Thanksgiving Fun

We had a terrific Thanksgiving this year!!!  Matt and I alternate years with our families and this year we were with my crew.  Unfortunately, Matt had to work on Thanksgiving day but made it up to NWA on Friday morning.  I left Wednesday night to go to Mom and Dad's so we could head to Tulsa early Thursday morning for a day full of family!!!  It was a little different this year, because you will notice in pictures that Landon, Brandi, and the girls are missing (they were with her family) as well as Matt.  Kyndall worked that morning in Little Rock, then drove to Tulsa and made it in time for lots of fun that evening. 

Two things in this picture that I love about my family...1) the way we ALWAYS join hands and pray and 2) all the red cups on the table...everyone gets a cup with their name on it :)

We played this hysterical game that was kind of like the game telephone, but on paper.  I haven't laughed that hard in ages!!

Papaw and Nana

My cousin Justin...love this kid!

It's tradition that all the cousins do a funny picture EVERY time we're together...Thanksgiving 2011...here it is!!

And another....

So glad Kyndall made it over...

There are so many of us on my Mom's side of the family that we actually celebrated Christmas on Thursday as well. It's becoming more difficult for everyone to get together since we are all over the map, so we figured we would take advantage of our time together and celebrate Christmas too.

My beautiful Nana

I LOVE how many people are in this room!!  This is my FABULOUS family opening presents!!

Mom and her three sisters

A Barnes and Noble gift card for my NOOK

My Papaw

All the grandkids that were there (we're missing 4)



I rode back to Rogers with my Dad on Thursday night and we just talked about how blessed our family is to be able to enjoy one another and spend holidays like this one together.  It was nice to be in the car, just me and Dad.  We sang to the Eagles and James Taylor and just caught up on life.  A girl never gets too old for her Dad. 

Friday morning, I slept in.  No Black Friday for this girl!!!  I can't imagine needing something that badly!  However, Mom, Kyndall, and I did go to Panera for breakfast around 9:00 and then went out to the Promenade.  I bought a coat at Dillards, a couple of shirts for Matt, some necklaces, candles, and the list goes on....  Needless to say, I found some deals and didn't have to sacrifice my sleep!!

Matt came into town right when we were finishing up shopping and timed it perfectly for the HOGS/LSU game.  We went back to Mom and Dad's and watched LSU beat the Razorbacks.  I was not a very good sport. 

The Razorback side of the room :)

This is what I wish we would have done to LSU!!

LSU fan or not, I love this TIGER!!

Friday night, we decorated Mom and Dad's tree...well, Mom, Kyndall and I decorated. Matt and Dad watched some football.

Kyndall and I think so much alike, it's scary.  Both sporting Dad's old shoes to run out to the barn, neither of us knowing we both had the same idea.   

Saturday, my Dad's side of the family came up to the house for pizzas and the AL/Auburn game.  Landon, Brandi and the girls came up too.  We had a big time!!

Sweet Emma

Landon and Brandi made a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT...

BABY #3 IS DUE IN JULY!!!!  I am SUPER excited!!!

Biggest Sister Brynlee

Playing horsey with Uncle Matt

Brynlee and Mimi

Uncle Matt and Emma Grace after church

And right after this was taken she dropped the ornament which shattered into a million pieces.  Aunt Kia needs to start paying more attention instead of taking pictures ;)

We had a fabulous weekend full of family, food, shopping, football and LOTS of fun!!!  Again, I am so very thankful for the memories we made. 

This week is off to a fast start!!  Matt worked @ the hospital today and I came home to a clean house (so nice!)  After a full day's work, I even had time to buy a couple of Christmas presents and get a spa pedicure!  I have lots to do tomorrow, but we're looking forward to a weekend in NYC!!  I am so excited about the month of December...we have SO MANY FUN THINGS planned!! 

BRING ON THE HOLIDAYS!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! For the month of November, I wrote down something I was thankful for everyday.  It's human nature to get caught up in the chaos of our daily activities, but not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the many blessings in my life.  I know it's not the end of the month yet, but I wanted to post this by Thanksgiving.  I hope you have many things that you are thankful for too!!

1.  I am thankful for the amazing family I have!!  Immediate family, extended family, in-laws, every single one of you.  You are all a blessing in my life!!

2.  I am thankful for the jobs Matt and I have that allow us to buy what we need and want.  BLESSED!!

3.  I am thankful for the colder weather.  I LOVE IT!!

4.  I am very thankful for my health and for the health of those that I love.  This is something I will never take for granted. 

5.  I am thankful for lazy weekends!!

6.  I am thankful for a great morning at church, brunch with Mom and Dad in town, an afternoon at the movie theater with Matt, and my cozy bed to curl up in tonight.

7.  I am thankful for my amazing husband and although there are many reasons I love him so much, I especially love that today he didn't care that I busted out the Christmas movies and put up one of our trees.

8.  I am thankful for the rain...I'm going to sleep good tonight!

9.  I am thankful for my 3 nieces and 2 nephews.  I cannot imagine life without those beautiful, sweet faces!!

10.  I am thankful for all the soldiers/military forces that risk their lives for us every day.  May God continually bless them and those that they love. 

11.  I am thankful for my brother, who turns 30 today!!!  I am so blessed to be your sister and am so very proud of the christian father and loving husband you are. 

12.  I am thankful that I have a housekeeper who comes to clean my house :)

13.  I am thankful for the GREAT team I work with.  They encourage and motivate me to be a better sales professional.

14.  I am thankful for my AMAZING sister who I spent all day Saturday with.  She is my BEST FRIEND in the world and I would do anything for her.  Love you Bee!!

15.  I am thankful for Christmas decorations and Christmas trees.  They make me SO HAPPY!!

16.  I am thankful for a merciful God who loves me and forgives me when I fall short every day. 

17.  I am thankful for vacations.  Two weeks from today, we will be in NYC!!!

18.  I am thankful for wonderful friends.  High school friends, college friends, great friends here in Little Rock and all over.  Very Blessed!! 

19.  I am thankful for little things that make my day brighter....mani/pedi's, a good sale, my favorite song on the radio, getting this sweet text from my husband - "Looking forward to a cozy night by the fire and dinner tonight with my favorite!  I love you!"

20. I am VERY thankful for my Dad's continual recovery from his strokes.  He got a great report from the cardiologist this week and I couldn't be more grateful for the strides he's made.

21.  I am thankful for my grandparents.  It is very rare that a 31 year-old is blessed with still having all four of their grandparents on this earth.

22.  I am thankful for our little Jovie!!  She's spoiled rotten and we love her like she's our kid! 

23.  I am thankful for our church home @ Pleasant Valley.  There's not a week that goes by in which I don't learn more about God's word. 

24.  I am thankful for my husband, my soulmate!!

25.  I am thankful for Jesus Christ, a perfect person who walked this earth and who died for me.

26.  I am thankful that I live in a place that experiences all four seasons.  Fall is my favorite!!

27.  I am thankful for a job that is flexible and allows me to get things done when I need to. 

28.  I am thankful for XM radio in my new car (never knew what I was missing!!)

29. I am thankful for my mom.  She is often my strength when I get discouraged, my eyes when I overlook things and a voice of reason when I am frustrated.  Don't know what I would do without her!! 

30.  I am thankful for a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY that allows the world to stop for a day and remember how blessed we all are. 



May you all have a SAFE and HAPPY Thanksgiving!!
 

A Weekend Full of EVERYTHING

We had an awesome and eventful weekend around here, but first let me say that I am SUPER EXCITED that this week is only a three day work week.  I love the holiday season and I'm looking forward to spending some time with my family.

Friday night, one of my old team members came in town, Paul Mingus.  A group of us met him at Cajun's Wharf for the U2 coverband, called UZoo.  They were great!!  We had a fun time "letting our hair down" for a couple of hours.  

Mark and Rhonda

So good to see PAUL!!

 

Saturday, we slept in until 9:00 (which was so nice) and then headed down to War Memorial Stadium to tailgate before the game.  The weather was perfect!  After watching the first half there, we left and came home to watch the rest of the game on our comfy couches.  The HOGS brought home another "BIG W!"

My old neighbor, Timmy T - so good to see this guy!!

Jules and Shelly

Kyndall and Charla

 

After the game, Matt and I cleaned up and went to The Butcher Shop for a very nice dinner.  We enjoyed a couple glasses of Pinot Noir, filet mignon, twice baked potatoes, salads, chocolate creme brulee'...needless to say this kid was DONE after that.  It was so good!!  Some of my favorite nights are just quiet, romantic dinners with my sweet husband.

After dinner, Matt was out like a light because he had to work at the hospital on Sunday.  I, however, could not take my eyes off the OU/Baylor game.  BAYLOR PLAYED AN AMAZING GAME!  I was so excited to see Oregon lose to USC and went to bed with a smile on my face after Baylor beat OU.  Can we say HOGS ranked at #3?!?!

After church this morning, I went to eat brunch with the girls at 1620.  This afternoon, Kyndall and I went to see 'The Nutcracker Ballet' @ Robinson Center Music Hall.  I had forgotten the story line since I hadn't seen it since I was a kid.  We had a great time - love making memories with my sister!!

And yes, we were there a little early obviously...I promise we weren't the only two people there ;)

I'm winding down, with dinner on the stove, just waiting for my favorite to walk in the door. 

Hope everyone has a SHORT AND FABULOUS week!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!