Baylor vs. Oklahoma "The Blackout"

I have been going to Baylor games for 22 years now.  And over the years, we have seen some amazing games, and (mostly) not so great games.  However, the BU/OU game this year ranked as one of my favorites of all time!  It was a Thursday game and lots of media attention was given to our undefeated BU team.  The powers that be decided to make it a "black out" game, and asked Baylor fans to wear all black.  I had a hard time believing that the BU faithful would all buy in to this idea.  Well, when I walked up the ramp to get to my seat, I could see that EVERYONE bought in, and the sea of black literally took my breath away.  I don't remember ever being so proud to be a Baylor Bear!  We ended up beating the Sooners quite soundly (for only the second time in the BCS era) and maintained our undefeated status (sadly, just for two more weeks).  Did I mention that it was freezing that night??  Waco seemed like the frozen tundra throughout most of November and December.

Fall happenings...

Here is the Fall through the eyes of my cell phone:

Mary Beth loved Goal Tender Day at Midway.  As much as she loves to dance, I wouldn't be surprised to see her here in a few years!

Baylor home games means lots of time with Lydia!

Bye bye, bunk beds!  Thomas has grown a bit to big for those bunk beds of his.  He is now back in the bed that the boys shared for about 3 years.  I can't imagine that now!

Matthew being cousin extraordinairre!

Heading to JerryWorld to see Baylor defeat Texas Tech.

A girl, her dad, and the American Girl store.  What a combo!

Thomas, Matthew, and Bryon headed to Stillwater, OK to see our Bears lose to a very talented OSU team.  It was in the 20s during the game and sleeted on them the entire way home.  Male bonding at its finest!

Mary Beth and her best buds caroling at the nursing home.

Sweet Ben and Thomas!

Mary Beth and I went to see Beehive at our local theatre.  Her dance teacher was a star in the show.

Bryon and I with our friends, the Hollands, watching KC and the Sunshine Band!

Just an ordinary dinner at the house.  A welcomed event during our crazy fall!

Hollywood Day at school!

My 9th and final Fall Festival at our elementary school!  The 4th graders got to participate in the Pie in the Face booth.  The little cousins enjoyed smearing whip cream on MB!

Fall choir concert

Symphony Day

Halloween

I always love Halloween!  This year, Mary Beth decided to be a flapper.  It suited her to a tee!  Thomas and his best bud, Noah, were security guards.  I cannot fully describe this hilarity of those boys!  We enjoyed Trunk or Treat at church, the Sunday beforehand, and had our whole family and the Gunns over for Gutpaks and trick or treating on the 31st.  Fun family times!

Hair cut!

I have been wanting to cut Mary Beth's hair for months, but she wouldn't let me.  I was concerned that she was turning into a Menonite, when she finally relented and let me take her to my girl.  Whitley immediately cut 6 inches of dry hair off Mary Beth's head to start with before she started shaping it.  When she was finished, I couldn't believe how much better her hair looked and how much older MB looked!  Mary Beth took one look at the mounds of hair on the ground and told Whitley that she hated it and ran out crying.  THAT, my friends, was an awkward moment!  It didn't take but an hour or so before Mary Beth started warming up to her new look, and now she loves it! 

Homecoming 2013

You can always assume that Matthew will be one of the first of his friends to ask a girl to Homecoming.  No exception this year!  Matthew asked Hannah, who he has been friends with for ages.  I met Hannah's dad when I was a freshman at Baylor and have always loved his family!  Small world!  After taking pictures at the Suspension Bridge, the kids headed to Outback.  Matthew was less than thrilled that we would also be at the restaurant eating with several of the kids' parents, but I assured him that Bryon and I would be incognito.  He wouldn't even know we were there.  Right before we left, several of the parents walked over to the kids' table.  While I started walking, my high heel skidded on the slippery floor, and if I hadn't have grabbed 3 pounds worth of Bryon's chest hair, I would have fallen flat on my face in front of 18 14 year olds!  As it was, I was at one point 45 degrees with the floor.  It might have been one of the funniest memories of my life with Matthew! Matthew just looked at me with his classic dead pan expression.  Sorry, dear! ;)