Part ONE - Before the Game

Bryan and I attended the Dallas Cowboys football game on Sunday! Bryan wanted to go see a NFL football game there before they tore it down! So, I had been watching Ebay to see what kind of tickets we could get!! I decided that since we had a good chance of beating the Cincinnati Bengals ... that was the game to go too!! Besides it was at 3:15PM, which would give us time to get home (so I thought ... but that's another post)!! I got some good seats ... and decided to surprise him with a scavenger hunt through our house! He was sooo excited!! I wish I would have got a picture of his face when he saw the tickets!!

So on Sunday, we left Ben & Kristi's house around 8 ... giving us plenty of time to get there!

Along the way, we were watching for cheap gas ... in the RR/ Austin area, it was around $3.39 or so!! On I-35, we saw $3.09 ... but of course, it was on the other side, so we kept driving! The next place was $3.39 ... so Bryan took the next exit, so we could go back and fill up! Then God said, "How's this?" $2.99 at a store called Czech Stop!! Thank You JESUS!! I had to have a picture of it ... it was so exciting to pay two something for gas!!

When we got to Irving, we wanted to check out parking and everything, then go eat! As we were driving by ... I wanted a picture from the road!! Well my camera has to focus and then focus again ... Going 50 MPH down the road, and some how I got a picture of this guy!! Whoops!! He looks like he is posing for it!

To eat ... It was Bryan's day, and he picked Pappadeaux! Since it was a weekend of 'firsts' ... Bryan wanted to try ALLIGATOR! Yes, I typed that right!! We were going to split some chicken and shrimp with a side salad ... so we decided to get it!! The waiter said it tasted like chicken with a sweet taste!

Bryan - He loved it! Hopefully this doesn't turn into an expensive habit! Me - Not so much! I didn't like the sweet taste that the waiter was trying to explain! and It doesn't taste anything like chicken ... it just has the same texture!

We made it back to the stadium about 12:30 ... yes, 2 hours and 45 minutes before the game started!! We wanted to be able to walk around and check everything out!!

The whole "Hold the camera out and take a picture of yourself."

Luckily a couple came along that offered to take our picture!
Another one of us ... right in front of Texas Stadium!!!
We got there before some of the players ... so we got some pictures of them coming into the stadium! Then, they get suited up and practice on the field! Instead of posting a whole bunch of those, I made a collage of many!

Click To Enlarge!!

My camera did not like the lighting in the stadium ... a part of the stadium was very lighted, so if that was in your background, you had a sort of glow to you!! I don't know what happened ... but some of my pictures were really weird!!

Bryan's 1st time in Texas Stadium!!

When I bought our tickets, I totally forgot that Brian and Mackenzie would be at that game!! We found them right after we found our seats!! Also, her camera was working much better than mine ... so she has some cute ones of us!!! So, I will probably post at another time!

Brian and Kenz - All Decked Out!
*More to come soon!!

Time with My Girls

On our way to one of the coolest places we have been in a long time (post coming soon), we decided to make a detour to Round Rock to see Bryan's sister/family! We ate at SaltLicks ... a really good bar-b-que place!! Then went back to their house, for some fun times with the girls!! They are growing up so fast!

Bella ... Cute as can Be!!

Mimi playing Red Light, Green Light ...
so that I can get a good picture of both of them!
CHeese!
Definitely Frame-Worthy!

She wanted her picture by the flowers!

We had a great (very short) visit ... and can't wait to get some more hugs and kisses!

Awesome Weekend

If I blogged about our whole weekend in one blog ... it would be entirely TOO long! So we are going to break it down into 3! Enjoy!

On Saturday Morning, Bryan had signed up to help with the Irion County Cross Country meet! His job was to ride the gator behind the very last runner! Violet and I went along because that sounded like fun! Well, we only got to ride some with him because they needed me to help in the finish line!! So I would ride the first lap with them ... then I would get off and go and help at the finish line, while Bryan finished the race with Violet!!

One time, I got off and Violet was about to jump off too! I told Bryan that she was about to jump off and to hold onto her leash! He just looked at me and smile ... then there in front of everyone, Violet jumped! She wanted to watch the runners finish ... so she stayed with me!!

Riding the Gator by the river!

Violet was checking out the last place runner in front of us ...
My Favorite Picture!!

Even though, we had to get up around 7AM on our Saturday ... It was still a real fun morning!!

*Update: A gator is a small tractor/mule/4 wheeler type thing! Some times, I just think that everyone in the world knows exactly what I mean!!

Five Fav Friday

Happy Friday to All!!

(1.) Last Saturday, Bryan and I went on a date! We went to Twin Mt. Steakhouse ... then went to watch Nights in Rodanthe! Did anybody else watch this? I personally was so disappointed! It was so very different from the book, that I think they butchered the movie!! I know that you can not create a movie just like a book ... but it should be pretty close! Ok, I'm done venting!!

(2.) Speaking of movies, IRONMAN came out on DVD this past Tuesday!! I found it for $13.00 on Ebay, so we are still waiting for it to come in!! If you haven't seen this, go rent it! Bryan and I both really enjoyed this movie!!

(3.) My Running is going great!! I feel better ... hopefully soon, I will even look better! I love to run by the river because Bevo and Violet love to swim down there ... but allergies only allow so much time down there!! Otherwise, it's a staight road ... but hey will my audio books, I feel like a I could run/walk forever!!

(4.) It's is October!! We have a very big birthday party coming up at the end of this month!! My Papa (mother's father) is turning 80, so we are throwing him a big party!!

(5.) October, also means that we are moving along this semester! Bryan is doing wonderful!! I am so proud of him! He has the best attitude ... and is rarely cranky (Let's face it, everyone is grumpy sometimes)!! So, I planned a little get-away for Bryan and ME! Something very special ... that he has always wanted to do!! Big Post to come Monday!! :)

Every one have a safe and wonderful weekend!!

Our Wedding Book

My Uncle Andrew was the photographer at our wedding! With the help from Kristi, we seriously have the best wedding photos!!

Well, My Uncle does a "Wedding Book" ... He does a collage of your wedding photos and puts in together in a book!! I received mine on Monday, and am absolutely in love with it!! I even got the book in TEAL (which was the color of my bridesmaid dresses)!! It's PERFECT!!!

The very first page in the book is our wedding invitation!!

Instead of having an album on single photos, he arranges them page by page, so that he captures everything that made your wedding so perfect!! Before the wedding, my sister and I took those fun b/w pics on the left ... I love the silliness! The picture with my mom and her 2 girls ... that's so special!!

It's over 20 pages, but I just wanted to show you a couple!

If you are in need of a wedding photographer, contact my uncle ... he is decently priced, and does what you need on that special day!

Can't leave my awesome SIL, Krisit, out ... she does amazing portraits!!! Very creative eye!!

Wow, this kind of turned into an advertisement blog!! Whoops!!

New Glasses

When my allergies act up, I am not able to wear contacts ... so plain ole glasses it is! Cute glasses is the thing now ... and many people have them! But when you are paying around $100 or more, I make myself get plain ones that can be worn with anything!

Until I came across Zenni Optical ...

This website sells complete glasses for $8.00 and up (plus shipping $4.95)! The have a million and a half different frames to choose from! I bought myself a "cute" pair .... burgandy/pink plastic frames! Now, the plastic feels cheap (but what do you expect for $12.95) ... the lens are perfect, and just as thin as my other glasses (which I had to pay extra to get thin)!!

All in all, I love them ... and will probably order me another pair real soon!

Of course, I had to add a picture of me in them!!

She's HERE ...

and she is Beautiful!!

Kylee Shae Holik was born September 25, 2008 @ 3:13 PM ... she was 6 lbs. 8 ozs and 19 inches long!! And born with a full head of dark brown hair!!

The Happy Holik Family

Mother and Baby (and father) are all doing very well!!

A Very Special Day ...

Happy Birthday ...

to my sweet cousin, Elizabeth!!

AND

Happy BIRTHday to Kylee Shae Holik!!
Shyanne and Jason are in the hospital right now ...
waiting for their little one to arrive!!

Flu Study

Here I come ...

Anybody in the San Angelo area interested in participating in the Benchmark Flu studay can call 325-468-4113! You have to be 18-64 years old! You can not be prego/ breastfeeding ... I know, Sad Day!! It will begin the middle of October, and go on for 6 months! There will be 2 doctor visits (1st visit: take blood, give you a physical and give a flu shot. 2nd visit: take blood)!! They will call you a couple of times during the 6 months ... and By the end, you will recieve about $235!

It is seriously one easy way to get money!! If you are thinking of doing it, when you call that number, tell them that SUSAN NEAL referred you!

Silly Boy

Bryan and his friends are playing in a Flag Football league in San Angelo! Monday was their first game at 9:30PM! At around 9:25 PM, one of Bryan's friends ask me, "Is he kidding?" I look around and say, "Are you talking to me?" He says "Yes," points at Bryan who is laying on the ground pulling at his leg, and says, "Is he kidding?" I laughed and said, "It doesn't look like it"! Bryan sprained his ankle before the game even started!! Poor guy, he hobbled around the sidelines the whole game ... only sitting for a little bit! By the time, we got home it was very swollen!

Bryan, since he is student teaching, is basically on his feet all day! Please pray for a fast recovery!

FULL Weekend

Bryan's parents came in just in time on Friday to go with us to watch IC's Homecoming game!! Too bad it didn't end the way we wanted it to ... we lost in overtime 29-26! Sad Day

One day when there was a loud truck driving by, Bevo figured out that he can stand on the edge of our bed, and see out our bed room window!! This was on Friday night ... waiting for his daddy to come home!

On Saturday morning, Bryan and Roy got up around 6AM to go dove hunting! They picked up Troy and Lindsey on the way!

Mary and I headed into town to do some girly stuff! Hitting the stores like: Hobby Lobby, Michaels, A1-Mart! Then, had Chick-fil-A for lunch!

Around 11 AM, Bryan called me and said that he had goofed ... I was thinking goofed, what did you do, shoot one of my dad's cows!? He got stuck in the mud! He thought he could make it through a small creek! They had to use one of my daddy's tractors to get out!

Mary brought her to babies with her: Dane and Sparky! Cash was not to sure about these 2 ... so she found many placed to hide throughout the house!! This is at the top of my closet ... laying on my winter jackets!

Saturday afternoon, they went hunting again! Then, we had a nice, big supper at our house with our company and my parents!! It sure was good!!

Sunday morning, there was a guest speaker at church! He was from Guatemala, and he ran a children's home! I always love hearing about all of God's miracles!!

Lunch at McCalisters is always a YUM!

Then, you know that the rest of the day was filled with football!! Roy and Mary went home (Thanks for coming to see us ... Hopefully the next time, the doves will be flying better)!!

I love teaching Bevo new tricks!
Look how sweet he is!

I couldn't resist taking a few more with my other babies!





Cash doesn't really care to sit next to these 2 for very long ... so I set her there, and Bryan took the picture right afterwards!! This is what we got!!


With all the craziness in our house, Bevo stayed outside most of the days this weekend! So Sunday after our company left, we let the Bev in ... he was soo hyper! He was so wild! So I told Bryan I needed to tame the beast! I took a blanket and "swaddled" him!

See, it worked!! I am practicing for the real thing! If I can calm down a big dog in a blanket, surely I can make a baby happy!! hehe

Five Fav Friday

My new craze is AUDIO BOOKS! I aboslutely, positively love them!

1. My first book that I listened to on my ipod was Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks! I wanted something that I had not read, but yet something that I knew I would like! I couldn't have picked something better! I am in love with the characters of this book ... I am in love with the romance ... I am super excited that it comes out in a movie Next Friday!!

2. It makes running easier! Seriously! I am so caught up in the story ... that my running goes by so quickly! Some one might want to write down these words, "I am actually excited about running after work today!" hehe I have never said anything like that before!

3. You can rent these audio books (on CD) at Hastings for $4.99 for 2 weeks! The Library has some audio books on CD's, but mostly tapes!

4. I love to read! The stories, the characters, the imagination that some authors have ... but it's finding the time to do so! Audio books allows me to do other things, while enjoying a good book ... For Example: Clean house, running, Make a 20 minute commute to SA for work go by extremely fast, etc.

5. The Choice by Nicholas is my current read in the car! Another excellent book so far! Yes, I am reading ... I mean, listening to two books at the same time!!

*Amy just pointed out that Nicholas Sparks will be adding another to his collection at the end of this month: The Lucky One

I know that audio books aren't for everyone! But if you enjoy to read, but can't quite find the time ... try them out! Who knows, you might find as much joy in them as I did!!


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Today is Friday!! Today is Irion County's Homecoming Game! We plan on slaughtering the Bronte Longhorns! Today, we also expect some company to come see us for some dove hunting and girly stuff!

Everyone have a wonderful weekend!

IC's Bombfire

Last Night, we attended IC's bombfire!

IC Varsity Football Team!

Plus Cheerleaders and the Head Coach!

Bryan and I have fallen for this small town community ... where purple is all you see! Especially with Bryan student teaching, we are learning more and more people everyday! Kids come running up to him, yelling, "HI COACH NEAL" ... Bryan looks at me and says, "This is Trey, Oscar and India." Slowly, but surely ... we are becoming IC Hornets!

Now, I grew up as a Wall Hawk ...wearing Kelly Green and nothing else! It is quite the change to go from green to purple!

The bombfire was started by a couple of adults while the cheerleaders did (i think) every cheer they knew! The crowd cheered along ... but I bet many of them were cheering because the fire was making the mosquitoes go away!

The picture on my left was when it was fully on fire! Right After I took this picture, an armadillo came running out of the fire! I have no idea how
he lasted that long ... but he made it out ok!

The bombfire was a hit!! No burns, No accidents, No out of control! Just a whole bunch of people gathered around a big ole fire!!


Bryan enjoying the warmth from the fire!!

For Those WHo Were Wondering ...

Bryan did not dress as a "side-kick" today! We couldn't think of anything that wouldn't take a costume!

He will definitely be participating in the "CAMO Day" tomorrow!! :)

Flowery Shirt for this Boy!

It's Homecoming Week at Irion County ISD!!

This is what Bryan is wearing today!
(I did not get a picture of him this morning!)

Can you guess what day it is?

Yup ... It's Hawaiian Day!

Yesterday was PJ Day ... and tomorrow is SideKick Day! We are trying to think of someone he could be!