Christmas Morning

jack henry's 2nd Christmas!

Meemaw and Boppa singing Christmas carols

he liked my present the best!

the boys....

the girls....

Christmas was so different this year. I officially felt like an adult. Not only because I cooked dinner, but now that we have a second generation running around the living room, opening presents is more like.... quick! open the presents! the baby's going crazy! While we were opening presents, he would pick them up and throw them (he thinks everything is a ball). It's pretty entertaining... and quite hectic, in a good way. I was cracking up actually. I can only imagine what it will be like when there are more than just one running around! I am definitely looking forward to next Christmas, when Jack Henry actually knows what's going on and can open his own presents and get excited about Santa. It will be so fun! I love how the center of attention is always on the baby... he thinks the world revolves around him. And sadly (but not so sadly), it basically does.

Christmas Dinner Success!

Our Christmas dinner was amazing! I am so impressed with my sister's and my cooking skills! We had some anger and frustration during the process, but everything worked out flawlessly. We cooked the most amazing dishes in the whole world... and I am still stuffed. I loooove good food!

Christmas is here!

Christmas is finally here! Yippee! This is the first day that it actually feels like that time of year!

I have had such a great time with my family and friends here in Atlanta. I get to spend time with my old friends from high school, who are and always will be my very best friends in the whole world. Plus, Drew lives only 30 minutes away so he has been able to visit me here and I have been able to visit him there... how convenient!

Every time I come back from college I remember how much I absolutely love living in Atlanta, and I fall in love with it more and more every time. Even though Charleston is amazing and beautiful and so much fun, I think my heart will always belong to Atlanta. Its so diverse and culturally-rich and has a little bit of every kind of person and place... Plus, its in the south, where its warm! And... my whole family lives here.... can't beat that.

So now it's Christmas..... and we are going to sit in our living room, which is only used once a year, and admire our wonderfully decorated $25.00 tree while we open up the presents that were placed there yesterday.... (at least I'm not the only procrastinator in my family)

My sisters and I are cooking dinner today, so hopefully it goes well! AAHHH! I'm nervous!

Here's our menu:

Artichoke dip as an appetizer

Honey Baked ham

scalloped potatoes

green beans

butternut squash

a delicious salad (with goat cheese, of course)

crescent rolls

cosmos as our signature cocktail

and... spice cake with a cinnamon cream cheese icing for dessert

ummmm.... YYUUUMMMM!!!  I love Christmas!

My Meemaw <3

My grandma, I call her Meemaw, has been admitted into the hospital for the second time in the past couple of weeks.  She has pneumonia and is getting fluid drained from her lungs for the second time. She has been trying to regain her strength and mobility at a rehab center, but she desperately wants to go home. Luckily I will be able to drive home tomorrow to visit with her and help out my mom who is taking care of her at the hospital. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she continues her recovery.

 I've collected a few of my favorite photos of her to share with you so you can see just how amazingly awesome she is. She really is, literally, the best grandma ever!

She and my grandpa at their 60th wedding anniversary... cutest couple in the world

Holding her great-grandchild, Jack Henry!

Playing my cousin's wii.... how technologically advanced she is!!!

Performing an amazing belly dance for our family (she used to be a belly dancer)...

Her and my grandpa go to the gym in their sports attire every day!

She is the most amazing 88 year old lady I know.... I love you Meemaw! Can't wait to see you tomorrow!

A Charleston Christmas!

I love Christmas in Charleston. The weather amazing (except when it rains...). We have a few warm days every now and then, and the cold nights are just cool enough to feel the Christmas, wintery feeling, but not cold enough to make your fingers and nose feel like they're going to fall off. The city is decorated all over with wreaths, red bows and Christmas lights, which gives me warm fuzzies when I walk down the street. I must say, Christmas palm trees are the prettiest thing I've ever seen!

Of course, Cupcake at Christmastime is so fun! We listen to the Nutcracker soundtrack, while decorating cupcakes with candy canes, sparkles and festive sprinkles. We also go a little overboard sometimes and make ridiculous, inedible cupcakes to display, like this enormous snowman made of extremely sugar-filled icing.

Spending time with my favorite people decorating gingerbread houses with the largest candy supply in the world was definitely the highlight of my Charleston Christmas. We had tons of fun laughing at each other's fallen, broken houses (mine and Drew's) and envying the perfectly decorated and put-together ones (Olivia and Tyler's....) I have eaten way too much sugar this season!!! I have no self-control.

Octopi...

Watch this amazing video about octopi... I told you they were cool! They are so smart... they've started using tools. How exciting! This video is so strange and hilarious, it fascinates me!

Octopus Snatches a Coconut and Runs

Semester Officially OVER! and a Charleston Christmas Parade!

Okay... finals are done, car stuff is taken care of, house is clean and I can finally sit back, relax and have literally nothing to worry about. That is until next semester. This is the first time I have actually been able to sit at my desk on my computer... That is terrible, I know. I basically use my desk as a place to store binders, books, papers, bills, etc... during the semester. Where do I do my school work? In my bed and on the couch.... so pathetic, I know, but oh well!

Last week, while I was winding down from school, Olivia and I were in Charleston's Christmas Parade! I was actually a little worried about it beforehand. We went with Cupcake of course, and I was in it because no one else would volunteer and I told Olivia I wouldn't do it unless she did too! It turned out to be an absolute blast! Co-worker, Noodle, and I ran beside the cupcake cars and handed out candy, gift tokens and coupons the entire time. It was so hilarious! I would get so far behind the cars that I had to run full speed to catch up. I looked like such a goon... but so did Noodle. Olivia decided she would just sit in the back of the Cupcake station wagon and wave to the crowd instead of running around... smart decision. I was so tired afterward!

So I was literally dressed as a pink ball of fur... and I ran around like a crazy person. People were yelling at me from all directions to give them candy! It was a little stressful but absolutely fantastic at the same time. Drew's parents were in town that weekend (what great timing...). Lucky them, they got to see me look like a goon and take embarrassing pictures to send Drew... fabulous... but I was so excited to see familiar faces on the sideline! It made my day.

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!