What we were up to in 2009...

January

The most exciting parts about January involved our jobs. I became employed as a PRN nuclear medicine tech in Lenoir City on January 5! John T. turned 23 on January 14 (pictured with some of his b-day gifts below), and he found out he was hired as a SPO in Oak Ridge on January 22! 2009 started out great for us!

February

We had a fair amount of snow this month, and Taleah, Jayden, & I had a fun time playing in all of it! We also celebrated our first Valentine's Day as a married couple.

March

We made the trip to Hampton, TN, in March to watch Taleah & the Lady Bulldog basketball team in the sub-state game. Sadly, they lost, but we had a good trip! Then toward the end of March, I went for the first time, with the Baptist women at church to the WMU Annual Meeting in Gatlinburg. We had a wonderful time, and I am looking forward to going in March 2010 as well!

April

My nuclear medicine class of 2008 had our first reunion in Gatlinburg at the annual Tennessee nuclear medicine technologist's state meeting (Jessica Riley & I at the Old Mill Restaurant, below). I helped host a bridal shower for my best friend Brittany (May) Smiley. We celebrated Easter. Dad and a few of his friends successfully completed a 1/2 marathon held annually in Harriman. We also celebrated lots of birthdays, including John T.'s mom, Lorrie, & my mom & dad. Mom turned the big 5-0!! :o)

May

I love May because it means summer is getting close! We celebrated Mother's Day by taking mom out to eat at Calhoun's. Taleah graduated from high school. Jayden & I had lots of pool days. I celebrated my 23rd birthday. Brittany married Daniel on May 30, and I was a bridesmaid!

June

We went to an Atlanta Braves game with mom & dad. Christina showed the HHS girls Brayden's nursery for the first time...he would arrive in August.

July

We celebrated the 4th of July by watching the fireworks in Kingston and having a cook-out. I picked up more hours at work by working in the hospital pharmacy as a pharmacy tech. I hosted Christina's baby shower for Brayden. We had our first Sunday school get-together at mom's.

August

We celebrated John T.'s mamaw's 67th b-day. Brayden Knobloch was born August 18. Taleah left for college at Motlow State in Tullahoma. John T. started helping coach the CMS football team.

September

This month consisted of one thing & lots of it: football! Every Thursday, I cheered on the CMS bulldogs & my assistant coach husband. :o)

October

This month began with our 1st anniversary trip to Indianapolis! This was one of the best trips EVER, and we're already planning to go back sometime in the fall next year. We also decorated for fall (my favorite season), celebrated LOTS of birthdays, including Jayden's 5th. We ended the month by celebrating Halloween at my mom's. I <3> October!

November

My HHS girls & I went out to eat for the first time with Brayden. John T. & I went to the Tennessee/Vanderbilt game. We celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving.

December

We saw our first snow of winter, and we celebrated our 2nd Christmas together as a married couple.

Goodbye, 2009! Welcome, 2010! I love new beginnings, and I can't wait to see what is in store for us this year!

After Christmas Bargains

Saturday night, John T. & his dad went four-wheeling & hunting, which gave me a perfect excuse to go to Wal-Mart. I spent about 2 glorious hours just roaming around looking for some good deals. It was so nice!

We are huge Indianapolis Colts fans, and I really wanted to decorate a little Colts themed tree this year, but I didn't want to spend the $$ on ornaments, etc., when I knew I could get them on sale after Christmas.

I have had my eye on these blue polka dot & glitter ornaments at Wal-Mart from the beginning of the season, and I was so excited when I found them on sale Saturday for $1.50 a box! I also found this super cute garland for $1.75!! It will be perfect with our ornaments and will really stand out, I think!

I found the little 3ft. tree for only $9, and it is pre-lit! I'm already looking forward to decorating it next year. :o)

Christmas 2009

We had a fabulous Christmas this year. It started out on December 20 at John T.'s granny's house. We had great food (fruit pizza...my favorite!) and got lots of great presents. Below, is a traditional picture we take with all of the grandkids (John T. & I, with his sisters, Taleah & Jayden). I love looking back and see how we have changed over the years.

On Christmas Eve, we ate lunch with John T.'s extended family at his granny's. We went to his mamaw's for supper & more presents on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, John T. & I exchanged presents from each other and this is what I got: I was super excited! I spent the rest of the morning reading the instruction manual and PDF files that came with the camera software, and I couldn't wait to use it when we went to my mom & dad's that afternoon.

We spent Christmas night with my mom, dad, aunt Sharon & uncle Daryl. We were spoiled with lots of great presents again, and my mom made the best meal: pork loin, corn, stuffing, green beans, & rolls (from Fresh Market...my favorite!). Sharon brought a delicious chocolate log for dessert, too. This was one of my favorite presents! I love all things Vera Bradley, and I fell in love with the Symphony in Hue pattern.

Mom also got me this necklace that we found at a Christmas vendor show. It has a tiny mustard seed in the silver circle at the top. I love it so much!

...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

It's back to work for us tomorrow; however, I am only working tomorrow and New Year's Eve, so I am hoping to gets lots of organizing/cleaning, etc. done this week. Oh, and I found some great after Christmas deals yesterday at Wal-Mart that I will blog about later! Do any of ya'll have a tradition of after Christmas bargain shopping?