Tyler State Park

My parents went Thursday to Tyler State Park to camp out for a few days. Okay, let me just tell you that your version of camping out and their version of camping out are most likely completely different. First of all, they have a 5th wheel travel trailer that has stairs and a fire place. Yes, it's fake, but it's still a fire place. It's one of those that you just push a button and instantly you have flames and heat. It cracks me up. Then, of course, they have to have satellite TV. My dad bought an extra Dish to take when they go camping. That cracks me up, too. But the thing that makes me laugh the most about my parents style of camping is that when I got there I asked my mom what she had been up to and she said, "Oh, just finished a load of laundry." HAHA! Yes, they have a washer and dryer in a TRAVEL TRAILER!!! I still can't believe they have these things. They could live out of this trailer and be completely happy. I wouldn't be surprised some day if this is what they do because they LOVE camping so much!!!

My parents invited us out a few days ago but I wasn't sure if we would be able to go. Morgan worked until noon and then he was also on call for work. Luckily, it's not the super busy time of the year...YET...SO we really didn't have much to worry about. Tyler is about 2hrs and 15 min away from our house so if he got a call, he would kind of be "screwed" for a lack of a better word. Anyway, I didn't think we should go. I thought it was too chilly and windy. I thought Morgan would agree with me because I didn't think he'd be in the mood for driving that much in one day after just finishing working 6 days in a row. But, he wanted to go so I agreed.

I am so glad we went. We had a wonderful time! Despite us fighting...if that's what you want to call it...on the way down there because Morgan likes to take the back way every where and that drives me crazy. I'd rather just get on central expressway to 20 and be done with it. Nope, we've got to take the scenic route which included MANY stop lights, slow speeds, and construction, ugh! Seriously, we don't fight unless we're in the car. We finally get there and hang out for a while. Then I decided it would be a good idea to take a walk around the lake. That sounds like a pretty short trip, but it's about 2 miles and it was really cold. I had fun, though. It was a nice little work out with a beautiful view!!! We then came back and chilled out with my parents and had dinner. Let me just say, once again, I have the BEST dad on the face of this earth. I ALWAYS crave smores when we're "camping." My dad taste tested the year old smores stash and determined that it was no good. After I insisted that he did not have to go to the store and get smores stuff, he did. He would do anything in the world for me without hesitation! After we had a fresh smores stash to work with, we made smores on the oven burner which is kind of hard because it's easy to burn your marsh mellow which apparently isn't an issue since we all enjoy our marsh mellows as black as possible. After watching Funniest Home Videos we were on our way home...this time 20 to central expressway...haha!

We had such a lovely time "camping" today with my parents. It brought back great memories of when I was a child taking many hikes around the lake. It was just nice to finally have the BEST husband to take that walk with. I'm beginning to realize that the times in life I hesitate about going some where but do eventually go, turn out to be the greatest days!!! Thanks mom and dad for today, we really enjoyed it and look forward to another "camping" day with the two of you. I know Lillie also enjoyed the few days she spent with y'all camping. After all, that was her first home.

Facebook & Myspace

I am beginning to think Facebook and Myspace are an evil part of my life. Here lately, I feel like they are consuming way too much of my time. How do I know? The other day Morgan told me that I should have married the computer. That just made me really sad. Then today I read my friend Cassie's blog and she was suggesting the same thing and that she was giving it up for "lent" even though our religion doesn't do that. I thought that was pretty neat of her to do. This Myspace and Facebook is almost like a sick addiction. What's everyone doing? What's the latest status on everyone? What's everyone's mood? If I go work out, go to Target, go eat with Morgan, I always feel like I have to check both of these sites when I get home. Afraid I am going to miss something. I know I am not the only one that feels this way because some of my friends and I have talked about it. Why is this? For me, I feel like I get to connect with my friends more, especially through Facebook. I'm really starting to enjoy Facebook more than Myspace because more of my friends seem to be on there and plus, it is just easier to talk to people. The only problem is, the relationship that means the absolute most to me in the entire world is starting to suffer. I am only admitting what I am about to say to prove my point and maybe wake up someone else who also has this issue...

Yesterday I worked which means I leave the house at 0540 and get home at 2000. That's a long day and a looong time to be away from Morgan. What did I do when I got home? I ate dinner and then checked my email because my cell phone told me that I had an email from my dad. My dad and I email almost every night and I really enjoy it. That's where it should have stopped, but it didn't. Of course I had to check my Facebook and Myspace. I some how got sucked into Facebook by some of my friends when we all got into a conversation. Who should I have been conversing with? Morgan, the love of my life. Was I? No. He was laying on the couch watching TV and I was sitting in bed. To top it off, my friend Lydia and I were texting on our cell phones...after I had just spent 12 hours at work with her. I ended up going to bed at 2145. I woke up at 0130 and Morgan was still in the living room asleep on the couch with the lights and TV on. No, this is not a typical night for us, but it is a night that really opened my eyes! IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS WAY!!! So, from now on to all my friends that I love talking to and keeping up with through Myspace but mainly Facebook, I am going to stay off of it at night when Morgan comes home. I don't want to ruin our relationship over Myspace and Facebook.

Now that I have typed all of this, I am wondering if there should be a self help group for all of us addicted to Facebook and Myspace. I think these sites are wonderful for bringing old friends together and keeping up with everyone, but there comes a point when it's a problem. I've reached that point and am not afraid to admit it! But I am not just admitting it, I am DOING something about it. Get ready Morgan, you are about to get a whole lot of Laura back in your life...haha!!! You spoil me and treat me like a princess and deserve my attention!!!!! I love you tons, Morgan!!!

Learn About Us!

Now that I have people tell me they actually read this blog and have learned more about Morgan and me through it, I decided to do this fun questionnaire and post it for everyone.

♥ How long have you been together?
We have been married for 9 months and "together" for a total of 2 years and 4 months.

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We went on our first date within 4 days of meeting each other, but "dating" about a week and a half.

♥ Who asked who out?
He asked me out.

♥ How old are each of you?
We are both 31, but I am 6 months older than him.

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most?
We see his brother all the time. At least every week.

♥ Do you have any children together?
No, not yet. Hopefully someday soon.

♥ What about pets?
We have a pug named Lillie Bear who is spoiled rotten!

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Communication! His entire family is bad at communicating so I get frustrated easily with that, but it's getting better.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
No

♥ Are you from the same home town?
No. I am from Fort Worth and he is from Blue Ridge.

♥ Who is the smartest?
Morgan says I am but it really depends on the issue or topic at hand. Morgan is smart, too.

♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Oh, definitely me. Hands down, me!!!

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Well, I love MiCocina but there is also a great local Mexican restaurant in McKinney that we go to a lot and this fish place in Princeton that we really like, too. The good thing with both of these places is that it's always the same people working so we get to know them.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
We went to Jamaica for our honeymoon. We also drove to Colorado one summer. That's where Morgan wants to live someday.

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
Fortunately, neither of us have crazy exes but if I had to say, I would say Morgan.

♥ Who has the worst temper?
Hmmm...good question. I am a perfectionist and if something is not going right, I could get bent out of shape. Morgan also has a temper but he never shows it to me. You get Morgan, his brother, and his dad together working cows and oh my, tempers flying everywhere. It's crazy! They can sit there and yell, scream, curse at each other and the second they are done working cows, it's all good. Laughing and getting along. It's the most bizarre thing I have ever seen.


♥ Who does the cooking?
We both do. I came home from work tonight and Morgan had dinner ready...thank goodness for sweet husbands!!!

♥ Who is more social?
Definitely me!!! I love meeting new people. Morgan will hardly talk if he doesn't know you. Get some alcohol in him and he'll talk to anyone.

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Me!!!!!!!!!! Although, Morgan is neat too. Never have that problem with underwear, socks, shoes laying on the floor. He's so good about picking up after himself. I got lucky when I married him!!!


♥ Who is the more stubborn?
Me!!! He tells me this all of the time. Morgan is so laid back, easy going.

♥ Who hogs the bed?
Definitely Morgan! Even though we have a king size bed, he will still hog it. Although he would probably say I do because I sleep with a body pillow on each side of me. Thanks to my friend Lynn's recommendation, I now sleep with a body pillow between us because he hogs the bed sooooo bad and it has helped. He's still bad though!!!

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
I wake up at 0445 when I work, otherwise it's 0900. Morgan wakes up at 0600 six days a week.

♥ Where was your first date?
Black Eyed Pea...I had a stomach virus and the only thing that sounded good was soup and salad. We then went to a movie.

♥ Who has the bigger family?
We both have big families, but his is probably bigger.

♥ Do you get flowers often?
I used too. Not anymore. Doesn't bother me though. I insisted that he better not get me flowers for Valentine's Day tomorrow because they are too expensive. Actually, the last time he got me flowers was last Valentine's Day. He had them sent to my work because I worked that day. Oh well, I am really not a flower girl.

♥How do you spend the holidays?
We spend time with both of our families.


♥ Who is more jealous?
Neither of us are jealous...it's great!!! I have friends whose husbands drill them if they are going out with their girlfriends or text/call while they are out. Morgan isn't like that at all! He's like, "Have fun, I love you, and I will see you when you get home!" He's so awesome!!!

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
A week and a half. I knew I was going to marry him the second he smiled at me.

.♥ Who does/did the laundry?
Another perk to being married to Morgan, we both do. He's so helpful.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Typing...definitely me!!! As far as if something goes wrong and fixing it? Definitely Morgan!

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Well, driving is practically the only time we fight. If we are in a hurry, me!!! I'd say Morgan drives 60% of the time. He hates the way I drive and he drives okay. He's just too cautious and
it can drive me crazy!!!

Rodeo!!!

My dad, my brother and me when I was 2 1/2 yrs old before the Rodeo.

My Cowboy and Me!

My wonderful parents!

The grand entry...one of my favorite parts!

Love the racing!

Bull riding...makes me nervous!

Morgan and I were lucky enough to get to spend a few days in Fort Worth this week. Morgan always takes a few days off work for the stock show and especially this part of it, the steer show. He just loves it and soaks it all in. He would wake up and get down there about 8 and come home around 8. Since I have met Morgan, I have a completely different view on the Stock Show. Before I met him, I just wondered around, looking at animals, kind of clueless I guess you could say. Now that I am married to Morgan, I get to go where they are preparing to show the cattle, see what they do, and it's actually very interesting. We watch the cattle shows and he explains to me everything that is going on. We also sometimes watch the sale of the animals, which is the part that breaks my heart. Some of the kids get so attached to these animals because they have raised the animal since birth, preparing it for this exact moment. The kids become attached and when some of them are on the auction block with their animal,s they are crying. It's so sad to me. I am weird and also look at it from the animals perspective. I some how think they know what's going on and that they are actually going to miss their owners, which I know is absolutely absurd. Anyway, Morgan explains to me what's going on at the auction. At first when they would say, "Sold, for four and a quarter." I was like, "What! That steer is only worth $4.25?!" Morgan laughs and explains to me that it is $4.25 per pound and that it will actually bring thousands of dollars. That's how clueless I am. I think I really entertain Morgan sometimes with how little I know. I also think he thoroughly enjoys explaining everything to me, too.

We always like to go to the Rodeo and this year we wanted my parents to go with us. I was so happy they decided to go with us. We always have so much fun with them. My favorite part of the Rodeo is the grand entry. Actually, it's ALL my favorite. I started reading down the list of events and I was like, "Oh, I love that event. I love that event, etc." My mom just started laughing at me because I love the rodeo! Who would've thought, right? The funniest part of the night, which I probably shouldn't admit was when I was saying, "Oh, I want cotton candy. Oh, I want a snow cone." I turned to my mom and said, "I guess I regress to a 2 yr old when I am at the rodeo." My mom's response to that was, "Well as long as you don't turn to me and say 'mommy, i just wet my pants,' like you did when you were 2 yrs old." I busted out laughing. My parents love to tell this story. Apparently, when I was 2 1/2 my parents took my brother and me to the rodeo. They dressed us up in matching button up shirts, wranglers, and boots. I guess I was only semi potty trained because right when the grand entry started, I decided it was time to also pee in my pants. Thankfully, my parents had brought a change of clothes in the car and so my dad took me out and changed me. My parents used to always take us to the rodeo every year and I have always loved it. The picture of my dad, my brother, and me is one of my favorites! It's been many years since I had the chance to go with my parents to the rodeo and I was so happy I had the opportunity this year. Maybe we can start making it a yearly thing again like it was when I was younger. Hopefully, some day Morgan and I will have our own little ones to take to the rodeo and I swear if one of them turns to me and says, "Mommy, I think I just wet my pants," we will all bust out laughing!!!

Sugar Cookies & The Wii!!!

A couple of weeks ago on a Monday, the day before it turned icy, I got together with these two fantabulous girls...Leslie and Veronica. I love these girls and we always have so much fun. Leslie used to make these awesome sugar cookies with this yummy icing and bring them to work. We would eat them so fast and we all insisted they were the best sugar cookies we have ever had. So, Veronica and I insisted that we were going to come over and learn how she does them and learn what her secret ingredients are.

So, first we went to lunch at this really good Mexican food restaurant. I think the three of us could eat Mexican food every day if we had to, that's how much we love it. We always talk about our jobs and I am always amazed at their stories. They take care of some seriously ill children that have a lot of issues and I can't help but think how great it is to know these two girls that have this wonderful ability to do this every day they go to work. There is no way I could go to work every day knowing that I was going to be taking care of some pretty sick kids that also sometimes have some really bad home lives. It would be too hard for me. But, they do it and seem to love it. Both of these girls are really smart and I always feel better after spending a day with them.

After lunch, we came back to Leslie's place and it was time to make sugar cookies. It was so much fun. The cookies have "cream of tartar powder" and Veronica and I looked at each other and busted out laughing when we thought it mean "tartar sauce." Ick! Could you imagine? The hardest part is rolling the cookie dough out because you have to get it a certain thickness. I can tell that when Leslie and Veronica have children, they will be spectacular mothers! I, on the other hand, will have to keep practicing with the dough thing because I am not that good at it. We made all different shapes from flowers to hearts. I think we might have eaten more cookie dough than we cooked because it was so yummy! We then decorated them and that was lots of fun. The icing was really good, too. Making these cookies is definitely a team effort because it's time consuming, but really fun when you are in great company.

After we made and decorated the sugar cookies, it was time to play the Wii. I think the most fun was designing myself and what I looked like. I gave myself these really huge lips because that's what I would change about myself if I could. I don't have any lips and that's what I always notice on everyone else. After we designed ourselves, it was time to play. We played a couple of games but the most fun was bowling. I was probably the worse, which isn't too far off from reality, then Leslie, and then Veronica was the best. She kept getting strikes and Leslie and I were like, "What the heck?!" We didn't realize we were in the presence of a CHEATER! haha! Veronica had this little trick she knew to get strikes and she finally spilled her secret. After that, we were all making strikes. It was so much fun.

This was a great day for me spending time with these two girls. It was a cold, rainy day outside and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it. It was so cozy in Leslie's place, making sugar cookies, and playing the Wii. It was definitely a perfect day!!!

God, Sully, and the Hudson River

I think this picture is truly amazing and just reminds me so much that even though we can't see God, He is always there for us! I know a lot of bad things happen in this world and we don't understand why, but God does work miracles. I think God had the best pilot that day, Sully, flying the plane and a man that was able to stay amazingly calm in a terrifying situation. Yes, pilots train for this kind of thing but training and actually handling a real life situation are two completely different things. What an amazing man Sully is and with the best co-pilot anyone could have, God, the plane landed safely on the Hudson River and everyone survived. After hearing this story, how could anyone doubt that God does exist?! I would much rather believe than not believe.