Another Wonderful Christmas

Yesterday I posted a status that said "Family is everything to me. You can never give too many hugs, too many kisses, or too many "I love you's." This is how I always feel about my family, but during the holidays, I feel it even more. I have been so blessed with such wonderful families. We got great gifts and plenty of money to enjoy ourselves. That's not what it was about to me though. The older I get, the more I just want to be with my family. I am thankful for all of the wonderful gifts we recieved. But most of all, I am thankful for the love of our families and the time that we have been given to spend with them.

Merry Christmas!!

Not What You'd Expect...

What do you think that I would ask for from someone for Christmas? What is the first thing that would come to your mind?

...I don't really ask for much. I am not a materialistic person. Everyone pretty much knows that about me. I like things. I like nice things. I like old, antiquey things. I want a lot of things. But I fight temptations a lot..... A LOT!!!!

This year we said that we were going to be in a house by Christmas. Around the end of September, I would have called Tyler's bluff whenever he made me that promise. I am glad that I kept my faith and stayed on the positive side. We couldn't be happier in this place. The best part... we share it. We also said that this was our Christmas present to each other. We were in a bind for a little bit when we first moved in and that was okay. We just said that we weren't going to over-extend ourselves like we have in past Christmases. Well, Tyler changed his mind last minute. He went and bought me.... yep, my first gun!!! My first shotgun. It is a Mossberg 410. Oh, lordy!! I have no idea what all that means, yada yada, but I know how to shoot it. I don't know what it sounds like, but I know how to shoot it.

Get this, the first question I ask Tyler- "What do I shoot with this?" (Don't laugh) It was a legit question, right? Anyway, I am going to shoot my first deer or squirrel... or something on Monday. I AMMMM!!!

A shotgun for Kim. Not what you'd expect.

Christmas in the Shaw House

I promised I would post pictures of some of our Christmas decorations. They may be too simple for some, but for my first time really decorating my home for Christmas, I think that I did pretty well.



The counter with my handmade snowman canvas

The front door



The Christmas tree



The front table... my favorite

The kitchen table

The new shelf



The kitchen table...again



Good Christmas Cookin'

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the good recipes. I have about a million this year. We are not much on eating sweets (getting worse though) but I do have some good party recipes and desserts to make. I thought I would share some of them. Hope you try and like them.

Pesto and Cream Cheese Appetizer- One block of cream cheese (8 oz) and a jar of Classico Pesto (there is only one brand that makes it, I believe and they don't sell it everywhere. I get mine at Target in the pasta section). You slice the block of cream cheese in half horizontally. Spread some of the pesto (a good amount) all over the half block and then place the other half on top and do the same with that piece. Serve with your favorite snack crackers. My sister-in-law made this last Christmas and it was practically to die for. I am making it this weekend for the Christmas party.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2-oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tsp red food coloring
• 2/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 8-oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 8 inch metal baking pan. Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, letting the parchment extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. (This will make it easy to remove the bars from the pan after they have baked.) Butter the parchment.
2. In a small, heatproof bowl, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir until combined and very smooth. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring. Add chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Add flour and salt and stir until just combined and no streaks of dry ingredients remain.
4. Pour into prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
5. To prepare cheesecake mixture, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth. Distribute the cheesecake mixture in 8 dollops over batter in the pan. Swirl in with a knife or spatula.
6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until brownies and cheesecake are set. A knife inserted into the cheesecake mixture should come out clean and the edges will be lightly browned.
7. Let cool completely in pan on a cooling rack before lifting out the parchment paper to remove the brownies.

This is just 2 that I decided to share, but I have so many more. I am so excited to have my own kitchen to cook in now. Yay!! If you make either one of these, be sure to let me know how they turn out.

Too much...

I never thought I would say that I have too much stuff to decorate with. Oh, but this year, the year that I said that I would allow Christmas to "throw up" in our house, I HAVE TOO MUCH!!! I am not too torn about it though. I like our decorations. I still feel like I want to decorate a little more even though Christmas is in 2 weeks and then I'll have to take it all down. Our Christmas party is in less than 2 days and I want people to "ohhh" and "ahhh" over the house. I want to be complimented on decorations. The guys aren't going to care obviously, but maybe someone will like what we have done. I don't have pictures right now :( but I will post them as soon as I finish my decorating tomorrow.

Tis the season!!

Toy Cars & Water Guns

Ever since before Carter was born, all Tyler could talk about are things that he wanted to do with him and what kind of toys he wanted to buy him. Christmas is one of the hardest times for Tyler, whether he shows it or not. It seems like everywhere we go, he is picking up big toys saying "If Carter were here..." He smiles when he says it because I can tell he thinks about the fun he would be having, but you know it has to hurt him deep down. There really isn't much to say about it. It is what it is.

It's a feeling that cannot be explained, nor can be understood by anyone who has never experienced something like this. I have said that so many times that it is probably becoming annoying. But it's true. It's hard. There is no other word that fits the situation as much as...hard. Everyone who is able to buy toys for their child(ren) this year, cherish it. You don't know how lucky you are. You really cannot imagine your life without them.

So, we will just have to settle with our imaginary moments, what we think things would be like, and be thankful that we DO know where to find him. We are only spending our days without him in our presence. He is still...and always...in our hearts.

We love you, Carter Greyson Shaw!! Merry 2nd Christmas, baby!!!

A Proud Moment..

My latest creation. I am proud of myself. Thanks for all of the compliments.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

I honestly do not think that I have been this excited about Christmas since I was a little kid. I cannot buy gifts this year, but I am perfectly fine with that. That is not what Christmas is about, and if that is what you think, I pity you. I am excited about getting to decorate our new home. I am ready to set up our Christmas tree. Going "Hog Wild" this year. Haha!! Oh yes, I planned this last year. I bought Walmart out of red, white, and black decorations. Tyler won't let me bring the white tree in until after Thanksgiving. Seriously, he doesn't even want it in the house because he says he'll want to set it up. I don't care. I'm about to go get all of the decorations out of the office closet and start laying them out and inventory what we have and what we need. I'm like a kid again. I am already burning pine candles because I want that Christmasy smell in here. I have loaded down my Pinterest Christmas board with decorating ideas. I walked into Dollar General yesterday to look for posterboard and I saw yard stakes that were so cute I couldn't stand it. Well, obviously I could because I didn't buy them, but you know what I mean. We got our new kitchen table last week so now I have an excuse to go buy another Christmas table runner. Christmas is going to throw up in this house this year. I need to get it out of my system before I burst. I am already watching Christmas movies (right now as we speak I am watching "Christmas with the Kranks.") I am ready for our Christmas party. Last year was so much fun and I am hoping that this year is twice as fun. I love having people around this time of year. I don't know what else to say besides I'm freakin' excited.

A Wonderful Christmas

This Christmas was wonderful!! Of course a few people were missing, and greatly missed, but we had a great time with our families. Friday night, we went to Dardanelle to my sister in laws, and had a great time, as usual. And Saturday, we had Christmas with my mom and sister. My uncle went to Huntsville, Alabama, where they had a good amount of snow on the ground christmas morning. It was Caleb's (9 years old) first time to see snow. We had lots of great food, movie time, and laughs over the past 3 days!! I enjoyed every bit of it. I know it's not about presents, but we all got a lot of good stuff. I've never had so much fun on Christmas as I did this year. I was so ready for it this year. It was kinda hard not having everyone together, and not having Carter, my dad, and my mother in law here. But it's ok. Part of Carter came back December 23rd. And my dad is everywhere I carry him, and Tyler and I went through old pictures of his mom a few nights ago. They were here. Just wish physically, ya know. Nevertheless, it was a great Christmas, as I said!! We already planned our Christmas tree for next year.... RAZORBACKS, baby!!!!!!! Can't wait. Hopefully we'll be in our new house by then. Which leads me to this... We're moving in June!! And WE ARE READY!! The most important thing in life is family. That's why. And the where is TBA!! Many happy Christmases to come :)) Hope everyones was great, too!!

To end, I want to congratulate our best friends Ashlyn Hammons & Justin Moore on their engagement.... It's about freakin time ;))) lol. Love y'all!!

Season of Thanks

Well, the Christmas party was fun. New friends joined us, which was good. A few bones were almost broken. Lol. But overall, a very good night. I love this time of year. Minus the freezing cold. But I love all the decorating, sitting on the couch all curled up watching a movie with no lights but the Christmas tree on. It's great. This is also the time of year where I start to miss those close to me though. I wish all of my family was close. But I am blessed to have them, close or far. I lose sight, a lot, of what matters most in my life. I think about it more when it's constantly being mentioned. And now, it is. I am thankful for the basic necessities, but mostly this year, I am thankful for my mom, sister, Tyler & also for my second family. We may not talk very often, but they accepted me very quickly. Made me feel like I had been part of the family for years. I am also thankful for my friends who have really shown their love and support for us the past several months. I am thankful for my JJ, too. Always a happy spirit. He is annoying and unruly sometimes, but he's my little love. And my best friend on 4 legs :). And this morning, my little bubba, daniel, wrecked his bike, and broke his collarbone. It coulda been a lot worse. I am thankful it wasn't. And I'm thankful it didn't happen on the interstate or something. Basically, yeah, I am thankful for the "little things.". THE SiMPLE THiNGS iN LiFE!!!

Something Missing- A Bittersweet Christmas

First of all, people need to quit saying that I shouldn't miss Carter.  Yeah, he wasn't my son, but it still affects me.  I am married to his father.  And not the father that the Russellville Courier referred to in yesterday's paper.  Tyler is his father, not Jon.  I've been there through all of this.  Supported him to the best of my ability.  This Christmas is going to be hard.  This would've been his first Christmas.  It's killing Tyler.  He can't even buy him presents for his first.  He is still part of our family.  This just sucks really bad.  Being robbed of the joy of all the years to come.  All the Christmases, Birthdays, etc.  My anger is back obviously.  Last Christmas was hard enough going with Tyler to his mom's gravesite.  Now we just have another visit.  It's so unfair.  Of course, int he middle of me being upset about him, it makes me miss my dad.  It's just unfair how much is missing from us.  It's our first Christmas as a married couple.  It's supposed to be happy, and it will be, but sad in so many ways too.  It'll be bittersweet, to say the least.  Your daddy and I love you babyboy.  Miss you.  Merry Christmas!!

The Season of Love

Just wanna start by saying that being married to your best friend is AWESOME!! We couldn't be happier!! Saturday was just an amazing day.  And getting to celebrate with our family and closest friends was great!! I enjoyed every bit of it, even on 3 hours of sleep.  It doesn't feel much different, I guess because we were always together.  But the stress is gone.  It was so much fun and the best day of my life!!!                                                                                                 

Now were just preparing for Christmas.  Discussed with mom last night, and we're having Christmas at our place this year.  I'm so excited.  We put up our tree last night and it is so cute!! Financially permitting, we're also having a Christmas party this year!! I've always wanted to have one.  And I think this year, we should!! It's just gonna be an awesome rest of the year, and I am so blessed to be able to spend it with such wonderful friends, family, and my amazing husband!!!