Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! Remember: Jesus was the greatest gift ever given to us. HE is the reason for the season!

Computer Giveaway

Anybody out there want a chance to win a new HP TouchSmart 600 PC? If so, go here and leave Kelly @ Kelly's Korner a comment telling her why you want to win. How easy is that?!

Tuesday's List: Christmas Traditions

{1} Family Time

Christmas time with our families always starts the Saturday before Christmas. My mom's extended side of the family get together for the "Hill Family Christmas," (Hill is my mom's maiden name) where we play games, eat the best southern food around, & exchange gifts (real & gag). The gag gifts usually end up being pretty hilarious (i.e., road kill has been given as a gift in years past). On the same night, after the Hill family party, we head to John T.'s granny's with his mom, dad, and sisters to exchange presents with his granny. She always buys us way too many presents, but I look forward to it every single year! We also play games here to find at least one our presents hidden in her house. Then, on Christmas Eve we will get together with John T.'s family to exchange presents with his parents and sisters. Also, we will go to his mamaw's to have a Christmas feast and spend time with John T.'s cousins. John T. & I started the tradition last year to exchange gifts from each other very early on Christmas morning, as soon as either of us wake up. We also do stockings for each other, which is my favorite! This year on Christmas Day, I'm thinking we will have lunch at my aunt Sharon's house with my mom, dad, uncle Daryl, and my cousins. Then, we will head to my mom & dad's to exchange gifts with them. I LOVE Christmas with my parents...always have, always will! It is the best! With John T.'s family last year

Us with my mom & dad {2008} Merry Christmas {2008}

{2} Favorite Songs

Oh, how I love Christmas music! Some of my favorite tunes include Carrie Underwood's version of "Do You Hear What I Hear," "Little Drummer Boy," "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)," and "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" (always reminds me of Home Alone 2).

{3} Favorite Movies

Home Alone 2, I'll Be Home for Christmas, The Santa Clause, Miracle on 34th Street

{4} Christmas Dishes

Of course, I love the turkey & ham, but my favorite Christmas dish, or dessert I should say is Coca-Cola Cake. I found Faith Hill's recipe last year in the Country edition of People, and it is divine! Cracker Barrel's recipe, though, is by far the best! I could eat an entire pan from there (with some grilled chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, fried okra, & mac + cheese).

Show us Your Life: Christmas Trees

This week, Kelly, from Kelly's Korner is asking everyone to show us your Christmas trees. I'm old-fashioned, I suppose, when it comes to the colors in our Christmas tree. I like to stick to tradition by using red and green. All of the ornaments I use have some sort of special meaning, and that's why I love our tree so much. I found sparkly red ribbon to string around the tree last year at Pier One, and I think it turned out really pretty. My red & green ball ornaments came from Wal-Mart (I love the sparkly ones!). We also have a lot of Hallmark ornaments and "Our First Christmas" ornaments that we received as wedding gifts last year.

{Christmas Tree 2009}

{"a" initial ornament...my favorite!} {Mom bought me this one a few weeks ago...love it!}

{2009 Hallmark Ornament}

{Go VoLs!}

Tuesday's List: DVR

Jessica, over at Love From Texas hosts Tuesday's List each week, and this Tuesday's topic is favorite TV shows on the DVR. Oh, how I have come to love our DVR!

{The View}

Since I have started working almost every day during the week now, DVRing The View is a must. I <3>

{One Tree Hill}

Like I said in my post from yesterday, John T. and I have watched this show since we started dating...way back to sophomore year in high school. It is a Monday night must!

{Friday Night Lights}

We just started watching this show right after we were married, and we were automatically addicted! So much so, that we bought each season on DVD and caught up on what all we missed from previous seasons.

{CMT Insider}

I LOVE country music (I did grow up in east TN and live in Nashville for 4 years during college), so this show is a Saturday afternoon must, catching up on all of the news and new music with country artists!

{18 Kids & Counting}

I just love this family! I know some people have negative feelings about them and their ways, but their values and the way they live is such an inspiration to me. I love watching all of their experiences.

{CMT's Top 20 Countdown}

It provides the background music for when I do my Saturday morning cleaning.

{Grey's Anatomy}

I always knew about the craze of Grey's Anatomy, but my best friend Brittany introduced the show to me while we were in college (her @ APSU, me @ Belmont). I remember one night I drove to her house in Clarksville, sophomore year, for taco night & Grey's Anatomy, and I have been watching ever since! I also bought these season DVDs to catch up on what I missed!

{Giada at Home}

Let me say first that I love Italian food, and no one cooks it better than Giada. I especially love her dessert recipes.

{Down Home with the Neely's}

Southern food at its best! I love the fact that they use everyday, down home ingredients I know I can go to Kroger and find.

{For Rent}

I love just about every show on HGTV, and this is one of my favorites.

Chili's + OTH

I knew I would be working late today (well, if you call 5:25 p.m. late), and we decided Sunday night that we would have Chili's to-go for supper. After work, I ordered John T. the baby back ribs & chicken crispers for myself. We <3 Chili's! I went to Wal-Mart while I was waiting and picked up some labels, so I can make address labels for our Christmas cards. Hopefully, I will get them in the mail by the end of this week. We're now watching One Tree Hill, a show we have watched together since we were in high school. I love nights of relaxation!

Vols vs. Dores

Saturday, John T. & I went to the Tennessee/Vanderbilt game. This was the first game we have been to this season, and we weren't disappointed! The VOLS won 31-16 on Senior Night. Our seats were awesome, and we had a really great time!

Me & John T.

Running through the T...a Tennessee tradition We LOVED our seats!