Texas..... our second home

The best thing about turning 40 was the gift that came from my hubby.... a trip to Texas to see our best friends. We met 18 years ago and have grown closer over the years than we probably ever imagined. Even though we only get to see each other around once a year now, we pick right back up where we left off. The amazing thing is that our children (we now have 6 between us!!!!) feel the connection that we have as well. Their kids act like we are around all the time when we see them and so do our kids to them. We will never understand why the Lord has separated us for all these years but we know it is His will and we have to live with it. We just have to do our part by staying in touch and visiting when we can. We will take them in our lives however we can get them!!

Me and hubby had a 5:30 a.m. flight which meant we had to be there at 4:30 which meant we had to leave our house at 3:30 which meant I had to get up at 2:30...... you get the picture right? It was a looonnnnggg day but all of that disappeared when we walked around the corner at DFW airport and they were standing there waiting for us.

Leslie had to work 1/2 day so we went by her office to see/surprise her. Let the weekend begin!!!!!!!

After we left her office we went to their beautiful home to unload our bags and then Jason had to go pick up the older boys from football camp. We waited at the house and this is what hubby and Conner did until they returned, PS3. I'm pretty sure W.B. got his tail whooped!!
Once the boys returned home and showered, we headed out for lunch and to meet up with Leslie. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings and chowed down. From there Jason had to return to his office, which by the way is in his house now, to finish up a project since he had the morning off. The rest of us headed to the mall and a couple of AWESOME stores. Ladies I have been to Sam Moon and I am forever changed!!!! Holy cow!!!! Leslie had not been before but I can bet you she will be a regular customer from now on!! This is all of the loot we gathered while there. See the cow hide purses? They will forever be known as "moose purses" thanks to Colton. He was looking thru the bags while in the vehicle and announced, "who's moose purses are these?" So we now have moose purses!!

After returning to their house we hung out and had so much fun with the kids. While we were hanging with the kids, Leslie was working hard on dinner. This is the famous lasagna!!!!! It has a reputation among anyone that knows her and it was worth the price of tickets alone!! Hubby has an obsession with it.. possibly even a love affair I'm afraid.

Hanging out with the kids upstairs in the game room. We played Wii and ping pong for hours.

A little ping pong in action.
Kaleb took on the challenge and of course I lost :(

This is Colton sporting his new Liberty University shirt. He was in the kitchen at this point waiting on the killer lasagna!!

After the kids go to bed, the challenge begins!!!! IT"S SKIP-BO TIME PEOPLE!!!We stay up until all hours of the morning playing guys against girls and all I'm gonna say is....it's gets UGLY!!! There is always dessert involved and by the time we are finished someone is begging for mercy because we are so tired. This night was no different I do believe it was 3 a.m. before we wrapped up.

For the rest of the weekend this is where Conner spent his time, on my lap or curled up beside me somewhere. I LOVED IT!!!! This was Saturday after me and Leslie had spent some time in their town visiting some of the cutest shops ever. One of them was called the Chubby Cherub. You just had to know it was gonna be filled with some adorable items. Even signs about "ripening" right Les?

After our day of hanging out and just being together, the adults got ready for dinner out. OH MY DEAR GOODNESS it was DIVINE!!! If you have never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse.... find one now and go!!! This one is in Addison, Texas (A#2 loved that). Jason knew we would love it and he was right. We will go there again someday I can promise you that!!
Texas De Brazil you rocked my world!!!!!!!!!

Had to prove to A#2 that's where we were. I have never seen so many restaurants in all my life.

Outside we took a few pictures.

They will never know how dear they are to us!

The first picture where hubby did not smile.

Until Jason gave him a hard time......
Then he smiled.

Even the paper towels in the bathroom were wonderful!!! So much so that hubby and Leslie took a few for me ;)

After dinner we headed to Jason's brothers house. We have known Christopher all these years and have prayed for him while he was serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is newly married and we had never met his bride. It was sooo great to see him and see his beautiful home. He has grown up since the first time he came to Virginia and spent the summer with Leslie and Jason on Qauntico Marine base. It is so fun to talk about those memories we all have. We did play a game of The Battle of the Sexes while there and let's just say the males STUNK!!!!

After that we stayed up until 3 a.m. playing skip-bo and eating our traditional chocolate thunders from down under. We were up Sunday and planning our last few hours together. I gave Leslie a big ole haircut and them we headed out to downtown Dallas.

As much as I hate to, we'll just title this picture.....

SKIP-BO CHAMPS 2009

UGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! That's all I'm gonna say about that!

This is their gorgeous home!! We think we will just retire to that big room over the garage when the time comes.

Downtown Dallas was as beautiful as I remember. We had our history lesson while there and visited Dealey Plaza. The X's mark where JFK was shot.

Beautiful!!

The courthouse where Lee Harvey Oswald was held.

Texas flag!

I really like Dallas!! Have I told you that lately?

The grassy knoll. While here we met the man that wrote the movie JFK. Boy oh boy did I learn A LOT!!!!! I could go on and on about this but let's just say, there's a lot we Americans have never been told.

The Texas Schoolhouse Book Depository. The window beside the first arched window is where they say Lee Harvey was.

A reflecting pool looking toward the book depository.

Dealey Plaza.

A closer shot of the courthouse.

After Dealey Plaza we headed for a late lunch before time to go to the airport. BBQ Texas style!!!!

I had warned the boys that while I was there I was gonna kiss their faces off. Well I had been nice long enough!!!! Gotcha Conner!

We love these boys!!!!!!

We even treat them just like our own ;-)

This one came from Leslie's i-phone. Gotcha Jason!!!

And then there was one for Colton!

And I think Kaleb ended up with several.

Somewhere in there I had to give one to hubby. I guess he was feeling left out.

I really stinks to have to say goodbye to your best friends over and over again. They hung out with us for awhile in the airport which made it a little easier but it JUST STINKS!!!!

I will miss your heart Kaleb and those eyes!!! You're a good boy!!!

I will miss your crazy sense of humor Colton and how you are that middle child and don't won't to miss out on a thing.

I will miss your hugs and your cuddles little man Conner. I hope you will never outgrow that because the next time I see you I expect the same.

Leslie and Jason I will miss everything about you both. You have been such a support system to us even when you didn't realize it. I will miss praying with your gorgeous family and just knowing that we can hang out and not have to go anywhere or do anything to have sooo much fun. I will miss our late night games and late night desserts, although my butt can do without the desserts. I will miss the laughing so hard we almost pee our pants.... and that's just the men ;-) I miss everything!!!! But I know we will get to do all again...... soon.

Yumminess for Easter

I have been meaning to post this for awhile now and since I will be making it for Easter I thought I would share. A#1 loves chocolate, cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies so when I found this recipe I knew it was perfect for his birthday. I was right!! He LOVED it. We made it again when he was home for spring break and it has been requested for Easter. Let me just warn you now, you can NOT eat just one piece but you will be a hero in your house. I will put the recipe at the bottom of this post but here are a few pictures me and A#3 took the last time we made it.

The crust, chocolate chip cookie.

Throw in a little melted chocolate to the rest of the yumminess.

Find a helper. This one's the best!

Mix, mix and mix some more.

Throw in a few more chocolate chips just because you can.

Poor in your pan.

Decorate with some more melted chocolate and a few more choc chips.

Cover and chill and try your best to keep every one's hands off. Maybe it will be easier in your house than is is in mine but I doubt it. Enjoy!!!!!!




*The recipe

ingredients-

-1 package (16.5 oz.) refrigerated cookie dough

-2 pkgs. ( 8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened

-1 cup sugar ( I use SPLENDA)

-2 containers (8 oz. each) frozen whipped topping, thawed

-1 bag semi sweet morsels (choc chips)

directions-

-pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease bottom of 9 inch spring form pan

-slice cookie dough into enough pieces to cover the bottom og pan. Allow to soften for 5 minutes then using your fingers, pat dough gently to cover the entire bottom of pan.

-Bake cookie dough for around 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. It MUST be cool.

-Combine cream cheese, splenda/sugar until well blended.

-In a small plastic bag, add 1/2 cup choc chips and put in microwave for about 20 seconds. Check to see if choc is melted by squeezing the bag. If it's not, m/w for additional 10 seconds at a time until melted. I use scissors to cut the corner out of bag and just squeeze almost all of the melted choc into the cream cheese mixture. Combine.

-Add whipped topping and fold in until completely mixed.

-Poor into cookie crust, smooth top.

-Drizzle with the remaining melted choc and sprinkle another hand full of choc chips over the top .

-Cover and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours or over night. Remove sides of pan, DIG IN!!!!!!!!

Let me know if you try it. I pray you and your family have a blessed Easter. I could never say it enough, THANK YOU JESUS!!!