Our Christmas Card

Somehow I convinced Brad that we should send out a Christmas card.  (Maker's Mark sent him a bottle sweater and I think that tipped the votes, but whatever.)  We gathered up his drinks and my crochet and headed to his parents' house.  His brother-in-law snapped the photo for us and we were all cracking up.

My slight obsession with Gap (yeah, winning the employee discount for a year) led to us receiving a coupon for $35 off of an order from Tiny Prints, so we went with them.  We chose square cards, a matte finish, and rectangle envelopes.  Tiny Prints will even address and mail them for you, but I took care of that part. 

Do you send out Christmas cards?  What company do you like?

We look so adorkable.

Here's a portion of the back of the card. 

We just had the year printed.

Happy holidays!!

-Melanie

Feelin' the Spirit

Today I thought I'd share some horrible iPhone pictures that I took this morning of our Christmas tree.  I have our tree on a timer so that it lights up for about an hour in the morning (conveniently, at the same time that I awake) and turns on again in the evening when I return home. This makes it feel like the tree is always on without the added fire risk.  Been there, house burned straight down.

This morning, I was feeling particularly joyful and so I wanted to capture that.  However, the photographs I take in my mind and those that I take with my phone are very, very different. 

The tree.  No flash and no lights except for those on the tree. 

Here we have some flash and some wrapped gifts.

Our tree is only a 4-footer that we set on a table and I like it. 

I'm sure we'll get a bigger tree when we have a house and/or kids,

but for now this tree fits us.

My duck nativity.  Don't hate.

I just learned of the Santa Key this year and had to get one. 

I'll hang it on the front door a few days before Christmas

so Santa can come on in.

This darling angel was crafted by my husband in 1992 at a Boy Scout event.

Do you have any pictures of your tree (good or bad)?

Also, see our first-ever photo Christmas card next week!

Enjoy your weekend!



On Family

Gingerbread image from here.

I was a grump last night.  What I posted is probably more than a little selfish, but I think it boils down to a couple of things:
1. I need a night out, preferably with a grown-up beverage in my hand.
2. Brad and I need to develop some holiday traditions and lay some groundwork.

I feel that my first point is pretty self-explanatory to anyone under the age of 35 who works.  Now and then, you just need to get out.  Normally, Brad and I are in bed by 9:30 PM.  We work hard throughout the day, eat an early dinner, and try to relax.  We are still settling into married life and have the additional fun of redoing the living room.  We're busy people.  However, that doesn't negate the need to sometimes go out and act our ages.

My second point gets more at my frustration, though I'm not sure frustration is the word I want.  My father is a huge grump and I don't think he'll want to do anything for Christmas this year.  If he does, he'll come over one night for a couple hours and we'll exchange gifts.  Not a big deal.  On Christmas, my mom, sister (family), and brother will come over to our apartment for gifts and dinner.  We are celebrating with Brad's immediate family this Friday, extended maternal family on Christmas Eve, and extended paternal family on New Year's Eve.  All combined, that is a lot of Christmases and not something that I will necessarily want to drag a kid (or two. or three.) around to all December.  I want Brad and I to really talk about what is important to us and what we envision for the future.

I'm trying to be careful here because my mom checks in on this blog now and then, along with some members of Brad's family.  I'm not saying that I don't enjoy getting together with any of my family members (in-law or blood) because I love them and I love hanging out and eating too much food.  There are babies to hold and newlywed cousins to catch up with and all the aunts and uncles and grandparents.  They are wonderful, but we are devoting ourselves to FIVE Christmases, FIVE get-togethers and that is a lot. 

I want my (future) babies to wake up on Christmas in their own beds.  I want them to see their grandparents on or near Christmas.  I adore large family gatherings and would love for our (future) children to grow up running around with cousins and declaring favorite aunts and uncles.  I just don't know if I want all of this in December.

How did you split up holidays?  What new traditions have you put in place?  How do you think it all changes when you add children?

Instagram Weekend

Happy Halloween!!  Do you pass out candy?  Brad and I live in an apartment, so I'll be heading to my sister's tonight to pass out candy and see my nieces.  My mom heads over there, too, so it'll be nice to hang out with her.

Pictures from the weekend:

Technically, these were made for food day on Thursday,

but they're so cute that I had to share.

On Friday, Brad and I had date night! 

We went to eat yummy Mexican food and

checked out Art After Dark at the local art museum.

Total cost: $26  Bam!

This lovely little card arrived in the mail Friday,

notifying me that I am officially a Sorrell.  Eek!

I spent Saturday waiting for the cable guy and baking. 

Look at Pepper in action! 

That's right--my mixer's name is Pepper.

The great thing about baking?  You get to lick the spoon.

Also, Brad was off golfing, so I didn't have to share.

End result: tons* of yummy cookies! 

Chocolate chip and sugar cookie pumpkins.

*"Tons" before the cookies were enjoyed at a Halloween Party.

This pictures was clearly taken at the end of the evening. :)

My costume for the party was a Housewife.   

On Sunday, Brad and I went to church (as usual). 

I snuck in a mini photo sesh with our church sheep, Edmund and Edna. 

Rumor has it that they're going to start tweeting soon about happenings at church.

How was your weekend?

--Melanie