'Tis the Season

Merry Christmas to all...

We started the Christmas season just right, we bought a big tree for our den, put up the new white tree that Bryan gave me for my birthday in our keeping room and worked very hard to make our garland stay up around our fireplace, thanks to my mom it stayed for the whole month, who knew that thumb tacks were so strong...

Bryan was so good to put up all the lights outside so that by Dec. 8th we could have our tree out front lit, like everyone else in our neighborhood. It was so nice to be reveling in the Christmas spirit, I was sort of contemplating how I would approach the Christmas cards this year, Baylee is not really the child to sit for ANY extended period of time for me to take her picture, so I decided to try and take some photos, if you scroll to the bottom you will see how we started off, but if you got our card this year, you will know that eventually after 20 or 30 shots we finally got the perfect one! Then... Bryan volunteered us for the Kinard family Christmas party, which was fine, I like to entertain, but you always have that "fear" of family coming over, "what will they say about your house" will they think its clean, pretty, or just fine!" But, needless to say, I worried for nothing and the party went off with a hitch, I will say that having 6 to 7 seven children in your house all at one time, will definitely make you rethink the number of offspring you decide to produce! But enjoy the photos, we did have a nice time and the chinese christmas always makes everyone laugh, our family does it every year and there is always a gift that no one can believe someone brought! (Sorry Jimmy but the sausage is always THAT gift!)

Baylee explaining Santa's reindeer route on Christmas Eve!
SScott opening his gift, not sure what it is..

Timmy and Gurnie checking out his gift!

Jan helping Lane open his presents...

Baylee loving her bath flutes, she may go to Juilliard on a bath flute scholarship

What!!! Another gift?

Talking with Uncle Jamie and cousin Alison

Thomas, Maggie, Gracie, Reagan and Kyndal

Everyone helping themselves, the food was amazing... we always have everyone bring one or two items, so, NO I didn't cook it all!

This is the picture that Baylee picked out for our card, if you received one, you know her vote was vetoed!

Holiday parties!! Merry Christmas y'all!!

Holiday Market "Mix and Mingle" Preview Party 2008

I must admit that this is one of the most fun events that the Junior League puts on every year, and maybe a teeny tiny part of why I joined, I love the Holiday Market and it is so much fun to prepare for. This year, Lynn and I helped to decorate before the preview party and it was so nice to walk in and feel like you pitched in. It is a black tie event and all proceeds are donated, it really is nice, this year the Sensational Epics played and the decorations were so beautiful!

We always pre party at Dianne's on Devine and we usually don't afterparty and its a good thing, because Baylee woke up in the middle of the night to do a little cartoon watching, but nevertheless hope you enjoy the pics!

Getting ready to go...

Mommy and Daddy

Baylee and Mommy

Bryan and his little girl!

Lynn, Rachel and me

Clint and Bryan "silly boys!"

Cyndi and Me

Bryan and Ken

The Vervettes!

Me and Stephanie

Cyndi and her girlfriends

The Long's annual Christmas Bash 2008

Yes... it is that time of year again, where everyone that works for Long's Drugs, Long Term Care and well just anyone who celebrates that company comes out to the annual end of year stress reliever at the Marriott, and every year to our amazement some hilarious event occurs that we all talk about for the next year and can't wait to see what happens at the next party! I swear this party just takes the cake for blowouts! We always have so much fun here, this year they had Tokyo Joe play and the food was amazing and yes... I did have a martini from the frozen ice block, so cool! Anyway, I won't go on and bore you with the details, but I will say that my flash on my camera worked a little too well and yes,. I do actually go outside during the year and no... I am not as pasty as the photos show, so keep that in mind and I won't care if you look at the pics!

Merry Christmas y'all!

The Christie's or Christi's

Me and Bryan

Beverly and me

The Roofs, Lee and his wife

Me and our favorite babysitter, Miss Whitney

Ken, Beverly, Bryan and David

Bryan and Lee

Me and Tanya Roof

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving at the Causey's 2008

Aunt Jane and Uncle Jamie relaxing after their meals!

Mrs. Causey, Grandaddy and Marilyn

Aunt Laura and Aunt Carol

Picking out her toys for Santa and making sure Daddy understands which ones are most important! :)

Baylee and cousin Lori clipping their coupons for shopping the day after Thanksgiving!

All the Causey men and Baylee! She loves their attention!

Showing Uncle Red how to use his cell phone

Baylee and Mommy taking their own photo again!

Hellooooo Baylee boo!

Baylee the Handy girl!

New kitchen - Finally!!

Goodbye forever....

We renovated our kitchen and yes, it was a nightmare but well worth it! I have a new floor, lights, appliances and well, just a new whole being!! I love it! I am so thankful of what Bryan decided to do, that man is a genious! He saw what this kitchen could be and did it, I on the other hand, could only spit out, "I want an island bar, with bar stools again!" And of course... "I wonder what colors I will use in here?"

I am forever in debt to him for transforming my kitchen for me, I love him so much!

Thanks Bryan! I love you!

One last look... Goodbye old kitchen, we won't miss you!

This was a bar and on the other side was a u-shaped desk area, we took all that out too!

View into what is now the keeping room

This was the island we had when we bought the house, the door led to a pantry and on the left side of the island was a Butler's pantry that led into the dining room

Old kitchen, an island cooktop to the left and a wall behind it, very narrow! and... check out the parquet floor!

After the three walls came out and putting support beams in place until the major beam gets here!

Looking into my gallery, what a mess!

Looking at what used to be a pantry and a old Butler's pantry on the other side

New island and now I have a seats on this side, not a wall!


We didn't change anything over here, except the microwave and oven, which you can't see, we will probably change the dishwasher later.

Looking into my beautiful keeping room, that used to be a narrow little opening, with a wall to the right and my dining table was out there where the sofa is.

I love it!!

Looking into the kitchen from the keeping area, to the left is the dining room and straight ahead you can get to the front or back door. No chairs at the table, as little Baylee will climb up on the table!
You can't see it, but to the left is a small built in desk for me, it is just right!