Four Christmases

So Christmas is always super busy for Pat and I. We both have two sets of parents and try to make it to see everyone. I only have pictures from two of the Christmases but they were all great! I have been cooking like crazy for three weeks now, and I think I'm going to let Pat cook all week ;) 

On the 23rd we had some of our good friends over for a meal and fellowship. We had a lot to celebrate!

Balke and I. Our wonderful cook in our group of friends. She made our wedding cake. We STILL get told how wonderful it was.

Brooklyn, Chicago and ATL- we have grown up a lot in the past 7 years! So wonderful to all be in the same place even for just a few hours

Newly Engaged! HOORAY! Can't wait, bride-to-be!!

Back from deployment. So proud of you , Nathan!

George! So good to see you for the first time in YEARS (and a wedding picture photobomb)

So for this shindig I made cheesecake for the first time ever. Of course I couldn't do just a normal cheesecake; I had to make it difficult. I'm proud to say that my Funfetti Cheesecake came out edible and is now being demanded requested for all future birthdays. 

Bam! Next goal is to make it with out a crack in it.

Here are some photos from family Christmas

You can tell who the spoiled ones are.

Hubby and I Christmas night

Yikes! I did a really bad job of taking pictures on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Well, I guess I was too busy baking and enjoying all of the wonderful food that was coming our way. Only 360 more days till next Christmas :)

What we've been up to...

Building. Lots and lots of building. 

Alright, so I have expensive taste. You could say I have champagne taste on a beer budget. I want my home to be nice and warm. I want it to look put together. Now my husband is a handy man. THANK GOODNESS! My expensive can be brought to life on my beer budget and look 1000x better. In my opinion. Here are some pictures of the three things he's made me in the past month.

Pre-conditioning/stain

After! 

Next was a dining room table that can fit more than 4 people. 

Trying to find the straightest pieces of wood. 

Pre-conditioning/stain

After!

Next I had found some plans for how to make lamps out of glass jugs. We thought these would be the perfect gift for my stepdad for the lake house. Pat already knows that the next project will be to make us some for our long console table he built :) 

I'm in love!!! Can't wait to have two of my own soon. 

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. I am exhausted. I have been cooking and baking like crazy. We still have one more family Christmas to go! 

Sneak Peek of what we have been up to...

We have been in this weird DIY mood lately, and I LOVE IT! I'm just going to leave you with a picture of where it all began. I'll be back with after photos and TONS of recipes. I'm going to be baking up a storm this Sunday- Christmas Funfetti cheesecake, gingerbread cheesecake bites and chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies. Here. We. Go!

Tables, lamps, and baked goods! Oh my! ;)

Twice the Thanksgiving!

The holiday season is always an insanely busy one for Pat and I. Both of our parents are divorced so sometimes it feels like we are running around, and we have no idea what we are doing. Which is probably true...

Thanksgiving Eve this year we went out to a local gem and had dinner with my dad. The OK Cafe is one of those places I always remember going to as a kid. I mean what kid doesn't love a tree that grows money?! Okay, who am I kidding... us adults would love this 1000 times more!

The BEST Chicken Pot Pie I have had in a long time

For Thanksgiving Day we made the trek to Birmingham, AL for my grandmother's house. It was a great meal with my grandmother, mom, stepdad, brothers, and Pat. It couldn't have gotten anymore stereotypical. All the women cooked and the men watched football/player soccer/played video games. Awesome.

Too.Much.Technology.

My mom and stepdad

We got the wishbone and of course we can't do anything the easy way. We managed to break it right.down.the.middle. Seriously.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we had our meal with Pat's parents. We decided we wanted to try and fry our turkey this year. I was the only one who had ever had fried turkey before so they were all trusting me on this one. The process couldn't have been any easier and it was amazing. 

Pat and his stepdad frying up the turkey

All-in-all, it was a great thanksgiving! Now to finish wrapping all of our presents and getting ready for our own version of "Four Christmases." Here we go!