Janet! Keep 'em coming!!!