I have been excited to come home for weeks now and by Thursday I could barely contain my excitement. When the alarm went off on Friday morning, I didn't groan and roll over hoping to catch five more minutes of sleep. We hopped out of bed and honey we were on the road by 7 AM! This girl doesn't mess around when I go home! Jace and I had 10 1/2 hours in the car together which was much appreciated since finals has consumed our lives for over a month!
We made great time and honey I have never been more excited to enter into Kentucky or as Jace called it, the Promise Land! The closer we got to home, the louder I got! Things didn't get any better when I called the Teak and she said she was making my favorite comfort food-macaroni and cheese! We got stuck in 5 o'clock traffic on Richmond road and I was ever so thankful because it meant we were back in Lexington! Y'all I never knew how much I love this town until I left. We pulled into Teak's driveway and what did I see, but my momma's car!! That rat surprised Jace and I and had got into Lex 30 minutes before us!!!
So here I sit, in a town I love and have missed dearly, with the three most important people in my life. My heart couldn't be more full and I thank God to be at home with family during the holidays! Merry Christmas everyone!
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
December Happenings
Thanksgiving came and went and now we are two weeks from Christmas! This month is flying by and thinking back on the last couple of weeks, we have done a few fun things and have a few things to look forward to.
Jace and I have attended two UF basketball games and y'all we have just the best time. Watching the Gators play doesn't compare to being in Rupp, but we are thankful that we can watch a good SEC team play ball. Jace gets in for free and a spouse ticket is just $8, which makes for a cheap and fun date. We are learning the cheers and chants for Florida and I must say the UF fans support their team. Last night, we watched the UF v. Kansas game and the drum line performed. They were terrific and I don't know what gets me more excited for a ballgame or football game than the drum line. We hope to attend as many games as we can!
Going to the game last night was an extra special treat because Jace is in the throes of finals. We don't normally have a date on a Tuesday night, let alone during finals. Jace's finals last two and a half weeks! He has completed two finals so far and has three more to go; in one week he will be finished. After this round of finals, Jace will be halfway done with the LLM program. Is that not crazy!
You know what else is crazy? Sweating when you sing "Here comes Santa Clause"! While the entire country is battling cold temperatures and bundling up, Jace and I have the air conditioner running and wearing shorts. The past two weeks have been in the 80s and I know, I know it sounds so nice when our friends and family are freezing but Jace and I would love to curl up on the couch with sweatpants on and eat soup on the weekends. Instead, we are ironing shorts and drinking lemonade. Without a doubt, we are going to freeze when we head home at Christmas. We have become Florida wimps.
Speaking of home, we are headed back to the great state of Kentucky on December 20th. If I could, I would already have the car packed up and ready to go. I can't wait to get back home and see our families. We will be in Kentucky for almost two weeks and I can NOT wait!
I hope your December isn't too crazy and that you are getting things checked off your to-do list.
Jace and I have attended two UF basketball games and y'all we have just the best time. Watching the Gators play doesn't compare to being in Rupp, but we are thankful that we can watch a good SEC team play ball. Jace gets in for free and a spouse ticket is just $8, which makes for a cheap and fun date. We are learning the cheers and chants for Florida and I must say the UF fans support their team. Last night, we watched the UF v. Kansas game and the drum line performed. They were terrific and I don't know what gets me more excited for a ballgame or football game than the drum line. We hope to attend as many games as we can!
Going to the game last night was an extra special treat because Jace is in the throes of finals. We don't normally have a date on a Tuesday night, let alone during finals. Jace's finals last two and a half weeks! He has completed two finals so far and has three more to go; in one week he will be finished. After this round of finals, Jace will be halfway done with the LLM program. Is that not crazy!
You know what else is crazy? Sweating when you sing "Here comes Santa Clause"! While the entire country is battling cold temperatures and bundling up, Jace and I have the air conditioner running and wearing shorts. The past two weeks have been in the 80s and I know, I know it sounds so nice when our friends and family are freezing but Jace and I would love to curl up on the couch with sweatpants on and eat soup on the weekends. Instead, we are ironing shorts and drinking lemonade. Without a doubt, we are going to freeze when we head home at Christmas. We have become Florida wimps.
Speaking of home, we are headed back to the great state of Kentucky on December 20th. If I could, I would already have the car packed up and ready to go. I can't wait to get back home and see our families. We will be in Kentucky for almost two weeks and I can NOT wait!
I hope your December isn't too crazy and that you are getting things checked off your to-do list.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Our first Thanksgiving
Last week Jace and I were so excited for Thanksgiving and to enjoy a few days together. We missed our families terribly but we were thankful that we could be together. I didn't want the day to pass and us not celebrate so I cooked, baked, and prepared way too much food. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Thanks to Jace's help and several family recipes, we pulled off our first Thanksgiving!
At 7 AM on Thursday I woke up and put our three pound turkey in the crockpot and then crawled back in bed. When we decided to finally get up, we took our time and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Finally, my anxious nerves couldn't take it any longer and I got started with my dishes. Our plan was to eat around 3:30 PM and I was afraid I would late.
I would prep dishes and get them ready and Jace would wash dishes. I couldn't have done it without Jace. By him doing the dishes, I always had an clear countertop and an empty sink. We definitely tag teamed the entire day and I am happy to say we ate on time.
The dish I was most nervous about was Teak's dressing balls. Teak's dressing balls and her sweet potato casserole is what makes Thanksgiving to me. I desperately wanted them to taste like my Teak's. I doubled checked with Mom before I made the balls and she walked me through each step.
I did each step, exactly as she explained it and y'all they tasted like Teak's!!! They didn't look exactly like hers but honey, they tasted just as good! The sweet potato casserole turned out heavenly and I am thankful for leftovers!
I also tried my hand at my Mom's apple crisp. It smelled like my momma's, it looked like my momma's, and more importantly, it tasted like my momma's! I was too full on Thursday to eat any but we have slowly nibbled away at it this weekend.
When 3:30 PM rolled around, I stood back and admired our countertop full of food, most of which were recipes passed down to me.
I couldn't help it but I cried. I cried because I missed my family; I cried because I was so thankful for their recipes which made me feel like they were with me; I cried because I was happy that we had accomplished our first Thanksgiving meal together.
Then, Jace said the prayer and we both looked up and had the sniffles. It's hard to be away from family on the holidays but we were thankful for God's many blessings and seeing us through this crazy year.
We ate and I might have let out a small yell when I tasted that first bite of dressing ball! We took our time and enjoyed each dish. While eating the meal, we realized we have a much deeper appreciation for the women in our families that have fixed the meal year-end and year-out. We realized just how much work it is and how exhausting it can be!
After all the dishes were put away, we sat down and looked at all the ads. Now I must say that I think it is wrong that stores opened up Thursday night. Those workers deserve to be with their families. But then I saw a sale and it couldn't be passed up. Before I knew it, Jace and I were at Macy's! It was my first time Black Thursday/Friday shopping and Lord the people. People were going crazy over a $9.99 toaster. No thank you. We thankfully found a spot that people weren't acting a fool in and it was fairly quiet. We were home within an hour and I must say it was worth our time and it was fun. I don't know if shopping will be a new tradition but it was fun for this year.
The next day we got out and looked some more at the sales. When I was worn out from the mall and hunting for a parking space, we headed home and had glorious leftovers. We were exhausted at this point and the couch was calling our names but there was no rest for the weary. We had a ball game to get to! We had tickets for the UF v. Florida State game. Now, it was no Rupp Arena but it was fun. The game went down to some free throws and UF pulled out a W. It was a great win and a great game. Jace and I can't wait to see more games.
I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed time with family and loved ones.
At 7 AM on Thursday I woke up and put our three pound turkey in the crockpot and then crawled back in bed. When we decided to finally get up, we took our time and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Finally, my anxious nerves couldn't take it any longer and I got started with my dishes. Our plan was to eat around 3:30 PM and I was afraid I would late.
I would prep dishes and get them ready and Jace would wash dishes. I couldn't have done it without Jace. By him doing the dishes, I always had an clear countertop and an empty sink. We definitely tag teamed the entire day and I am happy to say we ate on time.
 |
| Fruit Salad Maker |
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| Dressing Ball mix |
I also tried my hand at my Mom's apple crisp. It smelled like my momma's, it looked like my momma's, and more importantly, it tasted like my momma's! I was too full on Thursday to eat any but we have slowly nibbled away at it this weekend.
 |
| Mom's Apple Crisp |
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| Our spread |
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| Carving the turkey |
We ate and I might have let out a small yell when I tasted that first bite of dressing ball! We took our time and enjoyed each dish. While eating the meal, we realized we have a much deeper appreciation for the women in our families that have fixed the meal year-end and year-out. We realized just how much work it is and how exhausting it can be!
After all the dishes were put away, we sat down and looked at all the ads. Now I must say that I think it is wrong that stores opened up Thursday night. Those workers deserve to be with their families. But then I saw a sale and it couldn't be passed up. Before I knew it, Jace and I were at Macy's! It was my first time Black Thursday/Friday shopping and Lord the people. People were going crazy over a $9.99 toaster. No thank you. We thankfully found a spot that people weren't acting a fool in and it was fairly quiet. We were home within an hour and I must say it was worth our time and it was fun. I don't know if shopping will be a new tradition but it was fun for this year.
The next day we got out and looked some more at the sales. When I was worn out from the mall and hunting for a parking space, we headed home and had glorious leftovers. We were exhausted at this point and the couch was calling our names but there was no rest for the weary. We had a ball game to get to! We had tickets for the UF v. Florida State game. Now, it was no Rupp Arena but it was fun. The game went down to some free throws and UF pulled out a W. It was a great win and a great game. Jace and I can't wait to see more games.
I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed time with family and loved ones.
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