Ghosts of Christmas Card Pasts

I've seen this on a few other blogs where people are showing their Christmas cards from past years. I thought I would join in on this fun trip down memory lane so I can see how we've changed... plus I'm all into Ghosts from Christmas Past as my 7th graders are reading A Christmas Carol right now!

2009- First Christmas as a Married Couple :)

sorry so blurry!

 From 2010

We had two in 2010...can't really remember why...

And now 2011

I forgot to remember in my last post that I did chop all of my hair off! I needed a change and waited until Brooke's wedding was over.

Recap of Turkey Day

This year for Thanksgiving we traveled to Lafayette to celebrate at my Aunt Tish's house with my side of the family. The past two years we have celebrated Thanksgiving at Justin's parents' home. I was excited to see my family and eat 'Our Thanksgiving food.' Justin's family has many great cooks, but to me nothing compares to South Louisiana cookin'!!! My Uncle Chris, cousins Ashley and Meghan, and sister Alycia were unable to make it due to work...so we missed them but definitely ate their share! :P Here are a few photos from a great day of food and family (two of my favorite things)!

The Three Yorkies in our Family- Prissy, Sawyer, and Jolie

Me and Meme Gretta! She is the most precious grandmother in the world!

Brooke, Sawyer, and Meme

Matt, Cameron, and Justin watching football

Alexis, Meme, and Sawyer (he is napping on his Meme! so sweet!)

My baby sister!

Aunt Danette and Aunt Tish making Christmas wreaths

me and the hubs

The newly weds! Ashton, Brooke, and Sawyer

Update....

Whew! Life has been NON-STOP since August...here are a few things that have kept me busy...


My sister, Brooke, had her bridal shower...

Meme, Mom, Alycia, Brooke, Alexis, Me, and Aunt Tish

I started my first year teaching...

We celebrated Brooke's Bachelorette Party in NOLA...

Justin and I went to the Saints game on 9/25/11 when we beat the Texans 40-33. 

Justin and I celebrated our Second Wedding Anniversary...

Justin had these beauties sent to me at school :)

And finally... Alyssa Brooke married Ashton Seth on 10/8/11.

Now...I am enjoying my day off due to Columbus setting sail and finding the U.S. in 1492 by catching up on housework! : p Hopefully, I will be better at blogging now that the wedding is over. 

The Windy City or not....

I'm a little late on blogging lately.... in mid-July, Justin and I took at trip to Chicago. We were looking forward to escaping the scorching temperatures of the South and enjoying northern U.S.'s summertime. Well, during our trip, it was just as hot in LA as in Chicago. :( It was still a great trip to do some sight-seeing and spend time with Justin's sister, Robin, and her family. Here are some pics from our trip highlights!

Justin and I with Sue at the Field Museum

@ the Federal Reserve

Justin checking out the luxury cars

So sad this is dark! This is us at the Cubs game! Cubs won!!! they beat the Phillies!

Toledo Bend

This past weekend we traveled to Toledo Bend to honor Justin's grandfather, Pawpaw Fred, as the LSU Alumni of the Year for DeSoto Parish. 

Sorry  it's a little blurry...I couldn't hold the camera still. He was completely shocked! It was a fun secret to keep!

Justin and I stayed in a Villa on the lake with his aunts, uncles, and cousins....here are a few pics of this fabulous place.

Here are a few family pics of us before the Alumni Banquet

Life has been so busy lately....I'm so glad to be finished with Summer School! Praise the Lord it's over, and I made all A's! :) It seems we have to travel out of town every weekend for over a month! We are heading to Chicago this next weekend, so I will update when I return.

Beach Time!

For the long Memorial Day weekend, we took off to Gulf Shores, AL to get our "beach fix" for the year. There is just something so special about laying out in the sun while you hear the waves crashing against the beach....makes me wish I back was there now! :)
Here are few pics...

Alycia & Me

sister time! :)

hubby & me

I can not forget about my special purchase on this trip...

I have never purchased a 'real' luxury bag. I have had a few really nice knock-offs from NYC but this one was completely legitimate!!! :)

Flowers & Veggies!

I've been wanting to share a few pics of our yard and garden (major thanks to my hubby for all his hard work!)
Prepare for Photo Overload!


Let's start with the front yard....

Now on to the backyard...

My hubby built this new privacy fence himself. :)

This is the first year for us to have flowerbeds in the backyard

Our GARDEN!!!

The first vegetable we picked! I made some yummy fajitas with this bell  pepper!