Blessed

We're so blessed. We have spent a wonderful few days in Nashville with family. Dad, Brandon and I got up early to go run the Boulevard Bolt on Thursday morning. I got to see my best friend Beth, who caught us and ran on ahead around mile 3. So good to see her. When we got home, Jess was still feeling sick from the night before, so Dad and I took her to the hospital because she had a bad stomach bug. After some good IV fluids, we were home for a late Thanksgiving lunch with the fam. The ENTIRE fam on my mom's side. Lots of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, cream corn, green beans, homemade rolls, and too many desserts to name. It was good to see all my cousins and their wives and especially my grandparents. Then, between naps, we watched the Cowboys game of course and my family pretended to care as much as we did- another big win for Romo! After all the extended relatives left, we did lots of shopping and catching up. I got to see another of my best friends from highschool, Grant, for a few minutes. We went to see The Blind Side, which was AMAZING and I would highly recommend it. Jessi and her boyfriend Jonathan were in heaven because it's all about Ole Miss, their favorite team ever. It was so nice to get to just relax and talk with my family. That's Brandon's favorite thing about our family, that we are all totally ok with just relaxing and catching up on life. We also got to spend some good quality time with Matt and Ashley, our surrogate big brother and sister. Jonathan got to be there after Jess got over the pukes, and we finally got to meet Allie's boyfriend Blake. Saturday night we watched Home Alone (Brandon's favorite Christmas movie by far) and put up the Christmas tree as is the Black family tradition. So fun. We had such a good visit. And they loved Bailey- she actually behaved pretty well. Despite all of the table scraps Mom and Jess kept slipping her (against Brandon's will), Allie became Bailey's new favorite because she gave Bailey a brand new Christmas outfit. Here are a few pictures I took from the weekend...


Jessi and Allie, miss yall already!



My wonderful family + Jonathan


Allie and Bailey in their matching Christmas attire :)


My goober bear

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for.

Cold!

Well, it got COLD last night. I walked out to leave for work this morning and was definitely not prepared for the bitter chill! BUT the good thing is that I can now start to get in the Christmas mood. Luckily for Brandon, we still have to get the room finished before I put up the Christmas tree. Otherwise I might have already broken down and decorated with everything Christmas. That's something I've been looking forward to since we bought this house in June. Putting up an actual (artificial) Christmas tree in our home is so so very exciting for me.

Tonight was a wonderful evening. I actually cooked dinner and Brandon got some work done. And I got to cozy up by the fire while watching Dancin with the Stars. Other than coming down with what I think is a yucky sinus infection, life is pretty perfect.

Flying By

Life has just been crazy. And we've been exhausted. It's been tough to just take time to slow down and enjoy life amidst all the stress of work and life and short days. But even though it's been getting dark wayyy to early, it's been GORGEOUS outside and we've loved every minute of the pretty fall weather. Weird that it's mid-November and we still haven't broken out our heavy coats. I don't know that I've ever been as ready for winter weather as I am this year- it just doesn't feel like the Holiday season yet. As always, I have been a little homesick this fall, thinking of the gorgeous Tennessee trees and wishing I could have carved pumpkins with my sisters. But every time I start to get down about it, it seems like God reminds me of His purpose. Dallas has really been a wonderful home for us that we never really expected. Brandon and I feel so blessed to be where we are surrounded by the friends we have. God is so faithful, and it's hard not to be satisfied by His presence when you look outside at the changing leaves, even in Texas:) Here's a picture of the little tree we planted a couple months ago in our back yard, now changing colors- I kinda think it's bringing me a little piece of TN every day.



Soon I'll update a little more on life. We started remodeling the dining room this weekend. It's a wreck right now, but I hope to have it ready soon to put the Christmas tree in the front window. Other than work, sleep, and tearing down wallpaper, we've been filling up our days getting together with friends, trying not to get too sick, fishing, football games, Brandon doing some freelancing, running with Bailey, watching Grey's and Brothers and Sisters (my newest addiction- I LOVE it), and doing a little early Christmas shopping:) We're looking forward to seeing family for Thanksgiving in a couple weeks. Maybe the Cowboys can get their act together before then. Brandon was more than just a little upset today at the game. Hope everyone had a good relaxing weekend!!!

Halloween Weekend

Brandon's family came in this past weekend, and we had such a fun few days with them. His parents live in Atlanta, so we always cherish the time we get to spend with them. Kim and Philip even got to come in town to hang out. We did some shopping and cooking and football watching, but mostly just relaxed and caught up with each other. It was fun being able to have all of Brandon's family in our new home. I really love nothing better than cooking and laughing and relaxing with family. I just wish we all lived closer together! It wasn't a very long visit, but we had fun. We got a few pictures of the dogs playing...

Bailey and her cousin Baxter, the best of friends. They never stopped playing.


Bailey dressed up as a turtle for Halloween- so funny.


Trying to control the ferocious snapping turtle


This is the pretty wreath I made on Sunday with instruction from Brandon's crafty mom :)
Happy Fall!!! Hope everyone had a good weekend, I know we did!