Weddings, Airplanes and Football, Oh My!

I'm behind. And I'm not one that is supposed to get behind in writing. Maybe it's because no one really reads blogs unless you're famous or maybe it's because I just let time slip by. We need to record memories so here I am. Fall has been a whirlwind time of travel. Not sure you can call it Fall because it's yet to be "cold," but I say once school begins Summer blows away in the hot wind.

We made another trip to Texas at the end of September for a dear friend's wedding. Tami and John were getting married out at their country house and they let us stay in the master bedroom of the city house! My high school pals Emily, Val and JJ all came by on Friday night so we got to catch up. Saturday we met Bryce and Natalie for brunch at a food truck. The wedding was more of a party, so neat. Tami is like a sister to me so it was special to see her getting married for the second time. I went to the first wedding when I was in 6th grade, Chandra and my parents went and Chan sprayed her hair with Raid before the wedding thinking it was bug spray. That's all I really recall. Now, I don't recommend taking my kid to a wedding... I also don't regret it because I knew it was a family thing and he would be just fine. Nick let me socialize while he chased after Walkie all night. He loved to play in the hay. I wanted a family photo, but slowing down just wasn't in the cards for him.

My cousin, Bryce & his wife, Natalie

 I sure am waiting for the professional pictures because this is a sad blurry photo of us. 

Growing up I had an Uncle Ron and an Aunt Marisue, they weren't family by blood, but they were/are family! It was so very special to get to share Walker with them. I stayed with them for a week when I was only a few weeks or months old so to share Walker with them after they knew me at that age is just really neat.  Marisue wanted Walker in the picture, but he was tired at this point and he loves to tug on my ears when he is sleepy.

 Walker did not want to be held still for a picture. There was hay to play in.

 The secret to keeping a child happy is putting them in the bed of a pickup truck. Endless entertainment.

Tami & her son, Ty

Guarding the kegs and Coke.

 The next day before we flew out we got to have breakfast with the happy couple and their family. It was just a really good time. Then, boom, back to Las Vegas.

We got the chance to go to Harvest Festival and see some of our favorites. We took Walkie with us so we didn't get to stay late for Brad Paisley or Luke Bryan, but we got to see Martina McBride, my favorite behind Dolly Parton. It was a neat festival with a lot of interesting people sightings. 

 I just included this picture because he's a thug.

 Walkie running wild at Harvest Festival in his jean shorts.

Did I mention Fall means Football??? Texas Tech is having an okay season because we have an amazing quarterback, but we have lost a few... Oh well, we taught Walker to throw one hand up for "Go Rangers" and two hands for "Touchdown," but he doesn't always follow directions and loves to just throw one hand up for all of them.

 

 

 NeNe made W a really cool glow in the dark shirt for Halloween. Frankie = Walkie.  

So we headed out to West Texas next. My favorite time is Fall in West Texas, just wonderful and calm. We were ready to spend some quality time with Papa Mark and NeNe. Chewy was excited to see us, too! We just hung out and ate too much because when we get food we never have here, we go a little crazy. Yep, no workout could fix what we did to our bodies! Heddy brought over her three girls so we got to spend some time her so that was a lot of fun. I enjoyed sitting and talking with my parents. Brenda was busy working on some neat sewing projects so those were neat to see as well. Walker takes a bit to warm up to men so by the end of the trip he was starting to think Dad was pretty cool. I want them to have a fun relationship and for Dubs to like to watch Dad work with wood in his shop and watch old westerns with him. Dad plays with him and gives him his space so as he grows they will be the best of pals. I hear Brenda lures one of her grandsons, Rex, that just loves Papa Mark, away with candy, so maybe Dad will lure him away from NeNe with chocolate!

I know boys get lots of injuries because they sure are rough. Walker fell flat on the front of his forehead for the first time at the dog park. I tried to catch him with my leg because he always falls and sometimes I catch him, but this time my leg propelled him in the air. So that's why he's got scratches on his head in his first pic of the Fall with jeans on!

  

We made our way to Lubbock to see Texas Tech play West Virginia. We went through Welch to visit Bill and Donna. Welch is one of my favorite places in the world because it is just simple peace. It's in the middle of nowhere and the presence of family is priceless. I think cotton is beautiful so we had to stop on the side of the road to snap a few pictures. I don't care if people wondered if we were crazy. Dad says I should have taken some to grow it in a pot for fun, but I forgot!

 

 We got to Lubbock mid afternoon and Nick and I decided to hit up Chimy's. The magic of Chimy's is something only Red Raiders can understand! We sat at a table by these college kids and I had to roll my eyes a little and how young they seemed and their conversations. Um was that me in 2000? We decided to take a stroll around a bit of campus and show Walker the ropes.

 

We stayed with Nick's roomate from college, Brandon and his wife, Sara. They have two adorable girls.. Kendall and Piper are about 2 and 4 years old. They were so much fun! Walker had a great time playing with them! Piper was very confused as to why Walker doesn't talk in sentences. We took the kids to the parade at campus and they loved the music. Then we went to Orlandos where I worked in college. The owner was there and I got to talk to her and see her daughter! Brandon and Sara live so far out in this land that was not there when I went to college. I always say it, Lubbock is growing like crazy!

Kendall feeding Walkie

The boys went to the game which was early at 11 AM so Sara and I took the kids to the corn maze. Walker had so much fun riding the hayride and the little train. He wasn't really having pictures. He was too busy checking out all of the pumpkins and the hay. Well, Tech lost so the boys came home early and we grilled a bit. We had to get back that night so we could catch an early flight on Sunday so we headed back to Midland. We stopped in Lamesa and got to see Jodi and the boys. Walkie was done at this point and was very tired so he wasn't exactly friendly. I felt so bad, but atleast we got to visit with them.

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In other news, I guess going on in the world we must touch on the Presidential election so when Walker reads this when he is 50 he can remember. I'm pretty far from political, but I also know I need to vote. Lesser of two evils in Clinton and Trump. That's about all I can say publicly without getting attacked. This is the first time a woman really may be our leader and it is also the first time someone without political experience can really be our leader. It's quite interesting and it's actually entertaining. Not sure if politics should be entertaining, but it really is. It is crazy to us this is the President Walker will know. I got Ronald Reagan and I'm pretty proud of that. I just pray Walker's future as well as our future is paved with good intentions from our next leader. The world is a scary place, maybe it always has been. There has always been violence and insanity. I want Walker to walk in the world with love and not be faced with the scary times that we can truly face. Even today at my age I do not know the sort of hardship my grandparents faced and I do not want that for my child or children. So I know our true leader is God even if that sounds cliche and our future will be okay in whomever's hands, I pray. 

Next up is Halloween and then Thanksgiving! Such a fun time of year!