Coupon Queen

I did some grocery shopping today. We had received the Kroger circular yesterday afternoon, and I looked through it before going, and picked out some stuff to get. Since we don't get the paper (the apartment complex does, but I always seem to come at the wrong time to pick one up), my dad pulls the Sunday coupons out each week, and I clip the ones that we use.

Well, today I discovered the joy that is double & triple coupons! I wound up saving more than thirteen dollars between the coupons and my Kroger plus card. Hooray for saving! Hooray for coupons!

Five Months Today!

Today is our five month anniversary! I am so excited about it. Not only that, it is almost Christmas! I watched our wedding video, it totally gave me the warm fuzzies! I'm really looking forward to our first Christmas/New Year's celebration together. We are going to open presents with my dad's side of the family tomorrow night. I am responsible for preparing a veggie tray. Finally, my four-year stint working in the grocery store deli is coming in handy! We are using one of our platters that we received as a wedding present!

After presents, David & I will attend the late Christmas Eve service at church. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be a candlelight service, with communion service. I've never attended a Christmas Eve service before, so this is the start of a new tradition!

Christmas morning, David & I will open our presents to each other. Then we'll go to my parents' house, and open our presents from them. My parents are fixing cinnamon biscuits (same thing that we had the morning of the wedding) for breakfast! We'll then journey over the river and through the woods (or down I-35 and past Sam Moon) to my grandparents' house for Christmas lunch. Then we'll go back to my parents' house to open presents from my mom's side of the family. (We did Christmas last weekend with David's parents.) Hooray for Christmas!

In-Laws

You know, in-laws get a really bad rap. We see various television shows with "crazy in-laws" and there are at least two movies out right now about meeting the significant other's nutso family. I have membership on a couple of newlywed sites, and there's always people going off on how horrible and insane their in-laws are.

Well, I consider myself very lucky. I not only have wonderful parents and family, I also now have a wonderful new family! I first met David's family (at least part of it) a couple months after we started dating. They always made me feel at home and part of the family. I have never felt like an outsider around them!

I love being around these people who David grew up among. I learn a lot about the traditions in their family, and can see where David gets many of his traits. They are wonderful people, and produced a wonderful son. Thanks for being who you are! I look forward to many more years of being a part of your family!

Benefit Harbor Brouhaha

Yesterday afternoon I was wrapping up the Christmas gifts (while listening and dancing around to Christmas music.) As I mentioned on my site, I got rather creative in wrapping some of the gifts. I love wrapping presents, although some of the packages produce a challenging wrapping job. They're all wrapped, and now are awaiting bows, which is this afternoon's project, when I get home from my last day in Denton for the year!

After doing all that, it was time to get cleaned up for David's office party. David & I had been discussing what to wear that morning, and he had suggested a particular sweater, so I put that and a skirt on and was ready to go. As we're driving to the party, I realized that we both had on red tops and black bottoms. Oh well.

The party was lotsa fun. I knew several of the people from David's office, and was introduced to those I did not know. The hostess did a wonderful job decorating her home and making sure her guests were taken care of. I even wound up talking wedding stuff with a couple of the women, and several people were interested in what I'm studying at school, and what I want to do afterwards (which WILL happen someday!!) All in all it was a very pleasant evening, and we had a great time.

Dinner With Friends

Last night, David & I had dinner with Josh, Jocelyn & Clayton at Two Guys From Italy, an Italian place in Dallas that the Muse family has been frequenting for many years. I was excited when that place was suggested and immediately expressed my enthusiasm for eating dinner there.

I definitely was not disappointed by the food. I enjoyed dinner, and especially the company. It is always entertaining hanging out with that group, and we have some interesting conversations! Since David's dinner came with dessert, we ordered an eclair to go. (Which I had for breakfast this morning, and it was really, really good!). The evening was finished up by a fun game of Sequence at Josh & Jocelyn's place. Good times were had by all!

Next week: our first company Christmas party with David's
co-workers!

Christmas Cards!

We got our first official Christmas cards! It is so exciting, seeing the envelopes addressed to David & Dezi Rollins! I was feeling particularly goofy today, so I decided to take a picture of our first cards, as well as jazz them up with some of my old Christmas decorations. Hooray!

'Tis the Season

Well, here it is, December! I really love this time of year. I love hearing the Christmas music on the radio, seeing the decorations up everywhere, and spending time with our families. I enjoy buying Christmas presents for people, trying to find the perfect gift for everyone.

That being said, David and I started our Christmas shopping Friday night. We bought several gifts for people, as well as a few things for us. (Thank you, gift certificates!) We also got some materials to makes some Christmas gifts. That's right, we're going to be creative this year, and try to make some Christmas gifts. I'm not exactly a crafty person, so we may be going out later to get a replacement gift if they don't work out.

Last night, I was addressing Christmas cards. I have a list of people that I normally send them to, and this year, it is increased to include my immediate family, whereas before, my parents would include my name on their Christmas cards. As I was signing and addressing cards, I kept picturing the people I'm sending them to. I like to think that they'll be pleased and excited to get a card. Or maybe that's just me that gets excited to get cards. At any rate, I hope to send them off by the end of the week.

This Christmas is going to be different from every other Christmas I've had. First, it's my first Christmas as a married woman! I know some of the things, like Christmas Eve at my grandparents and Christmas night with my parents will be the same. However, it's going to be different, without all of my parents' Christmas decorations. Or without my stocking! David and I were discussing that we would buy new stockings at let our parents keep our old ones. We haven't decided, but we will.

Twenty days until Christmas!