Christmas!

I guess since it was a month ago I should post something about Christmas!! Especially since it was soooo much better than last year. (If you missed last year's Christmas post check it out in the archive).

Since we moved into our house 2weeks before Christmas last year, this year I started decorating EARLY!! I always like to use the excuse that since we are gone at Thanksgiving and then the next weekend is Christian's birthday that we HAVE to put up our tree early. I put it up the weekend before Thanksgiving. Craig agreed to put out lights (not on the house but he did do the yard), for the first time I had a dinning room table to decorate, as well as my mantle and a new wreath for my door. I was so EXCITED... UNTIL, the tree was crooked, Craig accidentally broke the top of the tree and the tree topper and I couldn't find my manger scene. Luckily my mom came and rescued the day by wiring the top of the tree, creating a tree topper, helping to locate the missing manger scene and adding touches to the mantle. We were on our way!

Our first Christmas was with Randy & Sherri, Shannon & her boys (Shawn was out of town) and Angie & Jake at Angie's house in mid-December. We had a great evening and everyone was excited to spend their money and gift cards. Joel was very confused though that he had to go back to school and that Christmas was still about 2 weeks away!

Christmas Eve it began to snow. It snowed all day. That evening we went to our church's Christmas Eve service - what a wonderful time of worship and word as we prepared for Christmas Day. It had snowed heavily while we were at church and the roads were very slick on the way home.

Craig and I got up about 6:00 am in order to be ready and see the kids as they came downstairs. Before we were even completely ready we heard someone up. Surprisingly, it was Christian who was the first kid up that morning. He said he couldn't sleep!

It was probably an hour later before Caleb & Joel got up. It took my mom and dad awhile to get to my house (less than 2 miles) because of how slick the roads where. They arrived and the presents where opened. We had a traditional big breakfast that morning and later a very non-traditional but favorite lunch! The time with family, the snow on the ground, made it a very memorable Christmas Day!

The day after Christmas all of my family came. My brother and Leanna with their kids, my parents, my granny, and my aunt and her daughter. I was able to use my dinning room table for the first time (I bought it last April) and it was great to all be able to sit down to a great meal. Everyone stayed the night and we ate leftovers and visited that next day as well. Last year we got some great family pictures...this year we barely got one! The kids weren't real into it. In fact Joel is missing from this picture because he was upstairs sleeping!!

Lastly, Billy & Jo came New Year's weekend and we had Christmas with them. The boys loved their cash and immediately decided to put their money together and purchase a motorized scooter.

Christmas 2009 was GREAT! (Way better than 2008-ha. ha)!! But the best part came a week ago. Joel's teacher sent home a paper they had written the first day back from Christmas vacation. They were asked what was the best thing about Christmas...Joel wrote that he loved the presents but the best part was worshipping God! I was SHOCKED especially since he slept threw most of the Christmas Eve service (ha. ha)!! But, something must have made an impression on him - God is good!!

(More pics - Nicole (Kyle's daughter) kissing my dad through the stairs. My dinning room table ready for family meal. Kid's table. Present opening. Austin and his "guns" courtesey of Uncle Craig & Aunt Adana.)

15th Wedding Anniversary!

I realize I have not even blogged about Christmas and here I am blogging about my anniversary! I will blog about Christmas but my anniversary is foremost in my mind today.

Today, January 7, 1995 at 11:00 am Craig and I got married. We married on his 22nd birthday and I was 20. I remember getting up so early that morning in order for my sister-in-law Shannon to fix my hair. Whew the girl spent hours getting my hair just right, doing my makeup, plucking my eyebrows and even then she had to borrow rollers to fix her own hair on the way to the church.

I remember driving to the church with my friend Gwen with my hair fixed and the veil in place. We had so many people honk and wave at us on the way. Then sitting in the car waiting as they made sure I was not going to run into Craig before the ceremony. We were running a tad bit late and the mad rush to get into my dress and getting everything in place. Just in the nick of time Shannon came in finished my hair and hers and we were off for pictures.

I remember our photographer was a PERFECTIONIST! At the time it was a little annoying but once I got the pictures I was so thankful for his persistance. We took what felt like a TON of pictures before the ceremony. I remember waiting in the pastor's office for the bridesmaids to get back from taking pictures with Craig so I could hear how he was doing. The girls reported back that everytime the photographer said say "cheese" Craig would say "honeymoon". A few minutes before show time I HAD to go to the restroom and the look I got from my loving maid of honor and best friend Emily!!

I remember right before I walked down the aisle Matthew Warnock the ring bearer looking me dead in the eye and saying when I get on stage I am going to do a flip! I don't know where that came from but I calmly told him no he wouldn't since his dad was up there!! Walking down the aisle with my dad and crying. I remember thinking you better get it together or people are going to think you don't want to marry Craig! Finally making it to the top of the stairs. Pastor Chuck forgetting the rings and me having to remind him! Craig telling me as we were taking communion and kneeling at the kneeling bench that he had worn white socks and had to borrow black ones from Randy!

After the recessional crying with my mom and Shannon telling me to blot and not wipe my face (or I would wipe my makeup off)!! The many MORE pictures we took before we could finally leave the church and head to the reception. Riding to the reception in my first limo and Craig informing me had had not finished packing and we would have to go by his apartment before we left!

After being introduced at the reception Craig's family broke out singing Happy Birthday to him! (Remember we got married ON his birthday). A very full house at the reception and trying to speak to everyone. I remember all of the sudden realizing that I hadn't seen Craig in a while. Throwing the bouquet and it hitting the ceiling! Changing our clothes to leave and realizing I hadn't eaten other than a bite of wedding cake!

Putting toilet paper in our ears so that bird seed didn't get lodged in them. Craig's brother-in-law Shawn holding Craig and pouring a huge cup of bird seed down him. Leaving in the limo and realizing I had not seen nor said good bye to my dad. The limo driver offering to turn around and go back so I could say bye. Then the limo driver getting out and hollering for the father of the bride and that hug goodbye with my dad.

Craig making me stand outside on the patio as the "lookout" as he finished packing because he was scared someone would come get our car. (We had left in a limo that took us to where my car was hidden. Craig had done a JOB on Shawn's car when he and Shannon got married and he was fearful of revenge!)

Finally our wonderful honeymoon in the Pocono's mountain. We have been through so much these last 15 years. Some really great times and some raelly low times. But as I reflect back today I am thankful for it all. It has changed both Craig and I into who we are today. Hopefully a lot more wiser, a lot more mature in Christ and I know more in love then when we said "I Do."

Babe, I am so glad you choose me and if I had to do it all over again I would always choose you! Happy Birthday & Anniversary. I Love you!