8-27-07: Hello. School starts back up today, which means I am fairly busy. Sorry, but not too much interesting going on with us. Hobs had his second haircut yesterday, which was only mildly traumatic (compared to the first one at least). We are getting settled back in to work. Hobs starts pre-school next week, so that will be interesting for us all. Otherwise, not too much happening. Sorry this is boring. Adios.

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8-20-07: Well, we are back from our 10 day west Texas tour. I know you are all thinking how much fun a 10 day tour of west Texas must be, and you are right. We actually had a great time. We started off with Hollie's side's family reunion at Lake Brownwood starting the Friday before last. She had a conference that day in Fort Worth, so I dropped by UTA to drop off the finals I had graded, then picked her up and headed to the lake. Hobs got into a really bad bed of fire ants that Saturday, and was covered in blisters. He was a trooper though and never complained. Sunday we left there and went to Lubbock for 5 nights to see my parents. We had a great time there. We hadn't been to Lubbock since February, and my sister Lisa and her kids hadn't seen Hobs since then. They were there the first two days, so we were able to spend some time with them. My grandparents came into town on Monday, and we all decided to tempt death and make a trip out to Joyland that night. For those who aren't familiar with Lubbock's oldest and only amusement park, Joyland is  just like Six Flags, only it's not in Dallas, it only has about 25 rides, it doesn't have any flags of any sort, it is located on about 2 acres of land, it only costs $7 on Mondays, and your odds of serious bodily injury are about 50 times greater. So really, it is nothing like Six Flags. Joyland also really has a way of bringing out the best people in town. There are very few places left where you can wear a wife-beater, cut-offs, a "the south will rise again" trucker hat, and a skull and crossbones belt buckle and get asked "why did you dress up to come to Joyland?" We actually had a blast. I love roller coasters, even ones where the certainty of returning unharmed is definitely not a given.

I also got to hang out with my friends Sean and Josh some while we were there, and Hollie spent some time with Jessica too, so everyone was a winner. We love Lubbock. Going back reminds us of how nice it is there (seriously). It also reminds us how pretentious and superficial the metroplex is. Oh well, we still like it I guess.

Anyway, we initially intended to say in Lubbock 4 nights, but Hollie got strep, so we ended up staying 5. Friday, we drove down to Stamford to see our  friends Wes and Becca. We stayed there until yesterday. So, we are tired, still haven't unpacked, very glad to be home, but all in all had an awesome time. I put a few pics of our time in Lubbock HERE.

I start work again tomorrow. Even with a longer summer, it still flew by. Hollie starts Tuesday, then I start grad school back up next week (gag), so we have that to look forward to. Oh well, have a good one, talk to you later.

Oh yeah, if you didn't read last week's update, we did one of those great 100 lists, see below. For those who felt the need to comment on #100, you are all dreaming.

                              

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8-6-07: Hello again. Not too much new with us. My (Stephen's) mom is coming into town this week, so that will be fun. We have a family reunion for Hollie's side this weekend. I had 2 doctor appointments Friday, so that was about as exciting as it gets. I did get 2 big shots in my ankle. Well, technically one, but since I jumped, the first was didn't count, so he had to do a redo. That was a ball. Also, after that, I found out that I have a staff infection in my nose (I know ladies, that's hot). Nothing better than excruciating sores that form in your nostrils. That's ok, I now have a new and very expensive antibiotic that I get to smear into my nose twice a day. You are all jealous. That's about it. Anyway, in the spirit of non-monotony, I have decided that since several of you (whose blogs I read) forced me into reading 100 things about your lives, we would bless you all with a little insight into 100 things about us, the most interesting family you know. 25 will be about Stephen, 25 about Hollie, 25 about Hobs, and 25 about us. Please feel free to comment on anything below. Enjoy:

 

Stephen:

1) I have never had to go to the hospital

2) My first car was an '82 Ford Ranger

3) I love roller coasters

4) The site of blood makes me nauseas

5) I changed my major to social work my freshman year and have never regretted the choice

6) I am terrified of roaches

7) I love cooking breakfast

8) My research currently focuses around parenting and early childhood attachment

9) I think everyone should have to go spend a week working with a family living in poverty before they make a judgment about people receiving public assistance

10) My first car (the '82 Ranger) burned to the ground along side the road

11) I hate to read, even if it is a book I like

12) My face and ears get red whenever I talk in front of a group, even if I am not nervous

13) I love working with special needs kids

14) If I ever had to get in a fight, I am pretty sure I would lose

15) I believe parents are far too uneducated about the immunizations they give their kids

16) I have both of my ears pierced, and wish I wasn't too old to wear earrings (haven't since I graduated college)

17) My favorite band in high school was The Toadies. They still might be today.

18) I love golf, and am happy if I can break 100. I'm that bad.

19) When Hollie and Hobs aren't home, I usually stay up until at least 3:00 a.m. playing Playstation.

20) Macaroni and cheese has always been my favorite food

21) In 1994, George W. Bush presented me with my Eagle Scout award

22) I am an EXTREMELY slow and awkward runner

23) I love telling stories

24) I can only count 5 times I have cried in the last 10 years (I know, I have no heart)

25) I am without a doubt the least handy person I know

 

Hollie:

26) I can do the splits.

27) I love to read smutty novels.

28) I have two fake teeth.

29) I love to cook.

30) I would love to go to culinary school someday.

31) I gained 65 pounds when I was pregnant with Hobs.

32) I lost 45 of those 65 pounds 1 week after birth.

33) I can leg press over 200 pounds.

34) I want to be on So You Think You Can Dance.

35) I can do 45 push-ups in 1 min.

36) Old School church songs make me cry.

37) Lots of stuff makes me cry.

38) I love the TV show Prison Break.

39) I have my belly button pierced.

40) I had a c-section against my will.

41) I believe in natural childbirth - with God's strength.

42) My right foot swells - and no one knows why.

43) My biggest fear is being eaten by a Great White Shark.

44) I went to three different high schools.

45) I love to go to Starbucks and drink coffee with friends.

46) I secretly dream of being a wedding planner.

47) I used to have a fear of a fictional radar man - that lived outside of my house (I think I am over it now....maybe).

48) Stephen was unaware of my radar man fear until now.

49) I LOVE PENS - and all other office supply junk.

50) I love Vin Diesel movies

 

Hobs:

51) I can currently say about 33 words

52) My favorite 2 foods are peas and blueberries

53) I was born in the 99th percentile in size, but am now exactly at the 50th percentile

54) My favorite songs are the "Little Einsteins" theme and "The Chiggy-Chiggy"

55) I love to swim

56) I hate haircuts

57) I don't like juice or milk, just water and iced tea

58) I can wink with one eye

59) I love to take naps, but hate going to bed alone at night

60) I love wearing sunglasses

61) I am named after my great grandpa

62) I was born on NFL draft day

63) I weighed 11.2 pounds at birth

64) I hold the hospital record for birth weight

65) I say "hello" when I pick up mom's cell phone

66) I love the beach

67) I love to terrorize the cat, until she hisses at me

68) I have two cabinets in the kitchen that mom gave to me - I empty them often.

69) I love to swing

70) My middle name is the same as my dad's and my poppy's

71) I will say hi to strangers at the grocery store

72) If those strangers don't acknowledge me I will only get louder until they say HI back

73) I blow kisses

74) I am pretty sure that I am left handed

75) My favorite toy is my golf club set (I like to beat mom and dad and the furniture with it).

 

Us:

76) We love living in Allen because of all the friends we have here

77) We love going to the movies and sneaking in as much candy as possible. Most of the candy goes uneaten.

78) We are not morning people, not even close.

79) Before Hobs was born, every Friday night we would get ready for bed, then go to the living room and lay on the couches and watch TV until we fell asleep, where we would stay until morning. We did that every Friday night for a year.

80) We have VERY different political views

81) We are both very sentimental people, which is why neither of us ever throw anything away

82) Our favorite thing to do is watch TV together

83) We love having people over

84) The first Halloween in our new house, we bought hundreds of dollars worth of candy...and had ZERO trick or treaters!

85) We play stupid games on road trips

86) We have been to Jamaica twice - and would love to go back

87) We love VEGAS

88) On our honeymoon we sang the Oak Ridge Boys "Elvira" in a talent show together

89) During that rendition Hollie sang the base and Stephen sang the lead

90) We love to decorate for Christmas and have been known to go a touch Griswold

91) We love Christmas Vacation and can quote the entire movie

92) We both graduated from LCU with a degree in Social Work

93) We both work in schools

94) We love to play games

95) We love to snorkel

96) We love Lobster Fest and Crab Fest at Red Lobster (perhaps WT?)

97) Our first date was to Sonic

98) We have been "together" for almost 9 years

99) Stephen has taught me to appreciate UT Football

100) We believe that we could beat any other couple in a game testing our knowledge of each other. We  are that good, and that competitive.

 

 

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