Baltimore, Baby!

My Ravens won! Sweet. That was an intense game. I do like the Titans, but not when they're playing my Ravens. Way to go Joe Flacco and Ray Lewis. You guys are trains. Woo hoo!

Merry Christmas!

We wanted to show everyone what our house looked like this Christmas! This is a picture of our tree in the living room. I love this tree because it has all of our ornamnets that we've been given over the years. I love putting it up because we get to remember each person and circumstance as we put the ornament on the tree. It is a prelit one Aunt Susanne gave us last year. I used to think the prelit trees were kind of cop-outs, but after having one, I recommend it to everyone! It is awesome. Nobody likes putting lights on the tree, but yet they are extremely important. So you work for hours. This way, we just fluffed the branches, put on the ornaments (the fun part!), and voila! I love our tree. And I guess that's good, because we probably won't take it down until March.These are our window clingons. Byron loves these. So much, in fact, that he wanted more of them this year. He's so cute! And the cool thing is, he got them! Martha, a youth at our church, made her own window clings and gave us some---we put those on the bathroom mirror...so cute! I will take a picture of those later!
This is the tree in the dining room. It is our houses/musical ornaments tree. You see, my Aunt Susanne started me on the Victorian House series of ornaments at Hallmark in 1985. I have a house for every year since then, plus all of the special anniversay ornaments that they've made. So we decided to display them all together. I love this tree! This year, Aunt Susanne, Mom, Byron, and I went to Hallmark after Christmas, and I saw this "world doorways" ornament. It was the second in the series. I thought it would be an awesome addition to the houses I have, because they all celebrate front doorway decorations in different countries around the world. So, Aunt Susanne started a new series for me! And she found the first doorway on ebay! So, now I have Germany and Mexico! I love the idea of these, because they're something I'll always have and I can pass them on to my children! Very cool. The first picture is at night, and the second picture is during the day so you can see it better.

This is our last tree. It's in our bedroom--it's the "I Love Lucy" tree. I love "I Love Lucy," and so everyone has given me different "I Love Lucy" ornaments throughout the years. I think they make a really cute tree. This is Byron's least favorite because it means he can't get to his side of the bed. He has to crawl into it from the foot of the bed, but I think that's a small price to pay for cuteness.

I really hope the New Year brings you great things and brings you closer to God. That's what I'm hoping for myself. I'm hoping to slow down enough to enjoy all the blessings around me--to spend more time with my family, friends, and my husband. To travel to places I love and places I've never been (this is one of our favorite things to do). And most importantly, to come to know and love God more every day, and to be faithful to Him as He has been to me. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! I love you!

Pictures from Florida--finally!

Check out the waves! The first day we were there they were amazing!

Those of you who know me won't be surprised that the above picture features birds! They're just so cute! There's no telling how many bird shots I have!

Ah, Florida! The way life was meant to be!

Look at what the crazy waves washed up! No getting in the water today! We could also see big sting rays floating around in the water. This day was spent on the shore--we got to watch a beautiful sunset!

Grr! Byron is looking very manly.

Me laughing, because we are at our third Timeshare Seminar since we've been married. I think we have the word, "Sucker" written on our foreheads. Actually, I'm also laughing because we just signed Scott Turner up to receive phone calls from the timeshare place in order to score ourselves a travel candle. Sweet!

In case you haven't been to the whole timeshare extravaganza, one thing you should know is that, even if you keep saying, "no," at the end, you'll get free stuff! We got two $50 gift cards to restaurants--one of them being this one! YUMMY! It was right on the ocean! We also get to come back for a three night vacation later this year!

We even match and everything!

As you can see, we had about as much fun playing with our food as we did eating it! Can you guess whose meal is who's?


An absolutely perfect day at the beach! I read a book and napped in my fancy chair, and Byron worked on his Sudoku book. In between, we took swims in the Gulf Waters! They are so beautiful!

Here's our Big Red made out of white sand! We wish we had a red towel!! We'll only bore you with this one picture. I think we have like 30. Seriously. Big Red with Byron, Big Red with Susie, Big Red with Sea Gull, Big Red with little surfer dude....well, you get the idea.

Watching the sunset is one of my favorite things to do! Very romantic!

This is the other place we got the $50 gift card to--thank you Wyndham Resorts!

For dessert, they served make-your-own smores! This is a great idea. So fun and so yummy!
Getting ready for a moonlight stroll on the beach! We saw a heron and a sea turtle, but the pictures are too dark to show you!

Another beautiful day!

We went to lunch at a beach restaurant called the Back Porch--you could go in your swimsuit! Here's a picture of our chairs from the Back Porch!

On our way home, we stopped at one of the National Beaches--we saw lots of cool things. The neatest thing, though is what we didn't see (trash, etc.). It was a great ending to our trip!

You can hardly see it, but in this picture is a white (albino??) crab. So awesome. If you can't make it out, just know it's there. Trust us.

We had a great time! Next time, join us! :0)

The Weather Channel

Now, I love the Weather Channel....but today they are not my friend. It was supposed to be sunny all day today and tomorrow. So, naturally, we were so excited about getting up, eating breakfast, and going to the beach all day! We got dressed for breakfast, and walked out the door to CLOUDS and COLD! Did we teleport back to Kentucky? Anyway, I hope they're right that at 12 today it will be ALL sunny! Oh well, regardless, we've relaxed, eaten well, and enjoyed each other's company. What more could we ask for? :)

Fall Break 2008, Baby!

We are here in sunny ---er, partly sunny---Florida! Destin is awesome, and it's fixing to get moreso, as the sun is beginning to shine! We've taken some pictures, but can't upload them yet....but here is one from the internet that will give you a taste of what the Emerald Coast is like! By the way, if you're ever travelling down this way around this time of year, ask for the "Emerald Coast Special." It saved us $20/night at our hotel. Which, now that I mentioned it, Hampton Inns are wonderful....really sweet rooms and an excellent smorgasboard (i love that word) of breakfast food!! Anyway, here's a picture! We'll be seeing you! :)

Go TOPS!

We're here in Lexington for the WKU vs. UK football game! Woo hoo! It's double the fun, because we get to see my Aunt Susanne who lives up here, and also my brother David and his girlfriend Bhavini! Plus, we get to watch football live (instead of on our couch), and in Commonwealth Stadium. The last time I was in Commonwealth Stadium was for the Bluegrass State Games back in the day. I'd like to give a shout out to my "Salty Dog" relay team--especially to Bhavini, because you're the only person who would ever possibly read this!

Anyway, we are having a great time already! Today, we're going to Joseph-Beth, the best bookstore in the whole world, and then to Ramsey's (my mouth is watering already--their corn is AMAZING!), and then to the game.

So, go Western!! We know you can do it! We've got the team! We've got the steam! For this is dear old Western's day!

That man of mine...

Wow. It's been forever since I've written here. Lots have happened, but then nothing's really changed. Funny how life happens that way. We went and looked at houses in Franklin yesterday. For the first time together, we looked at the inside of a house and dreamed a bit. Not that we could ever afford that house, and not that we have sold our house yet.....but because we just wanted to think about the possibilities! It was so much fun! It's in Foxchase, a new subdivision in Franklin, and it's super cute! And it has lots of cabinets and drawers....these are things I've come to really appreciate!

The purpose of my writing today is just to say how much I love my husband. He is the most wonderful gift from God! I prayed for him specifically for about 7 years before we ever dated--and he was more than worth the wait. He is a good man--he loves me despite me being unlovable a lot of the time. He appreciates the way I love him. He does the dishes and does a lot of other things to help around the house. He is amazing. And he keeps me laughing! We have a great time, and I love him to pieces. Just wanted to praise him aloud and loud--This is my "I LOVE YOU" from the rooftops!!! :)

Hopefully the next blog won't be too long in coming!