Griswold Family Christmas!

Movie #4: Christmas Vacation

I watched this movie again last night, and I really can't think of a scene that I didn't like. It's so witty and all around awesome! Even the opening credits are great!

I love that it reminds me of Christmas growing up...having to share a bed with my annoying little sister who popped her ankles all night long until she fell asleep; then proceeded to kick me through out the night (thanks Kellie)! It reminds me of crazy huge family gatherings, where everyone was trying to talk over everyone else; and get food before it all ran out! It's hectic family gatherings like those, that leave the best memories!

I have to say though, if I had to pick a favorite scene, it would involve the oh-so-cool Todd and Margo! And if you don't know who Todd and Margo are, you need to go watch this movie right now!

Our 2010 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas to all our family, friends, and loved ones!

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”

2 Samuel 22:33

What a beautiful passage, and so fitting for the last year of our lives. 2010 brought about many changes for both Casey and me. Changes that will forever affect the rest of our lives: scary changes, big changes, and good changes.

When we started out this last year, Casey and I had been seeking out God’s guidance. We had been praying for direction (specifically concerning a career path for Casey), and we knew that whatever He put before us, we would follow. At the time I had been hoping for a simple desk job, 9-5, kind of career. But the beautiful thing about God is, he never settles for simple. He had a greater plan for us.

I can’t tell you the exact day, or the first sign that God gave us about the military. As much as I said I wanted to follow Him, I didn’t want to believe that the Air Force was God’s plan. I convinced myself that God would never want us to take that path; that surely, He had something else. But God was patient with us; He helped coax us into this new vision of a future. And over time, He convinced us of His love and guiding hand.

So in May, just a few weeks before our 5 year anniversary, Casey enlisted with the Kansas Air National Guard. All I can say is, WOW, I didn’t see that coming! It was an extremely special and exciting day for Casey…and a scary, scary day for me. But it was also a day of relief and joy, knowing that we were following the path God set before us.

The next few months were spent preparing ourselves mentally (me) and physically (Casey) for Casey’s Basic Training, starting mid August. I spent many a night crying myself to sleep, not sure how the future would pan out, or what life would look like. For those who know Casey and I best, you will know how “attached at the hip” (as my friend, Sarah, put it) Casey and I are. The thought of being separated was extremely terrifying to me. We were told to not expect many phone calls with each other, and that really our only means of communications would be letters. And that it would last until mid Oct. Scary.

But there were plenty of things to look forward to before August. For one thing, we helped welcome our second nephew into the world on July 26^th. Maddox Rylan Cheek. The cutest, chubbiest, little monster in the world! His big brother Colton couldn’t be happier, nor could Mommy and Daddy! There were also birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate, along with spending as much down time as possible with each other. All these things helped cart us through the next few months, into August.

I won’t go into detail about how hard it was saying goodbye to Casey…I’m sure you could imagine. Let it just be known that thanks to God, my loving family, and friends, I was able to carry myself through to October. And Casey was able to rise to all the challenges set before him at Basic!

We were finally able to see each other again on October 14^th, one of the happiest days of my life! And although we only got to spend 4 days together, it was pure joy.

From Basic, Casey shipped off to Tech. School in Biloxi, MS. He’ll be stationed there well into next year, but we have things to be grateful for in the mean time. For one, we can talk and Skype with each other every day. Second, he’ll be home for Christmas…the best Christmas gift I could ever receive! And third, I’ll be able to visit him down there every few months.

As for me, I’ve made an effort to keep myself busy during Casey’s absence. I’m involved in 2 Bible Studies, a Wed. night class at my church (where I am by far the youngest one there!), and I now watch my nephews a couple hours ever week! I keep myself very, very busy. My hobbies have multiplied in Casey’s absence, and it’s enough to keep me occupied and happy! Add to that two very needy dogs, and you’ll get an idea of how my time is spent!

The most beautiful thing about this whole last year is God’s unfailing guidance and love. We truly take joy in God’s word from Genesis 2:24.

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Even absent physically from one another, we still feel each other’s presence because of God’s company in our lives. What a joy in Jesus! It is this reassurance that will help carry us through the next year, and the future beyond!

I pray that your last year was one of joy too! Wishing the best for you and your loved ones this Christmas season! And remembering that a Savior was born!

Angie

The Grinch!

Movie #2...and 3: The Grinch...and How the Grinch Stole Christmas


I can't really tell you which version I like better. Jim Carrey is amazing in the live version, but the cartoon has all the original greatness! So every year we always end up watching both!

And Who wouldn't like this song:

You're a mean one, Mister Grinch
You really are a heel,
You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel, Mister Grinch,

You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel!



You're a monster, Mister Grinch,
Your heart's an empty hole,
Your brain is full of spiders, you've got garlic in your soul, Mister Grinch,

I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!



You're a vile one, Mister Grinch,
You have termites in your smile,
You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mister Grinch,

Given a choice between the two of you I'd take the ... seasick crocodile!



You nauseate me, Mister Grinch,
With a nauseous super "naus",
You're a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mister Grinch,

You're a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich, with arsenic sauce!



You're a foul one, Mister Grinch,
You're a nasty wasty skunk,
Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mister Grinch,

The three words that describe you are as follows, and I quote, "Stink, Stank, Stunk!"



You're a rotter, Mister Grinch,
You're the king of sinful sots,
Your heart's a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mister Grinch,

Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable, mangled up in tangled up knots!

25 Days of Christmas Movies

Last year Casey and I did the unthinkable...we threw a 25-days-of-Christmas movies marathon. That's right, 25 days, 25 movies (actually we might have watched more!), and 2 crazy adults! I'm not sure I would recommend it to everyone, it seriously took up way too much time, but at least now I can say I did it!

So this year I thought I would share some of my favorites. I don't know how many movies I'll get through. Some were crappy to begin with, and not worth the time. But for now here is my first movie:

#1 A Garfield Christmas
This was one of my all time favorites growing up! For all of you people born in the 80's, you'll understand the awesomeness of this movie! My favorite scene is when Garfield snuggles up on Grandma's lap in the rocking chair...totally melts my heart! There's just something about this movie that reminds me of childhood. Who could ask for a happier memory?

So here's your challenge: What is your favorite Christmas movie? Let me know, and I'll try to incorporate them in too!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I've been getting super excited about Christmas this year. For one thing Casey will be home, and I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas gift! I'm seriously giddy, and I'm counting down the days till he's here.

But it hasn't been all easy and exciting. At times its emotionally straining being away from Casey. Thanksgiving was great with the families, but extra hard without my hubby there. We joked later that it wasn't like we really ever spent that much time together anyways on Thanksgiving (I'm always cooking up a storm, in the kitchen, with the girls...and Casey is always hiding somewhere, "pretending" to take a nap so he can get out of dishes!). But still, I missed having him there.

I made it through, though (Thank you, JESUS!!), and now I can get ready for Christmas WITH Casey. The Christmas decorations are all up (minus the outside lights...Hint Hint to all males in my family!) And I'm almost completely done with Christmas gifts.

I decided I was going to get creative with some of our Christmas gifts this year. Partly, because plane tickets are expensive; and partly, because I needed a project. So here is a sneak peak at what I've been working on. I very much doubt you'll be able to figure it out from this picture...but have fun trying. I'm not even going to say who it's for. MWAHAHAHA!!
I'll try to post pictures soon from Thanksgiving. There pretty much all of Maddox! He's starting to smile ALL the time now, and I couldn't resist taking more pictures!

My sea of leaves

I love fall weather. I love watching the leaves turn from green to yellow, to orange, to red, then brown before falling to the ground. And usually all my trees put on a good show. But my Mulberry tree decided that it had enough with fall this year!

Usually the last to drop it's leaves, it gave up all hope last night with the plummeting temp! I woke up this morning to a half empty tree, surrounded by a sea of green. It looks like someone photo-shopped my back yard, and painted all the dead leaves green (in one huge circle)! Or perhaps like a hail storm hit...just my mulberry tree!

Either way it looks pretty comical!

The lush, green leaves look so bizarre next to all the pre-dead leaves on the ground. Now the only question is: Do I rake them, or leave them looking weird? Haha...total pun intended!

Momma and Me

Every once in a while I need "Mom" time. Just a day spent hanging out with my Momma, doing nothing in particular. These days are sometimes hard to come by, since she works during the week, and usually has the kiddos on the weekend. So if I can find a day that's kid-free with her, I try to take it!

This last Saturday was one of those days. We decided to hit up the local antique store near them, and peruse the isles. Now this antique mall holds some significant value to us. It hadn't always been an antique mall, in fact, it used to be a bowling alley and indoor put-put golf course. As a kid, my parents would take us there on special occasions. Many a birthday party were spent within those walls!

Eventually the bowling went out, and the antiques came in...and I still love going there! Whenever Casey and I had nothing better to do on the weekend, we would hit up the antique mall (that's the actually name on the building, nothing fancy there!), and wonder around aimlessly for hours. I loved all the old furniture and decor...and Casey loved all the record albums and swords! We once even found a full size plaster version of the plant form Little Shop of Horrors (you know, the "FEED ME, Semore" Venus-fly-trap)! Oh, how I wanted to buy that, just to say I did! Alas, it was too expensive!

Mom is much like me in her interests. She loves the "worn in" look, especially if it's something unique. So whenever we go together, it's a battle of wills to not pick up everything we see, and buy it! Like the old fashion wooden game boards that would look so great in Mom's basement. The distressed cabinet that would make a beautiful hutch in my dinning room. The old fashioned Santa Clause with his hot air balloon ride. Or the gorgeous game table that both of us drooled over! Thankfully for us, the price tag is usually too steep for our budget ($500 for that table...boo!), so no harm in going wild with the purchases!

We did find one great buy, an old (slightly rusty) Christmas tree topper. It was in amongst a table top display, and Mom couldn't pass it up. It's covered with stars, and any other description I give of it will only confuse you more...so I'll try to take a picture of it the next time I'm over there!

Although I didn't buy anything this go-round, I never feel like I leave empty handed. I always walk away with a decorating idea...something that I can do on my own! So if you have nothing to do this next weekend, my recommendation is to hit up your local antique mall!