Happy birthday, Sister!

My first REAL memory is the day that my parents brought my sister home from the hospital. Maybe because it was traumatic and exciting and life changing all at the same time, but never the less - I really do think it was my first memory, ever.
I was 2 years 9 months old. I didn't really know what in the world was going on. Both sets of my grandparents (and I'm sure there were others, but that is all I remember) were at our house. I was standing by one of the blue wing-back chairs as I watched the old tan Buick (with a navy top) slowly pull in to the driveway from the window closest to the garage. Grandfather was standing next to me. I want to say that I was wearing a smocked white dress, but that may be false. (But we did have lots of those dresses.) Everyone was so super excited, but I still don't think that I really understood what everyone was so excited about. After that, the memory picks up sometime later that day when I was apparently annoyed that everyone was paying so much attention to the little one. I was found, hiding in my closet, by Grandfather, who picked me up and took me in the den where people still oohhing and ahhhing over her, of course. Grandfather probably then gave me a very convincing speech about how she was going to be a fun sister (little did I know that you can't really play with them right away - ugh) and that I would be the big sister that would help Mom and Dad.
Well, of course, Grandfather (and everyone else that talked to me about being a sister) was right. It has been an absolute BLAST having a SISTER. Probably one of the best things ever. I always had someone to play with, someone to trade food with when Mom and Dad weren't paying attention, someone to spy with, someone to sing with, someone to torment me, someone to talk to, someone to share clothes with, someone to endure long torturous road trips with, someone to enjoy Texas A&M with, someone to have a beer with (I like beer, too!), someone to vacation with, some to share tragedy with, someone who was also forced to wear sister outfits, someone to watch The Sound of Music over and over with and someone to love.
I love you, MA!
And now, for some pictures of cute little baby, Mary Alice.

This was the first sister Christmas card picture. MA's first Christmas, 1984. She used to always say that I was squeezing her in this pic, but clearly, I wasn't.

This is a mad Mary Alice in the chair in Meemaw and Grandfather's kitchen in Odessa. Notice the AWESOME wall paper. And the tiny screaming baby. This would have been her first trip to Odessa. Later in life, we would learn how to play jacks in that exact spot on the kitchen floor.

Looks like the same Christmas trip to Odessa. This is Meemaw (Mom's mom, Mary Jane) holding Desha and MA. I love Desha's face in this pic. And look! MA isn't crying!! :) She was sooo tiny!

Here is Mary Alice in what I would like to call her own personal torture chamber. She HATED car seats. Passionately. I'm also totally amazed that she isn't crying in this picture. Maybe because she knew that she was about to be freed. Mom says that on one car trip I couldn't entertain MA enough to get her to stop crying (Mom was driving), so I told mom to pull over and let me drive so that she could try to get MA to stop. :) Good big sister - that was no where NEAR big enough to reach the pedals.

Mary Alice, Aunt Thera and Papa in Grandma and Papa's entry hall. I don't really know much about when this was taken. If I had to guess,  I would say MA's christening or Easter. MA was the baby on both sides of the family! Youngest of 8 grandkids on Dad's side, and youngest of 4 grandkids on Mom's side.

A pouty MA hiding in the corner at Grandma and Papa's. Behind the china cabinet/hutch in the dining room. 

Cute outfit, MA! Standing in the doorway from the dining room to the kitchen at Grandma and Papa's house. I especially love the red tights and shoes. She looks so darn cute!

Bath pic! Had to do it. We learned the flags of the world with that shower curtain. :)

Reindeer MAW. With a cool sweater with matching leg warmers. I had a similar outfit, as well. :)

MA loved magic. This was her magic-themed birthday party (I think.)

MA's COOL soccer ball cake in Austin. She was a soccer stud. And made us all sit through many a torturous cold Panhandle soccer game.

I could go on and on with pictures, but I will leave it at that. (You can see a bazillion on FB.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SISTER! I love you!

Me ke aloha, 

RAWE

Sports-filled, Action-packed Weekend! (Oct. 8-9)

I wrote this a long time ago and forgot to post it. :( Boooo. But, here it is for your reading pleasure, anyways!

Weekend before last (Oct. 8-9) we made the trip up to Dallas with the pups. Friday night we ate dinner with Z's parents and some other Allen FUMC folks, and walked across the street to the Allen High School football stadium for their homecoming game. Allen's stadium was bigger than Pampa's (of course), but not as overwhelming as I thought it might be. The band, cheerleading squad, Tallenettes (dancers), football team and other student organizations WERE huge, though! Allen won the game, and we had a great time!
Saturday we got up, had breakfast with Steve and Kay, and headed to Cowboys Stadium (aka Jerry World aka the Death Star) in time to see the corps march. Of course we picked the one lot where the corps was forming, so they wouldn't let us in to park. Finally, after some frustration, they let us in the lot, and we got to catch the end of the parade and saw Zac's outfit (that he was in and now advises), K-2. We then walked over to one of the Rangers' parking lots to see Z's friend Heath who was tailgating for the Rangers game.
Then we talked back over to the stadium to see Z's cousin Kim and her husband Jason. Later we met my friend AJ at the entrance to get our tickets and join our group to watch the game. AJ is from Pampa and GENEROUSLY offered for us to sit with him and his friends in their family's box in the Ring of Honor. And let me tell you, the suite was amazing! We were up high enough to see the entire field - on the 45ish yardline - and didn't have to look up and strain our necks to see the massive jumbotron. We also had food, drinks and our own bathroom! (It's the little things.) :) Thank you, AJ, for letting us join you for the game! Sadly, the Aggies lost to Arkansas, but it really was a good game with great people. After the game we drove to Carrollton for dinner with Z's grandparents. We had a great time catching up and relaxing with them.
Sunday, after breakfast with Z's parents, we drove down to Fair Park for the State Fair of Texas! This was my second visit to the fair. The first time was on a date with Z. :) We met Mandy and Meranda (her first time to the fair!) There were SO many people - crazy crowds, lines, etc. We all learned that we should try our hardest to never visit the fair on a weekend again. From now on, we would like to try for weekday evenings. We did enjoy some fried tornado taters, corny dog and Z had a turkey leg. Teal, Beth and Kate also came to the fair later that afternoon, and we tasted some wine and talked for a little while. We had a great time at the fair, and definitely learned a lot of things NOT to do the next time! ;)
Afterwards we stopped at Northpark Center to look for a dress for the two formals I have coming up this fall. LUCKILY, I found one - the first and only one I tried on! Hooray!! You will see pictures of it after the Navy/Marine Corps Birthday Ball (Oct. 22nd) and the Junior League Charity Ball (Nov. 13th.)
And that, my friends, is our weekend wrap-up!
Me ke aloha,
RAWE