6 - Wish

Yes, I've FINALLY joined the 'married' club...and trust me when you get into your 30s and most of the girls you grew up with in high school and college are married with multiple kiddos...it becomes a 'club' that you feel you may never join! I know with 100% certainty that this is NOT the case and it's okay to be 30+ and single but some days it feels like you are alone and nobody has ever been 30 and single and there are NO 'good' guys left for you. Again, false. 

It's tough for me to see some of my single girl friends in this same predicament now. We were all single together and it was nice to have each other to lean on. Although, I am now married, I know and they know that nothing has changed with our friendship...yet, deep down I know that it has. I'm one of 'them'. It's hard for me to say "Hang in there", "It's time to move on, he's lame and you deserve so much better" or "The Perfect Guy is out there waiting for you, you just have to be patient". All of those statements are absolutely the truth and all of my single girls do deserve the best...but, it wasn't very long ago that I was there with those same unconfident thoughts and crushed dreams that one more guy didn't work out. 

My wish is that these girls hold their head high. Whether they are 25 or 45, each one of us are a gift from God, created special and are in the stage of life exactly where He wants us to be. There is an amazing guy out there for each of us and God will help the two individuals to cross paths at some point...and when it happens, everyone of us will be so thankful that we waited on Him. God has perfect timing and He always provides exactly what we need when we need it. 

My wish is for my beautiful, amazing, smart, talented, loyal, hard-working, single girl friends to continue to have faith, be patient and know their worth.

5 - Present

My mom loves Christmas...she loves to buy everyone tons of presents! And this year she was determined to buy Brandon and I our first Christmas present as a married couple! She gave us this very pretty ornament with 'Our First Christmas' inscribed on the front. It's sort of like a locket and it opens up with one side inscribed 'Brandon & Kellie 12/25/2012' and the other side open for a picture. We'll have to take our picture on Christmas morning together this year for this perfect little present. Thank you mom!

4 - Shopping

I love to shop. I shop cheaply so that I can shop a lot. I haven't been in the mood to shop much lately...for one, I'm trying to get myself on a budget and two, it's not as much fun to buy clothes when NOTHING fits. I digress. The few times I've gone out the past few weeks, the stores have been crazy busy with people everywhere. It's just that time of year. Well, let's take those crazy packed stores and add in 4 small kiddos. Who doesn't think that sounds like a Friday night to be jealous of!? Be Jealous. Be Very Jealous. 

Brandon and I spent last Friday night with the 4 Lyle boys...at Walmart. We were on our honeymoon and missed their bday party this year so we had to make up for that! And honestly it's become our tradition...I take the boys shopping to pick out their gift and Jeff and Lis get a date night (not sure who benefits more by this, a freebie date night for them or pure laziness on my part to not have to pick out a gift). We started this tradition when there were only 2...who would have thought I'd be keeping this tradition going with FOUR. Ha!! I kid, I kid. It's my choice and I absolutely LOVE my time with these sweet boys. Lisa warned me and asked me not to take on all 4...but I wanted to! They are so good and we have so much fun...and besides that, I'm married now which means I have 2 more hands to help! 

On a side note, picture this. On our way in, we find a little purse with money in it. So, Brandon takes it to customer service while I take the kids and start walking towards the toy aisles. Well, right now my knee/leg is completely jacked up and I struggle to walk at times (long story...and yes, I'm working on getting it fixed). I'm carrying Blake in my arms, pushing the cart with the carrier and Nathan in it, while the two older boys are walking in front of the cart. So, I'm limping, carrying a kid, pushing a cart with another kid and telling two more kids in front of me to slow down and wait for me. It seriously felt like I was one of the 'People of Walmart'. I had several older ladies pass me with THAT look...part feeling sorry for me and part wanting to tell me about birth control. Anyway, needless to say, I just smiled at them and chuckled to myself. 

We got our toys, we bought some cookies for dessert and after the little ones went to bed Hayden, Davis, Brandon and I watched one of Brandon's fav movies...Elf! We had so much fun with them and as always they were so well behaved. Lisa and Jeff have done an amazing job teaching those boys good manners! We will take them to the store any time!!

 Yummy Pizza for dinner and Christmas tree cookies for dessert!

Watching the movie...and sneaking another cookie!

And of course don't forget Angel, if there's a dog around, Brandon will be playing with it! 

3 - Angel

I've posted several blogs about my Granny and her passing this year. It will be a tough year without her here with us for the first time at Christmas. Mica sent me this little letter the other day and it couldn't be more perfect for my family and I as we deal with the loss of our beloved grandmother. She will always be our Angel in Heaven watching over us and although she may not be with us in person...she will always be with us in spirit. 

As hard as it is to not have her here with us...the thought and the 'picture' that this little story gives me is amazing. It makes me happy to think that she is spending Christmas with Jesus this year.

2 - Lights

So, I had completely talked myself out of doing Christmas decorations this year...including no tree! Which is just crazy for me! I justified this by the thinking that I 'deserved' the break after all the recent wedding planning...I'm tired and honestly just not in the Christmas mood...yet. I even considered just getting a small tree for the center of the table or something so I wouldn't feel completely 'scrooge-y'. I know it's our first married Christmas and all but we won't be home for Christmas...and nobody was really going to see it except us. AND next year would be bigger and better in our NEW HOUSE (once we ever find time to actually start really looking for one). So, those were my excuses. 

Until....I get a call from Brandon on Friday afternoon suggesting we have a dinner party for his sales team and their spouses. Ugh. There goes my brilliant idea. Don't get me wrong, I love to entertain...and I love that he wants to entertain them all here. But that means I have to decorate. So, here we go. After putting it off all weekend, we finally make ourselves get it all down from the attic...getting started is the hardest part. 

Tree is up...Lights are on! Now...how much more effort do I have to give....hmmmmm...

Oh...Holy Ornaments!!

Go big or Go home...and there's Brandon putting up the very last ornament. Thanks for all that help babe!! :)

Done! Pretty Christmas Lights!

1 - Par-TAY!!

Wow, it's December! How did that happen?? The beginning of December typically means lots'o'Christmas parties!! Our first one was last night, to ring in the holidays! Mark and Jenna have an annual Christmas party and as always, there was a huge turnout! Everyone comes for a Big Daddy celebration. It's always fun and always a great time to catch up with everyone...and for some, it's the one time a year that I see them. Although I was lame and didn't take any pics at the actual party, here's our one take away from the night...our white elephant gift exchange gift. Somebody opened this and Brandon and I were both like, that's OURS!! 

STOLEN.

Our favorite type of wine...Malbec...bonus that it's from Mendoza, Argentina. Score! And of course, who doesn't want a Justin Bieber CD to go with it?! Gift for Megan! Double Score!