Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A lil late HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of family, fun, and food! I really haven't been much of a blogger lately and was a complete failure with my "I'm gonna post something everyday that I'm thankful for" idea. Fail. But that doesn't mean I am not thankful. I think I am so busy enjoying all those things to sit down and type about them {yep that is my excuse.. its a pretty good one I think}. Anyway, my family and I had a good great Thanksgiving. This was the first year in probably 3 years or so that allllll my sisters and mom and dad and our gammy were all around the same table. There are 5 of us girls, its a "yours, mine, and ours" family (blended by marriage). My older, yet unbelieveably younger looking sister(that was for you Lin) and her man Quentin drove a few hours that day to be with us. One of my younger sisters Maggie just started college at Oklahoma State University and she came home from college to join us. And Mollie my other younger sister (who turned 16 this year, yes watch out everyone) was home also. And lastly, our youngest and the baby sister, Piper who is 10 was there, but of course she would be. Pretty sure she isn't married or in college yet so she better be at home. HA! My Gammy came in from Oklahoma City and then my Mom and Dad (well stepdad). Oh and of course my Brandon and I. We cooked all morning and laughed, drank a few glasses bottles of wine. hehe! When we sat down to eat the table looked amazing. My Mom cooked a turkey as well as Brandon. I think he is practicing for taking over turkey duty. My Mom and Gammy do an amazing job, their cooking is seriously the best. We all went around the table and said what we are Thankful for. I think my Mom had us all in tears after her emotional display that she was so thankful for her girls and that we were all together. I think everyones "thankfulness" had the word Family involved. So blessed to be apart of my family, they are truly amazing! We ate, and ate, and ate some more until we couldn't move. I think we were all so full that we just sat at the table talking and kidding each other for a good hour after dinner. Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving before I go on....


My Moms beautiful centerpiece!

The turkey pins Piper made for our place settings
(yep you could totally wear them.... and you better believe I did)

My Mom and Gammy cookin up a storm

And the family at the table (minus myself I was taking the picture)


So after dinner we cleaned up and did dishes. My parents had Christmas lights up but had not turned them on yet so we decided to do it "Christmas Vacation" style and turn them on while standing in the front yard. You know Christmas Vacation right?! Its only the best Christmas movie of all time. So standing outside like crazy people drumroll and everything....Fa lalalala LIGHTS COME ON! Beautiful, shimmery, peaceful, magical ......okay yes but its was freakin cold, we were freezing our butts off so we all head inside. BUT. not before a couple family pictures!!! Love it!


And this one... yes put the FUN in disFUNctional!!

Oh and after that we even watched Christmas Vacation. Pretty sure Brandon aspires to be cousin Eddie...
"shiters full"!!! hahahaha! Just kidding!


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thankful Today for...

Today I am so Thankful!! Thankful for so many things but specifically a certain few special people who have a heart for animals. Yesterday I found a little kitten outside my work on a busy road. We thought she was hurt because she was just laying there still as could be meowing. I slowly walked over to her trying not to scare her anymore then she already was and put my hand close to her. When she didn't act aggressive at all I started petting her and was able to pick her up. I took her back into the office and comforted her. All of us in the office loved on her the rest of the day and passed her around. Brandon brought her some food and milk, and made her a little box with a blanket in it. She ate, played, and slept in her box. She was so sweet!! I instantly fell in love with her along with everyone in the office. We took her to our house last night in hopes of finding her a home. We made a little stop by mom Moms house to see my family. My 10 year old sister loved her but I think my Mom really was the one who wanted to keep her. Well they have a cat that lets just say wasn't real fond of this little kitty. So I brought her home and we played all night. She ate and drank and slept and played. There is no way she was a wild cat because she was way to sweet! We think someone maybe dumped her and that is why she was so scared. She slept in a big box with lots of blankets and only meowed a couple times through the night. I decided to take her to work again today because I knew a couple people were interested in her. Again she was so good all day! We really enjoyed her. I wanted her so bad.. correction so so so so bad!! But with our dog I knew it wouldn't be the best. And plus Brandon isn't big on litter boxes. Well I got this email later in the day from a good friend of mine saying she was interested. I sent pictures and a little information about the kitty. Well this evening we went over our friends house to see how the cat and their little girls react and it was perfect! They have the cutest little two year old ever.. Halley. And Halley has a little sister, Emmy who is 3 months. Halley was running around yelling "Kiittttyyy.. come heerree." It was so precious to see a little two year old be so gentle and sweet to the kitty. Halley named her Cassie the kitty.  So today I am especially Thankful for my friends who took a chance on a kitten who needed a home. I hope they end up very happy. (and I really love that I can still see the kitty anytime since they are such good friends of Brandon and I)!! I love good pet owners and pet lovers! People who have a soft spot for animals have a good heart and a special place in Heaven.

Here she is... so sweet

Sleepy kitten

I am so Thankful!
2 days until Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Thankful today for..

Everyday I am Thankful for so many things but today specifically I am thankful for our family get togethers. We had a distant family Thanksgiving today and I really do enjoy getting together seeing everyone. Yes, it is a lot of work. Yes, I'm sure I could find things to do at home {clean, work outside, talk Brandons ear off, clean some more.. I hardly ever sit down and watch tv} but all that can wait. We are blessed and lucky enough to have our families around and be so close to them that every chance we get to do things we them we are there. So today, we had our first of several Thanksgiving dinners this week. Ya know that movie "Four Christmases" well that is our life on the major holidays. HA! Okay sorry I am rambling now- I do that pretty bad. So anyway we went and had some turkey and played football with the kids outside. Brandon and I brought the sweet potato dish and the green bean casserole. It was held at Brandons aunts house and she had it set up beautifully. I say "distant" family not meaning that we aren't close to them but that they aren't our immediate family. Every year we get together with Brandons Grandpa's (aka Papa) sister and brother and their kids and grandkids for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We were stuffed after lunch and sat around chatting for a while. I think those are some of the best times, when kids are running around, people and family talking all around you, the smell of good food and the noise of football on the tv.
So to sum it up: Today I am Thankful for Family get togethers. {and that we are lucky enough to have them so close to us}

This was Thanksgiving a few years ago with my family (Brandon was probably taking the pic)

Christmas with Brandon's family several years ago (i love older pictures)

Brandon and I on Thanksgiving a couple years ago (when I had brown hair..)

Piper and I on Thanksgiving last year (yep.. I have dark hair in this one too)

Well have a great week everyone!!
4 days until Thanksgiving!!


Friday, November 19, 2010

Thankful today for..

Today I am Thankful that I have the opportunity to have off work on Fridays. I was off today and enjoy my Fridays so much. It just does wonders to my mind. My weekends aren't so packed full of to-do's at home and things we can never get done during the week. Today I went on several much needed errands early this morning, got in a little Christmas shopping at one store, came home and worked in the yard (winterized everything..so sad to my pretty plants go but happy to see winter also), came in and studied for a test I have tomorrow, and then picked up Brandons lil sisters and my little sister from their schools and took them for ice cream. I am so Thankful! 6 Days until Thanksgiving ( :


Thursday, November 18, 2010

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Me kissin our Thanksgiving turkey {named it Lucy} LOL

It seems like forever since I have been on here. Whew... I'm just so busy. I thought our life might slow down after the wedding but nope.not.at.all. Right now we are in the midst of renovating our guest bathroom. So if each evening isn't full of family activities the bathroom takes priority. Don't worry before and after pics will be up soon. Eventually I would like to replace the vanity but for now {since we need the bathroom in usable condition by the holidays} we are just doing a quickie makeover; paint, fixtures, tile.

I usually blog about certain things we did on the weekend or house projects or my family but today I just thought I would get on and start typing. Lately I have been struggling with not letting a certain few get to me but also had an overwhelming sense of Thankfulness in the same note. I am thankful because its so close to the Holidays which is my absolute favorite time of year or maybe its just because I have this amazing family and husband that I never want to take for granted. Have you ever encounted people that have such a different attitude, outlook on life opposite of yours that it just drives you crazy?! Isn't family 1st in most peoples lives? I sometimes wonder with some and get irritated when its just brushed off because of "who they are". Shouldn't people be held accountable for their actions.. or lack of actions? Should it matter what Church we go to? or what job we have? or how much we have? Shouldn't we just all strive everyday to be better people, to help more, to love more, to smile more. I am not perfect by any means at all but I think I try with all my heart to put people before me especially the kids in my life. I guess I just don't understand how others can't. I sometimes want to say something so bad. I want them to take a step back, look at how they are and that we can all be better people even them. When I pray I pray for the courage to help me through, the strength to make me stronger, the patience to help me wait through...and to be better all around. I hope that these see the big picture very soon and also strive and pray to be better. I am done talking about this now, I never really say much about this so to write it just makes me feel a little better.
Anyways!! With Thankgiving being so close I want to think of something every day until then that I am thankful for. I have several things every day I am thankful for but I will post one thing a day until Thanksgiving.
A few years ago I was in college (broke like most college students) trying to finish my degree and making this huge plan for my life; continue with school, have this awesome career that hopefully travels all over, etc. I am so thankful for where I am right now though. We have a beautiful home, I have a great husband, I do have a job, still considering going back to school but it seems like life is good right now.  Have you ever been driving and just look around and see the beauty around you? Especially right now when all the fall colors are bright!
I love love love the holidays. the smell outside. the cold. the snow. the lights on the tree. the lights on homes. the cookies and goodies. the games played when everyone is together. the wine. the laughter that is continuous when my family gets together. the Christmas movies. hot chocolate. a warm blanket. giving to my loved ones. seeing my lil sisters face when Santa comes. the busy malls. warm coats. wearing jammies all day on Christmas. the food. waking up to a yard covered in untouched snow. sledding. baking. Christmas cards.slippers. tacky sweater party. friends. most of all my FAMILY.
Now's your chance to look around. think about what you love about today, about the holidays, about your life. Say it, write it, read it over and over again.
By the Grace of God is my life the way it is.

Grace.
"Life is a classroom. We are both student and teacher, each day is a test. Each day we recieve a passing or failing grade in the particular subject: Grace. Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. It's something money can't buy and creditials rarely produce. being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest can't help. being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude."

We put our tree up already since we both love just looking at it.
What I love about our tree is that every single ornament{weren't up yet in this picture} has a story. Every year since I can remember my parents have gotten all us girls a hallmark ornament so that we would have our own when we have a tree. When I met Brandon 8 Christmases ago we started it for him also. Our tree is nearly full of different ornaments and each of them is so special to us.

Laughter, Smiles, and Love to your family today and through the Holiday!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Holiday Holiday Holiday Cards!

Its about that time again {Christmas} and I have been meaning to start looking at Holiday Cards. We sent out a Christmas card a few years ago that was probably my favorite so far. It was the year we got engaged and we send a little Christmas wish with a picture of Brandon and I on vacation where we got engaged. Yes, I said vacation... let me tell you the short version of how we got engaged. Brandon got me a trip to New York for Christmas (total surprise.. really). We left a couple days after Christmas. I found my new favorite place on earth... yes NEW YORK around Christmas time. On New Years eve we walk to times square to bring in the new year together and watch the ball drop. Little did I know, my Life was about to change forever. At midnight, confetti everywhere, people kissing, toasting, singing, Brandon got down on one knee and asked me to Marry Him!? Obviously I said yes! Best.Trip.Of.My.Life. 
So anyway that year we send out a Christmas card with a picture of us in New York!! It was by far my favorite card yet and still have a copy of it. This year I want to do something WEDDING! Very appropriate right?! We just got married in June so I want to put a little picture of us on the card and have a saying
something like "Have a Merry (or spell it Marry) Christmas"... or
"Tis the Season to be Merry (Marry)". I know I know so corny right.
I am planning on making my holiday cards with shutterfly!!
Take a look at these holiday cards on shutterfly

Christmas Photo Cards {love the one called "All wrapped up"}

Photo Cards {you can do photo cards for ANYTHING}

And Holiday Cards {love the one called "with love Chartreuse"}

Oh and by the way since everyone could save a litte money around Christmas time....

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… apply here: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Here are a few more designs that I LOVE
                
                 "Family Wall Red"

              "Mod Love"

             "Peace Love"
           

Thanks for reading! Take a look at shutterfly!


Anniversary