I Will Walk 500 Miles... Cow Town Style!

Ok so obviously I didn't walk 500 miles... but I sure saw lots of people run a ton this morning. On Saturday my best friend Kristin and I with her little two month cutie went to Fort Worth to cheer on our husbands for the Cow Town 1/2 Marathon!


We were so proud!

This year while it was still extremely on the chilly side... I can definitely say that it was a little warmer than the 19ish degrees as it had been last year.

Kristin and baby B all bundled up and ready to go see the boys finish! I love his sweet A&M hat even though it was a wee bit little for such a big boy hehe:) After we arrived at the race we found a great seat at Corner Bakery where we stayed warm until it was time to join the rest of the crowd to cheer on our runners!


Go Ray and Michael!


Finishing up strong!


Cow Town 2010 1/2 Marathon


Cow Town 2009 v. Cow Town 2o10


Bryson did so good helping cheer on his daddy!
Also his first race of many I'm sure:)


The group talking to Bryson!
I love his sweet smiles:)



After the race we headed over to IHOP! Watching people run sure makes me hungry! But it was definitely a great place for the boys to refuel after such a great run!


Michael, Kristin, and baby Bryson! I love this little family... I love catching up with them but as my husband says... it's never really catching up more like picking up from where we left off!


The girlies and baby B at IHOP:)

On the way back home we took a minor detour... one that accidentally lead us to the airport instead of Richardson, but hey I am all up for random road trips:)



Now as for our plans for the rest of our Saturday... we will be staying in bed, rent a few movies, and relax the rest of the night! Sounds like a plan to me!

Today was definitely a day filled with great cheer!
Thanks to such a wonderful day to such great friends and my sweet hubby:)

Love,
Alicia

Funday Friday Funtivities Post: Simple Pleasures!

I love blog posts about simple pleasures or Friday favorites. I think its always nice to remember the simple things in life that we love and that really make our world go round! So for that very reason I'm going to do the exact same thing...

my SIMPLE PLEASURES include:

1. I love my husband!


I love the simple things about us... I love singing and dancing in the kitchen while cooking together. I love watching him love on our furry kiddos and especially love watching him dance with Toby. (that's more humerus than anything). I love the cute little notes on our message board about "spending time with the wifey." I love our walks, picnics indoors and outdoors, I love doing absolutely anything with him and our cute little fam of four!
2. I love my kiddos kisses and morning hugs
3. I love when the song I want to hear comes on the radio... as if it was meant specifically for me. (sadly my radio has been broken for some time... but originally this was true)
4. I love getting a hand written note in the mail
5. I love taking long scalding hot showers with no intention of going anywhere
6. I love texts from friends just to say hello and they were thinking of me
7. I love fresh baked cookies hot out of the oven
8. I love casual Fridays... honestly most days are casual Fridays!
9. I love long drives and road trips... riding in the passengers seat going absolutely anywhere
10. I love camping... it's sadly been a little cold for that but do look forward to some opportunities in the future
11. I love when I want to go out to dinner or a have a specific dessert and Ray suggests it before I ever mention it
12. I love how excited the puppies get when I come home. I really love being needed! (not too sure how my neighbors feel tho;)
13. I love my sweet calls from my sister-in-laws and especially when I talk to my niece! It always melts my heart to hear her sweet little voice
14. I love catching up with my mom and knowing that we could seriously speak for hours about absolutely nothing
15. I love knowing that my kids already have arranged marriages:) Kristin this ones for you!!!
16. I love surprises but am so bad about them b/c I constantly want to know what it is
17. I love movie marathon nights... I just love putting on oversized pjs and a sweater curling up on the couch and vegging out!
18. I love craft projects and look forward to doing many more very soon. Ray got me my first sewing machine! yay!
19. I love keeping a daily planner and write in it several times a day! ha! Organized adventurist?!?!
20. I love planning theme parties and try to find any reason for a photo opt
21. I love having support during races... having someone yell my name to give me just a little bit more energy to finish the next 10 or so miles. Funny story... during the White Rock 1/2 Marathon people would yell... "Go Alicia!" And I would think to myself... how do they know me... really they were just reading the name on my bib... but it was still a super cool feeling! Plus I had my best friends support
22. This one is a catch 22. I'm not usually a fan of waking up before the alarm but it is always nice to have that extra time before it goes off
23. I love tax refunds! WHOOP!
24. I love fresh bread at restaurants... I probably love it too much!
25. I love spending rainy days inside playing games and watching movies
26. I love eating with little forks and spoons... it makes things last longer! ha!
27. I love when we get to a restaurant and their is no wait
28. I love when the puppies tilt their head to let me know they are really listening;)
29. I love when my husband lifts both of his eye brows... it makes me laugh
30. I love not having to drive in traffic.
31. I love getting my hair did... but only when they do it right... it can't be hard to cut layers right?!?!
32. I love a bowl of tortilla soup on a cold night
33. I love a pair of perfect fitting jeans
34. I love being early... let's be honest... before Ray and I got married we were fashionably late many a time.... but as our great friends commented since we've gotten married we've been better about it! Yay!
35. I love a full tank of gas in my car. I am really nervous when it gets to about a quarter of a tank... afraid I will be stranded right then and there. ha
36. I love sticking my toes into white powdery sand at a beach.
37. I love going shopping for a vacation
38. I love sweet tea... it's nice not having to keep emptying little pink packets every few minutes to get the right consistency. Again I have a sweet tooth.
39. I love making power points... of everything!
40. I love looking at my wedding & engagement ring realizing that yes I am actually married... I also love using the term husband. I love it for so many reasons... but one is because it makes me feel like a grown up... even though I'll be 26 this year. ha!

These are just many of the things I love. What are your simple pleasures?!?!

Love,
Alicia

I Scream U Scream We All Scream for ...

For those of you who know me well understand that I have a sweet tooth! I'll be honest... I absolutely LOVE ice cream... ice cream of all colors, sizes (hopefully more than 1 scoop), and flavors! Yum! Who couldn't absolutely love this very yummy treat. This morning what do I see before I get to work count it not 1 but Two Blue Bell Ice Cream trucks turning in front of me... and I knew it! It was a sign! I just gotta have this wonderful goodness... and then I realized... but what flavor do I want?!?!

I love so many different types from strawberry, cookie dough, mint chocolate chip to tin roof I just can't make up my mind... honestly I'm really leaning toward cherry vanilla...

Can you help me decide? What are your favorites!?!?!?

Update: So we had to indulge a bit. These were our final choices... obviously I'm the cherry vanilla... I hope I'm not advertising too much... but they were absolutely yummy!



Love,
Alicia

Warrior Dash

With several of my hubby's races in the near future, it made me realize I had never fully explained the up and coming Warrior Dash event of the century on May 1-2, 2010! The Warrior Dash as explained here includes 14 obstacles "from hell" along a 3.51 mile course that is said to be the ultimate event for thrill-seeking athletes.

Obstacles include:
1. The Texas Tornado: resist gale force winds as you enter tornado alley
2. Walk the Plank: transverse the gully on wooden planks
3. Rio Run: dash down river
4. Black Forest: forge your way through uncharted forest
5. Straight Rush: navigate the slippery river bed
6. Mud Climb: conquer the slick incline
7. Mud Slide: skid down the muddy slope
8. Bunker Blitz: clamber out of the creek and up the mud embankment
9. Hay Fever: hustle up and over giant straw bales
10. Breathless Bog: Plunge under water and wave between submerged logs
11. Splintering Spools: scale the wooden barriers over the sloping terrain
12. Cargo Climb: maneuver over the cargo net
13. Warrior Roast: leap over the warrior fires
14. Muddy Mayhem: scramble beneath barbed wire as you near the finish



Good luck guys!
Do you have an inner warrior?!?

Love,
Alicia

Wordless Wednesday!

HA!...This picture continues to crack me up even after a few years! You gotta love the scrunchy face picture!!!! I love my girlies!

Love,
Alicia

Busy Busy!

As you can see from previous blog posts, we've been a little busy lately! And to be honest... it's really a little difficult. I know I try to always see the positive in things... but I feel like as the saying goes... the truth shall set you free! because seriously... as the picture shows... we've been busy as a bee!

We've been married for three wonderful months but we've also been on the go ever since. I think really our focus needs to turn from all things crazy in our activities and spend more time with each other and on ourselves! So hopefully for many days this week we'll get to do just that. I wish you all a very wonderful week and just remember to take some necessary time for you and for those you love:)

Happy Tuesday!

Love,
Alicia

100 Days of Sun Rays!

100 days ago I married my husband!

For more than 100 days I have loved more and been loved more than I can ever imagine. For more than 100 days I have had such amazing support and guidance. For more than 100 days I have been shown what true love and commitment means.

Today, I will celebrate our marriage...one of the greatest moments in my life... and being married to my love, my best friend, my husband... for exactly 100 days!

Ray: I cannot wait for all the memories that we will share and the moments that we will be blessed with. And I'm so excited and honored to have you by my side! I look forward for all the moments to come.

Love,
your wifey!

A Case of the Mundays?!?!

I think my little niece says it best... ha! Love you sweet girl:)

HAPPY MONDAY!

Love,
Alicia

It's GAME TIME!

You never know what type of games you'll find our ABF playing...anything from guesstures, cards, putting balloons in hosiery, grabbing Kleenex from a tissue box to team ping pong and dork ball... I love it! This past Sunday after church we met up with our date group for a quick learning session and then a fun stop at Panera! This is what we did while we waited in the Brick!



Until next go round,

Love,
Alicia

Parks & Recreation

The Parks & Zellners

I just love this couple from our ABF! We have such an amazing time with you guys and look forward to all the fun memories to come:)

Love,
Alicia

Name that Tune ABF Style

This past Friday, Ben and Sara Cozad hosted Name That Tune for our ABF. We had an absolute blast! We were first split up into two groups including...


Team 1: The Stones, Howards, Kennedys, and Links


Team 2: The Goodings, Davis' (Julie was there in spirit:), Hutchinsons, and Zellners!

The first round categories included Baylor Bears, Kick'n it old school Christian, American Idol Contestants, Dead or Alive, And the Grammy goes to...



The second round included 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s. While round three included Gangsta and Wangstas, Contemporary Christian, Sara's favorites, Ben's favorites, and Guitar Hero Greatness



And while our team definitely dominated through many of the sections (Ray and his crazy 80s music knowledge) ....


we took second place after a final lightning round. Good job teams... but I'm ready for a rematch! :)

(Thanks to Katy for taking such fun pictures of the evening!)

Love,
Alicia

Upcoming Funtivities

I never realized how quickly time flies until I do these posts. It just seems like yesterday that we were welcoming a new year and now we are already almost 3 months into it. So today, on this Friday, I wanted to update you on the Zellner upcoming activities... and boy are there a LOT of them.

Enjoy!

Tonight, February 19, 2010 our ABF is hosting its monthly event... Name that Tune! Both Ray and I are extremely excited and know this should be a fun night! If it involves music Ray is absolutely all in. My only fear is that I will totally know a song... can sing it backwards and forwards... but my answer is... "oh oh, this song is on that movie with that guy..." Ha! But I know it will be super fun and can't wait.



On Sunday, February 21, 2010: Ray and I will be attending Membership Dinner at the Heights Baptist Church. We are so excited to begin the membership process! We've already found such a wonderful ABF (The Honeymooners) and are so honored to serve and grow with them! I absolutely look forward to many more opportunities to come! For any of you newly weds or soon-to-be newly weds interested in a bible fellowship and are interested... please give me a call/message and I'll get you more information. It is absolutely amazing!



On Saturday, February 27, 2010, both Ray and Michael will be running the Cow Town Half Marathon. The race begins at 7:30AM in Fort Worth, TX . And yes the wives will be there cheering their husbands along! Let's just hope for better weather than last year. Ha!



On Friday, March 5, 2010, it is "Faith and Family Night" at the Allen American Hockey Rink. We will be hosting an exciting ABF activity. The game starts at 7:30; Allen Americans vs. the Mississippi RiverKings! We'll definitely be adorning our Red, White, and Blue!



Yes it is about that time again. Either on March 13 or March 20 we will be traveling back home to see our family and friends. We haven't seen them since Thanksgiving and are absolutely excited to catch up with all of our loves. Let's welcome the Zellners back to the Land of Sugar!




While these are many of our upcoming activities we definitely have tons more to come including...

- Kaylan's bridal shower, parties, and wedding in March, April, and May
- Dustin's Birthday in March... details to come
- ABF Karaoke Night March 26
- Brother's Birthday March 31st
- Rebecca and Beau's Wedding in April
- Colleen and Jason's Wedding in April
- Ray's 26th Birthday April 14th

More pictures and posts are soon to come! Happy Friday!

Love,
Alicia

Life as a Rollar Coaster!

Life's Ultimate Ups and Downs!

A dear friend of mine wrote on her blog about a topic that many of us can relate to... a whirlwind life of constant ups and downs... and of good times and bad! I think that many of us agree that sometimes we are dealt our fair share of bad hands and that difficult times seem to multiply. But then there are times that things are just so amazing and we are on top of the world. I honestly believe that God doesn't give us more than we can handle... even though sometimes it seems that it might be. It is in those difficult times that he uses our story for something greater... something that's larger than us and larger than we can even comprehend.

Somehow I heard a story that really stuck with me... it may be an email, a post, something... and I may even get the story a bit wrong... but regardless it shares the same message...

Speaker... "I never thought this day would come!" (pure excitement)
Friend... "God answers our prayers!"
Speaker... "But I wasn't praying."
Friend... "Yes, but someone was!"

My sweet friend is right. Sometimes I think we just need to be reminded of all those prayers that God has answered. Moments that have been given to us. Things that we are so undeserving of... Things that truly make us happy... b/c it is our stories that are used for something that is greater and larger than we can ever imagine.

- I think one of the most incredible moments that sticks in my head was a moment that honestly should have killed us... but we walked away without a scratch. On a trip home to Houston, my husband and I were nearly 45 minutes from my parents house. It had rained all day and the roads were extremely slick. I remember talking to Ray and laughing. As we came over a hill on the freeway, I glanced over to see a water cooler truck inches away from my husband's window. Obviously he didn't see us. I yelled to my husband in fear we were about to be hit. Ray swerved and barely missed the SUV in the next lane. Both the truck and Ray over corrected and instantly we were in a slide... on the bridge... on the freeway. We swerved back and forth... then in a full 360 degree circle crossing about 4 lanes of traffic... again all on a bridge. I remember screaming after the second swerve as I watched my husband quickly try to gain control of the car. It was so surreal. All he said was "I got it and I love you!" At the end of what seemed like 10 minutes when in reality this probably all happened in less than 30 seconds... we swerved into the right lane, spun in a circle across 4 lanes, and ended up on the shoulder of the furthest left lane facing the wrong direction and inches away from the concrete barrier. No cars were on the road except for us and the water cooler truck even though moments before the road had been packed. We were unharmed. No car had been hit. No one was injured. This had been a miracle. God's hand is on us every day, guiding us, protecting us, and using our stories for something greater. I only hope that in those difficult times that I remember what he has done for me and all that I may be able to do for someone else.

What makes you happy? What are your stories?


I found this picture on a blog and thought it was such a wonderful representation with such amazing simplicity with such an essential concept.

Love,
Alicia

1K

Yesterday we hit our 1,000th unique visit to this blog and only in a few short months! While many of these visits may be my own:) I only hope that many of you, my friends and family, have really loved getting to catch up with us! Being further from those we love has been extremely difficult and I love that there is now a way that we can feel closer than ever! For those of you who read this, I do hope that you've enjoyed the millions of pictures and posts added daily... I truly do love your comments and love the wonderful post suggestions I've been given since I started last June! I further look to continue writing, as a journal, as a diary, as a log of all of our family funtivities to catch up with those we love both near and far!

Enjoy the many more posts to come!

love,
Alicia

Too Cute at Two!

I just had to take a moment to brag about this little cutie and as an Aunt I feel that I totally have the right to! (thank you Farrah for letting me borrow her pictures!)

At age 2 Olivia sure knows how to strut her stuff!

Miss Olivia Grace Zellner

Love'n that cute little smile.... CHEEEEEESE!

I love this little girl more than words can say. She's already such a big girl and I can't believe how time absolutely flies by. Olivia, Aunt Alicia just needed to tell you how much we love you and your girly ways:) Big hugs and kisses!

Until next time... all our Love!

Love,
Aunt Alicia