Sunday, November 27, 2016

Our 2016 Christmas Tree Adventure

Today was the day.

We were going to pick out the perfect Christmas tree for our family.

We ate our lunch and got ready to go to the tree farm.  

We hopped in Old Henry and tired to fire him up.

Old Henry was showing his age though and didn't want to start.

I pulled the Caddy around and jumped the truck.


I returned the Caddy to its parking spot, walked back to the truck and hopped in.

The truck died again.

Caddy was pulled back to the truck and the truck was jumped again.

We made it to the front of the yard before the truck died again.



At this point Andrew decided the truck wasn't going to make it to the auto store.

He pulled the battery out.  

This was adventure in and of itself.



We finally got the battery out and made it to the auto store.


Back home and new batter installed


We FINALLY made it to the tree farm.

We searched and searched.



It was pretty cold out there.

We finally found the perfect tree.




We claimed our tree.


And then they came and cut it down for us.




We brought it home and put it in the stand.

It's a beauty...a tall beauty.



Lights and ornaments to come...

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Thanksgiving Monkey Bread

I had this beautiful vision of getting up early this morning and making monkey bread for my man to take to work for him and his crew.  I prepped everything last night so I'd have plenty of time this morning.

I planned to share with you about the first time I ever made monkey bread.

The first time I ever heard of monkey bread actually.

We had not even been dating two months and Andrew decided Thanksgiving would be a great time to meet each other's families.  He thought we should do it before things got too serious and while the pressure wasn't there

Ummm..things were already serious for me.

And the pressure?  

Yeah that was there too.

Thanksgiving 2001 was the first time Andrew and my family met.  It was very awkward for me having those two worlds collide.  

It was the first time  and only time I ever brought a boyfriend home to  meet the parents.

Sometimes when I'm driving into Batesville I can still picture his little blue prism sitting at the top of Ramsey Mountain where we met that day.

After we had lunch with my family we left to eat again with his family.

I remember meeting each of his family members in small doses - there are a lot of Weavers. :)

But I'm pretty sure this particular event was not when I met them.  Maybe it was. I don't know.

I know I met his dad in Fayetteville.

My first memories of the rest of the family are all in their house and not at Thanksgiving.

I remember Jill making a joke about what seven years of marriage looks like.

I remember all the women in the kitchen cooking together and laughing.

A scene you still find today if you attended a Weaver meal.

Only there are more women in the kitchen now. :)

Anyways.

Back to the monkey bread.

I wanted to take something to add to the Thanksgiving meal.

Now keep in mind I was not a cook back then.

Oh wait.

I'm still not a cook.

When I asked Andrew what I should bring, he said without any hesitation "monkey bread"

I had no idea what that was, but I smiled and said yes.

My momma found me a recipe in a cookbook.

There was no Pinterest back then.

I followed the recipe and made monkey bread, though I had no idea if it was fit to eat.

We drove to Grandma Weaver's house.  I remember feeling like we were driving to the middle of nowhere.

It was a tiny house CRAMMED with people.

Aunt, Uncles, Cousins, everyone....

Andrew and I fixed our plates and weaved through the house and found a spot to sit in the back of the house.

I have no idea how everything was set up that day, but in my mind every single room of that house was filled with tables and chairs.  

I took my monkey bread that day and everyone said it was delicious.

I didn't have any of it myself so I don't know if it really was good or if they were just being kind to the new girl.

Monkey bread may be a weird thing to take to a Thanksgiving meal, but it is what my man requested.

So now once a year  around Thanksgiving or Christmas I make him some monkey bread to take to work.

Today was supposed to be that day.

I followed the recipe just like I did back in 2001, but today it didn't not turn out.

My biscuits just would not cook.

He had to leave for work before it was done.

I gave him a kiss and told him to go buy him and his crew some chicken biscuits from Chick-Fil-A and tell them all I said Happy Thanksgiving.

I told you I'm still not a cook. :)

Monday, November 14, 2016

A Winter Getaway

I've been thinking about our trip to the Carolinas a lot lately.

We had such a good time.

A week away to forget about work and infertility.

A week away to sleep in, hold hands, and laugh together.  

It was such a care-free week.  

I've missed that feeling and I've been craving another get away like that.  

Time away to connect with my husband without a million distractions.







I guess I'm not the only one feeling like that because last week Andrew suggested a winter vacation right before Christmas.

I immediately began dreaming of warm destinations..Hawaii, New Zealand, maybe a cruise.

All the while Andrew was dreaming of Middle of Nowhere, Montana where the high is only 28 degrees.  

Not exactly on the same page.  

But then he sent me this picture...


How cute is this little town?

He said the words fireplace and skiing and all of the sudden I was on board with this wintery destination.

He's good at that....

Making anything sound like a good idea.

Even freezing my tooshie off in the middle of nowhere.

So now I'm having fun finding clothes that might keep me from slipping into a hyperthermic state.

Like these matching thermals for instance...



Knowing us there will be thirty other ideas discussed before we actually embark on this getaway.

But that's okay.  

Half the fun is in dreaming and planning together.