In April, 2008 we finally got all settled in Del Rio, TX. My dad, Claudia, his cousin Joyce, and her husband Thomas were still on their road trip through TX and they came to visit us. We were so excited to see them again.

The one day they were there we first went to Bracketville, TX which is about 40 miles away to visit Alamo Village, which is a movie set where they have filmed hundreds of western movies. It was very cool to see the movie sets and props that they use. We roamed the village and enjoyed our time there.

Later that afternoon we crossed the Mexican-American border to visit Ciudad Acuna, Mexico. We did a little shopping, but mostly went for the food and beer. There is a famous George Strait song called "Blame it on Mexico" that he sings of a bar called Ma Crosby's. Well, this bar and restaurant is real and still in business. They have wonderful food and we had a wonderful time.

This would be the first of many trips Ty and I made to Acuna, Mexico. We love the food at Ma Crosby's and getting to experience a different place and people.

Thomas in a coffin. HAHAHA!!!

Stephanie behind bars
My dad, Jimmy, and the Duke (John Wayne)

The Alamo Village Cathedral

The Alamo Village Alamo

Livin' it up in Mexico

Joyce and Thomas enjoying Ma Crosby's

We started planning our Carnival cruise in the fall of 2007, but we did not get to go on the cruise until April, 2008. Ty went all out and our cabin was the Penthouse Suite, and boy was it sweet. We had a very large room with a private balcony, walk-in closet, and a full bath with a tub. If you've ever been on a cruise, you know the rooms are not that big. And we learned that you don't really spend that much time in them any way, but we enjoyed the luxury.

While we were on the cruise, we enjoyed the activities they have to offer during the days you are on the ship traveling to your destinations. And at night we especially enjoyed the food. If you wanted to experience new dishes you have never had before, there was always a selection of foods to try. We did go down the big twisty slides you see all on cruise ships. It was nice not to hold back and just have fun. I very much enjoyed playing bingo, and we both actually won a little bit of money. I had to pretend the casino didn't exist so I wouldn't lose all our money in there. Cruises usually have comedians that perform late at night, and we enjoyed those shows as well.

We stopped in Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico on two different days. The first day in Cozumel was very nice. We went to a state park that was very clean and nice. The weather was perfect. The water was exceptional for snorkeling, which I love to do, and it was Ty's first time, so he enjoyed himself as well. Off the beach, there was a lagoon with fish and trees surrounding with iguanas running everywhere. It was beautiful, to say the least.

In Progreso, we went on a charter bus to an all-inclusive resort and beach. We sat on the beach for hours, enjoying the sun, the quiet, and the endless daiquiris.

When the cruise was over, we left Galveston and spent a night in San Antonio. We walked the River Walk, enjoyed some Mexican food and margaritas, and visited the Alamo. After a short visit there then went to Luckenbach, TX on the way back to Eden. In Luckenback we met up with my dad and Claudia, who were traveling with his cousin Joyce and her husband Thomas who are from Virginia. They were traveling around TX just seeing the sites.

While we were there, Ty asked my dad if he could marry me. My dad said "yes, because he has already told other people." I'm glad he approved.

After all this traveling, we were exhausted, but we had to get to Eden, pick up our dogs, and head to Del Rio, TX for Ty's next assignment.

Getting dressed up for the Captain's dinner
Relaxing on the cruise ship

Relaxing on the beach in Cozumel, Mexico

Snorkeling

The beautiful beach in Cozumel

Sitting on the beach in Progreso, Mexico

Enjoying a cigar on the deck

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Luckenbach, Texas

After Ty spent nearly two years in Pecos, TX, in October, 2007 he was sent to San Angelo, TX, which is practically home for him. He was very excited to be near his family for the holidays. At this same time, I had the misfortune of being let go from a job in Midland, and no prospect of what I would do from there. I had alot of ideas of what I wanted to do, but the most awesome thing that could have happened for me, did.

While visiting my family in Dallas, I was having a conversation with my sister-in-law Celena about losing my job and she got this look on her face like a light bulb had just switched on in her head. She had been asked by her old lawfirm to come back for three months and fill in for a girl taking maternity leave. She wanted to accept the offer but was very unsure about child care for her daughter, Kennedy. She and my brother Jeff asked me if I would like to come and be a nanny for Kennedy for the three months she was working. I gladly accepted the position!!

In January, 2008, I moved to Plano, TX and became a full-time nanny of a two year old girl. Ty moved to Alpine, TX to start a new project with Dawson.

To make a long story short, the three months I spent with my niece Kennedy and my sister-in-law Celena were three of the best months of my life. Kennedy is the sweetest little girl you could ever imagine. She loved to play dress up, color, play outside at the park, and go to Little Gym. We spent one day a week at the library, which she loved. We had picnics in the park when it got warmer. I learned more about children and myself in those three short months than my 25 years before.

In those three months, Ty and I started to discuss getting married, which was very exciting. We were 500 miles across TX from one another, but we felt closer than ever.

At the end of March, 2008 my nanny duties were over and Ty took me on a Carnival cruise in early April so we could spend some very much needed time with one another.

Alpine, TX

I made a trip to Alpine in Feb. 2008. We went to a bar to listen to the Paula Nelson Band. She is Willy's daughter, and a very good singer.

Summer, 2007 we took a little bus trip to Shreveport, Louisiana. My dad organizes this annual trip by renting a charter bus that leaves Corsicana, TX and transports family and friends to Shreveport to do a little gambling. The three-hour bus ride is fun and filled with laughter, gambling tips, and the always shown "Caddyshack." Once we got to Shreveport, everyone scatters to do their own gambling... some like the slots, some the card tables. Myself, I love the slot machines. I can sit in front of one of those things for hours (I think they call that an addiction.) I get so excited when I win, and when I don't... well, there are always choice words for the machine.

Funny story... I had to go to the ladies room, so Ty was polite enough to wait for me outside the door. While he was patiently waiting, he found a penny slot machine to play to pass the time. When I come out not 2 minutes later, he has won over $200 on a penny slot machine!!! I guess you could say I was jealous and a sore loser because I was angry that he was winning all that money and I had been losing most of the day (again... can we say addiction??).

All in all, it is a VERY fun trip. We stay in Shreveport for about 8 hours, then go back to TX. Hopefully we will have another chance to go in the coming summers. Below are a couple of funny pictures I have from the last trip we made.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but it is dark outside.
It was freezing on the charter bus and no one had a jacket, so she wore a trash bag to keep warm.

This blog is being set up to keep our friends and family up to date with our crazy lives. We travel often because of Ty's job with Dawson Geophysical and we have been doing alot of traveling for fun. We also wanted to create this blog so not to forget what fun we have had in the short time we have known each other and to share with future members of our family.

The story began in April, 2007 (we disagree about the exact date). I was living in Midland, TX and working for Wells Fargo. Ty was working with Dawson on a project in Pecos, TX. Our first date was fun and casual. We each had a dog, so we took them to the dog park in Midland to let them play and for us to talk and enjoy each other's company. After that we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Our second date was the very next day (he just couldn't stay away). The only thing I remember is that we went bowling, and had alot of fun (I beat him 2 out of 3 games).

Because he works SOOO much, we spent alot of our time together in Pecos, TX. Now many of you may not even know where Pecos is (middle of nowhere west Tx, on Interstate 20), and many others are thinking "why would you want to be there?" We made the best of it. With very little to do there and only getting to see each other on the weekends, we had to make it fun or go crazy. Ty loves to cook out and host parties, so many nights friends gathered to eat, drink, and have fun. We made alot of very good friends in Pecos. A few times we visited the state park in Balmorhea, TX. They have a natural spring-fed swimming pool with fishes and turtles in it. He came to Midland often where we could enjoy the convenience of city life (eating out, movies, etc.). But Pecos will always be special to me, because that is where I fell in love.