Painting Project

So last weekend was spent in the Dining Room painting. We have talked about painting for a while and finally got everything and did it & it looks great! We are both really happy with the color and how everything turned out. We still have some touch ups to do but it is done for the most part. I know there are more painting projects on the horizon but it will have to wait a little. So here are the pictures of the process. I forgot to take a few before pictures but here is before we got any paint on the walls.

I got to put the first paint on the wall...

All taped up

About 10 seconds into painting. Jay thought it was hilarious. He was much more paint free than I was.

Durango helping out... he was actually really good about not coming into the room. We both wanted to keep him out because we had visions of him stepping in the paint and walking all over the house or just trying to drink it! Thankfully none of that happened!

About half way done.

Finished!!!

More views... I love how it looks against the white.

During the day light.

When we have more painting projects completed I will post them.

Hiking

A couple weekends ago Jay, Durango & I went up to Wichita Mountains about an hour north of us and went hiking. It is a really easy day trip and really pretty. Durango LOVED it. He has such a blast jumping in the streams & jumping on rocks and such. We even took him off the lease a few times and he was amazing. He is so much fun to have around, it is so wonderful having a dog again!

Buffalo & Long Horn Steers roam freely here, here are some buffalo that were right next to the road

Durango jumping in a stream

Durango scrambling on the rocks.

Jay & Durango having a blast. Jay was definitely in his element!

Getting a drink.

Durango getting in the water. He had a blast and was so cute.

Trip to Florida

I was able to go home to St. Augustine for about 2 weeks at the end of Feb/ early March for a few events that were going on. It was a great time and I was able to catch up with a lot of UNF friends that I hadn't seen in a while (although I only got a picture w/ a few of them). It was nice just to be home and not have to feel rushed, I just wished it had been a little warmer! Then it was my Mom's Birthday that Jay came in for as well as Sally & the kids. Eric was unfortunately not able to make it.

Playing Soccer in the front yard. Not quite sure what Evan is doing though.

Mom's Birthday Party at Gypsy!

More party pictures...
Amanda, Shelia, Kristine, & I at Bonefish. We were all Sorority Sisters together and it was so wonderful catching up with them! I really forget how much I enjoy being with them and how much I miss being around. Thanks girls for meeting up!
More soccer outside, I thought this was a cute picture of Sally & Lauren

I love this with Dad & Lauren.
We went out with Mom's 2nd grade team that she teaches with to a little Mexican restaurant in town. Well they figured out it was her birthday and sang Happy Birthday to her & put this on her head!! It was the funniest thing because the song went on forever!

More soccer. Evan scoring a goal on Jay!

It was a great trip home. Thanks again to all my friends that I was able to meet up with and I'm really sorry to those that it didn't work out. Next time definitely!

New Year's & New Addition

We have a new addition to our Family (as probably the 2-3 people that actually read our blog knows already!) our dog Durango! Jay and I have been wanting for a while to get a dog. We are both such dog people but wanted to wait until we got back here and got a house. We have done a lot of research and went back & forth between getting a dog from a breeder or rescuing one from a local shelter which is what we ended up doing. We went the week after Christmas and looked and read a couple books about how to choose the best one for our family. There were so many wonderful dogs there we really had trouble not coming home with all of them but Durango really stood out to both of us. He was really calm (for the most part) and could tell from the time we spent with him that he was really smart and trainable. So we were able to go through the application process and were approved to adopt him! We brought him home on New Year's Eve and he has been wonderful. We have had our issues we have had to work through (we still need to replace those blinds in the kitchen) but he really is such a sweet dog. He is getting MUCH better about being left alone, we are leaving him in his crate but he is so calm when we get home & not bending the bars in the crate anymore! He is also getting a lot better about playing with is toys and fetching the ball. He loves his walks that we take daily and also really enjoys going for car rides.

So here are some pictures that we have taken basically during the 1st week.

We actually took him over to the Campbell's on New Year's eve and he had a great time playing with Samson (their Golden Retriever) as well as did really well the kids. He was tired by the end of the night though! It was a big day for him.

Taking one of our many walks around the lake near our house.

We spent New Year's Eve with some good friends of ours here in Wichita Falls the Campbell's & the Segal's. We have been very blessed to be set up with these great people. We were actually in England with the Segal's although in different squadrons & the Campbell's are fellow F-15 C people so we have clicked with them and really enjoy being around them (although us girls are together a lot more than the boys) Anyway we had a great time with a fondue dinner and rang in the New Year at around 8:15! It has officially happened that the past 2 years we didn't make it to Midnight! but we still had a fabulous time and enjoyed celebrating all the wonderful things & changes that happened to us in 2009 as well as looking forward to everything God has in store for us in 2010!

Me, Kim, & Heather
Jay and the 2 Scotts

Happy New Year everyone! We have some great things coming up that I will be sure to post about soon.

Christmas

So we had a great Christmas. We hosted Jay's family here which was wonderful. It was a little different for me not being with my side but it was really great to be able to share this time with the Talbert side and see some traditions from their side. I always love getting together with his parents and really get to know them better each time. I had not had the opportunity yet to spend much time his sister and her family yet. They did come to England for a couple days when Leann had a conference in London and obviously at the wedding. Leann & Jim are both in the Air Force as well so our schedules never really matched up. Anyway, we found out they were all able to come we were really excited.

Wichita Falls ended up getting quite the snow storm (& I know snow storm is relative for Texas) but still we got about 1-2 feet but it definitely piled up with the snow drift. Because the city really doesn't have the capability to handle something like this we were housebound from Christmas Eve (Thursday) until Sunday. We had plenty to keep us busy but by Sunday I think we were all really ready to get out. Anyway, I did snap a few pictures but didn't get one of the whole family which I'm still kicking myself for. Next time definitely!

But I did get one with Jay's parents:

Janice & Leann
The aftermath & playing a little Beatles Rock Band. Jay loved the fact that his dad (& Janice too) got in there and played. It was a true family event.
Opening presents Christmas morning...
Jay & Erin making cookies (because we definitely needed more!)
Checking out the snow... it had piled up quite a bit by the front door.
The front of our house probably about mid way during the storm
Jay was getting some practice in with Daisy & Jen (Jim & Leann's dogs)

So that is it from Christmas. We had a truly blessed one and are all extremely Thankful for the time we had together.

DC Trip

Last week I was able to go out and visit one of my best friends who lives in DC. Kelley & I were college roommates and have stayed close ever since. I hadn't seen her in over a year and had her 2nd child in September, so it was great catching up and spending time with everyone. We never remember to take pictures, partly because most of the time we are just shopping & there really isn't much to take pictures of, but did manage to take a few this time.

The first day we did some Christmas shopping at the Tyson's corner mall. Up in the food court there was a train ride for kids. We tried to distract Landon but failed and he of course wanted to ride. So he & Kelley rode the train. Landon had a blast and was so excited!

Another college friend of ours lives in DC and we were able to meet up with her for dinner. Shannon is doing so well and it was great to see her and catch up on everything that is going on in her life. She was actually over in England for a couple weeks this summer & we met up there too. It was great to see her again in DC! Thanks Shannon for meeting up with us!
Kelley & I had to get a picture in before I left. We snapped a few pictures of her family but just not on my camera. Thanks Kelley for a great trip and great girl time!!

That is it for now, I think I'm all caught up. We are hosting Christmas her for Jay's family who all arrive next week! We are excite to spend some quality time with them as well as hosting our first Christmas in our new home so there will be more to post then!

Thanksgiving 2009

Jay and I were able to go to North Carolina for Thanksgiving with my family. We didn't think we were going to be able to but it ended up working out. The whole family was there which was great since we hadn't seen Eric since being back in the states. The boys did some hiking and the girls did what we do best: hitting the shops! It was a great trip, even if it was a little quick. We can't wait until we can get back, plus we have some good friends who are not too far away and it will be great to have some get gatherings there!!

Lauren and I swinging on the porch swing downstairs...

Some deer in the back yard. It was great to watch them, they are so peaceful and beautiful.
The whole family! It took a couple attempts but this is the best one despite mom's eyes being a closed slightly
Wrestling fun! I love Evan's legs just hanging out and that is all you can see...
The boys cleaning up after dinner.