Home Makeover: "Hilltop Road Edition"

This past weekend, my mom and I headed to Ft. Worth to do some shopping, eating, and most importantly, help my brother, Brett, decorate his new house! Our first dinner out was at a fun place called "Sushi Axiom." We ordered several rolls, yummy salads, and Brett picked out the wine. =)

I always think the rolls are so amazing...

We made several trips to SuperTarget, Wal-Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Michaels, and Garden Ridge to get all kinds of things for Brett. Our cart was usually soooo full, that it became comical.

Brett's living room after our shopping!! Love the shag rug, coordinating pillows, tray with goodies on the coffee table, side tables with lamps... yes, most all of it was NEW this weekend!!

Looking in from the front door... we suggested getting the big clock, fun vase with spiral twigs, rug for under the dining room table, floral arrangement for the table... love it all!

And, a little bit of "pretty" art for above the stove... didn't get around to hanging it, but I'm sure Brett will...

Mom and Brentley

Who would ever guess that he is my BABY brother?? I am eight years older, but he is waaaay taller and super-skinny. The kid is ripped. All the girls in Ft. Worth better watch out! =)

Trolley rides with Gramps

Grayson was so excited to go ride a trolley with Gramps on Saturday.

Gramps was one of the guys in charge of the huge GEAPS (Grain Elevator and Processing Society) convention held this year in Wichita. There were 2,000 people attending from all over the world!!

Gramps had arranged for three trolleys to take everyone from the airport to their respective hotels, and he was also able to tell them all about Wichita.


Oh, and show them some grain elevators, too.

So, we headed down to the airport so that Grayson could ride on the trolley with Gramps. The trolley's name was "Maddie."


Two peas in a pod. =)

Happy 1st Birthday, Carter!

Today we celebrated the big FIRST birthday of our sweet Carter. We had a wonderful day... here are some of the snapshots... I have to start by talking about just how CUTE Carter's cake was! My friend, Lisa, made it for him. She does amazing work!! Check out her website at http://www.buckinghamcakes.com
We had an Elmo theme going... lots and lots of Elmo =)

Grayson loved helping Carter with his gifts

Getting the helicopter out of the box. Thanks to my OT friends, Debbie and Regina, for the suggestion!

Carter loved, loved, loved the balloons!

The boys... and the girl dog.

Carter sported "My 1st Birthday" on his onesie all day long.

My sweet baby boy

He literally played with the balloons almost all day!!

"Livin' the dream" -- holding a big balloon bouquet while drinking a bottle. It doesn't get much better than that!

Playing with the mailbox from Nana and Gramps, and the recycle truck from Aunt Laura

Another up-close of the cake... Lisa even wrote the colors on the crayons!! So cute!!

He loved the cake!

A child after my own heart... hasn't found a food he doesn't like. =)

Happy, happy birthday, dear Carter. We love you!!

Grayson's Valentine's Day party

Last week, Grayson's preschool class had their Valentine's party at school. Jerry got to go, since I was busy at work!Here are the kiddos singing a Valentine's song with actions -- G is 2nd from the right
Listening hard to Mrs. Ast's instructions

Enjoying a special snack of heart-shaped cookies, carrots, grapes, crackers, and juice

Here's my little Valentine =)

Football celebrity

Last night, Dad, Jerry, and Grayson went to a KU Alumni fundraiser that had Turner Gill (KU's new head football coach) as the main speaker. Gale Sayers was also there -- lots of KU history! Of course, at the last minute, I realized that Grayson doesn't have a football jersey in his size, so he wore his basketball jersey instead. Sorry, Turner! But, it didn't stop Grayson from being famous... he and Turner Gill were featured on our evening news last night. Wow!

Skiing at Angel Fire

We just got home from an action-packed, very fun long weekend in Angel Fire, NM. We went with our good friends, Brian and Kim, and their daughter, Aubrey. Both my mom and Kim's mom were so kind, and kept our little ones so that we could all ski! Grayson and I before ski school
Grayson (in the blue coat) skiing down the hill at ski school

At the top of the mountain with Kim and Brian

Kim and Aubrey on the lift

Grayson and I on the lift -- G is holding on SO TIGHT! =)

Jerry, Grayson, and I before we took G up the lift on the bunny hill for the first time

Skiing down the bunny hill

With my own crazy skier at the top of the mountain...

Aubrey and Grayson enjoying the 16" of fresh powder that Angel Fire got before our last day of skiing -- I've never seen that much snow on the runs there!!

I ended up purchasing my own skis while we were there... this pic is for my brother, Brett, so that he can hopefully approve... and tell me that they're cool.

Jerry demonstrates JUST HOW MUCH snow there was!!!

Family pic on the run "Hallelujah" -- Grayson said it was his favorite

Making his "pizza" wedge like a pro

Standing at the top of the run "Exhibition" and looking down at Angel Fire with its beautiful snow

We saw elk, muledeer, and antelope on our drive home from Angel Fire to Wichita.

What a fun ski weekend with very special friends!! We can't wait to go again!

Angel Fire -- skiing videos

Here's some footage of Grayson skiing down "Headin' Home" on Monday afternoon. Look closely and you'll see Jerry coming out of the trees to your left. (I am practicing my "skiing backwards while shooting a video" skills...)

And, a little action going down "Highway" on the back mountain at Angel Fire. Grayson shows some of his tucking and jumping action towards the end. =)