New Years Eve...Eve.

It's Thursday over here in Vacation land.  We had dinner with my mom and brother last night.  Mexican and margaritas, no less!  It was so nice, I think we all talked non stop the whole time.  I really wish my brother would move back home so we could do things like that more often...
Today I put a roast in the crock pot so we've been smelling that for the past several hours - - and will continue to smell it for a couple more.  We've been absolutely worthless today and it has been absolutely wonderful. 
Tomorrow we'll head out around noon for Nashville after we drop Dale off at my mom's.  We're excited about the trip and spending another New Years out of town...and another anniversary out of town:) 
I'm going to get back to smelling the roast! 
Nashville, HERE WE COME!

Vacation starts...NOW!

Well, well, well...
It's Sunday night.  We had a very nice Christmas.  We were supposed to travel to MS to be with my family, however, the weather was icy so we stayed in town and celebrated with CJ's family.  We spend the day at his sister and brother in law's house.  It was such a peaceful, relaxing, fun, special time.  They gave us way too many gifts to enjoy - some even throughout the year!  It snowed here all day and again this morning.  It was my first white Christmas...and also my first Christmas spent in Alabama. 


Our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve...



Our White Christmas:)



My love.



Guess who?



The boyz in their Christmas sweaters!

Ok, so today is Sunday. It's technically the beginning of our week off.  The word "vacation" has been thrown around here more often than I care to remember.  We're so stinking excited!  Today we went grocery shopping for the week.  I made venison vegetable soup and corn bread today.  CJ put a Christmas toy together that he got.  We had a very nice day at home...and are expecting many more! 

Bill stealing some ice cream from dad....

Tomorrow we're staying around here during the day then heading to my parent's house to spend time with them and my brother who's in town from Gainesville.  Should be a good time!  I'm really, really trying to soak all this in and enjoy every second of being able to spend so much time off with CJ and the boyz.  I hope we all have a really special Christmas Vacation.  Ok...I'm off to think about what to bake or cook tomorrow!

And so this is Christmas...

This week is flying by! 
I'm excited to get home out of this cold and snuggle with the boyz and CJ.  I've managed to get quite a bit of shopping done this week.  CJ told me that the stores must hate me because I have so many coupons.  :)  What else went on this week?  Let's see...I made chili with venison on Monday and sweetie pie had it for dinner every night so far.  It was quite delish if I must say so myself.  Last week I made vegetable soup with venison and it was equally as tasteful.  I'm beginning to like cooking with venison - which poses a problem because we're almost out.  Because I do not shoot helpless animals (nor does CJ), I'm assuming we won't have anymore this year. 
This weekend...Friday night we're going on a date, mexican of course!  Saturday we're going to finish...ok...start and finish Christmas shopping.  Saturday night we're going to dinner with CJ's sister and brother in law to a new restaurant in town (Chuy's).  I hope Sunday we wrap some presents!

I'm still waiting for someone to press the pause button on this time of year.  I'm certainly enjoying every second of it.   
This is our last full week of work.  YEAH!

Lately...

Lately,
We went to CJ's sister's house lastSaturday for the SEC Championship game and watched Auburn win!  They are now on the road to a National Championship.  We had a great time playing with the kids and spending time with his sister and brother in law.  Great food, great fun, great win!
We also got our Christmas tree up.  It's a cute little tree - now we just need to wrap those presents that are sitting upstairs to put under the tree.  Soon enough! 

Friday night CJ took me on a date and told me some very special news that he had been holding in since lunch earlier that day...he sold his bike!  It may sound not so exciting for someone else, but it was a huge step towards a goal of ours.  I was in tears and crying at the same time - such a sap!  Luckily, he sold it to his boss who collects classic bikes - this way we know it will be well taken care of...and maybe we can even borrow it every now and then.

Yesterday we had a tacky Christmas sweater party at a friend's house and had a great time.  It's always nice to see a few faces that we don't get to see too often and catch up.  It was also really funny seeing every one's creativity and attire!  I know CJ enjoyed seeing some old friends and talking football with the guys.  He was the cutest little sweetie there:)  Maybe I'm biased...

Today the weather dropped into the 30's all day.  We stayed on the couch with the boyz and watched Christmas movies while it snowed off and on all day.  I made chex mix - it didn't turn out as good as my mom's or CJ's dad's.  We managed to book our hotel in Nashville for NYE, which will also be our three year anniversary. 

Bad Little Bill

So that's about it for us recently.  I'm enjoying all of the Christmas movies, commercials, decorations and sales!  One more full week of work for the rest of the year! 
xo

STUFFED.

We had a really great Thanksgiving this year! Thursday morning we had a casserole and mac and cheese ready by 9:15am.  We left around noon to head to CJ's aunt's house in Pell City.  Side note:  I've realized how terrible I am at taking pictures recently and am hoping to improve on that.  There was SO MUCH food there and it all tasted great.  I love spending Turkey Day with his family.  They're all so funny and entertaining.  I think my favorite dish this year was the sweet potato casserole.  Mmm!  The day was everything I was hoping for and had been looking forward to. 

Friday morning we woke up and prepared a lot of food to take to our friend's house (Ken & Leslie) for the Iron Bowl.  Before I go on, I must mention that Auburn WON!  There was so much food and it was fun getting together with friends and catching up as always. 

Although we made plenty of food over the past few days, these were my fav...cute, white chocolate covered pretzels!

SOME of the food for the Iron Bowl!



I know, he wasn't even paying attention - but I had to snap one quick picture before the game started.  He looked cute in all of his Auburn gear!

 Saturday we tried to not do much.  My brother was in town from Gainesville so we went to my parent's house to visit with him.  I wish he lived here so I could see him more.  We had fun and came home to watch Christmas Vacation - the most wonderful, amazing movie in the whole world.  I could quote the whole thing but it aggravates the sweetie.
Today we got up early and went to get a Christmas tree.  If I must say so myself...and I must...it's really pretty!  We've spent the rest of the day lounging, eating home made chex mix, and trying to enjoy this last bit of time off before work.  I'm also burning my new candle.  (Thanks Meredith!)  We'll be having sushi for dinner - delish!
The honey and I are heading to Nashville for New Years Eve this year.  We plan a trip every year...after I beg to get out of here.  Hey, it's our anniversary, too!  This year will be our third together.  What better way to celebrate than by watching some country music singers perform on a block party and watch a guitar drop at midnight?  Not exactly romantic, but fun!
I have really enjoyed the past five days off.  I'm kind of ready to get back in the swing of things though. This week we'll start working out again and hopefully catch some of the Christmas movies on at night.  CJ is trying to straighten some paperwork out for his motorcycle to try to sell it.  I'm praying and hoping things move quickly and smoothly for him.  I hope to finish up some Christmas shopping this week and wrap some gifts.  We'll also be talking and thinking about the SEC Championship game on Saturday and hoping that Auburn wins!  I told my sweetie pie that I hope every minute of this month goes by slowly.  We'll see!



The Boyz.



I can almost smell the turkey!

It's so close to Thanksgiving!  I want to push the pause button and just soak all the colors of the season in, the cute holiday commercials, the harvest decor - loooove it all!  Before I know it, I'll be begging CJ to watch Christmas Vacation every few hours.
We've been on the go a bit lately.  Well, for us anyway.  Last weekend we stayed in Friday night, ordered take out and watched National Geographic.  We're so crazy!  Saturday we headed to Margarita Grill with our good friends Meredith and Adam to watch Auburn win against Georgia.  Auburn is still undefeated!  Sunday I think we got off the couch twice - and both times to heat up lunch and dinner.  Bliss!
Yesterday on my way home from work, my sweeties told me that he was cooking a special dinner for me.  He made salmon, steamed broccoli and wild rice, and crescents.  It was DELICIOUS and made the house smell fantastic all night.  I am my boyfriend's princess. 
This week has flown by so far.  Friday night we're having a date night.  Saturday we have a few errands to take care of.  Hopefully that will be productive!  That evening my sweetie pie has a friend turning 30 so we are going to celebrate with him.  Sunday...well, we will be completely useless and snuggle with our boyz...unless of course, I talk CJ into letting me put up the Chrsitmas decorations.  Either way, I will be very sure to enjoy every second of my time with my honey and the boyz this weekend.
Right now I can't wait to get home from the office, work out, shower and enjoy the rest of the night sitting right beside the most amazing, handsome man in the whole world.  I did mention how amazing he was, right? Ha! 

Hello November!

Wow, I can't believe it's already November! 
We had a really great weekend!  Our date Friday night was fun, as usual.  Saturday CJ watched football while I caught up the laundry.  Saturday night we went to Cajun Steamer to celebrate CJ's friend's birthday.  It was a nice time.  Sunday we managed to watch three...maybe even four movies while the boyz napped on and off.  I realize that on Sundays we are completely worthless and that I am completely ok with that because one day I'll look back on this time of our lives and think about how nice it was to have nothing to do...or maybe we'll always be lazy on Sundays.  I guess either way is fine with me. 
This week I promised CJ that I would cook for him all week.  Sometimes I don't think things through very thoroughly:)  I went to Publix and spent too much money.  I'm positive the grocery store gets most of my paycheck.  I'm looking at you, Walmart and Publix.  Enough of the bill bitterness...moving on!  Our first dinner tonight wasn't very good.  CJ pretended it was and managed to finish/swallow his.  I threw mine away and made soup.  Hopefully tomorrow will work out better.  I love trying to be a little cook for my sweet heart, but I truly wish I had better instincts in the kitchen.  I'm very thankful that he enjoys (and is wonderful at) cooking.  I'd much rather do take out and according to that terrible grocery bill today, it would be cheaper!  I just added a little note to self there!  Next time I decide I want to pamper my little prince, I'll just volunteer take out for a few days.  That would probably be a safer bet anyway!
I'm already picking out Thanksgiving Day recipes and Iron Bowl recipes.  I'm also already ITCHING to dig out our Christmas decorations and put up a tree.  I do this every year.  I get so excited for everything that this time of year entails and then after it's gone I wish that I could have pressed a slow motion button.  With that being said, I want to try to soak in all that this time of year has to offer and really, really enjoy it.  Cheers!

Well, this was a manic Monday post...until next time - xo.