Gatlinburg Trip

A few weeks ago, Aaron and I went on a weekend trip with 3 other couples to the mountains...NO KIDS!!!  We all had the best time.  We started with a very brief stop at Turkey Creek for some very quick shopping before lunch.  We all forgot to take our cameras in for lunch.  We ate at P.F. Changs in Knoxville.  Can you say heavenly?  The memorable moment there was Aaron deciding it was a great idea to bite off the end of a pepper in his dish and eat it first thing.  Biggest mistake ever!  It took forever for his mouth to be back to normal to enjoy his very first experience at P.F. Changs.  Then, Aaron B decided he'd try too.  Why didn't he learn from Aaron's mistake??  Oh, well.  Then off to our cabin.  Boy was the traffic terrible.  Our cabin was terrific.  I should have taken a few pictures of it.  But, I just didn't think about it.  Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Sorry, not picture of our Five Guys supper.  I've seen restaurants several times.  It wasn't what I expected at all, but the food was spectacular!  I was expecting different gourmet burgers, but it is your basic hamburger and cheeseburger with the trimmings.  But, it was the best hamburger!!  Once we left Five Guys, we did a little shopping at the Christmas Store.

Aaron joining in with the caroler at the Christmas store

The girls outside at the Christmas store

Then we decided for a stop at Marble Slab.

Back at the cabin we played games until after 1:00 am!  We had the best time.  Saturday morning we got up and went to Gatlinburg to eat at the Pancake Pantry.  Here are Aaron and Aaron being silly as we waited for our table.

Still waiting in line for Pancake pantry...in the rain.

Ahh, finally...PANCAKES and for almost everybody...endless hot chocolate!!!

After breakfast, we headed out to Pigeon Forge for a little shopping then back to the cabin for some R&R.  Unfortunately, the little girl of one of our friends got really sick.  So, they had to head back home to get her before supper.  For supper we headed back to Gatlinburg to Best Italian for supper.  Aaron and I split a calzone.  Check out this calzone!! I'm glad I had been there before and knew to split it with Aaron. 

Carolers came in to sing for us while we were there.

We got up Sunday morning to snow.  It was so pretty.  We got ready fairly fast and packed up the car and then took a few pictures before leaving.

Here are the girls (minus Jennifer G)

And now the guys (minus Jordan G)

Aaron and myself...not sure what Aaron is doing?!?!

When we first got up and started packing, there was no snow on the roads.  An hour later this is what we were up against getting back to the main roads...

It was TERRIBLE.  Not really sure how we got out of our cabin driveway because it was pretty much straight up.  Then back down and around and then back up where this picture was taken.  We were going NOWHERE along with the two cars behind us.  I was very nervous.  Took about an hour to get back to the main roads which included the guys putting brush on the roads, using their feet to scrap the snow off the road and eventually pushing the car up the hill.  What an adventure.  Aaron says now that we're never going to the mountains again unless we take a 4 wheel drive.  We had such a blast...minus trying to leave.



It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I've really enjoyed decorating for Christmas this year.  Here is a look at how it looks around here this year.

This is our "formal" tree. 

Although you can't see it very well in this picture,

it has gold and burgundy balls and poinsettia leaves on it.

This Nativity Scene was given to us by Aaron's parents. 

It was hand-carved and purchased from the Philippines years ago

while Aaron's parents were stationed there.  There is also

a basket on this table that I put all of our Christmas

cards that we receive each year.

I just love my Willow Tree Nativity scene as well. 

Do you see Jingles?  He is inside Connor's stocking.  The boys thought

this was a great spot for Jingles.  Aaron's mom made each of these

stockings for us.  They are cross-stiched with our names.  I just love them!!

This is what I call our Tree of Memories.  It contains all of the ornaments

that Aaron's parents gave him each year until we got married, the ornaments

that Aaron's mom has given our boys every year, ornaments the boys

have made, a few from my childhood and then some others 

we've just gotten over the years from various people. 

I just love Christmas.  We really emphasize the true meaning of Christmas in our house, but also enjoy the magic of Santa.  Aaron and I are always looking for new traditions to start with our boys at Christmas.  I want my children to look back on their childhood and have such wonderful memories of Christmas.  Some of the traditions we have are our Elf, decorating for Christmas (Connor loves to look at all of Aaron's old ornaments!!), having the 12 days of Christmas with "Nana presents", making cookies for Santa, reading The Night Before Christmas before going to bed, reading the Bible story of Christmas on Christmas morning and having a birthday cake for Jesus. 

What heart-smiling moments we have already had this Christmas Season.

Indian Pow Wow

I was sent a note that the kindergarteners were going to have an Indian Pow Wow on the Friday before Thanksgiving and needed to have various snack/drink items sent to school.  So, I sent muffins as requested (chocolate chip to be exact) and anxiously awaited to hear how it went.  Well, when I went to pick up Connor from school, this is what I was greeted with...

His teacher painted their faces for the Pow Wow.  They had such a great time.  Connor loved having his face painted.

Jingles Returns

Just as last year, Jingles (our Elf on the Shelf) returned Thanksgiving morning.  The boys were expecting Jingles, so they were so excited to see him again when they got up Thanksgiving morning.  Here is a picture of where Jingles made his appearance.

Can you find him?  He's in the light fixture!!  He always brings his book with him the first day.  So, we're able to read about him again and be reminded of the "rules" that go along with having him in our home.  I really wish I had taken a picture of all the places he's been so far this year for a wrap-up of where all we found him throughout his stay this year.  I may start now.  :)



Thanksgiving

Sorry it has taken me so long to get a new blog up.  But, now I have several scheduled over the next week.

For the second year, we have hosted my side of the family Thanksgiving Meal.  I had always wanted to host our family Thanksgiving meal and get out all of my nice dishes that we got for our wedding that we just don't ever use.  I just love hosting meals!!  Here are some pictures from the day.

Here is a picture of the "adult" table.  This is where my parents, aunt and uncle and grandparents sat. 

The food spread.  Yummy!!!

Blake being very serious about his food.

Take one!!!

Take two...Monica and Cary

My grandparents, aunt and uncle and my parents. 

Yes, I have a very small family.

The "kids" table. Up until just a few years ago, my grandparents still referred to us as little girls.

Grandmother and Blake

Monica and Granddaddy

 It was the most perfect day outside on Thanksgiving.  After lunch we all headed outside to walk the neighborhood and let the kids play. 

Grandmother and Granddaddy really enjoyed being outside with us too.



We all had such a great time.  I'm so glad everyone (minus my dad's other brother and his wife and my other cousin) were able to come to our house.  I just loved having them all.