Birthday Fun

My birthday celebration began last Saturday when Locke bought me a ring from James Avery. It features a garnet which is my birthstone. Showing off my new ring, we went to dinner at TGI Fridays and I had my favorite dessert...the Brownie Obsession!

Sunday night we had a snow storm and Williamson County was kind enough to cancel school on my birthday :) In fact, I didn't have to go back to work until Friday because of icy roads!! It was a welcomed break and made my birthday week even better :)

On Monday, my actual birthday, Locke and I went to the movies. We saw True Grit; I enjoyed it and recommend it. Then this past Saturday we took a day trip to Lynchburg, TN and toured the Jack Daniel Distillery. It was a free tour and very interesting! After the tour, we walked around the downtown square of Lynchburg and visited the little gift shops (but no Jack Daniels for sale, because it's a DRY county! Ha!) Then we had lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House where we waited for the 1:00 dinner bell before being seated at a large table with several other dinner guests and enjoyed a yummy family style meal. It was a great day!

Locke standing in front of the natural spring that provides all the water for the distillery.

Locke and I posing with Mr. Jack Daniel himself! (He was only 5' 2" in real life... they added a few inches to his statue!)

On the Lynchburg downtown square.

After returning to Nashville, we met up with several of my friends to celebrate my birthday and Brooxie's birthday at Taco Mamacitas!

It was a wonderful birthday week!!

Merry Christmas

        Locke and I arrived in Richardson on Wednesday evening after a long twelve hour drive from Nashville. Poor Locke had to drive the whole way with a carsick dog and sick Vicky along for the ride. I went to bed early shortly after arriving and woke up Thursday morning feeling much better... just a 24 hour bug! Thursday was a day of grocery shopping with Mom. Then we went to dinner at Silver Fox with my family to celebrate my mom's belated birthday (December 13). After dinner, Locke and I met up with Melanie and her boyfriend, Bill, at Sherlock's in Dallas and enjoyed chatting and catching up.

        Friday was a day filled with baking and napping. Then we had family over for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of yummy tamales, queso dip, homemade guacamole, tortillas, rice and beans. After dinner we went to church and then to bed with visions of sugar plums... except for my mom who stayed up till 1:30 a.m. still baking.  

         Christmas morning my grandparents came over and we enjoyed coffee and apple turnovers before the gift extravaganza began. For two hours we took turns opening gifts from Santa and family. Then we took our traditional family photo amongst the Christmas wrapping and boxes.

          Now everyone is relaxing (except for mom who is still baking and cooking!). Later today we will have around 20 people over for a big Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

 

Garth Brooks

Locke and I enjoyed a night out at the Garth Brooks' Nashville flood relief concert Monday night. It was so much fun! Trisha Yearwood joined him for their duet and then sang a couple of her own songs.

We had such a great time... even from our our 3rd level nose bleed seats. :)

Let is snow!

It's our first snow in the new house!

View from the backyard

Abby taking a little stretch in the snow.

Deck the Halls...

Tonight Locke and I decorated for our first Christmas in our new house. :) I love unwrapping each ornament and all the memories each one brings. I look forward to the memories each new ornament will hold years down the road.

And check out our new book shelf we bought last weekend at an antique store on the way back from Albany, GA.

Let's eat!

We bought a dining room table and chairs! It's from Merridian. 

So now we have plenty of seating for all of you to come over for dinner.

Giving Thanks

Locke and I have enjoyed visiting with his family in Albany, GA this Thanksgiving holiday. We arrived in Albany Wednesday evening after a long drive from Nashville with stops at an antique shop or two (at my husband's request...really!). Thanksgiving Day we enjoyed a delicious feast prepared by my mother in law. The Hunters, Ronnie and Barbara, Phillip, Jeff and Jenny with Macy and Madison joined Locke and I, Laura and Bobby, BF and Marilyn. We ate outside; it was a beautiful day! So much for which to be thankful!!!

In following tradition....Friday morning began with 4 am shopping for me (I got some great deals!) and then I met the rest of the gang at Pearly's for breakfast. After a delicious breakfast, we went over to BF and Marilyn's and then enjoyed a trip to Old Mill Furniture where we found a possible dining room table and a piece of furniture for the foyer. Friday ended with another delicious meal prepared by Laura.

Today Laura and I went shopping (yes, I was braving the mall again... and again found some good bargains!) while Locke and Bobby went to see a family friend's new hunting cabin and his bird dogs. Then we went back to the furniture store to take some measurements, but I still can't make a final decision on the table or the piece for the foyer. Hmmmm....

We spent the rest of the day relaxing, bike riding, playing cards, and visiting (oh and of course eating another yummy meal made by my mother in law :) ).

Tomorrow morning we'll head out early so I can get back and get some work done to get prepared for Monday.

All in all it has been a wonderful, relaxing vacation. The only thing missing was my family. I love you Mom, Dad, and Michael and missed seeing you and the rest of the family this Thanksgiving.

I have so much for which to be thankful! God is so good. I am overwhelmed.