Happy First Anniversary

So one year ago today, this is what we were up to...

We stuck to tradition and ate some of our wedding cake one year later. It was actually pretty tasty...or else I have deprived myself of sweets for so long, that year old cake tasted good.

Not sure. :)

We had a wonderful year as newlyweds! We celebrated the end of year one at the Rusty Scupper, sitting at the same table where Ross proposed, the piano player played the same song (which was our first dance song, "More"), and we had a delicious meal overlooking the lights of the Inner Harbor.

Happy First Anniversary, Ross! I love you!

The stockings were hung...

our Christmas Eve table
(Holidays are a LOT less stressful when you are not getting married the day after Christmas!)

...and to all a good night!

Christmas Time is Here

Merry Christmas! Have a joyous holiday season!

...the Reason for the season...

Mom helped out (a LOT) with my centerpiece. Very Williamsburg, yes? SO happy to have a crafty, creative mom!

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

O Christmas Tree and Grandmom's vintage carolers.

...perfect for snuggling up when it is snowing outside...

...ready for Christmas carols...

...favorite Christmas stories...

...o come all ye faithful...

We got the Dickens houses up last weekend. They look wonderful all lit up at night! Thanks, Ross - you were a trooper getting these all up! (While Mom, Jillian, and I ate shrimp dip - remember what I said about him being patient? He so is.)

My Barbie tree. ;)

...yes, Christmas time is here...

A little more about Thanksgiving...

Not only does she sing and dance (she was an excellent Ghost of Christmas Past this weekend at the Covered Bridge Theater's production of "A Christmas Carol"), she hosts a pretty good Thanksgiving! It was a good time, little sister. Love you!

With Gratitude

So we have some drizzle and fog this Thanksgiving morning, but there is still so much to be thankful for! Here's my top 10 list...

1. My wonderfully patient, sweet, thoughtful, hard-working, did I mention patient, husband.

I love you, Ross!

2. My healthy, happy family.

I am so blessed to enjoy spending time with Mom, Jillian, and Grandmom.

3. A new church home -within walking distance! -

where we are inspired weekly to grow stronger in our faith.

3. Friends, Friends, awesome friends. :) You know who you are.

4. A career that I love. I get to work with wonderful teachers, adminstrators, and great kids - every day!

5. A home that we have worked hard to design and build. I still look around and marvel at how we made a vision truly come to life... and we get to live here!

6. The smell of warm chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven.

7. My own health and the health of my husband and family.

(The ability to walk on the treadmill makes eating those cookies possible!)

8. Good books and quiet time at night to read and relax.

9. Days off. Ahh...

10. A blessed life which I am so thankful for each day.

The mantle...note the tiny little Pilgrim coming out of the house. Ross' idea. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween

Okay, so the band was not that great and it was VERY crowded...but so much fun getting dressed up and going out for Halloween. Where else can you get Miss America, Kate Gosselin, and a pirate all in one room?! Fun times. (And a lot of fake hair!)

Darling but Deadly

OR...the things we do in the name of fall fashion...

They looked so cute sitting there on the shelf in the store. They were going to go perfectly with my new grey pants and sweater. I felt so good walking out of the house this morning. Loads of compliments all day. When asked by a kindergarten teacher at 9:20 if they were comfortable, I replied, "Oh, yes!" with a big smile. By 11:30 I was in the nurse's office to get a few bandaids for the tiny little blisters beginning to develop. By 2:00 it was painful to walk from my desk to the trashcan. By 4:30, the thought of walking to my car was nauseating. Of course I had to get gas and stop at the pharmacy after work. Each step was excruciating.

But they're just new, right?

You just have to break them in.

Maybe I'll wear my grey sweater dress tomorrow. Sigh. Don't be deceived.

These are tiny little torture chambers for your toes.

I love em! ;)

Primitives

Auntie Brenda took us out last Wednesday night for a fun girls night. We went to an adorable store called "Potting Shed Primitives." Soooo cute... I love this rug!
Candlesticks and crows. Hello Fall!

Happy Harvest!

So the weather isn't exactly fall like. It's about 3o degrees cooler than average, but we are making the best of a rainy chilly day and getting into the fall mood. Since we are preparing for PumpkinFest '09 later tonight (what a good idea, Melissa!!) we thought we'd share some of our harvest decorations and goodies. The pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are making the house smell DELICIOUS. Happy Harvest!

P.S. Dear Fall - You are very nice and all, but I must confess...

I really am just using you to get to Christmas! ;)

Love, Jacqueline

Scenes from a Sunday morning

This morning, as I stood at my kitchen sink preparing a dessert to take to an afternoon football party, my eye caught a beautiful butterfly on one of the tall bushes right outside the window. I quickly grabbed the camera thinking this would be an awesome picture, and headed outside. Of course, the moment I press click, the butterfly flew away. Sigh. So, here are some other Sunday morning scenes now that the rain has passed! And...the Ravens won today...we're off to a promising start!

SummerZcool '09

Missy, Jenn, and I had a great Labor Day Girls Weekend at the Jimmy Buffett concert in Virginia. The tour this year was called "SummerZcool" and I think we all definitely passed with flying colors! We either start the summer with Buffett or end the summer with Buffett and this was a perfect ending. Till next year...
"Blew out my flipflop..."

"We are the people our parents warned us about..."

Prof Buffett...class was in session...it started at 5:00!!