Doug's First Day of "School"

Today was Doug's first day of Pilot Training! Hallelujah! The first six weeks is all in the classroom and he received his box filled with TONS of packets on things like Aerospace Physiology, Fundamentals of Aerodynamics.....and lots of other stuff with words I can't even pronounce. haha It will be a very long/stressful/crazy year, but it will be worth it in the end. Say a little prayer for him if you think about it!

I just had to take the nerdy first day of school picture!

The stack of junk he has to know.......jealous?!?

I have been doing lots and lots of redecorating and rearranging these days so I will have to post pics when I'm all done! Hope your new year is off to a great start!

Chelsea!

My littlest sister, Chelsea, left for her World Race trip on Tuesday. It is an eleven month mission trip, and they will be in a different country every month. The countries she will be going are Thailand, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, Romania, Ukraine, and Ireland. I heard from her last night, and they have arrived safely in Phuket, Thailand. They will be doing brothel/bar ministry while they are there this month. Please say lots of prayers for her as she will be in a dangerous area. You can keep up with her journey at:

chelseabrunts.theworldrace.org

I have a link to it on the side. Here are a few pictures we took the day she left. My parents, sisters, and Deven all met up in Dallas to see her off at the airport:

We were all very sad to see her go, but know that she will be doing great things! We miss you so much already Chels and love you very much!

Christmas with Doug and Meagan!

Christmas was a little different for us this year. We were supposed to spend it with Doug's family, but they weren't able to make it down here, and Doug wasn't able to get time off so we could go up to Denver. So, instead we spent the weekend at my parent's old house in San Antonio. It was kind of weird to spend Christmas alone, but we made it fun! On Christmas Eve, we decorated sugar cookies and gingerbread "men" (really they were all just circular cookies because we didn't have a rolling pin or cookie cutters!). I had fun decorating, and I think Doug had more fun eating them.....Then we went to Christmas Eve Service at Oak Hills Church, and it was really good. I always love listening to Max Lucado speak. Next was dinner at Maggiano's, my all time favorite! It was surprisingly not crowded at all so that was nice. After dinner, we picked up some Starbucks and drove around neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights.....one of my very favorite Christmas traditions!

Cookie decorating time!

Sadie did NOT like her Christmas dress....

Christmas Day was spent with our sweet family friends, The Riley's. They are so wonderful! We headed over there around 10 to eat cinnamon rolls and open gifts. We spent the rest of the day playing games and visiting, and then ate the most delicious dinner! We had a really good time with them! Somehow I didn't take one single picture while we were there.....oh well. We left their house around 8:30, looked at some more Christmas lights, then headed home to watch a Christmas movie.

We are going back to SA for New Year's, and to help my parents pack up the remaining furniture in their house. Sad day. But, I will be going back with them to Louisiana to hang out with Chels before she leaves for her 11 month mission trip on Jan. 4 (even more sad) We are all taking her to DFW to say goodbye. Say a little prayer for her if you think about it. She is awesome!

Many blessings to you and yours in 2011!!

3 years already?!?

The above video is the slide show of our wedding pictures in honor of mine and Doug's 3rd wedding anniversary! Isn't it crazy how fast time flies?!? Married life is so much fun, and I highly recommend it to everyone! So, apparently the traditional gift for a three year anniversary is leather......I'm thinking in the form of a Coach bag, leather boots, or perhaps a shiny new Tahoe with leather interior?!?! HA A girl can dream right.......

Happy Anniversary Doug! I love you. Thanks for marrying me! ;)

Have a Holly Jolly Wednesday!

Thanksmas 2010

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. It was kind of a last minute decision on where we would spend it since my parents just moved to Bossier City, LA. Their old house in SA and their new house in LA close in January, so we just decided to have it one last time in our barely furnished home in SA! It was BYOB.....Bring your own Bed! We went and saw the new Harry Potter movie which was really really good. I'm not even really into Harry Potter, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Thanksgiving meal was delicious! My Mom makes the best sweet potatoes. Hands down. I really just eat sweet potatoes and rolls......and pie. I'm a carb lover, what can I say. I was in charge of the apple pie this year, so I found the most amazing recipe from The Pioneer Woman's blog. It was sooooooooo good! If you like apple pie, you should try it for real. Here's the link:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/11/dreamy-apple-pie/

Waiting in line for Harry Potter

So, we decided to camp out at Target for Black Friday. By we I mean me, Chels, Heath, Doug, James, Matt, and Larisa. We got there at about midnight and there were probably around 30 people in front of us. At about 2AM we were all wondering why we even came in the first place since none of us were really wanting anything in particular! haha Let's just say it was my first and last time to camp out for Black Friday. It was freeeeeezing and it rained. BUT, I did get an air mattress for $12, an area rug for $20, and The Blind Side for $4. It made for great people watching at least! We were all back in bed by 5AM. I think I'm still catching up on my sleep.....

This was taken around 3AM after Larisa and I made a coffee run. It didn't help....

We celebrated Christmas as well which was fun! Otherwise, we just enjoyed family time, good food, and games. And of course, time with our cute nephew! =)

I mean, really......he is adorable!

Had to sneak in a sister pic!

In other news, Doug's start date for Pilot Training was pushed back again......AGAIN people! Surprise, surprise. The new date is January 26. I'll believe it when I see it. I'm beginning to think we will live in Del Rio forever......

Happy Christmas decorating!

Our Nation's Capitol

Doug and I decided to take a very last minute trip to Washington D.C. last week! He isn't allowed to take any time off.....like, at all whatsoever.....once Pilot Training starts, so we thought we would take a quick trip before that all gets started. It was the most perfect time of year to go because the leaves were so colorful and the weather was absolutely beautiful! And the best part was that is wasn't crowded at all! We got there on Monday and I showed Doug our old house and my old High School. I haven't been back since High School so lots had changed, but I loved getting to see it all! We went to basically every museum (the Air and Space Museum twice.....you're welcome Doug), got the capital building tour, tour of the Pentagon, Mount Vernon (my all time fave!) and every Monument/Memorial you can think of! I think we probably walked like 100 miles, which was good because I had Hagen Daas ice cream every.single.day. It was Doug's first time to go, so that was fun for me since I have been countless times! I miss living there sometimes, and then I remember how expensive it is...... Here are a few pics from our adventure:

The walking path across the street from our house.....for the sisters =)

Our house from '99-'02. The Green Giant herself!

So beautiful at night

Checking out the Obama's home

George Washington's beautiful home, Mount Vernon

View of the city from Robert E. Lee's house at Arlington National Cemetery. By the way, it is NOT a good idea to go here on Veteran's Day......we would know! ;)

It was so nice to get away and enjoy some actual fall weather for a few days! When we got back, we found out that Doug's start date got pushed back yet again. So instead of starting the week of Thanksgiving (Nov. 23), he is starting the week of Christmas (Dec. 21). I mean honestly, who comes up with these dates?!? Anyway, I have one more month to enjoy Doug.....gotta focus on the positives! Have a fabulously fall day!

Book It!

So, I have never considered myself much of a reader. I think I read 1 whole book in High School for English class (The Great Gatsby), and in college.....oh man, let's not even go there! (sorry Mom and Dad....I promise I did learn a little bit in college!) Anyway, this past year I have read SO much more than I have probably in my entire life. My most favorite book so far has been Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I usually hesitate to read "fat" books, but this one is totally worth it!

Another one I just finished recently is The Shack by William P. Young. I had so many people recommend this book to me, and finally decided to give it a try. I absolutely loved this book! Like for real, it was wonderful......read it!

I am reading several books right now (I have a lot of time on my hands.....), but I am always up for a good suggestion! ;)

So, while you cozy up to a good book, here is a yummy recipe to make your house smell like fall! I made this yesterday, and it is really good and so easy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

1 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
3/4 c. chocolate chips
3/4 c. pumpkin

Mix together pumpkin, eggs and butter. Add sugar. Stir in spices. Add flour. Stir in chocolate chips; put in greased 8 1 2 x 4 inch pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

And that's all folks! Now, go to your local Starbucks and enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte for Doug and I!