opps he did it again & my awesome responses

My husband has pulled off his second surprise for me. This is actually quite amazing as I usually can figure things out or have a way of guessing what is coming.

This first was his proposal. To which my response when I saw him on one knee was, "SHUT UP!".

The second was this past Thursday night. I was on the phone with a good friend and I had just gotten home and let Cooper outside. I rounded the corner to head upstairs and the next words that left my mouth were, "HOLY SHIT!".
(Not my finest moment. Trust me I am one of those people who cringes when people cuss, but he really surprised me, which called for yet another one of my awesome responses.)

There sat a dining room table with a wonderful Christmas note from my husband. No, this wasn't just any table it was my dining room table. I have been telling Nate how much I want a table since we started living together three years ago. We had been dining at a two person table my Dad built since we first moved in together, and then after that at our kitchen bar in the new house. I always felt embarrassed having friends and family over to eat and not having a proper place to sit.

My family always sat at a table to eat supper and I want it to be the same for my family. I have often told Nate this, along with the fact that I refuse to start a family until we have a dining room table. Which he so kindly reminded of the night I found the table. Does this mean we are ready to start a family? Who knows, but I finally feel like our home is complete.

holy night...

 My mother let me have the nativity scene that she had all while I was growing up. I was thrilled, and so excited to put it up in our first home. Hopefully some day I can pass it down to one of my children.

he made us do it...

This Christmas has proved to me that Nate and I lack patience. For the first time, since our first Christmas together, we bought presents for each other. Saving up for school and our wedding took precedence in the years following that first year.

We have already opened two of our presents this year.

The first unwrapping was rationalized by beer. We are holding my families' Christmas at our house this year on New Year's Eve, and Nate has been dying to brew his own beer. So after a few hours researching my boys felt ready to brew their own beer, and I let Nate open the 5 gallon pot I had gotten for him to begin.

Then before I knew it my kitchen became barely visible under the mess and my house smelt terrible. Nate will never again be allowed to brew while I am home. I thought I was going to have a panic attack just looking at the state of distress my kitchen was in. I am sure I will soon forget all about that when we enjoy his beer on New Year's Eve.

The next present Cooper pretty much forced us to open. Cooper had gotten both Nate and I a present and we got one for him. Last Sunday night I was talking to my sister when I heard a scratching noise from under our tree. There was Coop scratching away at his present, trying to dig and bite away at the paper. It must of smelt like the pet store and boy did he want to know what was inside.

So, you see we had to let him open it. And how fair would it be for Coop to open his present from us and leave us out on all of the fun? So we all took turns opening our gifts. Cooper got me new socks and a shirt, and for his papa a new pair of Hawkeye slippers with an apology for having an accident once when he was really sick in his old pair.

And from us Cooper got a new bachelor pad. He has had the same small kennel since we fist got him and it was time for an upgrade. He seems to be comfortably enjoying his new space in our absence.

Now, to make it until Christmas without opening another. I make no promises.

'tis the season

Nate insisted that we put the tree up the week before Thanksgiving this year. And by insisted I mean he carried the tree upstairs, set it in the middle of the living room and then walked away. Fully aware that I could just leave that there for a week.

This was the earliest I have ever put up a Christmas tree. I have to admit it was nice to have it done already when we returned from Thanksgiving.

The boys also enjoyed an afternoon of a nook/nap fest in front of our first fire in our home. It may or may not have taken a call to my dad to make sure we had done everything right, and that were weren't about to blow up.

So far this is shaping up to be a very wonderful second married Christmas. 

december 6th

Good ol' St. Nicholas sent us a package with some goodies.

candy...

 peanuts...

and somebody even got a couple dingos.
(he has been busy moving it from hiding spot to hiding spot everyday since)

My personal favorite was the Hawkeye snowman and tree ornament. 

Now I should mention that this package a few days early, and neither of us were able to wait until Tuesday to open it. However, St. Nic was still kind enough to visit us on December 6th.