Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 was exciting.
1.) It was our first Christmas in New York in our New HOME
2.) We had my mom in to visit
3.) It was my first time to host... and cook the "whole" meal.

Although Kevin was annoyed with my prayers for a "white x-mas" I really wanted it to be special for everyone. And there is just something about feeling the spirit when everything is white. My mom flew in on Wed. and my little prayers were answered when we woke up on Thursday. Everything was white and flakes were falling!! yea! So we did have a white Christmas. We opened gifts on Christmas eve and had Christmas day lunch. As you can see below it was a small spread! haha.
No really we had a feast, I think we are still eating leftovers! It was a great time, we had friends and family over all day and even spent the evening outside by the fire pit enjoying drinks! I do have to admit I was very tired the next day and have been less than motivated to clean up the Christmas mess.
When is it officially past time to put up your tree? Because I am considering pushing it into a corner for next year.

Below are picts from the holidays. I hope everyone has a great New Years! I look forward to posting about 2011 and resolutions.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I am getting very excited about Christmas! Cards are sent out, presents wrapped and Christmas menu set! WOW I think I have been ready since December 1st. haha

Sooo. Here is what we are cooking up at the Ford's this year.

Turkey, Ham, Dressing, Giblet Gravy, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Sweet Potatoes, Deviled Eggs, Spinach Salad, Pumpkin Pie, and Apple Dumplings!

Who's comin' over? haha

I hope everyone else has a joyous season filled with love and blessings.

My mom will be here spending the holidays with us! So I will be posting picts of all the festivities. YEA!

I'm a bad blogger

I cant believe that its almost the end of 2010 and I have made the effort to blog twice... yes only twice in a whole year! haha

I'm really not big on resolutions but maybe I will make an early one to blog at least once a week in the upcoming year. After all, we are away from all our friends and family and what other way to keep them in the loop with what is going on!

So here is the rundown for the month/week. It's Christmas time and it is our first year in our new house in New York! I realized this year that Kevin and I have never spent more than one Christmas at the same place since we have been married. But I feel like we are settling down a little more now and that we will be in this house for a while.

Although there is not much snow on the ground here "yet" we are in full on Christmas mode! I was so excited to decorate this year and get in the festive spirit. On the 1st I pulled out all the boxes, downloaded a Christmas CD and got to work decorating. I wanted our house to feel warm and cozy for the Holidays. And this year my mom is making a special visit to come see us! So we are excited and ready! More to come on that later...

We also went to Corning last weekend for their annual SPARKLE event. It was great. We got to tour the Corning Glass Museum and walk the streets that were filled with lights, food, music, shopping, even Santa and his reindeer!

Here are some December picts! Oh yea, and dont forget Miss Ella in her Christmas Sweater!! She loves it!

the swing of things

I am trying to motivate myself and get back into blogger mode. It seems like the pace of our life is always on high speed. I am not sure if we ever slow down. This last year has been full of up's and downs. Never in my life did I think I would be where I am. A year ago we made the move to Pennsylvania, leaving behind everything we have ever known. I started a new job, moved to a new home, left family, friends, Texas and all its familiar surroundings. But I also gained a new opportunity with my soul mate. Working hard towards something together that will help our future is much different than just working hard. As a team we have been un-stopable. And watching Kevin throughout this process has made me so proud of him! But with all that said.. we are once again taking a chance and making another move! This time we are heading to New York. But I refuse to be a Yankee!!!!

I have to say I am less nervous, and more excited this go round. I look forward to what the future holds. We were able to get a dream home that we hope to fill with loved ones. I cant wait to have a family of our own and watch Kevin with our kids! And no, we are not there yet... but our future looks so different from where we were a year ago. Having only each other to rely on has brought us closer on so many levels. It also makes you realize how important family is. Work is such a big part of our life, but it is not everything.

Alright... alright... enough mushy heartfelt stuff.

In all the chaos right now of trying to get the Pennsylvania office running smoothly, starting the another office, and moving we have gone crazy. BUT Kevin did surprise me with Jimmy Buffett tickets last week! It was an annual tradition back in Texas that I was sad we missed this year. But the surprise of going to the Pittsburgh concert was just what I needed. Kevin and I were right at home. Dancing in the aisle, singing, making parrothead friends. It was a perfect way to end the summer and for us to remember how much fun we have together!
so.... thanks again cakes, I appreciate all the work you do and for remembering the little things!

way tooooo long

It's been so long since I have been on here... I don't even know where to begin. So I'm not yet sure I will. I could do a mini recap of the last 6 months. But so much has happened that even a mini recap would be long and tedious. New job, New state, New life... hmmm yep that about sums it up. haha
I will post more. But for now I have started another blog and really like this site better. Its simple and easy for posting. So go check it out. thelifelesstraveled.tumblr.com

It's nothing to fancy but it will have new updates!!

~loves

oh April...Birthday's and Buffett

April Showers bring.... busy days? Hmm, doesn't exactly rhyme but it is most certainly the truth.

A quick run down of what our weekends looked like in April... Best Friend from Hawaii came down, trip to College Station for Chilifest, celebrated my birthday, celebrated Kevin's birthday, and went to the annual Jimmy Buffett concert. Whew, I'm worn out just thinking about all of that!

So here is the wrap.

We celebrated our birthdays with a night out in Dallas. Complete with dinner at the "ball" which I have been dying to do. Recently Reunion Tower got a new addition with the Wolf Gang Puck resturuaunt. Everything was amazing. We had a great time and topped the evening off with a romantic stay at the Fairmont. The next morning we ate breakfast in bed and headed off to tailgate. Kevin's b-day gift was tickets to the Buffett concert. My gift was lasik eye surgery! Both turned out to be great. haha

We had a great set up at the concert this year with a motor home and crawfish! I truly believe it is the best concert to be at... no where else will you find a bunch of free lovin parrot heads that are willing to share anything. You will NEVER see a fight at a Jimmy Buffett show. People there are just so much fun.

It is now the third year running that we have had a group go, and plan on continuing the tradition as long as Jimmy keeps singin! So next year any takers are welcome to come... its sure to be a great time.

What next? Chilifest '09

Although Maui was "life changing" for me, we still had to come back to Texas and try to move forward. I was hard. I left and didn't feel the same when I got back home. Suddenly the things that mattered most had shifted. Work seemed to draw on... I seemed to get more and more unhappy each day I went. At one point Kevin and I were ready to just pack up and move and leave everything behind. It seems that we are at our best when we are able to spend time with each other. Maui really brought out the best in both of us, and we both felt the pull of the islands!! But... as THE FORDS are always BUSY BUSY, we pressed on and tried to enjoy all the little blessings we have here.

In April we took a little trip to College Station for Chilifest!! Chilifest is somewhat bittersweet for me. I have yet to miss this annual event since I first went to A&M in 1999! It is the best time and is the true compliment to TEXAS. It's a weekend full of beer, pastures, friends and TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC!

Only this trip was different for two reasons.

1.) We had our good friend Brennan in from Hawaii visiting us for the week and he wanted to see a "Country Concert". So I thought what better place than to Chilifest for him to see Pat Green, Cross Canadian, Robert Earl Keen and other legends.

2.) Afterwards, I realized I'm not in college anymore, nor can I keep pretending I am. So all though we rocked Chilifest '09 with a bang... it will probably be my last.

It's like any great sitcom, Friends, Sex and the City, Seinfield... Smart people end a show while its still great.. before it drags out and is only remembered for its last "overdone" episodes.

So, in conclusion of the last 10 years of Chilifest's, here are a few things I am going to miss.

1) Shotgunning beers

2) 24 hours of sweaty, hot, sunburning, Texas heat... along with beer

3) The venue... which has not changed in the past 10 years. Thank you Pat, Cross, and Willie for the continuous memories

4) The Port-a Pottys... which I found a way to never use!

5) The groups of friends you come with and the ones you always make while there

6) The beer... oh the beer...

Here are some pictures from the event!