Christmas

Some people get depressed about a break-up, or going back to work after a long vacation, or maybe when their favorite football team loses (cough, nic, cough); I, however, go through a major depression when the Christmas season comes to an end.  That's right, as we begin to pack away the decorations and drag the tree outside to the curb, I may or may not be crying on the inside.  It is the most wonderful time of the year, you know.

This Christmas did not disappoint, hence the major depression I have been recovering from.  :)  So when I feel that wave of sadness rush over me, I just have to think back and recount all of the sweet memories that we made this year... and, of course, count down till next year... only 337 days to go!

Christmas Recap 2011:

• Christmas Eve we headed to Chiefland to have Christmas with some of Nic's side of the family.  We met Nic's Mom and Sister for breakfast and then opened presents together.  We then made our way over to see Nic's Grandparents to eat lunch.  It was great to spend some quality time with that side of the family, since we don't get to make it down there as often as we'd like.  

• That night we headed over to my parent's house for a casual gathering with our Lifebasic's family.  We had great food (my faves included BBQ brisket and Buffalo Chicken dip...YUM), wonderful company, we sang Christmas Carols, and of course read The Christmas Story.  

Look at those In-laws making music together.  They make my heart happy!

• As the night came to an end, we gathered around to open one present.  Guess what it was?!?  Our Christmas pajamas!!!!!

**Quick side note.  When we got home, Nic and I still had to wrap ALL of our presents.  Yep, that's right, total procrastinators.  I wrapped all of mine first in the back room.  When it was time for Nic to wrap his, he realized that there was not enough paper left... oops.  Now remember, this is around 11pm.  So he was on a mission to find some paper on Christmas eve night.  He went to CVS, Walgreens, Publix and then Walmart and they were all closed (who knew Walmart actually closes?).  Anyway, let's just say when Nic arrived back at home without his wrapping paper, he was a tad bit upset.  I finally just told him he didn't have to wrap my gifts-- even though in reality we all know I would have been ticked to have unwrapped gifts under the tree.  :)  So he walks back to the bedroom to try to figure out a game-plan, and propped up against the wall just happens to be a brand new roll of wrapping paper.  Guess he didn't see it earlier.  OOPS!  :)

• Christmas morning, Nic, Bowden and I woke up super early to open presents at our house before heading to my parent's.  Santa left Bowden some gifts under the tree.  It was hilarious to see how excited he was to play with his gifts... Guess he gets that from his mama.  ;)  Nic and I also exchanged gifts with each other.  Can I just tell you, my hubby is a good gift-giver!

The glorious Bishop Tree!

Bowden says thanks to Adrea and Phil for his rope!  :)

Yes, we are those crazy dog people!

Bowden's favorite toy.  He would not put it down!

• After the 2nd annual Bishop Family Christmas came to an end, we headed to my parents to exchange gifts and eat a yummy breakfast.  

•  My parents and sis headed out of town by 11am, and Nic and I were already pooped from all of the festivities.  I was scheduled to go into work that after noon, so we decided a nap was in order.  We blew up the air mattress in the living room in front of the tree, played A Christmas Story on TV, and snoozed the rest of the morning.  It was a pretty perfect Christmas if I say so myself.

• The next morning we went to Nic's Dad's house for our Christmas together.  Nic's sister and stepbrother were there also.  It's hard to get all of us under one roof at the same time with all of our schedules, so this day was really special.  

We feel so blessed to have been able to celebrate with all of our huge families, friends and church.  It was a perfect Holiday!  

 Only 337 days, 6 hours and 33 minutes to go... but who's counting??

Merry Christmas 2011

Okay, I want you to close your eyes, and imagine that this is December 25th.  Because I promise I had every intention of posting this on that day :)... but you know how it goes, this wonderful life sometimes gets in the way.  And I'm so very happy it does.



Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!  Wishing you joy, hope and love on this toasty, Christmas morning!  And while we're at it, Happy New Year!!!!!

Love,
Heather, Nicholas and Bowden

Christmas Card 2011

He's Here!!!

He's here!!!  My bestie had her baby!!!!!!  And I am just one ecstatic Auntie!  (okay, well he really arrived December 14th, but I'm trying to hurry up and blog everything in order before the new year rolls around.  Plus, I'm still just as excited as the day he arrived!)

Let me just tell you, I swear this is the cutest, tiniest, most precious little baby boy I've EVER seen!  He melts my heart EVERY time I see him.  And I'm already trying to spoil this little cutie the best I can.  I have to live up to my Auntie duties, you know.

So let me introduce you...  This is  Carter Michael...

This is when we visited little Carter at the hospital.  I fell in love right then and there.  He was a whopping 6lbs 8oz!

Getting to love on him when he arrived home.

 Christine's boys.  Colt is the sweetest puppy around him.

Haley's Graduation

As I'm typing this, my parents are helping my sister unload the u-haul truck in Florence, Alabama, Haley's new place of residence.  We now have a Physician Assistant in the family!!  And we've got to get her settled just in time for her to start her 1st job as a PA in January.  

Earlier this December, we made the trip up to Birmingham to celebrate Haley's graduation.  It was such a great and needed mini-vaca with the family!  Although we did get lost... quite a bit in fact, we were still able to do some sightseeing around town before Haley's big event.

Hiking up to Vulcan Park 

 The McLaughlin's (Please forgive my car-hair!)

 The Bishop's

 Haley and I with the Grandparent's

After running around town, enjoying our family time together (AKA getting lost!), we went back to the hotel to get prettified, just in time for Haley's graduation.  Haley's class only consisted of about 40 students, so instead of the typical pomp and circumstance kind of ceremony, they opted to have an intimate dinner.  I LOVED it!  It was so much more meaningful to sit around the table with your family and listen to the different Professors and speakers (one being Haley, woot woot!), than to go to the civic center and barely even see your family member.  It was really special.  

 Haley definitely surprised us when she walked up on stage to speak.  She even made me tear up a bit.  

I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of my sister.  She is one determined girl.  She followed her dream of becoming a PA and she got it!  She has a huge heart, and she is going to touch so many lives doing what she loves.  Plus she's got a nurse-sister, so I just know she's going to be sweet to all of the nurses she works with, right, Haley?!!

We are so, so proud of you, and I can't wait to come work with you some day!  ;)

The Tree

We found it!  We found the most perfectly shaped, fresh and green, strong scented, marvelous in every way, Bishop Family Christmas Tree!  And it probably only took a whopping 30 minutes this year.  I think that's a new Bishop record!

We carefully drove it home, with the majority of it sticking out of our tiny trunk.  We unwrapped it from the plastic wrapping, and I swear, a light shone down on it as the branches fell into place, and you could hear the angels singing joyfully.  It was that pretty. :)   Nic, being the manly-man that he is, put it in the tree stand all by himself, and we went to decorating.  Boy, it makes me giddy just looking at it!  Have I mentioned that I love Christmas?!  And cute little Bowden, well, let's just say he's adjusting to the new living object in the center of the room just fine.  He does try to bite a branch off every now and then, but he hasn't touched the ornaments yet, so we're in good shape.

It's beginning to look like Christmas in the Bishop household!

Lowe's has never let us down with their trees!

"How about this one, babe?"

We found it!

The Bishop Family Christmas Tree 2011

And because decorating the tree is one of the highlights of my year, Nic put this little video together (video idea from another blog I follow, So Shay)  so that you can share the magical experience with us!  (am I sounding cheesy yet?  good!)