Thursday, December 29, 2011

Held Against His Will!

When we went to the Rangers game in July and toured Cowboy Stadium, Taylor and I were desperately trying to see where our seats would be come December 24.  You see, I bought Cowboy tickets the same time I bought the Taylor Swift concert tickets (Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles).  This would be a great surprise for Carey for Christmas!  I have been planning since that time how the kidnapping would go down.  We couldn't tell Brooklyn because, well she's not a good secret keeper, until the night before and then she was threatened with everything - most of all with the wrath of my anger if she spoiled it! 

In the beginning, we were planning on going to the Hudman's (dear family friend, Phillip), for Christmas Eve again this year.  Carey had been fretting about what "white elephant" gift he would take (I already had mine picked out - hehe!)  I was taking the best macaroni and cheese (Stouffer's frozen - yum!) as our contribution to the meal.  Phillip had already told Carey what time we should be there - good team player that Phillip!  So we are all set, minus the "white elephant" gift for Carey.  I casually mentioned to Carey Friday night that we should go eat breakfast as Cracker Barrel.  I said that B wanted to go there anyway because of Poppy - (Poppy, Carey's dad, always gave us Cracker Barrel gift certificates for Christmas.  We didn't have the heart to tell him that we had to drive an hour to eat at a Cracker Barrel.)  We then decided to sponge roll B's hair so it will be curly for the "Hudman's."  My thought behind this was one less person to get ready in the morning.  And then I proceed to threaten Taylor with "if you don't get up and get ready to go eat breakfast in the morning, I'm going to have a fit." (all part of the act.)  Whew!  Almost there!

We are all shined and polished, the girl's pillow pets and blankets are in the back of Big Silver, his Cowboys hat and hoodie are wrapped and in the back as well.  After "waiting on Taylor" (the norm) we are off to Cracker Barrel!  Keeping my cool, eating my bacon and grits, drinking my water (trust me, I already had a Dr. Pepper), staying calm.  CHECK PLEASE!  Carey's paying and I'm giggling like crazy in Big Silver and Taylor's right there with me!  And we're off - in the turn lane, laughing.  Carey says, "Where are you going?  Sonic??"  Ha!!  Onto the interstate!  "Where are we going?  Take me home!  Now!  Where are we going?"  It was almost like that 'ol "are we there yet?"  I proceed to tell him that he has been kidnapped and he can now open his first clue or set of instructions.  It's a picture of an eye.  He says "eye?  Eye 20?"  Nope!  Let me go ahead and give the instructions (these were all given in red envelopes):

Picture of an eye
Words "4 the"
Piece of red card stock
Picture of an envelope
Words "in the"
Picture of a glove
Picture of a box

Simple?  Not so much!  He is driving me crazy and even though I had them spaced out to give him one every 20 minutes or so, I had to go ahead and give him the first 3.  I told him when we got to Duke's on the other side of Canton, he could have another clue.  Would you believe there are 3 Highway Patrol cars parked outside of Duke's?  Carey is not shy, so in he goes with his clues, lays them down on the table and tells the officers that he was eating at Cracker Barrel and the next thing he knew he had been kidnapped and doesn't know where he is going.  The officers probably thought this shift is going to be a nightmare if it's starting off like this, but they were helpful and tried to help him figure it out.  They even suggested that he might be getting a new red truck!  Now this next part is embarrassing and very out of character for me.  It was one of those things that it happened before I knew it happened.  After we shew Carey on into the restroom I tell the officers "Cowboys game" (they all in unison lean back and say "Ooohh!."  I then proceed to lift my hoodie to prove to them that is where we're going.  Why else would I have on a Dallas Cowboys t-shirt on??  Awkward, that I halfway flashed 3 Highway Patrols!  (sorry you had to see that Taylor.)

And we're off again.  By this time, he is laughing and trying to be serious all at the same time.  He's threatening us with "I'm going to be really mad," "Taylor, our relationship will never be the same," "I hope all of ya'lls Christmas gifts break (ouch!)"  He even "phoned a friend" (Phillip).  Too much already and open all of your clues, PLEASE!   Once he found the red envelope in the glove box, he was all smiles and couldn't believe we tricked him!!

Yes, my dear, we got you!  Merry Christmas!

B and Carey with their freebie hats!


We were in the nose bleed section!

Just before they came out!

Halftime performance


The dancing Santa's!


Spent:  $60 on parking, and $55 on 4 burgers, 2 sodas and 2 waters.  And wouldn't you know they lost (20-7), but we had a blast any way!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Erin Condren Products

Do you like Vera Bradley stationery?  We do, but I could fall for Erin Condren too!!  My friend Jennifer is doing an awesome giveaway.  You can read about it here.  Check out her 12/7 entry.  Erin has a really cool website with some great products!  Check it out!

A Thief Amongst Us

This is really supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but sometimes it can be a struggle!  Especially when it affects children and on top of that children that are in foster care.  Yes, foster parents do get a monthly reimbursement, the children's medical needs are met and if they are in care long term and emancipate from the foster care system, their college is taken care of.  BUT, they are children that are not in their own home or with their own family for whatever the reason.  It just isn't the same and they are truly the victims. 

Each year many of the child welfare boards across our great state, send letters to individuals and businesses in the community seeking monetary donations to help with the Christmas expense.  This year in Longview, the coordinator of our Christmas shopping took advantage of the many Black Friday shopping deals.  And more recently a thief (or thieves), took advantage of her hard work.  Close to $20,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from a donated storage facility. 

The good news is, these kids will probably never know their original gifts were taken and the community, and by this I mean:  Longview, San Antonio, Houston, Beaumont, Nacogdoches, Athens, Tyler, Shreveport and California (I'm sure this isn't all of the generous cities), have come through BIG time!!  Not to mention our many anonymous donors!  It has truly been a blessing to see the anger stemmed from this turn into more blessings!  It has been a very emotionally and physically draining week, but we are so blessed!! 

We all know the "true meaning" of Christmas, and this week I have seen first hand so many individuals show this true meaning by their kind acts and prayers.  The children from Gregg county will be taken care of!!