Artichoke Heart...

No- this blog isn't dedicated to the yumminess of artichoke hearts, it is actually about our recent home decor project - the guest bedroom. The color of paint I chose was called "Artichoke Heart"!

This room has been largely ignored with white walls and no decorations. It had been on the "to-do" list for a while. We will be hosting our first guest next week (my Mom- yay!) so it was time to finally get this room in shape. Here are the before pictures...

Although it had already been prepped for painting, this room didn't have much going on, so these are still good "before" pictures!

Cheyenne coming to check it out...

Getting some love from Mom.

 As we made the final preparations, the entire family came in to see what was going on!

Zoe, Chey, Gypsy and Samson!

What piece of styrofoam?

Unfortunately, the green paint didn't photograph well which is disappointing. However, it is a very pretty color of celadon green... like this swatch I found online:

Here goes!!

We have painted enough rooms together now that we move pretty quickly as a team. I use the roller to cover most of the walls while Brad handles the trim. We were closely supervised by Cheyenne and Samson.

Don't worry about me Samson... I would hate to make you move.

The Trim Master.

It is hard work painting.

The final product:

 

The next day, we turned our attention to the Master bedroom... that post is next!

Brad's Surprise Birthday Bash at the Ballpark!

Today is Brad's birthday and it is the big 4-0. So, I knew we had to do something special!! Therefore the planning began some time ago and I had lots of help! For weeks, all Brad had been told was that we had plans last night and that I would be at his office at 4PM to pick him up. I had also told him that he should eat a light lunch and wear his tennis shoes... but that was it!

So, I left work at 2:30 yesterday and rushed home. I gathered up some shorts for Brad to change into and some other birthday details... like his parents!! They drove in from Boerne and met me at the house. Together we headed over to Brad's office. I hadn't been there to meet everyone yet and his parents hadn't yet seen where he worked, so it worked out perfectly. Now remember, Brad only knew that I was coming so he gave me a really funny look when I walked in with his parents!

After walking around his office and meeting everyone, we kidnapped Brad for the rest of the day and headed to dinner. We went to an Austin tradition... Salt Lick BBQ. A few years ago, they opened their second location in Round Rock, next to the Dell Diamond baseball field. The food is just as good without the drive out to Driftwood. However, it is still a bit out of the way so as soon as I headed down Hwy 79, Brad knew where we were eating! And now he knew why I told him to eat a light lunch because at Salt Lick, there is only one way to really enjoy their BBQ... all you can eat Family Style!

Just as we turned in to Salt Lick, Brad's Dad played into the mystery of the day by asking about the Dell Diamond. So, I explained that it was the home of the Triple A Affiliate to the Texas Rangers ("Farm Team"), the Round Rock Express. He even asked if they were playing that night and I pretended to not be able to read the sign and said I didn't know! Sneaky...

This was Larry & Dorothy's first time there so we enjoyed introducing them to the yumminess. We chatted and enjoyed dinner. 

As we wrapped up dinner, I explained to Brad that for the next part of his birthday, he would need to change into shorts (which I brought him). Then I told him he would also have to change his shirt. I handed him a RR Express t-shirt I had bought him and he said, "We are going to the game, aren't we?" YAY! It was also then that he saw this his t-shirt wasn't the average Express shirt. My friend Sally had helped me customize it... she printed the back like a jersey and it said "Becker 40".

We walked into the stadium and I guided us to where I knew the next surprise was waiting. Brad thought it was just us four going to the game but little did he know we had friends waiting! Laura and Mary had gotten their early to reserved a good spot in the lawn section. they had "Look Who is 40" signs and blankets all laid out and ready. We were greeted by "Surprise!!!!"

Our early birds that claimed our spot!

We settled into our seats to enjoy the game and visit with everyone. Throughout the evening other friends arrived, extending the surprises for the birthday boy! 

Brad visiting with Greg. Kristen and Hunter watching the game.

Mary watched the game for a while. However, after the players stopped flirting back, she decided to read. :o)

It was a very mild night for the middle of the summer!

Brad and soon-to-be-parents, Crystal and Robert!

Brad and Lili

But we weren't done with surprises yet... During the middle of the 3rd Inning, they announced all the birthdays in the house and I got Brad's name on the list! It was a fun moment. 

(Email link for video.)

Watch the scoreboard and then you can hear us cheer for Brad!

Shortly after that, our friend Sara showed up with the final surprise... a beautiful cake! She really did a great job and I can't thank her enough!!! Not only was it so well done and creative but it was yummy!!! Of course, Brad and I happen to have the same favorite cake (yellow cake with chocolate frosting), so I was just pleased as he was!

Sara & Brad

Awesome cake by Sara!

 We sang happy birthday, continued to enjoy every one's company and the game. 

Singing "Happy Birthday".

Doing the "Chicken Dance".

These girls crack me up!

Take One.

Take Two.

Take three... finally!

Sadly, the Express lost but the night was still a birthday success!! Thank you everyone that came, kept the secret and made the night memorable for Brad. Thank you to Laura, Mary and Sara for your help and to Sally for screen printing Brad's shirt. Finally, thank you to Larry & Dorothy for making the drive in for the night. 

Group photo!! Unfortunately some folks had already left!

One of the fun but smaller details were the tickets! I had bought a block of group tickets for everyone. I didn't even notice when I picked them up that they had customized them for us! 

See it on the right-hand side? 

Also, the plates and napkins were fun. I broke all sorts of baseball rules by bringing Dodgers napkins into the house of a Rangers team. Oh well! Blame Brad... he is a Dodgers fan!!

Finishing touches...

You may remember that before the wedding, we spent our weekends doing projects around Brad's house. Well, now that life has calmed down a bit, it was time to use some of the Home Depot gift cards we got for wedding gifts!

We had already spent a lot of time upgrading the guest bathroom, however, there was one key element we hadn't been able to do yet... the floors! So, this past Saturday we did just that!

The before...

Basic linoleum.

The new tile...

Pretty new "Beige Slate".

The after...

So if you go WAY back to my March blog, you can see the full transformation and I LOVE IT!

It is a good thing we did this Saturday... Sunday I managed to get a fun stomach bug that landed on the couch for two days!

The next projects in line... painting the guest room and master bedroom. Then flooring in the master bath and then... well, let's just say, the list is long! 

Thank you...

So many people contributed to our honeymoon that I wanted to make sure they were each recognized. Because of them, we have all of these new magnets on our fridge!!!

My in-laws, Larry and Dorothy who took care of our "kids" (dogs) Cheyenne and Samson. They loved running in the country and being spoiled while we were gone. They were exhausted and happy when you brought them home!

James C. who house-sat for us and took care of the smaller kids (cats) Zoe & Gypsy. It was such a huge help to us to know that the house and the cats were well taken care of!

Mike and Stephanie McD. who not only gave us a "reserved" parking spot at their house outside of Houston but Mike drove an hour each way to take us to the airport. As if that wasn't enough, they dropped off our car the day we arrived and sent us text messages with the parking space number!

My boss Sonnie, who approved my abnormally long time off from work. I hit her up THE WEEK she started with the company and she never batted an eyelash and helped me make it happen! 

My team at work that covered for me while I was gone. My job duties had changed some right before leaving for my trip... Denise & Joyce took care of those things wonderfully! The rest of the team covered the rest of my work and backed-up Joyce and Denise. It was a lot to ask my already over-worked teammates... the Swiss chocolates I brought them doesn't even come close to thanking them enough!

And then there were the folks that contributed directly through our Honeymoon Registry...

Dan B. - A Day in Venice and A Day in Paris

John & Sylvia A. - Lake Lucerne, Switzerland and Exploring Germany

Lisa L. & Jim - Breakfast in Bed (Enjoyed the weekend of the wedding.)

Mary H. - Tour of Ancient Rome

Blake & Joyce B.- Trip Contribution (Used towards souvenirs... Italian purses and French perfume!)

Matt & Becky L. - Rhine River Cruise

Sally H. - Tour Of London & The London Eye

Juanita B - Cable Car Ride in Switzerland & Rhine River Cruise

Ricky & Nicole G. - French Riviera Tour

Laura H. - Day in Amsterdam

Sonnie C. - Historical Italy

Thep & Stephanie T. - Gondola Ride & Italian Dinner

Kelly R. - Extra Night in London

Mike & Stephanie McD - Day Trip to Florence

Howard & Denise J. - Eiffel Tower

Rachel S. - Tour of Ancient Rome

Elaine F. - Day in Amsterdam

Thank you to EVERYONE that contributed in their own way... we couldn't have done this trip without you!

Day 18... The Long Journey Home...

Although the tour was officially over at this point, and most people would fly home from Paris, there had also been a option the next morning to ride with Franco and Bogi back to the port in Calais,France. From there you could take the ferry across the Channel and make your way to the airport or spend an extra day in London. We had chosen to get back to London our own way. We figured that since we were in Europe, we wanted to take the high speed train called the EuroStar. It would make it a hectic day of travel for us but we figured it might be a once in a lifetime chance.

We had such a full day the day before seeing Paris and enjoying dinner that our wake up call had come very early. We gathered up our things, checked out of our room and had breakfast in the hotel as we waited for our car service to pick us up. Unexpectedly we got to see some of our tour folks one last time as they were all beginning to make their way home. Then our car picked us up and took us to the Gare du Nord train station. We checked in at the station and found our seats on the train. 

A few interesting facts about the trip...

The train travels from Paris to London in just 2 hours and 15 minutes, using the English Channel.

The English Channel or "Chunnel" consists of 3 interconnecting tubes: a rail track for travel in each direction and one service tunnel. The length of the tunnel is 31 miles long, but only 23 miles are underwater. The average depth is 150 feet under the seabed. 

The train travels at 186 miles per hour. 

Wow... do we look tired, or what!?!

There is no doubt it was a "high speed" train... that thing moved. We saw a lot of the French countryside very quickly!  

(Here is the link to this video.)

After a snack and snooze on the train, we had arrived in London at the St. Pancras station.

They are getting ready for the 2012 Olympics happening in London!

 We made our way outside and met our car service that would take us to the airport. We checked-in had some lunch in the airport and then boarded our plane. The flight back would be 10 hours instead of the 8 it took us to get to London because of the head wind. We hadn't been as lucky with our seats for this flight and then in-flight movie selection wasn't as good... so it was a LOOOONG flight. 

 

We were delayed a little getting into Houston so it was Sunday evening by the time we arrived. We got to our car and made our way out of the airport and we were STARVING!!! So, we did what any good Texan missing home would do... we found a Texas Roadhouse. We both ordered steak and I got the coldest Dr. Pepper they could give me. It was good to be home.

The drive home from Houston to Georgetown that night was the longest drive of my entire life. We both struggled to stay awake and fell into bed when we finally got home. 

It was an amazing and unique trip. We have so many memories and saw some of the most fascinating and beautiful things this world has to offer. But as Dorothy said... "There is no place like home."