Christmas Stockings

Wes decided that we were not only going to exchanged stocking gifts, but we were going to do so prior to Christmas. This was decided on Monday and we were going to exchange gifts on Wednesday night. I was bit overwhelmed by this stocking exchange gift giving, being that we have never exchanged stocking gifts and I was unsure of the stocking gift expectation. I mean some people ideas of stocking gifts are toothbrushes, while others are Bailey Boxes. (And as a side note, I grew up with toothbrushes in my stockings, not Bailey Boxes or Lexus Keys.)

Anyway, back to the drawing board I went for ideas as to what I was going to stuff in his stocking. That is when I realized there is only one place that could find a fun unique gift Wes would like and that place is Lowes. God Bless Lowes and their employees....that will be for another post of me tromping around and having oh five employees helping me.

Okay, so back to exchanging. I come out to the living room, and my stocking is stuffed with what appears to be oranges (and not Grandpas). Of course now I am all sorts of curious - perhaps its oranges stuffed around a Bailey Box with a Bailey's Diamond......

I know, I know... I am ridiculous....but I appear to have a one track mind lately for sparkles.

We grab our stockings and set to unloading our loot. I am all over mine ... pulling out oranges...nuts...nuts?....candy....and socks. Socks?! What a random collection of ... and then it hits me, and I just started laughing hysterically. I absolutely love the way Wes's mind works. He gave me an "Old Fashioned" Christmas Stocking. Love Love Love it.

My Christmas Stocking - Fabulous.

Now onto Wes's stocking .... hmmm. Well in Wes's stocking, he found an axe. However, he seemed to really get a kick out of it and was completely surprised. I mean who doesn't like getting an axe in their stocking?! We have been building fires and well one cannot chop wood with a saw, now can they? I also included a Lowes carpenter belt, because I thought Wes would look hysterical wearing one. Unfortunately, he refused to model for the blog.

Now I would like to turn it over to Lucy, because she would like to wish y'all a very Merry Christmas -

Ha. Ha. Look at that face! She is so annoyed. We were wrapping presents and Wes decided he was going to wrap Lucy too.

Oranges

Every year my grandfather sends me a box of oranges and grapefruits - freshly picked from the groves of Florida. And every year they are sent to the wrong address. Last year we ended up with THREE boxes of oranges when it was all said and done. Only God knows how many boxes of oranges ended up at my previous addresses. That poor company and my poor Grandfather so much confusion.

Now, let me introduce y'all to my Grandfather. Grandpa Nick is a darling Italian retired NY City Police Officer, who lives in Long Island. His accent is as thick as it comes and he says "forgetabouit" at the end of every sentence.

This is Grandpa Nick.

Every Monday, Grandpa and I have a phone date. This past Monday Grandpa wanted to know if I had received the oranges. I had not. I asked Grandpa where he sent them - he replies "Hold the phone, let me check!" I tell him it's okay, he doesn't need to get up and check, if they go to my old address I can pick them up from Jennifer. We continue on with our conversation and all of sudden he goes "Katie, let me check the address, hold awhile!"

Grandpa gets back on the phone and starts yelling into the phone, "Here we go 1-3..."

Me: "Grandpa, that's the right address. You have -"

Grandpa: "Your birthday, May..."

Me: "Yes, Grandpa that is ri- "

Grandpa: "Your social security number 1-1-...."

Me: "DO WHAT?! Grandpa, um yes, that would be all of my information."

Grandpa: "Yup! Yup! I have it all written down."

Me: "Oh well that is good... let's just hope you lock the doors."

Good news - Oranges and grapefruits arrived yesterday. Some more good news -my identity has yet to be stolen, at least to my knowledge. Eh, forgetabouit.

Deck the Halls

I wanted to share some pictures of the house now that we are officially done decorating.

This is my homemade wreath and bow! I was very excited not only to make my own wreath and bow this year, but I was even more excited over the cost of this little project- $3.11. Oh yes. Look who is being fiscally responsible now Wesley.

The view of our lovely abode from the street. Go Wolfpack!

My mom gave me her snow village and for some reason Jack really loves the snow village people. He enjoys sniffing them - thankfully he hasn't had the urge to eat them. He also loves having his picture taken.

The fireplace and my 98 cent poinsettias - thank you Lowes. Please ignore the fact that Wes's stocking is missing ... Pottery Barn has yet to deliver his monogramed stocking. And no worries because this chick scored free monograming and shipping.

Okay so the Christmas decorations are lacking in the dinning room. BUT, Please notice we have dinning room chairs!!! I love my new Parson Chairs that we scored from Craigslist. They are brand new and what we paid for a set a four, you could buy one from Pottery Barn. I just need to buy some slip covers and we will be set to go.

A Fun Old Fashion Family Christmas

"We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols."

I got the crazy idea that we should head up to the mountains and cut down our Christmas tree. (Maybe I should stop watching Christmas Vacation ...) However, Wes, indulged me, and on Saturday we packed up the truck and headed west. Lucy decided she wanted in as well and being that Wes cannot say no to her, Lucy jumped on in and settled down for our trip to the mountains.

Wes had already researched and looked into possible farms to cut down our perfect Christmas tree. We were headed to the Boone area .... which meant a solid 3 hour car ride .... which meant 3 hours of me singing Christmas songs.

Wes loves my singing. See - Two Thumbs Up. HA. I think the singing lasted a solid 20 minutes before my radio station and voice were silenced.

That is okay, because, Wes then informed me the farm we were going to go to not only had Christmas trees, BUT, there were COWS! YES!

I was all over those cows as soon as we had the car parked. Unfortunately, Lucy did not like the cows. She started barking, howling, and whining at the cows. At which point, Wes, said it is time for us to go and pick out our tree.

Of course in the midst of us searching for "the one" - Lucy and I needed to have a photo shoot.

And then, there it was, our perfect tree.....

Ha! Just kidding! That tree was huge ! ! !

Let's try this again ....

Here it is ! Our perfect Christmas tree. This lovely farm does not allow for you to cut down your own tree, which made me relieved that none of our appendages would be lost during this cutting down tree process.

Down she goes !

All wrapped up and ready to go home. Before heading back to Raleigh, we headed to Boone for a quick lunch, and we were off to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway was gorgeous!

Please take notice of the SNOW! I was very excited to see there was some snow left from earlier in the week.

Wes managed to get our tree in the house and in the stand. I was concerned with capturing every moment of this process. (Naturally Wes was not as concerned - haha.)

Woosh! The twine is cut! Isn't it beautiful?!

And now for your viewing pleasure - Our Christmas Tree!