California Update!!!

On Monday morning, we decided to rent a car and run around for a few days. We drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to Laguna Beach in the morning then to La Habra in the afternoon. We had lunch at a big shopping center in Newport Beach and Rachel had Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake for the first time. In the afternoon we went to La Habra to meet up with Stephen and Robin Fulton. They showed us around Hollywood, took us to the beach at sunset, and then finally to the Santa Monica pier.


This is the awesome car we rented for 2 days! It sure handled the 6 lane freeway without any problem!!




Rachel's first encounter with a real Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake!!

Building in downtown LA

Some crazy park bench on our way to Hollywood!

You can't read it, but Rach is by Marilyn Monroe's prints!

Clint Eastwood prints in front of Graumans Chinese Theater

Michael Jackson tribute! His star was so popular, you had to wait in line forever to see it! It wasn't that important to us...

Rach and I under the Hollywood sign!

Beach near Malibu at sunset!

The carnival at the Santa Monica pier!

Wednesday: We took Molly's boat out on the ocean hoping to see some dolphins and other wildlife.


Rachel and I on the boat with my cousin Molly!

Seals on the buoy!!!! This was by a on the water bait shop, so seals and pelicans were everywhere.

These are the dolphins that we were able to see while on the boat. There were six of them hangin out by Laguna Beach!

We went to Universal Studios on Tuesday and surfing this morning. These pics are on the other camera and I forgot the cord to download them to the computer. Hopefully, we will be able to upload them soon!!!!!!

Rusty

California Adventure!!

We are in California right now...here are a few pictures of our first 2 days here in the big city...

On the beach for the first time. A few seconds after I took a picture of my carving in the sand the water rolled over and wiped away my masterpiece....



Gymnastics on the beach...


A cookout after church at Molly and Terry's friend's (Mary) house...


While we were on the beach, "Baywatch" was filming a scene with this really hott actor...do you recognize him? ha ha


This is my actual first time to see the beach and put my little toes in the wet sand....


As we were walking to the pier, we came up on a few kids hunting star fish. They would catch them and put them in a kiddy pool full of water...then release them at the end of the day~


Our first morning in California we walked to this cute little restaurant for breakfast. It is called the Chicken~Coop. They have the best omelets! And the orange juice is probably the best I have ever tasted! Freshly squeezed I am sure...


It is pretty much freezing here compared to Arkansas! Last week before we left it was in the upper 90's and very humid! California is in the 80's and then really cool at night. Since we are only a few minutes from the beach it stays pretty cool. I wish I would have packed more light jackets and more pants rather than shorts and tank tops. Oh well, maybe I can go shopping...
We are hoping to go see Hollywood and maybe go out on Molly's boat a few times. We will see...

Update on the Tate's...

Hello Everyone! It's been a while since I have posted...life is too busy...
Well, since the new year began we have been busy with school and work. We recently got back from skiing in Colorado. We had a blast! I took Russ down most of the blacks...LOL...He wouldn't let me go down them by my self...heaven forbid I out-do him! ha ha
Just a little quote: Rusty:"you think we can do this one....you don't think it is too steep for us?"....Me: "Nahhh" so I start going down the black and Rusty is still at the top pondering.... "Are you sure about this?" Me: "Yeah...C'mon...I'm not going to hike back up this!!..." a few minutes later....I'm sitting at the bottom of the slope watching Rusty as he inches his way down...20 minutes past...he finally makes it down... Rusty: (huffing and puffing) " oh man....that was tuff!"....Me: well.....ya ready to go...." Rusty: (still huffing) "NO!! Let me rest a while..."

The little black dot that is in the middle of the slope half way down is Russ. This was a really tuff black. It didn't help that it was fairly warm and the snow had a good layer of slush. It had it hard to cut in and out...



Go Rusty!!!




OH!! I got a new car! We weren't planning on purchasing one until May but look what happened~ It is a 2009 Honda Accord Coupe...


Here are my curtains I made for my living room with my new sewing maching my mother-in-law bought me for Christmas...


Here is a picture I found. We took this picture in Charlotte Russe in the mall...we were on a scavenger hunt for Libby's bachelorette party...


The night we got engaged!! September 22nd 2006...


Back in the day...Partner stunting...


Having a good laugh with Courtney and Grace...


Toe touch on the trampoline...pointed toes and all!!

Free kitten to good home!!

Hey guys! My mom's brother came in from Missouri for Thanksgiving and brought a little black and white kitten that had been abandoned. He is so sweet and playful and is in need of a good home. He purrs and is very talkative!! Very pretty markings.... My mom is sending out a mass e-mail with pictures so be quick at letting me know if you want him or know of anyone who would want him. He would be such a precious Christmas present to someone who would be willing to take good care of him....

It's cold outside!

Wow! It has been so cold...I hate being cold! We have not been turning on our heat in our house because it stirs up the allergens in the air and makes Rusty have bad headaches and earaches. The woman who used to live in this house had two inside dogs and it is in the ventilation system. We need to have them cleaned out so we can be warm again in this house! That is one of the worst things in life....waking up to a cold house every morning. It was 61 degrees this morning! Too cold for me....BUT, I am used to it since I grew up in a drafty house. My parents house started out as a one room school house and was moved to it's location where it is now and was added on to once and then added on to again after my parents bought it about 30 years ago. I remember my room was the farthest away from the fireplace and it only had one vent. At night, or when it was below freezing outside the condensation on my windows would freeze! I'm not joking! ha ha We are hoping to be able to get rid of our carpet in the living room and put down a wood floor after Christmas. I want to get rid of the carpet so bad! As I stated above, the woman who lived here before had to inside dogs who evidently were never let outside to do their business....We had Stanley Steamer come but you can still see "rings" in the carpet. NASTY! Hopefully that will help with Rusty's allergies too.

On a side note...I decorated for Christmas last week (the week after Halloween)! ha ha Some say it is too early but I was so anxious to decorate since it is our first Christmas in our house. Last Tuesday, Rusty got home and I already had the tree's....yes, more than one tree, up and the mantle decorated. I finally got it all finished last Thursday while Rusty was reffing his last football game of the season. I will post pictures later after I add a few final touches. I still need a tree skirt, a new stocking for me and a stocking for Canyon.....maybe a few other things.

I feel like I am rambling on and on....

On a side note....I am on the homestretch for completing my bachelor's degree! I have 6 hours in the spring and internship, which consists of being at a school teaching from 8-3 Monday through Thursday and 16 hours where I will be at the University all day from 8-3 on Fridays taking classes. I won't be able to work at all next fall unless I work a few nights or weekends. I might need that time though to do homework....clean house....cook dinner....catch up with Russ...etc.... A little overwhelming but it will be the grand finale! ha ha Pray for me....

Random things....

Wow! It will be five years since I graduated from high school this Spring! I decided to get the cheer squad together to reunite since it has been so long. On the squad there were 10 seniors and 1 sophomore! We all cheered together throughout Jr. high and high school. It was great catching up with everyone and hearing what everyone has been up to the past 5 years. Not everyone was able to come but we still had a good turnout!

Back in the day...our last time to cheer with each other. Little Rock State playoffs...we won state! March 2004....


I was always a base but we decided to give me a shot at being on top during a football game!


Cheer Reunion, October 2008

Sarah, me, and Brittany




Recently, my aunt Linda and a good friend of hers, Patti, started a business called Upstage Interiors. They are so talented! Below is a picture or their business card and a few pictures of Linda's house. She has it decorated so cute! For safety and privacy reasons I didn't post their e-mail or phone numbers but if you are interested in them "beautifying" your home or you have a house that won't sell feel free to ask :)


Her living room


Corner in her kitching


Front porch


Bedroom











Patti painted the harlequin on this wall! She did an awesome job...




Halloween!!

Kinlee and Julie handing out candy to the trick or treaters...


Linda, Dad, and Brenda (3 of the 6 siblings)


Shrek them, I was Puss in Boots...I had a big white feather sticking out of my hat but you can't see it...


My mother-in-law, Marilyn, and Doctor Payton (tooth ferry) on Halloween at work. He won first in the costume category. I took 2nd place!