Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I can't believe it's already come and gone.  This year has gone by so fast.  Although this is the first time in 30 years that I was not with my immediate family on Thanksgiving Day, I was blessed to have such an amazing time with my other family, the Fitzgerald's.  Matt and I drove to Monroe Wednesday night.  Emily, Jack and the kids came over for salad and pizza.  We had lots of fun playing with the kiddos after dinner. 

The picture below is of Jack Henry in Matt's old football jersey.  Matt went to high school at a private school called River Oaks in Monroe.  They were the Mustangs.  Since Jack Henry is obsessed with football jerseys, helmets, the whole nine yards...Matt thought he would give him his old jersey.  (side note: The Mustangs won the state championship on Saturday night!! :)  It was adorable...Jack Henry wanted to put this jersey on as soon as he saw it. 

Thanksgiving Day was a great day spent with lots of family, while eating lots of food, and watching football and Christmas movies.  I ate so much lunch on Thursday that I didn't eat again until Friday at 2:30!!  I was so full, but it was SOO good!  Friday morning, Matt and I got up to get some Starbucks and then the whole family headed to the Christmas Tree Farm to pick out trees.  Now personally, I have nothing but pre-lit trees in our house and I love them.  But, I can't remember ever going to a farm like this when I was little and it was the coolest thing!  I think that every family should have the experience of picking out a real Christmas tree.  Below are lots of pictures from this special day.

JH with his bear claw gloves :)

Olivia Kate

Sam Wyatt looked adorable in his little polo and corduroys :)

All three of them with their hats and mittens before we left for the Christmas tree farm

 I had to get a close up of the bear hat...it was hilarious!

 OK and I were singing Christmas carols in the back of the van

Jack Henry ready to ride the "train"

Olivia Kate

 Uncle Matt and Sam Wyatt feeding the goats

I love JH's face

All bundled up...

Love this picture of Emily and Matt

Sam Wyatt loved the hay ride

Emily tagging their Christmas tree

Family Pic

Friday night, Andree' kept the kids while Jack, Emily, Matt and I went out.  We had dinner at Kyoto (sushi) and then went to Portico for drinks afterwards.  It was such a great night!!  Matt and I are ready for them to make another trip to Little Rock! 

Saturday morning, Matt and I left with great intentions of going to tailgate and watch the game, but I wasn't feeling so hot when we got home so needless to say we spent the afternoon watching the game on the couch.  WHAT AN AWESOME GAME!!  Matt was not as happy as I was since he loves some LSU, but I went to bed with a smile on my face :)

Today has been a busy day getting ready for another week.  Matt has a test this Tuesday and then finals coming up.  We are both looking forward to a nice long break for Christmas.  My last day for the year is December 17.  I will have 17 days off of work!!  This is one excited girl!

Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and you were able to count your blessings this week!!

 

Weekend Recap

Coming home after spending such an amazing weekend in Rogers is bittersweet!  It's great to be home, but we had so much fun I didn't want to leave!  Thank goodness this week is a short one.  :)

We drove in Friday night and went straight to Table Mesa in Bentonville (great restaurant on the square).  We met Amanda and Chad and Matt and Holly.  WHAT A FUN NIGHT!!!  We literally sat there for over three hours, laughing and having the best time.  I am SO VERY thankful for good friends!!

Saturday morning, Matt had to study for a test on Monday (poor guy).  So Mom, Kyndall and I met Brandi and the girls at Panera for some yummy breakfast.  Oh how I love these girls! 

Mimi and Brynlee Claire

Emma Grace

While Brandi took the little munchkins home for a nap, Mom, Kyndall and I went shopping.  I can truly say that one of my favorite things in the world is to spend the day shopping with my mom and sister (and Brandi when she is able to come along-we missed her today.)  We have so much fun, are constantly laughing, and usually come home with great new purchases :)  I love it even more during this time of year.  All the Christmas music playing, lights and trees everywhere, drinking a hot apple cider...everything about it makes me so happy!! 

After a full afternoon of shopping, we came back to the farm (my parents' house).  Landon, Brandi and the girls came up too.  We played outside, rode four-wheelers, put up the Christmas tree, watched the HOGS play and had chili and soup for dinner.  I think it was the coziest night we have had all year!!

Emma all bundled up

Aunt Bee and Brynlee

 My beautiful sis-in-law

Brynlee helping me "walk" Jovie :)

"Aunt Bee, you are quite the artist!"

Four-wheelers

Just chillin' with Uncle Matt

Brynlee loves to color

Look at those Big Baby Blues!!

Wondering what her Aunt Kia is doing...

Love that sweet smile!!

Brynlee was helping Mimi make cheesecake :)

"Quick, I have to shove this chocolate in my mouth before Mimi sees me."

 Sunday morning we went to church with the fam in Bentonville.  After class, we came home and Dad grilled some of his red fish that he caught a few weeks ago while fishing in the gulf.  It was delicious!!  By the time the girls were down for naps and everyone else was winding down, it was time for us to hit the road.  Kyndall, Matt and I got back to Little Rock around 7:00 last night.  Needless to say, I fell asleep at 9:00.  I was exhausted!

Today after I finished up at my last office, I spent the afternoon going to the grocery store, Target, Fifth Season for a wedding gift, dropped off clothes at Goodwill, and went to the dentist (no cavities :)  Now that I'm thinking about it, it was a VERY productive day.  I am now ready to curl up, cook dinner, enjoy a glass of wine and a quiet night in with my sweet husband!!

Hope everyone has a good SHORT week!!

BIRTHDAY BASH!!

Well this weekend was another one to go down in the books.  Very productive and very fun!!  Friday night was low key.  Matt and I stayed in and I cooked a big dinner and we watched Christmas movies.  I fell asleep halfway through Christmas Vacation, we were both exhausted from such a busy week.  Saturday, Matt had to study for most of the day, so I went shopping!  I got half of our Christmas shopping done and found some time for a little retail therapy of my own :)  Saturday night we celebrated Heather's birthday.  Heather and I have known each other since our days at Harding.  We lived together while in school and had a house together in Little Rock for a couple of years too.  We've been through so much together and I was thrilled to be able to help her ring in another year.  It was such a fun night!!  WARNING: lots of pictures below!!

Heat and I - We all met at Julianna's and Jason's for drinks before dinner

Beautiful Kyndall

All the girls outside by the firepit

All the boys with Heather - outside watching the game

Kyndall, David and Heather

Me and Jules

Birthday Girl!

Arriving at Cantina Laredo

The whole crew

Jason and Jules

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Cheers!!!

Chance, Corie and David

A tiara for a princess

Me and the hubs

Brock and Sabrina

Afterwards, we went down to Ferneau for after dinner drinks and to meet up with lots more people!

Sarah with Kyndall and Heather

Garner sandwich

Love this one!

Good times!

Roomies

Matt makes fun of all of us, he says that he has never met a group of friends who celebrate birthdays like we do.  I guess we just look for any reason to get together and have fun.  It really is kind of funny, but I love it!!  This morning we went to church and then had a delicious brunch.  I came home and didn't have to work too hard in talking Matt into taking a big nap.  Perfect Sunday afternoon.

I just finished putting up all my Christmas decorations as well as our two trees.  (Yes, some may think it's a little early, but when you are out of town as often as we are, you enjoy things when you can.)  Here are pictures of our trees.

The 8 footer - traditional red and gold

This little 6 footer is in our bedroom - I call it our "old school" tree.  It's full of all the ornaments that Matt and I collected as kids.  It's really sweet and I love curling up in bed at night with a tree in the room.

I love my lit up presents underneath the tree

Just bought these this year - stocking holders on the fireplace mantel

Thank you Signed, Sealed and Delivered!  I'll be seeing you next week!! :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!