It's been awhile!

I know, I know! Quit harassing me! I just haven't had any time to update lately!!

It seems like since we got back from our "mini vacation" we've been running non-stop! We've either been gone or busy every weekend and during the week I am trying to catch up on all the stuff that I didn't do that weekend!

Jarrod was gone the weekend before Thanksgiving to a friend's (Josh, who was in the same Fraternity as Jarrod when he was at U of A) bachelor party in Fayetteville then it was Thanksgiving and that was a crazy week and weekend. We stayed at Jarrod's parents house Thanksgiving night since Jarrod and his dad has tickets to the Razorback game. So we got home late Friday night and about 2:00am Jarrod gets called out, and didn't end up getting home until 6pm the next day! So, that was supposed to be our Christmas decorating day, which didn't happen since I can't get all that heavy stuff out of the attic by myself! We just got that stuff put up last night (December 8th. . . that's late for me!) and I am glad because I was worried that we wouldn't even have time to put it up this year! 

We had a benefit auction to go to in Hickory Ridge on that following Tuesday night for a guy that was on the volunteer Fire Dept. with Jarrod at Hickory Ridge, who has cancer. I made a holiday themed gift pail, with 40 cards and 36 tie on gift tags and 90 "to & from" labels. It turned out super cute and ended up going for over $100 (thanks Laura!) I love being able to use my talents for a good cause!!

Then this past weekend we headed to Fayetteville for Josh & Kimber's wedding. We had a good time. We stayed at the new Staybridge Suites across from the baseball complex and it was really nice. The wedding was at an old church downtown and it was really pretty. The reception was in a really neat building downtown beside the Ozark Smokehouse,  It was a little tight for the amount of people there, but the food was good and we had a good time. It had a great patio area, but it was a little chilly to stay out there too long. This is a picture of the Farmhouse guys serenading the bride! That was too funny. . . that's Jarrod at the top right.

 

Josh & Kimber and the Farmhouse men

   

The Farmhouse guys and the Farmhouse wives (all five of us!)

This week is another busy one! We are leaving Wednesday afternoon for Branson! It's actually a "work thing" for the Armor/Delta King annual "MAP" Conference, but we get to do a lot of fun stuff while we are there, and of course stay in the always wonderful Chateau on the Lake!! I look forward to this trip all year! After we get back from Branson, it's going to get nuts! Wrappping up all my projects, and speaking of wrapping I haven't wrapped a single present! I am almost done shopping, with just four to go, but there is still a lot of work left to do!

Finally. . . our Fun weekend in Florida!

So, back several months ago we were asked by some friends, that we go to church with,  if we wanted to go with them to Pensacola, Fl. to see the Blue Angels air show. One of the guys' Brother-In-Law flies with the Blue Angels and so they go every year to see him. This year is the last year he will be flying with them, though. They invited three other couples besides us and there were a few single folks that went to so there ended up being 15 of us going!

I took off Wednesday so that I could wash clothes and pack and clean the house. . . .basically just get things together since we were leaving so early on Thursday. I started packing and then had to run some errands and this is what I found when I got home. . . .

We left for Florida on Thursday morning around 6:30 and got to Pensacola around 6pm.  Our condo was AWESOME to say the least. . . .see the pictures on their web site here! It was 3,300 square feet of marble, granite and glass. . . soooo cool!! All the bedrooms were just absolutely beautiful and impeccably decorated and of course the view was out of this world!  I could seriously move in and not change a thing!!! These pictures below are after we had been there a day. . . can you tell?!?!

 

Friday I stayed at the condo and waited for Kristen and Kate to get there while the rest of the gang headed for the Blue Angels air show.  I spent the morning on the balcony of our condo (see above) with a good book! Kristen, Kate and I had lunch at the Crab Trap. It was such a nice day! Sunny and warm and breezy. . .ahh, so nice!!!! However the weather channel had been forecasting rain and cold temperatures so none of us had the right clothes! I had to go to the beach in capris and a t-shirt!! Oh well!  We spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. Kate took a LONG nap while Kristen and I chatted. And I got to see some dolphins playing in the water! I couldn't believe I actually caught one on my camera!

   

Kate is such a doll, I had so much fun getting to know her better! What big personality for such a little girl!! 

See the dolphin jumping?!?!!  zoomed in. . . .

 

Sun setting on the beach. . .

Friday night we ate at Hemingway's Island Grill and it was delish!! Then we went back to he condo after a quick stop to the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop. . . Hey, the hot doughnut light was on, we had to stop! Kristen and I stayed up late sitting out on the balcony catching up. Then Saturday we spent the day at the outlet mall. I got lots of good deals! Yay! We ate at little place called Triggers Saturday night and it was really good. I had a panco crusted grouper. . . Yum-O! We all got back to the condo and crashed! We all went to bed early that night! Sunday we were up bright and early and had a short church service at the condo before getting on the road. We made it home around 6:30. It was a good trip. I am always happy when I am at the beach and it was made even better since I got to see Kristen and Kate!  Jarrod had a good time because he got to do some more "manly" activities with the guys. I just wish it had been a little longer! I did take Monday and Tuesday off, too. I have two weeks vacation and I am probably going to end up losing a week since we've been to busy to take a real vacation this year! The time off was nice. I needed a break! Now it's back to the real world and of course things are busier than ever! I am looking forward to the holidays and all the fun events we have coming up. . . family dinners, a wedding, a weekend conference in Branson, birthdays, and lots more!!

Back in the "Real World"

Hey guys, we are back from vacation! We had a great time in Florida and I got some R&R time to myself, too! I haven't had time to upload my pics but I will try to get to that soon, hopefully tomorrow! You know how busy things are when you get back to work and you're trying to play catch up!! More tomorrow. . .

Men hard at work. . . maybe?

This is a picture of Jarrod and Brandon Decker running some tests on Tuesday. He sent me this picture to prove he is actually working! It does make me realize how complicated his job must be sometimes! Just look at all those switches, cables and cords. . . .

History in the making . . .

Barack Obama elected 44th president.

 

 "Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, shattered more than 200 years of history Tuesday night by winning election as the first African-American president of the United States." ~msnbc.com

While I am not a supporter of Barack Obama, I can recognize, personal convictions aside, today is a big day in the history of our country. I really am proud for our country that we can get passed the prejudices that plagued our past and move forward. 

However, I am deeply worried about future of our country and I can only hope and pray for the leaders that we have just elected to office.  I have faith that this (good or bad) is the Lord's will and trust that no matter what happens, we can rely on the Lord when the world around us makes no sense, he is our only hope for change. Not some smooth talking, over enthusiastic politician.  The "change" this country needs will not be fixed by an elected official. The "change" that needs to occur is in the hearts and minds of the people.  More than ever people need the Lord!

. . . . .That's just my 2 cents!!

Another baby shower. . .

Some friends of ours, Tara and Cameron are having a baby boy that they are going to name Sutton, I just love that name!  I made a set of notecards and this gift tin for Tara's shower on Sunday and Jarrod found some brown baby Carhart bibs at Carter's Corner that we just had to get for them, too. Cameron said it was the coolest thing they had got so far, he was really excited. In fact, he said he didn't have those exact bibs so he was going to have to go buy some for himself so he and his little man will match! ha! Men?!?

 

Papa's 80th b-day party

Surprise!!! . . . . I don't think he was really all that surprised. But he told me later that night after everyone had left, that he did actually have a good time and was glad he got to see so many friends and family.