Christmas 2010

BEG and I packed up the car and headed to Abilene for Christmas this year. I was so sad to not be spending Christmas with my family but BEG had to do the same thing last year; oh the compromises of marriage!! I will say, we had a wonderful, relaxing time and I was able to experience a first.....making a gingerbread house!

The Garrett's used to hand make gingerbread houses when they were growing up and they taught me the ropes this past week. It was so much fun but A LOT of work. Here are our step by step pics. I must say it turned out pretty good considering it was my first one ever!! (I did have lots of help though =) ML baked the gingerbread earlier in the day and cut the pieces out so we only had to put it together and decorate it.

Putting the house together

Ready to decorate

Outlining with icing

The roof

Almost finished

All finished

Ta Da

The gingerbread house was an all day project but I am so glad we did it. I only busted 3 bags trying to put the icing on (it's VERY hard) and my hand was aching for a couple of days after but I can't wait to do it again in 2 years when we are back in Abilene for Christmas!!

We had a great time visiting with Blake's family and catching up with everyone. We got some great loot and are so thankful for all of our wonderful friends and family!

We are headed to Shreveport this weekend to spend Christmas with my family, pack up the house, grab the pets and head back West!! (I'll update later on our current whereabouts!)

Hope everyone has a blessed and safe New Years!

CMG

Christmas Gathering

We had a get together with all of our friends last night which was so fun. We really enjoyed catching up with everyone during the holidays. It started at our house at 6:30 with appetizers and drinks and then we reserved a party bus to pick us up at 7:30 to drive around and look at Christmas lights (which p.s are pretty terrible these days; we will just blame it on the recession!)

Rhett and george did so well with everyone in their domain! Rhett just laid in the dining room by the food hoping someone would drop something and george would randomly sprint through to make sure everything was under control and then retreat back to his room.

The whole group

(Rhett included)

Just the girls!

Again, it was so much fun seeing and catching up with everyone during this busy fun time! We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas with family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

CMG

Facial Hair

BEG decided it was necessary to grow out a beard for our ski trip to help keep him warm. I however, did not agree and hated this thing since the day he started growing it (about a month ago.) I refused to take any pictures of it because I hated it but couldn't resist sharing things.

So gross.

CMG

Ski Trip 2010

BEG is an avid snowboarder and was devastated when a ski trip didn't happen last year due to wedding planning, purchasing a house, etc (ie. growing up!) So I promised him that we would continue his yearly tradition this year. He normally goes somewhere different each year but I wanted to go somewhere I had never skied before so we headed to Jackson Hole, WY although this was the last place BEG skied back in 2008.

We headed out Monday morning en route to Jackson Hole. Our flight plans were Shreveport to Memphis, Memphis to Salt Lake, Salt Lake to Jackson Hole. I commented to BEG as we pulled up to the gate in Memphis 20 minutes early how nice it was to actually be running on time for once on a flight. Well, I spoke way too soon!! We were scheduled to have an hour layover in Memphis before boarding our plane to Salt Lake. When we arrived at our gate in Memphis everything was "on time" , according to the board, until the Delta man came on the all call to inform us that there was a maintenance issue that could take "hours" to workout. Having gone through this before, BEG and I headed to the nearest Delta customer service counter to get on a different flight ASAP before everyone else on our plane did the same thing. Good thing we moved quick because as soon as we began walking off the same guy came over the all call to inform everyone that the flight was no longer delayed but instead cancelled!!

Laurie G. at Delta customer service was absolutely wonderful and really hooked us up. Instead of having us stuck in Memphis for the night she sent us to....................................................................

Yes, Las Vegas!! It was an unexpected surprise to our trip. Delta payed for our hotel room and 2 meals each which isn't a bad deal. BEG had never been to Vegas so it was a great way to see if it would be worth a trip in the future and I think we will be heading back one day; BEG loved it!! We had no luggage but we managed alright with our Delta survival kit they provide to people in our situation.

We didn't have much time in Vegas but we made the best of the little time we did have. We arrived at the hotel about 6pm and immediately took the hotel shuttle to the strip (about 6 blocks away.) Our first stop was the Tom Ford store (BEG's request). While looking through a travel book while BEG was browsing I saw where Jersey Boys had a Monday night show that started at 7pm. I called the box office and they had 2 available seats (fate!) so we took off towards the Palazzo. After the fantastic show, BEG requested a stop at the Freemont Street Experience to get a deep fried twinkie (I got deep fried oreos) and both were delicious! By the time we made it back to the hotel it was 11:15pm (1:15am on our bodies time) and we had to be up at 6am to be at the airport for our 8am flight to JH. Not much time but such a fun diversion!! Thank you DELTA =)

Hanging out at the Salt Lake airport...one airport closer to Jackson Hole!!

I have been to many places and this place ranks near the top in beauty. It is absolutely breathtaking!! This is a view from the top of the mountain. The weather has been really good since we've been here, cold but pretty. The average temp has been about 10 degrees during the day!!

BEG boarding

Yes that's me under all of that!!

BEG in action

Grand Teton

highest peak in the area

13,770 feet above sea level

View from the Tram

approx 10,000 feet above sea level

One of the toughest mountains I've ever skied

and here's the sign to prove it!!

And the cherry on top of the sundae.......

We got to see a MOOSE!!

(she and her baby were just hanging outside of our condo)

We have had so much fun!! It's freezing cold and an extremely tough mountain but totally worth it because it is absolutely gorgeous!!

CMG

The In-Laws Visit

Blake's family came in town last weekend for a visit. Mike and Mary Lou got in late Thursday night and Jill and Jon got in around 7 on Friday night. Mike and ML finally got to meet george and he did not disappoint; he is the strangest cat EVER but oh so fun!!

Here he is drinking ML's water

We hit all the Shreveport hot spots on their visit including:

Southern Trace (Mike played golf with dad Friday)

The Village Washstand (ML got some cute stuff)

Herby K's (Shrimp Buster)

Country Tavern (Ribs)

Superior Grill (Margaritas)

Tony's Egg Nog Daiquiris ..... heaven

Natchitoches Christmas Festival

Grandmother's (for a quick visit)

Olive Street Bistro (delicious)

Monnie's (lunch after church Sunday)

a cute family photo in Natchitoches

We squeezed a lot in in a short amount of time but had so much fun and are so glad they came to see us.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.

CMG

Thanksgiving 2010

We spent Thanksgiving this year in Greenville, MS with a tiny part of my Dad's family. Uncle Leon, Grandmother's oldest sibling, and his 5 children, 1 son in law and 4 granddaughters are all in Greenville. We started this tradition a few years ago when they moved the Egg Bowl from Thanksgiving day to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. All the Lenoirs, except for Tommy, are State fans so we are a house/family divided every year! We had so much fun this year as we do every year!

Here's the whole group (minus Elizabeth)

We got up Friday morning and headed to Tupelo to stay at Rebecca and Tom's. We were in no hurry to get there so we stopped in Oxford to do a little shopping on the Square since we would be in the Grove on Saturday and wouldn't have time for shopping! BEG has also been craving Ajax macaroni and cheese since last year and we both LOVE Abner's so we stopped and got some lunch.

The Leaches' came from Starkville to Tupelo Friday evening for happy hour and some visiting. They have been in Starkville with the Clark's and were not going to be able to make it to the game on Saturday so we are so glad they came over so we could catch up with them! (My camera was in the car so we weren't able to get a photo!)

Saturday morning we got up and headed over to Oxford for the game. The weather was beautiful!! There was a slight nip in the air and it got downright cold at the game (6pm kickoff) but we were dressed and ready for the cold, long johns and all!!

BEG in his cute red cord pants

Ran into my cousin Chris while wandering through the Grove

Although we didn't win the game we still had fun b/c we had given up the thought of actually winning a football game this year!! (And LSU lost!!!) =)

We hope that everyone had a blessed and relaxing Thanksgiving with loved ones.

CMG

O Christmas Tree

I know I should have given the Pilgrims a chance this year but I couldn't wait one more day to put my Christmas decorations up so I gave in middle of last week. There is some form of decoration in every single room of our house this year and I love it!! It's Christmas everywhere you turn at Gladstone.

My Picaso from Painting with a Twist

The infamous "wall tree" in the den

My "D.C. tree" in the kitchen

The Silver Bells hanging were gifts from my

paternal grandparents every year for 20 years.

This is the first year I have put them up

and I love them; very festive!

Willow Tree Nativity

and BEG Nativity in bottom right corner

(made in 1987....so darn cute)

The mantel, stockings and the pets trees

And last put certainly not least, I give you our tree with lights. The Christmas Tree is a 3 step process so I will post a final/complete picture with ornaments once we decorate it after Thanksgiving.

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Ta Da

And me with my masterpiece!!

I am very particular about decorating the tree and it is no small task. This years tree contains 15 strands of 100 lights so it is well lit and BEAUTIFUL if I must say so myself (but I am a bit biased!) I wrap almost every branch with lights instead of draping lights throughout because as you can see it makes a huge difference with the outcome. We have the tree placed in the front window so all who drive by can enjoy the tree as well =)

BEG and I have a lot to be thankful for this year and hope that you and yours do as well!! We hope everyone has a wonderful, blessed and safe Thanksgiving with loved ones.

CMG

Christmas Tree Selection

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. All of the decorations, smells and music make me so happy!! But the most fantastic part about Christmas to me is the TREE. My family has gone to a Christmas Tree Farm to get our tree since I was a child and I can not imagine not picking and cutting down my own tree (there are guys there who help!) We headed out to Weaver's Sunday morning to find the perfect tree and it didn't take us long to find "the one"!

We took RHETT with us and he was in heaven running around and of course helping!!

Family photo (minus george)

If you look closely you can see RHETT and BEG

Shaking out the debris

Making sure it's straight

Securing it in net for the ride home

Loading it up

Secure in it's "home" for the next 6 weeks

We selected a 9 foot Leland Fur beauty for this years tree. It is gorgeous and smells unbelievable. Unfortunately, george thinks it is a new toy for him so it is going to be a long month. Hopefully they will both come out unharmed!

Happy Holidays!!

CMG

Death Valley

Since are days are numbered in Louisiana, I want BEG to do everything a "real" Louisianaian does, we headed to Baton Rouge for the Ole Miss - LSU game Saturday. Thankfully the game was at 2:30 so we left Saturday morning at 8am and came back after the game getting in about 11pm. It made for a long day but it was worth it to sleep in our own bed!!

BEG and I outside of Tiger Stadium

We had a good time and the game was fantastic (well at least for the Rebels!) Although we didn't come out with a W, we won the game in my book. I could on and on and on but bottomline is, if LSU thinks they deserve a run at the National Championship this year, you must play better than they did Saturday against the worse team in the SEC and damn near the worse team in America this year. The Rebels are definitely having a "rebuilding year", for lake of a better word, and I was more than pleased with our performance Saturday.

I am glad that BEG was finally able to experience Death Valley and an LSU game since that is all you hear about around here. He has heard people talk about LSU football for the last 3 years and finally got to see what it was all about. He wasn't too impressed with much but I will say that the fans were far better than I ever remember but then again we have beat them for the last 3 years and we kept the game so close until the final seconds of the game that they didn't really have a chance to banter us.

We did run into to some friends on the trip which is always fun!

Ann, me, BEG, Trent and Molly

Ellie and I

Wilson, Mandy me and Lauren

We are headed to Oxford this weekend for the Thanksgiving and the Egg Bowl. Hopefully we can get a W but doubtful as State is playing some good football this year.

Happy Rivalry Week!!

CMG