Mizzou Ambassadors ~ Breakfast with Mike Alden

March 1, 2014 ~ Today was a special day because hard work, dedication and team spirit has paid off! When we rolled out the Mizzou Ambassador program on January 5, 2013 our team hung in there and got things done! It was many long hours and yet somehow we made it through and Director of Athletics, Mike Alden wanted to have breakfast with us and give us a little insight to some of the great things that are in the works! He truly is a great guy who is passionate about our Missouri Tigers.

I can't tell you how proud it makes me to hear what a difference our team has made to Mizzou Athletics... we know we are making a great impact by greeting our fans/guests but to hear it from Mike Alden and his team is pretty awesome! We continue to grow our rock star team and encourage you to inquire about joining the Mizzou Ambassadors by visiting our website and filling out some information:  http://www.tsf-mizzou.com/special-programs/zouambassadors and we will get back to you as soon as possible! Who knew smiling and welcoming everyone to Mizzou could be so fun!

Derek Steinbach is our liaison for the Mizzou Ambassadors and has done an amazing job with communications to all Mizzou Ambassadors. He has tweaked things so that it is accommodating to our schedules and yet allowing us to be a special part of great things going on with our Mizzou Athletics. 

Thank you to a truly amazing team.... without each of you we wouldn't be a successful and growing program. {insert high five here} Keep up the great work! M-I-Z.....

Lt. Bruce Britt ~ Last Alarm

February 22, 2014 ~ I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason and sometimes when people come into your life you often wonder why. How did you not know this person before getting involved in an organization? I mean, Columbia, Missouri isn't that big or is it?

When I first met Leigh back in 2006-2007 she was the president of Women's Network. I had just joined our business full time and wanted to get involved in something to help me connect with other business professionals. I remember vividly listening to her talking at a Women's Network luncheon about how much she loved quilts and how similar a quilt and friendships are. As a quilt is being made you are cutting piece of fabric that you really like or have meaning to them. In the beginning they are just small pieces but as you begin to sew those small pieces together you see how beautiful it becomes. Friendships and even professional relationships are the same. You are the first piece to a quilt and the more friends that you make and even professional relationships to begin to inter-weave them together. You begin introducing each of these people to one another and before you know it you have a great network of people similar to a beautiful quilt. I just remember thinking that we somehow connected as she was speaking a language I understood. Over the years I would get to know Leigh and even joined the Chamber Ambassadors in 2008 along with her. It wouldn't be long until I found out she was pregnant and I was so happy for her as I knew she would make a great momma!

I didn't know Bruce but I know how happy he made Leigh. You could tell that they were made for each other. When Stormy was born I made her a little John Deere pink and brown rag blanket because I knew this little girl was going to be a little cowgirl! Every time I would see Leigh and Stormy I would tell Leigh "Girl you look like your daddy!" and they would both smile and Stormy would bury her head on momma's shoulder. She most certainly keeps Leigh on her toes and it was cute seeing Stormy come to ribbon cuttings with the Chamber Ambassadors.

When I got the phone call that Lt. Bruce Britt was the fireman that had lost his life on a call this morning my heart sank. I immediately thought about Leigh and Stormy and I wish there was something I could do to take away their pain. The next several days would be like a horrible nightmare you wish you could wake up from. I realize in life that we are not promised a tomorrow. I can only imagine that Lt. Bruce Britt died doing something he loved and dedicated his life to being a firefighter for 23 years. I think for me it just makes you realize that these men and women who put their lives in danger to protect our lives are heroes. Just like our military, police and any other job on the front line when they signed up for this job they realized that they may give the ultimate sacrifice including their life to protect others. Lt. Bruce Britt didn't know this would be his last alarm and I can only imagine that he wasn't scared because he was doing his job and making sure others were ok.

I have to say that it is truly amazing to live in a community that bands together when there is a need. No matter if it's helping a family dealing with cancer, raising funds to support various things in our community, offering assistance to a displaced family that needs help or honoring a fallen hero....our community ROCKS! To see the amazing outpouring support to the Britt family including his firefighter brothers and sisters was incredible. Columbia, MO you make me proud! A huge thank you to everyone from surrounding counties and even several states for showing this family so much love during a difficult time. Lt. Britt I didn't have the pleasure of knowing you but you sir but you have left a major mark on our town and I thank you for your bravery and dedication to our fire department. From the many wonderful memories and stories that so many have told since you left this earth you certainly have left a large hole in so many hearts. Godspeed Lt. Bruce Britt.

Well done John Darkow and Columbia Daily Tribune....

Biloxi, Mississippi.... Here we come!

February 16-19, 2014 ~ When we went to Las Vegas last November we stayed at the Bellagio. In January we received a post card for Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi (I had no clue this was the little sister to the Bellagio) asking us to come down for free. Yep... FREE! How does one pass up an offer like this? (They expected us to gamble and we did a little but as you will see we spent a good amount of time site seeing!) We thought it would be fun to take Martha with us and booked our trip! We flew out of St. Louis and was in Biloxi in no time!

On the plane they gave out complimentary beverages including alcoholic beverages and played a fun little game they call "The Redneck Lottery"! You take your $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills and write your seat number on them and then they draw a bill out and whosoever seat number is on it wins the whole pot! The pot for $1 =$160, $5 = $240, $10 = $330 and $20 =$500! Too bad we didn't win but that was kind of fun!

This was a really nice place and looked a lot like the Bellagio!

The rooms were nice too! 

I loved seeing this on the table! 

After we got settled in we decided to go check out the buffet! They had me at Prime Rib! The buffet was huge and reminded me a lot of Las Vegas except they had their style of food. There was something for everyone! The waitress even brought around hot wet wipes to wipe your hands!

The next morning this was the view from our room!
(This would be the only morning we would be able to see the gulf otherwise it was foggy)

One thing I love about Las Vegas was the beautiful fresh flowers that they have and Beau Rivage didn't disappoint! I love Stargazer Lilies! (Had some in my wedding bouquet)

We thought it was a perfect day to hit the road and see some stuff!

New Orleans.... here we come!

Martha has never been to Louisiana / New Orleans before so we thought we should take her!

Well hello New Orleans!

Our very first stop in New Orleans.... Cafe Du Monde!

Martha was in for a treat!

I introduce you to Beignets! 
(Brandon kept calling them ben-wa's.... silly boy!)

 After a quick snack we decided to make the most of our trip and take out walking.

It never gets old seeing various artists painting in the different towns/places we visit!

It was fun to hear so many different musicians throughout the streets too!

If you go to New Orleans you have to walk down Bourbon Street!
(Of course we had to get dad a Harley Davidson shirt from Bourbon Street)

We figured the best way to see New Orleans in a short amount of time was to ride the open top bus so we walked up to the bus stand and waited for one to arrive!

The next several pictures are some of the things we saw on our ride....

 

Then we were ready to head back to Biloxi, MS.....

We stopped by a beach to let our toes play in the sand!
(It was warmer than Columbia, MO but still a little chilly)

The next morning we decided to check out Alabama!

(Really foggy day)

First stop was the USS Alabama!
(We didn't get to take the tour because Martha had a bummed up chicken wing and would have surgery after we got back but Brandon and I took the tour last year when we were here)

We figured it would be fun to drive to Gulf Shores, AL!

We made it back to Biloxi, Mississippi just as it got dark. It was a great trip and many good laughs with Martha. You know there is never a dull moment with the Spry's and we enjoy seeing places we have never seen before... although we have seen New Orleans and Mobile, AL we hadn't seen Gulf Shores, AL. Can't wait to see where else we might travel in 2014!

Happy Birthday Brandon and Jaxon!

February 15-16, 2014 ~ Happy Birthday Brandon (February 15th) and Jaxon (February 16th)! We celebrated Jaxon's birthday a day early so he could have his party at Flipz here in Columbia, MO with some of his friends!  He doesn't sit still for anything (guess he gets that from his Aunt Shell) and it's hard to get pictures of him but I think I got a few cute ones! 

Bubby's cake turned out so cute thanks to Cherie's Cake Boutique!

https://www.facebook.com/CheriesCakeBoutique

My sister, Ashley made some gluten-free cupcakes for a few people that are gluten-free! 

Since Jaxon's alligator cake was chocolate so Ashley thought we better have white cake too!

Jaxon loved jumping on the trampolines...

he really loved the foam pit....

playing on the bars...

swinging on the rope swing...

but most of all he loved spending time with his family and friends! 

Even at 3 years old it is hard to get this handsome boy to sit still long enough to get a cute picture... My camera focused on the background and what a great picture this would have been.

So when I asked Jaxon to let me take one more picture this is what I got! What a ham! 

Make a wish bubby!

He loved everyone singing Happy Birthday to him! 

Later that night we had dinner at mom and dad's to celebrate Brandon's 38th Birthday! 

(Somehow I didn't get a picture of our birthday boy.... Guess I am slipping in my older age!)

 Mom had received these cute little lady bug cake pops from a friend and Jaxon thought he needed to have one for dessert! 

Jaxon likes chocolate! 

Then he wanted to play with one of his new toys...

and it's always cute to see Papa teach him!

This little guy sure has this little family wrapped around his finger and we love it that way! 

Happy Birthday Brandon and Jaxon!