Christmas lists and tinsle.

I am so tired. Literally, I can barley keep my eyes open. I'm working doubles and studying new food items for Fred's. (Ew to six points of service and ew to pivot points.) Anyways, as I was saying... I'm deathly tired and overworked... But here I sit drinking cup after cup of coffee to energize me and get me studying my notes.. and yet, here I am, avoiding just that by writing instead. Ohhh well.....the reason I'm writing is because, quite simply, I love the holidays. Love, love LOVE everyone of them... (even presidents day because if your in school you get school off and normally there is a sale going on somewhere..) Christmas is the breathtaking holiday. It's the holiday that is the most like magic and fairy's and miracle's. I love the lights that pop up on houses you never would of noticed before and the songs on the radio. I love the smell of Christmas trees and cinnamon and sooo many incredible choices of cookies! And chocolate covered cherry's and mistletoe ... *side note: put on shopping list* I love the first snow. I love the sound of the winter wind howling from outside. The coats and scarves and boots. I love all the colors of Christmas.. and the decorations everywhere you turn... and wreaths! Secrets. Laughter. Hopes. Excitement. Family. Hot cocoa and fireplaces and blankets and movies. Singing Gloooooo-rrrrrr---iiiia. I love ornaments and decked out Christmas trees. And stockings... and presents! Mmm. I love Christmas and all the days surrounding it.

It's Christmas time!

Thanksgiving is over! Which means that Christmas is almost here! Holiday shopping has officially begun! My Ipod is loaded up with Christmas carols! We bought a Christmas tree ! And hung wreaths! Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday and fall my favorite season, but when Christmas finally arrives I always am tempted to rethink those choices. I mean common... pretty lights inside and out... snowflakes and the smell of evergreen trees... and of course... presents. So to celebrate the initiation into Christmas time we bought a tree and decorated the house inside and out...

While Ry strung lights Erik and Vince decorated a little tree...




you know that saying about less being more... normally I don't agree.. but yeahhh...


Lexi watching all the crazyness..




They hung ornaments from everything with branchs...



And our topper...


little disfunctional.. but then again, whats the holidays without a little crazyness?

Random

Sometimes a sign can make your day.... like this sign by a little cafe in Pasadena.

Simple things

Going home is good for the soul.




Thank you Erik for a brilliant idea and making it all possible. We love you!

mom and dad

My mom and Dad are wonderful people.. and even though they fight like all normal married people ( except of course for me and Ry who are perfect..) they are a true inspiration. They have been married for 29 years, are each others best friends and still have the hots for each other. Inspiration indeed.

We took pictures for the church website today.. these were the winning ones...

Graham Josiah ...

EmmaLee Joy~

My little sister... all grown up... in my old prom dress... isn't she hot??













Autumn told her to think of a certain boy for this picture...

Liberty Anna

Did I mention yesterday lasted forever? ~ In a good way ~ we did sooo much and when we finally went to bed I turned to Ry and said "did we just get here today ?" So along with driving in, and coffee mudslides, pellet gun duals, and celebrating mom's birthday by chilin in a kick butt hot tub, we made Libby dress up and made her do a photo shoot for a half hour before it got too dark. She was a ridiculessly perfect model looking away into the distance, brushing her hair back and holding her arms like she was a pro. Afterwards she asked Emma if we thought she was good enough to be a real model when she grows up... you be the judge...

Home for 1 day and 2 half days!

Soooo we made it to Colorado in record time... even stopping at cracker barrel for breakfast... mmm... grits for the boys and true southern peaches for me....


Scenery on the way here... i lovve lovve love route 417 !



Isaiah was an absolute doll from the second I saw him! We'd been worried cause he's cautious of strangers but mom had kept on telling him i was on my way home... and when i pulled in he ran towards me and gave me the tightest longest hug ever. ( might I add this was all before he saw the kick butt firetruck we'd got him or heard mention of presents.... ) I was bawling. And yeahhhh.. he might have to be my new favorite for a while.. i mean common.... he's adorable.


we played guns for a while... opps... i forgot we aren't allowed to point them at each other...



buying his love with my left over ( coffee) mudslide ..




My little brother who is almost as tall as me! ughhh..... I remember very vividly when he refused to take off his mickey mouse sunglasses with the glass poked out because he couldn't see without them and would fumble all over the house if he "lost" them...



Mom, Autumn and me...



Ry and dad challenged each other to a dual...



this was the result...



did I mention that all Isaiah will eat is noodles? Ramen noodles to be exact...



they joke they are going to name him Isaiah Ramen Noodle ..



And a sneak peak at the new cabin...



and its surroundings...