Oh Christmas Tree...

So now that it is after Thanksgiving we have decided to put up the tree. Everytime we do it together I wonder the hell did I ever do it by myself in the past. Elena of course just had to help us so there are a lot of ornaments on the tree that don't got past the 3 foot mark lol. It looks like we will need a new tree after this year. This tree has been thru the gauntlet and it may be time to retire it. My mom had it for about 3 years before we got married and when we moved we took it with us since she was so adamant about having a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree from there on out. So far this tree has stood in 4 different homes in the last 7 years all across the country. I think we got our (or rather moms money worth) lol. Here are some pictures.





Of course I had to add a picture of Elena sleeping next to the tree once we were done lol. Til next time!!!!

Thanksgiving....

Has once again come and gone. We had such a great Thanksgiving. It was just us,The Macgregors, and our other friends Ashley and her daughter Sarahbeth. It was so great to have our friends here and it also makes us realize just how lucky we are, not just because we have each other, but because we have wonderful friends and extended family as well.We had a wonderful spread that lasted a few days even though we've sent people home with food lol. Elena helped me with the pumpkin cheesecake and with some other stuff. She also helped Ray with the turkey. She has so much fun in the kitchen, I wonder if I have a chef on my hands....

Here are some pics:


Elena being the oh so cute chef that she is...













Here she was helping me make a pumpkin cheesecake which came out great!!











She was so great a "giving turkey a bath" except when she kept trying to wash the seasoning off of it lol.








It's wondeful to see how much she is growing, not only physically but as a person. I try to appreciate it not only on Thanksgiving, but all year long. She and Ray are the only things in my life that keep me going. I love my family.
All in all, it was an absolutely wonderful holiday!!! Now time to get ready for Christmas!!!

Christmas decorations

Today we have decided to get our Christmas decorations ready since Thanksgiving is literally around the corner and we want to put them up right after. Well I have been feeling a bit artsy and decided to paint some decorations. In doing so, I have obtained a certain little helper to help me with all my painting needs. She got a little carried away though lol.
She insisted on wearing a smock so we put one of Ray's old shirts on her. How cute is she??


Painting a santa she so affectionately named Penguin


She was so focused


Then she started painting herself....


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

United States Coast Guard Foundation Dinner

So on November 12th, we got a sitter and went to the Annual USCG Foundation Dinner. We had such an awesome time!!! This is the first time Ray and I have been to anything formal. Everything was grade A and it was wonderful. We had the tastiest hor'deuvres, top shelf liquor, filet mignon that you could literally cut with a butter knife, delicious chocolate mousse, and let's not forget the endless Moet champagne and chocolate covered strawberries....oh goodness my waistline is expanding again just thinking about it! We had such a good time and lots of good company. We've had the pleasure of meeting true war heroes...some were old veterans who loved to share stories and some were young, wounded but very much in high spirits. It was an amazing night in so many ways. Here are some pics dressed up. Can't wait to go again next year!!



Ray in his dinner dress blues minus his cover and white gloves


Me in my red dress! (Ray picked it out)


Me just taking pictures on the way home...lol