O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

With all my yammering about our Christmas tree I've had a couple requests for some pictures. So, here ya go, pictures of our first Christmas tree.

The base of the tree with all the branches attached.

AJ stuffing the star with lights... before we found the broken one and had to take them back and get new ones... i stuffed it when we got home and that's what's on the tree.


My slightly over-dramatic husband putting the top on the tree. If you notice, the tree is taller than he is... and that's one of the things I was looking for while we were shopping for one.


Our tree... almost completely decorated. We have still added a few ornaments here and there, but this it the general idea. I love to sit on our couch with the tree lit and all the other lights off.


The above mentioned star topping our 7.5 foot behemoth. I think it's just marvelous.


AJ was quite content without a tree skirt, but I'm the woman and I know better. Lol. I love you honey... I'm pretty proud of it, I made it myself.


The tree with the basic decorations on it... glass balls, glitter icicles, red bows, jingle bells and candy canes, of course.


The embellishments to our stairs. AJ thinks I poke waay too many holes in our house what with all the pictures and other wall hangings... that's probably why I do it all while he's at work. Hahaha.


I think this is a cool picture. All the current decorations on the tree are in this photo... but we have a package of blue glass ball ornaments to put on. And I like the angle of this one... it's just kinda neat. At least I think so.


I'm in love with our tree. I'm so happy with the way it all turned out.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

My husband is such a good sport. We went into Idaho Falls yesterday and did some Christmas shopping. I know, you're thinking 'uhm, hello, it's not even Thanksgiving yet!' But my dad's side of the family has a big family get together at Thanksgiving. We also do a "McCurdy Christmas" the day or two afterward. Everyone is already there, we figure we may as well celebrate it all! We exchange names the year before (the adults just rotate) and within a couple days of Thanksgiving we start the Christmas Season celebrations. The ironic part: we open presents and sing Christmas carols and then chow down on leftover turkey sandwiches. Hahaha.

Anyways, so we spent yesterday shopping for gifts for my family and my aunt and uncle that we have this year. It was an all-day thing and AJ was a fairly good sport the whole time. He was so bored, I'm sure. By the time he started getting irritated with my browsing his friend Kevin called, so thank you Kevin.

We don't have a whole ton of Christmas decorations so I have taken it upon myself to correct that. If you've read past posts you know we already have the tree up. I've strung lights and set up nativities. And done a few more crafty projects to make our house a Christmas-ready home. Check it out:

So, this is technically my Thanksgiving wreath.

my christmas wreath

No Christmas is complete without snowmen!These aren't quite finished yet, but you get the idea. The white that is really hard to read says 'happy holidays'.

Yay for our house turning into a home... right before our very eyes!

Life Should Be Celebrated... Even if it is a Little Too Early

So, I'm an awful hypocrite... We went and found our tree last Saturday. We actually ended up going all the way to Blackfoot to get it. Anyways, after our hour long journey we brought our Christmas tree home and... you guessed it, it's now standing in our living room. Decorated and everything. I even pulled out all my nativities and things today. So much for waiting till after Thanksgiving. Ugh. I made our tree skirt today and all that it needs now is to be moved into place. I love Christmas!

Yesterday we had a "Thanksgiving Dinner" with some friends. Mostly, I call it that because we ate turkey and mashed potatoes. It was a yummy dinner and we had a lot of fun, hanging out and laughing.

We also met up tonight for dinner at the Golden Corral. They had free dinners for military members. AJ and Russ both ate for free and Ashley had coupons for the rest of us... so all 6 of us ate for less than $40. And I definitely ate my share of the cost. I could've eaten more but figured I didn't need to embarrass myself by eating my weight in food.

All I have to say is I sure love the Holidays... in case you haven't heard that enough in my last few posts! But, I do, I just love it!

Bragging 'Bout My Boy

I just need to give a brief shout-out to my amazing husband. He is a great guy and puts up with everything I throw at him. He even spent his day off Christmas browsing with me. We did get some stuff for Christmas, but it was a long day of running around town, in and out of stores... sometimes more than once. He was such a good sport. I sure do love that man.

Thank you Sweetheart, for all the amazing things you do and the fantastic ways you continually astound me. You are awesome and I love you.

Happy Holidays

So, tonight we were able to get together with some friends, the Wards and the Waites. That's right and we're the Wolffs. Hahaha. Guess this end of the alphabet has to stick together. Anyway, we had them over for dinner and then we played a game. It was fun to have a night to just play. I hope all enjoyed the evening together. And bonus: my house got cleaned! I have a fabulous husband who helped me do a deeper clean on our lower level. It really, really needed it. So, thank you sweet husband. I greatly appreciate it.

He also took me to Lowe's and I got to walk down the Christmas aisles. I was in heaven. I absolutely love Christmas. It's my favorite time of year... in fact, if it was up to me, it would be the only time of year. I love all the lights and shiny things. But, I also love how people just seem to be kinder, more patient and Christ-like. I love the music, the decorations, hot cocoa and mini-marshmellows, Christmas movies like Elf and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I love candy canes, gingerbread cookies and chilly red noses. Well, maybe I don't LOVE cold noses, but you get the idea. So, as I'm wandering thru all the trees and lights and shiny glass balls and little, lighted villages, AJ laughing at the child-like expression of awe on my face, I thought what a neat time this is. And with Thanksgiving coming I just thought how grateful I am for all the blessings in my life. But, especially my friends, family and faith. So... Happy Holidays. And in the back of your mind, just remember the real reason for the season. We love you all.

$8.43

Last night was my turn to plan date night... and I didn't. However, we did have to go to the store for a few things. Mainly I was almost out of contact solution... and that is not good when that happens. We went to Costco and then to Wal-Mart (I was also almost out of foundation, and AJ's bedside lamp has died). We got the make-up, but the lamp AJ wanted cost a little more than he was wanting to pay. We decided we would check out the local thrift stores. We hit up Good Will first and had no luck with the lamp... but we did find a breadmaker. For $8. Well $8.43 with tax.

We'd been talking about getting one for a while and I have wanted one for about 6 months. We've looked at new ones and they were a little more than we were hoping to spend on one. So, when my gaze tripped over this one on the shelf at Good Will I decided it was too good to just overlook. I looked at it and it looked a little used, kinda beat up, basically it looked like it was on a shelf at Good Will. AJ spotted another one a little farther down on the shelf and it was in better condition. We decided for $8 we could try it out. So, we left Good Will not with the lamp we went for, but with a breadmaker.

We finished the errands we were running. And brought our new-found treasures home. AJ put away the groceries and then we both booted up our laptops and set out on a mission in search of an owner's manual on the internet. After about 45 mins of no-such luck we decided we would just find a simple bread recipe and try it. AJ loaded the breadpan one ingredient at a time and then put the pan in the breadmaker and secured it. He punched in the settings and wahlah, we had a bun in the oven. After all the expected jokes with that line we cleaned up the kitchen. Well I cleaned up the kitchen while AJ stared curiously in the little window... when that wasn't enough he had to open up the top and watch. And what boy can actually just watch something they are curious about? So, he even had to poke it and touch it and pinch it too. What a silly boy. I was a little worried the bread wouldn't turn out with all his curiousity, but it was a strong soul and despite the extra attention, it turned out marvelously.

AJ's excitement and first taste of our 'experiment bread'.

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It turned out beautifully, despite the curious extra attention my husband gave it. =]

So, as AJ put it, I'd call it $8.43 well spent.

Cunning and Crafty

So, I have been itching to start decorating for Christmas, but I promised myself... and AJ... that I wouldn't put up Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving. Although Christmas is my favorite, that doesn't make Thanksgiving any less special and it bugs me when stores have Christmas stuff out and it's not even Halloween yet! So, in order to squealsh my desire to put up shiny lights and stuff I decided that I probably should work on the issue of us not have a whole lot of holiday decor. I found a few art projects to do. I've finished two of the seven so far... but I only started on Wednesday, so I think that's not too shabby. And I was proud of myself for getting all the materials for about $20! So, here they are: my fabulous ideas brought to life.

PRAYER.

Winter time and sunshine blocks.

Easter, Summer, joy and WOLFF word blocks. My 4th of July blocks

St. Patrick's Day, Halloween and a couple of other word blocks.

September, Valentine's Day and HOME blocks.

I wanted bigger blocks, but they were like $7 a piece and these ones I got 26 for $4. The places I have them displayed have shelves right above them. Otherwise, I would have found a little box-like thing to put them in so you can't see the tops of the blocks. Anyways. It was a little more time consuming, but I really like them. I'll make you a set for only $10. Hahaha.

So, this wasn't one of the projects I'd planned on, but when I saw the sample at the store... oh man, I couldn't help myself. I got the smallest, cheapest clothes pin. But it was still ginormous. It's probably 5-6 inches tall! We're gonna print off some pictures and use it as a picture stand. It'll be cute. It was easy and turned out really good. I love making this house a home!

it's huge... and it was the smallest one!
(well, smallest oversized one anyway)

Traditions for the Year

Per request of my sister-in-law, this blog will be dedicated to the traditions AJ and I have incorporated into our little family this year, as well as some I hope to establish in the future. So, here we go...

Valentine's Day:
We didn't do much for Valentine's Day this year (as it was only 6 days after we got married), but AJ did take the day off (actually he took the whole week off). We spent the morning just relaxing, we went and got some lunch and then made dinner together. Since we'd been together all week neither of us had gotten a Valentine's gift for the other, so we went to Wal-Mart, set a $20 limit and split up. I got him a card and the movie "License to Wed". Neither of us had seen it and had wanted to, but I think I ended up liking it better than he did. He got me roses and the movie "Footloose" (I think he may have gotten a card too...). We then splurged on tart candy hearts (our fave v-day candy) and went home and watched Lincense to Wed". It was fun trying to be sneaky (Wal-Mart is really not that big and he eventually ran into me before I bought the movie... I mean there are only so many V-day cards and they put them all in the same place...). Enjoyable nonetheless. We may just have to do the same thing next year.

St. Patrick's Day:
We didn't do a whole lot for St. Patrick's Day either, but I did want to acknowledge the day. I wore green (AJ did too... lucky for him it's Army Green and not yellow or something... lol). And we had a Green Dinner. I made green rice, salad, and green jello with kiwi in it. It wasn't a big deal and it was pretty easy, but it still made the day memorable.

Easter:
Alright, so we didn't do anything for Easter this year. AJ was out of town and I didn't do anything to celebrate. However, next year I plan on making Resurrection Eggs. There are 12 plastic Easter eggs and in each of them there is a simple object that somehow represents Easter. For example: a piece of bread to represent the Last Supper. Or a rock to represent the boulder that was rolled in front of the tomb. There are scriptures that go along with each symbol and tells the Easter story. We did that in Young Women's one year and I really liked it. I want to share that with my family. And of course, a traditional Easter Egg Hunt once the kids get old enough.

Mother's Day:
I sent my mom her gift with her birthday present in April... to save on shipping. That's right, we're cheap newlyweds. AJ called his mom and wished her 'Happy Mother's Day'. And he did make me breakfast in bed. This year Mother's Day was more about our moms than me, as I am not yet a mother...

Father's Day:
Along with sending my dad a book by President Monson, I also got AJ some things. A couple books and things. AJ had been gone the previous two weeks to Annual Training with the Army, so I also had a bit of a homecoming for him. I typed up 150 reasons I love him, then cut them apart and hung them ALL around our kitchen. I also bought him some roses and wrote a little poem that went with them. He walked in the down and loved it. Well, after he kissed me... he'd missed my lips over the past two weeks. Lol.

Fourth of July:
With my birthday on the 2nd we kinda stretched the partying over the 2nd-4th. My family was in town here on the 2nd for the birthday and then AJ and I went down to Grace for the weekend (and start of my family reunion this year). We went on my Grandpa's Goldwing and bought some fireworks in Soda Springs. We had dinner with my grandparents, uncle, and aunt and uncle. Then AJ, my sisters and I went and watched the fireworks back in Soda. AJ and I didn't get to play with the fireworks we bought, but the cousins got to play with them and it sounded like they enjoyed it.


Halloween:
We did our Halloween Date Night, where we carved pumpkins and ate spider web nachos for dinner (see previous post for more details). We also started a "BOO chain". We made up four baskets of goodies and secretly delivered them to four friends. In the baskets, there was a poem and a sign. The poem instructed them to make two goody baskets, secretly deliver them to two neighbors/friends and keep the Halloween spirit going. The sign they then hang on their door so people know they've already been BOO-ed. We ended up getting BOO-ed and had to make another two baskets, but I thoroughly enjoyed all the baking and creating I got to do in making all the baskets.

Thanksgiving:
So, we haven't spent Thanksgiving together as a married couple, but last year AJ did come to Thanksgiving last year. I've never had a 'Wolff Thanksgiving' yet... but on my side of the family we all get together and have a big potluck meal at my grandma's church in Grace. We just spend the day together, playing games and talking. There is usually an intense, competative basketball game which I am very content to just watch. It's a good day with family.

This is the holiday most of my dad's family makes the trek to Grace and to take advantage of that we have McCurdy Christmas the day (or two) after Thanksgiving. We set up a Christmas tree, sing Christmas carols and exchange gifts. The kids draw a cousin's name and give to that person. The adults rotate names. It got a little thrown off this year, because apparently when you get married you are then considered an adult?!? So, we were added to the adult rotation.

Christmas and New Years:
We haven't had a Christmas together and I don't know what we're going to do yet. But I promise to keep you all posted. We did spend New Year's together last year but we just attended the university's party. I'm not sure what we'll do this year. But I'll keep you posted on that too.

I did just purchase our Christmas decorations and really can't wait to decorate... however, I think that Christmas shouldn't be set up until after Thanksgiving. Christmas may be my favorite, but that doesn't make Thanksgiving any less special. (We did have to listen to a few Christmas songs after our first snow this year, but shhh!)

My mom gave me a super awesome book for my birthday this year. I absolutely love it. It's called Traditions: Creating Memories to Draw Your Family Close by Kimberly L. Bytheway and her mom Diane H. Loveridge. They go holiday by holiday and share some of the traditions they have in their families. It's a really neat book. I highly recommend it. The label on the back of the book says $16.95 and I would say it's well worth that.

I would love to hear some traditions everyone else has, so please share. Hope this helps and that you enjoyed it. Traditions are what we remember, they are what make us smile in the sadness. Traditions are a way to keep our families connected and alive. Traditions are the memories we make and the moments that bond us together. Traditions are what makes our families ours, forever.

The Prince and his Princess at the Ball

Last night was the 148th Field Artillery's Military Ball at the Red Lion Inn. We went because it was mandatory, but it wasn't that bad. A lot of long, sorta boring speeches and weird ceremonies. There were a few awards and things presented, all of which I don't know what they were for.

Half the time I really didn't know what I was supposed to be doing and probably looked absolutely lost. We got there and wandered around looking for a table... eventually we sat with a guy that AJ works with at the armory and his wife. Bonus: they did feed us... prime rib and salmon. The rib was a little pink and the salmon a little bland, but it's all food we can't afford at the moment, so it was kind of a nice treat. Then they got up and talked (presented the awards and some of the big brass spoke). After all that, we decided to bow out. I didn't know any one there and AJ didn't really want to stick around so we left... after I shook hands with the entire room. Ok, not really but it kinda felt that way. We came home and took some pictures of AJ and I all dressed up and beautificated and handsomrific. We thought about getting some done there. A local photographer was there taking pictures for free, but the line was quite long and I was wearing 4" heels!
My feet were a little sore, but mostly we just didn't want to wait in line.

We came home and snuggled on the couch and watched a couple episodes of Pushing Daisies, during which we both fell asleep. Figuring that was our cue, we called it a night and went to bed. I'm pretty super excited for the cranberry slush AJ said he'd get me for going to the Ball with him... It wasn't necessary but I'm not gonna say no to a yummy cranberry slush. mmmmmmm.

Soldier's Creed

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined,. physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

Some times it's hard, but I am so proud of my husband and the service he provides. I am grateful for my freedoms and for the many opportunities I enjoy. I am indebted to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line so that I may live in a land of freedom and liberty. I am proud to stand behind these courageous soldiers. Although my knees may buckle from the burdens and sacrifices that come with this life, I land in the perfect position to offer up a prayer for strength to continue to be the pillar my husband needs. I want him to know that I support him in his choice to serve and protect his country, that I love him, and that I will always be here, keeping the homefires burning brightly, so that whenever he may return he will have a home to come to. And when we are blessed with children I will do all in my power to make sure they know their father and what a brave, self-sacrificing and noble man he is. I'll do everything I can so that when we are blessed with the mountains of ACU laundry and the combat boots at the front door our kids will still run, with smiles and hugs, to welcome daddy home. I am an Army Wife and I stand proud and strong beside my American Soldier.