We're playing Basketball...

Ok, when I say "we" I really mean Ben, because you all know that I don't have an athletic bone in my body and if I did my lack of coordination wouldn't allow me to play either.



Anyway, Ben is playing on an 8 week church league with a friend from A&M. It has been a riot to go watch these guys play and we are meeting lots of new people.



Here are some pictures of Ben is all his glory...















It is so weird to watch Ben play basketball after watching him play Lacrosse for four years. It's a little bit slower paced and a lot less hitting.

They have played 4 games so far, and lost their first one Tuesday night - by only 4 points! Ben had a game high score of 12 points last week!

Stay tuned I am sure I will have more pictures soon :)

Generator and More

So this weekend we had a 1.7 million pound generator come through Bryan/College Station. It was from Japan and got dropped off at the Port of Houston to be transported to near Waco. The huge thing only went 10 miles per day and caused many, many traffic delays. But here are some pictures from it.

We also had the opportunity to go to the Houston Boat Show last weekend. Below are a couple pictures of the show. It was not a show for short people though :) Ben could just lean over and look inside but I always to find the stairs to see inside!

On a side note - Grandma and Grandpa Herder we saw a pontoon boat that held 18 people!

Those sunglasses came free if you bought the boat!

Lots and Lots of boats!

The boat that had a corvette engine in it!

Also here is the New sign that is hanging in our living room - it says "Faith"

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Twenty Four.

So yes, I re-counted and that is my actual age. 24 + 1 week and a couple days now.

While many will say "You are still young", and I guess in the spectrum on things I still am. But I just felt so much older this year. My middle sister turned 21, I remember turning 21. My baby sister will be 18 and is applying to colleges, I remember doing the very same things. And it sure doesn't seem like that was 6 years ago already. I guess that is probably why I feel old, I actually remember things now.

Anyway, enough of that walk down memory lane. :)

My birthday was a great day spent in Michigan surrounded by the people that I love and love me the most. Both sides of my extended family were able to go on the adventure of "sledding." Haha, too many people going down the hill at the same time does make for a few crash landings! But overall a great time.

And then last weekend, Ben and I celebrated my birthday just the two of us. We ordered pizza, Ben made me a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and just had a nice quiet evening.

Below you will see some of the wonderful gifts my Husband spoiled me with:

Stone and Metal Candlestick holders

A combined gift from Mom and Dad H, Grandparents, and Ben - A New Camera!

And Flowers

Twenty three was a great year and I am looking forward to all the "young" things I am going to do in year 24. It is a good thing my husband is 23 going on 3 - or at least has that kind of energy for life!

Thank you all for the many birthday wishes, cards, and phone calls!

Christmas and 2010

So Ben and I headed back to good ol' Michigan for the holiday season... or should I say holiday "drive." Yes, that is right we DROVE to Michigan this year, 20 long hours in the car and yes we are still married :) Overall, both ways were an easy drive with very few traffic or weather issues.

We got to see many many family members and friends while we were back for 2 weeks and it was amazing to see them all! So fun to catch up with them.

We got some great gifts - lots of dishes for me (maybe a hint?) and lots of backpacking items for Ben (maybe also a hint?)

Then we got to ring in the New Year with Ben's family and celebrate my birthday with both sides of the family and a little sledding!

It was a great trip with lots of great memories.

But thinking back 2009 was a great year as well. We have so much to be thankful for.

Jan. 2009 - I turned 23
Amy came to visit us in Texas

Feb. 2009 - Celebrated our 1st Valentine's as a married couple
My mom came to visit

March 2009 - Seth & two of his friends came to visit
Saw our 1st Houston Rockets game
Ben's 1st backpacking trip

April 2009 - Spent Easter in Houston

May 2009 - Celebrated our 1 year anniversary
Went canoeing in Arkansas

June 2009 - Ben's parents came to visit for a week

July 2009 - Experienced a VERY hot summer!

Aug. 2009 - Drove to Michigan and back for a week of vacation
Ben started his second year of graduate school

Sept. 2009 - Another Labor Day not at Holland State Park :(
One year at my job

Oct. 2009 - In Michigan again to celebrate with Staci - her wedding day
Ben took another backpacking trip to AR

Nov. 2009 - Spent a week in beautiful Cancun celebrating my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary

Dec. 2009 - Had a wonderful Christmas just the two of us
Saw the Nutcracker Ballet in Houston
Traveled to Michigan
Celebrated the birth of Christ with many family members
Rang in the New Year with family and new friends

And there is so much more.... 2010 is a year of anticipation for us. We are excited and yet nervous for the coming summer and move to Louisiana and all of the things God has planned for us after that. We look forward to the ways He is going to work out all good things for us.

We hope and pray you all had a blessed Christmas and Happy 2010!