Miscellany Monday: Holiday Kickoff

Oh Christmas Tree......

Friday we picked out our Christmas tree and decorated it. This has become a tradition for us, instead of shopping on black Friday we get our house all ready for Christmas.

We got a big tree this year. Including the stand and star it is 8 feet high. Of course Betty loves it.

My husband, playing with the decorations. :)

Eat Your Heart Out......

Saturday we headed up to Baltimore to celebrate Thanksgiving with my dad. Instead of doing another turkey dinner we made homemade raviolis. Yum!! His girlfriend has been making them for years, and even sells them to local restaurants.

I got to help make them. They turned out sooo good.

Water, Water Everywhere......

Sunday we went to the Aquarium in the Inner Harbor. We hadn't been in awhile.

We saw the dolphin show. Last time we went they had just had babies so there was no show. I'm glad we finally got to see it.

Us at the aquarium.

I Hate Traffic......

On the way home Sunday we hit really bad traffic. It took us 5 hours to get home, when it should have only taken us 3. I knew it might be bad, but didn't think it would be that bad.

So that was most of our holiday weekend, Miscellany Monday style!

Thanksgiving 2010

"But Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck. You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown. " ~ Marcie, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

I had a great time helping mom make dinner, of course eating all the yummy food and spending time with my family.

Clarke's family came over to spend the day with us this year. It was so nice to have both families together.

I have a lot to be thankful for this year: my health, Clarke, my family and friends, my job and my home.

So here's to a happy Thanksgiving 2010!

Girl's Thanksgiving

This past weekend was our girl's Thanksgiving. Eleven of us met at our house to celebrate Thanksgiving with yummy food and great company. The seven of us have been friends forever, and this year husbands, fiances and boyfriends came as well.

Table all set for dinner. I had so much fun putting this together.

Everyone minus me (I took the picture). We meant to get a group shot of all the girls, but we forgot.

We always celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, because that is what you do with family. And these girls are apart of my family. I have known most of them since middle school, and some since elementary school. The older I get the more I realize how rare this is. Rare to keep friendships that long, especially despite distance or differences.

I am blessed to have these girl's in my life, and so thankful for each of them. :)

The Pumpkin Pie Secret

Yesterday morning I made two pumpkin pies. Yum! My mom always uses the recipe on the back of Libby's Pumpkin. So I do the same. But, there is one little change that I think makes a big difference.

The recipe calls for 12oz of evaporated milk, instead my mom always uses 12oz of half and half. It makes it so much more creamier and better.

Try it, you won't regret using the half and half instead! Can't wait for more pumpkin pie tonight.

An Authentic Community

My small group bible study on Wednesday nights is always such a bright spot in my week. I always look forward to it. Someone recently posted on our facebook page that they were thankful for this group, that it was an authentic community. That made my heart so happy.

Some people in our group have recently been going through some tough times, and they have shared that with the rest of us. I was so happy that they felt comfortable enough to do so. I think so many times in life we want people to think of us in a certain light, to not know what we are really struggling with or going through. But that's not the case here. We are real and honest with one another.

I also love to see how far this group has come. We started with barely anyone coming, and now it is a real community, with love, and friendships and it is good.

Some of us from the group. We went camping in early September.

With Thanksgiving coming up, it makes you think about what you are thankful for. I am thankful for this group, my "church family". An authentic community.

Miscellany Monday

Happy Monday Ya'll!!

<One>

I just love my students. I love the genuine happiness that they show, their genuine appreciation for the little things in life. I love to see them progress, even if it's very slowly. I love it when they surprise me and do something unexpected. I love how they interact with each other, trying to hold each other's hands or touch another's head. I love their smiles.

<Two>

In about a month we are going to NYC! We wanted to go and see all the Christmas decorations in the city. We are also going to an islanders game, it will be our first time going to a professional hockey game. But, I am the most excited about visiting the moma. Modern art....yes please! Can't wait.

<Three>

This past weekend was great. We didn't do much, just crossed some things off our "to do list" around the house. Also, some preparation for hanging Christmas lights outside....very exciting.

<Four>

This weekend begins the Thanksgiving festivities! I am making two pumpkin pies, and can't wait to eat them both. (Not by myself, although I probably could.) One is for a celebration Saturday night and one for a feast Sunday night. I think I have also figured out how to successfully seat 11 people at our table for that big feast Sunday night. Hope it works!

Well, that's it for this Miscellany Monday!

Clean Up Crew, Year 2

This past Saturday me and Clarke volunteered with our church. We met early in the morning, and headed off to do yard work for people who can't do it themselves. This year we had a lot of debris to clear away, there was a small tornado that hit earlier this month and tree limbs were everywhere.

We did this event last year. (It was one of my first blog posts.) And we always look forward to it now. It's fun to see the before and after. How after just a few short hours the yard is really transformed. Can't wait till next year.

Happy Blogiversary!

It's officially been one year to the day since I started this blog. It's been a fun process, learning how to blog and what I want to write about. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite posts for all of you newer readers out there:

-summaries of our travels and adventures: rejuvenated, magic kingdom, hollywood studios, epcot, animal kingdom, obx

-journey of my job search: god is big, being persistent, reflections

-of course my testimony: testimony

-buying our first house: faithful, possibilities, update, an offer, oh my gosh, house love

-first post ever: first post (I think I have come a long way since then.)

So there it is! The best of Small Beginnings year one!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Let see......What am I loving today?

I am loving that I am the new head gymnastics coach at Moody Middle School!!! I interviewed a couple weeks ago and heard the other day that I got the job. I am sooo excited and a little bit nervous. I have been an assistant coach before (and have done gymnastics for most of my life). In fact that is the job that confirmed I really wanted to be a teacher. I absolutely loved it. I can't wait for the season to start in February!

I am loving that all my students are back in school and healthy. Two of them were out sick last week and I really missed them. The classroom wasn't the same without all of them there. So glad they are feeling better!

I am loving the book The Help. It is sooo good. I am almost done because I can't put it down.

I am loving that tonight is my bible study night. We have a new host and they are just great. They always make us the yummiest dinners and are so welcoming.

I am loving that Thanksgiving plans are coming together, and we will be having 4 of them! One with a friend of my husband's, one with my closest friends, one with family (my mom and brothers, and my husband's family, this is a first) and one with my dad up in Baltimore! Whew, good thing I love Thanksgiving food.

Head on over to Jamie's Blog  if you want to see what other people are loving this Wednesday!

Candy and Costumes

I am pleased to say that our first party at our new house was a success! Saturday night we had a great halloween party, and I am so glad that everyone seemed to have a good time and enjoy all the food.

I was a stewardess and Clarke was a pilot.

I thought our costumes turned out pretty good!

Friends all dressed up. I loved these costumes!

More fun costumes.

Sunday night we had a lot of trick or treaters. I would say about 60 or so. This was our first time really handing out candy, as last year we were in the apartment. I got a visit from the cutest bumble bee ever! Glad I got to see Ellie all dressed up. She even did some trick or treating in my neighborhood.

And that was our Halloween!