Christmas 2010

Dillon's Barn.

Baby Nahla

Katie, Jordan & me

Husband/ Wife Dual (Wife Wins)

Father / Son <3>

THIS WAS OUR BEST CHRISTMAS YET! We didn't get to see all of our family or friends, but the time we had with everyone was quality. We didn't feel the hustle and stress we have felt in the past this year. We spent Christmas Eve with the Yates' and Christmas morning with the Smith's -- great quality time...it was nice with no agenda and to just "hang out." Dustin's cousin, Kelby had a baby on the 20th and that was the highlight of Christmas with the Brooks'....that and the game of Spoons...which I hold Championship, beating out Dustin and my own sister-in-law Katie. ; ) I got an amazing camera, antique punch bowl (something I really wanted!), David Yurman Necklace, Tory Burch bag and great clothes!!! Dustin got a lot of golf accessories, clothes and his coveted Dallas (the TV series) DVDs of ALL seasons...Oh and a Red Ryder BB Gun to take out all of the squirrels in our backyard (which I now support since they dug up all of my flowers).

We're going to Dallas this weekend for the Tech bowl game...and we just booked Napa Valley for MLK weekend... we needed to use up our hotel points from when we lived in a hotel when our house got hit by a car and got a great deal on Jet Blue. San Francisco and Napa may be our two favorite cities and it has really given us something to look forward to in "Janu-weary." I get very very sad at the end of the holidays, but we have a lot to look forward to including Dustin's 28th birthday. We're going to Two Brothers BBQ for Dustin's birthday with friends... http://www.twobrosbbqmarket.com/ Jason Dady is our favorite SA chef and this is his newest restaurant. : ) We wish you all a Happy New Year -- enjoy your 1-1-11!!!!

Weekend before Christmas...

Allison Eicke, me, Allison Moore - now Jensen, Holli Williams & Caitlin Ryan....all old roommates.

We had an amazing and eventful weekend! I was in Allison Moore & Justin Jensen's wedding in Austin. We've never been to a Christmas wedding, but this was amazing!!! Absolutely beautiful -- I probably was in large favor since my favorite color after all is red (obviously)!! It was great being reunited with everyone and getting to truly enjoy a fun weekend. On Sunday we flew to Dallas to have Christmas with the Yates' at the new Cowboy Stadium -- over-the-top is the only phrase I can use to describe that place. Not once did I watch a real play on the field -- I watched the jumbo-trons (is that what Jerry's calling his screens??) the entire game. Sadly, I forgot my camera for all of these events, but luckily I have had some texted to me... I will post more pics when I get them. THANKFUL TODAY THAT I AM A TEACHER AND AM OFF!!!!

P.S. We had a house sitter this past weekend to keep Polo -- and he chewed up TWO water bowls...never in his life has he done that -- definitely baffling... maybe he missed us?

Tacky Sweater Party

Brent, Jay, Dustin & Dillon

Eric, Adam, Erica, Dustin & Phil (lawyers at Dustin's firm)

Like my red socks with open toe shoes? TACKKKKYYYYY!!

Me, Jay, Leslie & Brent with his light-up sweater

A great picture of personalities here.

Well we hosted our first Christmas party and woo was it FUN but a lot of work! The party started at 7:30 on Friday and ended at 5 am on Saturday morning....some of our guests (including us) Dillon & Jay concluded our Christmas party at noon on Sunday. It was big weekend and yes, we're still exhausted!! We had over 30 people at our house. Most of the lawyers from Dustin's firm came (picture above--Dustin's boss, Phil is in the Santa suit) and lots of our friends. Above are some pictures. Sadly, I did not get a full body length of Dustin (he was wearing white shoes below his grandmama high-water pants). Phil won the tackiest sweater and Dillon won the overall tackiest outfit -- how could he not with those dyed green jeans!!!??? We played Christmas Vacation Trivia & Guess the Christmas song by pictures games. Dillon & Adam won the Christmas Vacation Trivia. It was a beautiful night, weather-wise and everyone got to mingle outside / inside and back patio. It was perfect.

This weekend I am in Allison Moore & Justin Jensen's Wedding (friends from college) in Austin and then we're off to Dallas Sunday morning for the Cowboys Game / Christmas with the Yates'. Should be another fun and eventful weekend for us. Friday is the last day of school for me until January -- Dustin is really hurting not having his time off right now....and so am I...no Vegas this year or snow skiing in Tahoe -- a little sad; growing pains -- but it's all good, it's time. : )

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family here in San Antonio...  We have so much to be thankful for this year (especially my dad's health)!!! 

The weather has turned cold (30's at night and 70's in the day) and it has really put us in the Christmas spirit.   We already have our decor up for Christmas ) -- above are pictures of our decorations and our new drapes -- installed just in time for the holidays.  :  )

We took advantage of Black Friday this year -- Dustin was eager to participate since he wasn't having to prepare for finals (THANK GOODNESS!).  We all got up at 5 am and hit the shops at The Rim and La Cantera -- and then had lunch with The Burkholder's at our newly opened Z Tejas....mmmm LOVE SAN ANTONIO!  It's finally feeling like home... 

Official & Licensed!

Dustin passed the bar exam!  He was sworn in, Sunday, November 7th in the Hockley County Courthouse.  It was a very special day.  Judge Phelan swore him in, in front of our families and our friends, The Burkholders from San Antonio.  :  ) 

We're very blessed!

We are alive!

We have been blowing and going, but we are so happy that November is here.  November for me, means I get a week off for Thanksgiving.... the thought of that makes everything better.  We had a fun October!  We had a Halloween Party and Dustin and I were "Lincoln Logs."  He dressed up as "Abe" and I had a shirt of "logs," (math problems).  Tomorrow night we are having a "Wear your Red Jeans," party in celebration of Election Day.  We said no "blue" jeans allowed, since we are hoping that the red (Republicans) take over in the House and Senate.  But I will GLADLY WELCOME A BLUE GOVERNOR!  We've been busy, but this has kept our mind off of the bar exam results that come out this Thursday and it has certainly helped pass the time.  We have such great friends for support; we are very lucky.  :  )

Dustin's Webpage

You can check out Dustin's personal profile and his firm's new website since adding a new partner.  

http://www.mani-sloan.com/who-we-are/category/attorneys/ 

Click on Dustin when at the above website to read his full, legal resume!

October is the BEST month!

October used to really be my favorite month when I ENJOYED birthdays, but after 21....they aren't quite as "incentive-y" anymore (16, 18, 21)...  Now it's like is this the year I am going to have to begin dying my hair to hide the gre/ays?   However, October weather in South Texas is amazing.  Cool nights -- cool enough for some fireplace action or chiminea outdoors.  Thanks to my dad, who chopped down a dead tree in our front yard, we now have a large collection of firewood.  

My mom and dad are here visiting for a few days -- we have had some delicious, healthy food -- and had a nice birthday dinner for my mom's and my birthdays.  Yes, we're a little early for those of you thinking you missed it -- haha you didn't...not until later in the month, but we celebrate ALL of October, ha.  

We had some German food in Fredericksburg, did some antique shopping in Comfort and finished our Saturday afternoon off in Boerne -- cute cute small towns!!!  Dustin spent the weekend hunting with his firm -- they shot over 100 birds and didn't bring a one of them home -- YEAHHHHHH!

Dustin bought his first new car as a big boy yesterday.  He shopped and shopped and shopped some more -- city to city, dealership vs. other dealerships etc. etc. etc.  I am exhausted, but he FINALLY got up the courage to buy himself a Range Rover Sport.  It is beautiful -- we picked it up last night.  White with black leather -- would he own anything else?  Once you have had the dark interior it's hard to go back to light....

This weekend is going to be a weekend to ourselves -- no plans, no musts, no obligations.  : )  It is loooooong overdue.  

Fall Weddings Check!

This was our last wedding until winter....we have November off -- whewwww....unless of course there is the unexpected, ha. We had the BEST time at Amber's wedding -- a great "reunion," of all of my high school friends and their families. Stevi, Dillon's sister, was the photographer --- she is quite talented. Her first picture she posted from the night was of Dustin or Elvis or Snickers = Snelvis!

God Blessed Texas!

Well -- it has been a while since we last blogged.  We have been overwhelmingly busy with work and of course play.  :  )  Dustin's job is going well -- he truly is happy, and is meeting his bill-a-bles (however you spell that!).  It is the end of the quarter and he's chasing his bonus...so he's been extra busy this week.  I on the other hand am still searching for the "down," time I had expected following the start of school -- I am still soooo swamped and hope it calms down soon.  We have been running around from multiple trips to Lubbock, Vegas with my high school girlfriends etc.  Dustin had the pleasure of visiting Lubbock for the UT / Tech game.  Poor Polo, he really needs  new UT collar -- his is sooo tattered from wearing it so long (all seasons since we have had him except 1, in case you were counting) -- any takers to send a new one?  J/K  We are getting him the Vineyard Vine whale collar for his upcoming birthday (Nov. 1) http://www.vineyardvines.com/product__110857_____31556_13050

I went to Vegas with my high school girlfriends for Amber's Bachelorette Party a week ago -- FUN is an understatement.  We got NO sleep from clubbing, gambling and just catching up....a priceless trip.  A few pics are above.  We are headed to Lubbock this weekend for Amber and Jeremy's wedding -- a cute couple with a FANTASTIC band planned---ELEMENT...We are so pumped!  We also went to Lubbock for Papa Claude's funeral -- a huge loss, but no one can ever say the man did not have a fulfilled life!  He married so many of our friend's parents (Kyna's and Dillon's) -- made a lasting impression on many of his students.  

It has been a busy few weeks!  I just returned, today from a 3 day trip to Austin for a data-analysis conference for math and science...yes it was the headache it sounds like.  I luckily was on the UT campus that did not have shooter.  I didn't even have a clue that this was going on until Tonna texted me about what was going on...I was at the research campus, 8 miles north of the main campus.  Thankfully, no one was hurt and God truly did bless Texas today!  HOOK 'EM.  My dad had his first follow-up appointment yesterday and all is well!  He had some reactions to his medications early on that caused some issues, but they are working to get that sorted out, but his levels of everything are optimal, so we're happy.  He still kids me when we talk on the phone that he has to go so that he can go and flip his chicken-fry, but my mom e-mails me what he eats, so he really doesn't have me fooled.  :  )  I am a stickler about this low-fat, no red meat diet.  Thursday my mom was phase 2 of her root-canal.  She compares it with child-birth....hmmmm I am going to floss, rinse with mouthwash, and brush extra long tonight! I will post pics from Amber's wedding after this weekend.  :  )

A Fresh Start...

Well as you have probably heard we made an emergency trip to Lubbock to see my dad that was in the hospital for some heart issues. It took a couple of days to figure out the problem, but after he failed his stress test they scheduled him for an angioplasty on Saturday morning. He had 99% blockage in one area and they ended up placing 2 stents in his heart. It all went well and he is feeling much much better, but naturally is a little slow and sore, but certainly back to his old self! (We came home last night, from the TTU football game, late, to find that my parents had left a note saying "gone to Ruidoso, feed the dog." --obviously they didn't go, but my dad was perky enough to do that!) He got to go home on Sunday afternoon after a 3 night stay. The picture is of him and me -- in front of the cardiac ICU minutes after he found out he was going home that day -- clearly he was eager (already dressed out of his gown). Now marks the hard part....low fat and low salt diet. The Dr. referred to it as the American Heart Association Diet -- but we haven't checked out their website yet for recipes and food ideas, but we will. Dustin and I got home this afternoon from Lubbock and hit the grocery store for some low fat choices. Our dinner tonight was a turkey wheat wrap with spinach, carrots and tomatoes. Good, but well not great -- BUT we're pledging to make better choices and limit our red meat intake (cattle-raisers, please don't sue me -- this is a personal choice haha...referencing the Oprah incident in Amarillo in the 90's). Life is too short, to not feel your best or to simply not be around -- this has been an emotional few days for both Dustin and myself. My dad has said he's changing his diet to reflect that of the Dr's suggestion and limit the nicotine intake and eventually have NO nicotine intake -- I didn't have much to give up to compare with that, but I am giving up alcohol, with the exception of 2-3 glasses of red wine per week (heart healthy, baby!). Dustin claims that his life is now going to be miserable based upon my insisting that we eat healthier -- but he'll thank me soon. I encourage each of you, as our blog readers, to consciously grocery shop and make healthier food choices -- we love you all, that's why we have given you this address! Now back to work -- thank goodness it is a 4 day week, that's about all I can take!

Dustin's New Job

He Loves It!!! Dustin loves the work (though he says it is hard because it is all new to him) and loves the people. A very professional office! It is going to take him a few weeks to get settled, learn the software, etc. etc., but that is any job!

Dustin just got home and said "work was good today, I finally am getting a hang of this title deal." I can't believe I forgot this on Saturday's blog -- we saw Tony Parker! And I cannot believe we did not take a picture with him! We were behind him going in to a parking lot where he was meeting another bball player (couldn't tell who) for lunch. Tony wasn't trying to hide -- he was driving a red ferrari with Tony P 9 on the license plate....

A Free Saturday...

Today marks my first Saturday NOT committed to tennis... a little sad, I cannot lie! Many of the kids have been texting / calling this weekend as they finished their tournament in Houston -- a great show for the Mules, 1st place! I can't help but miss it. BUT! --if I was in Houston this weekend with them I would not have had the great weekend with Dustin. So there is much to be thankful for! We spent the day in Boerne. We did some lamp shopping (posted above) and came across G. Harvey's most recent release (August, 2010) and already sold out -- except the remaining Giclee's in the galleries. We got the "Cowhands on the Avenue" Giclee numbered 119 out of 250. Dustin was obsessed, fell in-love at first site, stared some more, returned, stared and purchased. It has already been hung with our other G. Harvey in our dining room (pictures above). We LOVE his work -- traditional and always an American flag, SOMEWHERE in the piece... I hope City Bank one day wants to sell their collection... I'm interested (hint, hint). This week was my first week back to school...interesting sums it up. I teach 42 special education students each day.... it's challenging, rewarding and exhausting all in one! It is going to take all I have and with that know that I am blessed to have gotten out of tennis. We spent the afternoon on the patio of The Boerne Wine Company (a suggestion of my parents)... absolutely amazing!!!! If you are ever passing through... you must stop -- it is on the main road a couple doors down from Calamity Janes (amazing furniture, accessory and LAMP shop). Tonight we are enjoying our night on the patio... we woke up this morning with a crispness in the air...fall is coming soon -- enjoying every last minute of the pool days. Dustin starts his new job @ Mani & Associates on Monday -- send all your Oil and Gas legal work to him! He is beyond excited! Amazing firm, people & work -- we couldn't be more blessed. And on that note -- we will begin our journey of church shopping tomorrow -- we are open to all denominations, just going to try to find our home -- tomorrow we are trying University United Methodist Church. I'll keep you posted.... Then going to Magnolia for brunch (we will omit the eggs!!!!!) and then we're playing a round of golf. Goal: for Haley to break 100. Dustin has been very very patient with me. : ) If it doesn't work out, I am going to throw my clubs and head for the tennis courts. : ) We will keep you posted on Dustin's new job. He is fully equipped with new clothes and shoes.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my dad! He's 39 today. : ) My mom was taking him to dinner and baked him his traditional German Chocolate cake....that sounds soooo good about now.

Today and this week has just been a GREAT week for us!

The best news is that Dustin got a job offer from Philip Mani & Associates today --- an Oil and Gas Firm here in SA (3 miles or so from our house) -- right up his interest alley! He goes in Friday to work out the logistics, but this is a great great great great great opportunity!!! Check out their website: http://www.philipcmani.com/ Dustin's friend, Adam, helped make this deal happen -- and we forever owe him! Adam is a new associate there as well (he graduated law school with Dustin). They both looooove golf (both played in college) and play as much as possible and his wife, Suz, is a teacher -- we have a lot in common with them. Oh!--and they just adopted a dog from a rescue shelter. I hope they get some work done! We are ecstatic. I will keep you posted with the logistics.

I got a front-row-joe parking space at school (sounds small, but this HUGE), our schedules were rebuilt and I now conference and lunch from 11:10-1:45 everyday, what a nice break! And....I got to split my large special education science class in to two sections. Now I have 2 sciences and 3 maths and no tennis --- : ) : )

This has all finally fallen in to place for both us....patience and the hard work has finally paid off! August 18th, 2010 may be the best day...yet!

A normal week

Today was my first day back and it was great -- it was nice to come home at a normal teacher hour, 4ish, vs. the tennis hour I used to come home at, 10ish. This week is the start of tennis tryouts -- they start at the end of the teacher work day and go until 10 pm or so -- of course I am officially out of tennis, but a part of me kind of misses it while another part of me does not -- it was time to move on. Tonight Dustin and I went up to school and took some lamps, decor etc. that we are no longer using at the house to warm-up my classroom. I am teaching 3 sections of math, 1 science and 1 credit recovery -- but since my science class is loaded with 11 special education students (that's a lot!) my department head is trying to have that spilt where I would have 3 maths and 2 sciences...I'm cool with either -- I get bored easily and the change keeps it spicey! Dustin set up my computers for me!!!! : ) Today was my first day in my classroom, but I got a lot done -- still a construction zone, but I don't think anyone has ever seen my classroom? It's cozy and I LOVE IT. This past weekend we went to Lubbock for Matt Vance and JoBeth Campbell's Wedding --- truly an adorable couple. It was a very relaxed weekend--Dustin was a groomsman. The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was amazing -- we tore up the dance floor! Matt and JoBeth may be the two best people we know...so very easy going and always smiling. We got to see a lot of Dustin's high school / childhood friends that we don't see quite as frequently and it was great catching up....we laughed the entire weekend! Above are pics of my classroom, one of us before the Campbell/Vance wedding and the happy couple. Dustin is playing in the Sonterra Club Championship Golf Tournament this weekend...this week is the first "real-life," week we have ever had --- we both go to work, come home for dinner, TOGETHER, AT A NORMAL TIME, no studying, no tests, no bar -- just work, dinner, golf and pool...it's perfect! P.S. Phone is now fixed and only cost us $82 -- I can now receive and make calls plus everything else---considering its' condition on Friday we are PLEASED.

Friday the 13th

Ughh always hated this day -- and look how my day has started out! If you need me call Dustin.... can't get an Apple appointment until 11 and need to be in Lubbock by 4 today ....and no Apple stores in Lubbock....I sincerely need my day to get better!!!!!!!!! On the bright side: guess I won't need to pack a phone charger...

Blue Marlin Bathroom!

Lucky for Dustin I measured our outdoor bathroom (ha, that sounds like an outhouse), but the restroom you access outside from the pool area and the wall measures 5" longer than Bob The Marlin -- yeah!! It's air-conditioned so the fancy fish won't get a crack and Marlin and outdoors are two words I like to hear in one sentence. Let's hope that the Marlin fits through the door frame -- that fish has cost us more money freighting it around North America! Today was my last real day of summer -- and I topped it off by setting my record amount of sleep 13.5 hours. I thought there was some point in your life where you didn't/couldn't sleep that long? I know Dustin has certainly hit that point where he gets up with the sun no matter how much sleep has had. I am really really dreading that 5:45 am alarm clocks that are lurking around the corner... I cleaned our house top to bottom today, caught up on laundry and we finished unpacking / decorating Dustin's office, last night. That leaves only one room in the house to be sorted through, but we are in no hurry to make that anything because we want that to be our nursery when that day comes. My favorite room in our entire house is our dining room and I haven't posted one picture of it..so here it is! I love love love this room, but we love formality -- we eat at this table even if we are having leftovers, ha. It really feels like home -- we are so comfortable here, there is a place for everything and for me, having 5 sets of china/dishes and 2 sets of crystal, a place for everything was much needed! On bad days, I come home open up the sideboard and gaze at my Wedgewood Vera Wang, Vera Lace China -- that is my motivation. I think Dustin's motivation on bad days is to car shop online -- everybody as "their thing," that keeps them going...I guess these are ours. The other pics are of Dustin's office -- his desk is on his cattle rug that he has had forever -- it really looks good. That room is a very odd shape and small so this was all it needed. We have a large window seat that overlooks the backyard that I am going to have a cushion made for -- I am looking for cream and chocolate houndstooth pattern, but haven't found it yet-- so if you see some somewhere let me know! Dustin's mom got him the racehorse picture that we hung behind his desk -- it really added a nice touch of color -- the room is masculine but professional. And all those pricey law school books that are binded so beautifully in red have found their home around the office!

Summer is coming to an end...

Yes, in days I will be headed back to school for a teacher work week before the students come on August 23rd.  In some ways this summer flew by and in other ways it was forever long.  I feel rested and though am not looking forward to the 5:45 am alarm clock going off, I am eager to get back in a routine.  I find that I am more consistent with working out, maintaining a balanced diet,  a better time manager of my time, maintain organization, etc. etc. the list goes on when I am in school.  I think Dustin is ready for me to be back in the routine as well so that I will go to bed before midnight, allowing him to get a full night's rest.  Today ended a 4 day "Working on the Work," conference for me at Hyatt Hill Country -- it was a costly conference ($900 per person) and our district sent over 100 teachers -- I feel a little overwhelmed and am completely reworking my syllabi, expectations and policies.  I am still wrestling with the idea of allowing students a second chance for full credit as proposed at our conference.  One of our presenters said "School is the only place where we punish people for being wrong."  So...maybe I will allow my students a specific number of "re-dos," on homework, quizzes and tests each six weeks?  After all...isn't the point for students to discover, grow and retain information instead of the "got-cha" system we currently have in place?  I am even allowing cell phones, laptops, ipads, itouches, etc. in my class this year.  (I hope I don't pull my hair out).  I learned of a new system where I can poll a class with a question and they can respond via texting the answer and the website breaks the data down for me immediately -- completely anonymous for me to monitor information retention.  You can even set the system up for students to text a question in without claiming ownership to the question so that they don't feel dumb or singled-out.  The times have changed!  After my conference I went to Dustin's office to meet the people that he works with -- very nice!  We're heading to Lubbock on Friday to go to Matt Vance and JoBeth Campbell's wedding.  Dustin is a groomsman so we there are a lot of festivities this weekend -- and we are SOMEHOW going to bring back Dustin's 101" Blue Marlin that is in my parent's basement.  I'm speechless, but optimistic that Dustin has a special place in mind for it besides somewhere at 7 Inwood Way.  I am going to try to blog once a week -- so stay tuned for pics from the weekend.  :  )

THE BAHAMAS!

We just returned from the Bahamas with the Yates -- and we were sooo sad to leave! We spent 5 days in the Bahamas and it was 5 days of HEAVEN! I have a new love for the Bahamas and our hotel was amazing!! We stayed at Atlantis in the Royal Towers, which is the main hotel on the property...but we did explore some of the others and they were just as beautiful. We felt very very safe there and not bothered or threatened by the locals (something I have yet to feel on trips to Mexico!)....I will definitely go back. Atlantis has something for everyone from slides to rapid lazy rivers, tons of swimming pools, shopping, a casino, beautiful salt-water aquariums with exotic fishes and sharks, top-notch restaurants including one of Bobby Flay's (Mesa Grill) and beautiful white sand beaches! If you have never been, it should be added to your bucket list. Not to mention, they have the best Pina Coladas I have ever had!!!! I am paying for it now. : ) Our days consisted of restful laying out poolside, a few trips around the 1/2 mile lazy river, a trip or two down the slides including the famous drop "Leap of Faith," followed by a happy hour, dinner and casino time. What more could I want? Connor took his girlfriend Chelsea (we adore her!) and Macy had her BFFL Shanae....we had a big group which made it all the more fun! Dustin is back to work today and my days of summer are slowly coming to an end. What a wonderful way to end the summer -- now we embark on the fall and the endless number of weddings and wedding events; we can't wait for upcoming fun weekends with our friends.

Surprise Dinner!

Well -- I actually pulled off a surprise! Dustin and I headed to dinner at Dulce Vida, a new favorite of ours by our new house....and when we walked in, there was a table full of our friends! But this was only after we had pulled in to the parking lot once and left to go back home for Dustin to upload his Bar Exam -- HE FORGOT!!! AHHH...but that took 5 minutes... I knew that after Dustin finished the bar there were two things he would want to do: a) see his friends and b) get out of the house. The Burkholder's have a precious baby girl Aly and she got to meet the Patton's adorable baby boy, Beck that was born on July 4th -- I am sure they will have many play dates in the future. Today we are getting ready to head to the Bahamas -- we have been catching up on much needed yard work, laundry, etc. this morning. My friend, Susan, from Levelland is coming to town tonight so we are going to catch her and then we have an early early flight tomorrow. Life in the fast lane -- but we wouldn't have it any other way. : ) It is so nice to have my husband back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. The cupcakes tasted just as good as they look!!!