Where Does the Time Go?!?

I swear (except I really try not to) that Thanksgiving was literally last weekend. No? Oops! I follow a lot of blogs and you'd think that after reading those updates, I would be reminded and/or inspired to write my own. However, it seems that a few months have come and gone and I have yet to update. So are you ready? Hold on tight as this post will cover those months, mainly in photos...

I worked Thanksgiving Day and then we drove to Marshall to spend time with my family. It was beautiful...see?

(I LOVE me some East Texas piney woods!!!)

The following weekend began Christmas party season with our Sunday School soiree at the Klasings. I envy this woman just a smidge. She has an entire storage unit dedicated to Christmas decorations. Literally, every nook and cranny has something Christmas-related in it. And somehow, it's not overdone. I think Brad sweats a little every year knowing that we have to go over there for me to gawk :)

(Most of our small group ladies! Love them!!!)

(Me, Brad and his five o'clock shadow :))

That same weekend, we celebrated our second anniversary. I'm really not sure where the time has gone, but December 6 came around quickly! I have to admit, our second year was much better than the first and I'm hoping that is how it continues :) To celebrate, we ate dinner at a very nice restaurant (the same one we ate at right before we got engaged!) and stayed at a fancy hotel here in Houston. I don't have any pictures, so here is one of my favorites from our wedding day, instead.

I decorated the apartment for Christmas:

(Dining room table decor w/ tree in background)

(No more fireplace, so the entertainment center will have to do)

We held a few CARES events before Christmas day:

(One of our residents is an EXCELLENT cook, so she did a demonstration/class for us)

(Our Gingerbread House!)

We spent time with the Fischers at Mamaw's (Brad's grandmother's) the weekend before Christmas. We got some good stuff from the gift exchange (a steam mop -- the most coveted gift -- and some DVDs) and had fun playing with Callum "ouside"!

We attended a going-away party for one of my dear coworkers. Shannon has beome a great friend over the last few years and she and her husband moved to Tyler (her hometown). I'm a little happy it's at least Tyler because there are possibilities of seeing her when I go visit my parents! She's an awesome person!

(Ashley, Shannon and me)

We then made the six-hour trek to Wichita Falls (after I spent Christmas Eve eve doing ALL of my shopping :)) to spend Christmas Day with Brad's family. We stayed in a really cool cabin (because there wasn't much room in the Litteken Inn), opened some presents and visited with the Darnells and Spurlocks.


The weekend between Christmas and New Year's, I went to Marshall to help host a bridal shower for one of my oldest friends' sisters. We had so much fun! I can't believe she's getting married :)

Me, Miranda, Alissa (the bride-to-be) and Colby

We hope you ALL had a fantastic Christmas centered around Christ and family and that 2011 brings you much peace, joy and love!!!