Good Bye Christmas...

I just finished taking down the tree...everything Christmas (except for 3 snowmen and our Christmas cards) is packed away neatly in its Tupperware container and stacked in the attic...I was thinking if my house burned down, I would miss my Christmas decorations/ornaments the most. Our house looks so empty...I wonder if people would think I had totally 'lost it' if I decorated for Christmas year round. Our 9 ft tree was so good this year...it took some loven' as it drank 3-4 liters of water each day, but it was so strong. I did not have to vacuum up needles the entire time it was in the house...it held its own...Ray says it's because he cut it at the house before we put it in the stand, plus it had a smaller trunk than the other 4 we have had. I already miss Christmas, but I am ready for 2010. Before we leave 2009, I leave you with a few pictures from Christmas Day...our biggest accomplishment was Ray's delicious fried turkey and fishing for Candy Canes!

Christmas Eve Photos...

Today is the last time...

mom and dad will buy a wedding dress. I took off 1/2 day from work to go to Low's with mom, Emily and Ms. Lisa (Logan's mom) to help Molly pick out her wedding dress. She bought the first one she tried on (after she tried on 20 more to make sure she had the right one!). It is absolutely beautiful and the best way to describe it is it looks just like Molly! And in true Molly fashion, even thought we went during their big sale...it was not on the sale rack! Molly, I never had a doubt, but you are truly going to be a Beautiful Bride.

Merry Christmas...

from our home to yours...

You know I don't like staged Christmas pictures...This year our only fun trip together was to Heber, but didn't think the picture of us hanging on for dear life to the tube behind the boat as well as our beers would be approved for all or our recipients, so our picture was from Shannon's 40th birthday party...I loved this tailgate picture, but didn't really go with my card design...

I love my parents Christmas Card this year too...

I hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas. Ours was fantastic...We kicked it off at Christmas Eve Church service and ended with a lazy day of Christmas movies. I'll post pictures soon.

Really..Christmas Adam already...

So looking forward to Christmas Eve tomorrow (that is if we don't blow away tonight...such strong winds). I have to work, but I'm not letting it bother me...just as long as I get off in time to go to candle light church service all is well...actually the few of us girls that will be there decided to make it festive and wear ugly Christmas sweaters and accessories...

Our stockings are hung...

Our tree is decorated and finally our presents have arrived and are wrapped...

What a wonderful, stress free, but busy Holiday season this has been...I hate I haven't posted more, but we have gone 90 to nothing...just this past weekend I helped with Breakfast with Santa at the Ronald McDonald House, hit the cute gift shops with Arden, celebrated Gavin's 3rd birthday at the farm, watched the Dallas/Saints game at a neighborhood Christmas party, went to church, Ray and I finally did our shopping, made a nice dinner and baked 8 dozen cookies (4 dozen were red velvet...delicious)....and I enjoyed every minute of it...I always look forward to getting home from work, but this time of the year I especially enjoy getting home so I can get the mail...I love Christmas cards...this year I posted them all on the pantry closet and have enjoyed looking at them every day.

Last night, mom and dad hosted the Jett's (Logan's parents) and the Jone's (Caleb's parents) for a Christmas dinner...too bad Ray's parents live too far away to come for dinner (plus they are still iced in). It was so nice and delicious...I was talking and didn't get any pictures...but I leave you with our orange Tennessee tinsel tree...

and my favorite Holly tree and my metal wall decor (that I got from Silver Star Hardware in Salt Lake City)

Today, I went to Ray's Christmas work lunch...I've never got to go before...with Hallmark this was a super busy day and then last year you might remember I wasn't allowed to leave work, but this year I went and had a blast. I've met the guys Ray works with several times, but it is always nice to visit with them...Ray's worked there almost 10 years, so it has been fun to watch every ones kids grow up...they really are like a big family. Happy Christmas Adam (a friend of mine said they were going to a Christmas Adam party - I looked at her very puzzled and she said...Brooke, you know Adam came before Eve!

Convection...

December 16, 2009
is my new best friend. We've lived here going on 5 years and I've never really used the convection feature on the oven until this month...I just made 4 dozen of my mom's famous M&M Cookies in 39 minutes from start to finish. I had no idea the value of convection until this week.
And no...I am not eating these sweets...they are going to Iraq to one of the 241 people who work for my company that have taken leave to serve our Country!

Set your DVR's before you leave for work tomorrow...I watched the best Hallmark Christmas movie tonight as I wrapped the very few Christmas presents I've bought (or that have delivered...haven't been to a mall yet!)...Mrs. Miracle...it says it shows again on Thursday at 2 pm/1 pm Central. If you miss it, I'm sure it will be on again.

Flight...

December 15, 2009

If you haven't been...go. I had heard some not so great reviews when they first opened, so didn't rush out to try it. Tonight, We celebrated our 'UT AXO's that live in Memphis' Christmas party and had a great night. I had the special...look close as that is stone crabs (yes in Memphis, I had stone crabs...I was so happy!) on top of a bone in beef tenderloin as well as a delicious salad and a flight of wine. Absolutely delicious, we were all so glad Kembree chose this for our dinner. It is a little pricey (especially if you get stone crab), but it was well worth it.

Stop with the sweets...

December 14, 2009

I can't stop eating sweets...yes, I know Molly is getting married in 9 months and I have to fit in a bridesmaid dress and no I don't want to buy all new clothes after Christmas (well I do, but I want smaller ones, not bigger ones)...But I really do like Christmas (and Christmas sweets)!

Yesterday was Emily's cookie exchange. Dad and I went early to help her get ready...Lily loves her Papa...they are playing tractors as Lily thinks about eating her breakfast! Everyone had a lot of fun and the cookie recipes were great. Plus, people were sweet to give me their left over cookies to sell at our bake sale at work today...all the money went to St. Jude.

Emily changed up her decor this year...beautiful cotton tree.

WINNER, WINNER...

December 12, 2009

Mom and I went to visit Grandma today...as I was pumping the gas, mom went to get a lottery ticket. She said she got me one and we share if I win $15K, I kinda giggled as I've never won more than $5 on a scratch ticket. I started scratching and the 1st number matched, the second number matched and I was saying...mom is this one of those fake tickets you give us in our stockings sometimes. She said no, so I kept scratching and every number on the card matched...I made her turn around and go back to the gas station, because I still didn't believe it...the lady put it in the machine and real loud is said...WINNER, WINNER. That's right...$40 richer.

Since it was cold and wet and Grandma wasn't feeling very well, we spent most of the day in her room. We did walk around and look at all the decorations...it is decorated so nice for Christmas.

Baby It's Cold Outside...

December 11, 2009

I think it was 16 degrees this morning...Burrr, but no snow. I love cold weather and oh how I enjoyed the snow the year I lived in Salt Lake (mind you I walked everywhere). I love snowmen (but not quite as much as my mom does!)...today's 'Christmas All Around the House' features my kitchen window...Ray gave me my Mitford snowman the year I lived in Salt Lake. I love them.

Lily loves snowmen too...this weekend Logan and Lily were dancing to the old Hallmark snowmen mom found...

Ugly Sweaters and Uncle Eddie

December 10, 2009

Tuesday night, I went with some friends to the Majestic Grille for a Griswold's Family Christmas Dinner. As we ate a traditional Christmas dinner, we watched National Lampoons Christmas Vacation on the large screen. They had a contest for the Tackiest Christmas Sweater and for the Best Christmas Vacations Character Costume. I thought all of our sweaters were good, but we didn't win...ha! I wore this sweater in 1993 and my mom still had it!

Season of Giving...

December 9, 2009
We are so fortunate and I'm so thankful to be able to give back...I'm proud my employer gives so much to Memphis; gives to so many events/organizations...one of which is the Salvation Army Angel Tree. This year we sponsored 250 Angels. My team got 7 year old Lenard a bike, coat, spider man figures, basketball, football, etc. We got 67 year old Miles a frying pan, flat screen TV, towels and washcloths. This is just the bikes on one side of the building...happy tears in my eyes just thinking about it.



I wish I would have taken pictures at the Jr League toy sale this weekend...we all donate one new $25 toy...happy tears again.
Today was the WMCTV food drive for the Memphis Food Bank...I went a little before noon and was the only car in the line...I hope they meet their goal...I wanted to go buy every can good off of the shelves at Kroger, but instead I went back to work to prepare for a 2 pm strategy kick off...so I can keep my job and be able to give.

Love this time of the year...

December 7, 2009
From now until Christmas, I'm going to post my favorite 'Christmas' spots in our house...
Brooke & Ray's Sweet Shop...or should I say Ray's Sweet Shop...I keep hearing the tops come off and the candy come out! Picked these up at TJ Maxx this year...I found the concept in a magazine and lucked upon the glasses.


Picked out our tree yesterday...I'm focusing on the season and not the stresses...kinda why I didn't have any Holiday parties this year...none the less, we walked in (Ray even remembered his gloves this year), went to the 9 ft section and I looked for 1 minute and said, I want that one. Ray about fell in the floor...really you sure you don't want to go to three other stores, want me to hold up 20 trees? Um No...not this year. So we paid and put it in my dad's truck (that we borrowed so we didn't have to stuff it in the Honda's trunk this year). It has some spots, but I LOVE it. I'm going to put the lights on.

Welcome...

December 6, 2009

to the family, Logan! We are so excited for you and Molly! The proposal was a great idea and I'm so happy to have been a part of it! Let the wedding planning begin...

It's the most Wonderful...

Time of the Year...Look at what was in our mailbox today...I can't wait to get in bed and start shopping. I'm trying to buy local this year, but I love looking at catalogs!

Happy Birthday...

to Emily! We love you and hope you have a great day. Looking forward to your Birthday dinner!