December 26th, we woke up to find this in our front yard! It had snowed Christmas night. Work called for both of us and said not to come in. We had two days off in a row!
We went sledding just behind our house.
Built a snowman!
Jared has never had snow ice cream before, so we made some and also real snow cones!
I came home from work the next day after we built the snowman, and found our guy leaning and somehow still standing.
This was our tree finally finished with all the presents. Some - well actually, most - were sent from Jared's parents. I made the star and several of the ornaments.
Here were are with our tree!
So... On Christmas Eve, I got off work at 6:30 PM, which was a wonderful Christmas blessing because I thought I was working until 10:30 PM. Four hours makes a major difference. After work, I went straight home until I had to go pick Jared up from work at 9:30. I had a few more things to pick up from Wal-Mart, like celery for the dressing and broccoli for the broccoli-cheese-rice casserole, and thought I would just go there after picking up Jared, right? Wrong! Wal-Mart closed at 8:00. Instead of our nice Christmas dinner, we had Chinese.
We also got to skype with the family while they unwrapped presents! Maggie even got to skype with us!
And here's our first Hallmark ornament. Jared surprised me with it!
One of my best friends just started her blog. She's only written one thing so far but is an excellent writer and definitely worth the time to sit down, grab a cub of joe, and enjoy a sweet "chapter" in her life. Love you, Mechel, my belle.
Our tree is finally completed! I'm too excited! Actually - I forgot - we might had a few more bulb ornaments. I'm thinking we need blue. However, I made popcorn garland for the first time ever and also sewed up a few fabric ornaments and the star. It was such blast building our first tree! I'm going to be working on an ornament that states the proclamation of our first Christmas together, but until then here it is:
Jared and I just finished Skyping with his parents. (And from my understanding Skype is now a verb). It was wonderful to actually see them and not just be a voice on the other side of the phone. Collin and Candice were the first we ever really Skyped with, and now we can't wait to do it with them and the newest Bullard, when he or she gets here. In the meantime, I'm really trying to get my family on the the bandwagon and follow the crowd. I would love to Skype with my beautiful nephew Shep. (Did you get that hint, Taylor? Was it clear enough? Go get that dusty webcam out of your closet.)
Anywho, Jared and I would just like to thank the creators of Skype for making our lives better.
I survived Black Friday. Thanks to my hardworking team at Francesca's, we made it through. However, for us, the sales aren't over yet. Today's forecast is expected to shower a full fleet of customers as well. Tomorrow, I'm blessed to have the day off and spend it with my wonderful husband.
Jared and I are going to be an aunt and uncle AGAIN! Julia Faught has another one on the way (AND IT'S A BOY!) as well as our best friends Collin and Candice Bullard! So exciting!!!!
Check out their blog to see the announcement - too cute! Baby Bullard!
Since we celebrated our Thanksgiving early, Jared and I partially began the proceedings of Christmas decor. Our tree isn't yet finished, and when it is, I will post more pictures.
I also forgot to post pictures of my very first pumpkin roll! My sister makes them every year, but now it was my turn with the Bullards coming. It was so good! After coffee with Jared and decorating the tree, we sat down to watch Elf with a slice of pumpkin roll and hot cocoa with marshmallows. Yummmm!
I forgot to mention that Jared and I went to see Harry Potter at the midnight showing. We loved it! The people watching, I mean. There were tons of characters, and personally, many whom scared me. However, the movie was great. We can't wait until this summer.
Our First Thanksgiving was one of the best Thanksgivings I had ever had. Collin and Candice came to visit for just a little over 24 hours. This would have been, not only our very first Thanksgiving, but also our very first without family until the Bullards came. They brighten our lives every moment they're in them.
I wanted Jared, Collin and Candice to experience Thanksgiving like the Faught Family. I made my Mama's dressing, my other mother's (Melody) candied yams, Libby's pumpkin pie, and Ree's dreamy apple pie. Also on the menu was ham, cornish game hens (one for each guest), broccoli-cheese-rice casserole, green bean casserole, gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls, and a pumpkin roll. Everything turned out perfectly.
Here are the beautiful Bullards!
We're so thankful for these guys. They helped make our holiday special, joyful, and grand. Because of this team, our Thanksgiving clean-up finished in record timing of 15-20 minutes. I couldn't believe all the work we did in such little time. Every bit of cooking and cleaning was worth it, just to spend a day with this wonderful family.
Jesse also graced us with his presence for this mighty feast. The poor guy had to sit in a foldout camper chair. I don't have any other chairs around the house and had even forgotten about those until Jared mentioned it. It kind of brought a little bit of "college" essence to the table.
Collin and Candice made missing our friends and families over Thanksgiving a little easier. Jared and I are now gearing up for Christmas to be just the two of us, but we're so blessed and to have each other. There's nothing like being at home with just him. We were excited to see the Bullards come, but we were happy for them to get to go back home - they were ready for it. After weeks of traveling all over, they finally get to go home to each other. Jared and I understand that concept now. It's one of the best feelings in the world. That's what I'm thankful for this year, and I pray for many more memorable Thanksgivings to come.
Jared took me to the Cheesecake Factory. This restaurant is special in many ways. One: it's one of my Aunt Carla's favorites, and we always go there when she comes to visit from California to Oklahoma. Two: I celebrated my 21st birthday with my mom, my sister, my Aunt B, and my friend Jesse there. Three: It's where I met Jared's parents for the very first time.
Not only does it have great food, but also great memories.
We had the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake for dessert. Yummmmmm!
Jared and I went to see his very first 3D movie last night. We're not the biggest fans of 3D; we just don't mind the average flat screen, but nonetheless we enjoyed the movie thoroughly. MEGAMIND! We are huge fans of Will Ferrell and, of course, Tina Fey. After seeing Due Date a day or two before, in which all the funny scenes you saw in the preview were the funny scenes in the movie, we needed something original to laugh at. And we found it. Great movie.
Jared didn't get off work until 9:20 and the movie started at 9:50. I jumped in the car and picked him up from work, and we were off to see the flick on a whim. For dinner we had popcorn and Dr. Pepper. This was a moment I had dreamed of since I was a kid. "When I grow up, I'm going to go watch whatever movie I want, past my bed time, and eat junk food for dinner." I'm sure I thought that at some point. Maybe not, but it's close enough. And the fact we chose an animated movie - well - we're still young at heart. May we always be.
I would go see anything with Tina Fey's name on it. And probably have. If anyone reads our blog they know that she's my hero - an incredible writer with incredible humor.
I found this picture of her from an interview in Vogue magazine. She is posed with Mickey Mouse ears. Basically this picture depicts the epitome of each of my loves (besides my wonderful husband - can we edit Jared into the picture?) - New York City, Disney, and Tina Fey.
Jared, Scott, Allison and I went to the North Carolina State Fair. We had turkey leg, corn, and lemonade. Instead of getting funnel cake for dessert, we all decided Cold Stone was a better choice.
This year's new menu idem were Krispy Kreme Hamburgers. Shockingly, everyone that we witnessed eating one of these disgusting heart attacks, seemed to really enjoy what they were consuming. I even stopped to ask what was exactly on it. My theory was that if it had bacon and sausage instead of hamburger, then I can manage to see it as not tasting all that horrible. But alas, everyone that we witnessed eating this disgusting form a heart attack, seemed to be really enjoying what they were consuming. It reminded me of Joey on Friends when he ate Rachel's trifle. Donuts: good. Cheese: good. Meat: GOOD.
We had to have our turkey legs. That's a must at any State Fair.
The boys playing their games.
Now here's something you don't see everyday. A Michael Jackson plush toy. Wow.
And this is my favorite part of any State Fair - The Carousel.
I wrote before about my nephew Shepherd working at Gap. I think he should also be a model. My sister (one amazing photographer) just took these pictures of him last week and sent this one to me as a sneak peek. He's the coolest kid EVER. I created these mock ads just for fun. I get so much joy out of being this kid's Aunt Rae Rae. I can't wait to see what his little bro has in store for us.
Yesterday, while Jared was at work, I was picking up things around the house and washing the dishes when my door bell rang. I answered to a blonde haired, soft spoken boy about the age of 8 with a red dolly behind him.
"Would you like me to take your trash out?" He gently asked.
The reason behind this is that our area of duplexes share a trash dumpster that certain occupants such has ourselves have to hike up a hill and walk half a mile to get to. The kid was nervous and from my deducing had probably been told by his parents to go around the neighborhood and has ask each resident if they were in need of some help.
"Wow" I thought. "This kid's parents know what they're doing."
"Thank you so much," I answered, "But I think my husband just took it out."
"Okay." He replied as he turned around to grab the dolly.
Jared arrived home about an hour later, and as we sat down to eat our lunch, I told him what happened. We both thought about the times our parents had told us to do something, and we had thought, "Why in the world are they making us do this!!!" Unbeknown to us, they were teaching us life lessons.
We knew the kid was feeling the same way, but could see in is future a day when he will see someone in need and actually do something about it.
"His dad is going to be a great pastor." I said. We both laughed and continued to eat when the door bell rang once more.
Jared answered this time to two other boys slightly old and bigger than the one an hour before. One of the boys, carrying a frog in a plastic aquarium immediately belted, "We can take your trash out for 50 cents!"
Jared paused and said, "Uh, thank you, but we're good."
"Okay." The kid and his friend took off; Jared shut the door and looked at me with his quizzical look. We couldn't hold our laughs in anymore.
Little did we know we were going to have Danny Akin and then Benny Hinn knock on our door in the very same day.
