Party...Party...Party!

Last Sunday we were able to get together with Chase's brother and sister, who also live in Indiana, and their families for a Christmas Party! It was fun to spend some time together especially since neither of them will be returning home to Idaho this year for Christmas. We were able to enjoy a nice dinner together and exchanged sibling gifts as well as white elephant gifts (they are always sooo funny!) It was so nice. It has been a great blessing to be so close and we thank the Lord for that!

Me and Chase.

S with her artwork to show off!

Chase got the movie Inception- on blue ray nonetheless- he was thrilled! I was spoiled with gifts from Janelle! All so wonderful!

So fun to open gifts!

The kids playing with G's new toy! They loved it!

This time of year is so wonderful- we are headed out to Idaho for Christmas once again and are so thankful we are able to travel to be close to family. Being with family truly makes the holidays! Even more so it is so wonderful at this time of year to reflect upon the true reason for the season which is the birth of our Savior. We are so truly grateful for Him and His life. I love the poem that goes as follows:

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I

give Him,

I'll give Him my heart.

I hope that this new year provides ample opportunities to give my heart to the Savior of the World.

Merry Christmas to YOU all and thank you for the wonderful year- we have been blessed to know you!!

Christmas Decorating! Love it!

I love Christmas time! It is so jolly and fun-and it is a great time to reflect upon the Savior most of all. With the Christmas season a foot it is also time to decorate! This last week we put up our tree and decorations- just Chase and me with some Christmas music playing in the background.

Here is Chase putting the lights on the tree.

Getting out the decorations! Kinda messy =o)

Trying to figure out the perfect spot for everything. Not too hard since there aren't many options in our apartment!

All done.

One of my favorite magazines- Better Homes & Garden had this really cute decorating idea to hang glass balls on the windows with ribbon. It makes our blinds look a lot more festive don't you think?!

On Sunday we were able to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional with a fellow RA and his wife. It was so nice to have them! The devotional was so nice. I just love watching it each year. The music is so lovely and really invites the spirit of Christmas. For dessert I made donuts for the first time by myself! They turned out pretty scrumptious if I say so myself! I found this recipe online and used the creamy glaze. The awesome thing about it all was that we got to use our deep dryer for the very first time since we got married! Yay! It was worth it to keep it! ( Can you guess who wanted to get rid of it?) Ha ha!

I love Christmas Time and hope you all enjoy this lovely season as well!

Fun Stuff!

So I know its been awhile since I have done any updating on what I have been up to in my "spare" time! So I thought I would share some of the different projects I have done in the last few months! (And share some upcoming projects as well!)

Wood Desk= $13.00= good deal

So- story time....A lady in our ward told me about this awesome store and it has become one of my favorites! In the last year or so I have really come to enjoy the art of shopping at second hand stores. Goodwill was awesome but I think this one is kinda trumping Goodwill at the moment! It is a huge warehouse full of stuff- so random, but surprisingly organized from doorknobs to golf clubs to furniture of all types to several glasswares to luggage to electronics to whatever- you name it! You kinda have to get past the dirty warehouse feeling but generally it is a pretty cool place to go and it is huge and cheap! I have been there at least 4 times and each time I find more stuff I didn't see before...a good place to get stuff for projects =o) The desk above is a project in the making. I found it - can you guess where- and I just thought it was so cute and it fits perfectly in this little nook. I am excited to paint it and get it lovely looking...look for more pics in the future!

This is another little treasure I found there. Can you guess how much? $3.00- solid wood.

One of my first trips to this glorified second hand store I found this cute vintage looking magazine holder below. It beats our current one above...

Magazine holder= $3.00

Not in the best looking condition but that can be fixed- right?

After some cleaning, sanding and painting...Looks a lot better- wouldn't you agree!?

Some other projects....crochet hat for meeeee!

I found these at Goodwill awhile back- I didn't love the frames but I loved the prints for a baby room!

Paint can do a lot don't you think?

Some other little crochet hats- baby style...

I started this quilt back in August or September- still not done with it. It is my first quilt ever and the piecing and sewing really didn't take that long but now I just have to figure out how to quilt the thing...

I decided to "update" (still a few years old) our family pictures in our hallway and get new frames for them. I painted and sanded them a little for the distressed look and used the old frame the old family pictures were in to make this family sign with vinyl and scrapbook paper.

I thought it turned out kinda cute...

Well- sorry for such a long post. I really just wanted you to know I have been busy with stuff and accomplishing things here and there!

Thanksgiving Week!

Thanksgiving week was so nice! It was such a blessing to be all together as a family. We spent a lot of time playing games, relaxing, watching movies and of course eating! We were also lucky enough to get some family pictures! Tasha did a great job as well as her friend who helped!

Julie with her newest grandsons!

Napping after Thanksgiving dinner!

Tasha and me looking at the Thanksgiving ads.

The boys playing some Wii after eating!

Hanging out- watching the Duke basketball game!

Chase playing with our nephews E and W!

Playing guitar hero!

Some bit of fame for Purdue- Their band was featured in the Macy's Day Parade!

Prepping Thanksgiving food!

Playing games after Thanksgiving dinner!

Thanksgiving Day!

The kids table!

All together for Thanksgiving Dinner!

It was such a wonderful time to be together with family. We are so blessed! We have wonderful families and such a good life. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and the restored gospel in my life. We have so much to be thankful for!

Thank you Nyle, Julie, & Drake for coming out! We so enjoyed you being here!

Family In Town!

Two Saturdays ago we had the lucky opportunity to pick up Chase's parents and brother from the airport in Indy to come stay with us one night! They came into town for the THanksgiving holiday and we were so glad to see them come! We picked them up late Saturday night and they attended church with us the next morning. Later Sunday evening we headed back to Indy to Chase's other brother Brady's place and had a little birthday get together for Drake!

Happy Birthday Drake! M was trying to blow the candles out so needless to say, Drake's job wasn't too hard!

Chase and Drake hanging out at our home!