Festival of Lights

I think Clay and I think each weekend... "How much can we possibly cram into the weekend?" Now that we are both working during the week we tend to live for the weekends. So.. this weekend started with my work Christmas party. It was a BLAST! I regret that I forgot my camera. I will do my best to paint a picture for you. Just imagine a ton of people all dolled up at the country club, good food, a dirty santa Christmas gift exchange, and lots and lots of dancing. Clay and I strolled in at about 2:30 a.m.

But like I said, we didn't stop there. We woke up the next morning and got ready for a trip to Branson with our friends Brandi (OT school friend) and her husband Nick. Believe it or not this was my first Christmas Branson experience. I had only been one other time (and we just went to Silver Dollar City) We ate at Fudruckers and shopped til' we dropped. We drove back that night and got in about 1:30 a.m.











Sunday was packed full of Christmas shopping. I got my elbow pads and game face on! I was ready to get out there and get it all done. I DID IT! I AM FINISHED. My mother-in-law and I had a great time. I got in about 8:30 last night and wrapped presents for a couple of hours. Lucky me because it iced over during the night and I woke up to long list of school cancellations this morning. A ton of my kiddo's cancelled today. I will work this afternoon though. But, I have been able to rest up and clean our house.

Ok.. Ok.. Now I am the biggest fan of anything related to Christmas. So I almost regret saying this.. But the following images might be to hard to look at if you do not want to be disappointed in the festival of lights in Branson. The following images were just a few taken to display the "random-ness" of the trail. It literally reminded me of someone going to Lowe's to ask if they had "stuff that lit up on half-price" and randomly placing them in a field with an extension cord.

That's right people... Happy MOO year!


I regret not getting the Hawaiian themed nativity scene....


STATUE OF LIBERTY... what?!? 'Tis the season


and finally.... yes... your eyes are correct. These are aliens. and their space ship.... What better way to say Merry Christmas!


and this was the expression we all had on our face....

Christmas Train

I had a BLAST this past weekend. It all started with the ornament exchange at my house on Friday night and three of my very best friends coming to pick me up on Saturday morning to go to Christmas Train in Adair, Oklohoma to see our long lost friend Megan. This was our first time to experience Christmas Train. It is a big production at Camp Dry Gulch. If you love Christmas.... you would LOVE Christmas Train. It was so much fun to get to hang out with my girls all weekend! Here are some pictures from this weekend.


I know it's blurry.. But if you look closely you can see the actual train.








Yes, it is that time again. Time for the annual gingerbread house competition! This year we had new competition... The Sabatini's! You take a look and see who won!













And finally.... I promise I will not go on and on all night. But I wanted you guys to see some of our holiday decor! Mom and dad... you have to come visit us before Christmas! haha. You get a personal shout out. Feel the pressure. Please ignore the random cords hanging from the t.v. We really need to get somebody to hide those wires.









You wouldn't believe it... But I found a true Garrison snowman! haha!

Gobble til you Wobble

Woo hoo for good food, good family, and good friends. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was a little scared because of the way it started out. I was in charge of an apple pie (highly requested) and I decided to make this key lime cookie recipe for my parents house since my mom loves key lime. I had never attempted this recipe but saw it in Martha Stewart's holiday magazine issue. So it has to be good right?? Well, needless to say I crammed WAY to much in those three work days and had to make both the pie and cookies on Wednesday afternoon before we tried to leave at 4:00. The pie was fantastic and the cookies had potential to be great. I rushed it too much. So we left our house at 5:30 to head to Conway with an apple pie.

Thanksgiving at the Garrison's was much needed family time. It is so nice to get together. We got there Wednesday night and all of the siblings wanted to go to the movies. I am not a movie go-er but I sent my best wishes and instead went to Wal-mart with Terri( my mother-in-law) to the pictures from the Thanksgiving photo shoot. We woke up Thursday morning to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade and stuff our belly full of turkey and dressing. Here are some of the photo poses we got.



Thanksgiving in Lewisville was fantastic. It has been a long time since we have been able to spend 3 days down there. It is so funny to go back and see how different the town is. Well, I am sure the town is the same. I just see it differently now. You know there are always some funny stories from Lewisville. I am so thankful that I can sit down with my family, laugh, and enjoy life. We skipped out on the Black Friday madness. I would rather be stung by 1,000 bees and dipped in hot wax than fight that crowd. Instead mom, Kaitlyn, and I went to Hobby Lobby to get the paint for my latest art project. We ended the paint run with a trip to Starbucks and rode home singing Christmas songs. So fun. I love my family. They are the best.




It's not finished yet... But, you get the idea.
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Well, I am laying in bed with a sore throat, stopped up nose, and itchy ears. So what better thing to do than blog. I had a fantastic weekend. (well worth blogging about)

Let me just set the stage. I have been an avid fan of Wheel of Fortune since I was a baby. My parents said that I would crawl up to the t.v. and clap when the show was on. Well, to this day Clay and I will compete each night as to who can solve the most puzzles the fastest. Of course I win every night. We try not to miss an episode. Well, this past week I heard that Wheel of Fortune was coming to town. The wheel-mobile was coming to Conway, Arkansas and hosting auditions for the show. Of course I had to fulfill ONE of my life long goals. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. So I pack up my car and head down to Conway. Clay had to work and all my friends were booked up. So it was just me........ and thousands of others competing to SPIN THAT WHEEL.

When I pulled up to the audition site, I realized that I wasn't alone. And to be honest, there were thousands of others just as nut-so as me. So there I sat for hours. I would fill out application after application. Needless to say my name never got drawn to run up and spin the wheel. Pat and Vanna got lucky. I think I would have scared them. I really get too excited about it sometimes and yell the answers. But I left that night knowing I at least tried. I can't say I never tried. So I left and went to visit with Clay's grandparents at their Sunday school party. I know, I know. Wild night!

Halloween was fun. We decided VERY last minute to go to a halloween party we got invited to. So very last miniute, we were running to Wal-mart to get the stuff to create our costumes. We convinced a couple to go with us. So that meant, we had to come up with 4 costumes in 4 hours. And I am sorry, I am not paying big bucks for a costume at a halloween shop. So what better thing to do than buy a sheet, cut it up, and safety pin it to fit. And that is exactly what they looked like!! But we had a good time. The best part was getting ready! Too funny!



I have been to the doctor for the 5th time about my stomach/blood pressure issues. I finally went to a new doctor to get a second oppinion. He gave me a new medicine and for the first time in months I feel good. I am able to eat without feeling sick and my blood pressure is back to normal!

I have always known I am blessed with a wonderful family and friends, but in the past month I have been reminded. Life brings challenges and a lot of times we think we may never be able to get through it. I pray for my friends and their recent loses that they find the strength to make it through tough situations. Losing somebody in your life is one of the biggest challenges in life. If God brings you to it, He will get you through it. I pray for the family of Anne Pressly, the Hardin family, the Hargrove family, and Essex family every single day. Takin' it just one day at a time is all you can do.

I really do have the best friends and family. I am getting excited about spending time with everybody over the upcoming holidays! (Don't worry... we are already decorated for Christmas at the Garrison household)

Well, its been a long time. Life has been grand lately! I needed to spruce the page up with some pictures. I am excited because my brother Zack and his girlfriend are coming up to spend the weekend with us! So more pics to come soon!


Maddie enjoying her new bed!

Maddie and Ginger

Pumpkin carving contest with the sis-in-laws. (minus Kaitlen... she was greatly missed)

Surprise run in to old roomies at Guido's (Give my pale self a break! I had worked all day. haha)

The birthday boy!

One spoiled puppy

Braves vs. Cardinals

Maddie turned 1!!

My mom and dad at graduation

The hubby and I at Kaitlen's wedding

WE GOT A HOUSE!

The sis-in-laws!

Sun "blog"

Well, it's me again. Just here to entertain you with random thoughts. First of all. My last posting was definitely later than 9:15ish. It was pushing 12:45 am. so.... Don't think I am a weenie that goes to bed early. I mean, .. I am, ... but... that night I would like to take credit for my late night owl abilities. And for the record. It really is 9:30 p.m. right now.


Well the 4th of July was fun. We went to the lake with some of our friends. I again got too much sun, broke out into a rash, and itched the entire holiday. Come to find out... I am thinking I am allergic to something in the sunblock. I mean, how did I get a sun rash behind my ear? So it has got to be the sunblock. It's amazing it only took me 24 years to realize the allergy. To be honest, I just realized what the whole "skin care" fuss is about. I can't believe I haven't worn sunblock as religiously as I do now. Girls, put on that SPF before your make-up. I am sure skin cancer is just hanging out on me. Just waiting for the day to surprise me. But I must say, those random vacations with endless tanning were great.


I spent 4.5 hours in the Fayetteville Public Library today studying for my board exam. I am not able to study at home anymore. I am easily distracted by Maddie and the TV. I couldn't lie to myself anymore that I was getting good studying in while Clay was at work. As dorky as I am about to sound... I LOVED THE LIBRARY. It was the coolest place in the world. I felt like I was in NYC or something. It was huge and very modern. I even sipped on a Latte while wearing punk rock jeans, an Ipod, and a bag strapped across my chest with a million buttons pinned on it. Ok, maybe not. But I did have the Latte.


Well, here ya have it. The time you have all been waiting for... the three random thoughts of the night.



1. What really happens if you eat the watermelon seeds? I can only remember the days as a young kiddo being told that if you ate them... you would grow a huge watermelon in your stomach. To this day.. I don't eat the seeds.



2. That last thought made me think of the story "James and the Giant Peach." Anybody else remember that. I can't remember what it was all about. But, I do know it was about a kid and a huge peach. Hmm. Maybe I am just hungry?



3. How much more will the price of gas go up? I just can't handle it! It is crazy that places are regulating 4 day work weeks to decrease use of gas. I mean.. heck. Before long they really will invent something like Jetson cars. We will all fly to work in air powered jets. But then we will probably be working 6-7 days a week trying to pay for the air. You know what. I kinda like the idea of the 4 day work week. So never mind.