Random Photo, Take 13

Photo 12 was February 28, 2008 at a bridal tea for my friend Debbie. It was at a really fun tea place where we all wore fun hats and had a fancy tea. This picture was when Debbie was giving us our bridesmaid gifts, which were these purses made by her husband, Brian. Fun times!

Here's number 13:Do y'all still like Random Photo?

Celebrating Christmas

Got this on Kristin's blog, and I thought it would be fun! Needed to do something besides RandomPhoto. :)

How I celebrate Christmas (if you care):

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog is good in small doses. Already had some on Friday night when decorating the Petersons' tree. Hot chocolate is better, if done right.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Mostly sitting out, unwrapped. But sometimes some of them are wrapped. Santa is also GREAT with stockings (at all homes).

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white better, but colored lights are fun too. I think we had colored mostly growing up. Matt likes colored.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? After Thanksgiving. Usually sometime around now. Haven't gotten the house straight enough for it yet though.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? My Mom's baked goodies we deliver to friends & family.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Well, my favorite 'holiday' memories involve Thanksgiving because we always did it with my Dad's family and then also did Christmas with them on Thanksgiving night. We usually got money or new jewelry or purses that we would use going shopping the next day as a huge family clan. I will think on this one more though...

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I honestly don't remember. I think I was in 5th grade, but I didn't tell anyone for awhile because I wanted to keep it real for my sisters.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? YES! Growing up, we always used to open ONE on Christmas Eve, then it went to 3, then finally ALL of them. Matt and I do Christmas Eve with my side, so we always do all of our Tyndall gifts on Christmas Eve.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Only had one since being married so far, but we did it with lots of our family coming over to help decorate, and I thought that was lots of fun. :)

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I like looking at it, but I don't like being out in it. Well, maybe for a few hours, then I'm over it.

12. Can you ice skate? Haven't in a really long time. Last time I did it in Thailand, but I didn't enjoy it. I enjoyed watching my students much more.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? One of my top favorite gifts was a video camera that my Dad got me. The same year, he got my sisters a keyboard and karaoke machine, so we have hours & hours of me video taping us all doing karaoke. Fun memories to look back on!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Special time with family. Reconnecting with friends. Lots of songs everywhere about Jesus. Reflecting on God sending His Son to us.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? see #6

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? My Mom's Soup & Salad party. (Which we need to plan!)

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night (Point of Grace version is a favorite)

20. Candy canes: Yuck or Yum? Yum. But I can usually only take one per season. (Completely agree with Kristin!)

21 Favorite Christmas show? Elf.

22. Saddest Christmas song? ???

23. Christmas cards: love or hate? LOVE!!!!!! And I love refreshing the pictures on my refrigerator. PLEASE send me your Christmas cards. And give me your address so we can send ours too.

Random Photo, Take 12

#11 was in Uzbekistan, March 2006. My mom and lots of friends came to visit us. This is a picture of Zack and my mom at one of the main landmarks in our city. I love those people and that place!

Here is Number 12. Another fun one.

Random Photo, Take 11

Photo 10 was during our recent family trip to California (which I never wrote about on here, darnit!). Some of us took a day trip to Lake Tahoe, and this was on the gondola ride up the mountain to a really spectacular view. This is Steven, Jenny (who just found out she's going to be a mommy--yay!), Matt and me. It was a REALLY fun day!

Here's #11 (This one makes me smile.)

Giving Thanks

Wow, we have SO many things to be thankful for this year.

A few of them are captured in the 'wordle' below.

Random Photo, Take 10

Photo 9 was in fact, on July 31, 2004 at my childhood best friend, Megan's wedding. This picture was of me and Steven during the reception, taken at the end of the pier where the ceremony was.

#10

Random Photo, Take 9

Photo 8 was at Safari World in Thailand (circa February 2009) on a field trip with our 2nd & 4th grade classes. This pic was Matt & Amanda, the 2nd grade teachers. What a fun day!

Here's number 9!

4 Years Ago Today

... was one of the best days EVER!Matt and I had recently returned from a mission trip to Romania. On that trip, I could tell that Matt KNEW that we were called to marriage. And then, a couple of days after that, my Mom called and said, 'hey, do you have any idea why Matt wants to come over and meet with me?' Ummm, DUH, Mom! So, then I was pretty excited. But Matt caught wind that I might know, so he did a great job of convincing me that it wasn't the right time. So, when it actually happened, I wasn't suspecting a thing! :)

... Monday, Nov. 20, we had a nice date planned. We dressed up and were going to go to a tapas place for dinner and then a fondue place for dessert. I was very excited for an official, dressy date, so when Matt came to pick me up, I had sparkling grade juice and cheese and crackers for us. I thought we would really enjoy the whole night and relax. Matt was rushing through and I had no idea why, but I just followed his lead. We left a little later than he had planned, and both of the places we tried to go to for dinner were closed.

Matt said that he had to go by his house to go to the restroom before we went to dinner at a different place. On the way to his house, he said that he wanted me to see a video that he had made with his college roommate. I sat down to watch it and heard our song. The video included a couple of inside jokes, but it was mostly full of pictures of us. In between pictures, the words, "Will...You...Marry...Me?" flashed up, and I couldn't believe what was really happening! When the video finished, Matt got on his knees in front of me, gave a little speech (which included him saying 'I Love You' for the first time) and then asked for my answer. I said, "of course!" and then we kissed and he gave me the ring.Matt had also made a video of several of our friends telling us why they are excited about us getting married. He had planned to use that as part of the proposal, but it didn't work out. We watched that video, and then he told me he had one more surprise planned blindfolded me.He drove around & around to throw me off. Eventually, we ended up at his sister's house. When we got there, a lot of our friends and family were there for a surprise engagement party! It was wonderful! Honestly, it was perfect!

Random Photo, Take 8

Photo 7 was a recent one. Taken September 4th on Folly Beach, before the wedding of Shannon & Corri. It was the day that Stephani and Mark found out they were going to be parents (though only they & one friend knew at that point).

Here's #8.

Random Photo, Take 7

Photo 6 was hard. Probably only Texas friends or those of you who visited us in Texas would know that one. It was a picture of Nala and Moses, who belonged to the Morrows. Taken summer of 2008, it reminds me of good times in their back yard grilling out and nights of 24 and games. Miss you guys!

Here's #7.

Random Photo, Take 6

Well, you were close. Photo 5 was taken on 7/6/07. After the bridal brunch, we went to get nails done before hanging out and then the Rehearsal and Rehearsal dinner. What a fun day!

Confession: the background of my computer at the moment is of a very random bridge, that even I had a hard time recalling. (I eventually decided it was taken in Chiang Mai, Thailand), but I didn't want to use that one. So, I cheated.

Who? Where? When? What? -- Major props if you can get this one!

Random Photo, Take 5

Yes, Photo 4 was in Thailand, Spring 2009, 4th grade girls (Dream, Mee Mee and MoMae) at Crazy Hair Day.

Next: Who, What, Where When?And proof that it really is random since it's such a bad pic of me.

shameless

a shameless plug to visit the other private blog for some updates. still let me know if you want to be in on that one.

(If you are like me and do blogs in a reader, I know that one doesn't show up.) :)

Before & After

So... my roots (and grays!!) were getting bad...
So, I went to the salon to get a fix. This is a pic on the way to the salon...
And this is a pic on the way home...
Thanks everyone who gave me some birthday money. This is what I got. :)

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the cooler weather. I've even been cold this week. It can stay these temps until April.

I'm thankful for my job. I don't always love it, but I'm thankful for it. And the good benefits that come with it.

I'm thankful that I can be in grad school for free. I definitely regret my decision to take 2 classes this quarter, but I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to take these classes.

I'm thankful for Matt helping with housework so much.

I'm thankful to have only one dog--and this dog being Nala. Several times a day I am thankful for this.I'm thankful for the next 10 days having lots of fun stuff that out-of-the-ordinary.

I'm thankful for such a fun Community Group.

I'm super, extremely thankful that my best friend will be returning to the States this month and that I will probably get some quality Ginger time fairly soon. :)

Random Photo, Take 4

I'm loving that people are responding to these. I FINALLY found something that people will interact with. Yay! :)

So, Picture 3, was in 2001 at Animal Kingdom, the final part of Steven's and my Senior Trip. After Mom, Steven and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas with most of Charlestowne Academy Class of 2001, the Gaffords, Matt and Steph, came down to Orlando for a week of Disney-ing. It was a really fun week. :) This particular picture is a favorite because my utter, genuine fear is captured perfectly. Dinosaurs are scary, after all.

Here's #4. Who? What? Where? When?

Random Photo, Take 3

Take 2 was August 2006 the day I bought my Kia. This was in front of the Flagler home. Stephani and I were testing the emergency release in the trunk. (Lots of you were close, and I love that you are actually guessing!) That was a very fun day! And I miss that car very much...

On to another one... hint: 7 people in this picture should be identifiable.

Who? What? Where? When?