i'll take you for a ride on MY big RED tractor!

After 9 loooonnnnnggggg months, we are finally the owners of this 1981(ish) 5088 International tractor!! I have been waiting to blog about this since the beginning of March! Then it was like pulling teeth to get Matt to move it so we could take this picture with OUR tractor. I am so proud of us!

This picture is a bit deceiving! Matt was doing a cartwheel and I was kicking my leg up(whoo hoo), and it JUST looks like I'm kicking his tushy!

We wanted to get a picture of both of us doing a cartwheel, but figured that would not end up the way we wanted it to, so I'm up against the tire and he's doing a cartwheel! (I was laughing at this point, and very shortly after this, I landed on my HEAD!)

Then we changed positions! We both need to work on keeping our legs straight when doing a cartwheel, or neither one of us is looking at a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics!

Gramps heard us outside laughing, and drove over to check out all the commotion, and he snapped the last two picture. And the good tractor salesman that he is, he told Matt to come over to the shop tomorrow, he has a new tractor to show him! I said, "NO NO NO!"

I was going to try to put this post to a song, but I'm not computer savvy enough, or patient enough to do this. Next time you hear the song "International Harvester" by Craig Morgan, you can think of us! All the other tractor songs are about the green kind! Here's a bit of the song for you!

I'm the son of a 3rd generation farmer

been married 10 years to the farmers daughter

I'm a God fearin', hard workin' combine driver

hoggin' up the road with my p-p-plower

Chug-a lug-a-luggin 5 mph

on my INTERNATIONAL harvester

P.S. I think that is one sexy tractor!

P.S.S. One step closer to "living like no one else!"

The Big 2-8

This past Monday was my 28th birthday. Thanks to Facebook, I had lots of birthday wishes. It was really an uneventful birthday. Matt and I went and ate at the Cistern, and then I went to a church council meeting. Whoo hoo! I really didn't have anything that I wanted for my birthday, but I had something that I really needed. I didn't take a picture of it, but it's a new toilet seat. Now you might not understand why I needed a new toilet seat. Let me explain. When we bought our love bungalow, Matt picked the long toilet seat. It didn't have a lid to close. It has really bothered me since we moved in and now that we have 2 of 3 little nieces that are running around, I thought it might be a necessity. Yea for my birthday!

Welcome Whitney Idell Thoms

This is Uncle Matt with his new baby girl! We were able to make it up to San Antonio last night to visit Meredith, Wayne, and Whitney. She is just beautiful and so tiny. She weighed 6 lbs and 10 oz. and is 19 inches long. She slept the entire time we were there. She didn't make a peep. Tonight I saw pictures of Mattie with Whitney. They were so cute. I can't wait to get up to New Braunfels to see her again.

We are so thankful to have another healthy baby to love and spoil! Thank you Meredith and Wayne for making us Aunt SaSa and Uncle Matthew again.

Wonder World

The Thoms
Us
For our first year anniversary, we wanted to get away from delightful Beeville. We took a short drive up to New Braunfels and spent the weekend with the Thoms. We tried to go to Aquarena Springs in San Marcos for a glass bottom boat, but they closed early that day. We decided since we were in San Marcos, and none of us had been there before, we would go to Wonder World. I had driven by the signs a million times, but had no idea what it was. We got out of the car and walked into the building. There was a little train ride, and we all decided that Mattie would enjoy that, so we each paid our $8 +tax for the little adventure. Trust me, little adventure it was. I've been to lazy to download the pictures, but there were a few types of deer, turkey, goats, fainting goats, emus (maybe they were ostriches), llamas, peacocks and that's about all. The ride was all of 5 minutes, and that is because we stopped for 3 minutes to feed the animals. We walked out of there and couldn't believe what we had just paid for. Mattie enjoyed it though and wanted to go for another ride to feed the animals, so for her it was worth it. We did get a few pictures (that I have stolen from Meredith's website...too lazy remember.) They were good for a laugh!

Yes, I do realize that I am about a month and half behind posting this, but the moral of the story is next time you are driving through San Marcos, take it from me, don't stop at Wonder World, if you do, you will WONDER why you did!! (Aquarena Springs looked really cool though, but there is no longer a swimming pig show!)

Grand Champion Lamb

2009 GRAND CHAMPION LAMB STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

---CUATRO SCHAUER---

Buck

This is a picture of our little pet "Buck." Buck would walk through the front and around the house when he was a little guy. You could walk outside in the mornings and see where he had been the night before by his little buck footprints in the morning dew on the grass.

Buck taught himself to eat out of the self feeder. One day I was throwing trash in the barrel, and Buck walked right up to me and startled me a little. Sneaking lil' guy. He would watch us drive up and down the road. He would just stand there and look at us. Well, as Buck got a little older, I guess he decided that it was time for him to seek protection in the brush. He went to the "home place" where he would be safe. Matt would drive over there to see if he could find him. Well last night...

Matt found him. Ole Buck was not hiding very well. Buck saw his last sunrise. He ate his last kernel of corn. He met Matt's bullet. Buck will live on forever...on our wall.

Congratulations Gramps! Make sure you have room on your office wall. Our pet will be "hanging" out with you there soon enough!

Can't Buy Me Love

This picture made me laugh and think of the 1980's movie, Can't Buy Me Love. (The other side has a flat back tire and the top picture is Matt trying to get it turned back on!) This is our new "ride." Thomas and Regan Carriger had this extra mower at their house and called Matt and he agreed to take it. It was in our budget...it was a gift! A few weeks ago Matt's back was hurting, and I told him if he had a "normal" mower, I would help him mow (he has one of those zero turn mowers). I didn't really mean it, I was just trying to make feel better! He told me he is going to paint it pink and write "Casandra" in glitter paint, and it is all mine! He said I could help mow the yard next time. We will see about that.

Hope it made you laugh as much as it made me!

I have a few back posts that I need to get around to doing, and I will get to them. I've been a bad, bad, boring blogger!

It's been a Year!

Today is our 1 year anniversary! What are we going to do? This past weekend we went up to New Braunfels and spent the weekend with Meredith, Wayne, and Mattie. We didn't do much, just hung out around their house most of the time! Matt goes on call tonight, so I'm sure we will sit in the casita and watch tv! What are we going to get each other? You know how exciting we are. While we were in New Braunfels, we bought 2 vacuum cleaners. Well one small vacuum cleaner and one of those Shark floor steamers. (We had a HUGE vacuum and that was a bit much for the love bungalow!) Yes, our floors have been cleaned in the year that we have lived in the house!

On to year number 2! (Matt is soooo lucky!!)

Mutton Bustin'

Is Addison getting prepared for the rodeo? They sat her on this goat's back and they said she grabbed onto the chain and was ready to go. How old do you have to be to ride in the rodeo? Surely more than 8 months old right?

Addison 6 month pictures

If you would like to Addison's 6 month pictures please go to:

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=39284

and click on Addison. There are some super cute pictures!

Happy Birthday Amber!

Today is my baby sister's 24th birthday. Unfortunately, she is charge of Runge graduation tonight. Last night we went and had a quick supper in Three Rivers. Brady, Lauren, Jenna, Nancy, and Richard Lee also met us there. Amber and I shared a yummy piece of chocolate pie. UM UM UM...it was GOOD. It was nice that they were out of the hospital and Addison is doing so good that she could get out and have a birthday dinner. I think it is turning out to be a much better day than what she was expecting!

What We Wouldn't do for this Girl??

Last night was our last Financial Peace University class. And we missed it. For the first time in my life I was going to have perfect attendance in a class, and this cute little face messed it all up!
Matt goes on call today, so he wanted to see her. Can you blame him? They aren't supposed to go much for the next 6 weeks, and Matt won't be able to leave to see her until next Wednesday. The good thing is that we can call Mr. Bell and borrow the DVD to watch.

Talked to Amber a bit ago and Addison is doing well today. She wants to be held all the time and she won't take her pacifier out of her mouth. Can you blame her for not wanting to be put down? She has gotten less friendly with strangers, but strangers are the ones that have been poking her the past few days. Amber also said that it might be time to take the pacifier away after this. They bought her the coolest thing to sleep in. Its called a nap nanny. Amber and I had to sit our big butts in it to try it out! Its comfy! Too bad we are about 3 feet too long for it! She slept in it for a while last night Amber said. Keep praying for her to continue recovering like she has been!

Addison is Headed Home

I talked to Amber about a hour ago and they are being released from the hospital today. Addison has been there since Friday at 5:30am. She will have stayed in the hospital for less than 5 1/2 days. Now she has 6 weeks of recovery to be back to herself. How wonderful is that? Do you know how many people have prayed for this little baby girl? Isn't wonderful how prayer works? And no kidding, Addison is my little hero!!

God has Blessed Us!

Yesterday God answered all of our prayers. Thank you, each and every one of you, for praying for Addison. Her surgery went very, very well. She was in surgery for about 2 hours. It was a long 2 hours for all of us. The doctors were very happy with what they saw when they opened up. Things were not as bad as they could have been. They didn't have to fix as many things as they were thinking. When she came out, she didn't have a breathing tube down her throat, which was a great sign. Seeing her being wheeled by was a great feeling. Yesterday afternoon, about 4, she was sleeping. The nurses walked back in and the girl was up on her hands and knees!! They had to keep her knocked out cause she was trying to move too much. Today they have removed about half of the things were connected to her body. Best case scenario, the little Rouse family could be home on Monday or Tuesday. Please keep praying. They are not going unheard!!

Pizza Crust
Get off the road!!

Cantaloupe

Big Smiles!

Little Fish!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day that I have been dreading for the past 6 months. Addison is having her surgery. It is so sad to think about. She is so little. Her heart is so little. I can't even imagine how Amber and Walon are feeling. They have been so strong. Me...I don't cry. Really...I hate it. But just thinking about this make me cry over and over. I try not to in front of Amber and Walon. Its getting harder and harder though. Last night we were at their house and Amber caught me a few times. I know everything will be ok, I just don't want to think of all that she is going to have to go through.

Please say a prayer for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. Pray for Amber and Walon. Pray for all of the families involved. There can't be too many prayers for Addison.

Happy Anniversary!!

Last Friday, the 15, Matt's Mom and Dad were married 33 years!

My Mom and Dad have been married 28 years today!!

Of course these were taken on my wedding day less than a year ago!! Boy, how the families are already are changing! Amber lost her baby bump and now we have Addison, and Meredith is going to have a baby bump soon and we will have Baby Thoms in November!!

My Sweetheart

Matt and I have a small allowance of "blow" money each month. Dave says to give yourself some because you are probably going to blow some anyways. Well the other day I went into Wicker Basket and saw the cutest lamps ever. I went home and told Matt that I needed his blow money totally joking thinking he would say no. He asked what for and I told him there were some lamps that I liked. I said they are $155 so its going to take both of our blow money for the 2 months that we have been doing envelopes. He said OK. That was a surprise. What a nice boy!! Then Amber told me that each lamp was $155. Deal didn't sound so good to me anymore. Besides we don't have that much blow money! So the super cute lamps are still at Wicker Basket :(

He is so much better than the Matt that I dream about!!

Addison's First Swim

Yesterday Addison told Amber that she was hot and wanted to go swimming in Beeville, so that's what they did! This was Addison's first swim. She seems to be enjoying it in the picture. Matt and I went over to swim with them too, but by the time we got there Addison was out. She was starting to get cold. Such a cutie!

The Matt in my dreams...

is a no good cheatin' butthead! Every single dream I have had about Matt, he is cheatin'. This past weekend I had a dream that he was having dinner with MY mom, MY dad, and some other girl. The 4 of them were just sitting there having a good ole time. I walked in and saw this. I had the other girl in a corner with a beer bottle in one hand and my finger in her face and spit was flying out of my mouth all over her face and I was preaching to her about the vows we took!! She was crying and I kept on yelling. I woke up then, so I don't know how it ended!

This isn't the first dream I've had about Matt that had the same theme. I just hope he never tries anything like this. That poor girl wouldn't know what happened to her. I'm getting lots of practice in my dreams!

Every time I've had one of these dreams, Matt tells me I'm so weird. I have problems. And on and on. Well this morning Matt woke up to one of those dreams! He was just as mad as I am when I wake up from one of these stupid dreams. Now he knows how it feels!!

Southern Living At Home

As I said a few posts ago, I have become a Southern Living at Home consultant. I have booked one party in May. I am a little nervous. I haven't gotten up in front of a group of people in 5 years to speak. Has it really been 5 years since I graduated from TLU?? Wow time has flown.

Anyways here is the link to look at the magazine online.
http://mag1.olivesoftware.com/ActiveMagazine/welcome/STLM/SouthernLivingatHome.asp

If someone is interested in hosting a party let me know. I can do a magazine party or an in-home party. Page 3 has what the hostess rewards are. If you happen to be in the Mathesonville area, stop by and I will get Matt to pull out my 2 huge boxes of starter kit stuff. He will LOVE that!!

My Sacrifice

As you know we have been following Dave Ramsey's words of wisdom. We have been making small sacrifices here and there. Matt drinks Diet Dr B. from HEB. This saves us about $2.10 a 12-pack. He's tried the ones from Wal-Mart and doesn't like them. The other day we went to Wal-Mart and the Diet Dr Peppers were $4.48 and he was like "WHOA!" He settled for Diet Cherry 7up at $3.98. Its small cuts, but we are trying. Back to my big, huge sacrifice...I dyed my hair back to dark, boring, blah, not exciting brown:( I look so different to me! I spent a lot of money on it, so for now I am sacrificing! I've tried going back to me before and it didn't last long, but this time I have a goal and hopefully I stick to it!

Addison's Surgery

Today Amber and Walon took Addison to her cardiologist and they set a date for surgery. We thought that she was going to be able to wait until June to have the surgery, but there is more restriction beginning to happen so they have it set for May 28th.

Please, Please pray for Addison, Amber and Walon and the rest of the family. It is going to be very, very hard on all of us.

She gets it from her Mama

Addison has started eating baby food. These are a few pictures of her during and after her meal! Believe it or not she is a clean eater compared to her Mama. Amber used to wear more spaghetti than she would get in her tummy. If I had or if I do find a picture of Amber I will scan it and put it up. And yes I had Amber's permission to put that story about her!

Also last night Matt and I went to Karnes City to see them before Matt goes on call tomorrow. Addison said "Mama" clear as day. I am not kidding. It's her first word. My mom said she heard her say it the other day.

Also as much as it pains me to say it, Addison looks like Cuatro right now. My parents have a picture of Amber, Cuatro, and me when Cuatro was about 7 or 8 months old. They look A LOT alike, except Addison's head is smaller! Walon hates hearing it, but I don't think Addison looks anything like him!

Brittney Schubert

Matt and I were asked to be Godparents for Brittney Schubert, daughter of Brian and Tammy. She was baptized on Easter Sunday at Faith Lutheran in Beeville. She was born in January. The top is a picture of her at the hospital and the bottom is on her big day (obviously!!) We were very honored to be asked to be Godparents. Brian and Matt have be friends for a long time. They go all the way back to their S-T ISD days. They look funny together cause Brian kinda towers over Matt. He-He! Tammy and I met about 2 years ago I guess. Brittney is a cutie! We can't wait to watch her grow up and to watch her grow as a Christian.

Because it Friday and I don't feel like working!

Let's see...I haven't written about my FPU in a few weeks. My sister can't believe that I blog about this. She said it was boring! I said I don't have much of a life besides Dave Ramsey. FPU...Tues. 31st Matt and I both attended class. This class was about how to deal with debt collectors. This isn't something Matt and I have to deal with but it was still very interesting. On the 7th I went to class alone and I loved it. It was about Marketing and since this was 1/2 my specification in college I found it so interesting. The video showed how companies do things to make you want to buy their product or remember the product. For instance this slogan has been around since the 1950s...Melts in your mouth....not in your hands. There probably are very few people who can't finish the second half of the slogan or who doesn't know what candy they are talking about (M&Ms). That's great marketing.

Some other big news that was announced on April 1st, no April Foolin', Matt and I are going to be an aunt and uncle again. Meredith and Wayne are going to have another little one! Whoo Hoo to being an Aunt again! Very exciting. Thanks Meredith and Wayne. Mattie is going to be a great big sister...and little helper! Oh and the baby is due early-ish November.

I have also finally finished with the whole name changing thing. SS Card, Drivers License, Checking Accounts. That's a big pain in the butt. Glad its over and I only have to do it once! (If Matt's lucky)

Speaking of Matt...funny story...last night we went to Wal-Mart. He wanted to buy some cereal. He takes like 3 steps down the isle and saw Frosted Rice Crispies. He get the cheesiest, most excited look on his face. Cracked me up and I made fun of him the rest of the night and all day today! I had never even heard of this cereal and he was so excited! He said it was yummy when I asked him about it this morning.

Something else that is new is that I have become a Southern Living at Home Consultant. Yesterday I got my starter kit and got some really cool things. I just don't know how to get started. I don't want to ask people "Hey will you have a party?" I'll have to think on this. Just thought it would be another way to make some money.

I am excited about Easter this weekend. Although I'm still not sure how the time is going to be split between the families. Good thing they are only 20 mins apart!

Well that's about all I got for now...and works almost over!

Addison's Baptism as Promised

Aunts and Uncles minus Matt

Rouse's

Schauer's minus Tio Teo (Uncle Matt). He was sick and left right after she was baptized.

Pastor and Addison

Part of the Godparents

Addison slept through the whole thing, not one sound...not even when the cold water hit her head!

The Pastor invited little kids up to the front and they were crawling around...they were jumping over the communion rail and running around...thats the look on my face!

Amber Walon and Addison

Addison was baptized on March 15, 2009 at Faith Lutheran Church here in Beeville. Her Godparents are: Jill and Weston Rouse, Cuatro, and me and Matt. She was a perfect little angel the whole time, well up until it was picture time and she was getting hungry. Hopefully we got some good pics that day though. Afterwards we had a fiesta with fajitas and fixins.

(Once again they are posted in the wrong order)

Mattie Time

Houston and Mattie meet for the first time!

Mattie kept lifting up her shirt for the puppies to tickle her tummy!

Mattie holding Maggie, Gramps holding Houston and Mattie


Mattie kept saying "Hold you"

You might be a Country Bumpkin...

If you use a feed trough as a slide...

and enjoy it!!

This was also the weekend that Mattie and the Matheson's attended church with us. Addison and Brittney Schubert (Brian and Tammy Schubert's baby) were also at the church. Mattie kept wanting to hold the babies and hug the babies. We did let Mattie sit in a pew and hold Addison and I will post that picture, but it is on my mom's camera. We had lots and lots of fun with Mattie and can't wait until she comes down and sees us again...

No more credit cards

Last night I called and cancelled all of my credit cards. Well, all except one. We decided that we are going to keep one for EMERGENCIES ONLY!! I am going to call and have the credit limit reduced though.

Here's an example of one of the conversations:

AMEX lady: May I ask why you are cancelling your credit card?

Me: I am calling and cancelling all my credit cards tonight.

AMEX lady: So you are going to only be a cash customer?

Me: Yes.

AMEX lady: Wow I'm impressed!

Me: Thanks!

I guess AMEX doesn't really get many calls like that!

This is what FPU was about last night. The lesson was called "Dumping debt." It was about all the myths and truths that there are about credit. It was pretty interesting. He popped a balloon every time he said a myth and the last balloon was HUGE and it was full of money. It was kinda neat to see what people believe (myths) and what is the truth.

I Love Lutheran Boys!!

This past weekend Matt and Walon both became members of our church! My parents were very proud! Mr. and Mrs. Matheson and Mattie were there to witness the event also. My dad has jokes, he told both Matt and Walon that they looked very nice that day. Then he went on to say that they almost looked as good as him and that's hard to do. He thought that he was very clever. I found a shirt on the Internet that said "I love Lutheran Boys" and it wasn't very appropriate at the time, but now I can get it. I just have to check with Dave and see if it fits in the budget!

I also need to do a post about Addison's Baptism which was March 15th, but I didn't have my camera that day and I haven't gotten a chance to download Amber's yet! But there will be a post coming soon! (I promise Amber)

Name That Horse

Tonight Matt, Gramps, and I went to Sinton to look at a horse. The trailor didn't come home empty. We need help naming the 4-legged critter!! I want to name the dude "Benji". Matt said that the horse would end up being called "Ben." I said I would punch someone in the face! Matt said he needs more options. I am asking for help. Either leave a message or send me an e-mail. What is the best name for this horse?