Valentine's Day 2013

Lou and I are not huge celebrators of Valentine's Day, but for Christmas I had bought him tickets to a concert in Nashville that happened to be on V Day.  I had not really heard any of the songs of this band, but was going to go to spend time with Lou.  

Well, the day before Lou called me and said he had free tickets to the Preds game.  I asked him what he wanted to do since they were his tickets, and he said he would rather go to the hockey game!  WOOHOO!!!  Not that I didn't want to go to the concert, but I was so excited we were going to the game instead!!  

(Even before we met I had gone to Preds games, but it had been years since I had gone, 

so once we started dating, I was excited to start going again!!) 

I met Lou at work that afternoon and we went to one of his favorite stores, and then went to eat at one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Nashville.  

We went to park the car and had about 45 minutes to kill, so I took a quick nap in the parking lot - Haha!!

Our seats were way up in the nosebleeds, and I am excited to have free tickets, but being up that high makes me so nervous.  I don't feel good about standing up and cheering when they score, so I usually just sit there and watch.  I know I am a chicken.  

Well, we went in and thought we would try to get our seats upgraded and to check about getting some engagement pictures done in the arena with the ice down.  Well folks, they put us 6 ROWS FROM THE ICE!!!!!!!!!  OH MY WORD!!!  Lou kept laughing at me because I was just staring at the players during warm-ups.  There are some good looking hockey players!!  It was just so cool to be that close!!  I will admit it was a little harder to see the whole game and my neck got a workout, but we were so thankful for the opportunity to sit so close!!

Mike Fisher - Carrie Underwood's Husband

Pekka Rinne at the goal!!

The Face-Off

Lou and me :)

We had a great time and excited to go again soon!!

Also, I told Lou that I wanted to buy him a new hockey sweater and get his name and favorite number on the back.  He told me not to, but he does so much for me and I wanted to do this for him, so I told him he could pick out which one he wanted and what he wanted on it, or I would have to guess and that would probably not be good - haha!!  

Here is what he picked out and I love it and he loves it too!!  He even bought a new shirt to go under the sweater.  It looks so good on him, and I am just happy to be able to do something for him!!

It was a great day all around and I could not have asked for a better Valentine's Day - even though we don't really celebrate the day - haha!!

My 33rd Birthday!!

Yes, I am well over a month late on posting about my birthday, but better late than never...
My 33rd birthday was on a Wednesday, and I get to work at 6:15 am on Wednesdays!  I made sure to get up and curl my hair so I would attempt to look cute, and I think I did - haha!!

On Wednesdays, I get off work around 11 so I headed to the restaurant I have been going to on my birthday for years!  Mom and Lou met me at the Franklin Chop House!!  Nothing fancy, but I love going there and it has become a tradition for me :) 

I went over to Lou's after lunch and took a good nap - another birthday tradition for me :)

Lou gave me my birthday present and I am SOOOOOO excited because he gave me tickets to see ELTON JOHN!!!!!!!!!  He is coming to Nashville in April and I am pumped!!  He is on my bucket list. 

The day after my birthday I went to dinner with Ashley and Miss Lyla and we tried a new Mexican restaurant and we ended up going on Trivia night!  We almost won!!!!  It was fun and we plan on going again soon!

All in all I had a great low key birthday.  Just the kind I like :)

Christmas 2012 - Part 2

After Christmas Eve Communion, the family headed to my parents house

(Lou was not with me because he had to work on Christmas Day).

I'm not sure when it started, but we have eaten finger foods for Christmas Eve dinner for as long as I can remember.  It is my favorite meal!!  We have turkey sausage balls (my bro-in-law is allergic to pork) and they are actually better and less greasy than regular sausage balls.  We also have a veggie tray (I stay away from the raw veggies), cheese dip with Rotel and tortilla chips, pigs in a blanket, and I can't remember what else, but it is always good.  We all eat and then usually hang out, but my aunt and uncle were there so we exchanged gifts with them :)  It was so good to have them because they were here for Thanksgiving and then moved down here a few weeks ago!

My sister and her family started a tradition a few years ago and they make Christmas shirts for their pajamas.  They boys could not wait to put theirs on and they looked so cute!!!  They pick a theme each year and this year was snowmen!!

The boys took Legos and on one added a Santa hat, and took Ninjago Lego snakes and taped them to two Lego men to make reindeer.  Creativity at its best!!

B put bows on T's rear end.

Santa stopped by!!

B with his HUGE Lego set from Santa!

My sister got a banjo.  We are in for some fun!

Part of the Monster Fighters Lego set. 

Lou and I at Opryland Hotel for Christmas Dinner with the family!

B and T with the finished Lego project!!  B was so proud!!!

Santa had to do a few flyovers to make sure the boys were asleep and they were so excited it took them a while, but they finally drifted off and Santa made his stop!!  The next morning the boys were so excited!!  We all opened presents and then hung out until it was time to get ready to go eat!  We have gone to the Opryland Hotel for years to eat on Christmas Day and each year we enjoy eating the food and sitting in the middle of all the decorations!  Since Lou had to work, I picked him up when he got off and we met the rest at the restaurant.  There were 12 of us who ate this time and every year the number is different, but we still have a great time!!

Once we got home we pulled out some games and had two groups of people playing.  It was a relaxing night and just a good time all around!!

It has been a great Christmas season and I am ready for what they new year has to bring!!  

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!!

Love,

Elizabeth

Christmas 2012 - Part 1

The Sunday before Christmas, Lou, Jake, and I headed to church and then to my parents house for a Christmas lunch!  We also exchanged gifts for Lou and Jake with my family since they would not be there on Christmas Eve or Day, and it officially started the Christmas rounds :)

On Christmas Eve, I was up bright and early to head over to Lou's grandparents house to open gifts with Lou, Jake, and Lou's grandparents.  I made my normal stop at the Sonic to get my drink, and then headed to Lou's!  They made breakfast and as we were eating Jake was jumping to get to open his presents!

Bright and early!!  I called my mom and she had not even woken up yet!!

My addiction.

I sent this to Lou to mark that I can be on time and even early :)

Jake about to tear into some presents!

Lou's grandfather watching Jake! 

Lou smiling as Jake is handing out gifts.

Jake and Nannie

Beautiful surprise from Lou!!  Has earrings also!

Lou and Jake

Lou and I

My surprise!!  He does good!!

 That afternoon I headed home and took a short nap before heading to Christmas Eve Communion at my home church with my dad, sister, brother-in-law, and nephews.  Mom stayed home to finish up our traditional Christmas Eve "dinner".  I really enjoyed the service and was so glad that I went this year!  I just realized that we sat in the same seats we sat in every Sunday!  We were the preacher's family that sat in the back row - haha!!  Good to see faces I had not seen in a while :)

Part 2 coming up next...

Love,

Elizabeth

Christmas at My House 2012

I LOVE to decorate my house for Christmas!!  I kept collecting things over the years and unless I buy or build a new or bigger house, I am set with decorations for a while :)  I love bright colors and plates and platters, and ball ornaments!  Here are some pics of my humble abode...

Above my fridge

Little space of counter top

Larger view

Love my towels!!

Corner of counters

On top of cabinets

Lights off view

Nook at top of stairs

Corner display shelf

This went on my table

On TV armoire - says Merry Christmas!

My tree!!!

Right now everything is put away, except for my tree.  I keep it up until the 12 days of Christmas are over and I still have time to really enjoy just looking at it :)  I feel like it gets busy before Christmas and I don't really have time to enjoy my decorations and how it reminds me of Christmas and all it brings and means to me.  Great memories!!  Hope you enjoyed my tour!!

Love, 

Elizabeth

Pictures from Thanksgiving 2012

I'm a little behind, but I wanted to document it so now is as good a time as any!!

I try to take some pictures every year at Thanksgiving, but not always the best ones, but here are some from the day and days after!  I take horrible self pics, but I liked my hair that day :)

Happy New Year!!

 

I am so thankful I have been blessed enough to see another year!!  

 Last year had many ups and downs...

Downs:

I lost my job

I did not get another full-time teaching job

I gained weight

UPS:

I GOT ENGAGED!!!!!

I painted my kitchen, living room, my bathroom, and closet

I started teaching Pre-K and love it!

Joined the Y

Started another new job

Went to Disney World

Went to Charleston, SC

Yeah, the downs were pretty significant in terms of income, but God always provided!

I want to start 2013 being more positive.  It is so easy to be negative, and I don't want to live that way.  I didn't really make any New Year's Resolutions, but here are things I would like to do in the coming year...

Get married - I'll accomplish that one :)

Blog more

Of course lose weight

Exercise more

Cook more - bought a Crock Pot and I am excited!

Read the Bible more

Go to church on a regular basis

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

Easy enough I think :)  

I have had a wonderful Christmas and New Years - spending time with my family and my fiance and his family.  Ate really good food, and surprisingly didn't gain any weight.  This was my last Christmas as a "single lady" and it was bitter sweet, but I am excited to start new traditions with Lou and Jake!  I can't believe that 2013 is already here and I know it will be filled with fun times and learning opportunities.  I want to make a name for myself and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  A POSITIVE difference in one person or many people's lives.  I truly believe that one person can start a chain reaction and there is so much good amongst the bad and the good can win!!  

I hope each and every one of you (since I sometimes wonder if I am the 1 - haha :)) has a wonderful year and strives to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

Love,

Elizabeth