Cony's first..

There's a first time for everything and we've had a lot of first in just the past week...

First time without family at Christmas.

First blizzard-which are called 'Nor'asters' in New England.(I've been in a few blizzards but I've just learned this was Cony's first- it's like he grew up in Mississippi or something...).

Not only did Cony get to go caroling for the first time over the weekend, but he was also able to go sledding! It may be have a bunny hill but it was still a blast! Clearly my poor husband had a deprived childhood and we have a lot of catching up to do.

Our First New England Christmas

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas weekend. I've been on edge and I'm not sure if it's because we are away from family, we didn't have a white Christmas or it's just plain ol' hormones. Seriously, can someone explain to me why and how it snowed in Georgia for the first time on Christmas day in over 120 years when we are in New England...where we were expecting to have a white Christmas and it did not deliver? (I'm typing this while we're in the middle of a blizzard... go figure!).

Friday we spent the evening with 2 of our favorite families eating and caroling. I almost forgot that we were caroling and completely forgot to mention that tiny fact to Cony. He'd never been and was not happy about walking around in the cold and singing... but he had a change of heart like I knew he would.

Here we come a wassailing..

Our hut by the tree to keep an eye out for Santa...

Christmas day we spent the entire day with our other favorite family.. the Rice's!

Doing a little Wii...

a little barbie time...

and crafting.

Also spent the entire day in pj's. Cony represented our new home and I represented our old home. You can't see, but Cony's bottoms are Husky attire.

Here's a little sneak of our home during the holiday...

LOVE this nativity set given to me by Chay Chay for my 30th.

Happy Christmas!

Big Plans, Big Plans I say!

Luck would have it, that we stumbled upon this children's book called 'Big Plans'. It was on sale at the campus bookstore and we are in love with it. So much so, we went back and got all the copies they had. We've been trying to decide who to give them to as gifts for 2 days and the jury's still out.

What's my point? I don't really know. However, this book has gotten me thinking about my plans in life. School, house, babies, more school and what the heck do I want to do with my life? I've narrowed it down to 3 things I am either good at or love doing.

1. Kids

2. Design

3. Photography

I would love, LOVE!, to design kids rooms and take pictures of said kids and their rooms. I've been finding inspiration from this lady, who's been a source of so much more than inspiration... but understanding and love. If you are a photographer-you should be running to her blog. I've never met her in person, but she sure knows how to motivate me into action.

I may be in a slight crisis trying to find my place in this world... but Cony has found his new calling in life. Let me introduce you to the new and improved Santa Claus.....

The Big Willi Frog Bridge gets dolled up for the holidays...

My favorite view of the Big Willi...

Our river is freezing over which means we no longer have our windows open and our lovely (free) noise machine we slept to is gone and we instead get to hear our neighbors. It hasn't been an easy transition so we downloaded a noise machine app to our phone and now sleep like babies.

better than you know..

This week we celebrated 3 years of marriage! We have our certain traditions that we like to do... like, watch 'Love Actually' and buying a Christmas ornament. We've been trying to figure out another meaningful tradition besides attending the temple and I finally found it. I was in Anthro doing a little Christmas shopping (in the sale department) and found this plate.

If you didn't know already, Cony has a HUGE tattoo on his left shoulder of an octopus (don't judge, he was in the Navy). I figured we could find something each year, that represents us, for our home. Good idea uh?

Here are a few things I love about my man...

*He surprises me often by having the house clean or laundry done.

*While we are grocery shopping or at the laundry mat, he holds me and we break out in a little dance.

*Whenever we are watching a movie and the actors start kissing, he pauses the movie and we make out for a few seconds.

*He loves my family. At one time he was living with all 3 Tompkins women. NO easy feat.

*He loves the gospel.

*He's super smart and humble.

*He likes the way I smell.

*He likes the outdoors and working out with me.

*He's goofy. For example: He's been baking cookies all day for our weekend activities and he's at the counter shaking his booty while looking back at me to see if I'm looking. I know. You had to be here.

*When we fight/argue, we get over it within minutes and he doesn't hold things against me. At least most of the time.

*He wants babies with me.

*I love him even when he flies his toy helicopter above me and it lands in my hair.

I consider myself very lucky and blessed that I have nice things to say about my husband. Because there was a time in my life when I wasn't so lucky.

New England Clam Chowder rocks. We finally found a pizza place we like! It has won National awards for their Red Potato Pizza and Seafood Pizza. Come visit us, and we'll take you. Trust us, it's worth the trip.

And I'm pleased to show you my new treasure. My pouf bag that I thought was sold out everywhere in the US, but to my sweet surprise Cony tracked one down somewhere in Texas. Isn't it delightful??

Accusations and Memories

Working retail has it's rewards but it definitely has it's draw backs. One of those draw backs being rude customers. There was a customer in the store yesterday looking for Hanukkah napkin rings and my co-worker asked how to spell Hanukkah and I proceeded to tell her. For some reason I but a U at the end without thinking and this customer got so upset she had to walk away. And when she came back to the counter she proceeds to tell us how upset she is that we don't know anything about Hanukkah and know everything about Christmas. (She was not saying this politely or nicely, to describe her as rude is a true understatement.) I quickly shot back and said "Actually I know a lot about Hanukkah..". I only got a really disgusted look from her and a lecture about putting a U at the end would it HanukkU. Well, I know how to spell it and she has NO idea that some of my favorite families that I hold dear to my heart are Jewish and I've had the opportunity to celebrate Hanukkah with them, nor (and most importantly) does she know what Christmas means to me.

I had to take a 5 minute break in the stock room because my blood was boiling. My #1 pet peeve is someone telling ME what I don't know or do know, what I believe or don't believe. can. not. stand. it.. This experience really bothered me all day long. However, this morning as I was sitting in church I was filled with so much joy and contentment my heart (and eyes) were over flowing. I'm thankful for this customer because I've had the opportunity to sit back and remember what Christmas really does mean to me. It's not the presents, shopping or parties. It's the memories I have as a child with my family singing around the piano, or sitting under the tree just staring at the lights in amazement. Also listening to my dad and moms favorite Christmas songs ('Messiah' and the 'Alabama Christmas' CD) but most importantly remembering how important our Saviors birth was for all of us. I was able to remember that because of His birth we all can have a family and know that miracles do happen.

I had a wonderful childhood and so thankful I have those memories and thrilled I have someone I want to make new memories with.... our favorite being Elf on the Shelf.

On another note.. I spent the day with a friend from our ward making cheese and crafting. Sound like heaven to you? It was! I mean, how many women do you know that make their own cheese? All the farms and talented women are my favorite thing about living in New England. Fresh milk, eggs, meat and maple syrup are very accessible and it only fuels my juices to have land with a small farm one day.

The mozzarella didn't turn out because I stirred it too vigorously but we were able to salvage it to make... get this- bacon, apple, caramelized onion and blue cheese pizza. Yes, the dough was from scratch.

She introduced me to my new favorite food blog... and we were inspired to make these wreaths.

random happiness.

Our tree is up and almost everything is in it's place. As I look at our tree, I'm not in love with it like I used to be.. but I am in love with some other randomness going on in our home.

Bought this popping corn for $1 a few weeks ago when we went apple pickin' and finally put it to the test last night. They said to put it directly in the microwave.

And it tasted pretty darn good...(yes, our microwave was clean!)

Finally got to unpack from our trip on Wednesday and this is what I found in one of the pockets. The kids couldn't find this movie anywhere last week. I sent this picture to Rachel (SIL) and she showed it to Mason (the youngest) and his response: "That was my suitcase, I didn't realize it went bye bye with Megan and Cony!!". As for the cars, "I put the cars in there because I knew they'd be safe". I love that kid!

Cony's parents gave us this banner when we were in Louisiana. His grandfather had gotten it when they took a trip to Maine for a high school reunion at Cony High. I love the story behind it...

They were at a local bar near the high school and they offered to pay the owner to take it home. He said 'no, you can get one at the school.' But they had changed the color red and they wanted this one, with the original red. Both my Cony's dad and grandfather were there and proceeded to tell the bartender that their names were Cony and he didn't believe them. They both showed their driver's license and he gave it to them for free.

Thanks to my Cony for adding the random finger and letting me capture it.

The snowman was our very first Christmas decoration we bought together on our honeymoon. We love him. Also featured is the very first movie we watched together in a theatre that I found for $3 at Target on Black Friday.

My poor fat, stumpy feet. Emily and I went and pampered ourselves with a pedicure last week... and just thinking of it makes me happy.

The first ornament I bought after we were married... to commemorate the year in which we got married. 2007.

Our favorite thing to do during Christmas is taking turns playing Elf on the Shelf. I was working out last night and looked up and was surprised to found our little Elf somewhere else... it puts a huge smile on my face that Cony gets into just as much as I do.

Let's be frank.

As I sit here I question whether or not it was a good idea to share our personal struggle so publicly. The month of November has been very adventurous and I wanted to document it, but I can't seem to find it in me. The last few weeks I've had a black hole in my heart and I've done nothing to get rid of it. In fact, I've welcomed it with open arms. I have shut out anything inspirational and ignored my testimony. A few days ago I slowly started to realize that I was not going to get anywhere with this type of attitude but it wasn't until yesterday that I sincerely got on my knees and asked for help. I've been in circumstances in my life that have caused me to have these same feelings and as soon as I ask for help, I know that Heavenly Father comes running. However, I was reminded that satan works just as hard to keep me down. It's not just a tug-a-war... it's a war.

I wanted to write down my testimony not only so I could remember it, but so it will strengthen. Because a testimony is like teaching a subject... you know the subject better when you share it. I'm not sure what the plan is for us, but I know there is a plan... and it's a perfect plan. I know Heavenly Father knows me and knows the struggles and temptations that haunt us. He knows our desires and wants us to be happy! I know that because of Heavenly Fathers love, our love for each other is stronger and helps us war off those same temptations that can blind us.

We can overcome this.. because we have something special that is worth fighting and winning the good fight.