The Most Important Part of February

So excited this weekend if finally here!

Junior won the pole and also wrecked it, so he'll have to start at the back. I'm still hoping he makes it to Gatorade Victory Lane Sunday!

The Event That Changed My Life

As I've been watching the Daytona 500 coverage the past two weeks, it has been covering the tenth anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death. He was killed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 on February 18. That event did not affect me. I was no race fan at the time. I know for those whose driver was Dale Earnhardt, it was devastating. I remember hearing on the radio what Mike Helton said. "We lost Dale Earnhardt." Little did I know how much it would make me into the person I am today.

I was in seventh grade and had the best science teacher ever, Mrs. Catoe. I was in her study hall and she turned on his memorial service during school. I saw Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and I just thought he was so cute. I asked her who that was and she told me. She also mentioned that he was a racer too.

Cue infatuation with Junior.

I loved him. Everyone knew it. If I didn't get something Junior at Christmas or my birthday, it was a big deal. In fact, if I got something other than Junior merchandise it was odd.

Case in point. (Taken 2008)

I remember my first attempt at a Cup race. It was April 2002 at Texas Motor Speedway. It rained it out. I didn't get to see it.

The next year I did get to go to Texas Motor Speedway. Beautiful day. Awesome race. Junior finished second. Let's just say if I though I loved NASCAR before I saw a race, I became passionate after that. There is nothing like the smell of rubber and the sound of 43 engines. I had goosebumps for 500 miles.

Fast foward five years. Because I love racing so much my friend thought I needed to meet a local racer because she thought we'd hit it off....

She was right. 

In November of 2009, I worked the fall race at Texas Motor Speedway. It was amazing. I thought it was the best weekend ever. 

This was taken during a Cup race. The cars were going about 200 mph. Yeah, AWESOME!

I was wrong. The following spring semester I go to intern at TMS. I met some great people. It was a great experience. And it made me love and appreciate NASCAR even more. 

And I got to back in November 2010. 

No, I am not obsessed with Junior anymore. He is still my favorite driver. Always will be. 

How I wish I could have seen Dale Earnhardt race. I am thankful that from such a tragedy to race fans came such a great story for me. I believe I would be a different person if I did not like racing. I love the sport. There is not another sport that has such pride. American pride. Driver pride. They always pray before the race. What other sport can say that?  

I will always be a race fan. It has brought so many good things and people into my life. And it still gives me goosebumps every green flag. 

Valentine's Day

Let me start by saying, Valentine's day is not an important holiday to me. Why do I need one day out of the year to celebrate love? I tell the people I love that I love them every time I see them. To me, it is a commercial holiday. That being said, I do do stuff for it, I just don't do a lot. And I don't expect anyone to much for me.

My sister sent me gorgeous flowers. Totally wasn't expecting and they delivered it to my work.

And Ryan bought me these! Gorgeous!

I cooked shrimp, twice-baked potatoes and broccoli for Ryan. And bought him some Gummy Bears. Ha! 

Love Spills Over

This weekend my Grandma and I went to Rockwall to make a very special delivery to two very special girls.

Let me preface the rest of the story by saying that my Grandma use to make amazing cakes. She made wedding cakes, birthday cakes- they were awesome. When my sister and I were little she would make us doll cakes. For my 4th birthday my Grandma and Aunt Shirley made me one. 

Isn't is so pretty? I remember taking these pictures, I wanted no one to be in the pictures with me. Ha!

So Anna saw this picture during Grandma and Grandpa's 60th Anniversary party and she asked Grandma if she could have one. Of course Grandma would make her one! And I got to help. 

My Aunt Shirley, Grandma and I worked on the cakes Friday night and took them to the girls on Saturday. 

     Anna's was pink! (like Sleeping Beauty)

Audg's was blue! (like Cinderella)

I believe the cakes were a success! And aren't the girls adorable in their dress up clothes!

I looked at Audg right after she got her cake and this is what she was doing!

Anna thought it was a good idea, so she tried it too!

I had an absolute blast getting to play with these sweet girls and seeing their little sister. I adore them! While I was there we played Rapunzel (aka Tangled). Playing Rapunzel with them showed me that their minds are indeed like a sponge. I know they saw Tangled in theaters (probably once, twice at most) and they remember the prince's name, the villian's name and so many details about it! It is just a reminder to constantly be aware of my words and actions when around them. =)

We were trying to get Audg (in the background) to come take a picture, instead we made a silly face!

 I cannot tell you how in love with this picture (and girls) I am!

 This sweet little baby! <3 her! And I love that her mom calls her Little E. 

Ha! We were making faces at each other. Such a cutie!

Cornbread for a Mole

I made these for supper one night...

For this....

Hahahahaha! Good thing I do love him. 

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Faith of a Mustard Seed

The Rest of January...

So I've been gone for like half a month.

This is because I don't have internet at my apartment and bum off Ryan from down the road...however. This doesn't always produce the best signal and I simply have not had the signal to do a post and have been to lazy to go to his house with my computer. (Forgive journalism gods for that extremely long sentence.)

So since the last post not much has happened. I got to go my cousin Anna's birthday party and loved getting to spend special time with my little cousins.

The birthday girl and I. She is just such a beautiful little girl!

The birthday girl in her princess outfit at her party.  

Little sister Ellery. She is just so tiny and adorable. And slept the whole time!  Oh to be a baby!! =)

 Then there's this one. And she is absolutely a mini me hilarious. Her personality is just precious. I have a great story on her, but will save for another post. 

I love this picture. My 17 year old brother willingly went to a 5 year old girls birthday party and then played princesses with his "almost 3" year old cousin and her cousin. Just precious. He did get to be the prince. Audrey had given him Sleeping Beauty's prince, but she was playing with Ariel. She finally found Prince Eric and informed Brett (Prince Philip) that she didn't want to marry him anymore, she wanted to marry the other prince. HA! Love her!!!!

 And this adorable handsome little guy came over too. He definitely looks like he is one riding the rocking horse all by himself. He also was walking with the help of a grocery buggie toy. So precious. 

 And she got a bike for her birthday! It was so cute when we heard the bell ring. She had no idea she was getting it. (She also got a pogo stick.) I think she'll be riding and bouncing around in no time!

I have been cooking a lot lately and decided to document the things I make. Just for future reference. One night I made taco tilapia. Just mix taco seasoning with the tilapia. It was actually really good. I have also attempted made a lemon-butter-garlic sauce to go with tilapia. It was pretty good. 

These are stuffed bell peppers I made. They had yellow rice, turkey meat, tomatoes and cheese in them. Pretty good I think. And that's coming from someone who doesn't like bell peppers. 

I wanted to include this because I think it is a funny story. My sister made this shirt for my Grandma when she was probably 8 or so. My Grandma wore it Anna's birthday party and Audrey told her she didn't like cats. My Grandma said well this cat is nice. Audrey looked at her and said very matter-of-factly "I DON'T LIKE THAT BLACK CAT EITHER!" Haha! So Audrey.