Go Bison!

Did you hear? I'm sure you did...the NDSU Bison played the UofM Gophers on Saturday. There were over 14,000 Bison fans at the TCF Football Stadium. 3000 tailgaiting spots were taken up by Bison Alum.

I love school spirit!

Even though I could not participate in the festivities in MN, I gathered my only friend from NDSU that I have down in San Antonio with me, Dan, to watch the game. (Kyle was on a weekend-long hunting trip). A couple of our friends invited us over to their house for a grill out and to watch their alma-mater, A&M Aggies football game, we said "Sure! As long as we can watch the Bison play after!" So Dan and I met our friends and we watched their footbal game (A&M vs. Oklahoma St) but sadly the Aggies Lost (as usual). Then came the BISON! Dan and I were pumped. I was proudly wearing my Gophers vs. Bison yellow shirt, and Dan was proudly wearing his Bison Brigade shirt. We had a great time cheering for our team while surrounded by Texans. Even the Texans had fun cheering for our team, because we won!

We ended the night was some excellent brisket and a game of Farkle. So even though I couldn't be with all my friends at the TCF Stadium (I had quite a few with tickets!) Dan and I still enjoyed cheering our Bison on for a victory!

So, please do not mind the photos (taken with my phone) or my red forhead (the sun burnt me and gave my racoon eyes Saturday morning!) But here are a couple I managed to get on Saturday.

My friends Matt & Kasi (A&M shirts) and Dan (Bison shirt)                              The two Bison fans! Dan and me.

  

FYI: Temps are still in the 100s, in case you were wondering how in the world I got sunburt in September ;)

Chama Gaucha

That's where Kyle took me to dinner for our anniversary...Chama Gaucha. Don't know how to pronounce it? (Don't worry...I didn't either!) It is pronounced Ka-ma Goo-cha. It's Brazilian...because Chama Gaucha is a Brazilian Steakhouse!

I have always wanted to try a Brazilian Steakhouse...there are a few in the city here and they have perked my interest ever since I noticed them. Now of course they are out of our normal "let's go grab a quick cheap meal" price range, but it was excellent for our anniversary. The inside was gorgeous. There was actually space inbetween the tables to give privacy. They had an excellent wine selection, with many delicious brands for half the price they normally would be.

Let me explain how a Brazilian Steakhouse works. We sat down with 2 red "Chama Gaucha cards" on the table. The waitor explained that we can help ourself to the salad bar (the most fancy salad bar I've ever seen!) and when we where through, flip the cards over to the green side and the main meal will come. So after we grabbed some (9 month aged amazing parmesean cheese to go with our wine) and salad, we flipped the cards. Immediately waitors with huge skewers of meat came around offereing us some meat. Some of the meat we tried was file minion, top sirloin, prime rib, chicken, parmesean crusted pork chops, the house special meat (I forget what it was called but it was delicious!) and some others. We were amazed at the variety of the meat and that they all tasted fabulous. Of course I couldn't eat all of that, but I did try a bite of each at least. To compliment the meat they served a side of potatos, fried bananas, some other fried pan, and little parmesean cheese puffs that were to die for. (Kyle said they tasted exactly like the ones he had in Brazil!)

So after all that food, we were stuffed. But not too stuffed to share our desert. (Only on our anniversary we splurge for desert) So we topped it all off with Papaya Ice Cream. It was nice and light; the perfect desert to an amazing meal.

Kyle did a wonderful job picking the place to eat, and I get to cross off "try a brazilian steakhouse" off my to-do list!

Here's to another great year!

Happy Anniversary

Today is Kyle's and my 2 Year Anniversary. Can you believe it, because I can't! I cannot believe that it has already been 2 years since I walked down that isle. Since we shared that randomly hot day in September with so many of our close friends and family.

In these past two years Kyle has graduated from college, we moved across the country and we have continued to travel, meet new friends, excel in our jobs and now share everything with our lovable puppy dog. So, if the next 2 years are anything like the first 2, I can't wait!

Happy Anniversary, Kyle!

p.s. Kyle has already surprised me early this morning with notes posted all around the house for me to find and dinner reservations tonight...at a place I don't know yet! :) 

Oofda

Last weekend Kyle and I were at a friends house watching some college football. (Kyle is in a fantasy football league). I know little to nothing about college, after spending the last 6 years of my life trying to understand and get down the NFL. All of a sudden we are watching college. Anyway.

I was talking to a friend on the couch and he was telling me some story. All of a sudden, I said, "Oh OOFDA." I immediately started blushing. I knew the instant it was out of my mouth I was going to be made fun of for the rest of the day, heck, year. I looked back at my friend and he had the most quizical look on his fast, more or less asking me "What in the world did you just say?" I was dying of laughter and Kyle was dying of embarrasment that I actually said that. I finally get enough courage to look at the rest of the room (full of our friends) and they all have the same look on their face,

"What in the heck did you just say?!"

So I had to explain my Minnosotan word to them. Oofda. The rest of the day I was known as oofda. I get texts from friends using oofda, and I reply back like nothing. Then it hits me...they are making fun of me!

So, if you ever want to make a Texan speechless (which doesn't happen frequently) say oofda in a casual converstation with them.

Enjoy your weekend! Hopefully I keep my "oofdas" on the down low this weekend ;)

Take a Hike

We had a beautiful last week, the temps finally were in the mid-90s and it was gorgeous outside (minus the whole wildfire thing). We took advantage of that on Saturday and grabbed Tucker, picked up our friend Dan, and headed out to Government Canyon State Natural Area (yes...that is the offical name). It is one of Texas State parks and has some trails that allow dogs. We tried to make it there before noon, but we ended up getting a little lost and taking the long way there, so we got there right at noon (just as the sun was right above our heads...probably not the smartest thing to do!)

We were looking at a 5 mile hike, but since we got there late and the temp was already rising, we decided to go on the Savanah Trail, which was only about an hour hike. We grabbed some water bottles and away we went! I should clarify, this wasn't the "hike" I was thinking. It ended up being more of a walking trail, but as we came to find out, it was just about enough for Tucker!

As you can see, its not the traditional hike you think of in Minnesota, but it was still nice. I had never been out to that area of the city before, so we saw a new part! There were some green spots along the train, and there were some very brown spots. Looks like they had a disease wipe out some trees or something...we weren't sure what had happened.

Kyle, Dan and I were doing fine, but Tucker was struggling. I am sure his fur coat didn't help anything. He would dart from one shade spot to the next, trying to get out of the sun as much as possible. We ended up stopping to take a few breaks for him....he finally mastered the art of drinking from a waterbottle, though! He took down 3 bottles on the trail!

 It was a fun outing, even though there are better trails around the area I am sure. It got us out of the house for a while and Tucker even got some exercise! It will be even more fun to go on these trails in late Nov-Feb when Tucker won't get nearly as tired and we can go longer distances in the cooler weather. Hopefully that day is still coming, we are back in the 100s again this week!

...still no rain in sight.

TX Wildfires

The past few days have been good and bad all rolled into one mixed-up emotion. Sunday the temps dropped dramatically...I remember taking Tucker outside and thinking it was a "bit chilly," when I checked my phone for the temperature it was 78º....I didn't believe it. When Kyle woke up at 5 am, it was 60º. We were thrilled! Not only did the temps drop, the humidity vanished. Amazing, right? For our sake it was a wonderful Labor Day (even though both Kyle and I had to work). The only damper? Wind. Wind gusts from 10-30 miles an hour. Usually this isn't a big deal, but when you ad the dry state to dry air to hot temps and wind? It's a wildfires best dream.

Sunday the wildfire in Bastrop, TX started. It is east of Austin, about 1.5 away or so from Kyles and my house. Here is a map to show you were the fire is in relation to our house (where the yellow circle is).

To date, this is the most destructive fire in the state of TX. On Monday it was averaging 16 miles long and 6 miles wide. Due to how dry it is down here and the wind we had on Sunday and Monday, they had 0% of the fire contained. It was a free for all those two days and sadly, in those two days alone, around 500 homes were destroyed. As of yesterday? 800. About 5,000 residents in the area have been evacuated - most not knowing if their home is still standing or not. One of Kyle's co-workers had a home in the Bastrop area. He has not  been allowed to go back to it, and has no idea if it is standing or not...this has been since Sunday.

Sadly, that is not the only wildfire that has popped up since Sunday. In the San Antonio area alone, there have been 4 fires since Sunday. One started because there was a truck out working on a sewer line and the heat from the underside of the truck sparked the dry grass on fire. Thankfully they all have been contained with no homes destroyed, but firefighters are still on a 24/7 watch on some "hot spot" areas that flames could still errupt. Hundreds of acres have been burnt, but no casualties. That is not true for the rest of the state though.

An arial shot of a row of homes burnt to the ground in Bastrop, TX

In Central Texas alone, nearly 1,400 homes have been destroyed. Out of all the fires blazing, they are only about 30% contained, which is not very much. There have been 45 square miles blackened out by the Bastrop fire alone.

This is not a very upbeat blog, but I wanted to share with you the reality of these fires. I'm sure you may have heard about them, but it is serious and not close to being over. Thankfully, Kyle and I are safe and so far no threat to us or our home. Pray for rain. Pray for the people that have had their lives turned upside down in the last couple days. And then one more time? Pray for rain. :)







Last First Day

Today is my little sister's Last First Day of High School. Do you remember yours? I do...and I can't believe it is my little sisters turn now! It seems like just yesterday we were playing in the living room, having her tattle on me for some reason or another (it was quite common).

But, in all my years of sports and school functions, plays and other extra curicular activities, Ashley was always there for me. I know she didn't have a choice, really, but she was there. She sat through endless volleyball games, plays and what not, and now I am sad I can't be there for her during her most exciting year of high school.

Her passion is volleyball and I wish with all my heart I could see her play her senior year, and hopefully I can make it work. But I realize that some things are simply out of my hands; I wish her the BEST Senior Year ever. Mine was a blast, and I hope she has the same!

Here's to you, Ash...hope its a good one!

Smell the Roses

Last night as I was playing with Tucker in the backyard I noticed the sky. It was a beautiful sunset over the golf course, so I had to take a picture. It made me appreciate the beauty in nature (even if it is all burnt and dry) and it also made me stop and appreciate the small things in life we take for granted everyday.

The phrase, "Stop and smell the roses" came to mind. So, for this holiday weekend, I hope you can all "stop and smell the roses" while you enjoy time with friends and family. Monday is not just "a day off of work," its more like one more day with the people and things you love.

So, I hope you all "smell the roses" this weekend!

Guess Who's One?

That's right, we had a birthday yesterday. Tucker turned 1! (As Kyle so nicely pointed out, he actually turned 7).

I took the occasion to take some new pictures of him. I haven't taken any recently, and he was in an excellent mood. I think he knows when I pull the camera out that he is going to be the center of attention (with a few possible treats along the way!) This picture pretty much sums it up.

He posed for me over and over again. Kyle and I took a few pictures with him as well, have to have updated pics of us with the birthday boy, too!

 



Not sure that I can say that Tucker was "loving every minute" of our little photo shoot, but he still did excellent :)

So, just to remind you...this is what he looked like as a puppy (below). And, one year later, here he is! A healthy, strong and smart pup. And yes, I will still call him my puppy (even though he could take me out any day). 

Overall Kyle was not too happy I played "dressup" with his male dog, but he laughed at the pics all the same. Hope you enjoy them as well!