Christmas... =.)

It's been really hard to even get motivated to post over Christmas, but here's the rundown. We stayed pretty busy. We had dinner every night for 5 nights, straight! It got to where I got tired of eating! =.) It was a really great holiday, though. I just know that I am so blessed!

Marc and I went down to South Carolina to spend the weekend with his dad and stepmom December 19-21. We celebrated Christmas with all of Melinda's family, and then also our Christmas with them, Matt, Tammy, and Karleigh. I don't spend as much time with Karleigh as I do with Allie and Ava - they live in Hillsborough, and we just don't see them as much as we should. So, it was really fun spending time with her. She's just adorable! I love her curls!

This is Karleigh with Tammy and Logan is in the background.

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And, on the way home, as always, we stopped by Concord Mills. It was crazy busy. But I just love outlet stores! =.) I can't pay full price for clothes! Especially when I know I can get them at a much lower price somewhere else. So, we finished up our Christmas shopping, then came on home.

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As soon as we got home, I changed and went with Brock and Allie to the Christmas Cantata at Mars Hill Baptist Church. That's the church we grew up in, and our grandmothers still go there. So, we went and listened. For as long as I remember, when you walk out the door, some of the deacons are standing out on the steps, and you get a little brown paper bag filled with fruit, raisins, chewing gum, and a candy bar. They cover all the bases! So, we each got a bag, then went down stairs to the fellowship hall and ate some homemade goodies. I love that about Mars Hill. Number 1 - the food is always delicious! Number 2 - you know almost everyone there. That's the benefit of a small church. I haven't seen some of these people in 6 months or more, because that's when Marc and I transfered our membership to Crosslink. It was great seeing old friends. =.)

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Tuesday, I enjoyed lunch with Tiffany and Kelli and we exchanged gifts. I love these girls! I'm blessed beyond belief to have friends like them! And I got a replacement shot glass for my Appalachian one I broke when we were moving! Thank you so much, Tiffany (and Kevin!!)! And I'm excited about my gift certificate to Aveda. Now, we just have to plan a date to go! =.)

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Tuesday night, I went to dinner with my other girls. We went to Tupelo's and enjoyed half price wine, and a really good dinner. After that, we went to the Wooden Nickel and just hung out for a while. I had to go home early, as I had to work Christmas Eve.

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On Christmas Eve, we had dinner at my grandma's and opened gifts there. We finished there around 8. Marc and I had to get home to finish wrapping all of our presents for Christmas, and then we opened our gifts to each other. We didn't want to be rushed on Christmas morning, and I think I like doing things on Christmas Eve, at least while it's just the two of us.

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Then, on Christmas morning, we looked through our stockings to each other, then went over to Brock and Wendy's, and did gifts with them and Mama and Daddy. Then we went to Matt & Tammy's and exchanged gifts with them and Marc's mom and aunt, and just hung out for a little bit with them. Lunch was at my aunt's - with my mom's brother, sisters, mom, and families. We opened gifts after lunch, then we celebrated Lisa's birthday, she opened her gifts, then we ate birthday cake. Our next stop was at Marc's aunts' house, we did dinner there, then we did a "Dirty Santa" gift exchange. And finally, our last stop of the day was my grandpa's house. We exchanged gifts there, then we went home to wait for Lyman and Melinda to get there. They stayed with us Christmas night, and then went home the next morning. I went shopping with Mama for a little bit. This is our day in pictures:

Ava's First Christmas!

Brock, Wendy & Marc

Allie and I
Mama admiring her new picture

Danielle in her cute new apron and matching gloves

My beautiful Grandma

Allie admiring her new Barbie, horse, and stable set

Mama with her siblings

Brock, my grandpa, and Marc
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The day after Christmas, we went to dinner in Mebane with all of my grandpa's family - his brothers and sisters and all of their families. We do these gag gifts from "Santa," and it's always a lot of fun. This year, Marc got a huge sombrero - it's gold with shiny gold thread - it's hilarious. Pictures of some of the other gifts follow:

Marc with his new hat

My Daddy with Ava

Brock in his new bra, some borrowed panties, and Marc's new hat

Papa with his new hat - looks warm! =.)

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Okay - that was Friday, so on Saturday, we did dinner with my other grandma's family - her nieces and nephews and family from her brothers and sisters. It's been awhile since we've seen everyone.

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I feel like our Christmas was completely family-filled, and I loved it. However, I feel like I need some more time off to recouperate! I am still a little tired of eating! =.) Now, looking forward to the new year, and more eating!

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I hope your Christmas was merry, and that you are blessed with all things in the new year!





"I have told you these things, so that in my you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

And the Christmas Festivities begin...

On Saturday, Marc, Brock, Allie, and I went to my grandma's house to bake Christmas cookies. Marc, Brock, and I started doing this about 3 years ago, and it's become another tradition.

See, my grandmother makes the best Christmas cookies ever. They're homemade sugar cookies with icing on top. Since she has arthritis, and it's been getting a bit worse each year, it's hard for her to roll out the dough, and cut them out, etc. And since we all love the cookies so much, we told her we would help her make them so she could still give them out.

Brock and I are the oldest grandkids...the next oldest is 7 years younger than me. She came over to help watch Allie this year, and Allie was so funny! Allie wanted to help so badly (I really think she just wanted to get icing on her fingers so she could lick it off). So, my grandma broke out the sprinkles, and they made buttons for the snowmen and the gingerbread men. Anyways, here are some pictures of Brock, Marc, and me working in her kitchen.


On Sunday, we had a family reunion to go to. We have one twice a year, and it's with my great grandmother's family. It's all of her brothers and sisters, and all of their kids, and their kid's kids, etc. This year, there were only about 70 people there, but they're getting older. It's good to see these people...it makes me wonder - how many other families still know their families from 4 generations prior? Do you know yours? I only know it on my dad's side of the family. Growing up with the family I have, I hope my kids know as much of their family as possible...as far back as they can. They won't appreciate it when they're young, and I realize that, but they will once they're older, and they'll cherish the time they spent with those loved ones. =.)

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:10-12

Christmas Decorating... =.D

I am so excited to finally have my Christmas decorations up. It's tradition to put them up the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, but Marc and I didn't get to it last weekend. So, my deal with Marc was we could either go get a real tree Friday night (so I could decorate on Saturday), or I was going to put up a fake tree.

Here's the thing - Marc has always had a real tree, and I've always had a fake tree. I so believe that a fake tree is just really so much easier. No needles to pick up, no tree trunks to water, no having to turn the tree off when we're not home, etc. He says he likes the way the real trees smell, and he doesn't mind the "hassle" of a real tree.

So, back to Friday night. We went over to Brock and Wendy's for dinner, and Brock & Marc ended up watching some Motocross/4-wheeler show that Brock had DVR'd. When we left, I was all prepared to go get the tree, and Marc said he was just too tired, and he hadn't had a shower since work, and he didn't want to go get one.

That means, on Saturday, while Marc was out riding one of these:

all day with Brock, Justin, and Dougie south of Charlotte, I stayed home and put up this:

And this:

Now, all I need to do is get a candle so Marc can at least have the scent of a real Christmas tree around (which I hate, by the way, but I will sacrifice because he has).

And this was taken at my aunt's on Sunday while we wer celebrating my Grandma's 66th birthday! =.)

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

Perplexed... =.)

Okay, so last night after work, I went home to start my newest obsession - blogging. I was trying to get my profile set up and all that stuff, and I was shocked to find out...

I have maybe 3 recent pics of the husband and myself. I used to take pictures ALL the time...not usually of myself, granted, but still. So, I've vowed to myself that I've gotta take some...and soon!

I can't believe that it's almost Thanksgiving...just a week away. I am super excited about Black Friday shopping! Thanksgiving and Black Friday are my 2 favorite days of the year. I prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas, because it's not as busy for Marc and me as Christmas day is. Don't get me wrong...I absolutely love Christmas, but Thanksgiving is just more relaxing for us. And I'm a huge fan of tradition. I'm just a small town girl at heart, and tradition just makes me smile.

So, we'll get to see our families on Thanksgiving, and at my aunt's we'll dissect every single sales paper there is, then plan out our day. It's a girls day - with my 2 aunts, my grandma, my Mama, and 2 of my cousins. We'll start at Wal-Mart, probably around 6 am, then we go all over for the day. I know the economy is down and all that stuff...It's not so much about the buying 'stuff' as is just hanging out with my family. We spend more time together on that one day than we get to most of the year. It's about the tradition. I've been going with my girls shopping since I was 15. I remember thinking they were completely crazy before then...even that first year I went...my Mama left earlier than I did, and I slept in a little longer. My Daddy took me by Bojangle's on the way to Wal-Mart, and I met up with everyone there. That was before the new Super Wal-Mart, and it didn't open until 6 am, so they would go get in line at like 5-5:30, and wait for the doors to open. The line would be all the way through the parking lot, and the parking lot was full.

Okay...enough reminiscing...I need to work. Can't wait 'til next Friday, and my time with my family...they're just special and mine, and I'm beyond blessed to belong to them. =) Have a happy day!


"If God were small enough to be understood, he would not be big enough to be worshiped." - Evelyn Underhill