Friday, December 31, 2010

Looking Forward to 2011

Every year I get my pictures developed. Usually, I look them over and have fond memories. This year, I actually had some bad memories. Spending most of the year sick and not knowing it tainted everything. I remember everything was dull. After Brock broke his back, he has lived with a dull pain every since. Well, at first it wasn't dull. Now, it is. That affects his energy level and response to life as well. We have had a painful year literally.

I am already looking forward to 2011. I know it's going to be a much better year. I know that it's normal to think positively every New Year, but I am exceptionally optimistic about 2011. It's going to be great! I am all better. Brock is getting there. We enjoy traveling and doing shows where we tell the gospel. We love our friends and family. Life is great! Think good thoughts about 2011.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Rough Time

The last few days have been rough! We got to my parents' house Saturday afternoon. After we had been there for half an hour, Brock broke out in hives...bad! I gave him 2 benedrylls and assumed he would be a little hung over, but better in the morning. He had even more hives. He was miserable. Hives also make you stressed. Brock handles stress really well. Normally he is so easy going. However, it's a different story when he has hives. His eyes are big and full of worry...not a sight I am used to seeing. So, Sunday afternoon, I took Brock to an emergency clinic to get a steroid shot. The shot helped clear up the hives but gave him hiccups for 12 hours Monday.

To add to that, as we were driving around Houston with my parents Monday (while Brock was battling with hiccups), we lost all power and brakes. Brock was barely able to pull over in a parking lot. He used an incline to stop. He called AAA and mom called my sister, Kay. She and her family were in the car ahead of us going to a restaurant for lunch. We quickly realized that her cell phone was in her purse in our truck. So, my parents and I began walking the mile to the restaurant while Brock waited for the tow truck. Before we could walk the mile, my brother-in-law skyped us from the restaurant and he was able to come pick us up. However, dad and I had to ride in the back of the truck. It was crazy! We were being slung around and it smelled like trash back there. (He had just taken the trash that morning using that truck.) I cannot tell you how hungry we all were. It was 2 o'clock by then. It was a mess!

Finally AAA came, and our friend let us borrow his car until the next day when our truck was fixed. Brock's hiccups would stop for a few minutes after he tried another hiccup remedy, but it would start up again shortly all day Monday. Finally, late that night, they stopped for good. Tuesday, his esophagus was so sore from the hiccuping the day before. Tuesday night, he broke out in hives again, but after taking some Zertec, he quickly rid of them. Wow! We will remember this Christmas!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Private Jokes

You know how you joke about something with others that are in on it? We had a joke with all of the people we spent time with over the last couple of weeks. At Brian and Stephanie's, Brock let Ryder steer the truck on their little neighborhood rode. Ryder, age 5, would steer the truck right into the ditch. It made him nervous, but Brock let him keep steering. When Ryder saw a curve coming up, he took his hands off the wheel and adamantly said, "I'm not playing this game anymore!" That was our joke the entire time. Every now and then, someone would randomly say it. How funny!

At Brock's parents, we watched all kinds of funny youtube videos. Our favorite were Antoine, Latarion, and the injured bad kid. We quoted them often. Once, I put them all together and said, "I stole my grandmama's car cause I was mad at my mama, and you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis, so hide your kids. Hide your wife!"

At my parents' I saw this youtube video of a boy who got books for Christmas. He said, "What the heck is this?" Then, he threw down the books and said, "Books? Who wants books?" The reason I really took note of this was because I got my nieces and nephews books for Christmas. To my defense, they are Dr. Suess and I got them a stuffed animal that goes with it. That was our joke!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Time with Friends

We stopped by our friends house, Marcus and Rachel and their boys, in Birmingham for lunch last week on our way to Louisiana.PhotobucketBrock got "stuck" in the chair.

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PhotobucketThen, Brock did magic for the family.

PhotobucketHe also did magic for the neighborhood kids.

Then, we stayed with our friends, Brian and Stephanie, and their kids.Photobucket

PhotobucketMattie loved the seaweed salad. She is adventurous!

PhotobucketMe and Mattie

PhotobucketMattie "driving" the truck around the parking lot.

PhotobucketRyder sporting my sunglasses and Brock's hat.

PhotobucketRyder on his skateboard.

PhotobucketRyder and little Audrie.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Party at Gypsyland

PhotobucketAndrea, Sherri, and I made a Gingerbread house as decoration for the party.

PhotobucketWe had a very cajun Christmas with gumbo as our main course.

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PhotobucketWe had our traditional white elephant gift exchange.

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PhotobucketSome tried the bed of nails for the first time.

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PhotobucketLindsey the Dancer performed a killer magic routine.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Holiday Fun

PhotobucketBrock's been having some young magicians over every week to pour into them. It's fun!

PhotobucketWe went to a Christmas party at the Elrods.

PhotobucketThere, we hosted a chocolate tasting.

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PhotobucketWe also went to the Cocoa Tree where 15 others met up with us.

PhotobucketThere's John, Sherri, and Lindsey the Dancer.

PhotobucketMe and my friend, Carrie.

PhotobucketThere's Carrie and Lindsey the fire eater (we had 3 Lindseys there that night).

PhotobucketKatie and Stephanie.

PhotobucketBrock talking with Robbie.

PhotobucketAnd many others.

PhotobucketYummy!

PhotobucketA few of us being silly at an antique store in downtown Franklin.

PhotobucketThe rainy Dickens on the Square in Franklin.

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PhotobucketSnow at our house!

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

From Florida to Montana

Back in early November, we did shows in Florida and Montana the same week. This is what we saw in FloridaPhotobucket

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PhotobucketWe ate lots of seafood.

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PhotobucketThese are stone crabs which they are famous for in this area of Florida (around Clearwater Beach).

PhotobucketThen, in Montana, it was snowing! What a switch!

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PhotobucketI had a wonderful steak with blackberry sauce in Montana. It was amazing! They know how to do steak there!