We're Still Here!!!

I know it's been forever since there has been an update, but they're not nearly as much fun when it's just "Everybody is busy doing their own thing." But, we have managed to do a few things in the OVER A YEAR since I last updated. It really is all on me. I've had a lot of people try to get me off of lazy and update here. Sooooo, here goes:

Wyatt is still busy with school. He's finishing up his junior year right now.

Abigail is still working as a flight attendant and enjoying it.

Kirsten has come to work with Dax and I. We'll make an accountant of her yet. Her resistance is futile!

Addison is still working in a preschool and enjoying the kids.

Wyatt drug invited us to a symphony performance on campus.

 

I think Dax and I get invited so that we'll pay for the tickets. I don't have any solid proof, but I'm pretty sure I'm onto something here.

Addison bought her first car last summer. After much looking around and test driving, she settled on a Volkswagen Tiguan. She's happy with her choice.

After all of the excitement (read: stress) of car shopping, Dax and I got away for a long weekend in New Orleans. We visited some neat places in the Quarter and found some great places to eat. But, really, how can you not in New Orleans.

Dax found this pearl in some oysters he was eating. Should have made him keep eating until I had enough for a bracelet. Ha!

We had our annual trip to the Texas Renaissance Festival. It's always a good time and makes for some great people watching.

 

Then, just like that and with no warning at all, the kids turned 21 in November. TWENTY ONE!! 

We took them out to dinner on their actual birthday. 

Those 'first' drinks at 21 probably cost more than the meal. LOL It was all good and we had a great evening together. It gets more and more difficult to get everyone together as they get older and have their own things going on.

But, dinner out for their birthday wasn't enough celebrating of 21. So when Dax and I were out in Las Vegas for our annual conference, we had the kids come out over the weekend to celebrate. I think a good time was had by all.

 

A good time and food. Lots and lots of food. These are from my favorite place while we're out there. Hash House A Go Go. Do yourself a favor and eat there if you are near one. You can thank me later.

 

 Oh, and you'll probably want to share. The servings are huge. Just the pancakes are 14 inches.

 

We felt like we barely got back home, before Christmas was already upon us. We had a good time with everyone and had our annual gingerbread house decorating contest.

 I have to say, we're getting better at it.

We didn't even have time to recover from Thanksgiving, birthdays in Vegas, and right into Christmas before we headed up to Dallas to the hockey Winter Classic.

It was crowded and cold, but it was fun. And the Dallas Stars won, which made it even better.

So now Dax and I are back into tax season and it may actually feel like rest after the busy holiday season.

So that's pretty much the fun stuff we've been up to. We've had all of the not fun stuff to deal with, too. One of our dogs has signs of dimentia and has lost his hearing. We hate to touch him when he's sleeping because it scares him, but that's the only way to get his attention.

In October, another one of our dogs had a stroke. She's been slow to recover, but still gets better every day. She started out not being able to do anything but blink her eyes, but she's recovered all the way back to her back legs. She still can't stand up, but is trying and continues to get more movement in her legs. We've gotten her a doggie wheel chair, but that takes a whole lot of work on its own.

.........and on it goes.

I know I say it every time, but I'll try not to go quite so long without at least some kind of update.

Our Time in Vegas

Gotcha! Bet you didn't see this coming again so soon!



As I said in the last post, Dax and I headed off to Las Vegas for our annual continuing education. We are generally there for 11 days.

Yes, you read that correctly. 11 days in Vegas. That's a long time to be there y'all!

Anyway, we rented a car for the first couple of days because we have extra time on our hands. The year we decided to go check out Mt. Charleston. It was great up in the mountains.

This trip was far different from any of the other trips we've made. During one class a man was trimming his toenails, and in another people were taking selfies (with a selfie stick) while the speaker was giving his presentation. What?! Have we abandoned all forms of etiquette and good manners?

Dax found himself catching an elderly woman as she was passing out because she couldn't catch her breath. She clung to him until help arrived. It's so fortunate that we were there to be of help when she needed it. He also helped another woman get help after she had fallen and hurt herself. It was just crazy! I told him that the ladies were really falling for him this trip! Ha!

We met several people while there and made some new friends.

And we even managed to squeeze some learning in there!

Overall, it was a good trip. However, it takes longer for us to recover once we get back home.

While in Vegas....

Tried posting this earlier, but it never made it. So... here it is....

While we were in Las Vegas, Dax and I did take a little time away from the accounting excitement to do some other things too.

We spent some time at Red Rock Canyon. It's always so hard to believe that it's as close to Vegas as it is. It seems like worlds away.

This was the view from one of our rooms. (We had to change rooms a couple of times.) 

 

I also saw this!

That's a wonderful idea!! They should have these everywhere!!

One completely awesome thing that wee were lucky enough to be present for was a welcoming home to wounded warriors. It was so touching to be there. I just wanted to tell them all that I'm sorry that we asked that much of them.

 

And just before leaving, we also saw Santa. 

 

I hope he hit it big!

But we were exhausted when we got home. And there is too much to do to get much rest for awhile. I'm just so grateful to my parents for coming to stay with the kids so that we can even get away to do it.

Week Away

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. The family all came to our house and we had a great time and ate too much. As usual!!

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, Dax and I left for our annual trip to Las Vegas for accounting continuing education. I can't say the classes were fun but we did have a good time.

We always make sure to stop at least once (but usually more) for a little of this:

We went to our favorite tacky casino to watch the karaoke and were not disappointed because the infamous Barbara Ann was there.

And when we were walking around we managed to stumble into the filming of a tv show.

We also went to see the newest Cirque du Soleil at Aria called Zarkana. I just love the Cirque shows and am always blown away by the mind blowing talent of the performers.

We really did have a good time and it's always nice to get away together.

Now we're back home and back to the same old grind. Busy as it is!