Carson Christmas Tree

Since Brett and I have never had a "live" Christmas tree, we decided this would be the year! Our fake tree is buried somewhere in the garage along with all our other storage items, and I really didn't feel like digging through everything to try to find it! So, this weekend we headed out to Elgin, Texas to cut down our own tree. Let me just say, this may be a new family tradition (maybe not for our main tree, but a small one upstairs in the gameroom perhaps?). Anyways, there was a petting zoo, hot chocolate, little Christmas Cottage for shopping, and all kinds on fun! Once you arrive you board a hayride pulled by a tractor. You grab a saw, they drop you off in a field of trees, you pick your favorite tree, saw it down, and then they load it back on the hayride. Once you arrive back at the farm they shake off the tree, bag it, and then its time to tie it to your roof! We found the perfect tree (with a little character), and had so much fun! Crew loved the petting zoo, looking at the all animals. His favorite part was running through the trees! He loved to touch the stumps of the trees that were already cut down- definetly a boy because he was covered with sap and very sticky on our hayride back! We took soo many good pictures, but you will just have to wait to see the rest- possibly on our Christmas card?

Horses!

Goats and Roosters too!

The Hayride

Look at all the trees!

"Mom, can I please get down and check this place out!"

What is this thing?

Daddy & Crew off to find the perfect tree!

We found it! Our tree!

Family in front of our tree!

Brett explaining to Crew how to use a saw! Yikes...

Sawing down the tree

Loaded in the hayride for the ride back

Shaking off the needles!

Bagging the tree

Tied to the roof and ready for the ride home!

Shutterfly- 50 Free Cards

Shutterfly Calendars-great gift idea!=)

Shutterfly! Need I say more? It is my go to place ALWAYS for wonderful cards and gifts! After trying to think of gifts, a personalized photo gift is sure to not disappoint! Mugs, calendars, ornaments,- all great gifts! You may be receiving something special from us this year- hint hint! My personal favorite are the photo books. After each big event, holiday I make a book. I have them all on the bottom shelf of our coffee table and are so fun to look at! They are bound like a real book and look great! My tradition is making one for each Christmas to always have to look back at! I also made a book of Crew's 1st Year, Baptism, and am working on his 1st birthday book. The year we got married I made a book of wedding snapshots from our friends and family, and also a rehearsal dinner book, and a book with all our showers (scanned invites in too!). Ok, so I REALLY love them! Shutterfly is also good for invites to you Christmas party! And after Christmas, don't forget to send out thank you cards, what a great place to order from!

Now for cards, since we live away from our familys, I always try to send a card for each holiday. The best part about the photo cards is that you can design a photocard on Shutterfly and pick it up at your closest Target. Since I am usually scrambling at the last minute to get the pics taken and the card designed, this is perfect- they are ready in an hour!

Now, since its Christmas I am trying to pick out the perfect card and they just have TOO many to choose from!! All the cards are all adorable adn so unique! I love how they have the inititals for the family last name! And the extra thick cardstock paper they are printed on makes them look soo classy! I think I narrowed it down (I am not putting the final choice on here so you can be suprised), but here are a few I really liked. Best part about the Shutterfly, they always have sales, so I never order until the item I am ordering is on sale and free shipping! And because they are sooo wonderful- if you write a blog about them, you get 50 free Christmas cards! Thanks Shutterfly, for helping to display and organize all our memories!

Awesome Shutterfly bound books!

Love the picture collage and initial in the middle!

So classt and simple, yet so much character!

Love this for just one picture!

I love the dots fonts, and different color combination!

Here is where you can design these great products just for you and your family!

You can find the photobooks here: www.shutterfly.com/photo-books

Calendars: www.shutterfly.com/calendars

Christmas Photo Cards: www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

Invites: www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-invitations

Thank You Cards: www.shutterfly/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards

Couples Wedding Shower

Over Thanksgiving break my mom and her friends hosted a couple's wedding shower for our good family friends daughter, Jessica, and her soon to be husband Ryan. The shower was over the top and absolutey AMAZING so I thought I would share some pictures with you. My mom and I worked on the decorations, the other hostesses homemade all the food and dessert! It all turned out beautiful and I think Jessica and Ryan really enjoyed the night. We can't wait to celebrate their big day with them in January!

Hired bartender to serve drinks all night

Signature drink

Childhood pictures of the bride and groom lined the stairway by the bar

Beautiful dinner table

Entryway to the dining room

Dessert Table

Cigars and Whisky outside for the after-party

Bride and Groom to be!

Crew's entertainment for the night!

This box was his FAVORITE!

It had a lid and handles- oh my!=)

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year, and were truely blessed to be able to celebrate with both sides of our family. On Wednesday night we traveled to Dallas (along with everyone else- the 3 hr drive took us 5 hrs!). We spent Thanksgiving day at Brett's mom's house.

Brett and I always make the pies for both our families dinners, and this year we decided to make the tradional (apple and pumpkin) along with trying a new one- sweet potatoe pie! This sweet pototo pie was on the cover of my Southern Living magazine and just looked fantastic! Brett made it all- even the merangue (he was so proud), and I have to say it was AWESOME- more people ate that than the pumpkin, so I think its our new tradition!

This was Crew's 1st Thanksgiving to actually enjoy the food and that he did! He even went for round 2 a few hours later! Yum Yum!

On Friday morning we headed to Katy to celebrate with my family. We enjoyed a nice ham dinner and all the fixin's for a second day in a row- yum!

We are so thankful for all our blessings and wonderful family!

Our little "turkey"

Making Pies!

The "Sweet Potato Pie"

(Looks just like the cover of Souther Living, ha!)

Crew even had his own little placesetting!

Crew enjoying his dinner! Yum Yum!

Lattal Table!

My mom has this cute table runner that we write what we are thankful for each year!

Fun idea!