Thankful Season

No surprise that Thanksgiving is my fav, fav, fav holiday but man!  It goes by so fast!  T arrived very late Tuesday night as she drove from a meeting in Muscle Shoals.  I went into the office for a little bit Wednesday and am so glad my girls are old enough to want to take over the cooking responsibilities!  I received a huge bird from my hotel and our sweet realtor gave us an apple pie that was as big as a hubcap.  My friend LCM recently introduced T to splotchcocking and it cut cooking time in half.  T had also cooked a turkey using this method on Sunday for her B'ham Friendsgiving.  It's not a pretty presentation but it's delicious!

The girls did a fabulous job with their menu -- we had two different appetizers:  a prosciutto-wrapped asparagus and a baked brie with blackberry jam.  Besides the turkey and apple pie, they made green beans, stuffing from scratch, crock pot mashed potatoes, a mixed greens salad with feta, walnuts, cranberries and an apple cider vinegrette.  I really don't mind doing all the dishes if someone else cooks!

The previous weekend was spent w/ the Martins in Oxford.  As always, a super great time!  LCM hooked us up with the most perfect hotel rooms, Z, AG & KJ took care of the tent Friday night and now that KJ and Z are both 18, T and Pony Boy let them tag-along in Oxford.  Coach and Dean-o tormented our server at Old Venice and we did a little bar-hopping and ended up at the Round Table and spent some time at the fire pit at the hotel.  LCM is very creative and made an awesome banner for the tent and her table décor was perfect!  Of course we love walking around the Grove to sneak a peek at what everyone else is doing, too.  Game day started of kind of iffy weather-wise.  The rain didn't hit until 2 or 3 hours before kick-off and we hunkered down in the Grove.  And the rain brought much, much cooler temps and we were all kind of wet and cold and miserable because of the score.  LCM and the girls and I headed back to the hotel while the guys stuck it out at the game.  We had so much fun sitting in the hotel late night, BS-ing, laughing and finishing off our adult beverages and snacks. 

I've only gone Black Friday shopping once and I swore I'd never do it again.  I have been doing a lot of my Christmas shopping on-line and now those Amazon packages are piling up on the front porch.  KJ is at a weird place this year -- she had a bunch of dorm things on her Christmas list.  T and Pony Boy are going to Dublin for New Year's (yes, she has ants in her pants and gypsy in her blood) so her list consists of travel items and clothes.  And Coach continues to be an enigma.  He is the hardest person to buy for.  I mean, seriously.  What do you buy the man who has everything???? 

#SweaterWeather

Folks in the South love to complain about the weather.  It's either way too hot or way too cold.  I'm an Autumnal gal through and through.  I love the Fall.  Always have, always will.  Nothing better than wearing a sweatshirt to a football game or sitting outside enjoying our fire pit and a glass of wine.  I also enjoy the winter.  I've always liked a good snowy day, snuggling on the couch, flannel PJ pants, hot chocolate and a movie marathon.  The weather this Fall has been crazy, however!  Last week it was in the low 90's and we had the A/C on.  Today is cold and rainy and in the high 40's.  And I love it.  I'm finally wearing a lightweight sweater.

The #CosFam has had an exciting couple of months -- Coach and I each celebrated our 50th birthdays, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and KJ's 18th birthday.  We were on our cruise for everything except my birthday since it's in September.  We had a wonderful., incredible family vacation and can't wait to do it again!  It was the first time the girls ever cruised and they both loved it.  They had their own room across the hall from us and it worked out perfectly!  They went to Karaoke each night, Trivia, some weird Scavenger hunt, the 70's dance party and T and Coach won some coin at the casino's.  We also went to the ice skating show one night and the Stayin' Alive musical our last night. 

T flew into Love on Saturday and we had a lovely girl afternoon getting mani's and Pedi's.  Sunday we drove down to Galveston, Monday was a day at day, Tuesday was Cozumel, Wednesday was the Cayman's, Thursday was Jamaica, Friday and Saturday were at sea, drove back to Dallas Sunday afternoon. 

One of the things I really enjoyed about our cruise itinerary was the two days at sea at the beginning, back-to-back-to-back ports of call and the two days at sea at the end.  We were able to get settled on Sunday, relax on Monday, go-go-go Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, relax Friday and Saturday.  We had perfect weather to relax poolside and we all came home nice and tan. 

We climbed a pyramid in Cozumel and swam in a cenote (an underground cave).  I really enjoyed this excursion!  The view from the top of the pyramid was awe-inspiring and the cenote was incredibly refreshing!  The water was chilly but crystal clear.  On the way back to the ferry we were able to visit for literally 2 minutes with Coach's best bud Bob and his girlfriend Chrissy.  They were on vacation as well and were waiting for us at Senor Frogs which is right on the dock.  We kind of held up the ferry and the tour folks were not happy with us but hey!  How often do you get to do a shot with your best friend in Mexico??!!

We did a catamaran/snorkel excursion in the Cayman's and this was Coach's favorite.  We chilled on the catamaran to the dive site and again, the most amazing weather and the most perfect blue water. I think he would have been happy just sailing away on the boat.   The girls enjoyed snorkeling and using their GoPros.  The dive site was neat because the shipwreck had actually moved a couple hundred feet due to the recent hurricanes. 

Thursday, Coach's birthday, was spent in Jamaica (just like we did 25 years ago.  We got married on Sunday, October 11 and Monday, October 12 we flew to Jamaica for our honeymoon!).  We climbed Dunn's River Falls and had a fun group with us.  The Falls guides gathered everyone up in one of the pools and we all sang to Coach and splashed at him.  After the Falls we had a wonderful lunch at a nearby beach club and then we headed to the White River for tubing.  I thought we were just going have a leisurely float in the river but there were some great rapids and drop-offs.  Again, perfect weather, perfect water. 

The days at sea were awesome and just so relaxing.  The girls did the surf simulator a couple of times and  we all went down the water slides.  We did a lot of eating, a lot of drinking (Mango Tangos!) and just really enjoyed some quality family time!  www.TheTravelingTacos.com

Back-to-School

Today was KJ's "last first day of high school!" Can not believe that little nugget is a high school senior!  She's excited to finally be a big bad senior.  Despite moving once in middle school and once in high school, she actually has enough credits to graduate in December.  She thought about starting some college classes in the spring but we told her not to rush, she has plenty of time for "adulting".

Operation Recuperation is going incredibly well. Excellent in fact. I had my hysterectomy on Friday, July 21 and by Sunday I was 100% back to normal. I was very lucky my doctor was able to get everything via laparoscopic and all those fibroids were in my uterus which made removal easier.  I'm not going to lie, Friday night was kinda rough (because I hate being on pain meds, I don't take advantage of the drip) and I laid in bed trying to sleep but kept thinking "oh snap!! Are the next 4-6 weeks going to be this awful??"  Thankfully, no. I didn't sleep at all Friday night and was up early Saturday walking around. I was released Saturday afternoon and took it easy when I got home.  I am so incredibly blessed to have an amazing husband who takes exceptional care of me!!  Poor thing has had to take care of me after 2 c-sections, gallbladder surgery, etc.  He's really wonderful. 

So basically I've just been chilling the last couple of weeks. Its been both very hot and very rainy so I do try to get out of the house when I can now that I have to okay to drive.  A couple of weekends ago we went to the Perot Museum to escape the heat and saw an awesome 3-D movie about dinosaurs.  Afterward we had a wonderful lunch at the Rustic (which was also seen on the most recent episode of #RHOD). Last weekend was the annual hot air balloon festival in the park by our house. We walked over Friday night to watch the "glow up" and went back early Saturday morning for a pancake breakfast and watch the balloons take off. Yesterday Cosmo and I walked around Grapevine Mills and did a little shopping.  He's had to travel a bit the last two weeks so he's glad to be home and just relax.  We also went to the Star in Frisco to watch the MLL championship game. Holy cow.  Jerry Jones doesn't do anything half-assed. The facility is gorgeous and we had a nice dinner at one of the restaurants in the new complex.

Between fall lax, our birthdays, our anniversary, our cruise and some other plans, we're going to have a very busy Fall.  I think we're planning a trip in November to meet up with friends for an Ole Miss game so that will be fun.  I don't think we have any major plans for Thanksgiving and we're toying with the idea of having Christmas in Birmingham with T. She has some tentative plans to go to Europe for New Year's so it doesn't make sense for her to drive here. The girl does not sit still. I swear she has ants in her pants. They drove up to Kentucky for a long weekend of hiking and to view the eclipse in its totality. She said it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. This weekend she's flying to NYC to spend Labor Day weekend with friends.

July

"Answer July—
Where is the Bee—
Where is the Blush—
Where is the Hay?

Ah, said July—
Where is the Seed—
Where is the Bud—
Where is the May—
Answer Thee—Me—"
-  Emily Dickinson, Answer July 

 

 

July is more than halfway over and it's been a wonderful month!  We got to see T-bone and the Dew twice (on their way out west and on their way back to Birmingham to pick-up KJ).  Coach and I had a very, very relaxing week while KJ  was gone.  Cruised around in her convertible a couple of times (drives her crazy when we send her Snapchats of us in her car!), hung out in the pool a lot, watched a couple of good movies, got a few things done in the house.  She had an awesome visit with her big sister and called me from the airport yesterday crying.  It was all good; happy tears.  She got to see some old friends, spent lots of time with T and they went to Sloss Fest with friends over the weekend.  She gets like me . . . I get overwhelmed with happiness and being incredibly blessed and cry for no apparent reason but it's really happy tears.  T was crying too when she took KJ to the airport and Coach said KJ was crying when she got off the plane.  She just really had a good visit with everyone. 

T and the Dew had an amazing trip out west.  T's pics are incredible.  They hiked, went on a hot air balloon ride at dawn, did the Grand Canyon again, camped and hiked some more.  They never sit still. 

 

It's been very, very hot the last couple of days ~ high 90's with the heat index putting us in the triple digits.  All I can say is, "thank God we have a pool!"  When we were moving here I told Coach I could not move to Texas without a pool.  We luv, luv, luv our pool.  We are in the pool almost every night and pretty much all weekend.  We just float, talk, relax, listen to music or watch TV (Coach bought a TV to attaché to one of the breezeway's post and it flips around so we can watch it from the pool or from the cozy corner of the patio.  Despite the heat, Coach is still playing men's league lax once a week.  Fortunately, it's late at night when the sun goes down (some games start at 9 PM) but it really doesn't make much of a difference when it's still in the low 90's. 

 

My job is winding down this week.  Because I haven't been here a year I don't qualify for the FLMA and the company is not legally obligated to hold my position while I'm recouperating from surgery.  I've had a couple of clients take me to lunch and my Front Desk and Housekeeping buddies are sad.  I've enjoyed this job very much.  I've learned a lot and met some wonderful people.  But, at this point, I'm just glad to be getting this over with.  I've suffered for so long and now I finally see some light at the end of the tunnel. 

 

 

And Another Surprise!

So over Easter I was the one surprised but the following weekend it was my parent's turn!  They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and my brother and I threw them a fantastic party (actually, not so much me.  and not so much my brother.  More like, "my wonderful sister-in-law threw them a fantastic party!").  I couldn't do much being so far away so she organized everything and I wrote a couple of checks.  My parents were positively floored and we had a wonderful time! 

The month of May was pretty busy with typical end of year stuff -- end of year lax games, end of year lax tournament, KJ played in the Junior vs. Senior powder puff football game, she was inducted into the Spanish National Honor Society, our beautiful niece extended her business trip and stayed with us a couple of days, KJ had a blast at prom and my hotel was the host property for the Texas Elvis Festival over Memorial Day weekend! 

June is just as busy -- Coach starts men's league this week, he flew to Denver last week to visit w/ his college buds and they went to a Rockies game and the Metallica concert.  This weekend we're going to the Texas Rangers game.  I'm not sure who they're playing.  While KJ's been in Costa Rica, Coach and I have been tooling around town in her cute little convertible and spent Sunday at the local lake.  Of course, now Coach wants a boat.  I'm not opposed to a boat, I just don't know much about them. 

KJ left for Costa Rica on Thursday and is having the time of her life!  They've been white water rafting, zip lining, they hiked to a waterfall and swam, kayaked, went to a pineapple farm, visited a coffee plantation and also went to a chocolate farm.  One night they did a late night rain forest tour and she said it was wild!  She has seen SO much wildlife -- she said howler monkeys were on their bungalow roof one day, lizards and iguanas are everywhere, frogs (poisonous ones!), a bunch of different birds, etc. 

T and Johnny Frat Boy are going out west for a hiking/camping trip the end of June.  On there way back they are stopping in Dallas and taking KJ back with them for a week.  I think they have plans to go to Sloss Fest and then she'll fly home the day after.  And a few days after she gets back home, I am scheduled for a hysterectomy.  I haven't been feeling well at all the last couple of months and had an ultrasound in February.  At the time they found several little fibroids that were about 1 to 1 1/2 cm each.  They have grown rapidly and now are over 3 cm each.  And I have a cyst on my left ovary.  And severe endometreosis.  And scar tissue from my two C-sections.  So.  Go me! 

Surprise!!!

Had such a wonderful Easter weekend!  All of my chicks were in the nest for the first time since Christmas!  And it was wonderful! 

T was originally supposed to be going to Savannah for Easter w/ friends but plans fell through so she hopped on a plane to Dallas instead!  Coach and I were both at work but KJ was home for the Good Friday holiday.  T called her around 9 AM and said, "come pick me up!  I'm at DFW!!"  Now, for anyone who knows KJ knows:  #1 the kid likes to sleep.  I'm shocked she even answered her phone at 9 AM on her day off from school.  #2 the kid hates to drive on the highway.  Seriously.  It scares the heck out of her and for her to drive to DFW and navigate her way around the arrivals/departures is pretty impressive.  So after KJ picked up T she called me at work and said, "Let's have lunch together."  My response was, "You know you'd have to drive on the interstate to get here, don't you???"  They had one of the girls at the Front Desk call me when they arrived and when I walked out to the Lobby, KJ was standing there and then T walked around the corner!  I was SHOCKED!!!!  Coach still didn't know at this point but KJ had asked him to meet for lunch, too.  I didn't go to lunch w/ them because I was so dang busy.  Unfortunately, she kind of spoiled the surprise for him because she texted him "we're here" at the restaurant and he knew something was up. 

The weather was gorgeous and we had such a nice weekend while T was here.  Friday Coach made a delicious shrimp scampi and we all just kind of chilled and caught up with T.  Saturday morning she & I went down to the Dallas Farmer's Market www.dallasfarmersmarket.org and sampled a bunch of goodies and bought a bunch of fun random things . . . macaroons, candles, cucumbers, hummus and pita chips, a cutting board (T is so proud of herself for "adulting"!).  We then drove over to Klyde Warren Park www.klydewarrenpark.org and had lunch from the food trucks.  T had the lobster grilled cheese and I had the most incredible shrimp tacos from Cousins Maine Lobster www.cousinsmainelobster.com (as seen on Shark Tank).  We parked at the Museum of Art www.dma.org and walked around for a bit.  We wanted to tour the Frida Kahlo exhibit but the line was super long. 

KJ had to work Saturday afternoon until closing so when she got home they all went to Top Golf and apparently T has missed her calling.  Coach said she had incredible form and was super accurate.  She said it must have been all those times she watched her friend Will practice at the range. 

 

Sunday we had Easter brunch at the Westin at the Galleria.  This is the 3rd year we've been there and we love that we have a new tradition in Dallas!  As always, we had a great time and I like that they change the menu up every year.  Except for the Peeps S'mores.  I hope they never change those!   http://www.thewestingalleriadallas.com/dallas-private-dining

 

 

After brunch we checked out our excursion choices for our cruise and booked a couple of fun trips that I think everyone will like!  In Cozumel, we're climbing some pyramids and then going swimming in an underground cenote (swimming hole).  I can't remember what the heck we're doing in the Caymans (snorkeling?  taking a catamaran?  sting rays?  dolphin encounter?  taking a catamaran to a snorkeling location where they keep the dolphins and sting rays???) but I do know in Jamaica we're going to climb Dunn's River Falls.  I wanted to just sit on the beach and drink Red Stripes but KJ didn't think that was a good idea. 

 

And then we took T to the airport and she headed back to B'ham and we all cried.  



Tulips and Bluebonnets

Last year KJ and I spent a wonderful day at the tulip farm cutting our own stems for a bouquet.  This year the tulips were peak during Spring Break and since I'm working and she was in San Antonio for break we kind of missed it.  However, I found out there's a bluebonnet field near my office so I might have to go check it out!  We teased KJ terribly when we were moving here that it's a right of passage to have your picture taken in a bluebonnet field.  She declined. 



Speaking of the office and work . . . holy hell!  (As my pappy used to say) "I am busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger!"  But seriously!  The phone DOES NOT STOP.  It's wonderful to sell two gorgeous, popular properties but sometimes I just want to shut my office door and put my head on my desk for a nappy.  I love having a career vs. a job and love what I do.  And I can't wait to spend my bonus. 


Lax season is kinda sorta but not really winding down.  Both Coach and KJ still have games but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  TCU has already had their end of year banquet and KJ's is at the beginning of May.  This time of year seems to go by in a blur --- all that end of year stuff gets smushed in.  She's got prom mid-May and leaves for Costa Rica the beginning of June. 


This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous!  One of the most beautiful weekends I can remember.  Both days were sunny, warm and bright blue skies.  Coach had a game @ SMU Saturday and afterward we went downtown for a little Mexican on the patio.  Sunday he had a game @ TCU but I didn't go.  I've been having a cleaning lady come on Sunday's (since I don't know her well enough to leave a key for her I prefer to be home). 


We've got our Easter brunch reservations made.  This will be our 3rd year in a row at this restaurant.  T and her sorority little are having a girls weekend is Savannah so it's just going to be the 3 Cos's. 


We've been getting the pool and the backyard ready and Coach is thinking about buying some wave runners so we can spend some time at the lake, too.  I don't care about the wave runners, I just want a paddleboard.  I'd probably have to stick it out my sunroof since I don't think a paddleboard would fit on my car.  I love, love, love to paddleboard and really need to try paddleboard yoga, too! 

Spring Break 2017

Had a really nice couple of weekends in the Casa de Cos.  This past weekend was the first weekend in a couple that Coach was home.  His last couple of weekends had been with lax trips and one of the weekends KJ accompanied him to Arkansas (each time she visits she loves it more and more but on the drive home she told Coach, "you know I'm going to go to Ole Miss, don't you dad???). 

The weekend they were both gone was rainy and dreary but I had scheduled a facial and a massage on Sunday so I was pretty content.  I had my books and my comfy blanket all weekend and when I came home from the spa treatments I was a very relaxed puddle.  Although I take incredible care of my skin, I hadn't had a facial since I worked at Ross Bridge!  This weekend is a mani and pedi.  I've been doing just a regular pedi but KJ got me hooked on those gel mani's.  They last SOOO long! 

This most recent weekend was great, too!  Cosmo had been in meetings all week in Dallas and one of his vendor's paid for the hotel through the weekend so I met him at the Anatole Friday night
http://www.hiltonanatolehotel.com/ and we had one of the most incredible dining experiences I've ever had at Nick and Sam's http://www.nick-sams.com/  Apparently it is THE place to be seen and it did not disappoint.  Cosmo swears Donald Trump Jr. was there.  I personally did not see him but there were some type of bodyguards / Secret Service wandering around the whole night (earpieces and everything).  I found out yesterday morning that Junior was indeed in Dallas over the weekend so Cosmo may have been right.  The caviar was incredible, my filet was perfection, service was outstanding and the drinks were flowing.  It was a super fun night!

Saturday we got planted some flowers and did some yard work.  Before Christmas we had our railroad tie retaining wall removed and the 6ft fence taken down.  We had a new brick wall put up and an 8ft. fence installed.  The landscapers also laid sod around the pool and planted some trees and flowers in the new retaining wall area and put down mulch.  We just added some more flowers and puttered around the yard.  My roses are already blooming nicely and several plants from last year are starting to come in so everything will look great in a week or two.  I can't wait to put out my patio cushions and relax outside with a Moscow Mule in hand! 

Sunday we had a new cleaning lady come out and deep clean from top to bottom.  She was GREAT and we will definitely be getting on her regular schedule.  I actually enjoying doing laundry and having fresh linens on the bed so I never expect a cleaning lady to do that.  That just seems so personal.  She kept saying, "I shouldn't be saying this but your house is so clean and organized!  Why am I here???" 

Haven't seen daughter #1 since Christmas and I'm not sure exactly when we'll see her again.  She and Johnny Frat Boy are going to Chicago this weekend to spend St. Patrick's Day with friends and her sorority little doesn't go home to VA for Easter so they are having a girls weekend in Savannah.  I don't think we'll have any special plans as it's just the 3 of us for Easter.  The past two years we've done the Easter Brunch at the Westin http://www.thewestingalleriadallas.com/north-dallas-restaurants and I'd be happy if that became our "go-to" Easter tradition!

Tomorrow we'll have some celebrities in the house and when they make it really big, we can say "The Burning Peppermints slept here!" kind of like George Washington!  The band is on their way to South by Southwest in Austin and crashing on our couch on there way to/from Birmingham. 
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2017/events/MS40087  South by Southwest is a HUGE deal and the guys are going to do incredible!  So proud of Jake!  He is INCREDIBLY talented and I expect nothing but greatness! 

Some Blog Lovin'

I've been AWOL for a couple of months now and today is the first day in a long time where I feel like I've had a bit of a respite.

After moving the fam out to Dallas and getting everyone settled, it was high time I got my butt back to work!  I am so excited about my new(ish) job as the Sales Manager for two hotels in the Plano area!  I started mid-December and so far so good!  OK.  I'll admit it.  There were a couple of days shortly after the training process where I thought I should just throw in the towel but I've hung in there.  I have a bit of a commute but it's not terrible (once some of the construction is finished, my drive will be fine).  I use the time in the mornings to mentally prepare for my day and in the evenings I decompress.  The best part of going back to work is KJ and Cosmo taking over the cooking! 

Lax is in full swing / full spring at the Casa de Cos.  Cosmo has had a couple of games under his belt this season and KJ's season is kind of just getting started.  She had a tournament @ A&M and a lot of practices so far.  She's also working a lot and has just completed her schedule for senior year.  She actually has enough credits to graduate in December but I don't see the need for her to graduate early. 

We've had some work done in the backyard this year and can't wait for consistent warm weather to enjoy it (today is almost 90 but tomorrow's high is supposed to be mid-60's)!  We had a new retaining wall installed, a new fence, sod laid in the little space by the pool (seriously, I could cut our backyard grass with a pair of scissors it's so small), new mulch in all the flower beds, a few trees and plants in the new retaining wall area and the trees in the front yard were cut back. 

We don't really have any spring break plans this year but we are all looking forward to our upcoming cruise to celebrate our big birthdays and our special anniversary.  We've had a lot of fun researching our trip and planning our excursions.  Oh!  And of course, KJ is incredibly excited about her trip to Costa Rica this summer!  She got a GoPro for Christmas so she could document her adventures!

T and Pony Boy are having some adventures of their own.  They celebrated the new year in DC and they've gone hiking/camping/kayaking several times.  They are having so much fun in Birmingham and are constantly on the go.  She somehow won a Super Bowl party sponsored by a local radio station so they held it at Frat Boy's house.  All the drinks were handled, all the food, one of those huge inflatable screens was put up in the backyard, the station played a custom playlist on the radio for an hour before kick-off and some guy came and played the guitar!  And this week she won a sales contest at work and won an Apple Watch!