Favorite Posts from 2014

Yo. So a lot happened in 2014.

Peaks and valleys and everywhere in between, although I have to say that this year was mostly peaks. Like, I keep waiting for a piano to fall out of the sky on to my head... but let's not jinx ourselves here.

I started this blog in the last days of July this year. It was something that I had wanted to do for quite some time, but just thought that I couldn't do it. So firstly, I would like to say Thank You.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting and supporting me in this adventure! I thoroughly enjoy sharing our little slice of life with you all, and love hearing your comments and feedback. You guys are the bomb. In the words of Joe Dirt, Keep on Keepin On!  \\m//

Here are my favorite posts from this first year of blogging, in no particular order. Hope you enjoy!



Silver Lake because it was my first post and my first trip to the dunes.

 

 

 

Part one, part two and part three or our kitchen project. It was the first major project that we completed together and we made it out alive! We're going to start ripping those top cabinets out in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned!

Bear Lake, Colorado where we spent a day of our honeymoon hiking and took pictures of the beautiful scenery...and a hungry chipmunk :)

Competing at a recent Arabian show at MSU Pavilion for the first time since I was a little girl.

Remembering this weekend full of fishing, bonfires and friends.

A DIY corn swag how-to because it helps me remember what sunshine feels like.

 

And the weekend that we blazed a giant trail in the woods out back.

It's been so fun to be able to look back on the posts and see pictures, remembering everything that I otherwise might forget. Looking forward to the New Year and new posts to come!

Thank you all for your support. I hope you ring in the New Year safely and happily!

Happy Holidays

I have the next four days off of work I am just so excited to be able to relax and spend this Holiday Season with our loved ones. I'm wishing for lots of laughter and new memories. Whatever the Holidays may entail, I hope you enjoy them!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

 

 

Gingerbread Houses

I slept like a rock last night...actually, I'm pretty sure it was a sugar-induced coma.

 

The culprits? A couple teenage girls and gingerbread houses.

 

Kelly's sisters came over and we watched movies, ate popcorn, and got crafty. We built the houses using chocolate graham crackers and hot glue, which Honey was very upset about because, "How am I going to eat them if you hot glue them together?!"

 

We watched a few different movies, but my favorite was Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas. Kelly's mom has been talking about it we were finally all able to watch it together, it was hilarious. Madea is one funny lady.

Nicole made hers have a barn roof- and how cute is that little flower box?

 
And Allison's (yes, another Allison- we go by Thing 1 and Thing 2) gumdrop roof and necco walkway- adorable!

His grandma had been at his mom's house helping to make candles and when they were finished, they came over to visit.

You can't see Kelly, but he is sprawled out on the couch next to his mother. See, he likes to gripe and complain about the chaos- having to hook up the DVD player for us, moving the kitchen table into the dining room, us making a mess with all of the sprinkles, the dog's stinky breath while he's begging to be pet, his mother and grandma stopping over when all he wants is peace and quiet... but really, it's all pretend. He loves it. He had big manly plans to be out working in the pole barn, or upstairs wrapping presents, but where do you think he was all night? On that couch, watching movies and hanging out with us girls.  He gets all of the attention from all of the ladies in his life. He gets to pick on all of us and in return, we pamper him. And we just laugh because we've got his number.

When I took the girls home on my way to work the next morning, his mom sent me with a warm, fresh baked loaf of beer bread and homemade jam to share with the office. I tell you, between three of us we had that loaf gone before the end of the morning. Isn't that horrible? It was so yummy.

Christmas Traditions

Hello Lovelies :)

Today I wanted to talk about Christmas traditions.

My younger sister was born on Christmas Eve morning when I was just three years old. My grandma stayed with me during those days and nights while my parents were at the hospital, but luckily they were able to come home on Christmas day. I thought my sister was the greatest Christmas gift ever. On the home video from that day, we are all surrounding the tree in the living room, toasty in front of the fire. Mom would hand me a present to open, but then partway through my new baby sister would make a little peep, so I'd drop the gift and go look at her. Then I'd go back and continue to open my gift, but she would peep again and I'd run over to her. Needless to say, we sat in front of the tree just a little bit longer that year.

Once we got older, my parents wanted to make it a little more special so that her birthday didn't get lumped into Christmas. When she was old enough, they made a big deal about putting on a fancy dinner and she got to choose whatever she wanted for dinner. What did this little girl choose? Crab legs. Crab legs and artichokes. She's always been a high roller. Mom would get out all of her Chritsmas china and fancy silverware, we'd set the table in the living room- the living room with white carpet that we never ate or drank in (or walked in for that matter). Friends and family would come over and it was 'Happy Birthday', not 'Merry Christmas'. We'd have dinner, play games and watch sister open gifts after cake and ice cream. She was so sweet because after a night of it being all about her, she would let her other sisters open a small Christmas gift before going to bed.

I remember a few years of going to church and singing carols. I always loved it because I got to hold my own candle while we sang. Honey laughed at me the other day when I told him that I used to go caroling with our church when I was younger. I loved it! I wish people still went caroling. I mean, people are probably thanking The Lord that I'm not caroling, but it was fun!

So that's our tradition that has carried on steadily through the years. Mom's house on Christmas Eve for crab legs, prime rib and artichokes. We head home with full bellies that guarantee we're asleep when Santa comes.

As young girls, on Christmas morning we'd get up and run to the family room to open our stockings. After stockings, we ate a breakfast of French toast, then waited for grandma to open our gifts together. A couple years ago, mom broached the subject with us girls about trying a new recipe for Christmas morning. It was some egg casserole or something crazy and she was met with a resounding 'NO!' from all of us. Think we like to stick with our traditions?

When Kelly was younger, his family always watched 'It's a Wonderful Life' together. Then on Christmas day after opening gifts, they would make homemade pizzas and spend the day together.

I'm so very excited that we get to make these memories together now! I have a four day weekend and look forward to doing nothing but spending time with our friends, family and loved ones. 

We were watching a reality show called 'my obsession' the other day and they had a guy who celebrates Christmas every. single. day. Everyday.

Do you have any special traditions? Do you travel anywhere? Or maybe you stay home and drink too much eggnog? Whatever you do, I'd love to hear about it!

Overnight Visitor

The other day while sitting at work, my cell phone started ringing. I see that it's Kelly calling and when I answer, I hear "I JUST CAUGHT A LIVE ANIMAL"!

Of course, my response what "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAUGHT A LIVE ANIMAL?!" I'm thinking....a deer? A raccoon? A rhinoceros?!

A pigeon. A white homing pigeon.

Isn't it sweet? There was a band on each of it's legs and one included a phone number. When honey called, an older gentleman answered from a town about 30 miles away. He explained that the bird had probably been released for either a wedding or a funeral (and we always thought they were romantic white doves) and that he'd really like to come pick up the bird, but he wouldn't be able to get to us until tomorrow. Imagine Kelly's enthusiasm at an overnight guest? 

These pigeons are trained to always find their way home, but sometimes a hawk or falcon will go after it so the poor bird gets all off track and tired- hence the reason that Kelly was able to walk right up to it and catch it.

Since he was still at the farm working, he put it in a live trap with some corn and a little dish of water. The big black barn cat was hungrily eyeing the bird, so he hung the trap up in the rafters with some rope (this poor bird, I'm telling you).

He brought the bird home where we put a little fluffy grass in there for him, then left him in the mudroom for the night.

When the gentleman came and picked him up from the farm the next day, the self-proclaimed 'city-boy' was blown away by all of the farm equipment, so he exchanged numbers with honey and is going to call next fall for a ride in the combine.

After a little research, I found that the common pigeon is actually a type of dove called the 'Rock Dove' so, technically, the pigeons they are releasing really are doves. Romance is back.