you know, santa claus and ho ho ho, and mistletoe and presents to pretty girls

We're back! From traveling the globe, it seems. More like traveling the great state of North Carolina. It was great seeing the families and having time to spend with everyone, but we're thankful for a few days at home before I start back to work on the 4th. Here's a recap of our travelogue, in case you're interested (which you're probably not, but you need something to read while you're here):

Christmas, pt1: Concord. LOTS of great food and sweets and movies and presents. I love it each and every year that I've been a part of it.

Christmas, pt2: Black Mountain. More great food, some lingering snow from an old storm, wrapping paper fights and laughing, laughing, laughing with the family I've come to treasure over the last 23 years

Christmas, pt3: Youngsville. Tag-team dinner with my mom (which I love!) and a perfect, cozy little time with the Johnson clan. Complete with the Christmas tradition of my dad (read: Scrooge) adorning the Santa Claus hat and passing out presents. Deep down, I'm pretty sure he hates it. Deep deep DEEP down, I think he loves it.

Some bad news that I'm going to get through quickly, to keep myself from drowning in it:

1. World's worst haircut happened today. Major recovery tomorrow, which I fear might take off several inches. Hopefully we can make it cute and I won't cry over it. Lame, I know, but I'm sure you ladies understand.
2. Andrew broke his toe. A piece of firewood landed on it yesterday at just the right angle to essentially snap it in half. And turn it crooked. Not cute. That means no OCS on January 24. We're off to the orthopedist tomorrow to talk about details/options/healing time. Blah.

See, Page! Not bad at all...

Love to you all. Hope your season was bright.

merry christmas eve!

We got to the Castrodales' house yesterday evening and have been enjoying all of the Christmas festivities imaginable since then. Christmas tomorrow, Black Mountain on Saturday for Round 2, and Youngsville on Tuesday for Round 3. I love it!

I was thinking this morning that I love all of the Castrodale Christmas traditions that I've been a part of for the last few years: a Christmas movie the night we arrive, baking and cooking and baking and cooking, spending ALL day opening presents, getting dressed up for dinner...it's all so precious to my little sentimental heart. And I decided that I'm ready to start planning the traditions for our family. When little baby Castrodale decides to make an appearance, I need to be ready - agreed?

1. Read the Christmas story before bedtime on Christmas Eve. My mom always did that for Tyler and me and I've always looked forward to doing that for my own kids.
2. Spend the ENTIRE season bakings various deserts. Especially the cookies I made last night, which Andrew named "Christmas Spirit Cookie." DELICIOUS.
3. Watch a Christmas movie every night (ambitious, I know) from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day.
4. Let my kids be Secret Santas to needy families in the community.
5. French toast for breakfast on Christmas Day (we're stealing that one from Mrs. Castrodale, per Andrew's request)
6. REALLY cute Christmas PJs for the little ones. Of course.
7. Ideally, I would love our kids to enjoy a house full of family - hope you all are willing to travel to where we are :)
8. I need a traditional Christmas dinner, but I haven't settled on one yet. Suggestions?
9. Lots of apple cider.
10. This one's my favorite: Andrew takes the babies to pick out a Christmas tree. I stay back to have hot drinks and fresh cookies ready for their return. Then we decorate the tree and watch a movie. And, hooray! the season has started.

I hope you all are enjoying your traditions. Merry Christmas!

tis the season...to ramble

And to be uber busy, but to take in every single second.

Andrew and I just finished wrapping our Christmas presents. Let me set the stage: lights are on, Christmas candles are lit, we're in our "jingle jammies" and we just finished some apple cider. I'm all about making memories with every single cliche activity you can think of. I love it. My favorite part about the Christmas scene in my house right now?







My mom gave this nativity to me for Christmas last year and I almost cried. I spent about half an hour getting it set up JUST right and every time I look at it I'm sweetly reminded of how precious that moment must have been to Mary. I love it.


Tomorrow, both of our families are coming over for a celebratory Christmas dinner. I'm so excited to host it and even more excited to have a way to thank our families for what they've done to get us to where we are. When Andrew found out that he was accepted into the Navy, I felt like I needed to call 5o0 people and personally thank them for their involvement. Seriously - couldn't have done it without them. If you're reading this and you're related: couldn't have done it without you.


Also, on an unrelated but kind of related note, every time I see that Hallmark commercial where the girl gives her mom a card and says "we couldn't have made it through this last year without you," I think of my mom and how true that is for me and I cry. EVERY STINKIN' TIME.


Anyway, the families are coming over. I'll give you details later and maybe even some pictures if you're lucky. So I'm a little anxious about preparing, but mostly excited. Rudy, however, is thrilled.



Can't you tell? There's our boy - snoozing off and on in the corner. Ya'll, we LOVE that dog. What a blessing and joy he is. He seriously loves us like you would not believe. Every morning when Andrew lets him out of his crate downstairs, the first thing he wants to do is come find me. So he runs upstairs and looks all around (even though I'm always still in the bed) and when he finds me, he lays his ears back, wags his tail like a maniac and jumps up to lick my hand. Love it. So cute.


Not sure where this is going or where I meant for it to go. Just something for you to read in case you were tired of checking in to the same post. New Years Resolution: blog more.


Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.