Why I Love...all of you!

I just wanted to post a quick thank you to all of the wonderful people in my life who made me feel so special on my birthday (you know who you are!). I was showered with notes, messages, mail, blog posts, comments, gifts, phone calls, deliveries, food, and compliments. Check out all my loot!

Happy Birthday Madelyn

We've been so busy lately we've hardly had time to sleep and eat (more on that later).... but we are taking a small break today to celebrate Madelyn's big 25th birthday. Let me start off this celebration by saying that we've have been pushing ourselves SO hard lately and where a lot of people would have thrown in the towel Madelyn's stood up on her sore feet and pushed through with a positive and cheerful attitude.... which has kept me and all of our helpers motivated and happy. Even as we're lying in bed at night so sore we can't physically move she's crackin' jokes and making me laugh. She truly is one of a kind... and I am very lucky.

Sorry for the short post....I promise, we will post a HUGE blog soon, but until then, please tell Madelyn happy birthday!

Why I Love...My Husband

He is very productive in his sleep. Today he woke up fully clothed - he is now "sleep dressing".

Why I Love...My Husband

Because this is what he brought home from work yesterday...just because he thought I would like them.

New Friends....

If you haven't noticed lately on this blog we've made some new friends. They have been a VERY welcome addition to our lives, because before they came along, we had two Austin friends.... Corby and Heidi. But that doesn't even hardly count, because Corby lives in Dallas.... so we actually only had one Austin friend.... and if she was busy (with some sort of pyramid scheme) then we were out of luck! So, the addition of three new friends has been a lot of fun. We met them less then three months ago and we've been amazed at how they've just completely let us into their lives.... we are really lucky (that goes to you too Heidi). We've mentioned them in some of our other posts, but it's time for me and Madelyn to give them a formal blog introduction. Am I the only dude in our group? Yes... but we get along so well I hardly notice. Except when someone schedules a "Girls Night"... which just means "No Cody".

Tobi:

Tobi was born and raised in Louisiana.... she's a hardcore Cajun. I'm talking swamps, jambalaya, and crawfish boils. If she told me she could wrestle an alligator I would believe her. But don't ask her what state is above Louisiana.... she doesn't know geography.

She married a Texan who loves to barbecue.... and I'm not talking hamburgers and hot dogs next to the pool... real Texas BBQ. Like, the best brisket we've have ever tasted... We're still full from that night.

Tobi is also hilarious... you will be laughing after hanging out with her for 10 minutes... guaranteed. Everything is funnier coming from Tobi.... maybe it's the Louisiana accent, but she's had me in tears on multiple occasions. The phrase "What is that? A Raccoon? What's he got? A Pancake" isn't that funny by itself... but coming from Tobi it's hilarious. Her Britney Spears impression is spot on and will leave you in stitches. She's also one of the nicest people we know... She volunteers her time at different charities, she always will drop everything to help a friend, and she will literally give you her necklace if you say you like it (this actually happened). She has been amazing with our dog Rocky... she has taken him off our hands when we've needed a dog-sitter multiple times. He loves going to her house and playing with her basset hound Bluebonnet.... they are best friends.

Jessica:

If you asked Tobi what she thought of Jessica she would say "I can't stand her".... this would annoy most people, but Jessica laughs every time. Everytime Tobi calls Jessica she answers the phone as her own assistant..... her assistant is extremely rude and annoyed by phone calls, when Jessica comes on the line she always says she really needs to get a new assistant. How cool is that?

Jessica is our music friend.... she likes all the same bands that we do and is always up for a concert. Jessica comes from Missouri (they're really are into wheat up there) and is half Brazilian (a Mizzilian or a Brazzouri). In fact, her cousin is some huge Brazilian actor. She doesn't let the family fame get to her head though.... she has the coolest apartment that Madelyn is envious of, she is hilarious, and she's always up for getting together.... if she can fit it in to her busy social calender. She names all of her possessions, Black Libby (her Jeep Liberty), Jermajesty the phone (her cell phone), Stevie the TV (her TV), and Nancy Blue (her blue iPod nano). She can rock out "Wave of Mutilation" and "Celebrity Skin"on RockBand... she can't be beat.

Angela:

Angela is Tobi's Cajun partner in crime.... she's from Louisiana and is the founder of Trivia Night Wednesday.... which is everyone's favorite week night. Here is why we like Angela (besides the fact that she's hilarious and fun to hang out with) , she has no filter.... you have no idea what she's gonna say next, but you know it's going to make you laugh.

Angela also did the best rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" at Karaoke.... we will never hear the song the same way. She's moving to Houston in a couple of weeks to follow her dream of owning a stationary/paper store. Although it will be sad to have her be gone... it's really amazing that she's going for it (we're totally jealous of her ambition). I told Jessica this weekend that we need to start taking resumes to fill in her replacement.... Ad will read:

Group of Friends looking for a replacement. Must like Billy's, have iPhone, be willing to drive Tobi, have general trivia knowledge, make us laugh, not be afraid to say exactly what they are thinking and speak in Louisiana accent. Dog's a plus.

We don't think we're going to find someone.

Wilco!

This weekend we went to Wilco down at Stubb's Barbecue which is a restaurant and a giant music venue, with our friend and fellow Wilco fan Jessica. I've been looking forward to this show since I purchased the tickets two months ago. Wilco, as always, was amazing.... if they ever come to your town GO AND SEE THEM! They put on such a great show.

This is Jessica and Madelyn standing in line to get in the show.... they're showing the Wilco gang sign.

We got there early so that we could get great seats.... and it payed off big time. But, the problem with going early is that we were standing for 4 1/2 hours straight!

Right before the show started I was really happy we got such great "seats" (i.e. standing room)

Madelyn right before the show started... the guy standing behind her is the reason she's been sneezing all day.... he had to have smoked a pack in a half! Austin has a smoking ban.... but outdoor venues fall into some sort of gray area. :(

Once Wilco hit the stage the cigarette smoke, the crowd, and the standing was all worth it... they ROCKED!

Jeff Tweedy, the lead singer, was a double threat... the music was incredible and he was hilarious.

They played two encores! But it still wasn't enough.....

Madelyn (who is not the "concert going type") had a blast.... she couldn't stop talking about the show all night long. It was just so good!

I've been trying all day to find a cheap ticket so that I can go again tonight (they're playing two nights).... Hopefully I can go again!

Kentucky Derby in Texas

This weekend we headed down to Retama Park outside of San Antonio to watch the Kentucky Derby. We thought it would be fun to grab some friends, get decked out in Kentucky Derby wear, and head down to the big horse track.... where you watch the Kentucky Derby on TV's, but can actually gamble on the race. Madelyn and I placed a large bet of 3 dollars (!!) on Big Brown.... and guess what? He won! So we walked away with a profit of $2.20! We are rolling in the dough....

The best part was seeing everyone dressed up in the big hats and seersucker suits. We had a blast.

Tobi, Jessica and Madelyn before leaving for Retama.

I wanted everyone at the track to know that I was a big spender.

Madelyn and Jessica on their way up to the top of the park.... the V.I.P. level.... it costs an extra dollar!


Jessica, Madelyn, Tobi and Allison... she had the coolest hat.


Madelyn and I learned that betting on horses is really a lot more complicated than you think. But we made the right choice!

This is minutes before the actual race started.... we just watched it on the TV's since it was in Kentucky... but it was fun being at an actual race track.

This is minutes before we walked away BIG winners.