The Time of Christmas.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I did :)

Let's see if I can remember a re-cap for you...

Monday night, Megan, Hollie, & I had our "Christmas get-together". 

I gave my neice some toys too because (in case you didn't know) she IS family too. 

She loved the "dog", but not so crazy about the horse shoe. :)

Hollie helped Megan with the rotel, and we ate brownies and pigs in a blanket too!

Then a few other people showed up, and there was an intense game of Rockband. Hilarious. I wish I had video of the entire room singing "The Joker" and "Hotel California". Priceless.

Also neat that three out of these four are people I graduated with, and I love that we can still spend time together. Our last Christmas party consisted of this as well. ;)

My sweet, sweet niece & her Auntie Julianna!

Wednesday night, Clint came over to pick me up, and we snapped a few photos before we left. 

Last year we started a new "tradition" of going out to eat & exchanging gifts afterwards. It gives us a little while to catch up on details, since it's sometimes hard to do that over text messaging! Ha.

We went to StrangeBrew, picked up some coffee, and rode through the refuge on the way home. 

He (said he) loved his affliction shirt, and I am SUPER excited about my Vintage Pearl necklace in the mail! Cannot wait.

Saturday morning we had Christmas with the immediate family, and I talked Matt into taking a photo with me on the front porch, and as I look at it - I'm still wondering how one of us didn't end up with a black eye. He's not for photos with his little sis, but we look so darn happy ;)

& Mimi was there to grab one of the four of us. It's been a long time since our front porch was the scene of a Christmas photo opportunity.

We went to Mimi's for lunch, and Robbie & Nannie and the boys were there.

(We're having Christmas with Jay Thursday)

My sweet, sweet cousins.

and my sweet, sweet parents. 

:)

It's been a great week, but I always hate saying bye to Clint for the last time. 

We did that last night, and he is almost safely "home", or he will be within the next 2 hours.

Each Christmas allows me to become more apparent of how special my family really is to me. There are some that I still wish were here, but dwelling on that gets us no where. It is finding the strength to move on from it, while remembering them in the most precious way, and being thankful for the time I have to spend with them. 

I am truly blessed, and I should remind myself more often than I do now.

Deck the Halls...

Let me first start by saying that I believe I decided to photograph the (outside) decorations on the windiest day of the year. Seriously. 

Last night our temperatures dropped dramatically, where once we were gasping for air - now we are expecting single digit temps! 

Ok, so I exagerated a little about the "gasping for air" but it was hot for December.

Moving on, since I am (nor will never be) a meteorologist, let me start..

Persons' Christmas 2010


click photos at any point to enlarge

This is the entrance to "the back" as we call it. Opening this door will take you into our living room area, which is mainly what is decorated during the season. 

this is a planter & flag by the carport, not sure where any of this was purchased.. Sorry :)

This is our "cottage" that mainly serves as an attic type place. (Excuse the trash can, ha! It holds the dog food...just keepin' it real)

this would be to the left of the photo above, just some yard pretties.

the back patio is Mom's favorite to decorate, although no one see's it, you can view it from the kitchen window, and she spends a lot of time in the kitchen, so she enjoys this.

We hung the ornaments from a naked crepe myrtle tree for the first time this year, and I really like it. It's 

"whimsical".

Mom loves rabbits, and I made this wreath a couple of years ago to go on the kitchen table. We've since changed it out, so this is on the patio now.

Front door decorations, and I love them at night.

Our tree is a "Diet Tree" =) Kidding, but it is tall & slim unlike most tall & fat ones. We used to have one like that,  but in the last few years, we have used this one. It's just more convenient and doesn't require re-arranging the entire "back".

We used to have a sillouhette Nativity Scene, but now Willow Tree has taken over. I absolutely LOVE Willow Tree, and eventually I want Mamma to have them all =) That's usually a gift for her birthday that I get her, and they have one for everything!

The computer desk is just lightly decorated with a sit around tree & snowman.. and a backround, of course!

the counter is decorated mainly in polka dots. I do know that the mugs came (on sale) from Kirklands, and the platter was a Christmas gift, I believe.

Window decorations are simple "branches" with ornaments and hanging snowflakes.

the Christmas Carolers will always mean that it's Christmastime for me.

I don't really like the movie "A Christmas Carol", but I love the Carolers representing the story.

Right inside the door to the right stands this table with a coaster, spool Santas, a Christmas platter, and Mrs. Claus (who looks decapitated here - Oops) on the bottom shelf. 

Right inside the door stands the "foyer" (friends who have been in here, can this even qualify as a foyer?? I don't think so, but I didn't know what you'd call it. Entrance?) Anyway, the reindeer came from BAM and it was 9.99! Disregard the gun, it isn't part of Christmas decor, just everyday decor =)  

This is the bathroom decoration, and it changes yearly. =) 

This hangs on the bathroom window.

The tv stand decorations are slim, but there are the Carolers again, and on the other side are three candle stands with three ornaments below.

...annnd the rest of the Caroler family.

Last, but not least, the stockings that my Nannie made for us years ago. The only stocking I've ever had, and I love them because they are timeless and traditional. =)

That's all. 

Thank you for "touring" our decorations this year!

Also, I should inform you that I take no credit AT ALL for this. All I did was photograph it 5 minutes ago. Mom decorated a lot while Daddy & I were gone, and she just asked for my opinion (she may call it criticism from time to time...) She did good.

If you decide to post your decorations, comment with your blog link! 

Link to Kelly's Korner too! She's doing a Tour of Homes! Go check out everyone's decorations!

Also! Check out Mrs. Karen's home. She has a beautiful one, and she is so creative! 

rained in.

Many of you have asked about the paintings I did for Christmas presents, and although I did a post on my paintings back in the summer, I decided to repost those pictures in case you didn't catch a look. Here you go!

Some of the picture quality isn't so fancy, and there's glare from the flash, but hopefully you grasp the idea.!

p.s. - Mrs. Connie, don't shoot me, yours is a WORK IN PROGRESS. I will have to share the story! Whew!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

These pretty girls and I watched the Christmas parade together.

No one was really "fired up" about the parade due to the misting rain and the low temperatures, so there were NO (none, zip, zilch, zero) floats in it...this was the best shot.

Mom's outside decor that she has been fretting over. Turned out nice! :)

blackberry blog.

So, this is so the thing to do while hunting now. The countdown for blackberry is over!! I have one now. Proud owner of a Curve!!! (:
How was your Christmas? Mine was wonderful.. Spent with my family, friends, wonderful boyfriend, and his family! It doesn't get much better than this.
Tonight, shea & I went to see Marley and Me, and yes, I cried. I don't normally cry, but I did. Thinking of my Marlee, and how little she used to be, and how almost every detail about the dog in the movie reminded me of her, it jus hit me that she isn't always gonna be here, an I need to value my time with her more than I do.
Megan is here, for the night. Who knows what's up tomorrow. Goodbight, all.!

it's been awhile..

11 days until Christmas.




Woah.
Wow.
Speechlessness? Is that a word? - - it is now.
These are the BEST days. I cannot even begin to tell you!
(: (: (: (: (:
ashdjkahjsdfgshgjai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's how i feel.

These afternoons spent ridin, nights spent with our friends singin & dancin in the truck, our little moments and our songs we sing to each other. When we're together, other peoples thoughts, voices, and figures fade away. It's almost as if we're the only people left in the world, and in that moment, it's okay.
"..if it was up to me, we'd watch the sun rise together."
beautiful words, i'd say.
So, maybe it was up to you, because that's exactly what we did, we watched the sun rise, and we watched it set together, today. There was no where else on this earth i would've rather been.
I'm falling, i can tell. I haven't fallen like this...ever, i don't believe. Truly fallen. Fallen and had hope of someone catching me. Last time, i was always worried about who had my back. Thank you for preventing those worries.
...........
what? did you say that? both of you? in a 24 hour period?
"well, i'm glad to hear that he/she said that, it makes me feel like YOU feel better."
i have always stood beside you, when life wasn't what you signed on for it to be, whenever it didn't go your way, i was there to comfort & support you. I was there when you felt like no one else was, i tried not to bother you with my problems when you had problems of your own to solve, so i didn't. I stood there, all those minutes, hours, times, days, months, and i smiled. I smiled because you were smiling, because you were happy. Now, i'm happy, and it'd be nice if you could accept that. & be happy for me.


............

i hate this week, and it hasn't started.
5 days until it's over.

i was so caught up in holdin' what i never thought i'd find..

There's a place I've been lookin' for,
That took me in and out of buildings
Behind windows, walls and doors
And I thought I found it Couple times,
even settled down
And I'd hand around just
I know now the place that
I was trying to reach
Was you, right here in front of me
And I wouldn't change a thing
I'd walk right back through the rain
Back to every broken heart
On the day that it was breakin'
And I'd re-live all the years
And be thankful for the tears
I've cried with every stumbled step
That led to you and got me here,
right here.
It's amazing what I let my heart go through
To get me where it got me
In this moment here with you
And it passed me by God knows how many times
I was so caught up in holding
What I never thought I'd find
I know now, there's a million roads
I had to take To get me in your arms that way
In a love I never thought I'd get to get to
And if that's the road God made me take to be with you,
Then I'd re-live all the years, be thankful forthe tears i've cried with every stumbled step
That led to you and got me here, right here.
----------------------------------------------

i'm sleepy.
i took a zyrtec, mom won't let me take anything else.
i wanted this to be a long post, but i just can't.

is wednesday not here yet? It needs to be!

[p.s.]
i wasn't too impressed witht the Christmas Parade, sorry.

everyday, you save my life.

"peace doesn't mean living without conflict."


ashdjkashbjahjasdgjh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'm so so so so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Cantata?
Amazing.
It was truly great.

"Julianna, you made me so proud. I'm so glad i got to see that tonight, Pawpaw would've been so happy to've had you in the choir with him. I love you, you're special, don't ever doubt that."
-I hadn't even thought about it. It hadn't crossed my mind. Until then.
How happy it would've made me to have been able to sing with him, i never had the chance.
I know he & Meamaw were there in spirit.


i'm tired, have a headache, and sooo..i'm callin it a night!
Maybe my next post will be a little more enthusiastic.

favorite txt of the day:
1) "I missed you the moment you stepped outta my truck. When i look over at my passenger seat, i still see you sittin there with your beautiful smile."
2) "It's almost like a dream, but the best dream i've ever had."

mmm...life is so good.

[no subject]

So, as some of you know, i take on LOTS of projects at once.
My new project though, i'm really excited about.

My daddy tells me i should do something with all my paintings, and i guess i'm going to. I'm only talking about it now, actually doing it will be the great thing.
I've been painting Christmas pictures (like most of the ones you might see on a cookie dish, or a welcome mat) that simply say "Merry Christmas".. with red & green (duh) and other colors.
I'm thinking about putting them in Robins just to see how well they sell, if i put 5 or 6 in around the store & they catch someone's eye, i'll try keeping it up, if 5 or 6 get sold from now until Christmas, i'll stop.
I guess i'll never know until i try, right?

So, i'm expecting to have alot of stuff done this time next week.
Dandy Doodlez here i come.