Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree......

Yep that is right our Christmas Tree has been cut down, put in the stand, and decorated!!!  This past Saturday we went to a Tree Farm (Fulton Farms) and cut down our Christmas Tree.  We always get a real tree each year but this was the first year where we actually cut the tree down.  We went with the Harrell Family and froze our butts off but had many laughs too.  Man it was cold, windy, but the sun was shining. 

It took us awhile to find the "perfect" tree because I just couldn't make up my mind.  But like my favorite Christmas Movie (Christmas Vacation) I heard music, sun beams shined down....nah just kidding it didn't happen like that but we did find our tree.  After the men cut the tree down we loaded the trees up and off to lunch we went.  Of course Nathan at lunch and during our Sam's trip is telling me that I have to let the tree's limbs fall before we could decorate.  Yeah that lasted till Gabriel went to bed LOL. 

We decided to decorate after he went to bed to surprise him next morning with the tree.  Last year he had just turned one and the tree had no affect on him.  We knew this year would be different.  Plus Nathan and I wanted one last night as just husband and wife decorating our tree while listening to Christmas music (paused for football scores periodically) and talking about our childhood memories as well as discussing each ornament we hung on the tree.

Next morning, I laid in bed while Gabe and daddy went downstairs for breakfast.  Looking back I should have been downstairs with my video camera because Gabriel screamed TREE!!!!  Then just giggled and had to touch every "ball" ornament within his reach.  Something even more magically happened that morning to.  Nathan told me he is ready to try again for another baby.  Thank you God for helping my husband heal from the miscarriage!!!

So here are some pictures of our experience....the decorated pictures will come soon.

Nathan and Will ready to go be men and cut down our trees

Trees as far as the eye could see

And there she is.....

Yes ladies he is spoken for

We were told that a nest in a tree is said to bring you good luck,

well for the first time we have a nest in our tree.

Oh I forgot to mention that we chopped down a very "special" tree.  Our tree is crooked!!!!  Yes people, she looks like she has been sipping on the eggnog a little to much.  But we still love her anyway and feel like it gives her extra charm.  Extra charm to go with the many holes we are finding once the limbs start to fall....man I honestly LOVE real Christmas trees!!!!!

23 Days and counting

Till Gabriel's 2nd birthday.  I am very excited!!!  Last year we did the Winter ONE-derland theme for his 1st Birthday.  So I started planning back in October what this year's theme was going to be and thought we settled on planes.  However Gabriel's love for Mickey Mouse has taken over as this year's theme.  Truly can't wait till the day of the party and see his reaction.  Nathan says our poor child might die of a heart attack with the things I have planned.

I am also still trying to play catch up with my blog about our trip back home.  However since I have somehow misplaced or more like lost my camera's USB cord, I am not sure when I will be able to blog about our trip.  I am just praying that I find the cord soon so I can upload over 300 pictures to our Shutterfly account!!!

Just a friendly reminder that we only have 32 days till Christmas.  This gives me roughly a week to finish Christmas shopping, wrap, and mail the said presents to family!!

Home Sweet Home.....Dayton, Ohio that is!

Wow!!! 5 weeks have come and gone.  We spent those 5 weeks in TN, MS, LA, and then TX.  We are home now and I am putting off unpacking, cleaning, and party planning (Gabe's 2nd BDay and our Annual May Christmas Party) to catch up on Blogging.  I have had so many things to blog about but I focused on our time back home with family and friends. 

So we are back home in Dayton.  Last night it was fabulous to sleep in our own bed!!  Okay guess I need to get off my butt and help the hubs unpack......

**Shutterfly Update**

I think I was eager beaver about blogging about the Shutterfly 50 Free Christmas cards.  I just received an email letting me know what to Blog about to earn the free Christmas Cards.  So this time I have my information together and let me share it correctly with you all!!!!

You all can read the previous post about Shutterfly HERE.  Now for those of you new to Shutterfly (shame shame - just kidding) there are so many items that Shutterfly has to offer.  Our girl's group is really awesome about hosting Baby Showers and Baby Sprinkles for the pregnant ones in our group.  One of the Baby Sprinkles I cohosted, we used this Invitation - Candy Lacy.  To this day I love this card, so girly and just sweet!

If Invitations are not what you are need how about a CALENDAR for that Grandparent(s) (yes there is a Holiday for Grandparents you know!)  One of our good friend's uses personalized calendars and I love visiting her and flipping through the calendars.  Another friend uses their calendar as a way to record new words their daughter says. 

By now if I still haven't peaked your interest with Shutterfly here is my #2 reason why I love Shutterfly - CHRISTMAS CARDS (#1 is their Photo Books that I give as gifts)!  December is an amazing month for our family.  We were married December 6th, son was born on December 17th, and then we celebrate the birth of Jesus on the 25th.  This year I have earned 50 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly and I am over the moon.  Just on the first page I love this ONE, or this ONE, well maybe this ONE.  Heck who I am kidding, my love for Christmas and getting mail is going to make me take forever to chose just the perfect card........

As I try to figure out which Christmas card will be the May Family Christmas card this year, I would just like to remind you that as of today, we only have 50 days left till Christmas!!!  This gives me a little more wiggle room to figure out which fabulous Shutterfly Christmas card to choose!!  At least I have half of Christmas shopping done.

Christmas Cards via Shutterfly!!!!

Yes it is that time of year to start getting your Christmas Card List together.  I am super pumped!!!  Even more excited thanks to Happy Honeymooners who Blogged about a way to get 50 FREE Christmas Cards from Shutterfly.  Click HERE to sign yourself up!

Those of you who know me know, how much I LOVE Shutterfly!!!!  I use Shutterfly's Online Photo Album to post all of our pictures.  This has been a great way for our family and friends all over the world to see our photos and order any they may want!  Because as hard as it may seem, not everyone is on Facebook you know ;)  Then I also order all of our Photobooks from Shutterfly.  New to this year will be our Family Christmas Cards. 

I haven't had a chance to pin down what Christmas card it will be but it will say Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays.....yeah that is another Blog post for another day.

Happy Shutterfly Shopping for your Christmas Cards!!!!!

MOPS' Bible Study

Over this past Summer I did my very first Bible Study.  The Study was Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David.  The study was amazing.  I didn't make every class but for the classes that I missed, I borrowed the DVDs and made sure to catch up.  I felt a need for a change within myself after taking this study that I decided to do MOPS this Fall and join in on their Bible Study.

However complications with the pregnancy and battling Hyperemesis prevented me from going to the meetings.  But thankfully I bought the book and have been doing the study on my own.  Two days ago I decided to start over because I needed to refocus and have a fresh start.  Before, I didn't feel like my heart was truly into because I was so focused on the baby and trying to get out of bed everyday to take care of Gabriel.

This year MOPS is doing the study The Mission of Motherhood:Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity.  I am praying that this book speaks to me just as much if not more than this Summer's Bible Study. 

From Chapter 1 one of the most powerful sentences that stood out to me was "As important as my role is, and as important as my children are, they are not to be the center of my life....."  "That would not only make for very selfish children, but it could even become a form of idolatry."

I see so many women now a days putting their children first.  Ignoring their husband.  More than anything ignoring their own hopes and dreams.  With this I have been around and witnessed some of the most rudest children as well.  It breaks my heart because I wonder how these children will be in the future with their jobs, own marriages, and how Godly they truly will be. 

Nathan and I want our children to experience the world and have things we didn't have growing up.  However, we truly try everyday to raise Gabriel in a way that when he becomes an adult, he will have respect, manner, integrity, and more than anything, be a man of God.  Shoot, my goal is for when Gabriel goes to school and witnesses something wrong, he will already have many of these qualities instilled in him to stand up for what is right.

Don't get me wrong there on days when Gabe is cranky or asking for something over and over again that I would love to give in but I don't.  I truly believe it is best to set ground rules now and stick to them.  For when he is older and continues to try me, he will know it won't get him anywhere. 

As for my marriage, I know there are days that I neglect it.  I focus so much on being a SAHM taking care of the house, meals, cleaning, and Gabriel, that by the time Nathan gets home I just want me time.  This is where communication is one of the keys to a successful marriage.  To communicate that even though I am a SAHM I still need help so I can have energy to be the best wife I can be.  Marriage is an everyday working process.  I am thankful that both Nathan and I see this.  We don't have a perfect marriage but man it is a great one.  We argue, don't always see eye to eye, but we always come back to each other and work through it.  For both of us want to know each other when our children are off celebrating their own marriages!

Halloween Weekend

What a great one it was!!  Expect for Nathan missing Halloween again for the 2nd year in a row.  As the saying goes "Duty Calls"..........

We kick started the weekend by taking my niece and Gabriel to see Mickey Clubhouse Road Show Live!  This was Gabriel's first Stage show and for the most part he LOVED seeing his Mickey!  However word to all mothers....if the show starts at 12 which is also the time you feed your child lunch, don't forget this important fact.  Gabe started to get cranky and for the life of me couldn't figure out why.  Then it hit me, the poor child is hungry!!!!  Quick trip to concession stands for some French Fries aka Fried Rice by Gabriel and he was ready to rock and roll!!  Again I will post pictures and a short video once we get back to Ohio.  The correct cord to my Sony camera is 900 miles away. 

Then Halloween day.  I have been looking forward to this day for over a month!  I didn't take Gabriel trick-or-treating last year because he was only 10 months old and Nathan was gone.  No way was I doing Gabe's first Halloween alone.  I don't even remember what we did for Halloween.  I think for the first time I shut off the lights and may have went to bed early. 

This year we are with my parents while Nathan is at training.  Yesterday was special because my parents had both of their grandkids to take Trick-Or-Treating!!! Riley was a adorable Dorothy while Gabriel was dressed as a Golfer.  We tagged along with my friend Jennifer and her family.  Just had a fabulous time.  Except that this morning I am scratching my face and arms from dang mosquito bites.....yeah I am in Louisiana!!! LOL

For the most part Gabriel did wonderful!  Couldn't get out Trick-Or-Treat but he carried his "Pun-Kin" and said thank you for every piece of candy he received.  Many people stopped us to say how cute and original he was in his costume.  One lady even asked if I sown the costume my self.  Man wish I could sew!!  Slowly Gabriel became tired from all the walking and a no nap day.  Uncle Sean to the rescue - pulled Gabriel and Riley around in the wagon and made the night end on a great note! 

I only have two weeks left until we go back to Ohio.  I have really loved being home and spending such awesome time with family and friends.  Wish I could pack them all up and bring home with me.  Here are a couple of pictures from mom's camera!
 

Love this picture of my mom and I even though Gabriel isn't looking

and my brother wanted his fingers in the picture.

My very goofy parents!! 

This is what happens when you retire from the

Air Force after 28 years of service - LOL