Go Brewers!!!

Jacks & I went to a couple of Duane's softball games. Brewers softball is ALWAYS a good time!!!

Warming up...

Jace gets a hit!

Duane too!

RUN!

SCORE!

Duane coaching 3rd...

Rusty crosses home...

Jace too!

Playing in the field...

Bathtime for Jacks!

Bathtime is NOT Jacks' favorite activity, but he sure is CUTE!

Duddley's Draft Party

Fantasy football is almost a religion in our house. Duane plays in several fantasy leagues, and football takes over our televisions during the NFL's season. Drafting the players is quite the event; cheers & jeers (mostly from Duane) are thrown around as each player is selected.

Jace lays out the rules...

Comparing notes & checking on the other leagues...

The commish, hard at work...

Decisions, Decisions...

Research...Research...Research...

Must. Draft. Well.

Having a bit of fun with the "extra" stickers...

Duane is confident in his team, The Cream, and he surely hopes it will rise to the top!

Summer Dart Banquet

Dart Banquet is a time for celebrating the season and spending time with good friends. This summer's banquet was no exception! The team had a pretty good haul, and Duane won a flash light (which he promptly traded for a fry daddy).

2nd place (again)...

Duane got a special award from Gail because he was able to sub for himself while we were in Las Vegas on vacation!

What a great afternoon!

Wanna Bet?!?!?!

Duane's family is very involved in Autism care & support, and we participate whenever we can.  We recently attended the FACES Casino Night in Cypress.  OMG---So. Much. Fun!!!!  Dinner was great; the gambling was good, but the company and the cause were FANTASTIC!!!

Standing in line to get dinner...

Enjoying dinner with the family...

LOTS of people were there!

Playing blackjack with Margaret...

This is my brain on math! 

 World Series of Poker, right here in Houston, Texas!

Or, that is how those Kersten men played it anyway!

Uncle Duane was the big winner at the table!!!

Aunt Patsy, working the room...

...and the winner is: NOT Denise or Duane!

oh well... 

 Great pic of Duane's cousin, Kim,  and her husband, Drew! They won one of the trips!

Uncle Larry 

 A big Thanks from the board to all of the supporters and participants! 

A few words from Aunt Patsy... 

We had a great time and are looking forward to next year!!!

Bombers Baseball

Ashley Furniture reserved the party patio for a Bombers baseball game! Duane & I had lots of fun!!! GO BOMBERS!

Cowboy Up!

We attended a charity event in Houston for an Autism foundation, and the theme was country & western, so Duane had to have a hat. Looks pretty good on him!

The Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon - free slideshow maker

One of our vacation days was spent venturing into Arizona. We took a day trip to the Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon, and it was SO COMPLETELY WORTH IT!!!

We didn't want to rent a car, and big, bus tours didn't seem like they would be very efficient, so we decided to take the walking tour that was offered by Grand Adventure Tours. Our day started EARLY--6:20am. Yep, we voluntarily got up at daylight during our vacation!!!

Our first stop was Hoover Dam. Alex & Robin (our driver/guide) gave us great stories & details about the dam, like the fact that the concrete in the dam won't be completely cured for another 400+ years. We viewed the dam from the newly-finished bypass bridge, and it was a sight to see for sure! To think they completed the dam with the technology of the 1930s is absolutely mind-boggling!!!

Our next sight-seeing stop was in Seligman, AZ, along Route 66. It was a cute little town that is completely capitalizing on the daydreams of Americana and "the good-old days." It is also the town that inspired the Pixar movie Cars, and it was fun seeing Tow Mater while we were there!

A couple of hours after Seligman, we finally got to the Grand Canyon, and stopped at the Bright Angel Lodge. The canyon is indeed a GRAND sight! It is absolutely beautiful, but I almost didn't get to see it. Our hike started at the Bright Angel Trail and followed the South Rim of the Canyon. I am NOT a fan of heights, and I was SHOCKED to find that there were no rails. Honestly, when we stepped onto the trail, the only thing separating us from the EDGE OF THE WORLD was a line of 4" high rocks; needless to say, I was not comforted by this. The trail was about 4ft wide, and foot traffic was moving both ways, and at one point, we had to turn sideways to pass the oncoming hikers, and this almost did me in! Duane (not a fan of heights himself) was a real trooper and came back to me and pulled me through the precarious spots. He was even brave enough to venture closer to the edge and got some GREAT shots of the Canyon. Fortunately, that was the worst of the terror spots; the majority of the trail was paved (and had those super safe 4" walls to protect the hikers!), and the lookout spots were finished with rails. We picnicked along the trail, and had some of the best views our eyes have ever seen! My anxiety level aside, it was BREATHTAKING (literally--7,000 feet in elevation!) and BEAUTIFUL! I'm glad that Duane talked me out of turning back; that is something I would've regretted forever! And, did I mention that the canyon was absolutely beautiful?

Our journey back was considerably shorter without the sightseeing stops. We passed through the Mohave desert and the Black Canyon right at sunset and arrived back at our hotel at about 9:00pm. It was a long day, filled with new experiences that are truly a treasure!

Viva Las Vegas!!!!!

Vegas - picture slideshow

Somehow, Duane convinced me that our summer vacation needed to be in Vegas. So, I planned and he practiced, and on Monday, July 18, we took off for Sin City. The first day was fabulous; we played a bit of Let It Ride (I lost & Duane won) at The Mirage, purchased our Cirque du Soleil Mystere tickets, and made a game plan for the rest of the trip. Monday afternoon, we walked around the strip; it is amazing the things they have built there, and that night, we headed for Downtown Vegas for dinner and the laser light show. The Golden Nugget has a GREAT pool. Swimmers can slide through the shark tank before being deposited into the pool, and there are table games poolside! NEAT! AND, our luck changed temporarily (Duane lost & I won). The laser light show was pretty cool too; it was a tribute to Queen, American Soldiers, and the movies of the 80s. There was something for everyone! We saw showgirls, street performers and (of course) Elvis!

The second day was our Grand Canyon excursion. AMAZING!!!

Wednesday was our sleep-in, recuperation day, followed by walking, gambling, sight-seeing, and Mystere. We didn't get much rest or relaxation, but there would be time for that when we were back in Texas! Again, our luck reversed, and Duane was the winner where I was the loser. So, I spent most of my time (after losing my $$$) watching him gamble. We caught the Fire & Ice show at Caesar's show, and since I was losing everything I touched, I gave up on the gambling and did a little shopping!

Mystere was my first experience with Cirque du Soleil, and I must say that what those people do is just NOT natural! People just don't bend that many ways!!! The show was fun & beautiful, and those athletes are absolutely amazing! The elaborate & exotic costumes painted a picture that told a beautiful story. I will be looking at their tour dates and hopefully will see them again!

Our trip was fun & fabulous! Yes, Duane convinced me that we needed to vacation in Vegas, and he was absolutely right!