Christmas Card Picture Preview

My sister snapped some pictures of Stephen and I in front of our new digs.  Enjoy the slideshow and help me pick the picture that should adorn the front of our Christmas card :).

Choice #1:

 #2:

 #3:

 #4:

 #5:

 #6:

 #7:

These next 2 won't be on the front...but they could make an appearance somewhere in our cards...

Stephen is claiming in this next picture that we're #1! 

 #8:

 #9:

 #10:

So, what do you think?  Which one would you like to see hanging from your 'fridge; sitting on your mantel; in your Christmas card display?  I need help! What about you - are you sending personalized Christmas cards this year???

Christmas Cards

Can you believe that it's already that time of year again?!  As much as I love Christmas, it's hard to believe that I'm already getting the tree out of the basement and making my Christmas card list!  I love receiving Christmas cards in the mall from all of our family and friends.  My favorite kind of Christmas card is one with a picture of my loved ones on it.  The reason I love that kind so much is because I display my cards in our home and the picture reminds me of those people every time I look at it!  Because I like getting picture Christmas cards so much, I find myself sending picture Christmas cards of Stephen and I now...it's kind of a tradition.  If you weren't around these parts last year, here's a picture of how I displayed our cards last year (and plan on doing again...):

As you can see, if you send me a card with your picture on it, you're hanging up for all to see :)

One of my favorite card/invitation shops, tinyprints has amazing personalized Christmas cards that you can choose from!  I highly suggest you head on over there by clicking here to check out their 2011 Christmas Card line-up.  I would also highly suggest that you help me choose my 2011 Christmas card from all the great choices :).  Stephen and I love to get Christmas cards that reflect the true meaning of Christmas; the fact that Jesus came to this world to save us from our sins.  In saying that, all of the choices that I'm looking at are religious Christmas cards.

Choice number 1: Smooth Sincerity: I really like the gray and how elegant this card is.  I also like what it says: O holy night, the stars are brightly shining.  O Holy Night is one of my favorite Christmas songs.

Choice number 2: Triumphant Type: I like how this card also incorporates a Christmas song, as well as the Christmas color-scheme.  I also really like the font.

Choice number 3: Angels Sing: Again, simplistic, elegant and a great Christmas song. 

Choice number 4: Blessings Be Yours: Even though there won't be a picture of a babe on the front cover of our Christmas card, I think that this card is my favorite of the 4.  I really like the message on both the front and the back, I also like how there is green, red and white but not in an over-the-top kind of way.  

I also love tinyprint's "New Classics" line and would take any and all cards from this collection!

You should go and check out tinyprint's Christmas photo cards and let me know what your favorite is...only after you tell me which one I should choose, of course :)!

Happy Christmas card browsing!

Guest Posting Today at LTC

Hi bloggity friends :) I hope you're enjoying your hump day and are staying warm and bundled up wherever you may be!  I had the honor of guest posting for my friend, Patrice over at Lemon Tree Creations.  Be sure to head over there and check out an oldie, but a goodie!

Happy Two Year Anniversary!

On October 10th of this year, Stephen and I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary.  Last year, to celebrate this wonderful day, we headed north to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and enjoyed a long weekend together, just the two of us (you can read all about that trip, here).  This year, we decided to go check out Brown County, Indiana - and I am SO glad that we did!  Brown County is absolutely beautiful in the fall!  We rented a cabin and enjoyed time to spend together, enjoying each other's company, which we haven't really had a chance to do in quite some time!  

We split out of Louisville on Friday afternoon straight from work.  I left school as soon as I could get my beee-hind outta there and I headed downtown to pick up Stephen.  Once we were together, it was a quick hour until we arrived at our cabin, Curly Shingles.  

Our cabin was nestled in the woods of Brown County and it couldn't have been any cuter or more more perfect for us to relax and wind down for the weekend.

There she is from the front

A view from the back

Mini Cabin Tour:

Our fully equipped (just missing a dish washer) kitchen

Our family room

Our 2 bedrooms

On Friday night, we drove around to get our bearings and then we headed to a cute, little, local pizzeria to enjoy a late dinner.

We ate at Harvest Moon Pizzeria in the heart of downtown Nashville, IN and it was yummy!

On Saturday, we woke up late and enjoyed a home cooked breakfast.  We then headed to Brown County State Park to enjoy the sites of the season and do a little hiking.  If you're into activities in the great outdoors (hiking, biking, riding, etc) then this park is for you!

Scenes from Brown County State Park:

After an afternoon of hiking and taking in the beautiful weather, Stephen and I headed to downtown Nashville, IN to enjoy a little local shopping.

Scenes from downtown Nashville:

On Saturday night, after a full day of hiking and shopping, we hit up the Artisan Colony in downtown Nashville, IN for dinner:

On Sunday, we enjoyed another lazy morning and breakfast at *home before we made the 20 minute drive to Bloomington, IN to visit Stephen's Alma Mater, IU.  It was a gorgeous day outside, which solidified our plans to go and watch a soccer game.  

Look at that sky!

Here is Stephen, hanging outside his home of two years: Briscoe Shoemaker - he was one happy kid the whole time we were reminiscing (okay, mostly him reminiscing) on IU's campus!

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend!  It was so fun to sit and talk about how fast time flies and how our wedding felt as though it was yesterday instead of 2 years ago.  I can't wait to hear our conversations on our 10 year anniversary, 20 year, 30, etc.  There isn't a day that goes by where I don't thank God for giving me Stephen.  God knew that out of everyone on this earth, Stephen would do the best at showing God's love to me on a daily basis.  I am so thankful and speechless at the blessing of marriage and the fact that I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend!

And for those of you who weren't around when I posted this shortly after we got married, here's our wedding highlight video.  I know you probably won't love it as much as I do, but I hope you enjoy :)

If you're having a hard time seeing it, click here and watch it directly on youtube :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrO0H8q6-Gs

SUPER belated Happy 94th Birthday, Noni!

So, Noni turned 94 back in July and we celebrated her birthday when Stephen and I moved back at the very beginning of August.  Because things have been so out of whack, I haven't shared with you pictures from her birthday celebration.  Noni is Stephen's maternal grandmother.  She is 100% Italian, having moved to the states from Sicily when she was in her late 20s.  Noni might be one of the cutest and sweetest old ladies that I've ever met.  It might have something to do with her broken English whenever she says things like, "Close the lights" or "You, Eat!" :).  Happy Belated Birthday, Noni - I can't wait to celebrate many more to come!

My sister-in-law, Ashley decorates cakes on the side and so she made this one for Noni's birthday.  The cool thing about this cake is that Stephen's little sister, Cali is pregnant.  Our extended family didn't know what she was having (boy or girl - including Noni), so the cake was colored to reveal which it was.  Watching Noni's face as she found out was priceless!

Sweet Noni blowing out her candles.

She really is so cute - this is her clapping for herself after blowing out her candles.

Noni's going for the cut - as you can see, Stephen's mom (can you tell that Noni is her mom?!) is anxiously awaiting the reveal to see everyone's reaction.  

The cake is pink!  They're having a girl!!!  (If you can't tell by this picture, Noni is crying...this is a normal occurrence for Noni.  When she's happy, she cries happy tears; sad, sad tears; scared, scared tears...you get the drift!)

Stephen and his sweet Noni.  Bet you can't tell they're related, can you (do you sense the hint of sarcasm that I laid on that statement)???

Here's all of us with Noni, including Stephen's cousin, Julie.  We're missing cousin Michael and his wife, Terry, and that would make it a complete picture of Noni and her grandchildren, their spouses and her great grandchildren.

Jake is Stephen's older brother's son.  He was helping Noni open gifts - Jake loves his Noni.

I couldn't pass up this sweet photo-op of Halle (Stephen's older brother's daughter) and her Nunu (Stephen's dad).