Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas parties are in full swing


There's nothing more cozy than an intimate Christmas party by the fire with some of your closest friends.  Saturday night we had a little gathering and had the best time!  Unfortunately, Billy had to work but he was off yesterday to make it out with me to another Christmas party with friends. We've had a great time and I cannot believe Christmas is this week! I feel like summer just ended. Christmas morning will be extra fun this year as we celebrate for the first time in our home. I'm looking forward to it!! Here's a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend...



Christmas Cookie Tradition

Christmas traditions are so much fun and everyone looks forward to them because…it’s just what you do. Well, decorating Christmas cookies is on the top of my tradition list. My mom bakes the best sugar cookies and makes homemade icing and then everyone gathers around the table to make them all pretty. I enjoy the endless sugar cookies to decorate, my Pop decorating two and eating one – decorating two and eating (repeat), Mom telling everyone to be sure they look “pretty”, me getting “out” of decorating when I get bored because I claim we must document the process with pictures, Billy decorating one each year that says, “I love Brooke” – how sweet is he!? For all these reasons, this is my all time favorite tradition. Another reason it’s my favorite Christmas tradition is because my parents started it when they were newlyweds. Through the years we’ve had friends and family join us; numerous close friends and family have at one point shared in this tradition. Such great memories!! This past weekend, my parents along with Sophie came over to the “Bird House” for the cookie fun. We all had a great time! We did miss Jordan, Oana and Carlo though and are hoping next year everyone is around the table…Mom will have a lot more baking to do next year!















Saturday, December 5, 2009

It gets better everyday - Our 1st Anniversary!

Wow, I cannot believe it’s been a year since I married the best man I know. A year ago Billy and I married in a beautiful garden wedding surrounded by our family and friends. Dean, Frank and Nat King Cole along with other greats played throughout the air in the background as we swirled around the gorgeous yard celebrating with loved ones on a cool December afternoon. Yes, it was magical. The day was perfect and Billy couldn’t have been more handsome.

In the past year of marriage I have learned that:

- I love him so much more today than yesterday

- It’s okay to forget the dishes for a night and sit on the couch holding his hand

- Compromise

- The beauty of seeing God work in our marriage is priceless

- No one is perfect but I married darn near close! :)

- Being home with Billy is better than any event taking place in the world

- He’s a good man for picking up after me, I tend to leave shoes where I take them off…it’s my downfall (okay, one of many)

- Marriage to your best friend makes life easier and a lot of fun

- If making lemonade every other day and giving him a back scratch makes him the happiest man in the world, who am I to deny him that?

- Communication is key but so is prayer

- He loves UGA and if I need to cheer them on to make a happy house, I will cheer with the best of them…

- Having no pets work for us, ‘borrowing’ Sophie for a few days does the trick.

- Hitting the road and not knowing where you’ll end up makes for the best vacations

- I truly did marry the perfect man God set aside just for me! This past year has more than confirmed that. (good thing, right?) :)

- Billy is the absolute funniest person I know! I don’t think many people get to share in this fact because he seems reserved.

- I’ve learned a new (and the “correct”) way to fold t-shirts! :)

- Don’t give a man instructions, let the GPS tell them they are wrong, ha

- I’ve married a sensitive soul and he’s really incredible with me on my worst days

- The most fun I have had to date is with Billy

- I think he likes Target more than I do, if that’s possible

- Each day I have been complimented and each night I haven’t hit the pillow without hearing the sweet words, “I love you, babe” ...what a sweet gift!

- I couldn’t be more grateful for the fact that I get to grow old with my best friend!!

It’s been the best year. We were talking the other night and agreed it’s been the best year of our lives. We are still so amazed and grateful at how the Lord brought us together. We had a beautiful wedding, purchased our first home, traveled to New York and back, been on several weekend road trips, made many wonderful memories along the way and I look forward to many many more years to come!!!


December 6, 2008
 I love you, Mr. Bird

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