26 Before 26

So, I've been 26 for about an hour and a half. I thought it would be an appropriate time to wrap up my 26 before 26 list.

Here's how I did (X's and slashes mean I completed it, obviously!):

Some of these were partially completed, but I just left it blank.

I did not complete everything and I don't even care! You know, looking back at the goals I set, I realize how ridiculous they are! 

So, there will be no 27 before 27. Instead, my goal for the new year is to choose joy (as my blog friend Kelsey would say!).

I want and need to be more positive. I need to quit having ridiculous lists that are unattainable and do nothing to improve me even if they are attained. 

Now, that's easy to say. Very easy, but very hard to do. But I want to try.

2010 was a crazy year with lots of unexpected changes. But I feel more settled than I ever have. I love living in Oklahoma. I love what Trey and I have accomplished so far. I think 2011 will be great. I want it to be great, so my focus is to quit being so ridiculous and choose joy no matter what!

Fun

Trey and I have been having fun this week. I love that both of us are off work. I just wish we had longer!

This week we finally discovered a Chinese restaurant that we like. Trey LOVES Chinese food and is very picky about which restaurant he likes. We found this one and we may and may not have been a few times this week. Don't let looks deceive you, the food is AWESOME!

Since my birthday is New Year's Eve and because I'm difficult to buy presents for, my birthday present was to shop and get whatever I want! Awesome, right? So, after dinner we did some shopping and I got some awesome things for the house that I will reveal later. I've been re-decorating. So fun.

We stopped to get some chocolate dipped ice cream cones from this awesome drive inn.

They have Indian tacos, too! Definitely going back to try those!

You don't know how much I love places like this!

After our yummy ice cream cones, we went to the mall and shopped some more.

Oh, and earlier we went to Goodwill. They had a TON of bunnies and ducks that were just screaming to come home with me for Easter decorations. Don't worry, though, they will not be staying like this! I have plans to transform them a la Young House Love.

Obviously, I love decorating for holidays. Easter is one of my favorites, so I'm super excited!

Now, if only I could have found a super cute outfit for my birthday. :( Buying things for the house is so much more fun (and easier) than shopping for clothes.

Christmas Cookies

Making Christmas cookies is one of my favorite traditions during Christmastime. But for some reason, this week before Christmas was busy and just slipped by me. I bought all my ingredients to make them, but just never found time. So, these are technically after-Christmas cookies. But I'm too obsessed with traditions to just not do it, so I had to make them. Silly, I know.

I still love my cupcake aprons. I alternate which ones I where.

If you've never visited my blog before, this probably looks strange. But every year we make cookies in our initials. F for Fiona, A for Amanda, T for Trey, which hilariously spells FAT. This year I bought a huge thing of Wilton cookie cutters and it came with alphabet cutters, so I used those. I used a new recipe this year. They are called Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookies.

I always try to use a different color scheme of icing. Somehow, as I was mixing the colors they turned into pastels. Not very Christmasy, but pretty. Oh, and the icing was the best ever homemade cream cheese icing. The BEST.

I thought they turned out very pretty.

I also made Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies and snickerdoodles to give as gifts.

And for my comparing side...

2009's cookies

2008's cookies

2007's cookies

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

(Excuse my very creative title. I'm a little exhausted.)

We spent Christmas in Trey's hometown of Fulton again this year. So, Christmas Eve was pretty much spent driving (10 hours! AAH!). As soon as we got to Fulton, we drove by this house that always has a huge light display. It was pretty much the same as it is every year, except he had upgraded the lights to LED.

It's a very small town, so this house gets a lot of traffic.

Creepy Teletubbies. Ha!

And Barney!

Winnie the Pooh

Santa and Mrs. Claus

These next pictures are horrible, but these lights move across the street.

When we got to Trey's house, we were greeted by a new addition to the family. Trey's sister Chelsea's boyfriend Dustin (confused yet?) had surprised Chelsea with a mini beagle puppy. His name is Butterbean. He is a boy even though he was wearing pink.

I was in love with him!

He was such a baby still and could barely walk yet.

Butterbean found a good snuggling spot with Dustin.

ADORABLE in his pink. Poor little guy. ;)

We always have appetizers and desserts for Christmas Eve dinner. It was delicious!

Lots of food...

We woke up to a huge surprise Christmas morning! SNOW! Snow in Mississippi on Christmas. Who would have thought?!

It was beautiful.

My car covered in snow.

Of course Fiona had to put on her Christmas sweater and venture out in the snow. She actually doesn't mind snow, which is weird because she won't step FOOT in grass if there is even the slightest bit of dampness. She's usually a priss.

Such a snow bunny!

The tree with lots of presents!

Trey's favorite

I love this wrapping!

My favorite gift. A cruise ship ornament with our names and the year we met. You know, because we met on a cruise when we were 16.

Everybody opening the gifts we brought.

Chel with the necklace I got her at Cloverleaf.

Clay, my father-in-law, with his gifts! He's such a good cook that his gifts were cooking related.

Chel and Rhonda, my mother-in-law, with their jewelry.

Rambo was chilling on the arm of couch. He's such a good dog.

Chel always passes out the gifts.

Me and Fi opening gifts. 

(Please don't look at me though, a ten hour drive and staying up into the wee hours of the morning, plus allergies make dark circles and bags under my eyes, ok?!)

Pretty pottery

Trey's favorite gift-a guitar pick punch.

Butterbean being mischievous.

Christmas Dinner- Clay did a fabulous job! It was DELICIOUS!

 Turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, green salad, grape salad, mac and cheese, peas, mashed potatoes, rolls, and red velvet cake.

Christmas is over and now my birthday is next! New Year's Eve is my 26th birthday!