Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Much Love,

J&T

December

This post is going to sum up the entire month of December. 

Don't worry, it won't be as long as it sounds.

Here is how our month went...

I did some Christmas crafting.

Glittered Canvas

  

Wreath on the front door

Callie had her pictures taken with Santa Paws at the 

daycare we send her to. It was free for all the pets and they sent 

me 7 pictures from her photo shoot!

This was the best picture.

She looks like she is having the time of her life!

 

 

Meet Hershey, the newest addition to our family. 

 

Travis has always wanted a chocolate lab, so she was his Christmas gift.

We adopted her from a military family who is moving and wasn't able to take her.

She is the sweetest dog ever. 

It took Callie a little while to warm up to her, but now they are BFF's.

 

We hosted our first Christmas at our place. 

Travis' parents, sister and Grandmother came over.

The highlight of the day for me was that it snowed!

I have NEVER had a white Christmas, hell, I don't remember 

the last time it rained on Christmas. 

Everything was so beautiful covered in snow. 

And the dogs loved it. 

 

 

This past weekend we celebrated Travis' 30th birthday.

We didn't do much. He hates his birthday. 

But I took him out for a day of all his favorite things:

breakfast at Chick-Fil-A, a trip to Bass Pro, a movie 

and lunch at Hard Eight BBQ. 

The day after we got to enjoy a relaxing day together and have lunch with

our good friends. It was so nice to have two relaxing days off with him.

Beer and a movie in a huge leather recliner...the only way to see a movie

  

The "menu" at Hard 8

 And now we are sitting in our pj's, watching House Hunters and waiting to ring in 2013.

Happy New Year friends!

Christmas 2011

Christmas has come and gone. 

I know I've said it before, but I cannot believe just how fast this past year went. 

We spent Christmas Eve just the two of us.

It was so nice.

We went to candlelight service at church, which is one of my favorite traditions of Christmas.

The church service was probably one of the worst ever. 

The entire 45 minute message was about "conceiving" and "delivering" the message of God to others. 

 At one point he asked you to turn to the person next to you and say
"God wants to get you pregnant".

Let's just say, this did not sit well with me.

I sobbed the entire service. 

I honestly don't know why we didn't just get up and walk out. 

When we did leave Travis even said the pastor took it way too far. 

A lovely start to Christmas.

After church we went home and made chicken tortilla soup. 

Actually, Travis made it while I downed an entire bottle of champagne. 

Nothing like drinking your feelings away.

Christmas morning we slept in, Skyped with my parents and then headed to Travis' parents house.

We had a nice time hanging out and opening presents.

They got me a North Face jacket which I am so excited about! 

I also racked up 3 Starbucks gift cards, score. 

And Travis got me a North Face scarf.

This Cali girl cannot handle the cold winter weather here!

Overall it was a lovely Christmas.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!

Bah Humbug

I cannot believe Christmas is only 2 days away.

December has just flown by.

Hell, 2011 has flown by. 

This is the first year EVER that I'm just not into Christmas.

And if you know me, you know that's just insane. 

I LOVE Christmas.

I don't know if it's because it's our first year away from my family.

Or because we aren't doing gifts this year. 

Or because of all the stress we have been under.

Or because I was just certain last Christmas that by this Christmas

I would at least be pregnant, if not have a baby. 

 I actually think it's a combination of all of those.

I'm trying really hard to get in the spirit. 

But all the music, holiday cheer and lights just aren't doing it. 

I did get a fantastic present in the mail last week from a certain someone,

and it put the biggest smile on my face.

While Christmas is not about getting presents,

it made me happy to know I have a great and caring friend out there.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! 

May you spend the day with loved one's 

and remember the true meaning of this wonderful day. 

Christmas Recap

Christmas this year was fantastic! 

T and I drove up to my parents Christmas Eve to surprise my mom. She was having a rough time dealing with her first Christmas without any "kids" in the house. She was so excited when she got home and saw us there. But before we went up there we had our own Christmas, just the two of us. He did a pretty good job, I must say. I was a little worried, as the first two gifts I opened were a car charger for my iphone and a travel coffee mug. (I don't drink coffee!) But he redeemed himself when I opened The Pioneer Woman's cookbook and a pair of Toms! I LOVE them both!

Christmas morning my sister and her hubby came over and so did my Grams. We all celebrated Christmas together, and it was lovely! My parents got me a Silhouette! I was so excited because I really wanted one but didn't think I would actually be getting it! I have so many projects planned. My sister gave me a gift card to Silhouette so I can buy more supplies. 

The rest of the day was spent eating, drinking and hanging out with my family. It was the perfect Christmas. I just feel like it flew by this year though. I can't believe how fast this past year has gone. I remember last Christmas like it was yesterday, so I can't believe this Christmas is already gone. I'm already looking forward to Christmas next year. And I'm hoping there will be a baby around to add to the excitement of the season!

Special Time of Year

I love Christmas!

 I love everything about it; the sights, the lights, the smells, and the overall giving spirit of the holiday. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. As I get older, it seems to just get better and better. Not because I get better gifts, but because there is just so much meaning behind this time of year.

Growing up my parents always instilled in us the real reason for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. They also always made sure we knew the reason of Christmas was not for presents, but to try and help others less fortunate than us. As I have gotten older, this becomes more and more true for me. In the past few years there are very few things I have wanted for Christmas, and I would prefer money spent of gifts go to help others.

This year, like many years in the past, my family "adopted" a family at a local church. This was the first year I have had a steady job with a steady income and was really able to participate. The little boy we adopted is 6 years old.I cannot tell you the smile I had on my face while shopping for him, and knowing we were helping his family. There is no greater job (at least not at this point in my life, I'm sure once we have children this will change) than being able to help others. My heart is so full this year. I hope this little boy and his mom have an amazing Christmas. I know that even if I have not one gift under the tree this year, I would still be completely fulfilled. This is what Christmas is all about. No amount of gifts will ever give me the fulfillment helping others does.

All I Want For Christmas...

...Is a positive pregnancy test in 2011! I promise I will be a good girl next year and I won't ask for anything else.

My Most Favoritest Month of the Year

I absolutly, positively LOVE December. I love everything about the month, especially Christmas. I love the cool, crisp air. I love the smell of Christmas, the cinnamon pinecones and Christmas tree's. The decorations are amazing. For the most part people are in a great mood. I love driving around looking at houses all decorated while listening to Christmas music and drinking hot cocoa. There is just something about little while lights EVERYWHERE that makes me so happy. I listen to Christmas music all year long, but in December it is acceptable.

This Christmas will be a little different for T and I. We are both so broke right now, and with him moving into our new apartment just 10 days before Christmas, and our wedding 5 weeks after Christmas, we have no money for gifts. Although, T has already given me the best gift this year, he asked me to marry him! I know this Christmas is going to be just as awesome, if not even better than all the previous one's. T will be in our apartment at Christmas, and I fully plan on decorating, even if it is just him enjoying it! I can't wait to spend our first Christmas together and start our own traditions! Only 24 days and counting..


*This was my tree a few years ago when I lived on my own. I had to cut the top of the tree because it was bent on the ceiling!


*T and I a few years ago in Texas just after Christmas


*Now this is a Christmas tree