Happy Friday!!

So I'm a week behind on the "Show Us Where You Live" Friday...
Last week was show us your Living Room so I'm starting with those pics first!

Nala had to be in the picture!

This is Matt's favorite part... THE MANTLE
Yes, he claimed the mantle prior to our marriage.. that was a prerequisite ;)

What's super exciting is that it's now FALL!! Yay for Fall decorations!!

Okay... moving on.....
THE MASTER BEDROOM
Probably one of my favorite rooms!

On Matt's side, he has the desk his grandfather (his mom's dad) built in shop class in high school.
It's super special!

I love our high ceiling with the beam! As you can see, we have a "window" from our bedroom to the master bathroom. I purchased an antique window to display up there.

I'm so proud of my "L T" pillow.. my initials!
Always love to find those special things!

Here is our display of some vintage firefighter stuff

Currently above Matt's chest of drawers is a mirror, but after rearranging some things in the house, I've decided to hang my bridal portrait there.

It's not hung yet, but here's an idea of what it will be like.

In other news.....
Matt is famous! ;) He went to his Arlington Local Union website and found his picture on there.
This picture was from a fire a couple years ago.
It made it in the newspaper and now it's on the union website!
See below... you can also go to www.local1329.org

I will try to be better about blogging... can't wait to have my little Ella here to share with everyone! Only 10 more weeks (or less if you ask me what I really thing).
Happy Fall Y'all!!

It's brag time....

Okay, it's brag time!! I just had to post that I've got the CUTEST and SWEETEST nieces and nephews!!

Gracie and her new hairbow!! Such a sweet little face... I could eat her up!!

Owen in his camping chair... ALWAYS smiling! What a cute kid!

Isaac has the cutest cheeks ever! I love that munchkin!

Now look at this gorgeous little girl! Kaitlin has more hair than I do!
Such a little model!

Now here is Kyle's "mini-me." Andrew is such a good kid!
I love his sweet heart and his cute red hair!

Busy 4- Day Weekend!

This weekend we went to Stephenville to do some fixing up to Memere's house that is for sale. It was an EXHAUSTING weekend, but the outcome was great! Here are some pictures...

Here is Matt in the middle of grouting the backsplash.
He had the easy job... being messy and spreading the "goop" as we call it.
I had the tedious job of cleaning each little individual tile... I did not enjoy that...

Here is the finished kitchen...
New countertops, new sink and faucet, tile backsplash and tile floor.

Here is the before

We also put in a new countertop, backsplash, sink and faucet in the guest bath.

...and tiled the front entry way

My dad did an amazing job on the yard, unfortunately it was raining so I couldn't get a picture. Thanks to Mom and Dad for carrying everything back and forth and for all your hard work around the house! Thanks to my Mom-in-law for bringing us yummy Sunday lunch, running errands for us and handing us tile! Thanks to my Father-in-law for bringing us trim pieces, letting us borrow the nail gun and loading up what ended up being a BIG load of brush!! We are blessed to have such a great family and were glad we could do some fixing up for our wonderful Memere!! Special thanks to my super talented husband for pulling off the whole deal! He did a great job with everything! Needless to say... we are pooped! ;)

Most amazing night...

The last Stars game of the season... my last season as a season seat ticket holder (at least for now)... Marty Turco's last game with the Stars (my favorite)... Possibly the last time to see Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen on the ice. This felt like a Stanley Cup game.. it was an amazing, awesome experience. Mid-game a standing ovation started for Modano, which brought him to tears. Matt would say "there's no crying in hockey." Hard to keep a dry eye after watching that! Marty had some great saves and got a win. Modano scored the goal to tie the game and also a goal in overtime. Lehtinen scored to win it. Just an incredible event! Couldn't of been played out any better! Goodbye Marty! Thanks for many great years!! Modano and Jere, we hope to see you back for one more year, but thanks for the memories!

Matt Hard at Work

Here is my wonderful husband hard at work! He spent the last two weeks in class for Officer training. He will be promoting to Driver some time this year although he's already been driving out of class. Once he promotes to Driver, he will spend some time riding out as Lieutenant as needed, so the class was to help get him prepared. These are some pictures from his class.

Matt is on the far right

Here he is on the far left

He's on the right getting geared up!

The Kids

So, it's been MONTHS since my last post and SO much as gone on. Too much to go back and post, so I'm just starting with the current. Here are some pics of my kids.. I LOVE them all and love to show off their cuteness....

Wild Maverick... He loves rollin over in hopes of a belly rub!

He sure looks like a crazy dog in this picture!

Maverick and Maddie are best buds! But like any two people or animals, they do have their conflicts. Here they are chewing on their bones... their favorite past time.

Nala! She runs the show...

Marty bird!!

And the newest of the bunch...

Baby Throne!!

Or "Blueberry" currently "Bean"

Estimated Arrival Date: December 5
(sorry for the blurry pic... it's all I've got!)

October

"The beauty of a life well-lived becomes a legacy that stays behind an warms the heart with every memory."

On October 21, my sweet sweet Paw Paw went to be with his Lord and Savior.

James Carlos Shipman, 82, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009.

Jim was born June 16, 1927, in Bonham. He graduated from Grand Prairie High School and then joined the Navy. While attending Hardin-Simmons University, he met and married the love of his life, Jackie Briley. After he received his B.A., he attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He pastored Texas churches in Cedar Gap, Coleman, Robert Lee, Bangs, Texas City, Winters and Edna Hill. He was member of the Baptist General Convention of Texas executive board. After retiring from full-time ministry, he was a brace technician at the Brace Center, Hurst. In 1999, he moved to Stephenville.
He was a faithful warrior of the cross and will be greatly missed by his family and a host of friends who've been impacted by his life.
He was preceded in death by a son, James Carlos Shipman Jr.; and brothers, Dwain, Kenneth and Gene Shipman.
Survivors: His wife of 62 years, Jacqueline Yvonne Briley Shipman; daughters, Sharon Yeats and husband, John, of Alexandria, La., and Susan Pelletier and husband, Jim, of Hurst; son, Joe Shipman and wife, Tammie, of Huckabay; his sister, Helen Hines; brothers, Bob, Joe and Danny Shipman; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

I'm so very thankful for the 25 1/2 years I had him.

This is the beautiful wreath from the Eastham/Hinson families.
I was excited to bring it home and put it on my front door.

...HALLOWEEN...

Andrew as Buzz Lightyear

Kaitlin as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

Isaac the football referee.

Trick or treating!

My mom and I wrapped Christmas presents on Halloween (it's our tradition).
We had a nice surprise!

And here's little Indian Owen.