Happy Birthday to Me!!

This past Sunday I celebrated my 28th birthday!!

I had a great day! I was able to sleep in....which I love!

Ben took me shopping, and then suprised me by taking me out

to dinner, only to have some very special people meet us there!

The yummy chocolate cake my wonderful husband made!
Ben & I

Brooke & Nate

Our friends Ric & Melissa

Brooke & I

Nate & I!

I had a great day! It's great to be 28!

I think I will be 28 forever!

What's going on...

Not too much new going on down here in Texas!

Just thought I'd share a couple of updates!

Ben and I had a date night last night...went out to dinner in Houston!
Ben's friend (and mine too) Foley has been staying with us for the past
4 weeks. Job hunting, pig hunting, and riding his bike!
It's been fun having him around!
So we've had a "You, Me, and Dupree" situation...minus the sock :)
But it's been fun to have a visitor!


Foley, Melissa, Ric, Ben, and I!
About 4 weekends ago we went up near College Station to go mountain biking!
This was my first real ride...I had a lot of fun!
Plus I managed to stay on my bike the whole time!

We've been mountain biking one day every weekend
for the past month! It's been a lot of fun!
We've been going with another great couple Ric and Melissa!
(and Foley too ;)
We've gone to College Station, Austin, and also right here in Houston!
The guys loading all 5 bikes to the 4Runner!

Ben and Foley!

Naughty Puppy!

So I guess this is what happens when you leave a dog in a cage all day!

Bordom must have gotten the best of her and she

decided to shred the "puppy pad" we had

in her cage for her to pee on!

Not cool!

But we still love her!!

Introducing....Chai T. Mathew

Ben & I adopted a puppy yesterday!!

This is Chai !!

She is a German Shepard Mixed with who know what!!

6 months old, female, 26 pounds!

How could we say no to this face?

Christmas Time - Ohio Style!

We spend some time in Ohio visiting the Mathew side of the family!

We had a great time...and it was wonderful to see Ben's parent's new home!

It is so beautiful! It really felt like home!

Olivia, Sophie, and Simeon...not sure who those other weirdos are!
We were able to spend a little bit of time with Uncle Dave and Aunt Alice!
So wonderful to see you both!!

Grandpa & Olivia

Addie smiling so cute...but Uncle Ben & Aunt Emily smiling like weirdos!

The Mathewssss

We were able to spend a lot of time visiting with Ben's Grandpa Hertel!

It was so wonderful to be able to have that opportunity!

Tamara & I

Sophie & I

Simeon and Uncle Ben...getting ready to go for a hike in the woods!

Brothers playing with chainsaws....always a good time!

Emma & Josie helping grandma prepare dinner!

A great cook in action!

Uncle Ben & Sophie

Crazy guys!

Friends + Christmas= So Fun!

Ben & I are so thankful for the friends in our lives!

It was so wonderful to be able to spend some time with them as well!

We are truley blessed!

And we miss you all already...even the friends we didn't get to see!

"The Gang"

Marty and I getting ready to kick-it at Wii Bowling!

My wonderful friend Allison Alles!! She is due in March! She looked so great!

It was so great to catch up Al! Thanks for meeting me for some cafe!!

My mom....my friend

Out for lunch at Olgas in super cute Gaslight village!

Then a bit of shopping afterwards!

Allisun & Tony Westhouse!

Al & I getting ready to Wii Bowl!!

That's right Marty! Sit down!

I kicked your booty in Mario Kart!

Next year... rematch!

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with friendship." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Christmas Time

Well, here are some highlights from our "Christmas Vacation"

I didn't want to post these too late...seeing how January is nearly half way over!

My Aunt Nancy was able to spend some time with us celebrating Christmas!

I believe she just drank her first Jager-bomb!

Looks like it was a good one!

Jenni & I

"Brothers gotta hug!"

Oh.... Christmas tree.... oh Christmas tree...

Yes dad.... it's just jello! (wink)

My mom showing off her new pearl earings!

How lovely!

Brooke & Nate

Nick & Jenni

We had a great time. There was a lot of Guitar Hero, and Wii bowling going on! Lots of yummy food (thanks aunt Nancy for the navajo tacos) (thanks mom for yummy beef roast with mashed potatoes and the works!), games and fun! Being so far away from everyone is hard...but so wonderful to see everyone!!