Christmas morning 2010

So...this year, Santa Ben decided that everything had to be wrapped using packing tape. I had to use a knife to get into the boxes. I think I had just said to him, "really?". It was worth a little work though! Ben showed the appropriate amount of "surprise" when we opened matching Oregon BCS shirts (he bought them!).

I was so excited when I opened a Drew Brees jersey. I've worn it at least part of every day since!

Ben LOVES Captain Crunch so Santa makes sure he gets one box a year. He finished the box five days after Christmas!

Remember the package that Santa sent to "Little Patricia Roussel"? Of course there was one for "Little Bennie Wayne"!!

It's about time to replace that old wallet and what better way than to replace it with an LSU one?

Another appropriately "surprised" expression! At about this time, I have to say "thank you" once again to Dave Ramsey. This Christmas was paid for by cash, no nasty credit card surprises next month because they were all shredded a year ago. As hard as it is, it is such a relief to follow Dave's suggestions and "live like no other..." I can't wait to see him live in April!

He realized the box was upside down but the shot was already taken. So excited to open this gift. This is my third calendar that allows me to revisit memories all year long (sob, sob).

It doesn't take the place of my foot rubs but I couldn't resist surprising Ben with this foot massager. This beautiful box shows carved scenes from Sleeping Beauty. It is so pretty. If you go to this link, you can see more details.

I think we are covered now. Jerseys to watch the Tigers, the Saints and the Duck!

Time to finish lunch. The girls will be here soon!

December 2010

December started out with a decorated tree! I love this time of the year and I love planning ahead. A Christmas picture by the fire. I didn't find out until Christmas day why we took this picture but I really like it. December also brings my sister, Noelle's birthday. Crazy- my sister Della and I sent her the same card. And I spent so much time choosing that particular one!

One Saturday, Ben decided that he had to have 5 guys. They were packed so he sent me to hold a table for us. Little did I know, he had an ulterior motive...

On Dec. 16th while at work, I got a card from Santa. Enclosed in this sweet card were two Regal Cinema movie tickets. On Dec. 17th, Santa sent me a second card. It had a gift card for Five Guys (ahhh, now it all makes sense!). On Dec. 20th, the third card was increasingly more mushy and held an iTunes card. Thanks Santa! How did you know I was almost out of money? Dec. 21st brought a package addressed to Little Patricia Roussel. Santa, what were you thinking? I haven't been little for a very long time but don't worry, I still believe! This was a very special package because it held Pink Martini's Joy to the World cd. It was only minutes after opening the package that the beautiful sounds of PM were filling the air! Day 5 brought another tearjerker card and a certificate for a manicure/pedicure (Yippee!). December 23rd, I opened a card that held not one but three certificates for haircuts with Leeza. This is particularly sweet since the next three haircuts won't have to come out of my personal care budget! I really thought this was the last card as we didn't have school on the 24th. But Santa surprised me and had Ben deliver Day 7's card. After reading another special card, I opened a certificate for a long weekend at where? Of course, the beach! I am so excited!! It's almost Christmas day...

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving this year found us at the beach. A friend let us borrow their beach house for Wednesday through Sunday so it felt like a vacation to be able to get away for that long. The weather was crazy- cold (but we got to keep a fire going in the wood stove), windy (gale force winds in fact), rainy (pouring buckets!) and beautiful sunny skies. Look at this rainbow- so pretty! And in a couple of spots, we could actually see a double rainbow.Ben still doesn't quite understand my fascination with a beach that is often windy and freezing. But he is a good sport and walks with me anyway- even if he has to wear a heavy coat! Look- I got to wear my frog boots. They got full of water when a wave snuck up behind me and filled my boots! It was cold but glorious nonetheless.

This sign was down the street from the house and right off the path to the beach. Ben asked me to take a picture of it. I think it made him a little nervous!

Between the rain, the scenery was beautiful. We spent a little time at Seal Rock but we were at the wrong tide time to explore the tide pools. I can't wait to go back!

Me and my happy face...love, love, love the beach!

Even Ben managed to smile! I think it was because he was able to take off the heavy coat.

We watched the waves breaking over the rocks for quite a while. It was breathtaking. God does such amazing work doesn't He? There was a sign there that interested me. It said "Danger- Stay off rocks! Bird colonies are protected by Federal law. Several fatalities have occurred here. View 'Elephant Rock' from a safe distance." I guess I could see why people would want to climb over the fence to explore but do you really want to take that risk??

There was a box by the entrance to the path. I convinced Ben to open it so that I could see if there was a body in it. Thanks darling for humoring me once again! He opened it but there was only some pipes that looked like the shut off valves to the water fountain. That was a letdown.

This was the post office in the little town of Waldport. We mailed our Netflix dvds back from here and I asked Ben to take this picture for me. Once again, he humored me by driving across the street to get just the right shot!

I took this picture for Ashley. I thought this little lighthouse replica was cute and then I realized that it was a law office! It was in the same parking lot as this pizza place where we got a pie to go. Yum yum!

While it was a little unorthodox, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year and a mini vacation too! Now it's time to finish getting ready for Christmas.

Liam's first trip to Oregon

We were so excited to learn that Ben's daughter Tiffany and her youngest son were going to be able to come for a visit. Liam was only five weeks when he took his first airplane ride to Oregon. "Hello Grandfather, it's nice to see you, too!"We took Tiffany and Liam downtown on a beautiful October day to walk through Saturday Market. Grandfather showed Liam the boats on the river. Smile! How sweet! Adorable photo... Across the street from Voodoo Doughnuts. Look at that line! One day I'm going to bite the bullet and wait it out just to have the taste of their world famous Bacon Maple Bar. Grandfather's starting Liam out young with the best kettle corn ever. Yum, yum! Another day we took a ride through the Columbia River Gorge. Tiffany and Liam are standing in front of the Gorge at a lookout. It was very windy that day but so beautiful. Three generations...Ben and Tiffany went outside the Vista House balcony to take this picture. Liam and I stayed inside because it was way too windy for us to go out. (Vista House recorded 100 mph winds last winter and while they weren't that high this day, they were 40-45 mph. Too much for a baby!) It's much warmer inside :)Liam took a cat nap so I stayed in the car with him as Tiffany and Ben walked up to Latourell Falls. This week was all about Tiffany, her being able to relax and us being able to spoil her and Liam. I love this picture because she looks so relaxed (and happy)!
The last stop in the Gorge was to Multnomah Falls. How can someone come to Oregon and not see one of God's most beautiful creations? Not matter how many times I visit, it still takes my breath away every time.Special bonding time...that boy can sure grin! No, it's not gas, you skeptics!
See, isn't he the most adorable little boy?!

I don't really remember what they are looking at on the iPad. I took the picture because Ben was feeding Liam.

All too soon, the week was over and it was time for them to leave. What a sad day that was but we look forward to our next visit.

Dave Ramsey's Great Giving Challenge!

Hi all - We have entered Dave Ramsey's Great Giving Challenge! Our mission was to submit a one to three-minute video telling America how we would give away $1,000 a day for five days! Now we need your help in a big way. We need you to VOTE for our entry Vote Here! You may vote once a day per email address, please forward this email to your friends and family. Help us help others.

Thanks,
Ben & Trish

Ashley & Brady's Wedding Party

http://youtu.be/sa3tAmnwSHA I know I am a little behind in getting this posted but I couldn't let it be skipped. This was Ashley and Brady's wedding party and they all worked really hard. The groomsmen were so cute practicing and it paid off! BTW Jai Ho translates to "You are my destiny" awwwwww!

Ashley & Brady Wedding Dance

http://youtu.be/sa3tAmnwSHA So Im a little behind in adding this video but it was too cute to pass up!

Gone Fishin' Oct '10

Bright and early Saturday morning, we drove to Henry Hagg Lake with our new purchased fishing gear and worms, lots of worms. We were so enthusiastic- gonna go catch some fish- can't wait! Time to hit the water! This trip was bittersweet for me. I grew up with a fishing pole in my hand. My PawPaw took me fishing every chance we could get. I have wonderful memories from those days fishing on False River. We would go to Bonaventure's to get a snack and it didn't matter that we all smelled like fish except when we got back and Mawmaw would say "boy ya'll stink!" But I haven't been fishing since the last time I went with PawPaw so I wasn't sure how it would go. (I got teary-eyed picking out hooks for goodness sake. How was I going to make it on the lake?) But everything came flooding back to me and I embraced it. It was an amazing day! Ben caught the first fish of the day- a small mouth bass but it was only a couple of inches long.

I caught my first fish, another small mouth bass. Things are looking promising!

Hours later, Ben caught 25 bass and 2 rainbow trout. I caught 4 bass and one LSU chair. (Okay, so I need to polish up on my casting skills!) One would think this would bring us a tasty fish fry when we got home. But it was not to be...after fishing for hours, we made the determination that this was just a "catch and release day" because there wasn't one fish big enough to keep! That's okay though because today was more about the experience for me. It was a successful day and I look forward to exploring many new fishing holes in the near future.

Releasing yet another fish... but the adventure was not to be missed!

Ben's Birthday 2010, cont.

There was one stipulation for choosing a hotel for Ben's birthday- it must be able to get ESPN 2 so that Ben could watch the Tigers play ball. That was a funny call... "Hello, do you have availability? Okay, does the room have ESPN 2? Yes-I'll take it." Bet they don't get that question very often, lol!

This is the front of the hotel. Isn't this a pretty picture? Ben loves pictures of bridges so it was cool that this was the view from our window.
We had a great dinner at Black Angus before racing back to watch the game. Look at Ben's face, you can just hear him saying "it's my birthday and I'll watch football if I want to." Good thing I love football!

GEAUX TIGERS!

The next morning, we walked around Esther Short Park. This is a cool statue in the park. Someone had placed fresh flowers in his hand.

At the fountain, Ben took up a "statue" pose.

Farmer's Market was going on and everything looked so good. I got some delicious radishes, cabagge, bi-color corn, yellow squash, concord grapes (they were so good!) and

yukon gold and baby red potatoes. Yummy!

Look at this crazy eggplant!

There were beautiful flowers too!

Ben's birthday will continue next weekend when we go fishing. Looking forward to it!