Stuffed Flounder

Andy took a "mental health day" from work on Friday and went fishing.  It was a much needed break after a long cross country season and even longer basketball season.  He had been talking about going fishing for quite some time, and the weather was absolutely beautiful and perfect on Friday.  On Thursday night he told me that he wasn't going to keep any reds or trout if he caught them because we have quite a bit of red snapper from family friend.  But... if he caught a flounder, he was keeping it, no questions asked.  He has been wanting to make stuffed flounder ever since he started kayak fishing. 

Well, God heard him and answered him....  On Andy's first cast of the day, he caught an 18" flounder!!!  Total for the day was 5 flounder, but he kept only two.  Overall, I would say that was a pretty successful trip.

On Saturday, Andy filleted the flounder and stuffed it with crab meat for dinner.  There's nothing like fresh fish straight from the ocean cooked within 24 hours of it being alive.

Right out of the ocean and in the kayak

He was very excited!

Stuffed with crab meat and Andy's special seasonings

Salad, pan roasted zucchini, and stuffed flounder!

Quality Time

As our lives have become busier over the years of our marriage, I think Andy and I really enjoy every minute of quality time that we can spend together.  It helps that we are in a funk with our jobs, so every moment outside of work is incredible.  It really hit me this past weekend though that Andy really isn't just my husband but my best friend.  I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be in a marriage, but that's how ours is.  Whatever it is, I must admit that I truly love spending time with my husband.

We really don't do anything special.  We typically go out shopping to our usual places... For me, it's Hobby Lobby/Michael's, Old Navy, Target, the mall (sometimes) and for Andy, it's Academy... and pretty much just Academy.  Then we usually eat dinner somewhere typically sitting in the bar so we can watch the latest basketball or football game.

This past Saturday Andy played golf with his dad while I went to the grocery store, washed laundry, made treats for Maddie, and got the house ready for the week.  Then we went to shoot our guns, let Maddie run around to burn some energy, Andy grilled ribeyes for dinner, and we rented the movie Flight from the Redbox.  Great Saturday!! Sunday we did our "typical" shopping and dinner.  Just simple quality time together.  Good weekends like this make it hard to go back to work on Monday.

Last summer I started making homemade treats for Maddie.

She really loves playing outside and jumping in the pond.

My target - shots from 3, 7, and 15 yards.
Not too bad...

Clean Flower Beds

This past weekend Andy and I didn't do much.  Friday night, we had some friends overs after the basketball game for fajitas.  Saturday we went to the grocery store, and then went to Humble to do a little shopping and have dinner.  Sunday, Andy played golf while I hung out around the house.  I decided to clean out our flower beds and then just stayed outside since the weather was beautiful!  We stayed at the house for the Super Bowl.  I made "snack" foods - Texas Trash bean dip, mini pig-in-the-blankets, and pizza rolls.  

They look so nice when they're cleaned up!

My rose bush does so much better in the cooler weather.

My friend Holly had texted me last week asking me if I wanted her scrapbooking things because she no longer had time to do it anymore.  And of course I was more than happy to take them off her hands.  Sunday I got a lovely box of goodies for my scrapbooking collection!  Now I have to figure out where to put them....

I am a sucker for anything to do with scrapbooking!

iPhone Photo Junkie

I have come to realize that I am quite addicted to my camera on my iPhone. It's my new favorite camera, and I think it's because of convenience. I really will just take random photos of whatever just because I can. Currently, I have 323 photos which compared to some may not seem like a lot, but it seems like a ton to me especially to have on a phone.

He smiled for the camera! :)

Seriously?  The bed must not be good enough...

Birthday card I made my mom

Birthday card I made a co-worker

This is where she lays when I lay on the
couch!  Silly doggy!

 

Weekend Escape

So, I am really behind on this blogging thing.  I wish I were better at it like my cousin who blogs almost daily.  When I don't keep up with it, I tend to forget what we've been doing.  Then I realize that we actually live boring lives as teachers and there's not much to report on anyway - haha!

A couple of weekends ago, we took another camping trip.  We took off of work Friday afternoon and headed to Cagle Recreational Area on Lake Conroe.  We camped with Andy's parents (since we like to get them out of the house as much as possible) and with Andy's friends Doug and Wendy.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous!!  We spent probably the entire weekend outside fishing, playing games, drinking coffee, sharing stories around the campfire, or listening to Andy and Doug pick guitar.  Very relaxing and a good time away from "reality."  It's always tough to go back to work after weekends like that.

Off we go!

View of Lake Conroe from our camper

Doug was loaded down ready to go fishing!

Maddie Mae always loves camping!

Andy's little striped bass

 

Day at The Range

Andy and I went to shoot our guns today.  Some family friends of Andy's family have land outside of town, and they have a little spot that we can use to shoot our rifles and hand guns.  We invited Andy's parents to go with us because it had been a while since they shot their guns.  Since we all plan to get our CHL (concealed hand gun license) once Andy has some free time after basketball season, we figured some practicing was needed.  Either way, we love family time!

I promise we aren't gun freaks! LOL

Andy's rifle shots from 100 yards - not bad!

 

Nick's Wedding Weekend

Last weekend, my cousin Nick got married, and I went to his wedding in Kyle, Texas.  OMG!  The venue was absolutely beautiful!!  It was very simple and so beautiful in its simplicity.  The ceremony was outside (thank you Jesus for no rain!), and the reception was indoors in what looked like a restored barn.  I loved the rustic feel and look!  The food was delicious and the dancing was fun.  I had a wonderful time with my family!

After the wedding, I headed to Shiner to spend the night with my mom, which was perfect mother-daughter time.  It was a very refreshing weekend, and I think it really helped get me out of my funky mood that I've been in lately.

On my way to Nick's wedding

Beautiful ceremony!

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Janota

 

Collin, Jillian and me

Me, Jocelyn, and Jillian