Christmas has begun!

Well the Christmas banquet at church was spectacular! Sunday night it started at 6. We sat at a table with my parents and one couple from our small group Brady and Erin. The guy who did the commercials with us, James, joined us too. We ate a nice dinner or ham and turkey, salad, cheese mashed potatoes, and green beans. Cake for dessert. Kevin's band Freedom or Fire played while everyone ate. They did a wonderful job!
Let me just say one thing - my dad is hilarious. I can't believe as a teenager I didn't think he was but he is simply hysterical. He got up and did the annual "CrossBridge Toast" which consisted of him banging some spatulas on an actual toaster hanging around his neck. He would do the beat, and then sing the words. EX: "bang bang bang (there was an actual beat though) All around the country from coast to coast...bang bang bang.....people always say what do you like most?....bang....I don't wanna brag, I don't wanna boast...bang....I always tell them, I like toast....bang....YEAH TOAST!!
This last part was screamed out into the audience as they clapped along. This song has been around our family for years but its good to see its getting out and the proper recognition from the masses. The banquet continued, some people did some songs, some played instruments, others read funny poems or versions of the Night Before Christmas, and the commercials were shown. Also they showed my music videos I had been working on for hours. Im pretty proud of those things. Not to be cocky or anything I just had so much fun doing it and it took hours to do and I must say, not bad. And yes, I will post them and the commercials on here eventually.

Brady, Erin, Us!our small group!

So the banquet was great, we went home and then watched A Christmas Story - aka, my favorite christmas movie. I LOVE IT. I was telling someone else this, but I think it is one of those movies you had to grow up watching as a kid? and that is why I think it is so funny. I mean, it does have the humorous lines here and there, but the extent that I think its funny, it really isn't that funny.  ...did any of that make sense?...moving on.

We are deciding on paint colors ... we are trying to decide on a color/theme for the guest bedroom. We have had plenty of ideas, but they are either too extravagant or just aren't exactly what we are looking for. Guess we will see what the final reveal is. Today Chad said something about needing to pack for "next week" and I argued for about 3 minutes that we had 2 weeks to go. Nope, its not this weekend but the next. I can't believe it. There is so much to do...I never want to move at Christmas again.

Happy Thanksgiving :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I have so much to be thankful for...a husband who is my best friend in the world, a family whom I wouldn't trade for anything, a second family I gained in marrying my best friend, a roof over our heads, great jobs for us both, enough financial security to keep us going, my wonderful friends who keep me going, COFFEE, and so, so much more. It just amazes me when I sit and think about it how much God has blessed our lives :)

Last weekend we headed to Memphis Thursday night to begin our Thanksgiving festivities with them. Last year was Thanksgiving with his side, this year was my side. The flip-flop-family travels. We got there Thursday, Friday we waited on Chelsie (while we waited we played bananagrams - a new found game that is basically a personal scrabble) to get home and when she did me, her, and Sherry left and went grocery shopping. Chad left and went to go find Sequence (yes, another new found game we love) and we all met back at the house later. We played Sequence a TON that night, and the rest of the weekend. Everyone loved it! A hit! Friday night we ordered pizza from a place called Mamma Mia and it was great! Sequence and foosball continuously went on that night. I must say, my skills have vastly improved from the first time I have played foosball...I used to barely be able to even kick the ball with the little plastic faceless man but now I am semi-aiming, semi-shooting, semi-blocking. That's right, I know you are impressed.


After the victorious victory we headed to the kitchen to start cooking. We made green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, hash brown casserole, rolls, turkey of course, cranberry sauce, and Jell-O. I can now successfully make most of the casseroles thanks to you Sherry :)

Dinner was spectacular! We had all that along with sparkling grape juice (one of those things I have loved and will always love...add that to the things I am thankful for at the top haha) and it was just so good. We sat around and talked but woofed down everything, and in a matter of minutes everything was gone. Barely any leftovers - that gives you an idea of how good everything was! We cleaned and then Sequence resumed yet again. Sunday was church - so good to see everyone! Chad's old youth minister's wife is pregnant and not too far along, I forget the exact time amount but a couple months, and has the cute little baby bump and she was just so excited when she was talking about it. It's a boy and she was so cute describing everything. A lot of people were in town for Thanksgiving so we got to see more than the normal amount of people still in school. We went to the college class because Doug is teaching it, and everyone was back from school. It mostly made of Freshman and Sophomores with a few older people but it honestly was so weird listening to everyone talk about school and what points in their life they were at. I felt SO old, and in reality age wise I was only a couple years older than them. It was very interesting just listening. I’m an old grown married lady now, guess I should start realizing it!

Leaving is always so hard! We miss them so much :( Wish we could get up there more than we actually do but at least we did get to see them. I am thankful for that!


Thanksgiving in Birmingham was a little different this year - my mom's parents were originally suppose to come down and we were going to have an all day eating fest, but my grandmother ended up going in the hospital the weekend before Thanksgiving. My Mom drove up to Indiana that Monday to be with her and is actually still there! SO for Thanksgiving it was me, Chad, Dad, Kevin, and Kyle. We went over there; I had made a green bean casserole and took that with me. I had planned on taking sweet potato casserole too but guess what, apparently Alabama does not carry the frozen bag of sweet potatoes that you just microwave and mash up. Went to 3 STORES - no one had them. Weird? Yes. I gave up and just took the green bean stuff over instead of both. It turned out good (thank goodness! first time making it) and Dad was preparing the rest of the feast. He did a WONDERFUL turkey, stuffing, rolls, Jell-O, a stir-fry mix of broccoli corn and mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and desserts. How good - I think I gained about 10 pounds. NO exaggeration there :) We ate around 2 ish, stuffed ourselves, cleaned up, and then ... get ready for this...watched Men In Black. Why? No clue, but it’s what everyone wanted to do. Being the only girl, I didn't have a huge say in the matter. I was out numbered by far. So yes, we watched MIB, then played Sequence and hung out, THEN...get ready for THIS...watched Man in Black 2. How in the world this happened I am still pondering. But yes, a new tradition arose, and as weird as it was, it was quite relaxing I must say. Sitting and staring at a screen for sequel movies about aliens. Happy Thanksgiving :)

my green bean casserole :)

So it was different, but we did enjoy ourselves and I do love my family. Buncha crazies but I love them haha

-Besides that I got my haircut short the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Yep, gave in and did it - chop. It’s not too too different but it takes about 12 minutes less to fix in the mornings so I love it.

-Chad and I are preparing for the move this month. We found out it is most likely going to be the weekend before Christmas (ugh haha) but we are both so ready to be out of our apt that it is totally fine with us. We are picking out our final paint colors, and looking around at couches/loveseats so if you know of anyone getting rid of theirs CALL ME!
-Chad and I got to participate in filming (yep) fake commercials to put in our church's Christmas party this weekend. I've got some footage that I’ll put up as soon as I get home today. I must say Chad is just hilarious. Be prepared to laugh. When they get finalized and after the party I’ll put all the commercials up here for you to see. Can't wait! Preview--->

~LTIL~
Sharpie Pens. I LOVE Sharpie pens. 'nuff said.