Christmas

It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year! Oh how I LOVE Christmas...I love everything about it and literally look forward to it all year long. It is just such a magical time to me. 

~Christmas Decorations~

The way homes look, inside and out, are so special at Christmas. I love driving down the streets and seeing all the lights and trees lit up inside the windows. I love love love smelling the fresh cut tree inside the house and sitting by it in the evenings all lit up with all the memorable ornaments on it. This year has been very different for us. Since we are still living at Mom and Dad's, I don't get to decorate my own place this year, have my own tree with my own ornaments, and put our own lights on our house. So it's been a change for me but I am so grateful to be in Tennessee surrounded by all our family at Christmas. We did get Emma a tree for her room and decorated it with a few of her own ornaments and she loves it. Mom and I picked out tree and decorated it together which was nice because we haven't done that since before I got married. Will helped my dad put the lights on the house and Emma loved as we pulled out all the decorations for inside the house. She even helped place them all! 

~Christmas Traditions~

It's been hard for Will and I to form our own family traditions since we've been married because we have always been traveling at Christmas and then this year our situation is still kinda different but there are some traditions that no matter what the circumstances, will always be Christmas to me. I am in love with the Rockefeller Christmas tree. I never miss the special each year on tv when the tree is lit up for the first time and I am determined to stand at the foot of that tree one day! I also love all the other Christmas specials that come on tv, Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, Charlie Brown, etc. And Emma has become quite fond of them this year too! Her favorite is Frosty. She has me play the song on my phone and wants it to repeat over and over, which it does for as long as I will let her listen to it! It is precious. There are numerous Christmas movies that we always watch and then of course the Christmas baking...Mom and I used to bake so many delicious Christmas treats and I know this year will be no different. One of my very favorite things we do at Christmas is go to my Aunt's house for a Christmas appetizer dinner and games. We always have the best time and the food is incredible! On Christmas Eve, my family usually goes to see a movie, a special dinner at Chop House, touring the millions of lights at Bristol Motor Speedway, then home to read the Christmas Story from the Bible. Christmas Day, we wake up and give each other our gifts. My Mom cooks a breakfast casserole and then Christmas night we go to my Grandma's house for dinner. We will also go to my Mamaw's for a Christmas meal at some point during the season when all the family can get together. 

~Christmas Through a Child's Eyes~

I never thought I could love Christmas any more than I do but this year my love for it has grown as I am seeing Christmas as a child again. Watching Emma discover the joys of Christmas has been the neatest experience. She is definitely my child because she seems to love it all as much as I do. To hear her say Christmas just melts my heart, it is so stinking cute! Whenever we drive by a house with lights, she points and says, "It's Christmas Mommy! There it is!" She is fascinated with all the decorations and I love to see her eyes light up as she takes it all in. I'm not so sure how sitting on Santa's lap will go this year, last year he was not a hit, but we'll see. We are going to take her tonight :)

~The True Meaning of Christmas~

While there are so many things about Christmas that I love, the thing I love most is that for one day, though we should celebrate it each and every day, we get to completely rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The world has definitely made Christmas to be something where Jesus could be completely forgotten but I think Christmas is a celebration. It is a celebration in the fact that because a baby was born, led a sinful life, and died on a cross for my sins, I will one day spend eternity in Heaven. When we set up the nativity, Emma helped me put out each piece, putting baby Jesus out last. I hope that I can teach her what Christmas is really about. While it's fun to show her all the Christmas lights and decorations, to let her listen to Frosty the Snowman over and over, to take her to see Santa Clause, to wrap up gifts, to bake Christmas goodies, I hope that I can teach her that it is all simply a celebration leading up to the greatest birthday we celebrate all year long! 

 

Thanksgiving

Psalm 95:2

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!

There are so many things in life that I am thankful for. I could never even begin to mention all the things God has greatly blessed me with. I love Thanksgiving because I am reminded of how truly blessed I am. I am thankful for these things everyday but especially on this day of Thanksgiving...

I Am Thankful For...

Life and Salvation - assurance that I will spend eternity in heaven 

Mercy and Grace - forgiveness that I am so underserving of

Will - my very best friend and the love of my life, we have a fantastic relationship and a great marriage

Emma - a love I never knew could exist that grows stronger each and everyday

Annie - I know she's just a dog but she is a huge part of my life and brings me such happiness

Food - I never have to worry where my next meal is coming from

Shelter - I have a warm bed to sleep in every night

Transportation - I can get myself safely and efficiently from here to there 

Income - Will and I are both blessed with jobs that provide for our family 

Health - my family faces each day without health complications

Freedom - I can live each day freely in our great country, freedom sacrificially given 

Parents - I am so blessed with the most wonderful mom and dad that show me continuous love

Siblings - my two brothers and my sister I love with all my heart and love the relationships we have

Grandparents -  always been, always will be a huge part of my life, whether here on earth or in heaven

Great Aunt and Uncle - these two people are such a significant part of my life and I'm crazy about them

Friendship - I have amazing friendships that until a few years ago I never knew could exist

Family - I am greatly blessed with numerous family members that I love dearly
Church Family - Boone Trail Baptist Church has welcomed us with loving arms and we are so glad to call BTBC our church home
Tennessee - so incredibly thankful to be back in this beautiful state, to be back home

While life is filled with many ups and downs, we have so many things to give thanksgiving for, not just today but with every breath we take. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

~Happy Thanksgiving~

Cruise Time!

On Friday, Will and I are leaving to go on a trip that we have wanted to go on for years. We are celebrating our 5th anniversary with a cruise to the Bahamas and Key West, Florida. I am SO excited because aside from our honeymoon, we have never done anything like this. But this will also be the first time we have left Emma and my heart is breaking. I know that we are going to have a blast and we without a doubt need the time together but oh my goodness I am going to miss her!

So (with tears as we leave I'm sure), we are leaving Friday morning and driving to Port Canaveral, FL, unless we decide to stop before then. 

Our ship takes off Saturday at 4:00pm. We are both a little apprehensive simply because we are first time cruisers but I'm sure that will fade quickly. 

Sunday morning at 9:00am we arrive in Freeport, Bahamas and will be there til 5:00pm. Our plan is to simply explore the city and maybe hang out on the beach! 

Monday, we arrive in Nassau, Bahamas at 7:00am and will be til 3:00pm. I am really hoping to be able to see the Atlantis hotel and then whatever else seems interesting :)

Tuesday, we will dock in Key West, FL at 12:00pm. I am probably looking most forward to seeing Key West. I have wanted to go here for quite some time and really have no agenda other then seeing what the city has to offer! 

And then Wednesday we spend a day at sea traveling back to Port Canaveral. A fun day of relaxing on the ship! 

We dock Thursday morning and then a long drive back to our precious baby!!

Coca~Cola

My brother just showed me the neatest thing he found online. You may have seen it but we hadn't and thought it was really cool. Coca Cola Freestyle has these new vending machines that have 100+ drink options that you create. It's blended up right there fresh when you make your choice. They are then using the most popular creations and making them actual drink flavors! Pretty neat...the only downfall is these vending machines are only located in certain places. For all my Texas friends...you have lots of choices!
Some of the options...

Cherry Vanilla Coke, Orange Coke, Raspberry Coke


Strawberry Sprite, Peach Sprite, Grape Sprite, Cherry Sprite, Vanilla Sprite, Orange Sprite,    Raspberry Sprite

There are a ton more flavors, these are just a few! Next time I am near one of these I will definitely be creating myself a drink flavor!!

~Two~

Two years old....I remember when Emma was born, and I would sit holding her, staring into her precious innocent face for hours. It was one of my favorite things to do. I remember wondering what she would be like when she grew up, how she would talk, what her personality would be like...I remember thinking of the word two and how far away that seemed from her as a newborn baby. And here we are...she's 2.

I had a difficult time when Emma turned one. I am so sentimental and emotional! But there was just something about 2 that is so much harder!! It's like the baby in her is just gone. And in saying this, I love everyday I spend with her and I love the little girl has grown to be so it's not that I'm not completely enjoying the stage we are in now, it has just flown by way too fast. I had a semi breakdown the night before her birthday. Will and I laid in bed and just reminisced on her life. And while my tears flowed, I realized how thankful and blessed we are to have a beautiful, happy, smart, healthy little girl. She is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me and I am crazy in love with her.

I look at her now and I can still feel how I felt the moment they placed her in my arms after a scary and long two days of getting her into this world. It almost takes my breath away. There are no words to describe meeting the child for the first time that has grown inside of you for nine months. Instant unconditional indescribable love. I hope as she continues to grow, I will never forget this moment.

And as I'm sitting her now writing this post, she comes up to me, puts both hands on my cheeks and gives me the biggest kiss! It doesn't get much better than that! Happy Birthday my sweet Emma!

Halloween!

Halloween! Halloween! Trick or Treat!! 

This is the song from Emma's Dora Halloween movie. She loved this movie and I'm so glad we got it for her because all October she's been watching it and learning all about trick or treating. So when it came time for Halloween, she was all ready and excited to put on her costume and head out! And not that I'm partial or anything, but I think she was the cutest little ducky I've seen!!

When I was little, I remembering getting in and out of the car, making our Halloween rounds to all our friends and family so we could show off our costumes. And of course, the tradition lived on this year! It was so nice to be back home so everyone could see Emma all dressed up. We had such a great evening, even though after it all was over, Mommy was exhausted! 

Fall Fun!

After living away from the mountains and the fall colors for four years, we are SO glad to be in the midst of all the fall beauty and are thoroughly enjoying it! We are fortunate to live right in the Smokey Mountains because everywhere you look, the bright colors are all around. Here are some pics of what we've been up to this fall!

Apple Festival in Erwin, TN. Emma had a great time riding the train, picking out pumpkins, and getting a blow up Dora! We also all enjoyed home-made donuts. Yum!

I am so glad I have a baby girl to dress in adorable outfits and dressing her in holiday attire is my favorite!  Not to mention her little UT cheerleader dress!

We have enjoyed so much being so close to Dollywood and getting to take Emma there to enjoy all the fun! Dollywood puts on a beautiful Harvest Festival and Emma loved seeing all the pumpkins! We are really looking forward to the four million Christmas lights Dollywood puts up in the next couple weeks!

On October 21st, we went to Mount Mitchell in North Carolina , the place that Will proposed to me on this day 6 years ago. It was so great to get to go back and re-live that moment.  The mountains were absolutely breathtaking from on top of the observation deck and although Emma had no clue the significance, we loved having her there with us!

On our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we took Emma's two year pictures.  She had a blast playing in the leaves which made for fantastic pics. It was a very emotional moment for me to watch my baby having so much fun in one the most beautiful settings in the world knowing how much she has grown up and how much I utterly adore her! She is full of personality and Will and I are so incredibly blessed to have her in our lives!

These are a Few of my Favorite Things!

It's Fall Ya'll...my absolute favorite time of the year. 

I look forward to it all year long! 

I love the feel of the air and all the harvest smells...

So These are a Few of My Favorite Things about FALL!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Another great recipe for you! This one is of my very favorite recipes. It even was sold for $100 in a dessert auction at our church in Texas! It is a must try :) Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, room temperature
3 sticks butter, room temperature
6 eggs
3 cups sugar
3 cups all purpose flour, sifted with 1tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp lemon extract
1/2 tsp almond extract

Cream butter and cream cheese together until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sugar, flour mixture, and flavorings. Beat 4 minutes at MEDIUM speed. Pour into greased and floured large bundt pan. Bake 1.5 hours at 300 degrees or until toothpick comes out clean.

*Tip: I recently discovered using flour baking spray rather than greasing and flouring the bundt pan the old fashioned way and it works amazingly well!

Fall Recipe!

• Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
• (Courtesy of Southern Living: I made this cake last weekend and it was fantastic! The whole house smelt like autumn goodness and I could have licked the pot clean of the frosting....Enjoy!)

• CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
• 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• APPLE CAKE BATTER:
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans (I left these out of my batter, but up to you!)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups peeled and finely chopped Gala apples (I only needed about 4 apples to get 3 cups)
• PRALINE FROSTING:
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Preparation

• 1. Prepare Filling: Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour, and vanilla; beat just until blended.
• 2. Prepare Batter: Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Stir together 3 cups flour and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in eggs and next 3 ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in apples and pecans.
• 3. Spoon two-thirds of apple mixture into a greased and floured 14-cup Bundt pan. Spoon Cream Cheese Filling over apple mixture, leaving a 1-inch border around edges of pan. Swirl filling through apple mixture using a paring knife. Spoon remaining apple mixture over Cream Cheese Filling.
• 4. Bake at 350º for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 2 hours).
• 5. Prepare Frosting: Bring 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 3 Tbsp. milk to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until smooth; stir gently 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture begins to cool and thickens slightly. Pour immediately over cooled cake.
• 
  
• *I took pecan halves and tossed them in honey, cinnamon, and sugar. I then roasted them and decorated the top of my cake with them like shown in the picture*

Grandparent's Day

~ Grandma ~ 

My Grandma - when I think of her so many things come to mind. To name just a few: piano, singing, holiday decorations, Hilton Head Island, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Taco Bell, Snickerdoodle cookies, lilacs, emeralds, peas and potatoes, brach candies...the list could go on and on :). I have been close to my Grandma for as long as I can remember. When my mom was pregnant with Blake and Mandy, she was on bedrest and in the hospital for quite some time so I stayed with my Grandma and Granddaddy and I think this is where our closeness started. I remember being little and begging to spend the night at their house. Whenever I was there, I felt like I was a princess. Grandma and I would stay up late watching the soap operas she had recorded or watching old movies like "The King and I" or "The Sound of Music." She taught me how to sing and play the piano and was always so proud of me with everything I did.  And now not only is she Grandma but she is Gigi. Emma loves her Gigi and has brought so much joy to Grandma's life. I love her dearly and I am so thankful to have her as my Grandma. 

~ Grandaddy ~

My Grandaddy - where do I begin..."The Wizard of Oz", Angel Baby, Dickens houses, Hilton Head Island, boston baked beans, apple pie, halloween costume pictures, christmas morning Santa Clause reports, Alaska, Disney World... I think the things are miss the most about him are his smile and his hugs. I loved the way he smelled and there are times when I can still feel what it felt like to be in his arms. When I was little and staying at their house, I would hide at the top of the stairs when I saw him pull in the driveway from work and jump out and scare him as he came up. I now know he always knew I was there :) but acted surprised each and every time! In his eyes, I could do no wrong. He gave me everything I ever wanted and enjoyed each second of spoiling me rotten.  I wish he could see where I am now and how beautiful his great granddaughter is. I know he would be head over heels for Emma. He was the absolute kindest, most intelligent person I've known. If I needed to know the answer to something random, I could always call him up and he knew right off. I miss him so much it hurts deep inside but the comforting part is I know that one day I will get to have one of those great hugs again and I am so thankful that I have no doubt of where he is right now...I love you Grandaddy...

~ Mamaw ~

My Mamaw - Oh my goodness... sweet tea!, banana pudding, Thanksgiving, visits to Oakwood, the weather :), potato salad, Oscar the grouch, water beds, Chaco's mexican restaurant, milky way cake, the Schwans man... It's not too hard to tell that my Mamaw can cook! For as long as I can remember, one of my favorite things about going to my Mamaw's house was finding out what treat she had waiting for us. She always has sweet tea in the fridge and some type of dessert. And now that Emma has come along, she always has a bowl of goodies waiting on her. Emma has figured that out and knows which cabinet to go to for her treats! Mamaw is the sweetest most down to earth lady in the world. I think she is absolutely fantastic! Her hospitality is so amazing and you can feel how much she cares for you just in the sound of her voice. Love her!

~ Papaw ~

My Papaw - :) Papaw... Nascar racing, the Eagle Club, air conditions, pork chops!, pepper, "pretty good", westerns, Jovan Musk, white fudge oreos... My Papaw is the most laid back man I know and it's my favorite thing about him. He has this dry humor and he doesn't really say much but when he does, you always laugh. He has been through a lot with his health and has never missed a beat. His spirits are still high even after losing the majority of his sight and suffering through the effects of a stroke. You will never hear the man complain about anything. I admire him so much and wish I would be more like that. I love to watch him interact with Emma. She brings out a side of him we don't get to see much since he had his stroke. It warms my heart to hear him laugh at the things she does and she is crazy about him! Her favorite thing is giving him hugs and he eats up every minute of it! 

It's Game Day!!

It's that time of year again when the weather starts to get that slight chill in the air and the weekends begin to fill up with ... FOOTBALL ... !! And oh how I love it! While I have my teams, I could spend my Saturdays watching football all day long. We have kinda made it a tradition to also enjoy a great meal with our games...chili, taco soup, white chicken chili, chicken and dumplins, home-made italian chicken soup, etc. Yum Yum!

Rocky Top

You'll Always Be

Home Sweet Home To Me

Good 'Ol Rocky Top

Rocky Top Tennessee

Rocky Top Tennessee

And then there are Sundays...and Mondays...and sometimes Thursdays! Gotta love Peyton Manning and the Colts :), and I'm still very hopeful despite his injuries, he will pull it out this season!!