Christmas! and LOTS of pictures...

Here I am, barely awake at 7:00 pm on the day after Christmas, and I am EXHAUSTED! We had such a busy few days and I am now going to recap them for you. :)

On Wednesday I went to work (boo) and then we headed out to Joe's parents' house for our Christmas with them. It was also his brother's birthday so we celebrated two occasions in one.

Chris and his Frosty cake!

My sweet MIL

Rhonda and her Pooh Bear.

Joe loved Pooh too I guess...

Then on Thursday, some of our church went to Wayside Christian Mission in Louisville to help out for a few hours. Wayside provides presents, clothing, and food, and even shelter to people in Louisville who have nowhere to stay or can't provide presents for their kids for Christmas. It is a really great thing. I didn't take any pictures so I had to steal some from my mom.

My aunt, Susan.

Sorting clothes...

My cousins, Alan and Will.

Thursday night we went to the Shafer's house. The Shafers and the Voelkers are two families that my parents have been friends with for years. We all used to go to church together. All their kids grew up together, and we try to get together around Christmas time.  The youngest of all the families now is Caleb, who is one, and he was pretty much the center of attention for the night. Forgot my camera for this one too. .. :)

Me, Anner, Emily, Bree.

Caleb and his train.

He had the cutest PJ's!

Friday was Christmas Eve and we did Christmas with my family that morning, after going out to breakfast. We were going to go to Joe's mom's family's Christmas that night, but it snowed and we didn't want to fight the weather. Joe and I ended up seeing the new Narnia movie instead, and it was awesome!

Bree showing off her stocking.

Mom and season one of Glee.

My Harry Potter blanket!

Joe's UK jacket.

Dad opening some shoes I think...lol.

Emily's Snuggie!

Yesterday we spent the day at my aunt Susan's house (my dad's sister) like we always do. It was a lot of fun, we had a big breakfast, played some games, read the Bible, opened presents, ate again, and left. There has been so much eating going on...

My pretty sisters.

<3

My parents...Dad looks sleepy lol.

My grandma with my cousin Sarah.

We draw names on this side of my family and my granpa got my name. He thought it would be funny to give me $40 in quarters as my gift...ha....ha...

A picture of my grandparents on their wedding day. So sweet!

My sister in her new hat.

Today (the last day of festivities) we had church and then my mom's family came to my parents house for our Christmas with them. My cousin, Maddie, was the center of attention at this one.

My cousin Jake and my mom. It was Jake's birthday too.

My grandma, my cousin Jennifer, and Maddie.

Joe being lazy.

My grandpa, my aunt Donna, my mom, and my grandma.

My dad and Maddie.



Needless to say, after all of these festivities, Joe and I are WORN OUT! I actually fell asleep in the 20 minute drive from my parents house to home. It has been a crazy but rewarding week. And let's not forget the reason we celebrate at all - Jesus. He is the reason for the season, and without him I would not be anywhere close to where I am in life today.

I am going to go watch Prince of Persia now. :)

December....

I really feel like I have nothing to blog about. I guess it's because most of the people that I follow or read about have kids or are about to have kids or something of the sort and I am not in either of those categories right now. Sometimes it feels like other things going on could not be nearly as important as blogging about kids.

Anyways I decided to just talk about what has been going on because my life, albeit baby-less, is still important!! :P

Joe and I both finished up our semesters officially last week. WOOHOO! Joe had one Masters class and received an A (of course, overacheiver...) and I had five undergrad classes and received 2 A's and 3 B's. Which is pretty awesome considering how crappy I did my first two years of college and that I also worked a full time job this semester. I'm amazing.

Also, next semester I will be undertaking SIX, count them SIX classes whilst working full time. And two of them will be in the classroom, whereas I only had one in the classroom this semester. It's going to suck, but I know in the end I will be so proud of myself. When May rolls around I will have completed eleven classes in ten months. :) Working full time and going to school full time is hard, but I am so blessed to still be able to work full time and to have the job and the bosses I have. They are so understanding and work so well with me! It's great to know that for as long as I can work full time, I will be able to. I was worried I would have scheduling conflicts.

What else what else....oh I got a new camera which is fabulous and I have been taking pictures of anything and everything to showcase its glamour. It is seriously wonderful. In fact, here is a picture of Joe and I at my work Christmas party, taken with said camera:

It's great!

Anyways Christmas is in exactly one week and I am nearly done with shopping, I just have one more thing to buy for my youngest sister. My mom and I braved the chaos of the mall today and I was exhausted afterwards! Shopping is hard work.

I think now I am going to go enjoy this month of December (and lack of classes) and finish the UK game with Joe by the fire. Did I mention I LOVEEEEE winter???

:)