Smith Family Christmas Celebration

I had my first family Christmas celebration on Saturday. We all headed down to Van Buren to celebrate with the Smith side of my family. We had a ton of fun. In total, the house was filled with 31 people but the only ones that mattered were the 4 little ones - Kinley, Anniston, Treyson and Will. As soon as the babies arrived, everybody stopped talking and all attention was centered around them. Throughout the night we ate tons of food, watched football games, opened presents and had a visit from Santa - and yes, ALL the kids had to sit on his lap including me. I love Christmas time because we have get-togethers like these. Below are a few pics from the night and the rest will be posted on Facebook. Merry Christmas!Ryan was a trooper with the picture taking - I warned him, with 4 aunts who are all as picture crazy as I am, he was going to be posing for a lot of pictures that night. Anniston in her cute Christmas outfit.
Kinley and baby Will - the newest addition to the family. Kinley kept saying all night "Take a picture of me" (she gets that from her mother-Leah always loved being center of attention)
"I promise Santa, I have been a VERY good girl"

The Smith siblings - Don, Laura, Julie and Susan.

Ho Ho HUH?

Check out this hilarious website: http://www.sketchysantas.com/

Dont' we all have pictures of Santas that just don't seem quite right?!?

This is my favorite- The "What the Hell am I suppose to Do" Santa.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

Today Ryan turns 29. Everybody wish him a very happy birthday.

Love you Ryan!

My Christmas Cottage

One of my favorite things about living in a house is that I have a WHOLE house to decorate. I think i have filled up my 1000 sq. foot home with as much Christmas stuff as I could find. My house is so cozy with all the Christmas decorations so I have started referring to it as my Christmas Cottage.

This is my main tree in my living room. I want to do a fancy tree with lots of ribbon and matching ornaments but I just can't seem to part with all my snowmen ornaments yet. I have been collecting snowmen since 2002. This tree is almost completely covered with them.

The wreath on my door. It was pre-made but I added to it to spice it up a bit.

My Kitchen table.

This is my mantle above the fireplace (which unfortunatley isn't functioning). Collin helepd me with the garland. And yes, Tackle does have a stocking - don't judge me. This is the stocking I have had since I was a baby. It has a cross-sticked Snowman on it so apparenlty my obsession with snowmen started at birth.

Speaking of Tackle, even he is decorated for Christmas with his Christmas collar.

This is my second tree in a nook off of my kitchen. It is decorated with only red and white snowmen. I told you I had a ton of them. This is where I put Ryan's birthday presents - his birthday is Dec. 15.

And last but not least, my purple tree! Ha. When I moved into the house I painted the laundry room purple. Those of you who know me know I am obsessed with purple. So for this year I just had to have a purple tree. It is only 2 ft tall and sets on top of a shelf. Also notice the purple frame. I love it!

Merry Christams, Love Meredith and Tackle.

Holiday TV Schedule

My wonderful boyfriend knows me all to well and knows that I love Christmas movies. On a particularlly stressful day, he sent this email to me and it instantly cheered me up!! The link below is a day-by-day listing of every holiday show or movie that will be showing on every network. JACKPOT!

Enjoy!

www.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/72905527.html

JLNWA Winter Dreams 2009

Looking for a fun activing to do on Sunday, Dec. 6? I have just the thing for you!

The Junior League of Northwest Arkansas presents the 11th Annual Winter Dreams Tour of Homes.

Eleven houses in Washington and Benton County will be on display for all to see. The homes have been decorated for the holidays and will be full of great ideas for your own holiday decorationg. Each home will be open to all ticket holders to enter and explore. Tickets are only $20 and all of the proceeds will benefit the mission and projects of the NWA Junior League including providing special Chrismtas wishes to local children.

Below is a list of the 11 homes on this year's tour:

• Underwood Plaza
• Mardis Home
• Blowers Home
• Smiley Home
• Bogel Home
• Givers Home
• Hicks Home
• Meier Home
• Nicklau Home
• Russell Home
• Eaton Home

I will be working at the Blower's home in Washington County from 10:30-2:30 so come by and see me. I will be your lovely tour guide. For all of those who know Kirsten Blowers, this is her parents' house. Kirsten is an interior designer and owns her own home store in Fayetteville, Riffraff. Visit her blog to get sneak peaks of her parents' house.

If you are intersted in tickets you can either purchase them online here or contact me and I can get you tickets.

Hope to see everybody there!!

My Thankful List

Every year around this time, like most people, I start thinking about the things I am truely grateful for. Here is what I have come up with:

• That I have parents who have always supported, loved and encouraged me my entire life
• For my brothers who I am luckily very close with and can call my best friends- its amazing what growing up will do to siblings' relationships
• That I found the one person who loves me unconditionally and is a true friend - Ryan
• Having a large extended family whom I am very close with and that live close enough so I can see them pretty regularly
• Coming home to a guy that all he wants to do is lick my face and play with me and is always happy to see me - Tackle :)
• My other best friends - I might just be a crazy person if I didn't have the girlfriends that I do. They know me too well
• My education and my job - I am lucking enough to have afforded a higher education that provided me a job that I absolutley love. And I am especially thankful that I don't dread going to work everyday
• My country and the people that protect it - I am so thankful that I am free and can do what I please, worship how I please and work where I please and even more grateful for those that sacrifice so that those things aren't compromised.
• My house and my heat - I am lucky to go home at night to a toasty house which provides a roof over my heat
• And most importantly, my God who has given all of the above mentioned to me. God is Good!

Happy Turkey Day to All!

Gobble Gobble