A whirlwind, yummy, holiday!

Ok. So everyone & their mother must be trying to post a new entry on their blogs because I'm having issues with the posting tonight. This entry doesn't have pictures because I tried to upload them twice with no success. I wonder what's going on....maybe someone in all of my pictures actually was too big of a file size for my blog! :)

Anyway, I guess I will post my text tonight & do the pictures within the next couple of days, so check back.

Kyle & I had a wonderful Christmas break. I didn't have to work for 9 WHOLE DAYS, which was awesome. I also entered the world of facebooking, so if you are on facebook, look me up.

We left for Ohio the Saturday before Christmas and stayed for a week. It was a blessing to be "home for Christmas." No snow this year.

On Sunday we celebrated Christmas with the Collins side of the family. We had a White elephant gift exchange, which was fun. The really funny part was that my mom had actual "junk" that you would give in a white elephant exchange. Everyone else had pretty good stuff. Maybe the saying "one man's junk is another man's treasure" is true this time around.

On Monday we got ready for Christmas Eve dinner. I helped Kristen deliver the traditional homemade cinnamon rolls to all local aunts, uncles, & cousins. Grandma & Grandpa came over for Christmas Eve dinner. Mom made a delicious meal as usual. This year it was beef burgundy & shrimp scampi...yum!

Tuesday morning we had Christmas with mom, dad, Kristen, Tim, & Julie. Kyle & I were silly & purchased gag gifts at the dollar store for everyone as stocking stuffers. We then enjoyed the rest of Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa's house with all of the rest of the family. Grandma made her homemade noodles & mashed potatoes, which are my favorite. All of the cousins played a game called "Things" to wrap up bonding at Christmas.

Wednesday we hung out in Piqua & went to see Alvin & the Chipmunks with my family. I guess there is nothing else to do in Piqua, so everyone & their mother was at the mall. It was so crowded in the theatre that we had to all sit separately to see the movie, but it was still fun.

Thursday was our "Lima day." We went up to Lima where I visited my old workplace & co-workers, then we went to a party to see our church friends.

Friday we did some more shopping, eating (we ate well the whole trip), ended the day by seeing National Treasure with my family. This time we all got to sit together at the movie, yippee!

On Saturday we had lunch at Bob Evans on the way to the airport and then we came home to Texas.

I'm not sure what feels like home yet. Piqua will always be my hometown, but hopefully Texas will feel more like home as time goes by.

Pictures to be posted tomorrow. Happy New Year 2008!

Our Charlie Brown Christmas Decorations...

When I purchased this Christmas tree at the dollar store 4.5 years ago when we were first married, little did I know how much use this Christmas tree would give us! Over the past 4.5 years, we have managed to accumulate many ornaments through various gifts, ornament exchanges. After this year I am going to officially declare that this will probably be the final year for this little "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree.

I'm so excited to actually have a fireplace and mantel this year! When we moved into the apartment, one of the first things I thought about when I learned that it had a fireplace was the excitement at being able to have a place for our stockings. (I know, I'm cheesy & traditional when it comes to holidays, but this is who I am). :)

We did upgrade our stockings this year. My favorite stocking is the one for Pepper. I wonder if has been a good enough dog to deserve an extra dog treat? We'll have to wait & see what Santa thinks.

Thanksgiving in Texas 2007

After being in Ohio for the past 3 years on Thanksgiving, it was a blessing to be able to be with our Texas family this year. (Even though we missed our Ohio family very much! I guess we always miss whatever family we are not with at that time).

A blessing about Thanksgiving in Texas this year is that everyone was able to come, even cousins who live in Los
Angeles who don't make it home very often!

As for the weather, I think that God does have a sense of humor because it was pretty cold (40-50s) on Thanksgiving Day. And, by later in the afternoon during the Cowboy's game, it there was SNOW! It didn't snow as much as Ohio or accumulate on the ground, but I do think that God wanted me to have a taste of home.


During the evening on Thursday, we got together with Grandma & Grandpa Herd as well as Amanda's parents at Billy & Paula's house to celebrate with this side of the family. Later in the evening we played some serious games of skip-bo, which is always fun.

Hope y'all have a blessed rest of your weekend! More
pictures, etc to come in the next few weeks, as this is a busy time of year. Take care!

Pepper's Fall Haircut

Kyle & I always think that Pepper looks hilarious when he is freshly groomed. We are pretty cheap and don't like paying lots of money for the groomer, so we get his hair cut as short as possible. (come on, Pepper's haircut is more expensive than the new place I found for my own hair!) And no, Pepper and I don't go to the same place, for those of you who are thinking that thought. :)

We kind of think he looks like a mixture between a chihuahua and yorkie. So I guess he will be a chorkie for the next few weeks until his hair grows out.

For the second picture, it is really hard to

get Pepper to pose for the camera, so we act like we have a treat, which will keep him still for a few seconds.

So for those of you who have been asking about Pepper, here is his new hairdo! He definitely misses his family in Ohio, especially his cousin Buddy the dog.

A successful new haircut!

I know it might not seem like a big deal to all of you guys out there, but to a girl finding a new hair stylist after you move is very difficult.



Today, after months of looking and looking, I had success! I ended up calling the place I went to randomly this morning and there happened to be a cancellation, so I was just in the right place at the right
time. The place also wasn't too expensive, which I am happy about.

I'm not sure whether I'm still growing it out or not. But for now, this will do!

So for those of you out there who have been contemplating getting your haircut, I say go for it!