13 Things I would eat if I didn’t have to worry about counting stinking points…

13 Things I would eat if I didn’t have to worry about counting stinking points…

13. Peach Cobbler with some Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (We don’t get Blue Bell up here so that makes it a little easier to not buy ice cream. Don’t take it for granted if you have access, eat if up for me!)

12. Ham and cheese melted tortilla with corn tortilla chips (Tostitos) and homemade salsa (the salsa’s free for point counting – it’s the chips that kill ya)

11. Macaroni and cheese – Lyneil made some the other day for the boys (Andy and Karl) and I have been wanting some ever since.

10. Real Ice Cream – Blue Bell’s Cookies and Cream or Blue Bell’s Homemade Vanilla with carmel and chocolate syrup

9. Real Milk – not that skim stuff that looks like cloudy water but real, WHOLE milk

8. Oreo’s dunked in whole (real) milk - only of course when Granny’s cookies run out

7. CHEESECAKE – Any kind as long as it is “cheesecake pie”

6. Salt and Vinegar Pringles – I love these things. My mouth is just watering thinking about it!

5. A big, juicy Fuddruckers Hamburger – We just got a Fuddruckers up here and Lyneil and I are bound and ready to go and try it out

4. Granny’s Cookies – Mom and dad brought some up and we are all trying to have one at a time to make them last but I could sit down and eat 3 or 4 easily at one time

3. A Sonic (Large) Cherry Dr. Pepper – A real one, not a diet one!

2. SWEET TEA with real sugar not saccharin

1. Mexican Food – This will be a must for me Labor Day Weekend when we are in San Antonio. I will have some Chuy’s and it will be oh, so delicious!


Being on Weight Watchers has been so good for me. Lyneil and I are doing so well. It is hard for me to watch Karl eat anything he wants. It is amazing. We are getting there. We are both real close to 10 pounds and that will feel good. One mark down and some to go! I am thankful that I have Lyneil; she helps keep me on track. I have not had to say “NO” to any of these foods (minus the Blue Bell) but I have had to proportion myself and it is actually nice to have the food taste good rather than consuming them. Thank you Neil for keeping me on track even when I don’t want to keep going! You are my WW hero!

The Fair's in town....

The Fair is in town...

This last weekend, the Iowa State Fair was in town. Mom and dad came up for the weekend and we took advantage of the Fair and time with mom and dad. Here are a few captions of trip #2 for most of us. This last week was beautiful and we tried to get out and enjoy the cool temperatures when we could.

Karl had a hard time with this one! We all got a kick out of this sign. It was posted at the kid tent. They had all kinds of animals. There was a giraffe, goats, camels, sheep, pigs, donkeys and much more.

We visited every animal barn that we could fine. We saw the cows and pigs...

The chickens, rabbits and sheep...

And at the end of the evening, we had walked and walked and walked so much that we had to take some time out for snacks. Lyneil wanted cotton candy, which we all helped her eat!

Da and Braxton shared an ice cream cone!

Mama Z and Brazos rescued each other from the smell of the sheep barn and we started to head out of the gates of the park.

Where's Waldo....Karl and Andrea

We are here!

Here is Urbandale, Iowa.

These people talk funny up here. Some say that I have a draw with my southern accent. I don’t think that I have lost it yet. It has only been three weeks and a few days and I am still just as Texan as I was when we moved up here! We have settled in, placed membership and are somewhat involved in the routine around here. It is GREAT being able to spend time with Andy and Neil. I can’t imagine how wonderful it will be to have my own kids, but helping her with my favorite two nephews has been a pretty good taste to what I hope to have one day.

Karl has hit the ground running and he is busy at work. He and Andy ride together to work. They usually leave the house around 6:30 – 6:45 am. It is so much fun to watch Braxton get SO excited when he sees his dad drive up. Karl is busy at work and he loves the task load. Lyneil keeps us fed (very well) and we try and keep up with the two boys. Amy and Momma call almost everyday and we are set.

Karl has joined a softball team with Deere and he is helping them finish out the season.

Thirteen things about living downstairs...

13. Hearing the pitter patter of Braxton as he runs across the kitchen floor

12. Warm water comes fast and at a hot rate

11. It’s cool in the summer and cold in the winter

10. I love it when Braxton stands at the top of the stairs on Sunday morning and announces “three minutes until breakfast”. Most of it we can understand but Andy will clarify if we have any doubts.

9. Family is only a stairway away….sometimes

8. I enjoy having Braxton come down the stairs to see me, most times unannounced.

7. Only one kitchen to clean up between two families

6. CarPool for Karl is great. He loves the fact that he and Andy have the ability to ride together most mornings to work.

5. Every morning is a surprise when I walk upstairs. I never know what the day is like outside having no windows to tell me.

4. Being able to tell when someone is walking down the hall next to Braxton’s room… The floor tells all secrets.

3. Being close to the laundry room, which is HUGE and having my own space in the afternoons if I need it

2. I can smell breakfast, knowing I am not cooking it, but with the reassurance that I will get some of it!

1. Having the ability to run upstairs if Lyneil calls for help and be of assistance at the drop of a hat!

Karl and I have been so blessed to be able to stay here with Andy and Lyneil. We have enjoyed spoiling Braxton and Brazos. It is so nice to be this close to them (all four). Karl loves his new job and I am still (kind of) searching for one. If one falls in my lap, I will consider it. I have had some calls on interviews but nothing serious yet. We appreciate Andy and Lyneil for opening their home to us. It started as an idea from them and has turned into a plan for the time being. It is nice to be able to nestle away some savings while helping each other out.

Happy Friday!

13 Things I love about being an aunt...

13. The innocence of Braxton

12. The laughs and smiles that they provide to us

11. Hearing Braxton say, “Morning, Please, Get up, Breakfast

and Tank too”

10. The energy he gives while running around the house

and playing outside

9. The books that Braxton loves to read as he sits so quietly in waiting

8. The helper he is when he thinks that it is time to rearrange

my coffee table

7. Being able to make Brazos smile and coo while holding him

6. The new name that Braxton has given me, Andrish

5. Being able to stay home and play with both boys

4. Being able to give Lyneil company and doing things together

3. The ability to do things that I usually wouldn’t allow kids to do

while pleading ignorance

2. Watching how excited he is when Andy drives up after work

1. The practice and reality of what things are to come….