YOU + ME = LOVE

On Friday night, all of the men from our small group decided to surprise us with an early Valentine's celebration! Getting dressed up + limo + champagne + amazing dinner + lots of laughs = an incredible Valentine's celebration!!! Eddie V's has moved on to my top 5 favorite places to eat. The meal was DELICIOUS!!! I can't stop talking about it!! I know I am partial, but I have the best husband a girl could ask for that loves me more than I could ever deserve! Thanks guys for planning such a romantic, fun night out to celebrate; we could not ask for more - truly a night to remember!!! (didn't have my good camera to catch the night, so these will have to do!)

The Tree Christmas

I cannot express how greatly the Lord blessed us when he guided us to our young adults/young families class about 5 years ago. We have grown more deeply with the Lord, with eachother in our marriage, and with an amazing group of people through this class. We have had some people come and go from the class, but each person has played a role and been a huge asset! We do life with these people - we learn, grow, are challenged, held accoutable, and enjoy get fellowship (and some great food!). Our annual Tree Christmas Party was once agian held at the Elliots (our faithful leaders)last weekend. I can't say enough about this family and the example that they set for us; we are blessed more than words can express by you as leaders! This night we had lots of good food, fellowship, and a friendly white elephant gift exchange. We ended up a little better this year with Sam grabbing a Starbucks giftcard. I unfortunitly gave away my gift of the night - a UT Nutcracker, no thank you!!!

Italian Christmas Feast

We had our third annual Christmas Dinner this past weekend. The Maenius' and Sam and I prepared an Italian Feast with all of the food we learned to cook in Italy. Various crostinis, prosciutto, cheese, and honey tray, bruschetta, caprese salad, lasagna, homemade arugula pesto pasta, cheesecake with whiskey sauce, and mini tiramisus. After dinner we had a gift exchange and then a fun night of karaoke!! What a blessing we have in each of these people!!

Thanksmas

This past weekend my family celebrated Thanksmas! A late Thanksgiving and early Christmas! We ate lots of yummy food, opened presents, rode the train to the North Pole, saw Santa, made Gingerbread houses (kind of), played some games, and spent lots of good quality time together! We are so blessed with amazing families on both sides and soak up every moment we are able to be together! We love you guys and had such a great weekend!

Attempt at family pics! Tripp had more fun looking at Pops than the camera!!

Meeting Santa on the train to the North Pole

Grancy (my mom) made Mia her very own set of customized dress up clothes. They are amazing...all the princesses, Dorothy, cheerleader, pirate, clown, cowgirl, wedding dress, etc. Sam then made the "closet" for it all to go in. I think Mia will spend hours enjoying all of it!!!

Decorating Gingerbread houses. It might not have lasted long, but was fun!

Presents!

Sweet boy Tripp...I just can't get enough of his sweet smiles. Such an easy-going, fun little guy!

Happy Birthday America

7 couples + 3 babies + 1 baby to come = life long memories

We went on our annual 4th of July trip to LBJ Lake and once again had a blast!!! Even with 3 nights on an air mattress and 2 showers between us all, we had an amazing time. I have said it before and will say it again, that we have been so blessed with am amazing group of friends to do life with. We could not ask for more!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday!!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas at home in Amarillo with our families!!! We were there for the whole week, so we got in a lot of family time and even got to enjoy some time with some of our closets friends! We are so blessed by the people in our life and were reminded of that this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas

Richard, Jennifer, & Mia on Christmas morning

Sam in his new shades!

Mia playing with her Dora "ipod"

Mia showing Grandma Liz the new boots her

Aunt Mandy & Uncle Sam gave her

Snapping a quick pic before church

*I still owe Sessler Christmas pics*

Happy New Year's

Celebrating a beginning of 2011 with

some of the best women I know!

(post wedding - hence the reason I am over-dressed!)

Celebrating the New Year and a new marriage!!

Congrats Chelsi & Brant

Happy 30th Birthday Jennifer

Dad, Mom, Richard, and I

The beautiful birthday girl with her beautiful family

Mia and her friends at the party

Speech, Speech, Speech!!!!

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Cookies For Santa

December is my favorite month for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is because I get to do a lot of baking!!! I think I must have spent the entire month of December in my kitchen if I wasn't at some type of celebration! Here's a peek at some of the christmas cookies that I made this year. I think I ended up making almost 7 dozen of these!!! It might have taken a long time to make all those cookies, but at least I have fun while doing it!!!