Let the Christmas decorating begin!

Tonight we decided to bust out all of the Christmas decor and get to it! Here's a few pictures of the process and the final product. We had a great time decorating our first tree together. There are several pictures on here of our "special" ornaments for this year. There is the ornament we bought at the top of the mountain in Banff just after we got engaged last October, "Our First Christmas 2007" ornament with a wedding picture in it, two snowpeople with our names on them given to us by Faye, a tree ornament with our name on it given as a wedding gift, a honeymoon getaway car and last but not least the blonde headed bride and groom...do they look like us? Not so much!
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
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Thanksgiving 2007

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had! Mom, Allie, Ron, Brock, Doug and I gathered at my mom's house to celebrate together. The day started out at Mission Arlington where we went to deliver meals to several families around town. That was a good experience and a fun way to start the day. When we returned it was time for some serious cooking! We all (and by "we all" I mean the girls) :) cooked and cooked and cooked somemore! It was actually very fun and relaxing. We commented several times about how much enjoyed being together talking and cooking. Allie and I got tickled several times because our Mom kept trying to "teach" us how to make Thanksgiving. We think she was trying to send a message that this was her last time to cook! Yikes...call Luby's because we will be up a creek without her!! Mom made a TWENTY TWO pound bird! Yes, we could have invited the entire neighborhood over and still had leftovers! Wow! We had all of our favorites including mashed potatoes (made by yours truly), gb casserole, sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing, cranberries, and the list goes on! There was lots of eating and talking and eating some more! The day was made even more perfect because of Brock. Let me just tell you that he is SO precious! There is a HUGE change that takes place between 2 and 3 years old. He's talking so much...actually having conversation. It's way too much fun! Uncle Doug played and played forever with Brock which was so much fun to see. We both had the opportunity to read books to him as well. It was really a treat to be with family, and to be reminded again of just how much there is to be thankful for. I should also add that although the boys did what they do best (watching TV)as we cooked, they were VERY helpful cleaning up...which might actually be the harder job! Such a good day...
 
 
 
 
I have obviously NOT mastered this blogging thing yet...so sorry for the multiple Thanksgiving posts! Anyway, here's some of the Brockster too!

More Thankgiving...

 
 
 
 
Not sure why these pics didn't connect to my other post. I also forgot to comment about the SNOW that occurred!! It was amazing! HUGE chunks of snow were falling from the sky!

 
 
 
 

Go get 'em!!!...

Just another quick post to relay the funniness that is going on downstairs in my house right now. My husband is watching the Cowboys game, which he recorded earlier this afternoon. For about 30 minutes now, I've been hearing him scream things out like..."Go get 'em!", "That'll do!", "That's what I'm talkin' about!"...LOTS of clapping, laughing and happiness abounding...(I guess the game is going well so far). My favorite part about this is that Doug is all alone down there. There's nobody there...just him, his tv, and his beloved Cowboys! Not being a sportsfan, I can't fully connect with the excitement, but I can connect with how much I love my husbands excitement about life in general. Just wanted to share...

Thankful...

 
 
Each year, the Steffensrud family celebrates Thanksgiving one week early so that everyone can be there. So, this Saturday, Doug's Aunt Linda prepared a FABULOUS meal, and was so gracious to invite us all to their home. Before Russ and Linda moved to Texas, this celebration took place in California (their old home). I had the oppotunity to go with Doug one year to that celebration. In fact, that was my first time to meet much of the family on his dad's side, including Aunt Linda and Uncle Russ, their daugthers, grandaughters, Doug's Uncle Bob and his family, and Doug's grandpa, along with his wife Wanda.
One of the sweetest blessings in getting married is the gift of new family. Not only do I have my own precious family with all of our traditions and memories, but I have Doug's family too! It is so fun to get to share in the things that he has enjoyed all of his life, and to spend time with the people who are so special to him...and now to me as well!
As we prepared to eat yesterday, Uncle Russ prayed the sweetest prayer. In it, he said something along the lines of, "God, today we celebrate all of the many thanksgivings we've had throughout the year." That really struck me as I thought about all of the ways that God has blessed me this year. I feel so full (not just of turkey), but of love and thankfulness for our family and friends. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!!

Nothing like a sister...

 
Yesterday, I had the rare privilege to talk with BOTH of my sisters. We are all three busy with life and don't get to visit nearly as much as we wish we could. But today, I got lucky and talked with Allie and Leslie. It is always a treat to talk with them. We share stories and laugh, laugh, laugh!! If you have sisters, you know what I'm talking about when I say there's nothing like a sister! There is something incredible about the bond between sisters. Leslie and Allison are two years apart, and then I came along SEVEN years later...surprise!! For many years, it felt like I was an only child because they were so much older than me. It seems like when I got into my 20's, though, the age span thinned out considerably! Now that I'm 30, it feels as though I've caught up with them. I have many wonderful memories of growing up with two older sisters...snuggling in bed together on Christmas Eve, watching "All My Children" together (even though I'm sure we weren't supposed to), taking MANY road trips in the family station wagon. (Just a sidenote: I always got crammed into the "way back" with the dog and the luggage, while they shared the middle seat...and people say that the baby is spoiled!) I can remember when we dropped Leslie off at UT Austin. We cried and cried as we left big sister at college. And then, it was time to drop Allie off at Baylor. And you know what that means...the baby was left at home with the "old goats", as we so affectionately called our parents!
I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about my sisters. I recall a memory from the past, or I think about the future and look forward to what it holds for us. I always hope for a time when we will live closer to each other and get to share more of our lives with each other. But, no matter where I go or what I do, there are two other women out there in the world who are connected to me, not just by blood and similar facial features, but by experiences, memories, happy times as well as sad. I must tell you that if I were to make a list of my heroes, there are two names that would be right at the top of the list...they are my sisters.

 
 

Knock knock...

This evening, we went out to take a walk (leaving out the front door). When we returned, we found this very interesting door knocker sign hanging on the door...not sure who left us this treat, but it's a keeper!! It's already found a permanent home INSIDE the house!! There was also a mysterious Ghiridelli chocolate bar at the door...do we have a secret admirerer???

Blessings Report...

Well, the last couple of weeks have been full of all kinds of good news!! I want to share with you some of the exciting things that are happening to those nearest and dearest to us.
LynnAnn is now engaged to Paul Bryant! We are so excited for them and can't wait for their special day in June!!!
Meggan and Trent are expecting their first baby, a son, in March (or maybe Feb.)!!
Mallie and Brandon are expecting their first baby (TBA)in March-ish!!
Christy and Cole are expecting their second baby, also a son, in April!!
Kim and Eric are expecting their first baby (TBA)in May...probably on her birthday!
We are so excited for all of you and thank God for His goodness!!

Happy SIX month-a-versary, Sweetie!!

Today, we are happy to be celebrating SIX MONTHS of marriage! It's hard to believe that this much time has passed since that wonderful day in May! I didn't have a picture to upload of both of us from that day, so I decided to post a picture for my sweetie of his bride! Here's to many, many more month-a-versaries and YEARS of love and laughter! We'll be celebrating this month-a-versary at Inn on the River Bed & Breakfast in a few weekends! Can't wait!!!

 

Please explain...

Someone please help me to understand how it is that when my husband and I both set out to shed some extra pounds (or 50), that he somehow LOSES 2 pounds this past week and I GAIN two pounds this past week? We live together, eat at the same time and eat the same thing, and in the case of this past week DON'T exercise TOGETHER! So, how is it that he just slides right on by and drops 2 pounds? I don't know how...but I know I don't like it!

And the winner is....

Doug Steffensrud as everyone's favorite OFFICE character, Dwight K. Shrute!!! Doug's office hosted a costume contest on Halloween. Of course, you know that Doug was all over that! He started planning his outfit and practicing his character weeks ahead of time. He wore the classic Dwight glasses, the ugly mustard colored shirt with striped tie and gave his hair a good butt-cut! He even had a nametag made up listing him as a security threat! Needless to say, his coworkers loved it and he was the big winner!!! Way to go Sweetie!