Grove Park Inn

Every year Grove Park Inn in Asheville does a gingerbread house competition. It is free to go walk around and look. Last night we went with some friends and it was a lot of fun!




It was nearing bed time and Nathan was being a bit of a grinch and didn't want to take our family picture, so Abigail has now been adopted into our family.



Blake was a bit sad that his brother didn't want to be in the picture.



This one was my favorite and only won 2nd place. Even the box is gingerbread...holy cow amazin!



I just love the despicable me gingerbread house...so real!

It's a Parade!

We went to the Fletcher Parade this weekend. It doesn't look that cold out, but gosh dang it...it was! We had to walk a mile to get there, for no reason at all. The boys did have a good time, even though their hands were straight up red and frozen. Nathan looks gangsta in this picture. They just so happened to get those beads from the girls scouts of the greater Fletcher area.




The boys chillin... literally.



Llama's... such strange little animals.



Blake waving at the fire dog.



Blake and yours truly.



Overall it was fun, but I was cold the rest of the day.

And So the Fun Begins!

This weekend we did a lot of fun christmasy stuff. We went to the mall so the boys could tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.



Blake refused to sit on his lap.



Nathan was a little hesitant at first, but then got right up. On the way home he said, "Mom, I can't believe I am going to get 2 skelescopes for Christmas. One from Grandma Karla and the other one from Santa." I am glad he let me know that. Once we got home he asked me how Santa got to the mall and I told him that was just one of Santa's helpers. He then asked me how he got to the mall again and I just said that I didn't know. I could tell he had been thinking about it the whole drive home. I am not ready for the Santa questions yet!



There was also this free Holiday Fun Fest. It was okay, yet a lot cooler than we had thought it would be. There was a fire truck, ambulance, and police car. There were also bounce houses, tee shirt making, balloon making, free food, and much more. We only stayed for 30 minutes and hit the road because of nap time. But, alas, here we are in the fire truck.



We also went to the Fletcher parade that morning, but I will post those pictures soon!

Awesome Bird Finds

No! I haven't been bird watching, I have been bird hunting! I have noticed owls have been "in". I don't know why, but they are cute, so I few months ago I was on the hunt for some birds. I found this one at an antique store in downtown Hendersonville for $5. I was a little hesitant when I first saw it because of the price, so I didn't buy it. I couldn't stop thinking about this stinkin bird, so I went back and luckily it was there still and bought it! Yay! O and the dish I got from a yard sale for $0.50 in Asheville.



I found this owl at a different antique store in Hendersonville. The price was much better for this one. It was $0.50. Hurrary! It is in Blake's room and he loves carrying it around sometimes. I have been trying to decide if I should spray paint it white. Its eyes are a little creepy. What do you think? Are its eyes creepy enough to paint the thing?

Fun

Last night I went to cheesy christmas party for Young Women's (youth group of girls from church that I help out with). The girls had to wear an ugly sweater and I too had to wear an ugly sweater. I actually had one in my closet. My dad had this little gem made for me in Gatlinburg when I was in 8th grade. I can't throw it away because it is so awesomely awesome. Anyway, it was fun and we had lots of cheese related items to eat and watched a cheesy christmas movie.

On the way out though I apparently stepped in some animals poop. It was actually snowing in Asheville last night so I had the foot warmer vent blowing on me as I left the party and something smelled bad.....real bad. I thought, maybe someone is burning something that stinks. I soon realized that was not the case because it didn't go away. I thought and thought. I truly wondered if I had possibly forgotten to throw away a dirty diaper or something. And then it hit me, try turning off the foot vent and see if the smell goes away. I did so and the smell went away and then it hit me again.... I just knew I had stepped in poop. So, I got home and smelled my foot and sure enough, I had. So sad...I threw away some really comfy $7 Target shoes :( and my floor mat is sitting on my back patio, not wanting to be touched by me. O and FYI, I used a clorox wipe on my gas and brake pedals....just in case you were worried.



Also, I have been lovin me some JCrew. There is no way I would ever buy something from there because of the price, but I will surely look through their "looks we love" and catalog and go to goodwill and find something similar...o yes.... I will....and I have! I really want some orange pants...goodwill probably doesn't have orange pants though...so sad...but maybe!

Alex's New Job

In a week (December 12th) Alex starts a new job. It is more of a training than a job, but it is paid and he is leaving his old job (The Oaks at Sweeten Creek-Social Worker). He is starting a 28 week Administrator in training program at a skilled nursing home called Carolina Village in Hendersonville, NC. It is close to us, so we don't have to move! He has wanted to do this for a year now, but it has been a matter of finding someone to train him. So needless to say we are really excited. Here is a picture of the facility where he will be training.



This license that he will have will provide great opportunities for our family and hopefully in a couple years we will be able to buy a house. I have been so excited to buy a house that I am really looking at what I want and trying to decide if I want a fixer upper or not. I know I know, they are usually money pits, but my tastes are so specific, that I hate to buy a nice new house and then redo everything in it. So here is a picture of a house that I oh and ah over everyday I drive by it, which is a lot because it is right next to Nathan's preschool. It is even across the street from Goodwill! The only problem...1. It isn't for sale, 2. It is on a very busy main road.

Pintrest

Ahhhh I am obsessed with Pintrest. It is way too addictive, yet so inspiring. I am going to learn some cool new hairdos and let you know what I find out and if I am successful. Here are some more christmas decor photos for your viewing pleasure (and hopefully not disgust!)