They're playing Bas-ket-ball

This season Peyton is a Wildcat in the Boys & Girls Club league. It's been a little bit of a struggle because his team is made up of the youngest group of kids in the league, but most games he and his teammates are out there playing their best. So go Wildcats! Go #20!

Here comes the bride

You know it's really a shame that while brides dream and hunt for that perfect wedding gown, they only get to wear them once. I had told my mom recently that I wanted to try on my wedding dress again sometime when we were at their home and last weekend I got that opportunity. I wanted to try it on again for a number of reasons that of course, included my recent weight loss, but also because it's been 11 years since I wore that big gob of tulle! And do you know what...I STILL love that dress!

It was fun to Skate with Peyt!

Peyton is now 9...N-I-N-E!! It's crazy to believe that that sweet little pink baby that I gave birth to on January 10, 2001 is only one year away from "double-digits"! And he makes sure to remind me of this often.

Again this year, we spread out the birthday celebrations for our first-born. His actual birthday was on a Sunday, so after church we had lunch with Poppy & Nana and Aunt Amberly & Riley at Chili's. I think he was a little embarrassed when the waitstaff came to sing to him, but getting the fudgecake and ice cream made it all worth it! 

Not looking while they sang to him!

Poppy & Nana and their beautiful grandkids.

Cousins-Peyton & Riley-only 2 months apart in age

This year for his birthday party, Peyton decided that he wanted to go skating. Now this kid has really come a long way! Over the past two years whenever friends would have parties at the skate center, Peyton was content to stay at home. He would often tell me that he couldn't understand why someone would want to have a party where all they were going to do is fall down! But after several trips over the summer, my boy has decided that skating is not so bad after all. And although he did his fair share of falling, he always jumped up and got right back out there. It was a fun day and we are so thankful for the family and friends that were there to share it with him.

Homemade Sonic the Hedgehog cake made by Grammy. It was delicious!!

Little brother giving the birthday boy a hug.

The 4.5 year old daredevil-the kid has no fear!

Not even wearing shoes with wheels.

 He was really pretty good!

Emma talked Granddaddy into getting out

 on the rink with skates. What a good sport!

Not sure what this effect was on my camera, but it kind of makes for a cool picture.

Blowing out the candles with some of his friends.

Peyton and his buddy Justin

Gran helping the little man on his skates

Uncle James with the Birthday Boy

Dad & Preston

Peyton with his DSI goodies from Grammy & Granddaddy

It's gonna be a marathon of a post

Well hello! Yes, I'm well aware that I haven't posted anything substantial here in quite some time, but life just seemed to go in fast forward as we ended 2009 and started 2010. And since only a handful of people that really love me read this anyway, I'll try to catch up here now. Bare with me...it may get tedious!! HA!

NOVEMBER 2009-Thanksgiving!

We spent Thanksgiving at Gran & Pap's house. It was kind of rare because it was just us, them, Pap's brother Charles and his friend Carolyn and James. Although it was a smaller gathering than normal, it was wonderful. Sadly, I have no photographic evidence of this though. Apparently I was in such a turkey-stupor that I either forgot to bring my camera or it never came out of its case. Who can remember?!? That was weeks ago!

DECEMBER 2009-The Month of Madness!

The NEW Texoma Medical Center

The hospital that I work for completed construction on a brand new $137M, 8 floor-replacement facility this month and it just about consumed my world. Our department had the distinct pleasure to be behind the planning of all of the events and there were quite a few! Between an employee open house, a private VIP reception and a monsterous public ribbon cutting (with tours galore to be given) it was a month that I will probably never forget. I mean how many times in a person's life are they able to be a part of something so special? I know for me it will probably be only once and I can honestly say that I loved every moment. And top it all off, we moved over 70 patients to the new place just 2 days after Christmas!! Here are some pics from all of those events.

The Fab 4

Minnie Burkhardt, Jennifer Estes, Me and Randy Truxal

What a great team!!

W. Mackey Watkins, MD

Hospital CEO and a pretty fabulous boss!

My friend and mentor Nancy Gill

My office/studio-BEFORE I moved in. 

Sadly it doesn't look so clean anymore! :(

My friend and Marketing co-worker Jennifer Estes

Moving in a patient!

Don't you love our shirts? Mine was black and said

MEDIA in white lettering on the front. (Not seen here, but very cool!)

These angels took care of the patient's family members.

This was a fun group! The Gurney team.

The hospital all lit up. This is what it looked like at 6:45 am when I got there!

Christmas 2009

What a fun, fun time! Our annual get-together with David's aunt & uncle and cousins was so fun. This year we were at the Parish's and got to really love on our sweet Emma Grace!

          Emma Grace Parish-love her!

The Parish boys totally appeasing me with a pic! Such good sports!

Thank you Uncle Brian for the guns. They're still a big hit!

                  Gran getting a Preston hug.

    Poor Pap. He'd been up early that day to go flying!!

Every year we spend Christmas Eve at Gran & Pap's house. It's always just us, them and James and we love it.

This wasn't even posed! How sweet they are checking out Gran's tree?

               Gran with her new purple rain boots!

      This moose and Preston have become quite close.

       Doesn't he look big in this picture?!?

Ready to make cookies!

My sweet Preston had been praying for snow for weeks and got his wish several times in December...even on Christmas Day! In addition to our family prayer time and our present-opening we squeezed in time to play in the white stuff on December 25th.

Family snow pic-Brrrr

Mr. Cool

And this one thinks he's LeBron!!

After all of that fun, we went to Grammy & Granddaddy's house for more Christmas cheer. What another great time with family!! Grammy made yummy brisket and had TONS of sweets for us all to nibble on. We headed over to Poppy and Nana's for a little while (and for MORE good food) and then came back to G&G's so that Katy could just barely beat me in Mexican Train dominoes...an annual Link family tradition-playing, not Katy barely beating me!

Emma & Preston

Getting to love on my nephew Ethan

Peyton with his new iPod from Grammy & Granddaddy

For more on this read here

Ellie G and Uncle Matt

It was a fast and furious December, but not one I'll likely forget!!