Deck the Halls

This weekend Alan and I began getting ready for Christmas. We braved the crowds on Saturday morning to get some shopping done and find a Christmas tree. With all of our Christmas stuff packed in boxes that are still in Knoxville, we decided that a small little fake tree would be easiest this year. We found one at Target that was just the right size! I do miss the smell of a real tree though! I spent the afternoon messing with the branches and hanging ornaments (which really took all of about 30 minutes) and Alan watched the SEC Championship. We are happy that Auburn won only because lots of our friends up here went there and several I think are now planning on going to the National Championship game which is exciting for them! We haven't done much else as far as decorating our little apartment, but just getting a tree up and turning the lights on is fun and reminds us of the season. Sunday morning in church, a family lit the second advent candle, and it was neat for us to see that being celebrated here as we did the same thing with Alan's family at their church last week in Knoxville. Sunday afternoon I worked on our Christmas cards and Alan studied for exams. Please pray for him over the next two weeks as he takes all of his finals!

Tis the Season

I realize that it is only the second day of December, but I am already finding myself extremely distracted by the fact that Christmas is almost here! Everywhere I look, I see lights and garland...thank goodness I've started my Christmas shopping or else I would feel like I am already running behind!

I am so excited about Christmas this year! For Alan and I, this year will be new and different having never celebrated Christmas in a city other than Knoxville; however, God has been so good to us in providing a great church and wonderful friends and because of His provision, we go into this holiday season with joy and anticipation!

Several of the girls I have met even decided to do a Christmas Cookie Exchange similar to what I've hosted the past couple of years in Knoxville, so I'm really looking forward to that! We also have a couple Christmas parties already on our calendar! At bible study this week we talked about taking time just to talk to God throughout the day, so despite all of the hustle and bustle this time of year, I will remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Time to be Thankful

Alan and I drove to Knoxville on the busiest traffic day of the year: the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The drive was awful due to yucky rain, but the weather could not dampen our excitement of going home for the holiday weekend!

Thanksgiving Day morning was cold but clear, and Alan participated in the Turkey Creek Hot to Trot 5K. I didn't run with him this time because he ran for time and he is quite a bit faster than me!

That afternoon, we went to Mimi's (Alan's grandmother) house for the traditional big lunch with all of the family. It was so much fun seeing all the aunts, uncles, and cousins! The food was delicious! I even participated by bringing a dessert that is traditional to St. Louis...ooey gooey butter cake!

On Friday, we went to my parents' house to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of my family. We got there right as Christa and Annie came back from shopping all of the doorbusters. It was relaxing to just spend the day cooking, hanging out, and greeting everyone as they arrived throughout the day. We had a big dinner that night with all of my favorites...especially mom's stuffing! Yum!

Saturday, we went to the UT game! I was so excited to make it to Neyland Stadium this season! We saw several friends tailgaiting before the game which was fun and the Vols brought home a win which will mean a Bowl game too, so that was all very exciting. Later on that night we went to Barley's to hang out with some more friends.

We went to Christ Covenant on Sunday to light the advent candle with Alan's parents and Katie which was special. Before leaving to go home, we went to my parents' house for lunch to celebrate Maggie's birthday. It was so much fun being home, but with everything that we did the weekend went by so quickly. Regardless, God is so good, and we have so much to be thankful for!

Chocolate Bar

I have a new love in St. Louis and it is the Signature Martini at Baileys Chocolate Bar.

This afternoon we went downtown with some friends, Laura and Mike French, to take pictures down by the Arch. We met Laura and Mike at church and they have quickly become great friends of ours. Afterwards, since it was too early for dinner, Laura suggested we go to one of her favorite places: Baileys Chocolate Bar.

Since it was my first visit, I decided to try the Signature Martini. It was amazing! It was a blend of Chocolate Vodka, Irish Cream, Pure Dark Chocolate, and Milk and was served chilled...delicious! Alan had the White Hot Chocolate and said that was great too! Our server also brought us mini chocolate chip cookies to munch on. I'm already trying to think of an excuse to go there again. Come visit us and we'll take you there!

Memphis

This past weekend, Alan and I drove 4 hours south to Memphis to join the rest of his family for a UT football game!

On the way there, Alan and I stopped at Lambert's: home of the throwed rolls! Lambert's is a place that Alan remembers going to as a kid when his family went to St. Louis for Cardinal games. The best way I can think to describe Lambert's is that it's a glorified Cracker Barrel. Take everything you love about Cracker Barrel: southern food, country store, rocking chairs, and times it by ten and you get Lambert's! We loved it! There is a sweet little old lady who plays the piano non-stop which is oh so fun and all of the servers come around with bowls full of mashed potatoes, okra, mac 'n cheese, and so many other things and just ask if you want some! Of course, I can't forget the "throwed rolls"... servers come around with rolls fresh out of the oven and literally throw them to you, and then someone else stops at your table to bring you apple butter and molasses. Delicious! After eating way too much, Alan and I got back on the road and got to Memphis late afternoon.

Susan, Katie, and I had to hit up the outlets while we were there, and Katie got a beautiful rug at the Pottery Barn outlet, and I picked up a few little things for Christmas! That night we went to the Commissary, a traditional Memphis BBQ place for dinner, and later on went down to Silky's on Beale Street to meet Maggie, Ben, and some other friends who were in town for the game.

Saturday was spent tailgating with Alan's family before the game. It was really good to catch up with Nonnie, and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins, as we don't get to see them as often as we would like. The game wasn't until 7:00pm so by the time we headed towards the stadium, it had gotten cold outside! We bundled up, but by the time we arrived, I wasn't thinking about the cold anymore because I was so happy about seeing the Vols play! And they won this week! I know that's not saying much considering they played Memphis, but it would have been very embarrassing had they lost, and it is so much better to see a win!

Admission Ceremony

Last Monday was Alan's Tennessee Bar Admission Ceremony. It was a very special day for all of our family to celebrate Alan's success in his law career thus far. The Admission Ceremony was held at the City County Building in downtown Knoxville. It was important to Alan to be admitted in Knoxville because that is where he hopes to practice :) It was so interesting to attend and witness the whole thing! Alan was sponsored by one of our good friends, Will Edwards, who presented Alan to the court. He made it! The Justices all had wonderful words of acknowledgment of the success that had brought all the candidates to this day, and also challenging words of encouragement as these future lawyers looked to their futures. Alan kept saying to me, "It's not a big deal..." and my response continued to be, "YES, IT IS!" (does that really surprise you though...) I was so proud of Alan that day and most likely over-excited about the whole thing. After the ceremony, Alan also got his picture made for the Knoxville Bar Association and then we all went to lunch at Aubrey's, a Knoxville favorite of ours, before getting on the road to head back to St. Louis. What a great day filled with celebration and family!

Happy Halloween!

For Halloween this year, Alan and I went to a costume party on Saturday night that my manager, Josh, held downtown at his loft. Everyone from my store came and it was so much fun to see all the creative costumes. Alan and I actually got our costumes for free from a co-worker of mine whose mom who is a nurse at a hospital here in St. Louis. I think that Alan wished our costumes were a little more extravagant, but we had both procrastinated in deciding what to be, so doctors were the end result. We did get to keep the scrubs though! It was a great night-everyone had a blast! Alan really enjoyed meeting the people that I work with and talk to him about, and I enjoyed introducing him to all of them!

On Sunday night (which was actually Halloween) Alan and I were in Knoxville and went over to Maggie and Ben's house and ate a delicious dinner, and then helped pass out candy to all of the trick-or-treaters. Maggie and Ben had prepared for about 300 kids based on a recommendation from one of their neighbors; however, we only had about 100, so we ended up with LOTS of candy left over which Alan was excited about!