It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Note to self: Never say never. At one time I thought the orange and white checkered bibs were just about the worst thing any college kid could wear. Time changes opinions. Case in point. My own son is wearing the once hated bib and I bought it! Nothing screams school spirit like this lovely fit.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, now that the family has returned home, now that all seven loads of laundry have been done, it is time to decorate for Christmas! While Evan and Mak watched the Tennessee football game and Keagan and Madi watched a movie, I decorated. 

I had to have my fireplace stone painted white for no other reason than this. 

I bought this nine foot flocked and pre-lit tree this summer for $399. I had no idea what I would get when I opened the box today, but I am so very pleased. This is better than I expected! 

My winter themed tiered tray is a carry over from last year. I love a clean, neutral color theme. 

Decorating my German dough bowl with each new season is my absolute favorite task. 

Most of these holiday pieces were given to me by a dear friend. Every year I pull them out and think of all the years we’ve been friends. 

 Now I’m kicking back, putting my feet up, and enjoying the beauty of the twinkling Christmas lights. 

Let the Games Continue

Today was filled with Christmas shopping, more great food, the Tennessee basketball game, long naps, and board game fun. Tomorrow the Texas crew heads back west. 

Happy Thanksgiving

We started our day with morning mimosas and sparkling grape juice. 

We made the side dishes and set the table for our mid-day meal.

We took naps and watched some football.

What’s a family gathering without some board games? 

We shared some big laughs playing Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza. 

Then this one tried to peg me as the bad guy in the game Assassins. 

It was a day filled with all of our favorite people, food, and fun. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Spirit of Thanksgiving

My favorite week of the year is back, and the gang’s all here! Evan and Mak arrived Monday night, and the rest of the family arrived last night. Today was our first full day together. Evan and I started the day at the gym, my mom, sister, and I did a little shopping, the kids had some fun at the trampoline park, we ate lunch at Five Guys, and we ended the evening at the botanical gardens in Nashville. 

Tomorrow is reserved for the best food, (hopefully) and some great football.

Redneckin’ It

Vikki and I are redneckin’ it this weekend at our “meet in the middle” (if you can call my 5.5 hour drive vs her 2.5 hour drive the middle) spot of Little Rock. We are here for the very exciting, long anticipated Morgan Wallen concert! 

Tonight’s show was the very first arena show that he headlined, and the crowd did everything they could to show their appreciation for the tour. In fact, the crowd was deafening when he walked on stage. I was probably one of a handful of forty-something year olds sitting in the arena singing every word to every song. 

We were in the nose bleed section, but his music sounded just as good in our seats as it did in the pit. 

Vikki and I are going our separate ways today, but we will all be together again in three days for my favorite week of the year! 

Mountain Retreat

This weekend was the annual Young Life retreat to Sharp Top in the mountains of Georgia. Keagan went back and forth about going. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be in the cold, sharing a bunk room, around so many people all weekend long, but he ultimately decided to go. (Which means you should read Madi really wanted him to go, so he agreed.) The phones were disconnected Friday night at 9:30 and all of the kids were unplugged until Sunday at noon. 

I have no idea what he did or if he enjoyed the weekend because when he got home Sunday night, he went straight upstairs to his room and closed the door. He was out of words and peopled out. 

UTK HoCo

This is UTK’s HoCo week - Charge the Checkerboard. Many traditions are alive and strong this week; here’s the first: the fountain water is orange. 

Evan, his pledge brothers, and pledges from a sorority have been pomping twelve hours a day for a week to create the yard decoration. That’s millions of pieces of paper twisted and glued into place! This is impressive! 

There was Smokey’s Howl and the bonfire Thursday night. And today’s parade included the band, cheerleaders, and floats. Here are parts of AGR’s float. I’m very impressed! So much hard work went into this! 

Friday night was Makinley’s formal. 

With all of the HoCo prep work, Evan says he’d had a  total of six hours of sleep in two days when he was approached by some “Bible guys” in black suits on his way to class Wednesday. They wanted to hear his testimony. Evan was short on time and patience. Here was his encounter, 

“I start off with baptism and he’s like “ima be blunt with you baptism isn’t salvation” and I said bro listen I agree but I have to condense my life story in a 2 minute discussion, I’m in a small group community don’t try and tell me my philosophy is messed up”

Given another time, I’m sure he would have loved to debate the Bible guys a little longer. Right now he’s more concerned with getting sleep. 

This Month in Home Renovation

This month’s Pinterest inspired home renovation project has been in the works since July. We just needed a free day with nice weather, so we could air out any paint fumes. 

Here’s the before.

And the after.

What a difference! It’s just how I envisioned it and looks so much better against our new ceiling. As it turns out, I can’t smell anything, so the windows don’t have to be opened. I wish we hadn’t waited so long; we could have done this in August. And look at that beautiful wreath! My great-grandmother made that in the late 80s and it still looks perfect! 

With no yard to keep up this winter and dozens of ideas circling in my head, there’s no telling what we will decide to do next. Pump house? Window frames? Board and batten take two? French doors? Plantation shutters? All of the above? 

Happy 19th Birthday

Today is this guy’s 19th birthday. 

He’s not 19 days.

He’s not 19 months. 

He’s 19 YEARS! I’m not sure how this can be because I’m still 30 years old. 

He celebrated by going to class, studying at the library (he better have been anyway), and then watching the Mavs game with Mak and eating his chocolate chip cookie cake. 

Happy birthday, Evan! I’ve cherished the first 19 days, the first 19 months, and every minute of the last 19 years. May your year be filled with joy, health, and lots of time in the library. Love you big!