Christmas #1

What a busy yet FUN weekend!

 

This past weekend was a jam packed and I’m even a year closer to 30! It started off on Saturday afternoon with attending Austin’s (Travis’ cousin) graduation from the University of North Texas. After his graduation we headed to The Greenhouse Restaurant where we celebrated his commencement by stuffing ourselves full of good food. (By the way, I actually ate fish and it was good!)

 

After spending the afternoon with the Riley extended family, we headed back to our house with Rusty, Judi, and Derek (Trav’s parents and brother) to have our Christmas and celebrate the December birthday’s together. We were so full from our late lunch that we didn’t even eat dinner! Rusty and I are the Christmas babies in the family so we got to open our birthday presents and then it was time to open our Christmas presents with the Riley’s! What a wonderful first Christmas with our family in our little home. It was so wonderful to have the Riley’s be able to come up and spend the weekend with us and get to share our first of 3 Christmas’ together.

 

Sunday morning was race day. What is race day you ask? It is an annual Huey tradition that I started back in 2004. I had this “great” idea that I wanted to run a half marathon, so I found the White Rock Marathon in Dallas and started training. After I started training I asked Trent (my brother) if he would be interested and soon he started training; shortly after I asked my dad if he would be interested in walking the half and he said YES, so then he started training! So, in 2004 3 of the Huey’s ran their first half marathon and it has since become a yearly tradition. Dr. Steve Raley also joins us for race day, but he’s really cool and runs the full 26.2 miles. This year I bowed out and stood on the side lines whilst cheering on my family J With my birthday falling in December and the race always being the 2^nd Sunday in December, we usually celebrate my birthday post marathon. After everybody has completed the race, we head over to Campisis’ for some good Italian food and great fellowship and a little bit of birthday jubilee (presents and cake for me J).

 

The picture of the runner in the picture is Dr. Raley about to cross the finish line after completing 26.2 miles. Next year my dad will turn 60 and his goal is to run the full marathon in honor of his big birthday! I know my daddy can do it and I am already so proud of him for completing 5 half marathons.  I will re-enter the half next year and hopefully Travis will, too.

 

Next week we will celebrate Christmas day with my parents in Fort Worth and then for the weekend we will head to Houston for the Riley Family Christmas where over 40 Riley’s will be  gathered for the annual celebration of the Christmas holiday!

 

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Natalie's Birthday

Today December 15th is Natalie's birthday and I would like to say happy birthday to my wife. Without her I would not be the person I am today. Natalie I love you and thank you for being the wonderful wife you are. These past 9 months have been great and I can't imagine life without you. You have been my strength through all that life has thrown our way recently. Happy Birthday sweetie.

Trail Ride

 

Yesterday was my day off and I spent the morning at the gym meeting with my personal trainer and then treating myself to a nice cardio workout. When I got home Travis had the horses ready and we headed out to the 428 Greenbelt which is a public park owned by Denton County that has equestrian trails, canoeing sites, and jogging trails. The equestrian trail is 6.5 miles long and takes you along Lake Ray Roberts and some beautiful countryside.

 

This was my first time on a trail ride (a real ride, not one that you pay for or do at summer camp) and my first time riding Moose since he GRADUATED from school this past Saturday. Moose spent a month with a horse trainer refining his reigning skills and he is one excellent horse! 

 

The trail was nice as it took us through some open pasture that took us through some hard woods and we crossed the creek 3 different times having to make it up and down some pretty steep terrain. We made it down the trail about 2.5 miles and decided it was time to turn around and head back home.

 

While on our ride, we came across several armadillos just working away at finding food on the ground. They didn’t even get scared and run off, they just kept doing what they were doing! We also discovered that Travis’ horse, Sloan, has a very fast walk and my horse, Moose, walks extremely slow. I would take off to get a good head start and sure enough Travis and Sloan would catch back up with me and then we’d be left in the dust again.

 

I am a little sore from sitting in the saddle for so long, but it was worth every minute of it. I had such a great time with Travis and getting to know my Moose a little better. I cannot wait to do it again!

Sloan

Travis and I went on a trail ride with our horses yesterday. We stopped along the trail for a water break and I thought I’d snap a picture of Sloan as she rested.

 

More to come on our trail ride later!

Christmas Survey

 

I've been tagged for a Christmas Survey :)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping presents with paper. I will only go to a bag if I cannot find a box!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial- I’m allergic to the real ones, although I LOVE the smell~

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day

5. Do you like eggnog? I’ve never tried it, but knowing how picky I am…I don’t think I’d like it

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I would have to say my keyboard

7. Hardest person to buy for? Travis! He is notorious for returning things!!!!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but I think we need one!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail! Be looking in a mailbox near you. The 1^st annual Riley Christmas card is on its way.  

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A vacuum cleaner and Crockpot

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  I have two: ELF and Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around Thanksgiving. I love shopping on the internet

14. Have you ever re-gifted a Christmas present? No, but my grandmother was really good at giving ‘attic’ gifts as she got older J

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom’s Sausage and Cheese balls and egg casserole Christmas morning

16. Lights on the tree? I am a white light kind of girl

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We are now on a rotating schedule for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Riley Thanksgiving and Huey Christmas for 2008

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I don’t think so..I’m bad. Remember the movie Prancer?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Traffic driving home from work…uggg

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I’m a fan of our cute western ornaments

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I prefer our Christmas Eve dinner: tamales and Mexican food

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Personal training, new black boots, a Wii

I tag: Marci, Tara, Ryan, and Ashley

 

 

Almost 3!

In less than 3 weeks my sweet "little" boy, Coon, will be 3!!! He
makes me smile and I just love that little guy so much.