Christmas Morning

Christmas Day started off pretty early at our house! We were up by 6:00am (correction: I was up then, it took Brad quite a big longer to get out of bed!). We got ready for the day and headed to Walnut, to my parents house. Mom cooked breakfast for us, but we were pretty stuffed from Christmas Eve! Courtney and Chloe came over and we opened gifts. Chloe was super excited about her gifts (a BB gun, an easel, and a few other things). Dad had two deer heads mounted for Brad for Christmas (EWW) and he got a couple of other gifts. I ended up with a nice coat and a digital camera plus a sweater! Courtney got a pink iPod, a sweater and a few other things. I didn't do a good job of keeping up with hers- I was too busy opening my own! Mom and dad didn't want us spending a lot of money on them this year, so I got mom a wallet and dad a new pair of house shoes and a DVD for his new DVD player mom bought him. Lightening struck their house a few months ago and it blew up the DVD player! We didn't get to stay long though!

Chloe playing with her new easel...

She said "look, I'm a reindeer!"

Opening her new BB gun.

Christmas Eve with Dixons and Taylors

Brad and I left our house about 4:00pm headed to my mom's church for our annual Dixon dinner (or as Brad likes to call it... our "family reunion"). We had a pretty good crowd this year and there was tons of food. I ate a little, but Brad didn't eat anything (more on that later). We had a good time talking and seeing family that I hardly ever see-- and picking on people! Ha! The weather was terrible though!! It was a rough drive to the church, but it was even worse when we left. Brad had to carry me to the car (the parking lot was under water!!). Then he drove like 40mph on our way to his parents' house. It was raining so hard that we could barely see the road. To make matters worse, we were in my car and not Brad's truck so we were getting blown around on the road.

Sorry for not having any pictures, but it was raining so hard when we got to the church that I didnt want to get the camera bag out!

We finally made it to Brad's parents and it wasn't raining as bad in town. Normally, Brad's grandparents host Christmas Dinner at their house and Brad's two uncles, two aunts and cousins come. This year was a little different. Brad's grandfather was admitted to the hospital the day before Christmas Eve with (what we think was) a sever case of the stomach virus. So, we spent the evening apart. Brad's mom cooked dinner for us and Brad's brother and sister. There was a ton of yummy food so Brad ate two plates and I might have had a little more. Don't worry, I did skip dessert

My mother-in-law, Mrs. Julia

My sister-in-law, Susan
My brother-in-law, Clay
My father-in-law, Mr. Joel

and their dog, Obie

and in case you need proof I was there....

Brad was the designated photographer for the night so that explains why he wasn't taking any with me in the picture! Ha! We normally open one gift on Christmas Eve with the Taylors, but we decided to wait until Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve I left home early and met my mother in town to pick up a few Christmas gifts/toys for some of my cousins. Town wasn't that crowded, but I hear it got pretty crazy later in the morning. I left there and worked from 8-12 at the bank. It was so busy and crazy here that the time flew right by. While I was at the bank working Brad was sleeping late! Til 9:00 am! But, in his defense, when he got up he started working on the house. What a sweetie! He did two loads of laundry, vacuumed the bedroom and living room and cleaned his bathroom. I despise cleaning his bathroom so I was extra thrilled! I left work and helped mom with a few last minute details then it was time to rush home and get ready for the Dixon Family Christmas!

Last Week's Rundown...

I'm sitting here flipping through my planner so I know what all I've done in the past week! Sad? Yes.

I've accomplished major Christmas shopping (still more to do). I've taken my 156lb dog to the vet. I've been on a short family vacation to the mountains. I've done more decorating around the house. I've ran so many errands I won't attempt to tell you about. I've stayed up til 11:00pm wrapping gifts. I've been stuck (in a Cadillac) driving up a mountain. I've shopped for two days straight. I've finally got my in-laws' Christmas gifts. I've dealt with an insurance company, a doctor's office, a pharmacy (all three unrelated-- weird). Oh, and the phone company. I've also started working on our taxes (YUCK). I've laughed until I cried while dancing to "I know you want me. You know I want you". I've prayed for patience and understanding during this holiday season. I've been to Wal-Mart twice this week during lunch. I've braved traffic and torture and torment to go to that store. It was terrible. I almost lost my religion, but instead I smiled and said "Merry Christmas" {and then mumbled something under my breath}. I watched two girls get taken out of that store in handcuffs. I've heard people honk and curse at others for taking their time walking across the parking lot or through the pedestrian crossing. I've learned my insurance premiums will double the first of the year. I've watched my niece and cousins make snowmen in the wet snow at the cabin. I've discovered that my husband snuck off and bought me something for Christmas (he told me, not that he snuck off, but that he bought me something). I've snuck off and bought him something for Christmas.

I have a long list of things I haven't accomplished too. I haven't sat down with my husband in a week. I haven't seen any friends (I've barely emailed or texted this week. I know I haven't called anyone). I haven't been to church. I haven't finished shopping. I haven't started cooking for Christmas. Heck, I haven't even figured out what I'm taking for Christmas. I haven't cleaned my house in over a week. I haven't seen empty laundry baskets in at least a week. I haven't even started preparing my house for 13 of my family members. I haven't played with Amos. I haven't stopped to breath. I haven't gotten to enjoy my time lately. I haven't finished all my work. I haven't checked my personal email in over a week. I haven't updated facebook in, well, I'm not sure how long. I haven't uploaded any pictures-- and I planned on giving pictures as gifts! What was I thinking?! I haven't vacuumed the living room or bedroom, but Brad did- while I was gone to the mountains. I haven't had a clean desk, car, or house in a while. {I'm so thankful that God has allowed me a desk (when so many are out of work) and a car (while so many have been repo-ed at the bank) and a house (since so many are being foreclosed on)}

Ok, enough with that list. It's starting to freak me out! Although, it was quite handy because I can use it as my "to-do list" for today and tomorrow. Whew. After work today I plan on finishing my list. If I don't buy it today, then those people just aren't getting anything! I also plan on working on laundry and cleaning at least two of the seven rooms in my house. Brad just sent me a message letting me know he's off all day tomorrow. I replied "good. now you can do the cleaning and cooking while I'm working!" He hasn't responded yet. I think he's ignoring me. He doesn't know it yet, but he will be helping me. I also received two phone calls from friends that informed me they will be coming over tonight and they expect to be fed (neither said they expected to be fed; I just know them that well). HA! Sounds like a pizza night to me!

In all of this chaos I'm trying to stay calm, cool, and collected. I'm also praying. A lot. God didn't grant me as much patience as he did others so he gets to hear from me a good bit during the holiday season! Mostly when I'm driving in town or I'm in public places. I'm also repeating this:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

So far, so good.

Christmas Eve:
Tomorrow I have to work until 12:00. I also have the annual Dixon family Christmas tomorrow afternoon AND the Taylor family Christmas after that. Normally I'll go to the Dixon's to eat then to the Taylor's for dessert. I'll probably do the same this year. Although I just found out that Brad's grandfather has been taken to the ER and they're running tests on him. He's been throwing up since last night.

Christmas Day:
I'm not quite sure how that will go just yet. I know we'll be going to my parents' house and Brad's parents' house, my grandparents' house, and then we'll come back to OUR house for my maternal grandmother and her twin sister, my mom, sister, and niece, my aunt, uncle, their son, and my uncle, aunt and their two daughters to come over for Christmas. Talk about a busy day!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Engagement Anniversary!

I'm sitting on the couch watching TV- actually I'm watching "I'm Pregnant and... In Prison". Not quite sure how I come across this, but it's pretty interesting. Anyway, I'm sitting here and something clicks in my head... I completely missed our engagement anniversary! Yep, Friday (the last day I posted) was our engagement anniversary. December 11, 2007 after work I went over to Brad's house (now our house). We were watching tv and Brad mentioned needing some clothes washed. I thought it was odd because this was a Tuesday night and I just did laundry for him that weekend --plus he still did his own laundry. Anyway, I go to the laundry room and start a load of laundry. I come back into the living room and there is my sweetie kneeling down on one knee with a ring box in his hands.

Bless him. He was going to wait until Christmas to propose, but my ring came in on Monday and he picked it up on Monday. I didn't see him that day, but I came over the next day. Yep, he could only wait one day. He was a wreck, I think. Just me being here for one hour was all he could take. Isn't that cute? He had to come up with a way to get me out of the room so he could sneak and get the ring and get into position?!
I WISH I had a picture from that night, but we didn't get one picture. This is the closest I could do. This one was taken 6 days later.

I can't believe that was two years ago!! So much has changed since then! We've been married almost two years (short engagement), we now have Amos, Brad's earned his pilot's license, we've bought a ton of furniture, I've grown out my hair and then chopped it off, we bought an airplane, taken a vacation to NC, and lots of other smaller things. Wow, typing that out helped me realize why we stay broke! HA! It's been an interesting/fast/fun/trying/exciting two years and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

14 Days Until Christmas

I haven't finished Christmas shopping yet! I am going the easy route with a few gifts-- who doesn't like cash? The others? Not sure. I've got to figure out something soon. I'd LOVE to have it all finished (and wrapped) before I leave for our Christmas vacation! That way, I can come home and only worry about the food part of Christmas. Yum.

Brad and I have been pretty busy lately (more me than him though). I'm ready for things to slow down, but that isn't going to happen until AFTER Christmas. Seriously. You should see my calendar. Just to give you an idea, I have four things lined up for this Saturday and that doesn't include taking the time to take care of Amos while I'm out running around. Brad will be leaving after work today going to Arkansas; duck season opened again. I hate for him to miss my bank's Christmas party, but it'll be nice to have the house to myself (and Amos). He even offered to take Amos with him to AR, but I don't think Amos is ready for that yet. Ha! He hates change and that might be a little much for him.

My family and I will be leaving next Friday going to the Smoky Mountains for our annual Christmas trip. It should be interesting seeing as about 12 of us will be sharing a 2 bedroom cabin. My uncle's friend owns a cabin up there and he offered it to us for the weekend (at an incredible rate). I will probably end up sleeping in the car!!! Oh, the joys...

I don't think I've mentioned my hair recently. As of Thanksgiving, I've cut about ten inches off of my hair! I did 6 inches the first time and 3-4 inches this last time. Definitely something different, but I like it. Think that about wraps it up.

December?!

I'm pretty sure we've skipped a month or two. I can't believe it's already December! I'm still stuffed from Thanksgiving! Not much has happened since the mouse incident (except for the 2nd mouse we caught/killed). I bought a huge box of poison and those sticky pads and they are everywhere! Even in my closet where I'm pretty sure there has been a mouse! It's been 3 days since we've seen any mouse activity so I think they might be gone! They better be!!!

We had a great Thanksgiving! We stayed up late Wednesday checking out the Thanksgiving deals on the internet. Brad and I decided to go in and get one gift for Christmas for us to "share". I'm pretty excited about this because Brad's hard to buy for and now I won't have to pick anything out. However, I'm a little sad, well, because, well... it's a long story. I wanted something small I could fit in my purse and easily take places. Brad wants something we can use from the airplane! Anywho, Thanksgiving started out bright and early at 4am Thursday. Brad went hunting and I went shopping (on the internet). I found what we had picked out and narrowed to two. By 6:20am I was tired of comparing and picked one! I picked the one he wanted (not the one I wanted). I'll go into detail later. So, I crawl back into bed at 630 and snooze til 8 or so. I was SO lazy. Got up, watched the parade, and not much else. Ha! I went to my grandmother's for lunch-- a huge spread of food- and Brad went to work on a friend's heating unit. Hate he missed all the good food; there was plenty! Afterwards, I met him back at the house and we rode together to his parents' house (where I ate again!!). I was stuffed. We left and I went straight home and straight to bed.

Friday started out at 4am too! Brad went back hunting and I again went shopping (on the internet). Then it was back to bed for me for about two hours. I met my mother at Wal-Mart to do a little "black Friday" shopping. NO, we didn't get there when all the madness was going on. We got there about 645 or 7. By then, most of the madness was over (unless you wanted children's pajamas or DVDs). Those sections calmed down and we headed that way to see what was left. I ended up with a few small gifts and mother got a few things too. I headed to Kirkland's (waste of time) and to Lowe's (more waste of time). Then it was time for work. Too bad we weren't closed all day! :( We did get to close at 2pm though-- total shocker! Mom and I met back up for a little more shopping and we both got a few more things. That night, Brad and I went to Mike's for a light supper-- duh, I ate enough the day before for 3 grown men. Then to a sporting goods store for one six dollar thing and we came out with five things that were a good bit higher. Ha! Not sure how that happened.

Saturday was busy/crazy/lazy all in one! Brad helped clean the house (after we had pancakes for breakfast) and then we watched the game. the terrible.horrible.no good.very bad.embarassing.game. I told him State played so well I felt like I should put on my State shirt and wear it around town. HA! I didn't though! I started on our Christmas decorations but ran out of time before I finished! We had Mexican that night (YUM) and went to Wal-Mart just to walk around and came out with $40 worth of stuff. Not sure how that happened either.

Sunday was church and grocery shopping and cooking then it was back to work on Monday. Now, it's Wednesday and today's the day we get this delivered!!

Merry Christmas to me! (and Brad)

Now, if I only knew how to use it! HA! I'm headed out today to buy a memory card for it! It comes with a bag and instructional DVD. Let's hope it's not over my head! I have plans tonight so I probably won't get to play with it much :(. I'll let you know how it goes! I still haven't finished my Christmas decorations :( Hopefully get it all finished by this weekend and I can take some pictures with my new camera. Brad said we could go ahead and use it now (rather than waiting until Christmas). I think he thinks we'll need plenty of practice figuring out how to use it! :)

I am pretty excited about the gift though! I've even checked into a photography class at the local Vo-Tech. Starts in January!