One of the Best Christmas' to Date

To date this is one of the BEST Christmas' I can remember.  We spend six glorious days in Kentucky just soaking up time with family.  There was a good mix of getting out of the house, visiting friends and just vegging at home.  This was the first Christmas in my parents new house so it got fully broken in with nine people there all week (even vomit on the carpet). I wont give a play by play just some pictures to capture this special time of the year surrounding by the ones that are most dear.

Everyone arrived by lunch on Christmas Eve, then it was fury of baking, getting ready for church and cooking Chirstmas Eve dinner. There was plenty of board game playing and Burger King hat wearing in between.

Granna, William, Elliot, Will, Mary Ellen, Emily, Grandad, Neal

Baking our faces off.

The Kings.

Christmas morning was slow peaceful start to our Saviors Birthday. Will and Elliot were the main receivers but Baby Evelyn (due in March) got in on the action. 

Christmas morning besties.

Choo Choo, All Aboard

Baby Evelyn's is already getting spoiled.

Mouse trap action in the family room.

Uncle Neal is the best!

A little golf cart ride after a busy morning of opening presents

Granna and Elliot at Aunt Mary's for Chirstmas Dinner

Mary Ellen, Emily, Me

Grandad, Will, Me and Neal

Cousins-G.R., Emily, Joe, Kelley

The 26th we had  a Christmas Open House with family and friend to extend this glorious season. It was also a test run for when my parents host my cousins rehearsal dinner in May!

Heath and Mary Ellen

William, Will, Emily and Elliot

Neal and Me

The self named Outlaws.

Too much to handle-Will and Elliot

Granna and Grandad

Our time together this year was even more sacred and cherished since my brother, William, will be deploying in April for Afghanistan with the Air Force. We pray for his safety and protection for the six months that he is deployed but also for Emily, Will, Elliot and Evelyn as they will miss him every minute, hour, day, and month that he is gone.  Please keep them and all of our family in your prayers.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Thank you Neal

Neal was a CHAMP, getting up at 5:50am on Saturday to volunteer for Color Up 5K.  I think he got over getting up that early pretty well.

 More fun than expected was had spraying runners mostly walkers with blue paint from pack backs used for spraying weeds. Thank you, Neal, for waking up earlier than you do for work and driving 50 minutes to encouraging runners and walkers with your humor as they pounded out the 5k all because your wife didn't want to volunteer by herself.  You're adorable.

Beauties

i am obsessed with this bouquet of peonies.  i wish they were in bloom all year. 

thank you to mr. carlton for giving me these for my birthday.

lovies to you.

5.19.13

We celebrated one year! Did I even post about our wedding?  

NEWS FLASH: we got married a year ago.

Neal got me a five day trip and I got him a piece of paper...He is a lucky guy! I was just sticking to the traditional gift.

This post is basically for me to remember what we did on our anniversary so we can do them again every year for the next 60 plus!

1. We had pistachio cake at our wedding so I made one.  (The top of our cake is still in my parents freezer in Kentucky)    Recipe I sort of followed.

2. Champagne toast.

3. Dance to our "First Dance" song.

4. Family photo.

5. Play our engagement pictures slideshow and look through our wedding picture book.  

 Happy Anniversary to my husband who showers me each day with humor, knowledge, love and compassion.

 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate

 and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  For,

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from

deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who are evil.

1 Peter 3:8-12

Anniversary Adventure-Far West Texas

Wind Turbines. I was fascinated.

Marathon, Texas

Big Bend National Park

 

Lajitas, TX

 

The Field Lab (Click here for more info.) Ask Neal for an explanation.

 Marfa,TX

Far West Texas. We had the most random and entertaining days traveling these quirky towns.  Marathon, Big Bend National Park, Lajitas, Marfa, and Fort Davis. Five Days, Four Nights.  Two night camping, two nights in hotels, 1700 miles driven.  We had an abundance of quality time, enjoying each other and reminiscing on our first year of marriage. Thank you, Neal, for all you do for our little family.  

Can we do it again?

Things Neal and I want to remember (this will not make sense to you):

The Liles, Cook and Kathy

"Hey Carlton's are you seeing this." "I see it with my naked eye."

"I don't know what I saw, but I am glad I was here to see it."

"We have a problem, I don't know where my purse is."

"500 square feet"......come on drunk face.

Clay Henry

Clark and Dr. Casey

John's Birthday Party and Planet Marfa

Casey: "We did you get your (American Flag) bandana?"

Neal: "I had it in the car."

Casey: "Of course you did."

Interior: .........Exterior......