Garner State Park

This weekend we joined our good friends, Ashley & Daniel Sahl, and went camping at Garner State Park on the Frio River! It was such a beautiful park where we enjoyed a really fun weekend! The weather was cloudy and a little rainy, but that didn't stop us! We set up camp on Friday night and headed home late Sunday afternoon on a warm sunny day! It was so refreshing and relaxing to get away from the "city" life and take in all that the Lord has to offer us in nature! We LOVE being outdoors!!! Our time was spent biking, hiking, cooking & eating great meals, and just sitting & chatting over the campfire! This is the reason why I love the Fall season so much -- it's perfect camping weather! We are ready to go again! Thanks to Dan and Ash for such a fun time together! We cherish the moments we get to spend w/you two!

The entrance of the park - on our way home

Dipping our toes in the cold water of the Frio
Me and Ashley

Saturday night's meal - steak and baked potatoes! We ate like kings!

We didn't know this guy, but sat and watched him and some others swing into the water!

A big tree w/a funky hole carved out of the middle made for some fun pics!

Our little family...

...and, the little family of the Sahl's

More river time

Daniel and Scott

Ashley continuously throwing the ball for Willy! He was one tuckered-out wiener by the end of the weekend!

Relaxing w/my coffee - ahhh, the life!

Our camp...

...our home away from home!

It's essential to have Christmas lights up when we camp, no matter how dangerous it may be to put them up!

Me and my girl! She always does so great when we camp, except for we let her eat wayyyy too much steak leftovers on Sat. night and she ended up very sick in Scott's new truck on our way home! Ouch!

More Christmas lights

The guys setting up camp on Friday night

A Visit From the Folks

My mom and dad came to Austin a few weekends ago! My dad had a PA conference downtown, so it was a perfect time to be able to visit w/them for a couple days. Friday night we ate dinner at the Hula Hut and invited Chris, Katie, Macee, and Max! It had been forever since mom and dad had seen Chris, Katie, and Macee and they had never met Max! It was so much fun for all of us to hang out! All of the pictures below are from our dinner on Friday -- I didn't take anymore from the rest of the weekend, which consisted of golfing, shopping, a belated anniversary dinner, church on Sunday, and custom-kitchen-curtain making by my mom! We enjoyed our visit w/them and look forward to our quick trip to the Falls, this weekend, to hang out again!

The guys at dinner

Mom and Macee for a quick photo op
Macee licking Ott's head - she likes to do this to her daddy too!

She must be fascinated w/bald heads or think they are yummy!?!

"Papa Tom" in training (and no, I am not pregnant...yet)!

We laughed at Dad, he looked like such a pro while the rest of us were taking pictures! This must have been how he looked w/Tim and I at such an early age! Too cute!

We always have so much fun w/these two!

And these two too - We love ya'll, Mom and Dad!

2nd Anniversary, Take Two

On our 2nd anniversary a couple weeks ago, Scott brought me home some very beautiful flowers! What a special surprise!!! We also treated ourselves to a yummy and romatic, I might add, seafood & steak dinner at Truluck's! The meal was to die for, the atmosphere was perfect, and my date was, well, THE BEST! It was such a great day for both Scott and I! I am blessed to have such an amazing husband! We have an incredible life together!

Sydnee's Baby Dedication

(Once again, I'm a weekend behind in posting!)

Last weekend we drove to Victoria to hang out w/Steve, Michelle, & Baby Sydnee and to attend Sydnee's dedication at their church! It was a special moment that I am glad we were able to be a part of! Thank you for inviting us, Steve and Michelle, to your home and to witness Sydnee's dedication -- we are here to support you both in raising Sydnee to be a faithful servant of the Lord! We love ya'll!

Sydnee's dedication

Our family after the church service/dedication
What a cute family - even if they are wearing all that UT garb! Uggh!

Oops, don't know what happened with this pic, but these are the 2009 babies of our family...from top to bottom (ha-ha) Sydnee, Haylie, & Max

Macee & I playing a little "horsey"

A little family-fun rivalry...this did include me

losing a bet for a pedicure, darn it!

Oh well, always proud of my RED RAIDERS!

Cruise to Cozumel

On Thurs., Sept 10th - Mon., Sept 14th, Scott on I celebrated our 2nd anniversary a little early with a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico! We both had never been on a cruise before, so we didn't really know what to expect! WOW - it was SUCH a treat! We had so much fun! There were soooo many things to do, people to meet, food to eat, and cocktails to be consumed! :)

We can't wait to go on another cruise again...maybe to Alaska or the Mediterranean??? Gosh, that may need to be in a couple years, but what a fun dream to have!

Watching karaoke...we did this 3 nights in a row! Such a blast!

About to head back to the ship, but not before a pose w/a fake donkey!
"When in Mexico..."
I loved this little boy -- we bought two handmade necklaces from his dad

The waves were amazing crashing up against these rocks, even though this pic doesn't show it too well!

The "Reggae Beach Bar" - our fave!

The view outside the "Reggae Beach Bar"

Ahhhhhh, the hammocks at the "Reggae Beach Bar" (we bought one just like this to use in our backyard!)

Our handmade hats made from banana leaves (I think???)

"Carlos and Charlie's" - nothing like the one here in Austin on Lake Travis!

Stumbled across this little shop on the side of the road and scored me a new purse, some Mexican tiles I want to use as coasters, a raunchy BBQing apron for Scott, and $1 Coronas that we took on the road with us!

Beginning our escapade around the island...we rented a Jeep and off we went! Ah, the life!

Captain's Cocktail before Formal Dinner night w/our new friends Chad and Amy Griffin! They are so fun and we hung out the whole time! We plan on meeting up again since they live in the south Austin area!

Leaving port in Galveston

Safety first!

Two Years Ago Today...

...I married my best friend! Two years ago today I married the love of my life! Two years ago today I married the man I know God intended just for me! We said "I Do" on a warm evening at Lake Buchanan in front of many of our dear family and friends who traveled near and far just to celebrate with us! It was a lovely, and very FUN, day that I will never forget!

I am one lucky girl to have become Mrs. James Scott Chessher two years ago! My life is much sweeter sharing it with him! His generosity, integrity, sense of humor, zeal for life, and love for the Lord (among many other wonderful attributes) make him the man that I admire as a husband and one day as a father to our children. I look forward to the years that we have ahead of us and anticipate where our future will lead as husband and wife. There is no one I'd rather share this life with -- thank you, babe, for choosing me to be your wife!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I love you!!!

We celebrated our anniversary a little early this year with a cruise to Cozumel...pics to come soon!

Quarterly Couples' Dinner Date

2 sets of brothers + 4 wives + 4 children + 1 on the way =
The "Chesahl" Quarterly Couples' Dinner Dates!

The Chessher brothers (Scott & Chris) and the Sahl brothers (Daniel & Dave) have been friends for ages! They grew up in San Antonio together and they all went to school together. Now, they all live near each other here in the Austin area. These guys share a really special bond and have so many fun memories to look back on together! With that said, we all recently decided that now is the time for us all to make more memories together - w/our growing families!

I found the idea of having a quarterly dinner w/other couples in a magazine. The particular woman writing in said that the couples all met up about 3-4 times a year, alternating going to one another's houses for a dinner party. The hosting couple was to be responsible for the main dish, while the other couples were to bring food to correspond with the meal. And, at each dinner, the couples took a picture together and printed one off for everyone to have. This picture taking was to become a tradition to go along w/the food, festivities, and fellowship! I couldn't think of better people to be doing this with! It's not everyday that we get to see and catch up w/Chris, Katie, Daniel, Ashley, Dave, and Maianne, so to know that we will eventually have a special dinner set aside just for us, puts a smile on my face! This is truly what life is all about!

Thanks to Dave and Mai for hosting the very first dinner! It was wayyyy too much fun! We are looking forward to the next one in a couple months!

from left to right:

Chris, Katie, Dave, Mai, Daniel, Ashley, Scott, & me