Company Ski Trip - Jan. 2009

CRESTED BUTTE, CO - Company Ski Trip

January 2009

The Condos we stayed in

My Room...it was amazing!

Freezing on the slopes, but having a great time!

It was a beautiful trip...until next year!

...and none of it was Vanilla...

This week we took a little trip to Grapevine, Texas to a beautiful hotel and convention center called the Gaylord Texan.
Every year they open up this huge exhibit filled with ice sculptures that weigh over 2 million pounds! They keep the room at 9 degrees in order to not melt the ice...so the complimentary parka's were a huge help.
This place had so much crazy stuff...including an ice bridge, ice slide and an ice santa. All larger than life...we had a great time with great friends! Hope you enjoy!

Tis the Season

This past Sunday marked our last Radius of 2008!
What a great night to end such a great semester of blessing...and celebrate the love of our God.
It was an awesome night...and it just keeps getting better!

Apparently, the only pictures we got on our camera were of our fruitcake eating contest...that, and Jeremiah with a Rudolph nose...not sure where that fits in. But nonetheless, enjoy!
Thanks for keeping up!
You may now return to the edge of your seats...
-Scott & Ashley

Christmas Build-up

::Once again...it's been all too long since the last update. So you can all rest your fingers from clicking back and forth daily to our site...because--Hark! There she blows!

Our Christmas season started about the same time that most of yours did...and that was the Friday after Thanksgiving.
We started the day by waking up at 4:30am...and heading out into the wilderness of Black Friday.
This was my first experience with Black Friday Shoppers...and man...i loved it! Well, with the exception of all the lame folks that i wanted to knock out--which was everyone, minus Ashley...sometimes :).
But it was a greatly productive day for us. And i stress the "for us" part...because i don't think we bought for anyone but ourselves. Tis the season, right?

We then headed home...busted out the decorations, and went for it! Decorations everywhere...apparently, everyone was so excited, just not much help.
For the first time, we were able to decorate the outside of our house for Christmas! After an almost life threatening incident with a ladder, a broken bulb, a three trips to Wal-Mart (still Black Friday..stay with me.) for a better staple gun...we were ready to go!
We decked it out this year! Well...decked it out in my sense of the word this time of year...but it was a great day to welcome in our second Christmas together in Dallas.

Thanks for keeping up!
-Scott & Ashley

update...not upchuck

By my calculations, it has been approximately 3 months since our last post. Whoa, my bad!
To be honest, i haven't had anything overly exciting to blog about...and don't think that today is any different.

I just thought i would update you on our lives...

Let's see...September, i don't even know what happened in September, let alone to September.
Youth kickoff had to be the highlight of the ministry side of our lives. September 14 we kicked off our school year. We had 60 students show up--I was blown away! Since then, we haven't hit 60 again, but we're getting closer and closer. God is truly blessing our ministry here at Collin Creek, and bringing more and more students into our lives for us to minister to.
I keep pulling up my calendar to see what else went on in September. Ryan's birthday was in September. Ashley & I bought him Pee Wee's Big Adventure on DVD. I specify DVD because that movie is so old, i wondered if it was even on DVD...in case any of you were wondering if it is or not, it is! Can you say, Adobe?
Now, for those of you still reading this, you can agree that with the subject matter i am covering, really...nothing noteworthy really went on in September...well, except Fall rolling into town, and even that isn't anything to party about!

Let's move along...October was an insane month! Ashley is climbing the corporate ladder at her job. She filled in for a girl for 3 weeks and became the Assistant to the Head Hancho, himself. She had a great time, and really got a chance to prove herself...even more so by working 55 hour weeks for those three!
She has now, almost officially, moved up to be the assistant to 3 of the other partners! We're stoked on this! Like I said, Ashley has proven herself over and over again, and is even designing, starting and heading up a mentoring program within the firm! Yes, she's that good!

We took a weekend trip up to Bartlesville to see Terry and Annie who were in town from Montana. It was such a good time to catch up, hang out and make fun of people. We miss those days!

October held Halloween in its bowel's. (doesn't make sense to me either...)
The day started with Ashley going to work, and me going to the golf course! A few buddies and I went to golf. Now, i haven't even picked up a club for over a year by this point, so i was a little hesitant. But all in all it was a great day! I hit my first PAR. It was a par 3. Pretty impressive, huh?
That night was a good time! Ashley made chili, carmel apples, rice crispy treats...and i grated the cheese!
We had about 12 couples from church over...hung out, laughed, played Scattergories & Mario Bro's, passed out candy and ate a whole bunch of food. It was a fun night!

November...see, we're already here! November has been interesting...and when i say interesting, i say that in conjunction with the rest of this blog.
November--we voted! Now, in Texas, they have this little ditty called "Early Voting". It is when you can vote anywhere in your county (not just your polling place like you do on Election Day!). I, for one, really wasn't sure what this was all about. So i neglected to "Early Vote".
Ashley, along with about 99% of the people we know, decided to take advantage of early voting. It literally took Ashley about 43.9 seconds to vote! She was in, she was out and on with her day.
I waited for voting day. All i heard was, "Bring a book, you'll be standing in line for hours!" Well folks, i walked into my polling location...i was in, i was out and on with my day. I even went to Starbucks and used my "I voted" sticker to get me a free coffee. (Which everyone that had an "I voted" sticker could do.) So, this "early voting" business just might not be your golden ticket!

November is also the end of the regular season of High School Football! We have literally spent every Friday (and sometimes, Thursday) night at football games. It's been a great season! But not so sad that it's over...

Speaking of over...so is this blog. Because there you have it folks! An update on the Stevenson's lives in Texas.

Hope you enjoyed the read. It's been an exciting three months as you can tell! So whipe that sweat off your brow and return to the edge of your seats!

Love and miss you all!
-Scott & Ashley

Climb, Climb up Media Mountain

Luckily, our world can now return back to normal…the Olympics are over! Now, to be honest, I was kind of over the Olympics on day 3. Ashley on the other hand loves the Olympics…and I mean: L.O.V.E.-spelled-out-in-sign-language-because-you-cannot-speak-during
-the-olympics, love’s the Olympics. Now I must admit, I don’t miss the games. I think what really threw me off were the horrible ribbon-dancer competition…and the even more horrible news anchor that interviewed all the winners throughout the games. Now, my beef with this lady isn’t anything huge, except for the fact that she was the worst interviewer I have ever seen. How awkward could you make these two weeks? Now, I do have some evidence to back that statement up. After Michael Phelps won one of his eight gold medals, he walked over to this lady and she asked, “How do you think you did out there?” Sure, a valid question, but really lady! He just won the gold medal…how do YOU think he did?
I am also going to be giving Michael Phelps a run for his money. Ashley and I just got a two-week pass to a health club down the road. They have an Olympic size swimming pool. I will be posting my 50-meter swim time as soon as we get that figured out. Regardless…Peace out, Beijing!
So, this morning the contenders of “Dancing with the Stars” were announced. I have never been a huge fan of this show, and this year’s line-up will in no way change my opinion! First of all, it’s not the fact that I don’t really care about the folks on the show, but the fact that this is the largest group of contenders ever on “Dancing with the Stars”…as if they don’t draw the show out long enough, they added more dancers, and even made the season premiere a 3-hour show. What the heck can possibly go on in those three hours? Can’t they skip the commentary, background stories and lame interviews and just dance for 45 minutes and call it a night. I mean, that would totally open up a slot for episodes of Cavemen…if that was the case I would be locked in on ABC all night. But who am I?
Anyways, I am really excited for this new season on Television. I am almost caught up on the Office…I have watched 3 of the 4 seasons! Love it. I might be giving up on Grey’s Anatomy. I think this past season was a bit of a stretch…we’ll see how long it goes!
Wipeout! Does it get any better than this? I mean, the first 35 minutes of this show make me LOL, every time! I am still trying to figure out a way to get on this show, I think I could do pretty well! But until I get to jump across the “Big Balls” I will be content with living vicariously through these folks.
Those are really the only shows on my lineup. I do have a life, you know? But hey…sometimes it’s nice to just veg-out. I am also learning guitar…first lesson is Wednesday night! I’m sure we’ll have plenty of updates on that one.
Until then, once again, you may now return to the edge of your seats because that’s all I got for now!
-Scott

NO TIME

So, i am assuming that with the latest update being over a month ago...that the visits to this blogspot are pretty few and far between. But nonetheless, i am here...shoving an update right up your right nostril.
Today is Monday, August 18th. And it is raining. Ashley and I love the rain. Mainly because we don't have to pay money to water our back lawn. But also because it means a night inside. Not that we don't ever have a night in, but regardless, a default to a night in is always refreshing.
Anyways..let me catch you all up to speed on what's been going on in our world since the last update.
We went to Alaska with my family. I don't want to write a blog about our trip, mainly because half of the people who read this were on the cruise, but also because i don't want to wear one of those stinky tan velcro braces that the carpel-tunnel folk wear. Needless to say, the trip was amazing! It was a great time being away and with the people you love. Good food...good times...good laughs...and even more good food. It will definitely be a trip to remember!
After the Alaskan cruise, it was really back to reality here in Plano, Texas! Back to work for us!
These few weeks have seemed to fly by. From our arrival home to this past weekend, i gotta admit...nothing exceptionally exciting. At least nothing exciting enough to write in a blog.
Except for the huge tarantula that Ashley and Georgia found in our garage and fought to the death on. RIP Ashley. Just Kidding, but seriously...it was big..and i just saw the picture!
Now, the question might be asked: "Scott, where were you during this time of this feat?" Well, God ordained this time for me to be out of town, mainly because i know that He knew my reaction would be to go inside and double lock all entry ways into the house...leaving the girls out to fend for themselves. I don't do spiders. Well, spiders like that spider. However, for those of you who know me and my past, i am getting better at dealing with these animals. I'm growing up.

This past weekend, Ashley was out of town on a company lake trip. She had a blast! She came home sore after waterskiing in her "land" clothes! She's super crazy! I was so proud of her!
Our dogs have been a royal pain in the anus. For real! Mia, our punk-beagle, has managed to get out of our backyard 5 times in the past week! Luckily, she stuck close to the house. So, we'll obviously be fixing some holes this week.
Leo...well, you really can't go wrong with Leo. Except when he is licking lotion of your legs...but these past few weeks have been exceptionally difficult with Leo. You see, we bought a box fan for our room (we don't have ceiling fans yet...that's next month!). Leo loves the box fan, and wants to be where the box fan is blowing. So we tend to kick him off our bed about 6-8 times a night.
As you can see, the excitement of our lives is looming overhead! But there's fireworks on the horizon! Youth Group started back up last night...and you can bet that we'll have plenty of stories about that! We are also heading to Disneyland for Christmas with the Higley family! We're stoked on that! Can't wait to see you guys!
Until then, i hope you enjoyed this taste of our July-August months from Texas. We love and miss you all so much! More to come...keep checking back!
You may now return to the edge of your seats!
-Scott & Ashley