Christmas in Denver (Part 1)

Yeah, it's past New Year's Day and I am just now writing about Christmas. I'm late. 

But, like they say, late is better than never!

Christmas was GREAT this year. Garrett and I got lucky and had both families visit us in Denver since we were not able to go home. My family was here for 4 nights that went by incredibly too fast. 

The night they arrived we had homemade chili for dinner and sat around visiting for a couple of hours. I was so excited to see them and especially to see how much my sister's baby bump had grown!

The next day we messed around in the Cherry Creek area, one of my favorites, before I had to go to a stupid doctor's appointment. More on that later. That evening we had dinner at Cherry Cricket, one of mine and Garrett's favorite places to eat in Denver. They have the best burgers and fried mac & cheese! Tip: try peanut butter on your burger next time, it is SO good! : )

The next day was Christmas Eve! The girls spent the day shopping at the outlets while the boy's went to Cabella's and a liquor store. Does that sound typical or what? We all had lunch together and us girls went to do a little more shopping while they headed home. 

When we got home, they were playing Cards Against Humanity. 

My dad won.

Everyone but me was ready to open presents, especially Garrett, and they ended up talking me into opening them that night. I like to save presents as long as possible, because that's the best part! 

That night we cooked the pies, and the breads for the dressing, for Christmas lunch. We also watched Home Alone. That movie never gets old!

After my family went to their hotel, Garrett hooked up his new PS3 and I cooked another pie. We were exhausted but too excited about our new gifts, and about getting Christmas lunch ready, to sleep. Putting that turkey in the oven at 7:30am the next morning was rough.

New Year's Resolution

I'm not usually the type to make resolutions for the New Year. In fact, I think I have only ever made them one time. I posted them onto my blog and then never looked at that post again. 

Typical me.

But this year, or new year I should say, feels different. Something from deep inside is screaming at me..."CHANGE!". 

2013 wasn't the easiest year for me, and honestly, I don't really know why. If I could put my finger on it, I would guess it was all about my attitude. 2013 brought me many more blessings than it did hardships, and I know that there will be years that are much more difficult in the future.  Nonetheless, 2013 has been filed in my head as a difficult year.

I want 2014 to be different. I want to be different.

That voice inside that is screaming "CHANGE" is finally loud enough and I want to listen to it. I'm not sure what all change will mean for me. I'm not predicting that I will become a nun and move to Africa or anything. {Do nuns even live in Africa?} I just want to be a happier, healthier person. I want to be interesting, to myself. I want to try new things and be adventurous this year. 

I want to live for myself.

I haven't decided yet if I want to sit down and do a classic "this is what I want to change/do" list, or if I just want to live my life with the theme of being adventurous, happy, healthy, and living for myself. I'm such a list person, but as of right now I don't even know what I would put on it, I just know I want to be different.

Do you make New Year's Resolution's?  If so, do you write out a list or just come up with a "theme"?

On a different note: I hope you all had a great Christmas, I can't wait to catch up on your posts! I'll be writing mine as soon as I get all of my pictures together. We had a great time with family that went by way too fast!

A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

First of all, I want you all to know that I stole the title of this post from my friend Cece. It fit entirely too well for this post and I couldn't think of anything better. So, Cece, thank you! I hope you don't mind that I stole it.

Garrett and I were on our own for Thanksgiving this year. And you know what? After a roller-coaster of emotions about it, it actually turned out just fine. Don't get me wrong, we both would have loved to have been able to spend it with our families, but we made the best of it.

Garrett recently started a new job with Charles Schwab and only had Thanksgiving day off, while I had to work the full week. A residential treatment center never sleeps I tell ya! Thanksgiving day, Garrett came up to where I work and spent several hours with me. He brought me a "Thanksgiving dinner" complete with a pb&j, Jimmy Dean sausage and biscuits, and Ramen noodles. 

While there, he was able to meet two of the girls that I regularly mentor. They are both really young, 11 and 13, and have been through quite a bit as most of those girls have. The 13 year old was supposed to have gone on a homepass to spend Thanksgiving with her foster family but they never showed up to take her. {Don't even get me started on some of the crazy things these girls' families do.} She was sad but brightened up when she spent time with us which made me feel good. That kid is adorable. I also think she may have had a slight crush on my husband, she started uncontrollably giggling when he walked in. She's a smart girl.

We decided that even though we weren't having a traditional Thanksgiving we still wanted to eat the traditional food, so on Saturday we spent all day cooking and that night had a nice meal to show for it. As well as extremely full bellies. This was the first weekend in as long as I can remember that we didn't eat out even once. This was also the first time that Garrett or I had ever made the turkey and dressing, and it turned out pretty damn good if I do say so myself!

We spent the rest of the weekend watching football and Seinfeld, and tonight we put up our Christmas tree.  I can not wait for Christmas! We will get to see both of our families! Also, I will get to see my sisters baby bump and hopefully feel sweet Kinley dancing around in there.

I hope you all had wonderful Thanksgiving celebrations!

My only regret?

I didn't t take a single picture. 

Also, in case you missed it, here's Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, and Prince William singing Living on a Prayer. Taylor seems drunk and Prince William looks painfully uncomfortable. But, look how pretty Taylor's dress is!

Bear Turns 1!

Well hi there! 

Long time no....see? Read? I don't know. Long time no blog basically.

Annnnyways. I hope you have all been doing great! I miss you when I don't blog.

This past weekend, Garrett and I flew to Houston for a certain little boy's 1st birthday party. My best friend Brittany's son, Bear, turned one and since Garrett and I hadn't even met him yet, we decided we were going.  We got there Friday evening and flew out Sunday morning. It was a quick trip but we had so much fun!

Airport selfie.

Sidenote: This was my first trip to Houston and as soon as we landed, I could feel the humidity. People warned me but I wasn't prepared. I was sticky and gross from the moment I got there to the moment I left. 

Friday evening we all went out to dinner. The restaurant had delicious food and they threw the most delicious rolls at you. Yes, they literally threw them at you. I mean they waited until you were looking, and I guess it was more of a toss than a throw. It was fun and we were in great company.

Saturday was Bear's big day! Brit had been up all morning setting up for the party so by the time Garrett and I were up and ready, everything was pretty much done. We helped set a couple of things up and Garrett went with Zach to get the food. Then it was party time!

Brittany went all out for Bear's party. The decor was so detailed and sweet. The party was storybook themed, inspired by the children's book Good Night, Little Bear. Prepare yourself for picture overload!

My favorite detail of the party. Bear's timeline!

Arriving in style in his new wagon!

Cake time!

Saturday night we all went to Pappadeaux for dinner. It was so much fun to go to dinner with such a big group of people! I have known the Fullwood's for a long time and when my 2 best friends married into the Fullwood family, I was a bit jealous. Two of my best friends are pretty much sisters! But, this weekend, they made Garrett and I feel like family. We had such a great time celebrating Bear's one year milestone!

Brit & Z:

Thank y'all SO much for having us! And for letting us stay in your guest bedroom. And for letting me drink 4893953 of your water bottles. And for listening to me complain about the heat. And for picking us up and driving us back to the airport. And for letting us be a part of Bear's first birthday. And for treating us like family! We love y'all!!