'tis the season

Well, it is Christmas time in the city, of Nashville that is! I have always LOVED the holidays and buying presents for people. I am utterly impatient when it comes to holding out for the actual holiday to give the presents though; luckily, I have friends and family who allow me to give into my impatience and give them their presents early! Last year for Christmas, I bought Nate hockey skates and gave them to him within 2 hours of the skates being delivered to my house. This year, I purchased an xbox360 at 3:26pm this afternoon and gave it to him at 3:48pm - who knows how long I will be able to wait next year!

Also this year, he and I bought our first Christmas tree together. It is 2 1/2 feet tall and absolutely perfect! We went to Target to purchase a few decorations for the outside of my house and decided to get things that we could save and use next year for our first Christmas as a married couple! (ahhhhhhhhhh) We liked a 6 foot, fake tree equip with lights in Target but they were sold out and didn't know when they would get more. I was a little bummed but was reminded that we did not come to purchase a tree, just a few small decorations. Then, as we were on our way home, we drove my a small tree farm and I noticed a precious tree at the front of the lot. We stopped by and I was instantly in LOVE! It was so full and perfect and REAL! We came home and decorated it immediately with all of the ornaments from my students and ones that I purchased last year on sale after Christmas. It is so cheerful and smells delicious!

Needless to say, this holiday season is off to an amazing start!

This past Wednesday night, Sarah and Daron came over and we celebrated mine and Nate's engagement and Daron's birthday . I cooked a delicious pasta dish and Sarah made strawberry shortcake for dessert. We even got to use parfait dishes that they received as wedding presents! yay! We also opened up the bottle of dessert wine that I brought back from Italy in 2005 and saved to drink as a celebratory drink after I got engaged! It was DELICIOUS! I am so grateful that they live here in Nashville; it is such a blessing living near such amazing friends!

Tonight I had dinner with Kayla, Jill, and Brittany and then Kayla and I headed back to her house to watch Love Actually and drink the rest of my vino I brought back from Italy!



I'm so excited for more Christmas celebrations in the upcoming weeks!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!