Help Haiti!

If everybody even gave a little, it would add up to a lot.  I don't know if you've seen all the news coverage, because it's hard to watch.  They need help badly.  Plus if Bill Clinton and Baby Bush can put their differences aside to help Haiti, we all can too!

http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/

Oldies but Goodies

Between the recent terrible weather we've had and having to drive back and forth from work in Cookeville, Dustin had an accident.  He slid off the road and ended up in oncoming traffic.  Thankfully he didn't have a scratch on him, but he could have been hurt.  This got me thinking of all the times we've had "close calls" and how everything seems to have happened for some reason, even when we've not understood it right away.  For instance Dustin falling off that cliff (Yes I said cliff.)  I consider myself the lucky one in this story because I got to meet Dustin without going through all the pain he did. He was on a walker, had a shattered, um... entire body, but was still the cutest thing I'd ever seen. If not for that cliff and his wonderful friends saving his life, we never would've met.  Everything happens for a reason, even when you don't see it at the time.

Getting that "hey I had a wreck" phone call at 7 am made me appreciate everything more. Even that remote control helicopter flying around my head and Drum & Bass in the next room. Go hug your husbands and think about how things would be if they weren't around.  I can't imagine it and wouldn't want to.

This is my favorite.

Dustin kissing my hand while I give him his first tattoo, lol

Snow Is a Relative Term

We have spent the last couple of days at home due to snow.  Now when I say snow...

Not much really, but for around here it is.  Everyone's been freaking out and looting would've surely started had it not melted some today.  We've played Call of Duty, Dominos, and watched several movies.  I found myself wishing that I had already taken those crocheting classes so I could do that.  I guess 24 hours is our limit, because we were just looking for an excuse to get out.  Then we got one - Darren!  When my brother-in-law got here, we decided to brave the harsh weather for some good Mexican food.  

Oh and just a quick question, is 70 degrees really too cold for the house?  I like to keep it right around there, but as you can see Dustin disagrees.  It's a regular issue around here.  

Yes, he has on long johns under those shorts and yes, he will probably kill me for putting up that photo.  Dustin hates the paparazzi.  I hope everyone is staying warm!

Two Old Married Couples' New Year's Bash

We celebrated the New Year with our friends Russ and Jamie.  We had dinner at the local Mexican restaurant, picked up a bottle of champagne, and headed home to celebrate.  Dustin's uncle Wes (he's actually 8 years younger than us) decided to hang out with us too. Before midnight, we played some Call of Duty.  Well, all of us minus Jamie...




Jamie did wake up in time to watch the ball drop and watch the fireworks display Hubby set up for us. We finished up the night with a few rounds of Train Dominos.  I think that's what it was called. Whatever it was, I loved it!

New Year's day we went to see Avatar. Every movie should be on imax 3d! We also spent part of the day at Party City being followed by these two creepy guys.

My First Canning Experience... A Success!

As a Christmas gift for our family, I decided I would attempt apple butter.  After buying what seemed to be around 500 pounds of apples, I ended up with 16 1/2 jars of apple butter.  Hubby and I kept 1 1/2.  I mean, how can you give someone half a jar of something?  I was surprised at how easy it was.  I loosely followed a recipe I found online.  After chopping, boiling, blending, and slow cooking, I was done.  It was a little time consuming, but super easy!  Add a label, a little rafia and voila!  D & B Apple Butter.

In our Harris Family Cookbook, I have several of my Granny's canning recipes.  Next canning project - green beans.  Of course Granny had the best green beans ever, so I have to make her proud!

Our First Married Christmas

My holidays were kicked off with Mandy's tacky sweater party. I had the best time hanging out with old friends and making new ones. We attempted several board games and ended up with Cranium - my team kicked butt! I miss game night!




We had an awesome Christmas! Dustin and I decided to have some of the family over to our house for lunch on Christmas Eve. I actually had everything prepared the night before, if you can believe it. This led to a (thankfully) calm and enjoyable Christmas Eve morning. My sweet husband got me some necessities I had asked for, and some fun stuff including a stunning black/white diamond spider pendant. I'm not a fan of the real thing, but the necklace is beautiful and not something you see everyone wearing, which I love. Christmas morning, we had breakfast at mom and dad's followed by a 3 hour nap to recover from Christmas Eve. We spent the evening with Dustin's mom, then at Dustin's dad & stepmom's house.




It turned out to be a special, memorable Christmas. I was so happy to be able to share it with my husband, our family, and of course Tank.