Weekend Wrap-Up

Time flies when you're having fun...and this weekend flied by! My school Christmas party was Friday night and our good buddies couples shower was Saturday night in Hot Springs. I didn't get any pics at my school Christmas party, but do wish I had some pictures of hostess's house. It was a beautiful, massive home right on the water. Their backyard was the lake and they had steps leading right down into the water. It was gorgeous, but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.

Dustin and I both had our own handful of errands to run Saturday morning, then we decided since Matt and Jessica's shower was in Hot Springs to just go ahead and stay at the trailer at Ouachita. The shower was nice and since I'm one of Jessica's "new" friends, it was neat to meet the girls she grew up with. We headed downtown afterwards for a little after party and I slept in Sunday morning....which was sooo nice! It has been too long since I've done that!

The bride and groom to be

Me and my buddy...isn't she lovely?

And.....for my fellow readers out there...I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins this morning. As are most of the books I read, the main characters in this book are younger, but I like to proofread a lot of books before they meet the hands of my innocent youngins. It was an action/adventure story, which I'm beginning to learn that I really like. It's somewhat futuristic as well, which I would not normally like, but the futuristic stuff doesn't overwhelm the storyline and isn't totally out there. 

It's takes place after the United States has collapsed post-war and is replaced by a a country named Panem, which is separated into 12 districts and a capitol by wealth. "The Hunger Games" are a gladiator type reality show entertainment that Panem puts on and basically forces everyone in the country to watch. On "reaping day" a boy and a girl from each district's names are selected in a drawing to participate. Each district's participants are required to kill their opponents to survive. Katniss, the main character, is from one of the poorest districts. The odds are against her when she'll be facing kids from the Capitol who have been training for the Games their whole lives. But of coarse, there's a twist... a love story nonetheless. It was a really good read and yay for me!...It's a triology! I'll be starting the sequel Catching Fire tonight. Bubble bath here I come!

Hope ya'll had a great weekend! I'll leave you with a picture of our house all lit up thanks to the hubby. After going to look at some really big house's really big lights Friday night, we realize our is very 'widdle' as I like to say, but it's ours and we love it!

Let the Holidaze begin...

This time of year just comes and goes so quickly before I get over the "It doesn't seem like it's time for Christmas yet" feeling. Things get super busy with school, visiting family, Christmas shopping, decorating, yada, yada, yada...I'm already behind on the blog posting of everything that's been going on, so here are enough pictures to make your computer freeze.

After our Weatherford Thanksgiving in Missouri which I previously posted about, we headed to the Fort for our official Thanksgiving festivities. We started off at Corky and Debbie's, but it just didn't seem quite like Thanksgiving this year because we were missing some V.I.P.s....Amer, John, Morgan, and Baby Riedel on the way....they were at DisneyWorld. I guess we can forgive them. 

Here are the Brasuell's with their new edition Miss Emilee Katherine. I had the pleasure of being her first person to throw up on. I feel very honored.

Drew and Dust playing games

Next we headed over to Tenkiller to my parents' house. The girls helped mom decorate her tree. Mom and I had picked up lots of lakey themed stuff last year on sale and I love how it turned out. We used feathers on for the tree topper and it looked awesome. We still need some more though. What were we thinking? More is always better!

What a winter view!

I wanted to take a pic with Addi and when I tried to squat by her, she was telling and showing me how to stand. I had no idea she was cheesing it up so much down there...what a cutie! She's talking sooo much now. She is very excited about Christmas. She wants a "barbie in the water" and her Aunt Carly has already checked that off the list. 

Riding with Daddy, Papa, and Uncle Dust on the mule...BRRR!

Columbia jacket (check), side swept bangs (check), poofed hair (check)...the girl is ready for Fayetteville. 

Remember my school's float I posted about last year? Well....we won again! Our theme this year was "The HCE Express" inspired by "The Polar Express". Put a bunch of teachers together and you get a pretty creative float. I know it's not Macy's parade worthy, but believe me, it's pretty darn fancy for the Bryant Christmas Parade. Most floats are some stuff put out on a trailer or people riding in the back of trucks. We always get lots of "ohhs" and "ahhs" and people wanting to take their picture by our float. We're just that cool. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! Well...it's been looking like Christmas in our house since November 8th, but we didn't decorate outside until this weekend...you know, so people wouldn't think we were crazy. Dustin hung up lights outside this weekend and I made a couple of wreaths with bows. I REALLY, REALLY want to do the big garland, mesh ribbon, huge ornament thing, but I just don't have the money to do it this year. I plan on doing some clearance shopping so I can next year though. We can't have it all in the first year, can we? At least that's what my husband keeps telling me.

I got all of my Christmas shopping done today except for 2 gifts! I'm surprised the bank didn't think my card was stolen. Mom, Tiff, and I are shopping in NWA next weekend so I can't wait to pick out some new clothes! YAY!

Hope you all are beginning to have a Merry Holiday season. 

Happy Turkey Day!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Thanksgiving! We are in Fort Smith for today and tomorrow and head to Lake Tenkiller tomorrow evening. I love this time of year with family and friends and welcome the extended weekend to reflect on my thankfulness for them. We hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving to the fullest!

I'm Thankful for Being Thanked!

One of my parents sent me these flowers today. Aren't they beautiful? I never receive flowers and was very pleasantly surprised! It completely uplifted my spirit and put a smile on my face. It's so nice to be thanked for what you do, even if it is your job. 

Weatherford Thanksgiving

We finally were able to make the Weatherford Thanksgiving...I think it's been like 5 years since we've made it because Dustin and I had not been dating for too long when he first made the trip to Missouri. My aunt and uncle now live outside of Lake of the Ozarks and have a beautiful "rock ranch", as they call it, out it the sticks, literally. It took about 15 minutes of dirt and gravel roads to get there. It is absolutely beautiful though! It was great to see everyone, but its also kind of depressing to realize how little I know about all of their lives. I'm one of the youngest cousins out of 10 of us, and when you add all of the husbands, wives, and multiple children, it's hard to remember who belongs to who! My grandma's brother's family was there, so that includes all of my dad's cousins, their kids, and their husbands/boyfriends/girlfriends, etc. It was a packed house of 40+.

These are the only pics I got of the weekend. I so wish I would've sucked it up and taken more. I'm not much of a picture taker, especially in front of people I a) can't remember and b) haven't seen in a long while. I hate being THAT person who always whips out the camera, but looking back on it now, I wish I hadn't cared so much. I got a couple of pics of my grandma and me at our wedding, but would like to have another. She's turning 85 years young in May, so we hope to make her birthday bash and get a picture then! 

Oh you know I got a picture of the dog. His name is Rufus and we are best buds. He likes the words squirrel and raccoon and he loves, loves, loves to have his ears rubbed and give kisses!

He was very widdle at the end of the day.

Up next....our two family Thanksgivings! We're headed to the Fort Wednesday and then over to Mom and Johnny's at the lake on Friday! Can't wait to have a relaxing weekend with family and spend time with the nieces and nephews. I bet Emilee has grown so much since we've seen her!

I'm Gonna Keep On Lovin You...Cause Its the Only Thing I Wanna Doooo...

We got to see R.E.O. Speedwagon, Rick Springfield, AND world champion figure skaters ALL IN ONE NIGHT! I know you're super jealous....its okay. You'll get to see it on NBC on Nov. 29th. 

Our neighbor works for 3M, the sponsor of the event, Holiday Celebration on Ice, so she hooked us up with some V.I.P. tickets. We took our friends Matt and Jessica. The boys were pretty relieved they served beer so they could feel a little more heterosexual while watching figure skating and middle aged women having hot flashes over Rick Springfield. Their constant sarcasm and the drunk guy sitting next to us representing Arkansas to the fullest helped them get through the night laughing as well. 

Rick Springfield himself rockin' some "Jessie's Girl". The show was all downhill after that.

These two were partners and they did some pretty cool tricks, I'm not gonna lie.

All together now...

Rockin' Christmas

Three for the Price of One

Welcome Emilee Katherine! 

Our 3rd niece was born Oct. 28, weighing 8 lb. 1 oz of pure preciousness. Nicole had what seems like the perfect childbirth and is doing really well. Drew has dubbed his baby sister with the nickname "Peaches", so FYI...Emilee and Peaches may be used interchangeably. 

Here is Uncle D with Miss Emilee

Peaches was curled up like a little ball. 

Uncle D almost covers her whole body with one hand!

Would you check this face out?

All together now..."Awww!"

Aunt Carly getting in some cuddle time. 

She was so warm and snuggly, I just wanted to squeeze hers up!

I don't think I'm the only one who she's got wrapped around the finger.

The proud Aunts and Uncles!

We just passed her down the couch.

Check out those feet-sies!

Our cute little punkin!

(Throwing up the westside).

We got to see Momo, too!

Woo, Pig!

Dustin and I headed to Fay-town for the game Saturday night. It was SO exciting!...NOT! I started cheering for the other team I felt so bad. 

We got some Addilyn lovin', too!

Mary Addily, would you look at all of those people behind you who love you?

What a lucky girl to have 5 adults go to the park with her!

What a sweet, sweet girl!

I hope you all had as joyous of a weekend as we did!