I was getting the mail the other day and was SO excited to get a box from my October swap partner - Ashley! Not me, LOL, we have a common name.  The picture on the left is the awesome wreath she made me.  The picture on the right is what I made and sent to her.  I think she's on vacation still so hopefully she won't see my post before she gets her box.  But if she does then she'll just have to contain her excitement until it gets there :)

Last year for Labor Day, we went over to Homosassa, FL on the west coast for our first scalloping trip.  We had so much fun that we decided to plan another trip.  Since 4th of July was on a Thursday this year, we figured we could go for an extra day or two by going on 4th of July instead of labor day.  Last year we had 8 people but this year we got 12 signed up: Me & Ryan, Ashley & Matt (flew in from California), Ryan's mom Mary (from St. Augustine), Al & Doreen, Charlie & Mary (and their baby), Pete & Vicki, and Eddie (flew in from Marlyand). 

Last year we stayed at a cheap motel and it wasn't that great - the hardest part was that we had no way to cook any scallops we caught.  This year we decided to rent a house and we ended up a little farther south than last year based on where we could find a rental house.  The house we rented is in Hernando Beach, FL and has 3 bedrooms plus a loft and a library so we have 3 actual beds, one futon, two full size air mattresses and one person on a couch (we brought an air mattress but there are a lot of couches here).

 Happy Fourth of July!! For this year, I got a fourth of July pedicure and everyone's been commenting on my cute red, white and blue toes, heehee.  I wanted to do a manicure too but i just ran out of time.

We did a shoebox swap for 4th of July and I made a super cute pillow for Doreen.  It was pretty easy and it took me about 4 hours to make.  Here’s a mini-tutorial for how to make it - click the "Read More" button to get the full tutorial.

I know, I know, Valentine's day was over a week ago but I'm still playing catch up. I like to still write the posts even if I don't get them up until a little later.  Ryan and I don't really do cards or gifts for each other except for maybe something small.  I got Ryan TWO bags of starburst jellybeans - I probably should have gotten him an extra toothbrush too lol.  And for me, he stopped on his way home at Downtown Produce ( a local meats and produce place) and got us two thick steaks, some huge sea scallops and giant potatoes to bake.  When I got home, he had this delicious dinner waiting for me:

Sorry for these old posts but I found some pictures on my camera that reminded me I forgot to post some neat stuff that we did in December.  Between the wedding, honeymoon, and Christmas I guess I just forgot to write about them.  On the weekend before Christmas, Doreen had her annual cookie bake.  She usually goes for two days.  On the first day, lots of family members come over and then on the second day she has a few family or friends over.  Everyone brings their own baking supplies and recipes and makes at least one kind of cookies (preferably two though).  Then, when the cookies are all done, there are tons of different kinds of cookies and everyone makes a tin or platter of Christmas cookies.  Last year I made Chocolate Italian cookies and I think I might have made them the year before.  I also usually help Doreen bake whatever cookies she has left that she wants to make (she usually picks at least 5 recipes).

But last year, Al (Doreen’s husband) complained that we weren’t making “pretty” enough cookies anymore.  He wanted an attractive looking platter for Christmas day and too many people were making boring drop cookies, LOL.  So this year I went on my pinterest board and found a couple of prettier cookies to make.  First I made these spiral cookies:

It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting at Nate and Kayla's New Year's Eve party, wondering what the year would bring.  Ryan had mentioned the possibility of a "secret vacation" and I was excited but trying to make sure I didn't expect him to propose on the trip.  As I started thinking more about it, I decided to look back and appreciate all that has happened this year.

After we got back from the tree farm, we put the tree in the stand but we still haven't decorated it.  Ryan started putting up the lights on the outside of the house but isn't quite done yet so no pic or video of them on.  But here's him trying not to fall off the ladder, lol.

Yesterday we went to the Christmas tree farm and got our tree.  There weren't quite as many big trees as we were hoping so we ended up getting one about the same size as last year (8 -9ft).  We were hoping for 10 - 11ft but there just weren't very many that were that tall and in good shape.  As usual, all the kids had a great time!  Nate and Kayla decided not to come so we had Greg & Melissa (and their three kids), Corine (and her two kids), Mary, Al & Doreen (and their granddaughter) and us (and Willow).  We had quite the posse, lol.  The kids jumped on the bounce pillow, rode the zip lines, rode the ponies, went to the petting zoo and helped us look for a tree. I think there were also pictures with santa, a train ride and a few other things but I can't remember which ones they did this time.  Here's me and Willow guarding the tree that we picked out and waiting for Ryan to come cut it down:

Last night Mary and Corine went black friday shopping at Walmart at 8pm and then again to Kohl's at midnight but I stayed behind - too tired and full from Thanksgiving.  But today I went with Melissa and her mom out to Kohl's and then a bunch of other stores.  Fortunately the crowds weren't too bad and Melissa's mom was able to get pretty much everything she wanted to buy.  Melissa bought a few things for the girls for Christmas and all I bought was one small gift for Aubrey and a dress for the rehearsal.  I found a dress that I thought I liked but they only had it in a size four - I used to be a four but now I'm typically a six.  I thought the dress was a bit tight and wasn't going to get it but the lady at the store suggested I buy it anyways since it's such a good deal and then come back next week to see if they put out more sizes of the same dress (but the sale was only today).  If I end up keeping it I'll post a pic later :)  Now for a preview of tomorrow's fun:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!  This year, Ryan and I drove up to St. Augustine to spend Thanksgiving with his mom, brother and sister.  This was the first year that his sister Corine hosted Thanksgiving dinner at her house and everything turned out great.  I think she was a little worried since they don't cook much but when we left the kids were exhausted and everyone was stuffed so I'd say it was pretty successful! 

I love reading on Facebook about everyone's meals they made and all the different dishes.  What's your favorite dish or menu?  If I make dinner, here's what I make:

Turkey (of course)
Cheesy Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Crescent Rolls
Stuffing
Apple Pie (and sometimes Pecan Pie too)
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

I've never been a big fan of sweet potatoes or cranberries although Ryan really likes the canned cranberry jelly stuff so I will put that out for him if I'm cooking :)

Lastly, to celebrate the day I did whip up a few turkey day shirts for my nieces/nephews, check 'em out!