What I love about Christmas...

As I get ready to come home for Christmas, I’ve started thinking about all of the things that I am looking forward to like seeing my friends and family, playing cards with Donnie (and hopefully winning!), my Dad’s cooking, and shopping with my mom. But the things I’m looking most forward to come on Christmas Eve…

Christmas Eve service
Watching the church youth choir sing the songs I once did
Singing O Holy Night as the whole congregation holds candles
The Kuptz Annual Christmas Eve Party!
Karaoke (Girls singing “These Boots Were Made for Walking”)
Cheri’s craft corner
Mom’s White Chili & Oscar’s breadsticks
Marion’s mint-fudge brownies
Late night gift exchange
Opening up our PJ’s and taking pictures in them (see last
year's picture below)
Steve reading ‘Twas the Night before Christmas

Dog's 1st bath

Many, many years ago, I received a Gund Mutsy dog from my parents. After trying out several different names that just didn’t fit him, he became known to me as “Dog.” Dog has gone on many adventures with me to camps, sleepovers, and even college. Through all of his adventures, he has been lacking one thing…a bath. I had been afraid that I would ruin his soft coat early on. However, after lots of snuggling and travel, Dog’s coat just is not the same. So, as I was feeling brave last week, I decided to give Dog a bath. I put him in a pillow case and into the washing machine he went. I could tell through the pillow case that he had made it through the washing process in one piece. Next was the dryer. When I heard the dryer timer ding, I knew it was the moment of truth. I made Casey open the pillow case first in case it was a sight that my eyes couldn’t handle. To my great relief, he pulled out a much cleaner and fresher smelling Dog! What could have been a very traumatic experience, turned out to be a way to bring my friend back smelling better than ever! Below is a picture of Dog in his hey-day…

Christmas comes early

Casey and I celebrated our Christmas on Saturday. We opened our presents (which were all hits!). Casey got me a James Avery ring that I wanted that is silver with a pearl in the center. I also got a black Under Armor track suit that is supposed to be extra warm. He said it was to keep me warm when we go camping. I think he is tired of hearing my teeth chatter all night! Then, my stocking was filled with fun stuff from Bath & Body Works. Casey got a new baseball hat (he just looks so cute in hats!), a nice jacket from The North Face that he has been asking for since he spotted it back in September, and some really good smelling cologne. After our Christmas together, we went down to Mesquite to have Christmas with his Dad and Denise. We went to lunch at On the Border and then back to their house for presents. After we left, we spent the next couple hours running around to several (5 to be exact) stores to try to find different sizes in the Under Armor suit he got me. The top was an easy find but we were on a hunt for the pants. We literally drove all over and all of the traffic on a Saturday night was not helping our cause. It took us about 20 minutes to drive 5 miles thanks to the lovely ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord. I have NEVER seen the place that crazy. I was annoyed with the traffic but I did have to say thank you to all the people fighting their way to the Gaylord for paying for my paycheck too! We finally locked down the pants in Lewisville and by that point, we were exhausted. We finished the day off with some delicious Paulio’s pizza and the 5th Harry Potter film. Presents, Pizza, and Harry Potter…days don’t get much better than that.

I saw the James Avery box and got excited!

Casey trying on his new hat

My cool, black, under armor suitCasey's jacket

Party with the Office

Friday night was the sales office Christmas party. The party was at John’s house and was packed with people and delicious food! John’s wife Marleen, introduced herself to me which I thought was really funny since I’ve stayed at their house twice to do-sit. To be fair, I had straightened my hair so I probably looked a little different. The best food there was the turkey that my manager, Aaron, deep fried. It was easily the best turkey I have ever had. I felt like I just ate my way through the party. It was fun to get the spend time with people outside of work and in a relaxed setting. One of the funniest things was that Aaron and Ernest dressed up as the guys from Step Brothers. They took a picture like the one on the movie posters and framed it for the VP because it’s his favorite movie right now. The picture was pretty hilarious. You can see the two “step brothers” in the picture below...

Ernest and Aaron (aka Brennon and Dale)

From left to right: John (the host), Brittney, Bob (the Boss), me, Aaron (my manager), and Marcy

Meet Doug!

I would like to take the time to introduce everyone to Doug (Dougy to those who know him). Doug is my Douglass Fir Christmas Tree. He is very special to me, being my first Christmas tree on my own. He stands a proud 6’-7’ and hails from the wonderful land known as Wal-Mart. Aside from my 3 actual ornaments, Doug is covered in a bunch of red Christmas balls. I think he looks best at night and now the only light in my apartment after 7pm comes from all the white lights on little Dougy. My whole apartment smells like pine which I look forward to smelling every time I come home. So, everyone…meet Doug!

How am I just learning this?

I learned something new this past weekend. Casey explained to me the Calvin and Hobbes comics. He told me how it was all about the adventures of a young boy and his stuffed tiger. How could I not have known this! I grew up a stuffed animal lover just like young Calvin. Baby Big Bird got my through my first overnight camp in elementary school. I can’t tell you how many stuffed animals I would pile into my bed when I was really young in order to go to sleep at night (one being a giant big bear, appropriately named “Big Bear”). And of course there is Dog! My faithful sleeping companion for the last I don’t know how many years. I was shocked to find out that there was a comic strip out there that I could completely relate to. Anyway, since I have learned this, I have been trying to find random Calvin & Hobbes comics to read online. So as a shout out to my fellow stuffed animal lover Calvin, this post is for you.

So full!!

This was my first year to celebrate Thanksgiving twice in one day and let me tell you, you do not go to bed hungry! Casey and is started off the holiday in Grand Saline, Texas which is about an hour and a half east of where I live. That’s where his grandparents on his dad’s side live. I came bringing my “ghost poop” dessert which I called “Turkey Treats” due to the holiday and also some corn casserole. There were about 30 people at his grandma’s house so it was a packed house. His grandmother is so cute though. She wears these magnified glasses that make her eyes look really big which I found completely adorable. All of his aunts and uncles made sure to let me know that this was the first time Casey had ever brought a girl to big family event (always said with a nudge or wink). The highlight of the day though was when not only 2 of his aunt’s but grandmother herself asked for my “Turkey Treat” recipe!!! I was shocked and very honored. When it was time to leave for round 2, his grandmother told me that she hoped to see me next year to which his uncle told me I could come back anytime as long as I kept cooking like I did (with or without Casey!).

Round 2 was at Casey’s sister Kelly’s house. The was a lot more laid back (thank goodness!). I needed a rest after all that food from Thanksgiving #1. We mainly watched the Cowboys game and I played some trains with his 3 year old nephew Drew. I met his other sister, Laura for the first time which was really nice. Overall, it was a very nice (and filling) holiday!