Christmas Ornament Exchange

I am starting a new tradition...hopefully it will turn out great enough for a tradition. I am hosting my first Christmas ornament exchange on Sunday after December 7th. Some of the family thought of the idea, and since I love hosting parties I knew I would have it. I am totally new to all of this so I might need some ideas of yours..ok ok.

First thing is first....I will be decorating my house for the next couple of weeks. I am dragging out all my decorations and I hope to be totally done after Thanksgiving. These means the inside and out. I want all my decor done long before th party

Second..the food?? I am unsure to make a big pot of chili with plenty of sweets or appetizers and sweets. There are so many ideas but not sure what people will want at the party. It will start around 3 and end whenever the last person leaves. This means it can run into dinner time. I was thinking Chili with all the fixens, some vegetable pizza for appetizers, some chips and dip, and plenty of desserts....is this too much?

Third..plenty of Christmas music in the background. I have some of my favorite I will be playing

Fourth....I purchased a second smaller tree to hang all the ornaments. Not really sure how this all works but I want my tree on display so we don't get the ornaments mixed up. So I suppose everyone will place the ornaments on the small tree (just for this party)and we will choose off that tree. I am guessing we will draw numbers for ornaments. This is still a bit fuzzy so I need yoru suggestions?

Fifth.....the drinks. Wine, coffee, and whatever else we can come up with. I know the sister is supposed to make some festive drinks but I will need a couple more ideas. Any christmas drinks out there??

I will pick out some pics tomorrow of ideas I have, but for right now I need some feed back. Come on...I know all of you creative people out there.

I need .......

....... to give myself a girls day/night out. I need girls around me who make me laugh till I cry, girls how know that my wine glass always need to stay full. I need to be able to gossip with the best of them and just let all my inner feelings out!

.......to learn to conserve money better. Lately my money has just been flying out the windows, being spend on stuff I want and not need.

.......to deep clean my house..I mean really get organized. I think its the beginning of a winter slump. All spring and summer I am more into cleaning than I am in the winter.

.......to wake up in the mornings with a smile on my face. Again, this winter slumb leaves me feeling bumbed some days. My life is not that bad, I have it great actally!

......to finalize my christmas list. I want it all done and wrapped way before the christmas craziness sets in. I am not a last minute person, I need my ducks in a row.

.......to make a hair appt. My roots are showing badly and I need that 2 hours of down time.

.......to play with my puppy more!

.......to trust more, I am having trust issues with a friend and they don't know it really. I feel as if I am giving them all my trust.

.......to stop telling you things I need because I could go on and on

Ok this was fun, kind of venting a little but fun! I got it from here. Take a minute and do it, and let me know if you do :)

Already time for Christmas lists and list....

and lists. I can't believe the time has come to start making christmas list. A list for everyone I have to buy for. A list for myself. A list for my budget ( I am always bad at this). Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas time but can't believe it is already that time. However, I am putting up decorations within the next couple of week. I know its waaaayy early. But it takes so long to get my decorations up, maybe I decorate way too much, but I just can't see putting all the effort into it for only a couple weeks. I am ready. I am ready to decorate the inside of my house. We wont decorate the outside until after Thanksgiving but the inside will be done soon.

So pack to the list...I can't think of anything I need/want. Last year I wanted a new camera and that was my big item and I got that.....this year, nothing. I have one thing on my list so far.

1. Ugg Boots. With it being this cool already this winter I decided I had to have a pair.....and I talked my sister in law into getting a pair with. ( I wasn't sure if I could pull them off?)

Yep thats my list so far?

Anybody else have a list already, I need ideas!!!!

My Adventures in babysitting

As you know, this weekend Nate and I got the privelage of keeping Cooper all weeknd. I picked him up on Friday afternoon and we did some serious shopping. Ok , not serious at all. I picked up some things for him at Target and picked up some light groceries. It was soooo chilly on Friday night that we ordered in food instead of dragging him out in the wind ...burrrrr.

Saturday we were up early ( it was actually nice for once because I got plenty of stuff done before 8:30). Then we headed to visit Great grandma and grandpa. They were happy to visit with him and spoil him.

Saturday came with a sad loss too.......my brothers dog was put to sleep. We had no choice in the matter and it had to be done. Tyrus was his name and he was 8 years old. Ever since my brother left the military 5 years ago Tyrus has been living with my mom. He was such a great dog and lived a great life. He will be sadly missed by all....I shed some tears for him on Saturday!!!

Back to happier times, Sunday we took Cooper to church early. It was fun getting him all dressed up in his big boy jeans and taking him with us. He is such a character these days. Always laughing and smiling and really keeping us entertained!!!! We enjoyed him so much. We actually will have him tonight again. One more night before his mom comes home to see him!!! Tomorrow is Veternans day, a holiday for us, and since I am off I get to spend the day with Cooper, and wait for everyone to arrive home :)

I will return on Wednesday...it will be nice to have a break on a Tuesday!

Oh the Joys of being an Aunt!

I hate our family all being spread out, my dad started it. My dad took a job with the company Traylor Bros. (building bridges) around 8 years and has been traveling around the states every since. Then my oldest brother thought he would indulge in the fun and he moved with my dad leaving my sister in law and kids here for us to spoil. Then a couple weeks ago my baby brother took a job with dad moving him across the states too. Yep, all the men are down south working. Well this weekend my mother, sister in law and the two oldest kids will be going for a visit.

Wait you say, I know there is a third kid in their somewhere....Yep cooper (3 months) is staying the weekend with Aunt KK and Uncle Nate.

We are going to have so much fun with this little guy!!!! We can't wait!

Although, I hate to miss a trip :( I am sooooo upset that I wont be going on this 4 day adventure with the family. We have so much dang fun together. I will be calling everyday and they will be rubbing it in on how much fun they are having. BUT, I will have Cooper with me so we will be having just as much fun. I will have to just wait till Thanksgiving, thats the next time I will be with the whole family :) Gosh I miss them.

So have fun mom, sister and kids and Cooper will be in great hands! We have adventures in mind already..and if he is a little spoiled when you get back, dont' blame it on me??

I know he will miss his mommy but I will take plenty of pics!

My first!

I have never been tagged...can you believe it?? I know...me so blog popular (this is a joke) have never been tagged till now. Thanks Newlywoodards, I appreaciate the tag. I am supposed to tell you 7 random things, which is odd b/c I feel like my whole blog is sheets of randomness. But anyways..here we go!

1. I can't stand to be cuddled, touched or so much as breathed on at night. I know, I should want to cuddle up with my husband b/c thats what girls always want, Well I am not that kinda girl. I want my own covers and I like my own space. This goes as far as lying on the couch as well. Just don't touch me and we are all happy

2. I am very outspoken and this can get me in trouble a lot. I dont' know when to hold back and when to speak my mind. Sometimes this is a great quailty and other times it gets me in trouble. I get this trait from my daddy. My mother is very reserved and never speaks out, my father on the other hand seems to be more real. When someone hurts my feelings, or causes someone I love pain I tend to tell them about. I speak about what values I hold dearly, politics or anything that can lead to discussion. I love a heated disucussion over religoin or politics....I love to argue and I love to speak my mind. But I am doing better...I have learned to control my tounge b/c my husband says I should do better!!!!

3. I am scared of my own shadow. I live in the country now and I wont go outside after dark unless Nate is with me. I know...grow up...if Nate is away for work, I stay at my mom's.

4. I am never completely happy with the way my hair is. The color the cut..doesn't matter, I am never happy. I often compare my hair with other peoples and think what is wrong with mine. I want to die my hair dark all the time but never do. I was born a blonde and I guess will always stay a blonde but envy all the burnetts out there

5. I don't function in the mornings at all....dont' talk to me or call me too early b/c I will be oscar or have no idea what we talked about. I dont' do well until I have my caffeine in me. On my way to work I fill my coffee cup and have my down time and I am great after 8!

6. I get a giggly feeling all inside me when I get comments on my blog. This comes from me loving people...really...I know I speak my mind but I love making new friends. You can never have enough girls who understand you.

7. I only make my bed when company is coming over. The husband doesn't care if its made so why should I? I know, I try to do better but I just can't get myself to make it.

Ok, I know these are far from funny or even anything slightly attention grabbing but they are random and thats what I was supposed to do. And I am supposed to tage 7 people so here we go:

Three Ladies and a Dad

Michelle

Andrea

Lindsey...you may have just done this??

Glamorous Housewife.....pretty sure you have been tagged already!

Whitney

Kristal

Thanks for doing this gals!

Ghost and Gomblin.....or Flappers and NBA Stars

What a great weekend...I hope everyone's was just as fun. I have lots of pics but wont bore you with all of them. Friday I trick or treated with the niece and nephews. It was a lot of fun..probally more fun for me than the kiddos. Here is Rageddy Ann and Andy!

Red Hot chili Pepper Cooper!!! Isn't he just a Gerber baby?

kailee and Cooper enjoying halloween!!!! And this next picture cracks me up....Liam...who does he look like in the pic?? Wizard of Oz maybe...the minituare people!!! hahah

Here is Aunt KK getting some quaility time with Ann and Andy

NOW for the Adult party on Saturday night. Nate and I decided not to dress up as anything matching...we both just did our own things. So Thursday evening I picked out a flapper outfit. It was a cutsie outfit and the wig I wore through people off for a while. Now Nathan's outfit was great, he chose to be a NBA player and he really played the part. We threw his outfit together last minute but it was fun. My sister in law was a cutsie cocktail :)

Here we are at the party with hunter Annah.

The host of the party Kim and Lee...they were headed to the Kentucky Derby...isn't this clever?

Every good Jockey needs a horse.....here is Kim and Lee's racing horse/dog Bently

We had a great weekend as you can tell!!!