Christmas Has Come and Gone...

Happy 2012, everyone!  Especially to the 2 or 4 people who actually read this blog besides Andy and myself!  We started our Christmas season with a family-trip to Pigeon Forge, TN.  My parents and my aunt and uncle both celebrate their anniversaries in December and typically go to the mountains for the weekend.  This year, they decided to take Mammaw and Pappaw, too, and invited Andy and me to occupy a sleeper sofa for a few nights...for free...so we did!  My cousin Melina took the futon :-)

We spent a day at Dollywood and got some great pics at Cade's Cove - we definitely want to go horse back riding out there next time - maybe in the spring as we now also have Dollywood season passes for 2012.

Pictures from the trip are in two albums on Facebook.  Log in to see them:
1. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100917194122470.3030142.4900529&type=1
2. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100932890092620.3033788.4900529&type=1

Now for Christmas, itself.  First up?  Decorations!  Ours were kinda minimal this year as we were hoping to get stuff after Christmas (which didn't really happen).  We got the tree last year for about $6 way after Christmas at BigLots and we got all the ornaments this year for a really good deal at BigLots.  Next year, I hope to put this tree in the office with our fun ornaments and have a bigger, "fancy" one for the living room.

Our First Christmas Tree!  DaVinci lived under it from Thanksgiving 'til Christmas!

Andy made the bow - not too shabby!

Our stockings - also from BigLots with Hobby Lobby holders.  One for Andy, Me, and DaVinci!

I made this wreath! Plain wreath - $5, Sign -$4, Bow - $2, Berries - $1 = $12!

My  mom's family does crazy gag gifts - this is my cousin, Jennifer, the proud new owner of a creepy crocheted owl!

Andy's mom cross-stitches everyone's stockings...

Mine made it's debut this year!  Complete with kitty cat!

Andy's is 29 years old...

Andy's Gracie enjoyed the festivities - she still loves living with her "grandma" and "grandpa" and partner in crime, Ellie.

Andy's cousin, Ethan, came down to play with Matt's Kinect (I'll be good and not post pictures from when Matt  tried to  kill the ceiling fan) and the crazy, flying, ninja spider monkeys that Matt and Andy got.

Christmas morning and DaVinci got to go first.  He LOVES his Christmas mouse! I really wish I had video of him just toting it around like a dog - it still makes me laugh every time I see it!  I couldn't get the video to go here, where I wanted it, so it's at the top of the Christmas section.

Andy eyes his BIG box!

What is it, Andy?

It's Disney ornaments that I randomly wrapped for him to open!  Only Aladdin and Lion King, of course.

Andy got me a Claddaugh ring that's like a girly version of his wedding band!  I <3 it!

Sleepy family portrait - DaVinci just wants his mouse.

1/2 way decent picture of us on our first Christmas as husband and wife AND in our house!

Andy's dad MADE this swing for our front porch and his mom made the cushion.  There was an ulterior motive, though.  Bobby said he made it big (enough to easily hold 3 adults), so that there's enough room for me and Andy and "at least two grandbabies in the middle!"

Yep - even a solid GT fan made us a RED swing with a beautiful Georgia G on the back!

What goes up must come down.  I took the tree down one day while Andy was at work.  DaVinci  staged a silent protest; he didn't want to see it go!

We had a wonderful first Christmas together and can't wait for many more to come! For now, we move on to Charlie Brown auditions with the theatre and, unfortunately, are settling back into work life.