Labor Day Weekend

I can't believe that it's Thursday and I am just now putting the weekend recap up, ha!

My long weekend was just as I expected it to be...simply lovely!

I enjoyed spending time with my sister, watching my Razorbacks win, and even squeezed in a mini road trip.

My sweet hubby and brother-in-law were working in Jefferson City, Missouri so my sister and I decided to take a mini road trip up to see the guys. Even though it was just a one night trip it was still so nice to see Billy and be able to eat dinner with him...I missed him so much while he was gone! It's the little things like eating dinner together that I miss so much when he is out of town.

We got home from Missouri around 8pm on Monday night, so as soon as I got home it was time to get myself prepared and in bed for work the next day! After a long weekend 6am sure does come early for sure. I have pretty much decided that we should have a 3 day weekend mixed in at least once a month...they are so nice!

Did you do anything super fun this Labor Day weekend?

Simple and Relaxing

We have no big extravagant plans for News Year's Eve tomorrow and I am so excited about it! We will have my hubby's son Nate {who we have every other weekend} so we are planning a nice relaxing evening over at my sisters house, yay!

The boys plan to grill steaks {in whats left of the snow} and we'll have all the fixings...I am so very excited about it! I am not quite sure how the boys plan to grill steaks outside in the freezing temps, but I am sure that they have some sort of plan in the works, ha! I love hanging out over at my sisters house. We always have a super fun and silly time, plus the kids {she has 3 that love to play with Nate} always have fun when they get to get together and play!

I can remember when I was in my early twenties {yikes} and New Year's Eve was always such a big deal. The special occasion called for serious planning of the evening as well as a new outfit especially for that night! We always had a ton of fun, but by the end of the night we were always exhausted from the crowds and all the festivities.

It's funny how things change...when I think back on all the parties here and there and the celebrations that always took place, I think "why did I ever think that was fun?" I feel like I am more content now than I have ever been. I am totally content with just hanging out over at my sisters house and just having a low-key night and I couldn't have imagined that for myself just 6 short years ago. Do you find yourself feeling the same way?

I absolutely love that I am spending the holiday with all the people that mean the most to me. I can't think of a better way to start the new year than with my wonderful husband completely surrounded by family. What plans do you have for tomorrow night? Whatever your plans are, I hope that you have a wonderful time...I am so excited to ring in 2010!

I know that God has a perfect plan for us {and you too} and I can't wait to see what blessings unfold for us in the New Year! I will continue to put my trust in Him because only He knows my heart!

Happy New Year's Eve lovelies!! Let the countdown to midnight begin...yay!

Natalie

Thanksgiving at the Newlyweds

Billy and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year for the first time and I couldn't be more excited about it!

Here is a list of all the yummy goodness that I will be preparing for the big day...

• Turkey. We always buy just the turkey breasts and cook them since we don't have any fans of dark meat in the fam. Did you know that you can just buy the breast at the store...this was at one time news to me and brilliant I might add. Billy will be smoking the turkey this year which I am sure will prove to be fabulous!


• Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. Need I say more? Each Thanksgiving I am convinced that I could potentially have mashed potatoes running out my ears because I have consumed so many, ha!


• Seven Layer Salad. My mom is going to make this one, it's one of her specialties ...it is definitely a Southern family favorite!
  
  
• Cornbread Salad. I've told you about this one in a previous post...another one of my Southern family's favorites and a must have for any family gathering.


• Green Bean Bundles. If you don't know about these delicious little bundles of love, then you are truly missing out. I will pass on the recipe to anyone that needs it, just let me know.


• Mimi's Dressing. I will be attempting this one for the first time this year so wish me luck! Thanksgiving just isn't complete without some yummy dressing {a.k.a stuffing}to go with your turkey and potatoes.
  
  
• Rolls. What better to compliment an entire plate of goodness? I am just not sure that there's a better one, ha!


• Pies. My mom is making some pies to bring and I am not sure which ones she will choose to make, but they will for sure be delicious! I am sure that after dinner when the pie time is prime I will be too full to even think about eating a single piece, ha!

I have so many things to be thankful for...I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband to share my life with and love unconditionally, I just can't imagine my life without him. I am thankful for our families, who mean the absolute world to me. I am also so thankful for our wonderful friends who we enjoy supporting and sharing our lives with. We are so blessed and most of all I am so thankful to God for all the love and blessings that he has given us!

I have a busy evening ahead of me...I am going to get as much as I can prepped for tomorrow. I am so excited about hosting our first Thanksgiving! I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

Happy Turkey Day everyone!

Natalie

It's Almost Time...

I am super excited for this weekend not only because it will be Halloween, but also because Halloween is my sweet little niece Emily's birthday! She is our little pumpkin and such a very sweet little girl...she is such a blessing! Her party is Saturday afternoon and she couldn't be more excited...I think that she has been asking about her birthday for at least the last couple of months, ha!

Remember my sweet little helper?

My precious little Emily will be 3 years old and I can't believe it! I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday...it is so amazing how time goes by so fast! She has the sweetest little heart and can make me melt with her sweet little voice.

I love you Emmy and hope that your birthday is everything that you dreamed of and more!

Hope you are having a great Friday!

Natalie

I've been Working on the Railroad...

My brother-in-law works for Union Pacific and was working his crew last Saturday morning while we were in Dallas. His crew was repairing some rail right under the "big ball" in downtown Dallas! It was so very cool to be right down in the midst of some very serious railroad action!

My sissy and I were pumped to be there and potentially execute some rail repair! To our surprise we were haulted by my brother-in-law {count your blessings Union Pacific} before stepping foot on the tracks, all because of this small infraction...Footwear infraction, are you kidding me? No flip flops allowed on the tracks, huh...I can't imagine why??? We were pretty much over the whole experience as soon as we found out that we weren't going to be able to be right out in the middle of the action. My sissy and I found ourselves perched in the hot Texas sun waiting on the boys (Charlie and my hubby) to get all geeked up on machinery verify that the crew was getting the job done. My sissy and I were so very hot, but were rewarded for our superior art of supervision with a nice lunch date with our hubby's here...I had never eaten at Hard Rock so I was super excited! After we ate we headed back to our hotel to make the trip from Dallas to Allen to hit the outlet mall.

I told you in a previous post that my sissy and I are on a constant laugh attack when we are together. Prime example...take a look at this picture and tell me if you notice anything "different":Not anything too crazy, right??? Just some big high-top tennis shoes...right??? Now look at this picture:Oh my gracious! Your eyes are not playing tricks on you, these are HUGE! These bad boys are size 22's and my sissy and I ran across them at Nike while shopping at the outlet. The shoe was way longer than my entire lower leg, ha! Please ignore the fact that I look crazy in the picture because I was trying to hold back the fact that I was dying laughing! We were amazed at how the shoes didn't quite look as HUGE in the pics until you saw them with my body in the pic as well, ha! Who in the heck wears a size 22? I guess that's why they were on closeout at the outlet, ha!

After a little outlet shopping on Saturday night, we headed out to a delicious dinner at Uncle Julio's. It was super delicious and the atmosphere was great! It was such a nice night out so we ate on the patio and that made it even better! If you are in Allen you have to try it...so yummy!

We made one last trip to the outlet on Sunday before heading home, just to make sure we didn't miss anything fabulous! We all had so much fun together and it was so great to have a weekend getaway with my 3 favorite people. We grabbed some lunch then it was time to make our way back home. Here's my hubby's favorite driving assistant... ha!

Natalie

I'm Going to the Big "D"...

...and I do mean Dallas ladies! My handsome hubby and I are having a nice weekend excursion in Dallas with my sissy and her husband Charlie. We planned a little weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday (it was last wednesday) and we are having a great time! I have some funny stories and some hilarious pictures to share so stay tuned! My sissy and I pretty much have a constant laugh attack when we are together...fun times! I forgot the cable for my camera so I will have to wait until I get home to post some pics.

I am really sad that my Hogs lost to the Tide today, but I'll be ready to cheer on a victory next week for sure. I am glad that the Gators were able to pull out a win against those Wildcats!

Go Gators!

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous weekend!

Natalie

Bless her heart!

Take a look at my big helper! This is my precious neice Emily helping me water my flower beds. She was being so very cute and she said, "Emmie help Natnee water her pretties?" I couldn't resist! She is such a precious little girl, I love her to pieces!
Thank goodness that tomorrow is Friday, this week has seemed so super long to me. I am almost done editing the pictures from the wedding and hopefully I can download them all this weekend. Stay tuned...Happy Friday to you!

Natalie