Cody's Fire Academy Graduation

Gregg and I went to Lubbock on January 16 for his brother-in-laws graduation from the Wolfforth Fire Academy. Cody has been working so hard for this over the last 6 months, attending class every weeknight from 6pm - 10pm and Saturday from 8am - 5pm on top of working full time! He passed his state test also and is now a Certified Firefighter for the State of Texas! We are so proud of Cody and happy for him and Misti that this is finally over!!!

Fire Academy Class 8 being presented
Chris (head Instructor) welcoming everyone to the ceremony

Dr. Addington (Chief of the Wolfforth Fire Academy) addressing the class

Cody being recognized as one of 4 guys that had perfect attendance through the academy

at dinner after the ceremony

Cody's cute firetruck cake

After dinner we decided to go to Main Event and go bowling/ play games! We bowled for about an hour and then the kids all went to play laser tag while we all watched and talked. It was so much fun to have Cody's 2 sisters and brother there along with their kids plus us, Misti, Cody, and Wendi all there together!

Firefighter Cody bowling

me celebrating bowling a strike

Welcome to the world Carson Wayne James!

Carson Wayne James made his grand entrance into the world on December 30, 2009 weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 20.5 inches. We made it to the hospital shortly after he was born and got to celebrate his arrival with Mom (my cousin Mikka), Dad (Christopher) and a super excited Big Sister, Jadyn Blair (5 years old)!

Jadyn kept telling us that she was going to hold him FOREVER!

Precious boy with RED hair!!!

Girl's Diner

Brynn, Staci, Kelly, baby Carlee, me, Susan and Courtney

My girlfriends from junior high and I get together monthly to celebrate birthdays and our friendship and in December Kelly came to town from Washington DC and we got to celebrate her special day! It is always so much fun to get together with these girls but was especially exciting this time since Kelly was here and we got to see her and also (real briefly) her husband Walt and precious little girl Margaux. We enjoyed good food (Nick and Sam’s Grill in Dallas), a few laughs and lots of great conversation!!!

2009 Irving Firefighter's Ball

Last night was the Irving Firefighters' Ball at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. The Ball is held annually to recognize the members of the Irving Fire Department and benefits the Irving Fire Foundation which provides scholarships to the children of Irving firefighters.

We rented a room at the NYLO Las Colinas Hotel and checked in yesterday afternoon to get ready (after I went and got a manicure and pedicure!) The hotel was very modern and trendy and not like anywhere that we have ever stayed before. The floors, walls and ceiling of the room were all concrete and everything was very straight lines and minimalistic.

NYLO Las Colinas

Egg Chairs hanging around the hotel (not comfortable at all!)
hallway

our room

the light switch

(Green lighting system that required the room key in order for lights and AC to work)

our trendy hotel room
lighting in our room

plexi glass bedside tables

tiny bathroom

artwork in our room

After getting ready, we met up with our friends Nick and Christy and headed to the Frontiers of Flight Museum for the ball to begin! From 5pm - 7pm, there was a cocktail hour and silent auction. We tried to win a couple of hotel packages and enjoyed walking around and mingling with everyone there. The museum was decorated beautifully in a red, white and blue 1940's USO theme!

the red carpet
tables inside Frontiers of Flight Museum

me and my favorite Fireman

Nick and Christy Miller

our table

The dinner and show began at 7pm. This year Michael Israel was invited to perform and paint. He painted 7 incredible pictures that were all then sold during the live auction. It was so much fun to watch Michael perform and experience his show- he is truly amazing! He painted John Lennon, The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, the Statue of Liberty, the lone soldier, and a special IFD version of his famous painting "Hero".

poster advertising Michael Israel's performance

Here are a few pictures of Michael finishing "Hero".

completed picture

The last thing that was painted on this picture was the IFD, making this picture so special to all in attendance! The picture was sold to one of the event sponsors for over $15,000 and then donated back to Irving Fire Department.

There were quite a few other things sold during the live auction including a trip for 6 to the Bahama's. Our table had joked early in the evening about buying the trip but didn't really have any plans to make the purchase. However, when the auction started we all got a little excited and decided to try to win the trip! We got out bid once but ended up winning the trip to Tahiti Hai in the Bahama's!!!

trip package that our table bought during live auction

We have 24 months to take this trip but are already looking at airfare and planning it for June of next year! (And Gregg has already been researching the area all night long planning out our entertainment for the week that we are there!!!)

the house we will be staying in!

view from rooftop balcony

and the beach!!!

After the live auction, all of the sponsors of the evening were recognized and Herb and Christina Gears (the Mayor and his wife) were honored for their support of the fire department and for their dedication to the Ball. Chief Molina thanked all of the Fireman for their service to the community every day and read a thank you letter from the daughter of a man that was saved recently. And then awards were presented to 29 Fireman for their exceptional service this past year and scholarships were awarded to 10 firefighters' children.

Once the Ball was over we went back to the NYLO for an after party honoring the Firemen and their Wives/ Girlfriends! The party was held at The Loft Restaurant and Lounge. It was nice to have a chance to relax and catch up with other firefighters that aren't on Gregg's shift. There was even a "butt sketch" artist at the party to draw pictures of everyone's backside!

We had a wonderful evening and enjoyed another incredible Irving Firefighters' Ball! I love being a Firefighters' wife and having this opportunity to recognize and honor not only Gregg and the members of the Irving Fire Department but all Fireman that selflessly give of themselves each and every day.

All men are not created equal. Only the greatest become Fireman!

Catching Up

So, I have been a bad blogger lately! Gregg has been really busy with work, mowing, and the Fire Officer class that he is taking right now and I have taken a computer hiatus while at home. We have also been trying to spend more time together as a couple away from the TV and computer!!!

Yesterday, my friend Susan and her precious baby come over to watch the Tech vs Nebraska game with us! We had so much fun together and I LOVED playing with Miss Carlee! She was the perfect little Texas Tech fan and even got her Guns Up!!!

Game Day Cookies!

Carlee giving a Guns Up!

More pictures of Carlee because she is just the cutest little thing!

Next Friday is the Irving Firefighters' Ball at the Frontier of Flights Museum in Dallas. We are very excited about this years ball and getting to see Michael Israel perform and paint live! Gregg had his Driver stripes and buttons put on his uniform last week and I have a beautiful new dress to wear!!! Can't wait to get all dressed up and spend the evening with all our friends helping raise money for the Irving Fire Foundation!

Weekend in Lubbock

We went to Lubbock the first weekend in October to celebrate and surprise Gregg's parents for their 60th Birthday! Gregg planned the weekend with his sisters and everyone managed to keep it a secret from the guests of honor which was a MAJOR fete!!!

We flew to Lubbock Friday afternoon and my Mom picked us up from the airport. We went to Red Raider Outfitters (I wanted a new Tech shirt) and then went to pick Bailey up from school and went to my parents house. Friday night we went out to Tech to the tailgate area for a shrimp boil with my family and some of Seth's friends.

Boiling the shrimp

YUMMY!!!

Mom trying to stay warm

Saturday morning Gregg and I ran some errands before going back out to tailgate at Tech. We had more fantastic food and got to watch the first half of the Tech vs. New Mexico football game!

Seth and Allison

Bailey and Allison

We left the tailgate during halftime to get ready for the surprise dinner party! The plan was for the family to all meet up at Gregg's sister Misti's house and then we would go to Ruby Tequilla's and meet up with more unexpected friends and family. Gregg and I hid in the back room once his parents arrived and then walked out right before they were going to open their presents. We totally caught his parents off guard and really surprised them by being in town! His Mom was so happy to have her son home.

Gregg surprising his Mom

Gregg and his Dad

The birthday presents for Gregg's parents from all the kids

We met up with Beverly's sister and her family along with Ronald's best friend/ college roommate and his wife at Ruby Tequilla's for dinner. We enjoyed fantastic Mexican food, great cake (made by Misti), and wonderful fellowship during dinner!

Dinner at Ruby Tequilla's

Gregg and I at dinner

Birthday cake!!!

After dinner we went back to Gregg's parents and spent the night. On Sunday all of Gregg's family and all of my family met for lunch at a new hamburger place in Lubbock called "5 Guys Burger and Fries". It was so much fun to have both families together! We truly are blessed to have such wonderful and supportive families that live so closely together!!!