NANA, PAPA TOM, AND THEIR BUNCH

OUR ANNUAL JUNE VEGAS VACATION

2010-06-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

I I came in 2nd Place in

The Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament
We went to a fun Dinner that included
a cool performance by the winners of America's got Talent,
and some beautiful Old las Vegas Lounge music...live...by the owner.
The lady at the end of the table
Is Margaret from Scotland...she really travels far for this each year.
She is so sweet, but very ill, so this may be her last year. We
are all so sad about that.
Of course we had the annual Karaoke contest
at Harrahs Karaoke Bar.
There were some good singers and some fun, funny singers.
I won Best Patsy Kline. Tom won Best American Singer.

We ate dinner at a fancy French restaurant
In Mandalay Bay and were invited to go back to the kitchen and
meet the chef. He is one of the winners of the show
Top Chef.
We had such a great time with friends that we see only once a year.
Sme come from Canada, Europe and The USA.
It was such a fun time for all!

Fun At Nana's House

2010-06-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

Our Picinic Adventure

2010-04-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Well..we just found our perfect picinic spot on River Road.
Sandwiches, veggies w/Hummus/ and of course some wonderful

Pino Noir Red Wine to make the lunch perfect!

Tom is just so cute he makes my heart sing!

I thought these were the coolest trees..and what a beautiful view down the Guadalupe River! All in all...a wonderful unplanned adventure!

Happy Saturday in April!

HAPPY EASTER

2010-04-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

Sweet Samantha

2010-03-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

SAINT PATTY'S DAY

2010-03-18T06:30:00.001-07:00

Hudson and his Dad are waiting

for the River Parade to begin

I am loving this beautiful day!

Julia and Kennedy are in front of us.

We just got to the La Villita area

to get our food and drinks.

getting ready to head on down to

the River Walk.

Our group watching the Parade.

Notice cute Melanie in the green shirt..

8 months preggos..and a great sport!

She is the only one in our group standing.

The others are sitting on the grass.

TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE

2010-03-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

What a precious picture!

Sister and Brother.

I am missing my brother Dennis

more than words can express!

BEST BUDDIES

2010-03-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

Life just doesn't get better than this!

Best buddies hanging out in the barn!

Ryan's a little goat.

Hudson's a little goat!

RODEO TIME

2010-02-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

Ride'em cowboy
Loving the pony ride!

Cluck-cluck-cluck!!!

Now for the rides!!!

Ellie in front

Aunt Courtney & Hudson 3rd seat

Papa Tom and Anna 4th seat

2010-02-21T16:54:00.000-08:00

I got to keep sweet Samantha

while Mom and Dad went on a date

to the Rodeo with some friends.

She was hungry and took 3 whole ounces.

Hunger Busters!!!!

Hudson hung out with Papa Tom.
They were watching the Winter Olympics.

Guy Talk! ;-)

GRANDKIDS

2010-01-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

Grandkids are the best!

Ellie, Anna and Hudson have so much fun together!

They have to wait a while for little Samantha

to join the fun.

THE PIERCE'S

2010-01-22T12:33:00.000-08:00

Samantha Paige Pierce surprized us all

and arrived three weeks ahead of her due date.

She is such a blessing to all of us!

FIVE THINGS

2009-11-22T18:35:00.000-08:00

1. My Mom is getting old, 88 years to be exact, but she is so precious and still makes me laugh. God...please let me be half the person she is!!!!

2. My brother, Sister, Sister-in-law and husband are so wonderful. God, thank you for blessing me with all of them!

3. The many prayers from friends, family, and people I don't even realize are praying for my Mom.....God...thank you for all of this!

4. Friends that are almost considered to be my family....and you know who you are.....I truly thank you for your prayers and your never ending support! God...thank you for them!

5. HAPPY THANKSGIVING...Let us all be greatful for so many things....Even the "leaks" that we all experience in our lives! God...thank you for our trials as well as the joy in our lives!!!

Natalie's Baby Shower....Sweet Samantha!!!!

2009-11-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

Natalie is thanking everyone for the wonderful

shower and all of the wonderful and thoughtful gifts!

CANDY...YUM!!!!!!!!!!!
The fountain...seriously...how adorable is this!!!
Hostesses...and the sweet shop is shown!!!!
A day filled with love and laughter!!

Moms and sisters...Nat's and Johnny's

BABY SAMUEL

2009-11-18T06:14:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE WORLD
SAMUEL TOOTLE!
YOU ARE ALREADY LOVED BY SO MANY!!

NOVEMBER TRIP TO RUIDOSO

2009-11-18T05:57:00.000-08:00

Beautiful, peaceful and cool!

It was everything we wanted.

We relaxed and enjoyed the trip very much!

TEN THINGS

2009-11-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

1. FORGETTING MY CAMERA ON HALLOWEEN WAS SOOOOOO ANNOYING!

2.HUDSON'S TWICK-TWEET...FOLLOWED BY TANK- TWO, ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS WORDS I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME!

3. ELLIE HOLDING HER "REPUNZEL" HAIR BRAID WAS TOO CUTE!

4. TIM DRESSED IN HIS COACH OUTFIT MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD!

5. COURTNEY NAILED THE BRITNEY SPEARS LOOK WAAAAAAY TOO GOOD, AND COULD HAVE SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS!

6. JESSICA'S JUNO OUTFIT WAS HILARIOUS AND SOOO RIGHT ON!!

7. MELANIE WAS THE ONLY PREGNANT ANGEL I'VE EVER SEEN!

8. BEAU WAS THE CUTEST AGGIE EVER ...UNTIL HE PUT HIS FUNKY TEETH IN.

9. THE BUMBLE BEE, LADY BUG, DALMATION, FIREMAN, TINKERBELL AND PIRATE MADE MY HALLOWEEN 2009!!!

10. THE LONGHORNS ROCK!

GAME DAY AT THE KOST HOUSE

2009-10-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hudson and Dad getting their horns up!

Hannah and Addie getting their teeth in...

2009-10-28T18:12:00.001-07:00

Chrissy is such a great decorator

fall was in the house and all around!
Justin and Dana...ready for the game!

Lauren and Julia
yum, yum!!!

Hook'em Horns!

Ryan has the k'bobs on the grill...

WOW...

DELICIOUS!!!

2009-10-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Chef Ryan...the great!!
Hannah and Hudson
checking out the juice and water...

Kennedy and Mommy

The Hook'em Horns girls....

from waaaaay back when!!!!

Enjoying the wonderful food!

Super day...another win for the Horns!

Great food, great friends, great family and great fun!

FRIENDS AND FUN IN PORT A

2009-10-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

Our old puppet team went down to

Port Aransas for a quick beach trip.
We are missing Cindy.

This is what we saw as we sat on the
deck at Bette's beautiful house.

We were so proud that we hooked up
the trailer with no "man" muscle,
and brought our stuff to the beach....
tables, chairs, ice chests, towels, sand toys, and let's not
forget...a yummy lunch!

Ta-da...

Our masterpiece!!
Best in the world!

Wish I could say that we had a great catch...

But...the tuna were running...

and The Scat Cat had just returned

from a two night fishing trip.

The fish that are hanging are Yellow Fin Tuna.

Those on the ground in front are Black Fin Tuna.
They were caught during the night about 160 miles off shore.

We had such a wonderful time!

waaay too short...

I am ready to go back!

BIG BUGS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN

2009-10-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Here is where we began our tour.

Melanie loved the way the landscaping looked at

this house.

Here was the big, giant spider in

his web. Hudson kept saying "off"

Melanie and Hudson looking at the web and spider.

2009-10-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

a huge praying mantis...

you can't see it very well
but there is a huge dragon fly on the little island

looking for the ducks
there they are...so beautiful

a perfect end to a fun day...Chris Madrids

for lunch

THE HUNT FOR BRIDESMAID DRESSES

2009-10-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Notice the color called fire...that is the

color Kellie wants for the bridesmaid dresses..

Now...we begin the hunt for the perfect style....

Here we go....may the hunt begin!!!

This is Kim's store...she gave Kellie some

wine and we were all ready to browse

the racks...

Aunt Susan was asking Kellie what exactly

Kellie's image of the perfect bridesmaid dress

happened to be??......

Kim told Kellie that it may be a good

idea to pick several tops in different

styles and let the girls pick the

one that they feel prettiest in..

all the bottoms will be the same..

Party style...a little gathered and not too long...

Here they are..swoop neck, criss-cross,

strapless sweetheart neck, and halter.
Done...Love them...now

let the ordering begin! :-)

Kellie's getting married...

yabba dabba do!!!

HOOK'EM HORNS..TEXAS-OU GAME DAY

2009-10-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

And the crowd cheers "Hook'em!"

Anna and Ellie, Our two lil' Longhorns

Yes..Natalie really graduated from UT!

We had a few Tech Red Raiders in the house...

Yes...Hudson and Beau are ready for the Texas Tech game.

Family Fun Day at the Sturms

2009-10-11T15:35:00.000-07:00

It's Game Day at Mel and Beau's House

We had a feast...brisket, mac and cheese, beans...and more

2009-10-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

We were all ready to watch the game,

full tummies and all...

We loved on the babies

2009-10-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

Yes...it was a great day filled with lots of love

and lots of laughs!

and we finished it off with some sweets

of course!

A DAY AT ROUNDTOP

2009-10-05T06:57:00.001-07:00

Susan and I drove to Roundtop on September 30th

the anniversary of our precious Dennis's Death.

We shared memories, laughing and crying, all the way there.

Then we both laughed, knowing he would be thinking...

Thank God he made it to heaven...

because shopping here would seem like HELL!!!

This is how it looked as we began our

shopping day...we planned to see lots of

good JUNK!

When you go shopping at Roundtop

there are honestly miles of tents

full of antiques and junk to look at.

Here are the shoppers..from left to right

Nancy, Iris, Linda, Dawn, Susan, and Sylvia

Bags and suitcases in hand...all ready to fill

with our new treasures!

This is Linda talking like the wicked witch

on The Wizard Of Oz...saying to Dorothy..

"I'll get you....and your little dog too..."

Remember Dorothy and Toto in the movie?

Linda was pretty good and really in character!

But that was really Susan..not Dorothy.

Those old bikes reminded us of that movie.

Here we have Susan wanting to buy

the covered wagon to play with in

her back yard b/c she always loved

playing this make-believe game

of covered wagon-pioneer stuff

when she was a little girl,

but never really had a real covered wagon.

Issues..dontcha think?

All in all...It was a fabulous day!

Good friends, good laughs and GOOD JUNK!

CHRISTOPER CROSS

2009-10-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

Chris Cross flew in to play

at our AHHS all class reunion

last night.He is an Alamo Heights Grad

from 1969 (Dennis's Year)

He actually was the person that

taught Den to play the guitar,

when they were freshman in high school.

He played all of his songs.

This is him playing the Theme song

from the movie Arthur. I was so close to the stage

We were all just standing in this big room..no chairs,

and he was just singing all of his songs...

Sailing...

Ride Like The Wind

I will Neve Be The Same Without Your Love
It was amazing!!

The 100 all year celebration was at

The San Antonio Country Club.It was so much

fun and CC was fantastic.

I saw people that I hadn't seen in 40 years!

BIRTHDAYS BIRTHDAYS BIRTHDAYS

2009-10-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Daddy loves Julia's cake!Hannah, Kennedy and the Birthday Girl
Good Buddies and big smiles! Miss you, Pam!

Julia, The Birthday Girl

Courtney and Preggo ~ The Birthday Girls

COURTNEY LOVES HER BRITNEY SPEARS

2009-10-01T08:16:00.001-07:00

"Hey...this is a Britney Spears song."Courtney can do Britney Spears!

"Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeeeeaaaahhhh!"

OK..It's really just Courtney~Hook'em Horns!
Check out her shoes!

DEEDEE'S NIGHT UNDER THE STARS

2009-09-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

I love my Mom!
Isn't she lovely, Isn't she wonderful!!

Isn't she precious....only 88 yrs. old..

DeeDee, Susan, Jana and the girls..
having the time of their lives!!!

HUDSON'S PARTY

2009-08-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

HEY EVERYONE
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT
ALL THREE PAGES
THE PICS WOULDN'T
FIT ON ONLY ONE....

HUDSON IS TWO

2009-08-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

Time to

go to my

Birthday party

2009-08-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

Preggos and

"Melmo"

It's a match!

2009-08-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

Aunt Edee

with Brooke

and Carlyle

2009-08-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

My Buddy Ryan

loved the

cuocakes!

2009-08-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

I liked

the cupcakes...

2009-08-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Everyone was

very thirsty

after all the

Playing...

2009-08-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

my mom

ordered

"Melmo"

cupcakes!

2009-08-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

Everyone is

singing

Happy Birthday...

2009-08-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

Dana and Julia..

so sweet!

2009-08-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Ryan almost

made the

basket..

2009-08-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

I loved the balls!

2009-08-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

this was fun..

2009-08-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

Aunt Natalie

getting some

practice with

Julia..

2009-08-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

All my cousins and

friends came to

my party..

2009-08-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

My best buddy

Ryan..which toy

do you want?

2009-08-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Katie was doing

lots of tricks

2009-08-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Travis

came to my party

2009-08-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

I love my Uncle Johnny

2009-08-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

around we go..

KELLIE'S BIRTHDAY

2009-08-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Hi..I'm Kellie and ...

today is

my 24th birthday

2009-08-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

CHEERS!!!

2009-08-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

This is cute but way too little. Let's get serious with the sweets!

2009-08-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

OK..much better...now we're talkin'

2009-08-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

Yum, Yum, Yummy!!!

2009-08-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Cheers...and ...delicious!!!

PARENTS ORIENTATION NIGHT AT UUMC

2009-08-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Mom and dad off to their first parent's orientation for Hudson's school He is starting at UUMC school this fall...two days a week.

2009-08-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Nana...my playroom is a little dusty...

2009-08-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

I guess Mom and Dad are going to be later than I thought...It's my bedtime...

2009-08-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

It's a GO...We are now fully advised and "orientated"!

2009-08-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

all the pretty girls..except.....Melanie and Amanda were MIA....

2009-08-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Nelsons....cute family...
from Blast at the Beach....

BLAST AT THE BEACH!!!!

2009-08-16T17:27:00.001-07:00

2009-08-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Kristen with baby Kennedy...1 month old...

and Aunt Brittney

2009-08-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

Lance and Courtney...

welcome to the loud family...Lance...:-)

2009-08-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

Very Cool in the Pool!

2009-08-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hannah loves that mommie!!!

2009-08-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

before the dunk.............

2009-08-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

Farley is heading out to dunk Kristen into the ocean....adios Kristen...............

2009-08-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

Daddy Beau and Hudson....

getting ready to dig in the sand....all the way to CHINA!!!

2009-08-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Daddy Ryan and Hannah Banana...

Port A rocks..Daddy!!!

2009-08-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

Surfer girls...my little surfer gir---rls.....

la la la...and so on...........

2009-08-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

Dominoes...anyone???
That's what I'm talkin' about!!!!

2009-08-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Grab it..it doesn't sting

eeewwwwwwww!

2009-08-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

la la la...

girls just wanna have fu-un!

2009-08-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

Papa Tom Chillin under the tent

2009-08-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

The old Pearl Brewery area is on the new museum river path.

It is really something to see!

2009-08-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

This is the old Pearl Brewery. They are thinking of making it into a hotel with a micro brewery.

2009-08-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

Papa Tom, Nana, Edee and Todd all headed to the old Pearl Brewery area...It is being transfomed into shops, restaurants, etc.......

2009-08-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Todd...the architect...

works for Lake Flato and designed this restaurant.

2009-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

A Toast to the great architect, Todd, and his new restaurant design...il sogno!