The Christmas Tree, and some of my favorite ornaments

I received a new ornament every year when I was younger, so did Mike. This gave us a good start to decorating our first Christmas tree three years ago. We have since added a few ourselves. A big contention for us was whether to go with a real tree or an artificial tree. I grew up with real, Mike grew up with artificial. We eventually decided on an artificial tree similar to this one.

Mike and I had a good time decorating the tree while listening to christmas music. It's always fun to pull out ornaments and remember when and where you got them and who gave them to you. 

Here are a few of my favorite ornaments we've got. Most of them are more recent. Like this one that we got our first christmas we were married.

This nativity was given to me by my grandparents.

This ornament was from Mike's childhood. I think it is way cool how it drapes across two branches like that.

 My family got these painted horse ornaments a couple years in a row. Because Mike likes penguins my mom got him this one.

This was a gift from my aunt for our first christmas as well. If I remember correctly she painted it herself.

Mike gave me this ornament our first christmas together, back in 2003 when we were just dating.

Do you have ornaments with a story??

Christmas decorating, Christoph style

It's that time of year again! The fun and festivities and stress that come along with this amazing time of year. Mike and I brought our boxes of christmas decorations and ornaments out, listened to christmas music and set it all out.

I always look forward to this time of year. When I was younger I'm sure it had to do with the presents, but now I enjoy it for the time it is to spend with family. We are lucky enough that Mike will have two weeks off for the holidays this year and we will be traveling to see both sides of the family. Yes it will be stressful traveling over the holidays (we are flying through Denver! Hope we don't get stuck there) but it is necessary as we get ready for Mike's deployment in the spring of 2011.

Here is a peek into our holiday home this year...

For our wedding we received this nativity set by Willow Creek. Eventually I might get the Wise Men, we'll see I kinda like it with just the animals.

The stockings for our small little family...Mike's is the penguin, mine is the reindeer/moose looking thing, and our pup Sunset gets the dog of course!

I found these snowmen at a garage sale when I was in my first college apartment.

 I am collector of Precious Moments. I have this full nativity set and two more of just Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

Mike likes penguins, and so I found this for a dollar a couple of years ago and had to grab it!

Our Christmas table decorations. I might put one of the other Precious Moments nativity sets here too. I'm not sure yet, what do you think?

If you know anything about me, know that I am a Disney fanatic!! This is too cute, we got this a few years ago from Mike's parents. I love it!

And look at my cute Christmas mug!!! YES!!

Have you gotten your holiday decorating started?

Fruit Pizookie

Every been to Oregano's or BJ's?? The dessert option is cookie baked in a deep dish pizza pan topped with ice cream. I have done something similar but to make myself feel a little better I put fruit on top of mine.

Ingredients:

Pillsbury pre-made sugar cookie (you can make your own if you like, but to save time I use pre-made)
1 8oz. brick of fat-free cream cheese (again to make myself feel better)
about 1/4 sugar (truvia or splenda would probably work too)
a dash of vanilla
fruit of your choice: I usually use crushed pineapple, green grapes, and strawberries

Step 1: chop up your fruit and set aside. Preheat oven to temperature on cookie package

Step 2: evenly spread the sugar cookie on a cookie sheet or pizza stone.

Step 3: Bake cookie for 10-15 minutes depending on oven and how done you want it. I like mine to still be a little doughy in the center.

Step 4: Take cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and blend until smooth. Spread "frosting" on top of cookie after it is slightly cool. It's easier to spread if the cookie is still a little warm because it melts the cream cheese a little bit.

Step 5: Layer fruit and voila! Enjoy!!

A legacy...

Grandpa lived a long and wonderful life. He say his 9 children grow, marry, and have children. He saw his 30 grandchildren grow, marry, and have kids. He even got to see 16 (I lost count) grandchildren. He was married to his wonderful wife for 66 years, again, I lost count :)

He will be loved and missed by the wonderful, loving family he raised and was a part of. We know that he will never be far from us as he looks down on us and continues to care and watch over us from heaven. We know he is getting our places ready for when we join him and can once again be the loud, rowdy, and rambunctious family we all know and love.

You are truly loved and missed Grandpa!

Prayers needed

My grandfather is in the hospital hanging on by a thread. Prayers for strength and peace are much appreciated.

Here are my grandparents in 1941 on their wedding day:

And again last year on their 65th wedding annivesary:

The Big Ta-Do, The Whole Sha-bang

The culmination of the week was the Strike Fighter Ball where the girls get all glammed up and the guys wear their dress uniforms! We had a ton of fun with our new Diamonds!

The boys:

The girls:

The CO and XO with their amazing wives!

 Getting jiggy with it on the dance floor!

Frodo & Laser

Focker & Christy

 The CO is in there somewhere!

The great thing about the Navy is you make so many amazing friends! Some we met a couple years ago and others we just met when we got to Lemoore. But we are all in the same place in life, it's awesome! The Navy community is an amazing and supportive one!

What an amazing night with amazing friends, old and new!!!

Strike Fighter Sports Week -- Spouses Volleyball

The Lady Diamonds set out to represent our guys in the spouses volleyball tournament. We had a great showing of gals! They put in a great effort and a wonderful time was had by all!!

 Here's the team!

 Now be serious and tough!

 We had a good turnout of supporters as well!!

Strike Fighter Sports Week

This past weekend was the Strike Fighter Ball. A fancy dinner and dance for all of the strike fighter squadron's here on the West Coast. The week leading up to the ball includes various sports competitions between the squadron's. Our boys came back from a month on the ship to play beer pong, crud, golf, and volleyball during the work week...not too shabby!! One of our beer pong teams took the tournament! 

Here are some pics of the "crud" match. I'm not too sure on the rules but you use a pool table, the cue ball and one other ball. There are two teams and you play offense and defense. Essentially you do all you can to not allow the other team to score (hence the third picture down)...

Learning the rules of crud

Getting ready for round one

Making sure the other team cannot get to the ball

 Round two

The golf game was a 6-man scramble. This is what they did for "work"

And a few of us wives went out to support our boys!

Our boys did not win crud, and got -9 for their round of golf (but didn't win either). But we all had a blast watching and playing!!