Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

     I just wanted to take a second and wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  From our family to yours, we pray that this time of year is full of blessings and special memories, and that the new year brings all that you desire and more.  God bless!

With love,

Sean     Jennifer

Jaxton   Jordy

My Christmas Sweet...

     As Christmas is approaching at breakneck speed, I'm winding down the ever popular 25 Days of Christmas.  When I started it, I really wasn't sure how it would go over...being that Sean is a guy and all.  But.  I have to say, that all of this spoiling him and giving him this little extra attention sure has made him happy!  And all it took was just a little bit of my time and some extra planning ahead on my part.  That's it.  And lemme tell ya.  It has been well worth it.  Because it's that proverbial cycle...I invest that time and attention into him...and he does the same into me.
As I've posted before, some days I really went all out, and other days I wrote a note that was really personal and from my heart.  This morning, he woke up to find a jar of Hershey Kisses with a note about how a jar could never hold all of the kisses I will give him in a lifetime.  But at least this was a start.  Simple, but sweet.  Literally.

     Tomorrow's surprise involves lots of candy bars and sweet notes that go along with the candy of choice...hidden all around so that he will find them all through the day and evening.  One side benefit...there is no way on earth he can eat all of this candy by himself.  He's just gotta share!! :)

     So I just found a sweet note in my purse a few seconds ago.  Said something to the effect of I was being thought of at that very moment and how much I was loved.  I am absolutely blessed beyond what words can say.  We don't do these sweet things for each other in order to get anything in return.  In fact, I would still do them even if I never got another thank you from him again.  It's because I love him and it's just one of the ways I can show him...in fact, long after December is over, I plan to keep doing these little surprises for him.  Maybe not every single day, but on a regular basis, at least.
     As Christmas is coming closer, and we celebrate our first holiday as an engaged couple, I've been taking the time to reflect over the last year(s).  I'm sure that our age, experiences, and place in life has a lot to do with how we treat each other, but we have made it a point to not take each other and what we have for granted.  What an incredible feeling to know that I will never be taken advantage of, pushed to the side, or used for his benefit.  That is unconditional love, and to be able to experience it during this Christmas season with the one I love, along with our family, brings a sense of completeness I have never known before.  As I finish up this little gift for Sean that I threw together at the beginning of the month, I have to admit I never thought it would have the effect that it did on me.  Even if all he got out of it was little gifts, treats, and some special nights, I will always continue to make the effort to make him feel special, loved, and appreciated. 

Workin' for supper

     I have to admit...I'm struttin' my stuff around here tonight.  I win the award for most creative fiance/girl in the county.  For todays 25 Days of Christmas idea, I sent Sean on a scavenger hunt.  For supper.  Not a big deal, you say, but he is the one that usually does supper, since I have homework most nights and all.  This morning, his note informed him that he will be working to find his supper tonight.  And the fun began...
     The idea of the scavenger hunt was that he had to bring some of the different things for supper...problem is, he had to search around to find them.  I made up clues that would lead him to different things we would need for supper (plates, silverware, beer...you get the idea).  It all ended up with a picnic supper, complete with fried chicken (KFC style), blanket, and candlelight.  In the living room floor!  I started out easy enough.  We have our little message board that we write notes to each other on every day, and since our front door is metal, and the board has magnets, I wrote him his first clue and left it on the outside of the door.  That way he wouldn't miss it.  I even left on it the explicit instruction of do no go searching for any other clues until I said so...he swears he didn't.  Each clue led him to find an item for supper.  The last clue was attached to the blanket that was under the Christmas tree, telling him that his supper was actually a picnic.  The blanket is pretty significant...it's the one that we had our first date on (lakeside picnic complete with KFC) and the one he had spread out at the same lake when he proposed.  That blanket is a keeper!  After work I ran through the drive-thru and picked up supper.  After I sent him away upstairs for a bit, I put the finishing touches on the hunt, and slipped the food inside the blanket that was under the tree.  And away he went on the hunt!
     He did the search...all through the kitchen he went, looking for the different items we needed for supper.  Finally, he got to the blanket under the Christmas tree ("I was wondering why the blanket was under the tree" he says) and unwrapped the food.  Total surprise!  Can't beat a good fried chicken supper.  We had an amazing, relaxing time, plus it was a fun sitting back and watching put it all together...definately gonna use this idea again somehow. 

Heeeere fishy fishy!!

     I know I've left out some of the days on the 25 Days of Christmas production currently under way in the abode, so here's the update.  At least a few of the days.  Some of them are just between us, cause that's just how it be.  Yesterday, Sean found that his note that had something to the effect of how he would have to go fishing for his surprise today.  Well...if you knew us, you would know how much we love to fish, either just the two of us or all together with the family.  Apparently, he searched all around the fish tank (wise thinking) and all through the fishing supply closet, too (smart fella).  But his special treat wasn't in either spot.  What he got was pretty cute...if you ask me.  And a surprise, too.  Not what he expected, either.  Since we met at a fish fry, this went along perfectly with "our story".  Here is the gist of the idea...

Yep, my smart readers, they're yummy Swedish Fish!

     To the box of fish I attached a handwritten note saying "Since the day at the fish fry, you've o"fish"ally had my heart!" and put it where he would see it.  Out in the open.  Not hidden amongst the mass o' stuff that is the fishing gear.  He loved it.  And the hard work paid off...cause I got to join in the fun of eating the fish, too.  Cause my baby loves to share. :)
     To follow up with yesterday's fishy theme, today's special surprise was a sweet note (at least in my opinion!) about the actual night we met...at the fish fry.  Get it?  Going with the roll here.  Although, that was totally unplanned.  But it worked out well.  That's how good I am. :)
     And since there's nothing really on the "agenda" for tonight, and it's just the two of us...ahem...I'm thinking maybe supper in and a movie.  No better way to spoil my love and show him how much I appreciate him on a cold, dreary winter's night!

Ready to pull my hair out...but now I'm ok.

     Ever have one of those days, or weeks, or in some cases months?  Today was one of those days for me.  I really think it's been creeping up on me this past week, but the dam broke for me today.  The world was on my shoulders; nothing I did turned out the way I needed it to.  I wanted to snap a few necks to be honest, but thankfully, nobody got hurt.  Surprisingly, actually, I made it through the day without any major episodes, despite what was running through my head.  I guess it's one of the joys of being an emotional girl (yay me) and I can just chalk it up to that...but I dunno.  I won't bore you with the details (actually they are pretty juicy...but I'm not gonna divulge) of how the past week has been, well, kinda blah at times.  I'm really starting to think that there was some kind of announcement on campus telling everyone (especially anyone who don't speak English) to come to the clinic to see the dark headed girl and do whatever they can to make my day rough.  Cause they have.  Amongst other things.       I try to have a good attitude.  I really do.  But some days, all I wanna do is just sit down in the middle of the floor in the fetal position and have a good 'ol cry.  And trust me, I'm not above that.  And I probably will...soon.  Just cause it really does make everything better, somehow.  I guess that's one of the upsides to being a girl...if someone were to walk in on me sitting in the middle of the floor crying, they'd just hightail it outta there and not ask questions. 


Aren't you more relaxed from looking at the lights?

      So, the day ended up so much better than it started.  After I left work (better already!) I walked in the front door and just instantly felt relaxed.  The feeling of being home...priceless.  I had started the 25 days of Christmas with Sean for the month of December, and on the agenda for today was to go look at Christmas lights, something we both love to do.  We had planned to have a date night for tomorrow night anyways, so decided to roll it all up into one night...tonight.  We had supper at Louie's cause you can't beat fried green beans.  After a nice, relaxing supper, we had to run to Walmart.  Yeah, I know.  Romantic, hu?  Actually, everything we do is fun, so we enjoy our time together, even when grabbing groceries.  Then I was treated with Starbucks as a surprise.  Cause my baby loves me.  Then we set off looking at the Christmas lights.  There is something about shiny, sparkly lights and Christmas music and the arm of your future husband around your shoulder keeping you warm that melts away the day's stresses.  
     After the perfectly wonderful, relaxing night, the stress and chaos in my brain from the last few days has slowly started to fade.  And to top it off, as a bonus, I got my new pj's in the mail that I ordered from Victoria's Secret...pure cotton heaven right here!  And the free slippers are a bonus...talk about relaxed.  Hopefully this feeling will last.  Even if tomorrow is another sorta rough day, at least it's Friday.  That counts for something. 

Bible study and bird lady...just my regurlar Sunday.

     For the new year (yikes!!  That's just right around the corner!) I'm looking into starting a new devotional.  But here's my dilemma.  I don't know what about, or by who, or anything.  I'm perplexed.  I looked into it a little bit today, but nothing really stood out and bit me in the butt.  I need one that's quick cause of everything going on.  Gotta work it in with kids, love, work, school, finding house/moving, wedding, life...so there's really a few minutes here and there that I have left to use.  Notice at this moment it's 11 pm and I just finished up my homework for the night...story. of. my. life.  Needless to say, I would love it to be topical, and good (who doesn't) and fit where I am in my life.  Maybe something about building new families, second marriage...stuff like that.  IDEAS??!!

     On another, funnier note.  We went to look at what we thought could be a great house today.  The possible forever house.  Well.  It was interesting, to say the least.  I thought our house got loud, especially when all the kids are here.  I thought wrong.  Before we even walked all the way up to the front porch, the realtor turned to me and said, "Oh, by the way.  The lady raises birds.  Inside."  And she did.  Loud ones.  Like the kind that were so loud you couldn't hear yourself think.  At lease one of them entertained the kids while we looked around...cause it said hello.  A lot.  This had to be the craziest, loudest, birdiest (it's a new word, now) house we have ever been in.  And the funny thing is, the bird lady wants a LOT for it.  Like a whole lot too much.  But that didn't stop Jax from saying...several times...that we would take it.  And that he loved it.  And that he had the money to buy it.  Sweet boy.  So tomorrow night, when I get off work, we are going to go look at another, quieter house.  This one doesn't have a hot tub (booo!) but it doesn't have a bunch of fine feathered friends, either.  Or a bunch of work that needs to be done.  At all.  And truth is, I'm okay with that.  (See that list of things I got going above.) 

     So between me finding a bible study, the bird lady house, the kids putting together ginger bread houses (oh wait...it was mama who ended up doing a couple of them so far.  Figures) and homework...this mama is pooped.  Oh and day 4 of the 25 days of Christmas countdown was a success, too!  Day 3, maybe not as much.  That was a bit of trash talk, to set the mood for the game last night (seems to have worked...yay POKES!) and this morning's treat for the man o' the house was a special present under the tree that the kids and I put together...full of fun little candy treats.  That we liked.  Cause he really does like to share with us...a lot.

     Well that just about sums up the day for us...exciting, I know.  I'm.  Off.  Ta'.  Bed.

Day one...

     Well...day one of the 25 surprises and I'd say he liked it!!  It wasn't anything big, I tell ya, but it sure made his day!  His note said "Just how crazy am I about you?  Look around today and you'll find out..."  In the front seat of his truck (last night so he would get it this morning) I left him a bag of nuts with a note that said "I'm crazy nuts about you!"  Based on the text I got this morning...it was a nice surprise! 
     I'm really excited about tomorrow morning...but like I said before.  No updates on every single day.  Just a few. :)

My Big Surprise (all 25 of 'em!)

     On the last page of my Thankfulness Blog, I squealed with delight about the big surprise I was making for Sean and that I could barely keep it to myself.  Well...I finally got it all put together, and thought I would share a little bit about it.  But first...the back story...
     One of my goals of late is to make sure I show Sean, in some way or another, every single day that I love him (cheesy, I know.  But necessary.).  No big dramatic production needed, just some small gesture or consideration I can do to let him know I'm thinking about him.  It's what a girl's gotta do to make sure her man is happy and loved, ya know??  Plus, I want the kids to know that this is normal...not fighting and unhappiness and all the crap they typically see in most marriages, either in real life or on TV.

     So.  I decided to throw together the 25 Days of Christmas.  It's not really anything big, but everyday for 25 days Sean gets to pick a numbered, sealed letter.  They are either a small gift, an activity (no specifics here), or a fun game.  Nothing on this list cost me over like $10, so it's really all about the ideas, and my own creativity.  And I won't divulge any of the specifics until they have been opened!!  Here's the plan going together:


Here's what I started with...complete randomness!



Next step...wrapping the ribbon.  Don't laugh.  It was harder than it looks!

Now for the bows...this may be my way to show my man some love, but I can still add a girly touch, can't I?



Final touch...add the notes.  All 25 of 'em!

      I realize I'm no Martha Stewart.  Never really want to be, actually.  This is just my way of doing something out of the ordinary for one of the most extraordinary people I know.  I could have gone all fancy pants on the decorating, but quite frankly, it's been a long week...and Sean won't mind.  He gets the idea either way.  So, this is how we are celebrating the 25 days of Christmas around here...one day atta time!