Christmas Cards

I'm a huge Christmas card fan. I mean, HUGE! I love getting them in the mail, and have been known to hoard them all on the counter until after dinner so that I can have a moment to really savor opening each one. Okay, maybe I shouldn't have just admitted that :) But I do love a good Christmas card. And Christmas letters are even better. Some people think they're cheesy, but I adore getting them...it's like I get to share a little piece of your year with you even though I'm far away. I keep thinking, "this is the year we'll finally write one", but I've yet to follow through. Next year. Well, maybe :)

I don't know about you guys, but I have a time-line for my Christmas cards. I try to have the pictures taken by late October so that I can plenty of time to choose just the right card, and have it delivered by mid November. It only takes me one night to address them b/c once I get started, I get so excited that I just can't make myself stop. (Does that sentence have "dork" written all over it?!) And then I mail them out on the 1st of December. Not the 2nd. The 1st. Why, you may ask? I have no idea...it's just what I do. Maybe I can blame my mom for that little piece of neurosis? Yeah, I think I'll blame her!

So this year, everything was going according to my completely ridiculous, way-too-thought-out plan, and I was happy. We had to move past some minor hiccups (like me changing the design a bazillion times) but I finally decided on a card from Tiny Prints (super cute stuff!) where I could fit a maximum number of pictures on it b/c I couldn't just choose 1 (or 3) of Elli. Now that I think of it, I may have a small decision making problem! Anyway, said cards arrived and I got started with the addresses. Ummm, note to self: make your Christmas card list BEFORE you start addressing the envelopes!! I got through about 1/2 of them and realized that 1) I hadn't ordered NEAR enough cards, and 2) there was also a shortage of envelopes. In the end, I had 6 cards left over w/ no envelopes to match, and about 20 people who I still wanted to send card to. Hmmmm. So, just FYI, if you usually get a Christmas card from me you very well may get a super cute (in my opinion, anyway!) card in a very large, non-matching, red envelope that I got from Office Depot today in hopes of still making my December 1st mail-out deadline :) OR, if you're lucky (and at the end of the alphabet), you may receive a cute little generic card from Hallmark! Tee Hee! Merry Christmas friends!!

Where do y'all get your Christmas cards from? Any funny stories that go along with yours this year? And please tell me that I'm not the only one out there with a crazy card routine :)

All I Want For Christmas...

Have y'all made your Christmas lists yet?? Now that I'm a mom, I've found that I don't buy near as much stuff for myself as I used to (unless you count shampoo & face soap!)...E is now the happy recipient of my shopping shenanigans :) But there are definitely things that I still want, and Christmas is the perfect time to dream big...and *dreams* they are unless we win the lottery between now and the 25th! Nevertheless, here are some of the things that I'll be passing along to Santa on my wish list:

How cute are these boots?? I'm currently all about them!

This tote is from Penny Bennett on Etsy. I LOVE it! Her bags are designed to hold your "bible, books, & journals". I can't think of anything more perfect :)

There's really no explanation necessary for this one...I just want it. REALLY bad!

Looking for a cute, modern, non-black coat. I'm liking this one at the moment.

This necklace from Stella and Dot has been calling my name for awhile now!

Piano + Excessive Moving = BAD IDEA

So...I think this 88 key keyboard is the perfect solution!

What's on your Christmas list?? I'd hate to think that I missed something :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

What a GREAT day!! I love Thanksgiving. I love what it stands for; "giving thanks" for our abundant blessings. I love the food, the family, the friends, the traditions, the weather (most of the time!), the food...oh wait, did I already say that?!!

My dad has been able to spend this holiday with us for the past two years, and I absolutely love having him around to share in our festivities! This year along with my dad, we had 3 friends join us for a late lunch. It was great to spend the day with them talking & cooking, laughing and eating. We had one minor hiccup (the oven mysteriously turned off and the turkey didn't get hot), but other than that everything went off without a hitch...and we stuffed ourselves silly!!

I'm so very thankful for my family, both my "real" one and the military one that we have been so fortunate to be a part of. I love that there is always someone around to celebrate holidays with, no matter how far away from "home" you may be. I'm thankful that we were able to provide that for our friends this year...and I'm sure we'll be on the receiving end sooner than we think! I'm thankful for our warm home and the food that we enjoyed today. I'm thankful for my sweet daughter, and my precious husband, who bring so much joy to my life. I'm thankful that we live in America, and for all of the men and women who serve to protect us daily. And I'm thankful to God, who sent His son Jesus Christ, so that we can all truly be free.

What are some of the things that y'all are most thankful for? And what are some of the dishes that make Thanksgiving special for your family?? I'd love to hear about your traditions, and share in your fun...if only vicariously :)

Happy Fall, Y'all!!

YAY for Fall Weather!!!

"Ruff, Ruff!!" I think I hear some puppies!!

I KNEW I heard some puppies barking!!

Trying to give them kisses...but Mommy spoiled my fun :)

One of my favorite things...

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I've been digging around in my recipe box hoping to get a little bit of inspiration. And there, among my messy scribble scrabble recipe cards, are ones that boast the pretty scroll of my Nana's hand. Several years before she passed away, she copied some of her "famous" holiday recipes onto cards just for me. Each one brings back a certain memory...her Easy 5 Minute Fudge (on the back of which she wrote that my brother and I would lick the bowl every time she made it, and that it was our favorite treat!), and her mother's pecan pie (not to be confused with anyone else's!!), her peanut brittle, divinity, and butterscotch fudge. I remember sitting at her kitchen table, just waiting for her to give me the go-ahead to taste all of the yumminess! Once we had our fill, and set aside enough for later, she would pack everything up in pretty tins or in glass jars tied with red ribbon, to give out as gifts.

Today I took my daughter out to buy pretty tins and gift bags of our own. In my quest to find some delicious inspiration, I uncovered a longing to continue the tradition that she started. We'll be making lots of her holiday candy this week and taking it to a nursing home in out town...I think Nana would have liked that :) And just because I love you all so much, I'm going to share my favorite fudge recipe with you, too!!

Easy 5 Minute Fudge

1 & 2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk (small can)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cups chopped nuts (can omit)

1 & 1/2 cups diced marshmallows

1 & 1/2 cups chocolate morsels (semi-sweet)

1 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar, salt & evaporated milk in medium sized sauce pan. Heat until boiling on medium heat, then cook for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat & add chocolate morsels & marshmallows. Stir until melted, and then add vanilla. Pour into buttered tray. Let cool and cut into pieces.

As much as I love the holiday goodies, I love the recipe cards that they come on even more. In fact, they are some of my most cherished possessions. I love them because they are a piece of my beloved Nana, her handwriting forever showing me her heart. Each card has little bits of encouragement on them like, "work fast!", or "don't worry if it foams up (peanut brittle), it's supposed to!". It's the memories that make this season so special, and the ones I have of her are oh so sweet.

**Oh, and the picture above is circa 1995ish :) I have very few pics of Nana and I on my computer, but this one somehow made it! It's one of my fave's!**

Grandaddy

Our family lost someone very special last week. On November 8th, Chris's grandfather James went to be with the Lord. I knew him as a kind man, one who loved the lake and his dogs, one who was quick to laugh and who told wonderful stories. At his memorial service, I learned that he was also a patriot, an incredibly driven man, a dedicated provider and an extremely hard worker...attributes that made me love and respect him even more.

The service was beautiful, and I'm so thankful that we were able to attend as a family; for there have been other times when we weren't so fortunate. He was laid to rest at DFW National Cemetery after receiving full military honors. The crack of the gunshots echoed in my heart, and pounded home the significance of sacrifice and service. And as I watched the United States flag being folded and handed to James's widow, I couldn't help but weep for the loss of such a great man.

Since Veterans Day was the day after the funeral, almost 200 flags were flying over the grounds. Words cannot describe that sight...it was absolutely riveting. And when I looked over at where my own grandparents are buried, only a few hundred yards away, I was filled with and overwhelming sense of gratitude.

The following poem was written in the memorial service program. It took me a few days to make it to the end of it without crying, but I thought it was important to share with you...we should always remember the ones who have fought, and continue to fight, for our freedoms.

A Soldier Died Today

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past

Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,

All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer for this Veteran has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,

For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,

And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,

Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

Thank you sweet Lord, for the time that you gave us with Grandaddy...we were blessed because of it. May his legacy live on in us forever.

14 Months

Somehow, my precious teeny baby has turned into a precious little toddler! It feels like I blinked, and she went from that chubby infant stage to the jeans-wearing, big girl who sings & dances along with the radio when we go for a drive. It's incredible, I tell you, how quickly they grow & change! And like I'm sure a thousand moms have said before, I just LOVE her at this age!

She laughs and smiles almost all day long! When we read books, she pays attention and laughs appropriately. She apparently finds my dancing hilarious (which isn't that hard to believe!), and is enamored with airplanes. Though she doesn't "say" much, she jabbers constantly, mimics sounds, and can find pretty much whatever it is that you've asked her to find. She does all kinds of animal sounds, my favorite (by far) is the monkey!! She cracks me up with her "ooh ohh, ahh ahh's"! She waves & gives kisses to practically everyone, and it just melts my heart to see how much joy she has to share :)
She is still an extremely laid back child. Now that's not to say that she's not busy!! Whew, she can wear me out! But, she rarely cries and gets over being upset in seconds...which I'm super thankful for. And, like I've mentioned before, she's a rule follower (just like me). She has certain cabinets/drawers that are "hers", and she knows it. If she touches one that isn't "hers", she'll look at me with those big blue eyes and shake her head "no". It's pretty funny to see actually! She did sneak off and find the toilet paper roll the other day though, and will make a bee-line for trash bags if I'm not careful and accidentally drop one :)

Books are, by far, her very favorite thing. We have them strewn everywhere it seems!! Besides her little Bible (above), she is really diggin' "Goodnight Gorilla" at the moment. It's pretty cute, if you haven't heard of it. Very few words, but an understandable story and really cute pictures. Anyway, it now gets read about 3 times a night :)

She's still a great sleeper, and has done a lot better with her eating lately. She used to really like veggies, but now...not so much. If I disguise them in whatever it is that she's eating that night she might eat a few bites. Other than that though, she's a bread and fruit kinda girl. She's in between sizes in clothes right now. Sometimes 12-18 months fit, sometimes they don't. She's pretty long, and I really hate for her pants to be too short (or for anyone's pants to be too short, for that matter!), so I usually put her in a size up just to keep that from happening. Am I weird?!

We tried coloring for the first time the other day, and though it wasn't a smashing success it wasn't a complete disaster either! At least she didn't try to eat the crayons :) She likes to watch Handy Manny in the afternoons, to swing on the porch when it's nice outside, and to cuddle anytime & anywhere (to my sheer and utter delight!). She's a sweet little girl, and every day that I get to spend with her is a blessing...and I'll never take it for granted.

When in Maine :)

As a treat to ourselves for completing what might have been the hardest year of our lives together (having a baby AND pilot training!!), we decided to take much needed vacation to Maine. Chris's mom stayed with Elli, and we set off for a relaxing & rejuvenating week filled with all the lobster that we could handle :)

The special surprise the C had waiting in our room!! The champagne and flowers were lovely, but I liked the card the best :)
Taken from my car...simply breathtaking!

The drive on our way to Kennebunkport

Our B&B...The Gazebo Inn

It was heaven!!!
In Kennebunkport
Perkins Cove
In Ogunquit, ME

The Portland Head Lighthouse

This was us on our way back to Boston to catch our flight home. We were sad to leave such a beautiful place, but extremely excited to see our baby girl!! A week was a long time!

With WINGS as Eagles

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

In case you haven't heard me shouting it from the rooftops, my awesome husband has graduated from Pilot Training, and is now the proud owner of a brand spankin' new set of super shiny "wings"!!!! I am literally busting with pride!! What a great few weeks it has been!!

I love the scripture above. I obviously like it because it of the reference to eagles; its connotation to not only flying, but to the actual aircraft that C will be piloting. And, perhaps even more than that, I love that it emphasizes "they that wait upon the Lord". And, let me tell you a little bit about waiting!!

I'm sure you've heard me say it before, but my husband has dreamed of becoming a pilot since he was a little boy. In fact, his dad recently found a picture of him wearing a shirt with an F-15 Eagle on the front of it when he was about 5 years old! Flying is his second love (close behind yours truly!). But despite how great he is at it, earning his "wings of silver" didn't come easily. He didn't attend the AF Academy, or go to a "flying school", or even finish out ROTC in college, so he was at the "bottom of the barrel" as far as Pilot Training candidates are concerned. And so, for the past 8 years (from the moment he took his AF qualifying test), he has been working as hard as physically possible to achieve his dream...and get those wings. And despite the seemingly huge obstacles that he had to conquer, he kept his eye on his goal, and on the Lord. We knew and trusted that He had a plan...and the waiting just made the end result even sweeter!!

And so, without further ado, I present to you my husband.

The Air Force PILOT!!!!

Getting the Commander's Award

My two loves!!

Our family
The whole gang at Graduation!!
Chris and I at the Graduation Banquet

Studs, I tell ya!!