Saturday, November 28, 2009

All the Leftovers are Gone

We've been hard at work getting ready to Griswold our house for Christmas. Did you like how I used Griswold as a verb? Curtis is outside hanging lights and I spent the morning cleaning our house. I need everything to be orderly before we get out the decorations. We all know how disorderly things get when everyone is home together for a week. Curtis is using the big colored bulbs on our house this year and it's going to look awesome. That's all I know. We don't discuss his lighting plan beforehand so it can be a surprise.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My mom described it in detail here. For me, the highlight was getting to see one of my aunts and my two cousins for the first time in quite a while. I've had a big sore spot on my heart due to missing them and it's been nicely healed.

That night I folded mounds of laundry while we watched the Aggies and the Longhorns play some football. We ran out of time, but we fought hard. I wasn't sorry I watched it. I might have had to repent of something I said when that track athlete from t.u. ran the ball 95 yards for touchdown. That was a bit demoralizing. But seeing and hearing the crowd at Kyle Field and getting to kiss my husband after so many touchdowns made it worth the emotional turmoil.

Yesterday we all crammed in the Suburban for a day trip to Round Top where a bunch of longtime family friends spend every Thanksgiving together. The retreat center and the grounds are unbelievably gorgeous. Jackson played outside with a bunch of other kids while we sat in rocking chairs on a huge porch and watched. We had dinner at Royer's Round Top Cafe. The pie! Oh my word, the chocolate chip pie! If you're lucky enough to be close, you've got to go there.

I spent about an hour trying to do our Christmas card late last night. Curtis and I are currently disagreeing on how it should look. I'm slightly regretting asking for his opinion, but I'm sure we'll come up with a good compromise.

We're celebrating my brother-in-law Colin's birthday over Mexican food tonight. He's a wonderful guy and I'm thankful my sister fell so madly in love with him. Happy birthday, Colin! We're so glad you're part of our clan and my kids are blessed to have you for an uncle. We love you!

24 comments:

Moose Mama said...

Griswolding our house next week when I get back home. You're so funny!!

Amanda, your blog is a highlight of my day. I always love to hear how you and the family are doing. I'm hoping you have the BEST time this weekend...whatever you do.

Happy Birthday Colin!

Melana

Keri said...

Decorating is in full swing at our house.....my husband has been at it all day on the outside of the house. It's not normally something he looks forward to doing, but this is the last year in our house, or any house for that matter, and so he is giving into my sentimentality and "Griswald-ing" for me.

As for me? I seem to have come down with a severe case of ADD and have done all sorts of random things today not able to concentrate on any one thing. Tree is up, and has about 12 decorations, buffet in dining room done, table still looks like Thanksgiving....you get the picture! And now I'm hanging out on the computer...better finish this novel of a comment and get back to work!

katiegfromtennessee said...

New post from you Little Momma!:) That's great ya'll had a blessed Thanksgiving too!:) I'll have to read what your momma posted,Oh, Griswold your house? Funny:):) You should post pics when your done:) We are watching football tonight, Univ. of TN game:) Ooo Mexican, his birthday is really close to Thanksgiving. My Father-in-law's bday is really close to Christmas. Random trivia for you:)
Happy Birthday Colin!!!

katiegfromtennessee

CAROL LIVIN FOR GOD said...

Happy Birthday Colin have a great time with your wife and family. I also went to a birthday party for one of my friends it was at a tea house the very first time in my life that I went to a tea party it was awesome. Anyway after Curtis gets your house ready like the Griswolds can he come and do mine to? Your so funny Amanda love your blog needed to have a laugh today .
Have a good day
Love Carol

Mocha with Linda said...

I thought that UT game was just great! ESPECIALLY that kick-off return! :-)

(And I'm glad both the UT & A&M players ended up okay after smacking into each other so hard. That was painful to watch.)

Heather said...

I know your house is going to look gorgeous!! Does your hubby want to help my hubby with lights on our house? :) I wish I could talk him into that, however we would be the family that would check all 25,000 bulbs only not to turn the switch inside! Hope you and your family have a wonderful time celebrating your BIL's birthday! I have to get busy decorating when we get back, do you get live wreaths? Do you know of any places that sell them?

Rhonda said...

I just got done explaining to my husband how "we ran out of time". He thought I was making it up so thanks for having my back:) We don't Griswald, hubs says people will know where we live and he doesn't want that! SOunds like ya'll had a great Thanksgiving!

Spicy Magnolia said...

Your Thanksgiving sounded wonderful and so special, and I can't wait to see your Christmas decor. We just got back from our TG trip tonight and there is lots to catch up on and do...including our own Christmas decorating.

A few years ago, I took a cooking class at Central Market with the Round Top Cafe chefs and it was AWESOME! I made their pecan pie for TG this year. I've got some of their recipes from their cookbook if you ever want to try it yourself. I'll make it to Round Top one day and order that choc. chip pecan pie...oh my goodness!

Have a wonderful weekend, dear Amanda. :)

Marla Taviano said...

Watched that whole TX/A&M game by myself (stayed up writing at my in-laws while everyone else went to bed). Thought for sure the Aggies would pull it off!

Have a great week, Amanda!!

Beth Herring said...

Hoping that the lights are gorgeous!

Glad you had a great family Thanksgiving.

In Him,
Beth

Lauren said...

Oh Royer's, yum.

Rachel www.jackandcoledesigns.com said...

glad y'all had a great turkey day!

Shelly said...

Last week, I was noting in excitement how much I loved our neighbor's Christmas decor. The next night, Nate came home from a work project at 3 in the morning, but must have stayed up another thirty minutes. I awoke to our first little Christmas tree in its place with lights, as well as a strand on our porch.
I think I behaved like a 5 year old in my excitement when I awoke that morning. I'm pretty sure I don't want anything else for Christmas - it all made me too happy.
Hope y'all are having a blast right now, even in the midst of the cleaning!

Melissa Stover said...

i nicknamed my husband clark on my blog years ago because he griswold's our house every year. christmas is his thing and he likes to do it big. this year he was even kicking the pre-lit deer in our yard when he couldn't get the lights to work and i thought how accurately i had nicknamed him.

R said...

Husby's been to that retreat center several times for professional development stuff. he raves about it!

that game was a heartbreaker...but i enjoyed the kisses, too!

Bobbie said...

We were at the A&M-tu game~~it was great! The Aggies played their hearts out and needless to say the 12th Man yelled their hearts out! It was perfect football weather. I agree with 'Mocha with Linda' that head smacking was a scarey 8 min. I think there was a great deal of praying going on in Kyle Field. I'm so glad the Longhorn is okay. And yes Amanda, after 37 yrs I still love those TD kisses!

We'll be cleaning today and will begin decorating tomorrow. I can't wait. This will be the first Christmas in 14 years that we've had it in our home! We've always traveled to our kids wherever they are.

Happy Birthday, Colin. Hope you enjoyed the Mexican Food!

Dionna said...

Choc chip pie sounds awesome! I'm currently smelling waffles and denying myself some becuase I havent' been eating well lately. Sigh. :)

annalee said...

what a wonderful thanksgiving! you have me craving some royer's toll house pie more than a little:)

Geezees Custom Canvas Art said...

Great to hear you had a great family Thanksgiving...love your blog!!!

Wylie @ Shout A Joyful Noise! said...

We are working on getting our Christmas up. Count down til "done" is Friday. Hosting our SS class Christmas Fiesta (Mexican theme for a break from traditional "holiday" food!) I love that you are working on your Christmas cards. I was a Christmas card maniac & had them out Dec 1st for years of my boys. I joked every year that my kids would be the first pic up on everyone's fridge. I better get a picture made & get motivated quick! Enjoy the Christmas card fun. Such PRECIOUS memories!
Joyfully,
Wylie

Tales from the Trails said...

I thought I might have been the only Aggie sitting at home and watching the game. I could feel the 12th Man in my living room! What a good game. I can't wait for next season. Gig 'em!!

Ashley said...

Glad you had a good Thanksgiving!!! ;) we are in decorating mode too, I can't wait to post pics, it's so fun!

Have a wonderful week girlfriend!

Julie Marler (Mammy) said...

We also Griswolded our home this weekend! My 38th year with my man and doing this together...and he has never enjoyed doing it for 38 years! He only does the outside now (I do ALL the rest!!) and he does it very very well...but, none-the-less, he does not like it at all! But WE ALL LOVE the results! And EVERY year it never fails to bring the love for the Christmas holday! And if the Lord every sees fit to bless us with an abundance...I will hire a nice man to come do this chore for my husband. Or I will continue to spend the abundance on ALL of my 8 grandchildren and I do
now! hee!hee!

We discovered the Retreat in Round Top about 25 years ago!! And we fell in love with it! I've been several times to "tour" it but have never actually been to any retreat there! So glad you and yours got to enjoy it this Thanksgiving season!

Thanks Amanda for sharing!
Mammy

Lauren said...

Sounds like you couldn't have had a better weekend, Amanda!! :)