Christmas 2008

This past week has been one of the best weeks of my entire life! As most of you know, Christmas is my very favorite time of year. I love decorating my home, entertaining, and most of all, spending time with my family and friends.

On Tuesday, I felt a bad cold/sinus infection coming on. I knew that I had to do something quick because I had to sing at our Christmas Eve service at church. I called my ENT and he gave me some Singulair and I thought that would make me much better. I was so wrong because I was much worse on Wednesday. I had no clue how I was going to sing... I couldn't even breathe. I had to call a doctor friend and he was able to call me in some antibiotics. Long story short, I was able to get through singing and enjoyed an awesome time of worship with my church family and real family. Because I am single and I'm the only person from my family that attends FBC, I often sit with friends at church... but it was really special to have some of my closest family members with me that night!

Thursday, I woke up to find that Santa did indeed come to Grandview-- and I must've been on his "nice list" because I got a lot of good stuff-- laptop, MSU diploma matted and framed, boots, shoes, jewelry, DVD's, 2 new end tables (now being used as night stands in my room), books and much more!

When I graduated from college, I decided to start collecting Dr. Seuss books because I loved using them to teach when I was student teaching. So I was happy to find The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Green Eggs & Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now as gifts this Christmas season!

Word to the wise... If you have any Dr. Seuss books that you are looking to get rid of, send them my way!

On Christmas night, we had 30 family members over for dinner and dirty santa! It was so much fun... even if I was sick. Here's a look at some pictures...

My cousins... Sarah, Jamey and Emily

A quick picture with Grandaddy (above) and Grannie (below)

Chad & Erin... the parents of the newest addition to our family, Harper Anne

Hayden & Nate (Daniel's boys)

All Cousins... (back row) Jason, Tyler, Colton, Sarah, Jamey, Me, Emily (front row) Daniel and Erin

*We were missing three cousins, Garth, Madison and Joel from this picture. Their family didn't make it for Christmas because Garth had knee surgery the week before...

Our moms & dads as cousins... (left to right) Identical twins Randy & Rusty and their sister Sandra alongside their cousins Joey and Jesselyn (brother and sister). There is another cousin, Jim, whose family didn't make it for Christmas this year.

My all-time favorite two ladies... my grandmother and her sister Faye (my great aunt that I call "grannie Poe")

Me and my sweet mom

On Christmas night, after all of the festivities, my cousins and I went to see Marley & Me. What a cute but sad movie... yeah, I cried the last 20 minutes... but it was really good. I went home and just loved on my own little Marley, my lab, Lucy. Isn't she so pretty?!

Erin's Baby Shower... hosted by her favorite cousin!

I hosted a baby shower yesterday for my cousin Erin. Her baby girl, Harper Anne, will be here very soon... maybe even the first baby of the new year?! We're anxiously awaiting her arrival! It was a lovely afternoon and a good time was had by all!

Please click on the collage to make the pictures appear bigger!!

Jessica & Brad Got Hitched!!

Please click on the collage to make the photos bigger...

A New Family Member is On Her Way

I went to a baby shower for my cousin, Erin, this Saturday. This was a shower that was given by her best friend and some members from her sunday school class. When Erin got married, I was invited to EVERY shower so that I could take pictures for her and make her a scrapbook. Well... you guessed it... I was the chosen one to do the same thing for her baby showers. Next Sunday, I am giving her a shower at my house. I'll definitely post pictures from that shower, but until then... take a look at just how cute and pregnant she is!

Jessica's Shower

Last Sunday I went to a shower for my sweet friend Jessica. Jessica and I got to know each other when we were in 9th grade and we would sit across from each other at the lunch table. I was so excited about going to the shower because I knew that I would be able to catch up with old friends. I am looking forward to her wedding next Saturday and hope that she and Brad have a happy life together!!

Karen, Jessica, me and Abby H.

On a funny note... Abby H and I were the BEST of friends growing up. We did EVERYTHING together. As a matter of fact, in 9th grade, we were voted to be on the homecoming door decoration committee. We called ourselves "Abby & Abby, inc."

Christmas Time is Here!!

Our home is officially decorated for the holidays! Its looks and SMELLS wonderful! I've been trying to talk my mom into buying an artificial tree so we can decorate earlier each year, but once we got our real tree on Thanksgiving day, I had no regrets!! You can smell the Christmas season the minute you step foot into our home!

The tree topper!!

My very favorite ornament on the tree

Garland

The front of our house

Lucy has a lot of Christmas cheer, doesn't she??

Flat Stanley and His Travels...

Last week a little girl at FBC named Edie, asked me if I would help her out with a project. She showed me Flat Stanley and gave me a letter and told me that wherever I went, Flat Stanley needed to go, too. Boy, did she luck up pairing Flat Stanley with me. The week I had my friend just so happened to be the week that I was going to the beach to shop! I had so much fun and found that wherever I went, everybody knew about Flat Stanley...even Santa!

Flat Stanley and his host for the week!

He had to help me write a research paper for school!

We delivered Thanksgiving Lunch to The Bagley's

He LOVED sonic!

All packed and ready to go to the beach!

From the balcony of our condo...

He wanted to swim very badly!

at Longhorn Steakhouse

His favorite picture of all was with Santa!!!

Thanks Edie for choosing me to take Flat Stanley... I hope you made a good grade on your project :)