College Football
Big 12 Showcase

As college football season comes to an end, several teams from the Big 12 South will be featured on or near the day of their bowl game. (For those teams who aren't in bowls, that's okay, you'll be featured on the "filler" days.)

I am most excited about this series of blog posts because I have guest bloggers who have submitted their pictures, stories, memories and traditions.

Visiting college campuses has always been fun to me. I enjoy getting a sense of the school spirit and traditions.

Thanks to everyone who has agreed to participate so we can all get a glimpse into the schools you love! (It's not too late if anyone wants to be a guest blogger.)

OKLAHOMA STATE

A BIG thanks to Leigh Ann for taking the time to write this post and provide the great pictures. Be sure to visit her blog (click here) and leave comments for her.

"I just love football season and the fall! Most of all, my Oklahoma State Cowboys! I live in Tennessee, but do watch the Cowboys every chance I have. I’m so excited they’re having such a successful season. Gosh, they should have beat Texas. No offense KayVonne! I went to OSU very briefly in 1992. I had a tad too much fun, so transferred to a smaller university in Oklahoma and got serious about school and graduated. My time at OSU was so much fun and I continued to visit when I could. I am the only person in my family that loves OSU, my dad and brother are OU fans (they did not go to school there). My mom wears orange just to please me I think. What a sweet mom! As you can see, my husband even participates and he’s a Tennessee Vol!"

Leigh Ann, John, L.A.'s mom

A Family Divided

"I think one of the best football memories I have is in 2001, OSU beat the OU Sooners 38-28. I went to the game and the OU fans were on their high horse, undefeated, seeing the national championship in their site. OSU played like it was the national championship! I’ve never seen an OSU crowd get that crazy, yes, goal posts came down. Then we headed over to Eskimo Joe’s for a beer, then for pizza at The Hideaway."

"The newest addition is the renovation of the old Lewis Field. It was in need of expansion and updating. Thanks to T. Boone Pickens, Cowboys got their wish. I’m sad I have not gotten to see the new stadium since I moved. Maybe my husband will take me there next season?"

"There’s a lot of tradition at OSU. We were founded in 1890, before Oklahoma was a state. There are around 26,000 students and offer a broad range of educational programs. Some include agriculture, engineering, veterinary medicine, and osteopathic medicine. OSU’s mascot is Pistol Pete. Known as "Pistol Pete" for his gun-totin' skills, Francis Boardman Eaton was a deputy U.S. marshal in Indian Territory. Born in 1860, the Perkins, OK resident was one of the Wild West’s most colorful characters. Another great tradition is the “Spirit Rider”. The Spirit Rider is a cowboy mounted on Bullet, the horse, and together they represent more than just school spirit. They are an example of OSU's western heritage. When OSU scores a touchdown, Bullet rides out on the field to celebrate. It’s so great to hear the announcer say “Heeere comes Bullet” after a Poke TD!"

"I’m proud to be an OSU fan and will always cheer for my Cowboys. It’s a great school, full of rich tradition, and maybe our kids will be OSU alumni someday!"

THANK YOU LEIGH ANN!

Tune in to the Holiday Bowl tonight when Oklahoma State plays Oregon.

2008 Year in Review

I hope you enjoy my third annual Year in Review.

To watch the slideshow at your own pace, click the 'next' button in the lower right corner. If you click 'play' or let it play on its own, it goes too fast.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Merry Christmas 2008























Merry Christmas to you and your families. Thank you for visiting my blog and especially for the comments you leave.

Here are some upcoming posts I have planned so be sure to tune in:

• Big 12 Football Showcase - send me your pics, stories, game day traditions, etc.
• 2008 Year in Review
• Bedroom Make Over
• Recipes - including Black-Eyed Peas for good luck!
• Christmas & Holiday Season Pictures
• 5,000 Visits to my Blog - when this happens, I am going to have a give-a-way! Watch the site meter at the bottom so you'll know when it's getting close.

Happy 70th Birthday PaPa!

December 12th was a very special day and the start to a weekend full of fun and surprises.



































PaPa (a.k.a. Fluff) & Mel flew to Dallas for the weekend.

They knew about the flight....

















....and knew we had dinner plans at Bob's Steak & Chop House......


















....and about the tickets to the Prestonwood Baptist Christmas production "Gloria".....
















....and plans to see the neighborhood with the best Christmas lights.















But little did they know that lunch at the Purple Cow on Saturday would bring much more than their famed purple milkshake.















For the Brazoria County readers, this is not to be confused with Kitty's Purple Cow on Surfside Beach. (which sadly Fluff told me is closing because it couldn't make a recovery after hurricane Ike)
















As they entered the Purple Cow, they saw a lot of purple and a lot of small stuffed toy cows.....













.....and Derek's family?!?


















What? It couldn't be! They don't live here. They're not coming up for the weekend. Oh, but yes it can. Derek's family drove up for the weekend as a surprise to PaPa & Mel. Now the fun can really begin!

What started as a threesome for the weekend....



















....ended with all our family together.
























Fluff on his 60th birthday with no help on the cake, candles or presents
















Fluff on his 70th birthday....


















....with more than enough help on the cake, candles & presents.













































































Our only regret for the weekend is that we couldn't go to Wendell's Surprise 70th Birthday Party in San Marcos. Wendell & Fluff are BFFs and were born on the same day on the same year. Laurie, send pics from Wendell's party!

Check out the slideshow for more birthday pictures:

Make a Smilebox slideshow