A Year in Review: 2011

So every Christmas my parents send out a Christmas poem that my very talented dad writes. I shared last year's here and thought sharing this year's would be a nice way to round out the year...


To all of our family and to all of our friends, the Christmas poet has done it again
It seems to happen this time every year, happy thoughts from us to bring you good cheer!
This year as always was better than last, so here are some highlights from our recent past.

The calendar turned, we were all off and running, planning an event that we hoped would be stunning
Jessie and Doug had chosen a date, planning a wedding put a lot on our plate
July was the target, the fun just beginning…flowers? A venue? Had all our heads spinning!

Decisions were made as the months flew on by, we were all really anxious about 30 July!
In the week just before Doug made Jessie his spouse, they closed and moved into their very first house
The wedding was perfect, a sight to behold, and both our kids married had us feeling…well…old!


John and Ashley were blessed with really good news, even in the midst of the housing market blues
All over Orlando they decided to roam, searching and searching for that perfect home,
And of all of the dwellings that they had seen, they closed on their favorite this past Halloween!

Some paint and new floors were what was desired, and after three weeks we were all pretty tired.
They hosted Thanksgiving, new memories were made, all the food, and the love was clearly homemade.
That creature that’s stirring, why, that is no mouse…Its John, Ash and Ruger in their new house!

In October we took some much needed leave, and went to Seattle to see Krista and Steve
A trip to the coast would help keep us sane, and the weather was perfect, with very little rain!
We saw all the sights, and Oh! Mount Rainier, in all of her beauty, made us smile ear to ear.

The events of this year have provided much joy, and we are thankful that Phil will never deploy.
Those days are long gone as we continue to grow, trying to find normal in Orlan-do
As you hustle and bustle your way through this season, never forget that HE is the reason


And to finish it off -- here is our year in review: ENJOY!

January

Jess and Doug's engagement party

February

I caught my first Grouper

March

Ate a Krispy Kreme doughnut burger

Celebrated our first wedding anniversary

Our very sweet friends got married

April

Went to Red Robin for my birthday

May

Donated my hair to Beautiful Lengths

June

Went to Vito's Chop House for Father's Day dinner with J's Dad and family

Attended a surprise bachelorette party

July

Went to a surprise wedding reception

My baby sister got married

August

Saw Volbeat at HOB

September

Went on a family fishing trip

October

Saw 3 Doors Down at Hard Rock with my dad

 

Halloween parties galore!

CLOSED ON OUR HOUSE!

November

Hosted Thanksgiving (after completely refinishing the inside of the house)

December

First Christmas at the new house

Here is to an amazing 2012! Have a fabulous weekend everyone and be safe!!

Our Home: Spare Room and Game Room

Happy halfway through the week!!! WOOO!! We are nearing the singled digits for Christmas! Who is excited?! THIS GIRL! YAY!!! I'm just itching to give gifts - I LOVE LOVE LOVE gift giving. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy =)

Tonight is my office party - we have a private room at Carraba's where we will be feasting and having a white elephant type gift exchange! So excited!

THEN I will be making my way to my dear friend, Christy's mom's house for our 2nd annual Christmas Cookie Party! I am so excited about tonight and spending time with my girls =) Fear not! I will have pictures to share...I just can't decide if it will be in the midst of my home tour or if you will have to wait! =) Stay tuned!

I will be sharing 2 rooms again -- the spare bedroom and the game room.

Game Room

This room had dirty tan carpet that was removed by moi before this picture was taken...but you get the idea =)

Before

After

Spare Bedroom

This room seemed a bit dingy and small...after the makeover and adding furniture, I know the room is still not HUGE but it is definitely brighter and warmer.

Before

 

After

 

As you can see in a lot of these pictures, we haven't decorated completely. Many of you know that will take some time...we need some inspiration...and TIME to complete what projects I have in mind! ;)

Happy ELEVEN days until Christmas =)

Miscellany Monday

Hey Y'all!!! I'm linking up over at Lowercase Letters for Miscellany Monday!

Link up here

{One}

We had our housewarming party on Saturday night and it was a huge success! There was so much love and happiness in our house. It was amazing but can you believe it -- I didn't take a SINGLE picture! I'm really bummed about it and was a bit upset yesterday but honestly I was so busy hosting and giving tours that I just didn't think to pick up the camera.

{Two}

When I am not feeling on top of the world, I generally don't take pictures =/ I wasn't loving the way I looked on Saturday night so that MAY be part of the reason that I didn't think about a camera too.

{Three}

After work today, The Husband and I are going to pick out a Christmas Tree!!! I am so so excited to decorate this year!

{Four}

I am going to be getting a lot of my Christmas shopping finished up at lunch today! WOO! I'm thrilled about that! I am also making a trip to the craft store for a couple things to make some homemade gifts as well as a couple home decor projects for Christmas this year =) I hope to be very busy after work this week getting it all together =)

{Five}

I'm going to start sharing house pictures tomorrow!! I'm so excited TO FINALLY have the time to share the pictures =) I'll probably do one or two rooms at a time and show you before, during, and after so that you can see the transition.

{Six}

I struggle every year coming up with a Christmas list for anyone or ideas for myself. I'm pretty good about getting things together for other people but I can't really come up with ideas for myself! I try to think of things ALL year but I either forget or eventually buy it on my own! OOPS! =)

{Seven}

My office Christmas party is next week after work and I am really looking forward to it =) I have been coming up with the Christmas gift exchange gift that I want to have...we do a Chinese Gift Exchange every year at the party.  I really lobbied hard to have a Secret Santa this year and everyone was supportive of the idea. Then the boss sent out the invite for the party and said we are doing the exchange. Needless to say I was a little bummed. =/ I like buying for specific people and not just random...I LOVE doing personal gifts. Oh well -- I am still excited about what I am bringing even if I can't make it SUPER personal.

{Eight}

Last year, a group of my girlfriends started a Christmas Cookie Party tradition. Next week will be the 2nd Annual Cookie Party. I have been looking forward to this for month! We had so much fun last year -- you can read about it here. I am going to be late to it though because of the office party BUT that's OK I'm just happy to be able to be a part of it! =)

I just love this time of the year -- the decorations, the parties, the giving, the food, and all the love and happiness that is shared amongst friends and family!

What are your holiday traditions?

Deck The Halls

HAPPY DECEMBER!

I'm so excited to be celebrating our second married Christmas in our new amazing house! I can't wait to go get a tree and decorate the house! I LOVE that we have decided to start getting real trees - at least for a while. =)

I'm thinking we will need to take a similar Christmas picture to this:

Every year =) it makes me happy! I DO miss my long hair though! I can't wait to grow it out to wear I feel super  girlie again!! =)
Happy December Everyone! I can't wait to dive into this Christmas Season with you all!!

Thanksgiving is BEFORE Christmas

Hello!!

We still do not have the computer up and running, although we DO have internet at the house. BUT since the computer is still in a box, probably until Saturday, I have no pictures to post =/

We have been super busy with getting the rest of the house unpacked - we only have the craft room and the man-room/office to unpack. Then it will be time to hang pictures =) I'm really looking forward to that because I feel like having stuff on those huge walls will help bring everything together.

We purchased appliances on Friday after work -- the refrigerator and dishwasher will be delivered and installed on Saturday. The microwave won't be delivered until December 7 =( BUT at least we still had the counter top microwave to bring to the new house...even if we don't use it, at least it is an option for us =)

We have volunteered to host Thanksgiving for our families this year! I am so excited! We will have the space to actually host and the available seating and counter space! I am really looking forward to cooking and baking for our families =)

I walked into WalMart this weekend and there was a Christmas countdown I walked by -- 43 days...what?! that can NOT be correct. it was people! Today marks 39 days until Christmas!

Has anyone else seen the Christmas decor already go up - even on the light poles in parking lots?! I have friends on FB who have even pulled out their Christmas decoration already. Now I LOVE Christmas and the whole Christmas season just as much as the next person, but can we please give thanks first?! Maybe I really feel this way this year because I am looking forward to decorating and being festive for Autumn/Thanksgiving, but there are already Christmas tree tents up on the sides of the road! J and I usually wait until at LEAST the weekend after Thanksgiving, if not until December before we put our Christmas decor up.

For Christmas this year, my family has planned a progressive dinner for Christmas Eve. The Husband and I are hosting the appetizers and drinks; my sister and her husband will host the main dinner; we'll all go to church and then it's back to my parent's house for dessert and gift giving. I'm really looking forward to this as well =)

I just love the holiday season and this time of year =) I can't wait to start sharing pictures and crafts with you again =) AND I am looking forward to hosting dinners and parties this year =) Oh and let us not forget the 2nd annual cookie baking party =)

Do you decorate for Autumn? When does your Christmas decor make an appearance?

Houses and Surprises

Hi Everyone!! I hope y'all had an amazing holiday weekend celebrating our Nation's birthday!

By the actual 4th of July, I was exhausted! Saturday was spent at my sister's new house painting, hanging ceiling fans and helping my dad hang a garage door opener.  We were so busy with things that I forgot to take a picture of the housewarming gift I made for Jess and Doug AND any inside pictures.  I'm afraid the only photo I have to share is of the outside...which is very pretty...

On Sunday, J and I went by the house that we are under contract on...I was hoping we could peak inside.  We walked the perimeter to check out how much fencing would be needed to enclose the backyard. J looked in through the back window and said there was still furniture inside the house. AWKWARD.  I'm sure we looked more than a little suspicious so we high-tailed it out of there! Not before taking a pretty picture of the outside though!

We made our way to our friend's house where our group threw a surprise reception for our sweet friends who were married June 27 -- that same girl we had thrown the bachelorette party for =) It was a true backyard reception; cake, first dance, sign in, group shot and alcohol. =)
   
 


We didn't hang out on the beach or lake, nor did we grill out.  We spent the Fourth of July with one another, laying low and recovering from our weekend.  I know it wasn't very festive of us, but it was perfect. I love spending one on one time with my amazing and sweet husband. Once the sun went down, tons of people in our neighborhood and the surrounding areas were setting off expensive fireworks, so we made our way to the driveway where we watched a Fourth of July celebration. It was a perfect weekend with my husband.

I don't anticipate hearing anything back about the house this week so hopefully the week flies by and we are able to keep ourselves busy so we don't think about it too much haha =)

What did you do this weekend???

Christmas with the In-Laws & What I'm Loving Wednesday +

After leaving my parent's house around noon on Christmas Day, J and I drove straight to his parent's house with Ruger in tow.
When we arrived there I made deviled eggs for the VERY first time ever!!! I was really happy with the turn out.  J's dad likes mayo in his as do I so I told him I would make some.  I totally did it blind and just added a little this and that and it was perfect.  I think I made 8 eggs (so 16 halves) and ate like 12 halves! they were so good!!!

My brother-in-law's girlfriend's mom, step dad and sister also came to gift open. Here are some fun pictures of family opening their gifts!

Typical brother-in-law photo -- it's rare that he takes it serious =)

Anngela (BIL's GF)

Hot Husband ♥

J's Mom

J's Dad

After gifts we took a bunch of group shots that turned out pretty nicely =)  

 

    

As it got later, everyone left so J and I decided to stay and watch Grown Ups with his parents. 

It was finally 9 o'clock and time for me to go to bed -- I. was. EXHAUSTED! We got home and unloaded the dog.  While we were unloading everything else from the truck this was our doggie:

He didn't move from that position for a few hours. Suffice it to say that he was also an exhausted puppy. =)

We had an absolutely amazing First Christmas as Husband and Wife. I am looking forward to many more years of traditions and marvelous family time. =)

Be Sure to Link up HERE!!!

I'm Loving -- that it's going to be back in the 70's this week.  If you look at the picture below, you will see frost. NOT OK! Even though it's kinda pretty lol

 I'm Loving -- The fun scarf I received as a Christmas gift from Anngela & Larry (but probably mostly Anng lol)

 I'm Loving -- Ruger-Dog and the fact that he has to be in the bathroom or any where with me at all times when we are home.  He's so sweet and lovable!

 I'm Loving -- The hoop earrings that J bought me for Christmas!! They are a great every day earring and the first time I have ever had nice hoops! =)

I'm Loving -- These nude heels I received for Christmas -- I am wearing them today and they are SO comfortable!

I'm Loving -- The pawprint ornament I told y'all about yesterday! It's so darling!!

 I'm Loving -- this new lotion from B&BW! It smells delicious.  I love it so much I bought the body wash too!

And of Course, I'm Loving -- my amazing husband who is always there for me to share laughter and tears and shower me with love ♥

Have a Fabulous Wednesday!!! And for those of you like me -- tomorrow is our Friday!! YAY!