Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays (Tarrant County}


This is the card I sent last year...my husband played Santa and this is Gigi...how she's grown in a year. I didn't send cards this year so wanted to have an encore presentation and use this card which is so special to me. I hope you all have a joyful, happy holiday in whatever way you celebrate and hope for a great 2009 for everyone!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Proud Momma Moment

Yay! My son has worked extremely hard the last several years--working full time, being a husband and father and putting himself through college. He never dropped the ball, never gave up even though at times that probably seemed easier. I am proud to announce he got his final grades yesterday and he made all A's and B's. Not only did he graduate, he did it with a high grade point average. I'm not sure where he got his brains, so not from me!

We had a celebration luncheon with him last week and it was awesome...I just wish my husband could have been there because he was so proud of him and bragged on him a lot. He came into my son's life about the time my son entered college so he was there for all but the final part of the journey.

Congratulations son, you did your Momma proud (as always)! And my son plans to enter school to get his Master's next year...I think he just enjoys being in school! Seriously he has goals and I know he will attain them because that's how he's made. But somewhere along the line I still want that grandson so fit that into your schedule!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Little Christmas Cheer {DFW Childrens Photography}








Well, since my husband's death this year, as you can probably imagine...I am not feeling it this holiday season for myself. I haven't decorated, wrapped gifts, sent out cards or done any baking. I kind of just want it to come and go quickly. Well, my son asked me to not let Christmas die. That touched my heart a lot. Tonite was my grandchild's daycare Christmas program and the entire extended family was there for her big "broadway" debut. She kept telling us she wasn't going to do it (2 year olds...) but I asked her over french fries at McDonald's if she would do it for Pops, my husband. Now who knows if she even understood what I was saying but she agreed to do it and ...please GaGa, give me more fries haha.

I am so glad I went...I have never seen anything cuter in my life! They started with the little one year old class all dressed up as sheep and cows and other cute animals and they were adorable. I have taken photos of some of the classes other than Gigi's to share. Gigi's class wore little Christmas tree shirts and sang Away in a Manger and Rock Around the Christmas Tree. Gigi spotted me up front taking the photos and started saying "Grandma!". There were just some adorable little stars tonite I tell you. The last class of 5 year olds were so funny I took almost as many photos of them as I did my own grandkid. The little boy playing Joseph...I think we have a budding comedian in our midst. He would turn the wrong way during the number and throw up his arms or make a funny expression...a bit of Chris Farley in him I think. And the two little cowboys on one end decided they would fight over the mic even though there were no solos during that number...they just took a little bit of that spotlight for themselves anyway.

So for all you fellow Grinches out there...enjoy the photos and feel the joy come into your heart like it did mine!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Extreme Home Makeover - Update





Well, its finally done! They did the "Move that Bus!" on Monday and my sister and I were in with the family at the front so we got a great view of everything going on. I won't give any details away but you can see "official" photos in the link I gave in the earlier post. My sister is a HUGE Ty Pennington fan (btw...I'm the "pro" photographer but she took all these photos with her point and shoot ha ha). She is in the leopard coat posing with the assistant director (he told us what to do and when and was really funny), me trying to thaw out for a minute in the Texas Ranger's Tent in the fur/denim jacket, and the design team in front of the house waiting for the bus and of course, Ty. Paul, the older designer on the show is a real doll! He took two of the little kids out of the friends box and took them in the house to use the restroom...how sweet! The photos as follows are: me in tent trying to defrost after the 1st hour, my sister with the assistant director she's now in "love" with ha ha, the designers in front of the home and finally, Ty getting ready for the limo to arrive.

Let me just say...if I didn't love Peter and Amber SO much I would not have been there...for 4 hours..in 14 degree weather. My feet might have been hurting, but luckily they were so frozen I couldn't feel them anyway. I am still trying to warm up. But the big payoff for me was seeing the family arrive and see their new home...we were all in tears. I can't wait to see the episode when it airs and will keep you all updated on when that is!

My sister and I went to the "event" (not sure if I'm supposed to say what it was yet...) on Sunday evening and I did get to give Amber and Peter big hugs and talk to them...they simply look dazed by it all. But huge Kudos to Amber...she is great in front of a camera!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Extreme Home Makeover and my friend

I have been sitting on this information for months and couldn't tell anyone....I can't believe I kept my lips zipped! Well, the great news is that I found out yesterday that my dear friend of 8 years, Amber Augustin and her husband have been selected for Extreme Home Makeover! Their home was flooded a year and a half ago when Fort Worth had that terrible flood on Father's Day. They have been living in a condo, all the while making house payments in a home that was just sitting there, ruined. Amber is a fellow photographer and she and her husband had just built her a great studio in their converted garage so she was unable to use any of her photography studio...it has been a real mess all in all.

Amber and Peter are two of the best people you would be blessed to know. When my husband fell ill Amber is who I called to do an event for me when I realized how serious my husband's condition was. She did an awesome job - for free - and took that worry from me. And they are such good Christian people, they really walk the walk, not just talk the talk...when they came to Steven's bedside and prayed over him I felt such a relief. That is just one small example of things they have done for me, they have done so much for so many others. They couldn't have picked a more deserving family. Here is a link that will let you follow along on this story...so excited to see the episode when it airs early in 2009!

Just found an article in Star Telegram on them here.