Tony following in Toby's footsteps

Tony had his first guitar recital tonight.They did a wonderful job and of course he was by far the best!!!

What a handsome boy and such a sweetheart! I'm sure he loves to hear his Mimi say so. He also is doing well in school with all A's and B's.

Lord, ain't we proud!!!

Toby, here is a video of Tony playing "You ain't nothing but a Hound Dog." See you are not the only one who got trotted out to the dog and pony show to do this song!!

What the #$%^@ is going on?

What a stressful day! Seemed like it went from bad to worse at work. It should get interesting from here to the end of it all. Seemed like everyone was fighting and half stepping. I was so glad to get home I can't tell you. Mom called and she was upset and having problems, then poor Leo came over and had to vent on his day out at the base. He about punched the foreman in the nose (which he deserved). That's the one thing about our Leo, he can stand up for himself when needs be. He said, " I'm happy to BE the Mexican but don't make the mistake of trying to treat me like I'm a dumb Mexican." What a mess. I expect us to get kicked off the job at any time. I just keep trying to talk some sense into everyone but I don't think it's much help. Too many rocket scientists and not enough skilled tradesmen. As Doris Day said, " Que Sera Sera".

We tried to go bowing last night and relax a little but the lanes were all full. So we just went back home and watched the comedy channel. I told Cliff I'm sure I would have bowled a 280 if I would have had the chance, then he said he would have only bowled a 279 so I could win. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Claiborne wants a photo of the hillbilly race car, so I will try to post a picture this week. It should be hilarious

Tis the Season

We got the tree up tonight and it looks wonderful! Cliff really wanted to help with the festive occasion (not) but he dug right in and we finished in no time. I told him he's all bark and no bite. HA

Here is one of the new blown glass ornaments we picked up at Christmas. I love it!

The new cowgirl! ( a blond just like Clifford likes them) the hussy.

The new cowboy! (long and tall just like I like them) the stud

This horse was a must have cause its a palomino like Chinook , my Dad's horse when I was a kid

In the upper right corner is the saddle we bought. It kind of looks like a turkey with a saddle on in this picture HA

Another handsome cowboy hummmmmmmmmmmm

Santa is a fatty mcfattie

Cowboy Christmas

We went to Vegas yesterday to my favorite shopping experience, Cowboy Christmas. I was amazed when we got there because, usually, you can hardly find a parking space and you walk a mile. Well, this year the parking lot was just empty and when we got inside, the place was empty. It was so strange.

I have been to Cowboy Christmas every year since the NFR moved to Vegas from Oklahoma City in the 80's and it is always just packed; you can hardly move. I mean there was even a place to sit at the food court (unheard of, part of the fun was trying to eat a $12.00 hamburger and drink a $7.00 beer while standing up). Every vendor had 2 for one sales and 25% off (that part was nice but also sad as there is never deals until maybe the last day of the show). I did buy some blown glass western ornaments for the tree, a cowboy and cowgirl about 7 inches tall each, a saddle, a cowboy riding a horse on a sign that said RODEO, a fat Santa holding a sting of chili peppers, and a palomino horse that reminded me of my dad's horse Chinook.

Sadly the cowboys head broke off on the way home cause they wrapped them so poorly, but I think I can fix it. Cliff is such a good artist that he will be able to paint the little bit on the shoulder that will need to be fixed. So, tonight we are going to put up the tree and I can't wait. I will post pictures of my treasures when we get the tree up. I LOVE my western ornaments. I will have to put them high so the babies don't get them.

We did end up ordering Cliff a coat from Western Outfitter. They had a beautiful silk and cashmere blend tropical weight fabric that was a camel and black hounds tooth, very very petite pattern that I couldn't pass up. the color was so great on him. So there you have it, shouldn't have but did. Then he asked me what I wanted for Christmas since he got a new coat and I said, " I want that damn race car moved off the carport and around back of the shed, so we don't look like such hillbillies." He said, "Wait a minute, I just wanted to BUY you something, don't get crazy on me." HA So I got my ornaments, 2 coffee mugs, and a turquoise and black agate necklace and earring set. I guess that means the car stays in hillbilly heaven. HA Good thing I am such a race fan and that his name is painted on the door of the car. That may save him HA

Judy took all her grand kids to Zion over the weekend to ride on the train called the North Pole Express. I guess you get to ride and see Santa and all. I can't wait to see how Olivia liked it. She is just the right age to start to enjoy it. Hopefully there will be pictures.

It rained a little last night and is cold and misty today. It's real nice for a change. Feels like Christmas!!

Paint the Town

I had to post these pictures. Olivia was helping me wash dishes and I turned around for a minute and she had climbed into the dirty dish water. Then she tried to hide, it was so funny

Yesterday, Cha, Leo, Tony and I painted their living room, dining room, and kitchen. What a job! But it looks so nice and they are proud of it. Big Daddy was sick with a sore throat but came over for awhile and helped out with the Gouda Cheese and he and Tony played video games for a bit. He finally felt so crappy he went home for a nap while we finished. We still have the family room to go but that's next weekend. At least now she can get her tree up and Christmas started.

Today we are going to Vegas to "Cowboy Christmas". They now have it spread out in4 different places so that's a pain. We will probably go to the convention center but maybe not, maybe we'll go to the Sands. Who knows. I love to go and see everything, I get so many good ideas. We usually buy Cliff a frock coat from this guy from CA, but he has plenty of them now so we will probably pass this year unless he had something really good. Once in a while he has a fabric that is so good we just can't say no. We got a beautiful wool and silk blend a couple of years ago that is the most beautiful men's coat I have ever seen. They are really expensive but I guess that's the price for quality and the cut and styling is fabulous.

I

Baby Oli's Birthday

Well our sweet little girl is now 2 years old. I can hardly believe it. She is turning from a baby into a little girl before our eyes. Here she is playing Texas Hold em on her second birthday (isn't that what all 2 years old do?) As you can see the family tradition of playing "bite it" with the birthday cake was not as popular with Gabbi as it was with Oli. She did like it better once she was to the part where she licked it off her litte fingers . Funny girl.

Aunt Charlee had to help little Miss play "bite it" with the cake and she thought it was really funny. She has just the right spirit and personality for it. She just went for it. In fact she played bite it twice. Also Oli was not happy about having to eat dinner before she could taste her Minnie Mouse cake. She got a couple of finger fulls before Teddi could stop her. I finally said ,"what difference does it make? Let her lick it if she wants, it's her birthday for heavens sake! "

Mama and her big girl. One of her presents was big girl panties. She is almost trained and so proud. She kept saying "Mick Mouse panties", It was so sweet .Then she had to put them on over her pj's and wore them all around making us laugh

Yes the cake was a delicious tres leche cake that we devoured like ravenous hogs

Business as Unusual

What a busy week! I have been slammed all week which is unusual as of late. Had to go to Vegas for a meeting yesterday that took most of the day, glad that's over. Hopefully some real good things will come out of it, but that remains to be seen. It is certainly an unstable market and we are breaking into the Government sector and I am really learing a lot about how it all operates. Talk about a game, what a ride.

Today is Olivia's birthday and we are having her party tonight. I am making her favorite foods, fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, biscuits and a Minnie Mouse tres leches cake. Yum. We are going to eat and then go to the city's tree lighting. Should be fun. Great minds think alike. Charlee and I bought Oli the exact same birthday present. Now we have to go to Walmart and exchange one of them. How funny. Can't wait to see our baby's shinny eyes!!