Tennessee Christmas

Happy New Year!! Can't believe it's already 2014. How does time seem to go by so fast and more quickly with each passing minute?? We are already going into the third week of the new year and I'm just now posting about last year's Christmas (weird to say that..lol). Lots going on since we've gotten back from vacation and I am trying to get over a cold that seems to linger and attack everyone in site. I thought about blogging all last week but was just too tired and no motivation seem to come over me. So, because of procrastination, my first post of the new year will focus on last year. :) We had a blast over Christmas and I find it hard to pass up posting and sharing photos from the trip, so bare with me and enjoy the 50 (out of literally 1200) pictures I am posting from the trip.

I was able to take a week off (PRAISE THE LORD!) from work and we drove the 12 hours to my beloved Tennessee. During the trip we (James, Verena, and I) were able to see my nephew James, some of my (many) cousins from my dad's side of the family, long lost friends, my long lost brother and his wife Kellie, and my bestest best friend. I showed Verena around my favorite state and introduced her to my crazy family and friends. I happen to be in two weddings this summer and am Matron of Honor for both (my sister and best friend Bethany) so I got to do lots and lots of dress shopping and wedding planning as well! Oh, and we cooked and cooked and cooked! So much yummy food ranging from cookies and an amazing homemade cheese cake to pierogies, stuffed cabbages, meatballs, etc.

We started off vacation by meeting up with our long lost close friends, Natasha and Jeremy. We had so much fun catching up over Thai food (I have been CRAVING Thai food like none other..Kansas needs to invest in some!). It is always so much fun with them and lots of laughs. Until next time friends!

Of course lots of wedding dress shopping and wedding planning with the sista and momma!

Don't worry, this is not the DRESS

With my mother's side of the family being Ukrainian we always go all out for Christmas. My family always makes homemade stuffed cabbage and pierogies each year and has a huge dinner of Christmas Eve. We also eat the same type of food on Christmas day for dinner. I had to snap a few pictures during the long process of making everything from scratch so check out a few of the pictures.

            

Stuffed Cabbage...so good!

My cute momma in her Ukrainian Kitchen. Showing us how it's done!

I am happy to say my momma has taught me well and I will be able to pass on this wonderful tradition to my kiddos!

Verena got in on the baking and made her favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yes, She is crazy!

James cooking breakfast with his creepy stache..He did the "5 days of 'Christache'. Yes, all the many different ways of him shaving his facial hair were creepy and I was very excited to finally see him shave his facial hair off on Christmas!

So many yummy sweets! (this was about half of it!)

In my hometown the city park always decorates the entire park in Christmas lights. It's a pretty awesome view and my family likes to drive through to see it atleast once during the holidays. After dinner on Christmas Eve we headed to town and drove through. Here are just a few of the pictures. 

                     

So I just had to share a picture of one of Verena's Christmas gifts. This girl eats more cookies then anyone else I know (well, other then my daddy!). Her parents bought her a cookie monster onesie for Christmas and my parents fittingly bought her Chips-Ahoy cookies. Lets just say she was beyond thrilled!

My little cookie monster! :)

The day after Christmas we were able to meet up with my brother Anthony and his wife Kellie. They are in the process of moving to Virginia where my brother is starting a new job with a government contractor. He just recently went into the military reserves now that he got back from Afghanistan and finished other training, etc. around the US. It has been over three years since the last time me and my siblings and parents have all been in the same place! It was so nice to meet up with him and Kellie and catch up on life. Lunch and the visit were way too short but it was so worth it. 

It's been over a year and half since I've gotten a hug from this guy!

After seeing my big bro we drove through the Cherokee National Forest and Smoky Mountains on our way to DollyWood. It was hard capturing the beauty of my beloved Tennessee with my daddy driving his crazy but normal speed. I did make him make a quick stop at one of the overlooks so I could snap a few pictures though!

  

We had a blast at DollyWood riding rollercoasters, seeing a musical, looking at all the Christmas lights, and drinking hot chocolate.

                                   

We celebrated Verena's 17th birthday while we were in Tennessee. We surprised her by having James and my dad decorate the house with tons of balloons and a "Happy Birthday" sign. We came home from wedding dress shopping and BAM!! Dinner and presents followed up with an ice cream cake. 

                                  

My daughter is getting old which means I'M getting old!!

                                  

Earlier in the week I met up with my bestie, Bethany, in Asheville, NC and went bridesmaid dress shopping and dinner. I was also able to go back up and see her over the weekend and do some more wedding planning. We had such a blast and it made me miss her so much more knowing what we're missing being apart from each other. I cannot wait to see her in July for her wedding!

Bridesmaid dress shopping! (Sorry crappy phone camera!)

We finally were able to close off our trip by seeing my adorably cute and GQ of a nephew!! I can't describe how much I love this kid and how excited I was to see his handsome face. He is getting so big and is so much fun to hang around with. 

Look at that cute smile! 

Excited to see Uncle James

                          

                           

                           

Here are a few extra pictures of my beloved home in the big woods. I've missed watching the sunset from this hill, overlooking the fields of green, gently rolling hills, and the small pond reflecting what appears to be crystal glass. This is definitely one of my favorite places on earth with memories of riding my horse and feeding her each evening as the sun set. James was a smart man to propose to me in this very spot :)