Virtual Tour of our House in Illinois that is For Sale

Earlier this month we were finally able to get our house in Illinois on the market, which was a huge relief. We had the house painted and the carpet and also had carpet installed in the rooms we finished in the basement. I wish we would have done that when we lived there, it would have been much nicer than the rugs. I was able to take the virtual tour of the house today with the new paint and carpet and it looks great! I really wish that things would have worked out better with ConocoPhillips and I could have had career advancement and just stayed there. We really liked the house and it would have been perfect for us once we got the basement totally finished. Alas, none of that matters now. We will be staying in Houston. You can go to a virtual tour of out Illinois house by clicking here.

If you know of someone looking for a house in the Collinsville area, I know of a great one in a great neighborhood surrounded by great neighbors that we will miss terribly that is for sale. This is depressing me.

Ryan's 4th Birthday Party at Build-A-Bear

The day after we had Brett's birthday party at Bounce U, we had Ryan's birthday party at Build-a-Bear. That is the curse of having two kids with birthdays in December. When in December is there time for birthday parties? Therefore, after Christmas we try to come-up with something. I totally understand why I had very few (only 1 I can remember) birthday parties as a kid. It is tough to pull these things off. Lori does a great job making it happen.

The party is just starting as the kids get ready to play.

The kids are focused as they anticipate what is coming next.

Brett and Jared have picked out what they want. Jared is getting a monkey and Brett is getting a Husky. So much for building a bear.

Jack showing Ryan what he selected. I am not sure what it was, but I think it was a frog or turtle. Ryan selected a Polar Bear.

Now for a quick game of duck, duck, goose before stuffing your bear, frog, Shrek, monkey or dog, whatever the case may be.

As the birthday boy, Ryan gets to go first. He was not exactly sure what he needed to do.

Now, it is time to put a heart in your bear and one from each guest for Ryan's bear.

Jared signing the guest bear so Ryan will remember who was at his party.

After stuffing his bear, Ryan is now giving it a bath.

Jack and Sam are cleaning-up Shrek and the frog.

Jack is focused on making sure his frog/turtle is clean.

Cati (or My Cati, as Ryan refers to her) cleaning-up her bear.

Jared scrubbing his monkey.

The whole group with their new best friends.

The whole group making funny faces with their new best friends.

Ryan opening his gifts.

Ryan showing us what he received.

Jared got some glasses for his monkey so they would match.

After the party at Build-a-Bear, whose who could came to our house for some lunch and cake and ice cream. Bret is lighting the candles while Ryan looks on in awe.

Ryan blowing out his candles. It was a very fun party and he was really glad his friends could make it.

Hope for Change

I have a link to a blog that I check regularly that I think is really funny called IMAO. While I do not always agree with all opinions stated there, I read a spoof editorial by Obama that is soooo funny that I wanted to share it with both people that check my blog. Click here to go to the site. I thought it was really funny and worth mentioning.

As you read about Obama (or is it Osama, I have a hard time telling the difference) and change, think about what Demotivators has to say about change....

Brett's 10th Birthday Party at Bounce U

The Friday after we got home from our trip to Brownsville, Matamoros & South Padre Island, we had Brett's 10th birthday party at Bounce U. Bounce U is a great place with blow-up toys where the kids can run around and have a blast. Brett invited a bunch of friends from his football team and school and they had a great time. Lori and I had a great time as well because we did not have a bunch of screaming 9-10 year olds running around our house screaming.

This is Brett showing the backward technique of going down the slide.

Brett demonstrating the sideways technique.

And finally the wipe-out at the bottom of the slide.

Ryan going down the slide.

Jared going at high speeds down the slide.

Ryan climbing over the wall of the obstacle course.

Ryan making it over the top.

Brett demonstrating the wipe-out backwards technique on the slide.

Lori and Angela, one of our friends from football, trying out the slide.

Ryan and Brett at the bottom of the slide.

Angela taking the slide alone this time.

Lori speeding down the slide.

After all the sliding, all the kids had some pizza, cake and drinks. It was great because we did not have to clean-up the mess.

The kids having pizza.

Brett's friends.

Brett taking his seat on the birthday chair.

Here comes the cake and candles!

Brett with his friends after opening all the gifts.

Ryan, Jared and Brett fighting over the birthday chair.

Ryan taking a turn on the birthday chair.

Jared taking his turn on the birthday chair.

South Padre Island/Port Isabel

On January 1st, we had planned to go ride horses on the beach. Unfortunately, the weather had changed dramatically from the night before and it was extremely windy. They canceled all the rides that day due to the wind and blowing sand. We decided to check out the beach and see for ourselves how bad it was.

This is Jared running on the beach in the wind. The kids did not last long because it was tough to keep the sand out of their eyes. It did not take long before Ryan decided he was not interested in getting sand in his eyes.

This is me with the kids on the beach trying to keep the sand out of our eyes. You can see how rough the ocean was from the wind. The kids would have liked to try and boogie board on those waves, but it was too cold and windy to go in the water.

The horse ride on the beach was out, so we decided to go with Plan B. We went to the Lighthouse at Port Isabel. This is Lori and the kids at the top of the lighthouse.
This is looking out from the Port Isabel Lighthouse toward South Padre Island.

It was very windy at the top of the lighthouse where we could go out and look. The wind was so strong it took our breath away. In this picture Ryan is climbing down and the wind is blowing through the lighthouse. You can see his hair blowing.

Brett, Jared and Ryan, the Three Amigos, in the Port Isabel Lighthouse.

Brett, Ryan, Jared and Lori outside the Port Isabel Lighthouse.

Arr, matey. Having lunch at The Pirate's Landing restaurant.

Brett, the one eyed pirate, who doesn't do anything. He is scary!