Christmas, snow, and all the rest....

So Christmas was almost cancelled this year in Oklahoma because a blizzard came thru! It was crazy insane but somehow my amazing husband made it to my parents and we were able to spend Christmas Eve there with them! I love getting to spend that time with them! I gave my brother & sister in law the greatest gift ever! You see my brother thinks he's hilarious, and while somedays this is true, somedays, like my birthday, he isn't. About 8 or 9 years ago for my birthday I asked him for a cd that I wanted really bad. I figured, hey a cd is only around $13 so that's not too bad. Well apparently my brother thought to himself, gee, Sis doesn't need that cd, I'll go to Goodwill. So he took a trip to Goodwill and bought me an hor' dourve tree. It cost him 15 cents. Yes he left the price tag on it and that is all I got. I was so mad I didn't talk to him for a week. He did finally make it right and go get me the cd I had asked for but I kept the damn tree. For those of you that don't know what an hor' dourve tree is, well it's a plastic plate that has a plastic tree coming out of the middle of it that you stick finger sandwiches, olives, and other things of that nature on. Well, for Christmas, he got it back. The look of shock and surprise on his face was classic! I had asked them what they wanted for Christmas and they said they wanted gift cards to fix up thier house with....well I hate buying gift cards, what if what you need isn't at the store you are going to? So I figured money is better, and I could tie it to the tree and then wrap the tree. I haven't seen my brother "get got" in a long time. He was speechless at first and then he just started laughing! He couldn't believe that I had held on to that stupid tree! I loved it and got a great laugh out of it too. I don't know that my sister in law appreciated the joke as much as my brother did but it was well worth it just for the look on his face! I also got to spend some time with my grandparents. I swear, I love those to people. They had a good time opening up thier gifts and just being there with us. I got my Mammaw a prayer box and her face lit up. She loved it.

We spent Christmas day with my husbands family. It was nice. We always go over there on Christmas morning and open gifts and everything. Since everyone was pretty much snowed in we got over there and they had breakfast for us! That was a nice treat! Who doesn't love breakfast when they don't have to cook it or clean it up? We had a great time with them and even got to go and spend some time with Seth's family later that evening at his Great Aunts house. We got to catch up with family we hadn't seen in a while and that was fun. We enjoyed seeing Seth's uncle and listening to the noises of Christmas.

I haven't taken any pictures of the snow. I'm not digging it much. I don't like the cold and since it makes everything slippery and wet I can't wear my cute new shoes and so that is frustrating to me. I got some really cute heels that I want to wear. Oh well, maybe this snow will pass soon enough. My dog has loved it! He's jumped and played in the snow drifts and just loved every minute of it! It's been funny to watch him run around out there! Anyway, that's my holiday. I'm enclosing some pictures of the hor' dourve tree all decked out in money. Oh and also, I got a new springform pan so I can practice making cheesecake now! I made my first one! I'll enclose a picture of that too! It was delicious!!

Thursdays....

So this week, yeah, it hasn't been the greatest one ever. And right now I'm trying to gear up for tomorrow. See, Thursday and I, we have a Hate/Hate relationship. The last 5 or 6 of them have treated me pretty badly so I've decided to boycott them. I know, it sounds so stupid. But I feel a little better about it. I mean it all started when my best friend of 10 years decided to tell me that I was the most horrible person ever, then the next week, we had to put one of our dogs to sleep. It just continued from there. I've not had the greatest week this week and I'm not really looking forward to tomorrow. I figure whatever can go wrong, will. I'm usually not this negative and that bothers me that when Thursday rolls around my whole outlook changes. I mean, I usually don't think this negatively so why do I let Thursdays control so much for me? Who knows, maybe sometime soon, Thursdays and I can patch things up and won't have to be so cold to one another. I laugh when I type that because it reminds me of my favorite tv show, The Gilmore Girls. If you've ever seen it you know that Loralei loves snow and at one point, she and snow "break up"....that's kind of how I feel about Thursdays right now. Maybe someday we will get back together. Like Loralei and the snow......

The Good Kid

So, ya know what my favorite thing is?? Being the good kid. Getting to spend time with my Mom and Dad and just getting to be with them doing fun stuff on Saturdays. Today I went and shopped with my Mom. I got some of my Christmas stuff bought and out of the way. We had such a blast. We always do. We got to talk and be together. That is always so nice. I even got into the spirit of Christmas by listening to my most favorite cd on the way home. It's a holiday tradition for us to listen to "The Cabbage Patch Christmas" from 1983 every single year since I can remember. I recently found it on cd and well it's the only Christmas cd I own. I hate to listen to Christmas music because it seems like during this time of year, there is NO escape from it. But that cd makes my heart smile. So many memories in every single song. So today, was a great fun filled day with Mom, topped off with great 1983 vintage Christmas music!

Life & Thanksgiving.....

So what most people don't know about me is that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times. I have a LOT of great memories of this particular holiday. Some of them are old traditions, some of them are more recent. I mean, every single year for as long as I can remember, we would watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Now that I'm grown and have a home of my own, I get up early to watch it and I call my Mother about 900 times through out the morning to make sure she's seeing the floats as they go by. Funny thing is, I just recently discovered that my brother gets up early to watch it too. So next year, maybe I will call him too. I remember the last Thanksgiving we had my Pawpaw Bazil here, he spent Thanksgiving with us in Oklahoma. He was so happy to be here. Those memories hold a LOT of joy in my heart. I remember getting up to watch the parade like always and the look of relief on both my parents faces, "ahhhh someone elses turn!"....you see he was such a talker and it took him hours to tell you a story about someone that was long gone, and you had probably never heard of them or met them before, but just to hear his voice.....I sat there that morning and listened to him talk while I watched the parade. It always brings a smile to my face now watching the parade and remembering that morning. I remember how much he enjoyed going to my Mammaw & Pawpaw's house to eat dinner with the rest of my crazy Oklahoma family....he really enjoyed himself. I remember how thankful he was to be with us and how much he loved being with us that year and that is how I choose to remember him. He passed away in January of 2005. That was just a little over a month after his time with us. But, I know that he had that time with us, he had a great time, lots of fun, lots of laughs, and more than enough love.

I remember always spending time with my cousins on Thanksgiving and playing when we were younger. Going to get cokes when we were older. I remember always having family together and loving being together, getting to see my Uncle Joe throw marshmallows or rolls at whoever happened to be in the line of fire at the moment. For all of these wonderful memories, I am thankful and so grateful. I have had some wonderful Thanksgivings in the past.

This Thanksgiving was the first one I spent with my husbands family. I love my in-laws. They are wonderful people. This year my Mother-in-law wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner at her house with her family. So I got the turkey, learned how to make dressing and chocolate pie, and we had a great family dinner. I went to my Mammaw's to night before to get everything ready, she taught me how to make the dressing, which I am proud to say I'm the first one to ever be taught to make it. And she taught me hose to make her chocolate pie, this got dangerous, we had a fight with the fluffy topping stuff....it was fun though! I had a good time with my husbands family. My pie turned out beautifully and my stuffing was delicious. I hope that we are able to do this again.

So basically what I'm saying is that I'm thankful for everything that I have been given. I have some pretty amazing people in my life. I have had some people leave my life recently that I wasn't quite ready to let go of. I'm sure in time I'll be alright.

Lightning Flashes....

So this week it was crazy. We had a storm that just happened suddenly. The weather was showing no rain, just 98 degree weather with lots of sun. I was sitting at the computer when I heard a loud crash and saw a huge flash of light. All of the sudden the house went quiet and dark. The computer, TV, air conditioner, everything went off. We checked outside and it was starting to sprinkle a little and so we looked around and notice the neighbors had electricity. We called and asked electic company to come out and check it out. They came and went and 2 hours later turned everything back on. Well when everything came back up the computer no longer would turn on, the stereo in the bedroom wouldn't work anymore, the fan blew up, and yesterday when I went to cook dinner the oven wouldn't work either. I wanted to scream. I know that I can turn all of this over to my insurance company and they can issue me a check and I can go and buy all new things but I know they have to schedule a time for the adjuster to come out and take a look around then I have to wait for them to review thier findings and then I have to wait for a check. It is just frustrating to deal with this crap. So now here I am waiting on figuring out how to fix all this. I'm not a patient person....I don't like sitting and waiting and so this is driving me nuts. I wanted it fixed 2 seconds after it happened. I guess we'll see what happens.

That's all for now....I guess we'll see how next week goes and if we can fix the stove and everything else. Cooking will be interesting next week. I guess we will get to eat out alot! Oh well.....here's to no more storms that destroy things.

Well I had a BLAST on my shoot with Ashley on Saturday! We trashed a wedding dress and swam in the other. It was a blast! I thought I would share one of the sneak peeks that she has put up for me to see! It's my favorite picture out of the ones she's put up so far! I just think it's a gorgeous shot!! We had a blast really! We had even more fun on Sunday when we got my cousins, Aunt, & Mom together for a girls only shoot!! She's a very talented girl!!

www.AshlynnPhotography.com

Long week ahead!

So this week my cousins are here! I love when they visit! They are like my mini mes....yes they have my attitude, and sometimes it's overwhelming but it's fun! Today we are going to go and take pictures together! A friend of mine is a photographer and she's going to do a photoshoot of us girls, my Mom, my Aunt Leaoma, and then the Mini's and me!! I can't wait! I'm going over to do hair & make up on them at 4 and then we have the shoot at 5:30!! It should be fun! These girls are just such a blast and they are going to be here all week long!! So I'm sure that we will be swimming if weather permits it and one day this week I plan on taking the oldest one out for a secret driving lesson! I'm excited about that! Once her mother reads this I'm sure I'll be in trouble, but every girl wants to drive...so it'll be fun!

Anyway, nothing else going on really. Seth & I have been out fishing a couple more times and I've caught some pretty big fish...I still am not taking them off the hook and that is irritating to him but I'm a girl so what do you expect? It's so pretty out there, so soothing to be that disconnected from everything. I LOVE it out there. If I could build a house out there and stay I would. It's just nice, no one out there to be noisy, no traffic really, just quiet. There have been deer out there every single time I've been and it's just nice. So pretty. Anyway, I'm off to get ready I'll write more some other time!! OH here's a pic from the last shoot I did with Ashley. And I'll post a link to her website!


www.ashlynnphotography.com

The Finer Things In Life

Tonight Seth & I went out to some land that his best friends family just inherited. It's one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen. There's 750 acres of land with at least 3 ponds on it. I've seen my first wild hog and buck out there. I also got to see some gorgeous red bird today singing his heart out. He was so pretty. The only dash of color in a field of green! It's a really beautiful place out in the middle of nowhere. Seth caught a perch in one of the ponds. We drove all over the place and just kinda explored it a little bit until we get the chance to take our 4 wheeler out there and really take a look around. We really have enjoyed getting to be out there. It's a really neat place. We found a million of these berries out there too. I am thinking they are edible...maybe we will pick some sometime and see. >
Anyway that was all we did today. I just wanted to share because I thought it was gorgeous and I got some great pictures of Seth while he was fishing! We are going to send some to his best friend in Afghanistan.

As for everything else in my life. Dad's surgery went really great. They ended up only putting in one stint and they said that they think with a good diet and some exercise he will be good as new. Maybe even better! I appreciate all the prayers & thoughts everyone sent my way. I'm so thankful that he is doing better.

4th of July!

I LOVE the 4th of July! I've been sitting outside tonight listening to the sound of firecrackers being popped by the neighbors. I must say I LOVE that sound. I LOVE 4th of July so much. It brings back some of the most wonderful memories. I can remember being little and sitting outside with my little brother watching the fireworks on the trampoline when I lived at home. Oh we had so much fun watching them. And I can remember my cousins coming up from Texas and us watching them from the WalMart parking lot back when it wasn't open 24 hrs a day. I can remember my Aunt Peg & cousin Kari talking about what flowers the fireworks reminded them of. And my most recent memories are of my Aunt Leaoma and her daughters (my mini me's) coming to my house to watch them. I loved them being here. I love my house being full of people. My husband could live with out it but I LOVE it! It reminds me of home. Our house was always full of people. We had a never ending party it seemed. My brother always had friends over or I did so that house was NEVER empty. The 4th is the only time other than football season that my house if filled. It's the one time of year that this house feels the most like my home. I mean it always feels like home but it's different when there is laughter and talking and people here. I love having people here. We have had cook outs and friends over on the 4th every year for the last 6 years. It's kind of our thing. It's the one time of year that my husband puts aside his anti-social behavior and we have friends over and I LOVE it. It truly is my favorite holiday. It is when my home feels most like my Mom's. I know now why she had such a hard time when we moved out. It's nice to have that noise in the house and when it's all you've ever known...or have known for 23 years...it's hard to adjust to quiet. So I guess, I just wanted to share tonight how I felt about the 4th of July. I am glad that there are men & women out there fighting for my freedom so that I can sit and enjoy the things that I enjoy and so that I can have my little cook out tomorrow. There is a Marine that is out in Afghanistan right now that I wish could be at this cook out with us. I hope he knows that we are thinking of him and praying for him daily. He is Seth's best friend and we miss him being here during times like these. A party isn't a party without him here. So thank you to the ones out there serving our country...it doesn't go unnoticed. I'm thankful.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

Well today I turned 28! I LOVE birthdays so today has been a GREAT day for me! My hubby took me out to eat and to shop and I had a blast! I know most people don't get all excited about thier birthdays like I do and act like they are 3 waiting on Christmas to get here. But seriously folks, you only live once....why not enjoy every birthday? Why spend your time dreading the next year older? I'm serious...I love turning another year older, just means I've made it another year and here comes another chapter in my ever changing life! Thanks to all my friends and family that have sent me birthday wishes! They mean the world to me!! And don't be surprised if when it's your birthday I make a huge deal out of it for you!!

xoxo Denisa

Designing...

So I've started a design site on myspace and I LOVE it! I got into photoshop a while back because a lady I met on myspace sent me photoshop. I have been learning how to make things online for a while and let me tell you I am LOVING it! I have been using it since about November and have learned SO much! It's just a hobby but it's soooo much fun and I can't seem to get enough of it. I'm kinda thinking about going and taking some classes in graphic design and learning how to do some of that. I don't know though...I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet or not....we'll see. There's a link on here to the design site and I am going to see if I can add some of the graphics or images I have made later....Let me know what you think! XOXO Denisa www.myspace.com/alexandritedesigns

Summer....

It's been a long time since I blogged last! There's been alot going on here. I now have a new "Nephew" .... My brother & his wife, Rhyan, got a puppy named Charlie. He's the most adorable thing! I've gotten to puppy sit already and Charlie and I are getting to be quite good friends! I LOVE that little puppy! I'm already a very proud aunt even if it's just to a puppy!

I also got a pool this summer and am quickly turning into a fish. Geez, I had forgotten how much I loved the pool. I've always loved swimming and we always had a pool when I was growing up. Since I've been married for four years and out of the house I've been with out a pool. My parents decided they didn't want thier pool anymore so it's been moved out here to live with me. I could not be happier! I think I've had it maybe 2 weeks and there's only been 2 days that I haven't been in it so far! I just LOVE the smell of the chlorine and the feel of the sun....it's so awesome to have this pool.

The only other thing I can think of that is going on is that my Daddy is having surgery on the 7th of July to put 2 stints in. I'm a little bit worried about that. I know everyone keeps telling me "it's no big deal they do those surgeries everyday" ...well you let it be your Daddy or your Grandpa or husband and see if you feel that way....trust me you won't. It's scary to know that a man you love so much is going to be having such a big surgery. It may be routine but that doesn't make it less scary for me. So I'm hoping that everything goes well and that he is on the road to recovery very soon. I love this man. I need him to be okay and healthy and if that means doing this surgery then we have to get it done but he has to go thru the surgery and come out of it good. So if you are reading this please pray for him to come out of surgery alright.

Lastly, my birthday is on Friday...the 26th!! I've always been a child over my birthday. I act like I'm 3 years old and can't wait for it to be here. I count down the days until it's here. I want to open presents and would probably still blow out candles on a cake and wear party hats if anyone offered to let me! I love my birthday. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me! Thanks for reading!

Well I just celebrated my 4 year wedding anniversary last week. I am married to the most amazing man and I have never been more happy. Things have been going pretty great lately. I have no complaints. Things are starting to look up here for me....there seems to be some changes taking place in my life and they are going to be great! I'm looking forward to what 2009 has to offer!