Still here.....

We are still here!!

We have been very busy and therefore the camera has not made

it out of the purse in a while!

These pictures were taken in March when we ran the Warrior Dash (5K)!

It was a lot of fun! Since then we have done a Mud Run (10K) and

are signed up for another one in October.... debating on signing

up for a half marathon too...but still debating! :)

BEFORE

AFTER

Ben will be teaching elementary PE starting this fall! He will be responsible

for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade! I have a feeling he is going to love it!

He will be at a brand new school too... but it is right down the road

from his old school...so he's not too far away from familiar faces!

I (Emily) am starting my final year in grad school! And I am

anticipating graduating in May 2012!

I am also trying to work when I can, although school pretty much

consumes most of my life!

We are both looking forward to what this new school year will have in store

for both of us! We also look forward to the fall and winter temperatures as

it has been extremely warm down here! Hurry up winter!!

Houston Rodeo BBQ cookoff!

Every March the Rodeo comes to Houston for about 3 weeks!

The weekend before it starts, there is a huge cookoff!

The parking lot of Reliant Stadium is turned into a mini-city:

complete with street signs and addresses!

Each business has a tent- and each tent is invitation only!

All you can eat! All you can drink!

As long as you are wearing the right wrist band!

We were invited by a couple of teachers that Ben works with!

It was so much fun and the food was amazing!

So to all my friends near and far... the best time to visit Houston is in March!

The Rodeo is such a great time!

Just saying... if you need to get away from the cold and snow! This

is the perfect month to do it!!

Biking!

Last weekend we spent the day biking!

We both had great rides and Ben even

packed a picnic to munch on after we rode!

8.5 miles goes by pretty fast sometimes!

Getting ready to ride!

I'm always behind that guy! I try so hard to keep up!

Pausing on the homestretch! Trying to be tough! :)

Durango, Colorado

Last weekend we were able to take a last minute ski trip to Colorado!

We had such a great time and cannot wait to go back!

Pausing on the slopes for a great shot!

I was so intense about staying up on my skiis, sometimes I forgot

to look around at the amazing creation!

We were flown there in one of my co-workers private planes!

This excited guy had the opportunity to sit in the cockpit during take off!

My 2 wonderful co-workers that we enjoyed the trip with!

Their significant others were also there!

Looking good on those ski's!!

Finished off the trip with a great valentine's dinner with my guy!

This Month

A Florida-kind-of Thanksgiving!

Ben & I decided to drive over to Florida for Thanksgiving this year!

It was a short fun trip! But well worth it!

Can't say I had gone to the beach on black Friday before,

but it was far better sitting on the beach with 80 degree weather

than trying to shop at 4 am!!

Clearwater Beach Sunset!

Now, it's hard for me to get in the Christmas spirit with this

weather! But it sure was nice!!

Last Month

Last month my whole family was able to make it down to Texas

for a special 1 year-old little girl's birthday party!

This is the first time since Christmas of 2008 that my family had

all been together!

We all had a great time!

Such a great time, I forgot to take enough pictures, but this is what I got!

Elaina the birthday girl! Turns 1!!

Laney and Aunt Jenni

Me and my brothers!

Me and my sister-in-laws!

Uncle Nick can always make Hudson laugh!!

Astros vs. Cubs

Last weekend we were able to go to one of the last Astros games!

We went with another couple we met down here, Kim and Chris!

Through Chris's work, we sat in the second row along the 3rd baseline! You

could see into the dugout of the Cubs! It was pretty cool!

Kim, Chris, Ben, and I

Just to show how close we were! It felt like we were on the field!

Apparently this guy is a big deal on the Cubs team, I tried to

get his autograph, but no luck!

Not sure what to say about this one!

Chilling at the end of the game, waiting for the fireworks to start!