Christmas 2013

We had a beautiful Christmas day together as a family.  Shawn, the boys, and I opened presents and our stocking surprises.  After presents we made our favorite breakfasts, fat kid sandwich for me and a fried bologna sandwich for Shawn.  We spent the rest of the the day watching movies, napping, eating leftovers, and then we watched more movies, napped, and ate all over again.

We enjoyed talking to all our families on the phone and FaceTime.  We are lucky we can spend just a little bit of time, even if virtual, with our families across the country.

Christmas Eve!

 Waiting sort of patiently for dad.

 Santa came!

 Walter knows there are GS cookies in the next box.

 Even Clyde came downstairs to open some gifts!

 Homemade Gift: Sandwich

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve Dinner

One thing I have enjoyed since being with Shawn is the traditions we are starting.  One happens to be Christmas Eve dinner with family and friends.  I suppose in our case friends that have become family!

This year we had a full house!  The Lee family, Dino, Jazz, and Melissa were able to join us for an evening of food and games.

I decided to make a more Thanksgiving-esque dinner since we were away for Thanksgiving and didn't get to make our famous maple glazed turkey with bourbon gravy.  Along with the turkey and gravy we had ciabatta and chestnut stuffing, green beans with red pearl onions, rolls, and apple crisp with ice cream for dessert.  Everyone was fat and happy!

Since I was super busy in the kitchen I didn't take a ton of pictures.  Here are the few that we actually had…

 Dina brought the boys "paw warmers".  They were really Alabama baby booties…do you think she is dropping a hint?

She bought us the best game for terrible people…we are so excited :) 

I really wish I had more pictures but sadly that was it!

Cruise with Me Baby

This year we went to my company's holiday party in DC instead of Pittsburgh.  Kennedy was in town for as assessment so he was also able to come to this one and keep Shawn company.

We took a small dinner boat cruise around the Potomac River.  It was nice to see the lights of DC before the holiday festivities really began.  A small party compared to Pittsburgh but it was still fun to dress up and go out!

Alabama Thanksgiving

This year we went down to Alabama for Thanksgiving.  It was great to be around family on a holiday.  We enjoyed much food and fun.  It was great to spend time with Shawn's family and get to know them better.  After having dinner with Charlie and Mama Lynn we went to see Mama and Murph to have a second Thanksgiving dinner.  We were so disgustingly full!

Shawn's grandma, Mama Lynn, and Charlie

Two plates of food at the first dinner!

Mama's red velvet cake!

We stayed the long weekend and enjoyed more food and family.  Shawn took me the Catfish House where I could not stop shoveling food into my face.  It was so delicious!  We also spend a lot of time with Murph and Mama.  It was so great to hear the funny stories from Shawn's childhood.

 Starters

A little of everything…

Gracie!  Believe it or not Shawn's mother spoils her babies more than I do.

Mama and Shawn

Back to studying before we even left Alabama

Iron Bowl 2013

Saturday we went to the Iron Bowl with Mama Lynn and Charlie.  It was the most exciting game I have ever been to.  The atmosphere at a college game doesn't even compare to the NFL.  I can't wait till we go back next year!  Shawn said it is something we can definitely make a tradition.

Even though the outcome wasn't what we wanted it was still fun!

 How does he think this is a smile?

 Charlie and Mama Lynn

 So much fun!

 The men folk.

So close to the field!

Keeping Cozy

I was able to finish 3 blankets this year…did you hear that?!  THREE BLANKETS!!  I am lucky if I even finish one a year.  I decided it was time to finish all those semi-started blankets taking up room in my craft closet.  So the boys and I worked long and hard into many a nights.  Chuy and Walter were there for support and cuddling…which is always important when making the perfect blanket!

This is the blanket I started for M but has now become the craft room blanket…it matches my bright colors!

 Hard work!

FINALLY all done :)  This was a blanket I made for Mama Lynn (which is now lost somewhere in the state of Washington and I am fighting with the USPS and I am NOT HAPPY)

 I have to give Dina credit for the idea on this one.  Instead of making a tie fleece blanket she suggested I sew them together.  SO EASY and it looks GREAT!  I sleep with this thing every night.  I usually make blankets and give them away or lose them to my boys and Shawn.  But not this one…it's all mine.

Room Refresh

Sometimes I look around and want new furniture…

And then I realize how much that would cost me and I am cheap. :)

I took the iron table I found on the side of the road years ago and repainted it...again!  This poor table was green, then purple, and now its THUNDERCLOUD!  It looks great, better than I could have imagined.

All the frames underwent a refresh as well…mostly just new pictures and mats.

 Walter and I set up for a night of painting (I painted IKEA picture frame mats too)

I didn't realize how tedious this would be…

But it was worth it!!

Magnifico!

I had been a lost soul for the past year (in the hair department) with no one in my area that I trusted to do my hair.  Thank goodness Shawn has an amazing friend who is a hair dresser and does FABULOUS work.  She is so fun to chat with and I love going to see her every time.  I know it seems silly to most but getting my hair done is one of the best days I ever have.

I come in with hair that hasn't been touched in 4 months and she transformed it into this…

Thank you Jud!!!

National Museum of the American Indian

Yesterday Shawn and I ventured into DC to visit the National Museum of the American Indian as part of an extra credit assignment he had.  We had fun looking at all the exhibits and eating in the cafeteria which had amazing food inspired by Native Americans across the United States.  I had a buffalo and duck burger and Shawn had some amazing little cornbread smothered with deliciousness.  We had fry bread for dessert (nothing like the Yuma County Fair fry bread but i'll take it).

I thought of Sydney the whole time.

Day of the Dead for Katie!

Mom and Tiny Come for a Visit

This post always takes me the longest for a few reasons: 1) I am recovering from a week of vacation, 2) I have 1000 photos to go through (thanks mom), and 3) I am so sad that it is over, blogging makes it seem final.

We did our yearly apple and pumpkin picking at a local farm.  

Apples!

Chilly

Tiny had to get the green one.  It was his "grenade".

We carved the pumpkins, made apple pie fillings to freeze (my year supply), and made apple pies and apple crisp!

We didn't stop until all apples had been peeled and made into filling.

Grandma even made Tiny peel!


During the week we took some time to relax and just hung out around the house.  Tiny played with the boys, went on adventures in the yard and the park, defeated zombies with Shawn, went a few rounds in a boxing match, and even made exploding popcorn (and many many more things).

 Zombie killing while the women folk went shopping.

 Making the popcorn with Shawn for movie night.

If you notice there is a pattern here.  We love to be in our PJs and stay at home.  I couldn't complain.


However, we did get out of our pajamas a few times to go out and explore the area.  We went to the Baltimore Aquarium, Anne's Dairy Creme, Fort Meade park, Coal Fire,  Medieval Times, and shopping…lots of shopping.  I loved every minute I had with these two and miss them so much!

I think Shawn was getting tired of posing for so many photos at the castle.

Tiny loved when the knights finally decided to fight each other.

 Outside the aquarium.

 Double chili dog with everything! (two foot long dogs in one loaf I mean bun)

 Someone found my kickboxing gloves and took it out on Shawn.  Walter is the referee.

 He was worried about getting his pull-ups in everyday so we had to go to the park and do some make up days.  He is dedicated.

Feeding the fish and ducks on Fort Meade.

 Making little spears.

He only got upset once the whole time when he say his friends were at his house playing with Buddy.

 We even gave the boys a bath, brushed their teeth, and combed their fur.

Honey Bear!

Big night out at the castle.

 4-D movie…Tiny loved the bubbles, wind, and snow!

 Grandma makes everyone pose for more photos.

Had to carve a scary bat face.

Mom wouldn't let him get the boots…He is a handsome cowboy.

Bat face and skull!

 His favorite was the sharks.

 Pro Boxer.

She gets the flower every time she comes.  The knights must love her.