Wordless Wednesday "How Dad Wraps Christmas Presents"

2012 Christmas Decorations

This was the first year I had my own house to decorate for Christmas and it was a lot of fun. 

Last year before I moved my mom let me take a few of her old Christmas decorations so that helped tremendously.  Christmas decorations can be expensive!

My mom made this tree skirt for me last year. It is reversible so next year it will look like I have a new one! 

Special ornament

We don't have a mantle so I had to get creative...

This is the first year I didn't go with my family for our annual Christmas tree hunt. Every year my family heads up to the mountains to find a "natural" tree, go four-wheeling, shoot guns, and cook hot dogs over the open fire. I missed out on this year, but I still got a Oregon tree! My dad sent us a tree on a load of lumber that was going to a nearby job site! 

Can't have Christmas decorations without deer antlers :)

I got the inspiration to make this glitter reindeer from here on pinterest. It was super easy and I love the way it turned out. Now only if I had a mantle to display it from... 

This year Trevor and I started our first Christmas tradition. We each got each other a special ornament that represented something that happened during the year. I got Trevor a boxer dog ornament to represent adding ruby to our family and he got me a beautiful church to represent our marriage (even though we didn't get married in a church, it was still cute and I love it!) 

Personal Goals

I've never really done New Years Resolutions and I don't want to call these resolutions. 

They are just personal goals. 

Things I should work on regardless what year it is. 

1. Read the bible more/improve my relationship with Jesus
2. Drink more water
3. Take more pictures (one day I hope to do a 365 day photo project, not this year though)
4. Go on more dates with my hubby
5. Travel to a new place
6. Do more crafts (I have to put my new craft room to good use)
7. Take Ruby for more walks
8. Be more physically active (we might be joining a gym this week...)
9. Improve my gardening (last summer I only grew tomatoes and this summer I want to be a bit more ambitious)

There is no 10 :) this is my list and I could only think of 9 things. 

2012

2012 was full of lots and lots of change. Good change. 

Moving to California. 

Starting a new job.

Getting a puppy. 

Planning a wedding. 

Getting married. 

It was a really really good year but I can't wait to see what 2013 brings. 

Happy New Year from Trevor and I! 

Ruby's 1st Christmas

 No kids yet. Ruby is our kid. Which is explains all the pictures of her below....

We even talk to her like she is a baby.

We couldn't have Christmas without Ruby, so she rode alone with us on our drive to Oregon.

We get asked all the time "How does she do in the car?"

She does great! She's actually more well behaved in the car than she is anywhere else.

She turns into a huge snuggle bunny or should I say snuggle puppy.

The majority of the time she sleeps, enjoying her puppy dreams.

This was her first Christmas.

She is almost a year old.

She has more nicknames than almost anyone I know. I think I may top her. 

(My family or should I saw my father is big into nicknames, and I am very rarely called by my given name.)

Here are a few....Rubix Cube, Rhubarb, Rubsters, Rubinette, Rubai, Ruby Tuesday, Rubisaurus Rex, Rubeski, Ruby baby (that's all I can remember for now).

Here she is in the car waiting for dad to bring back breakfast

Snuggling dad in the truck

"How much longer?"

"More pictures mom? Just let me sleep!"

Rockabye Ruby on Grandpas lap

When the wind blows

Grandpa will rock

"Hey guys look at me! I'm playing with two presents at once!" 

Waiting up for Santa

"I'm thirsty, this looks like a good place to drink from.... mmmmm taste like tree!" 

Ruby barked and growled at Grandpa when he first came over and then she changed her mind... 

"I like this guy, he scratches me!" 

Ruby was pretty spoiled this Christmas. 

She actually had two stockings full of bones, toys, and even doggie shoes. 

She also got a new camo coat that fits perfect! 

She was also spoiled in the food department and we suffered on the way home. Ruby had major gas and the windows were frequently being rolled down! 

Thanks everyone for making Ruby's first Christmas special! 

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN WITH MY IPHONE

24th Birthday

We celebrated my birthday early with Trevor's family which also included an early Christmas because Trevor and I went to Oregon for Christmas. 

We went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner and then headed home to open presents :) 

Trevor and I with our new pickle ornament (family tradition). 

 Birthday cupcakes!

Then some snuggles before bedtime! 

On my actual birthday we spent the majority of the day driving to Oregon. When we arrived I opened some more presents and ate pizza. 

Then we got all dressed up and went out dancing for my birthday. So fun to see family and friends again! 

Almost a quarter of a century old! 

Master Bedroom Revealed!

I'm really excited about this post. I've been waiting a long time to share our new bedroom with everyone!

Quite awhile back on pinterest I saw this bed.
I also saw the price. Way to much!
So what does any smart girl do?

Ask her hubby to make it for her!
Then ask her daddy for all the wood to make it! (he owns a lumber yard so wood is pretty easy to come by!)

After what seemed like FOREVER... Trevor finally started.

Lots of cutting, gluing, and sanding went on for about 2 weeks. 

Trevor's dad was a huge help with the project. 

Here is a picture of the bed before we stained it. 

We spent a couple nights staining the bed.
At first I was a little worried about how dark the color was but it turned out really good.
I love how the stain brings out all the imperfections and grain. It makes it look more rustic. The look we were going for.

I also requested two night stands :) 

And here is the grand finale.... 

(NOTE-the paint color looks funky in these pictures because of the light. Its actually a darker more chocolate color.)

TA DA!

Trevor is a mechanic hence the miniture tool box on his nightstand. 

Our Ikea dresser

I'm so happy with how it all turned out. I'm also very happy to no longer be sleeping on the ground. The first night we slept in the new bed it was so weird being so high up.
 I still have to hang pictures on the walls and do a little more decorating.

Thank you so much to Trevor and our dad's for all your hard work and making me my dream master bedroom! 

\

Picking Poinsettia's

Yesterday we went to a nearby nursery to pick out some poinsettia's. 

I love going to this nursery because there are rows and rows of beautiful poinsettia's. 

I had a couple great helpers too! 

The house is almost all decorated. I can't wait to share pictures!

 My mom is here this week visiting so I'm sure we'll be doing some crafting and making more decorations.