Holidays, Snow & Brian

I had had such a wonderful time being able to go home for Christmas. Valerie and I had a great time catching up since we haven't seen each other in so long! It was wonderful to be back in the FB at my parent's house, and spending time with Phil, Trina & Bridgeport. Christmas day is always a little unique now since Lyndsey can't come home any more. So, Trina had a great idea to make cookies with everyone's name on it and send a picture to Lyndsey with her stocking! That was really sweet. Philip and Trina also brought along their dog, Bridgeport. This is the only time I believe my father has ever allowed a dog in our house... this is a big deal. So, Philip, you can never say again that dad doesn't like you! :) You know you have to have a special place in his heart if he lets you bring the dog inside.








After opening presents at our house in Farmers Branch. Philip invited Trina to come along since her family lives in California. He also invited to friend, Craig, who didn't have plans to do anything else for the holidays.

My big gifts were a Sonicare toothbrush from Brian and a full set of luggage from my parents. Valerie got a bunch of books to help her succeed now that she is a college graduate and Philip got a bunch of Dickie's pants... aparently his favorite!! Lyndsey received her packages from Big D just in time to enjoy Christmas day with her roommates. You can read all about that on her blog.

After present opening, going through stockings and enjoying a fancy breakfast together, we all headed out to Burleson where we had Christmas afternoon and watched the Cowboys game (awful) at my cousin's house. Since all of my cousin's are married now and everyone has young kids it is easier for us to go to them then how they used to come to us.
My cousin Craig is a police officer and took Valerie and I out to shoot one of his hand guns. We had so much fun!!! Veeves and I have both shot a bunch of different long-barrelled guns through out our days having family that hunts, Girl Scouts, and/or Indian Princess'. I don't remember where all of the experienes came from... I just know they happened. Either way... here are our best shots!!














Here is also a cute couple of pictures of my trip... I know there are a bunch more but these are the only ones' that I have.















This is a picture mom took of Dad and I on Christmas morning. The this one is of Catherine, Valerie and Philip on Christmas day in Burleson. We just aren't the same without Lyndsey's cute face sandwiched in there!!!

And lastly, here is a super cute picture of some of my most wonderful college girlfriends!! We were all able to get together for breakfast right before I had to head back to Tucson!! I love these girls so much and miss each and every one of their faces!!!
Top: Cameron Slack, Chez Parker Dishman, Melanie Knox, Elizabeth Robinson
Bottom: Catherine Goode, Carisse Brown

So, on to the snow. The last couple of days have been beautiful. The mornings have been chilly and we I leave at 4:55 am to be at work by 5 am (Starbucks) my windshield has been frosted over. The afternoons have been warming up quite nicely though. With all of this weather we have had snow on the mountains and other parts of Arizona so it is a pretty view though nothing has fallen in the city of Tuson.

Brian is finally back after being in Las Vegas and Mexico for the Christmas holiday. It was so good to see him again and get to start hanging out!
Last night, (New Years Eve) we went over to one of Brian's co-workers house. There were about 12 people there hanging out. We played Scene IT (Brian and I won!!!!!), chatted, laughed, and watched the ball drop at midnight!!

It has been a great break but tomorrow begins the hustle and bustle of grown-up life!
Yea!

Happy 2007!

I never doubted that cool people come from R. L. Turner High...

However, after Robby VanWinkle, aka Vanilla Ice, came and went from Turner you just never could be quite sure.

And then there was Socheata... one of Lyndsey's dearest friends from Turner, whom I knew through passing...

She has been working on a documentary and the last thing I really heard about it was when HBO & Showtime (?) picked up her idea of a documentary of her family's history... here is the rest of the story:

Lyndsey Goode's blog

International Documentary Festival Amsterdam - IDFA
New Year Baby Wins the Amnesty International MOVIES THAT MATTER AWARD.

There is good news. By a unanimous jury decision, New Year Baby is awarded the Amnesty International - Movies That Matter Human Rights Award. The award is the highest human rights honor the film can win. The jury also named New Year Baby a "tour de force" with "universal appeal."
Over 200 films are selected for the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) each year from across the world. Only 5 awards are presented to feature length films and only the Movies that Matter competition includes films from every competition.
In addition, New Year Baby is also a top ten audience favorite of the 172 audience rated films. Screenings sold out solid and festival goers waited for empty seats even after screenings were full. IDFA then scheduled an additional screening due to audience response. New Year Baby now has festival invitations around the world. New Year Baby will also be theatrically screened in the Netherlands to share the film across the country. Even greater, Amnesty International has expressed interest in supporting to bring the film to Cambodia.
The future is bright. Please celebrate as we do. So many worked very hard toward this.

IDFA Movies That Matter Jury Report-"New Year Baby (is) a deeply tender and poignant film about a Cambodian-American's journey with her family to uncover the secrets of a tragic past at the hands of the Khmer Rouge... It was a tour de force for anyone, and particularly for a young, first-time filmmaker...We also agreed unanimously to award New Year Baby with the Movies that Matter prize. We are confident that the universal appeal of the film will give an international audience emotional access into the impact of the genocide, and may help pave the way for the potentially forthcoming tribunal in Cambodia..."-IDFA 2006 Movies That Matter Juryhttp://www.idfa.nl/idfa_en_content.asp?pageid=407

Way to go girl!!!

Thanksgiving in Vegas

Brian and I headed over to Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, November 22 to spend Thanksgiving with Brian's mom, Sara.

Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful! We had turkey breast, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, yams, rolls, pecan pie... the whole nine yards!
It was so yummy!

We went down to the strip and met up with Philip and Trina.
And then we met Lyndsey in New York... JK... but we did go by New York New York on the Vegas strip! :)Phil & Trina winning the big bucks!
Philip & Trina in front of the MGM Lion
Catherine & Brian in front of a big lighted Christmas tree!
Sara, Brian & I went to Mount Charleston on Saturday afternoon and walked around! It was about 20 degrees cooler and beautiful. We went to eat at a little diner at the top of the mountain and enjoyed beautiful scenery.


(Brian got a phone call from his best friend, Patrick, from Iraq!)




We left Las Vegas early Sunday morning on got on the road for a long six hour trip back!
Happy Thanksgiving!! I can't wait to be back in Texas in less than a month!!!!!!!!

Nathan & Rachel Price are married

So, I have been in Dallas since Wednesday, November 15 and had such a wonderful time. I was able to get to spend time with wonderful church friends, high school friends, one college friend, my parents' friends and my parents!!! I wasn't able to spend near enough time with everyone I wanted to see (I didn't even have time to call everyone I wanted to just to say "Hi!" and "I'm in town!" So, I am sorry if I missed you...

However, I spent from Wednesday night through Saturday morning with 8 bridemaids trying to get our precious friend Rachel Nelson married off!!
And that we did!!! The wedding was so much fun and the reception was that much better!! Rachel definitely knows how to throw a party... and keep the after-party very much alive until early the following morning!! :)

Here are a couple of pictures I took though my camera battery died early on and I was not able to get near the amount that I wanted to take.

Here is Nathan & Rachel Price with one of the beautiful rings Nathan bought her... that girl gets so spoiled by him... :)
This is Rachel on the wedding night just minutes before she walked down the aisle! She looked amazing; the train on her dress was 12 feet long and I believe the veil was 15 feet long...

I am making my toast to Rachel and Nathan... Bailey Tipps is smiling to the side after just making his hilarious toast to them! Tierni (Washam) Driesner and Mary (Kha) Ho are behind me... all friends we have shared since we were 5 years old!This is the part where the maid of honor and the Best Man get introduced... Josh Wood & Catherine Goode

Here is Deanna Schafer and I at the wedding... a wonderful friend since we were little...
TC Willis & I... a wonderful friend since high school!
Frances Moffett made this fabulous cake to share with everyone at the cookout the day after Rachel & Nathan's wedding! YummY!!!!
Catherine Goode, the groom, Nathan Price, the bride, Rachel (Nelson) Price, and Will Binford, one of the bestest and most loyal friends anyone could ask for... Rachel, Will and I have known each other since Kindergarden and Nathan came into the picture during 7th grade!
Me with the cake!!!



Hope you enjoy...

It's November?

It is shocking to me that it is approaching mid-November and still 80-something degrees outside. The evenings cool off but the day is still warm and comfortable in shorts and t-shirts. So, I can't really complain.

So, my mom has a job!! I think all of her children are so proud of her commitments to volunteering for various activities which have opened the doors for her to become a volunteer supervisor for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree at Valley View Mall! Way to go girl!!

And Lyndsey, congrats on the job!! I'm so excited for you and the show! I hope it keeps you busy and opens up lots of new doors for you!
(Here are the shoes I was talking to you about! Aren't they cute!!!)

Veeves, I'm mad at you for not coming home this next weekend... it's not like you haven't seen me since June...

Dad! I'm glad you are my dad!! I can't wait to see you next week!

Phil (who doesn't read this), I'm glad you're my brother! I <3 FISH!

I think I have a friend!

I think I have a new friend! There is a couple about Brian and my age that moved from Austin to Tucson the same month I moved from Dallas. We went to dinner at Old Chicago last night. It was nice to go on a double date with another couple. They are named Jeff & Trisa! Trisa and I have walked together a couple of times and we are going to go jog tomorrow morning.

So, I finally got the pictures off of Brian's computer that I have been asking for a while! So here are some updates!

First, here are two pictures of my 25th birthday dinner. Brian took me to a fancy restaurant in Tucson that seems like you are out in the middle of no where. The food and service was delicious and the view was amazing.


Then off to Vegas... this first picture is with Brian's college friends Pete & Nina. We met up with them in Vegas the weekend before they got married since Brian and I would not be able to make it to Seattle for the wedding.
Sydne and her friend were also in town so Sara (Brian's mom), Sydne, her friend from high school in Oregon, Brian and myself went to some nice restaurants and had a lot of fun playing!!!
Brian is always so mature in our pictures!! :)And Sara and I always behave ourselves!! :)

And then it was Halloween!!! Brian, Adam (Brian's roommate) and I went to a Halloween party the Saturday before Halloween. I wanted to dress up but not be trashy, I wanted fun make up but didn't want to look ucky.... I don't so much like Halloween but I love Christmas so I decided to dress up as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!!
So here it is....
Brian and Adam were professional soccer players...
Here's a cute one of Adam and I...
grrr... I'm scary....
And a really cute one of Brian and I!!!!
And then there was Gavin... This is Brian's cousin! Doesn't he look fabulous???
So, this was my Halloween holiday fun!!
I'll keep you posted! :)