Cupid the Cowboy

We spent our Valentine's evening having dinner with a couple of cutie pie's...

Heart shaped grilled cheese makes your average sandwich just a little more fun...

And sweet cards from their daddy who always goes above and beyond when it comes to making the girls around here feel special...

Nate and I then headed out, we had a date with Cupid at the Rodeo...

We also got to hang out with some of our favorite people...

I was completely enamored with our front row seats (we were so close you had to watch out for flying dirt or things that look like dirt if you catch my drift)...

We're used to sitting in the "cheap seats" so this was quite a treat!

I also decided to treat myself to one of my favorite things.  I figure busting my rear at kick boxing twice a week earns me the occasional splurge...

Thank you so much Linda and Randy for the perfect way to spend our Valentine's Day!  We had a blast!  (and thanks for letting me borrow your boots Kimmi, I felt pretty snazzy)...

Ambiance

Seriously.  Who doesn't love a little campfire ambiance?  Last night we created a little ambiance of our own and kicked this thing off with a bang!  Cayce and I spent the day getting things ready...

I'm not sure there could have been a better place to host Kim's premiere.  The Drafthouse was in a word...Awesome!

Cayce and I got there a little early to set things up before all the fans (aka friends and family) arrived...

Of course it wouldn't have been a party without Jeff Probst...

It was a close call though.  As of about 3:45 yesterday afternoon Jeff was stuck in the back of a UPS truck somewhere in San Antonio.  To make a long story short Cayce used her super sleuth skills and tracked down the cell phone number of the driver (can you say future CIA agent??).  We caught up with him in the parking lot of the McNay, threw Jeff in the car and headed straight for the party!  He was so happy to get out of his box and join the fun...

Jeff wasn't the only one who was ready to party...

                                        

                                     

I think it's safe to say we were beyond excited that it was finally here!

Carter won the award for smallest fan!  She was so excited that we let her come...

Aunt Kim had promised they could sit next to each other and she didn't disappoint...

She ate too much popcorn, watched intently and stayed up way past her bedtime.  By the end of the night she was one very tired little girl...

It was a night to remember.  We packed the house (there were just a few empty seats) and hooped and hollered as Kim made her debut (It's not everyday that you get to see your sister on the BIG screen)...

I thought the episode was great.  In my opinion Kim looked gorgeous (I know I'm biased but it's totally true)!  She's also not above trying to get a little fire from some boys in her underwear.  It's all in the name of ambiance people.  Loved Chelsea and the fact that she caught not one but TWO chickens.  Oh, and not only did she catch them...she KEPT them.  I know I wouldn't be messin' with the country girl!!  I felt so bad for Courtney.  She was adorable and that was such a rough way to go.  She's one tough chick!!  The men...well let's just put it this way, I'd hate for them to meet John Wayne in a dark alley!  Except for Colton...while John Wayne taught them a thing or two about chivalry he'd be hanging at the Country Club sippin' iced tea!  Oh, and Matt...do you think you could do us all a favor and put your legs together during confessional??  If it's not too much trouble we'd really appreciate it!  

We had so much fun watching and I'm already looking forward to next Wednesday.  I'm so glad I get to be President of this girls fan club (the perks of being a big sister)...

Speaking of perks...breakfast at the Magnolia Pancake House the next morning is definitely another one...

Team Kim for the WIN!

Game Time!

My Little Lovebugs

The Countdown is ON!

It's here!! It's finally here.  The countdown is on and we can't wait for Wednesday night!  Everyday Kim is popping up somewhere new.  Entertainment Weekly...

The Temple Daily Telegram...

JORDAN OVERTURF TELEGRAM STAFF

Sunday, Feb 12, 2012 4:30 AM


Kimberly Spradlin, daughter of Temple High School's head football coach Mike Spradlin is a contestant on the upcoming season of "Survivor." The San Antonio resident will compete against 17 contestants for a million dollar prize. (Photo courtesy of CBS)

What’s the one skill every survivor needs? An unquenchable thirst for victory.

While every contestant on the 24th season of “Survivor” will claim to possess this trait, there’s only one who grew up under the tutelage of a Texas high school football coach.

“Survivor: One World” premieres 7 p.m. Wednesday on CBS, and Temple Wildcat football fans will likely tune in to root for Kimberly Spradlin, daughter of THS head football coach Mike Spradlin. Kimberly will be one of 18 contestants living together on an island in Samoa.

The contestants are divided into two tribes for a battle of the sexes. Kimberly is in the Salani tribe.

The San Antonio resident said in a phone interview earlier this week that she has always been obsessed with the show. A little over a year ago she was watching an episode with her friends and decided on a lark to make an audition video. Her iPhone recording landed her a callback and months of anxious anticipation. It was early summer when she finally received the call to pack up; a week later Kimberly was on a plane.

“I was kind of shocked, to be honest,” she said. “I was so fired up. The whole thing was surreal.”

Kimberly, 29, owns two bridal boutiques, one in San Antonio and the other in Austin. She comes from a family of competitors – her sister, Beth, was an athlete in college and her brother, Clint, is a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps – and has reveled in her own share of victory.

“Kim has a great competitor’s spirit,” said coach Spradlin in an email earlier this week. “I mean she hates to lose at anything she does … I mean HATES it.”

In high school, her volleyball team won a state championship. The Spradlin clan moved around a lot in those years and Kimberly eventually graduated from Western High School in Round Rock. Her athleticism certainly will be to Kimberly’s advantage during the course challenges. But it’s her experience as a white water rapids guide that makes her the ultimate survivor.

“Physically, I’m not afraid of anything,” she said.

Kimberly spent some time as a white water rapids guide in Colorado, which included going on overnight excursions. You know, the type of thing where one would learn survival tips.

Last year, after she got the call back, Kimberly began some light training – in her sister’s backyard.

“I did everything I could think of that would get me prepared. I learned how to shoot a bow and arrow and a slingshot. I threw grappling hooks at things,” she said. “My sister and her husband and my nieces would all come hang out while I shot arrows at the tree.”

Kimberly’s brother-in-law, is a naval officer, showed her a few tricks, as well. But it mostly came down to physical training and basic acts of survival, such as starting a fire.

Meanwhile, her parents didn’t really believe she was going to be on the show until she got on the plane.

“When she told me she would be going to audition for it, I just figured it was a real long shot. Kind of like winning the lottery,” said coach Spradlin, who along with his wife had never seen the show before. “Last fall we watched every episode, just so we would have an idea what to expect. I have to admit, after a couple of episodes I kind of got into it!”

“Survivor: One World” was filmed over the summer, all except for the live finale where the winner will be announced. Kim is back in San Antonio and excited to see the competition from the other side.

“Survivor” is comprised of three major elements of intrigue: survival in the elements, competing in complex obstacle challenges and voting off the competition. Kimberly doesn’t flinch at the first two. The politics involved with voting, though, was the hardest element of the show to prepare for.

“I think the one of the best things I had going for me … was making connections with people,” said Kimberly. “I can be friends with anyone and find the value in each person and find a way to connect with them. I was just hoping that would get me far enough.”

In a preview for the upcoming season, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst named Kimberly as one of his favorites to go far in the game.

“Kim is someone I think everyone is gonna want to root for. She’s the all-American woman. … She could walk away with the money,” he said.

In her cast interview, which was tapped before the competition, Kimberly said she would love to win the money, but was more interested in coming out and making a good run at the game.

“Survivor: One World” airs 7 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS. Check with your provider for local listings. To see previews or cast interviews for “Survivor: One World,” go to www.cbs.com/shows/survivor.



I thought this article was great!  (And yes she totally shot her bow and arrow and built fires in my backyard...I'm happy to report we had a small part in helping her prepare for this adventure!)


We also have our very own little reporter covering all things "Aunt Kim"...

Here is the link to a video of Carter doing the morning announcements with her class this week!  (CLICK HERE!)


For the first time ever I'll be watching the Grammy's for the commercials tonight!  Outwit, Outlast, Outplay...TEAM KIM all the way!!

Rite of Passage

I went in to check on my sweet little Emerson last night.  She had gone to bed with a low grade fever and a few hours later was burning up.  I swept her up hoping to get a little Tylenol down her without disturbing her sleep.  What happened next is in my opinion a rite of passage for all Mama's.  
I'll spare you the gory details but it involved the contents of her stomach getting to know lots of various surfaces in our home.  If anyone has a good suggestion on how to handle a toddler with a stomach bug without having to do at least 3 loads of laundry I'm all ears.  Sick babies make me sad...

It was a long night and of course Nate is out of town (because these little bugs just seem to know when you're home alone).  I have to admit I gave myself a couple of pep talks to make it through.  It may not be the competition I have been accustomed to in my past life as an athlete but when you're covered in puke, have a crying baby standing naked in the bath and Cinderella turned into a pumpkin about two hours ago you have no choice but to compete. And you know what we both survived...

We always do.  Because deep down there is something in us that knows when the going gets tough the tough get going!  Sometimes I think the lesson I value most after a night like the one we just had is how much it makes me appreciate the "normal" ones.  The ones I sometimes complain about because Carter wakes me up to pee three different times or Emerson loses her pacifier and wants to be rocked more than once.  I'll take normal over puke any day of the week.  


I still have a sick little girl but I'm hoping the worst is behind us for this go round...

On the mend with ice chips...

To all the Mama's who've had a night spent snuggling feverish babies and cleaning up messes I salute you.  It's a tough job but somebody's gotta' do it!