Christmas Eve

Kyle and I took the time this year to really enjoy this Christmas season by reminding ourselves daily what this holiday is all about. It was so nice to slow down and enjoy each day as it came... we didnt want to wish away Christmas, it already comes and goes by so fast! Christmas Eve day started out with us sleeping in for as long as we wanted... no alarms here! While Kyle slept a little longer I prepared breakfast, hashbrowns, sausage, and red pancakes were on the menu. When Kyle woke up he turned on the fireplace(yes, it's gas) and we enjoyed our breakfast in front of the tree while watching "Christmas with the Kranks". We were able to enjoy the day and then prepare for our evening with Kyle's family.

Around 6:00 everyone arrived at our home for a Christmas celebration! We had our traditonal meal- a soup bar with all the fixins, spiniach and cheese dip, brachetta, cheese platter, coutry ham and biscuts, a ton of desserts, eggnog, and coffee! Lets just say we were STUFFED! :) After dinner we opened presents; each couple opened gifts together to make it last longer and also so we could see what everyone got. We had such a fun evening together!!

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When everyone left Kyle and I "cleaned up" the house, packed up all our gifts and headed to my parents house to stay the night, a tradition we started right before we got married. :) After unloading the car, we opened our pajamas to eachother, another tradition we started last year. As we went to bed we watched some tv and talked about all the memories we have shared in my old room. We had such a fun day and couldnt wait to see what Santa had brought us the next morning... ;)

Counting Down To Christmas

This year Kyle and I started a new tradition by participating in Advent. Bringing back the TRUE meaning of Christmas has been heavy on my heart this season. It is so easy to get caught up in the hussle and bussle of Christmas that we spend no time reflecting on the greatest gift of all... JESUS. Kyle and I love this time of the year and truly enjoy all the traditions including, Santa, listening to Christmas music, looking at lights, drinking warm drinks, watching movies, shopping, baking BUT we keep our main focus on the one true meaning of the most wonderful time of the year. :)

I made a simple calendar out of Christmas scrapbook paper, printed out some numbers, put magnets on the back, thought of activities to do each night, and put scripture verses to read on the back. Luckily I had everything on hand so no purchases were needed. Every night before bed Kyle and I read the scriptures and pray together, it has been super fun reading the Word as a couple, so much so that we are going to keep this going even after Christmas!


Some of the activities we do are: Go Christmas shopping together, drink hot cocoa and stir with a candy cane, look at the 109 lights, sing and dance to Christmas songs around the tree, go see Reindeer, make neighbor gifts, and many more!





The scriptures that we read everyday are all things that Jesus is and that He has done. They may be passages that we have read before, but it reminds us how great of a God we serve! As Kyle and I prepare our hearts for Christmas I encourage you to do the same... it's never to late! :)

Deck The Halls

Kyle and I have made getting a real tree the day we come back from Gatlinburg a tradition. Since we enjoy Gatlinburg so much this is something we can look forward to when we come home. Last year we wanted to cut down our own tree at a local tree farm, but by the time we made it back it was already dark so we had to buy a pre-cut tree. This year we were excited because we knew we would be back in time to cut our tree down, well like last year it did not work out. The tree farm is only open on the weekends, not on the week days. We made a visit to Rainey's Tree Lot right across from where we live. Kyle went to school with the people that run it and also have taken their pictures so it worked out perfectly.

This year we got a 9ft tree, something that Kyle has been wishing for.. he loves this time of the year! Kyle brought in our tree, then we cut the netting off and let the it get used to the temperature of the house. While waiting we ordered some Jets pizza... YUM! After the tree adjusted we started decorating while listening to some Christmas tunes. We had so much fun laughing and reminiscing about some of our ornaments that we pick up when traveling to new places. There is something about a tree that makes a home so cozy and comfy... we are loving it! :)



He is super EXCITED!

Maple and I giving the tree some water.

Kyle puting on the lights.

Giving smootches. :)

Maple putting on her ornament. ;)

This picture totally cracked us up after we looked at it....

Kyle and Maple


A FUN evening indeed!

Gatlinburg!

Going to Gatlinburg over the Thanksgiving Holiday is something that we look forward to all year! Kyle and his family have been making the trip for as long as he can remember and I am so glad that I get to be apart of such a fun tradition!
We arrived at our condo on Thanksgiving night, just in time for another yummy meal... all that driving made us hungry again! Some of my favorite things to do while we are in Gatlinburg are to SHOP, imagine that, walk the strip downtown, the VILLAGE, and relaxing! Good thing for me that's exactly what we did! :)

Kyle and Cole playing with the Ipad


Walking the streets of Gatlinburg!


Our cozy fire... love it!


Everyones first time on top of the Space Needle, such a pretty view!


Hot Cocoa and a Donut in the Village!


The Gingerbread Train... so cute!


My first bear sighting!


Mark and Connie! Thank You for such wonderful trip!




On our last day we headed to the Pancake Pantry for a delicious breakfast here is Cole's yummy pancakes!

Thanksgiving

This year Kyle and I celebrated Thanksgiving Day at my dads parents house. We had a wonderful time all catching up while eating a WONDERFUL meal! After talking for hours a group of people went to take a walk, some went down to the barn, and we decided to go ahead and leave. We made a quick trip by my parents to visit my grandmother and 2 cousins then hit the road towards Gatlinburg!

Dad cutting the Turkey!

MawMaw preparing everything so we can dig in!

talking away..

The whole gang!

My Granny... we love her!