Happy Thanksgiving!

This year's Thanksgiving was probably my favorite. I woke up before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began at 9 and got started on the do-ahead potatoes I was making for our family's feast at my parents' house. Dave was nice enough to let me hog the TV all morning. Haha! My dad made a turkey in the rotisserie, and it was soooo juicy! Yum! That, combined with green bean casserole, delicious rolls, do-ahead potatoes, and ham wraps and shrimp for appetizers left me stuffed by the end of the meal. I didn't eat anything else, with the exception of apple pie for dessert, the rest of the day.

In addition to the good food and time with family, I think this Thanksgiving was my favorite because of what I have to be thankful for. It's been a tough, challenging year, but I'm so grateful for the simple fact that we made it! I'm more grateful for the way life is today, and I know I wouldn't be so appreciative if it weren't for what we went through to get to this point. Thank you, Lord, for working through the tough times and bringing us through!

Birthday Boy

Dave's birthday was this week. In honor of his special day, the school district Dave works for gave him the entire week off. (Okay, there's this little thing called Thanksgiving that played a part in that week-long break.) As part of our celebration, I planned a special evening for my lovely husband.

Dave's requested Shepherd's Pie since we were married, but I hadn't made it for him until his birthday dinner. It was a hit! We've been enjoying the leftovers ever since.

Since Dave bought an iPod a couple of months ago, he's been forced to use my pink case whenever he's gone out with it. His birthday gift from me was a manly, black case he can use.

I love birthday freebies! We used a coupon for a FREE 2-scoop sundae at Culver's for Dave's birthday dessert. Culver's frozen custard is a yummy birthday treat.

Fall Decorations

Fall is my favorite season for decorating. There is just something I love about the bright orange, yellow, and red colors that make me eager to pull out my fall decorations as soon as the temps start to dip. I'm planning to decorate for the next season after Thanksgiving, but I'll be enjoying my fall decorations for the next week before putting them away until next year.

The flowers are a new addition--and probably my favorite piece this year.

Fall decorating is incomplete without the fall issue of Better Homes and Gardens.
Scarecrow #1

Scarecrow #2

Lovely candle holder

Five Year Reunion

At the beginning of November, we headed down to my alma mater for Homecoming and my five-year reunion. It was fun to go back to campus and see how everything (and everyone) has changed. The day was sunny and warm--the perfect weather for a football game! Unfortunately, I didn't buy tickets because I figured it would be freezing cold like every other Homecoming football game I've attended. Instead, we had fun at my college home group leaders' house, catching up with them and a bunch of friends from my college home group.

Hitting the road with Starbucks

The editor in me was very disappointed to find this spelling error. Can you spot it?
Our home group looks much different with spouses and children added to the group.

Happy Chipotle Day!

Halloween for us means more than collecting candy or attending a costume party. For the Gwynnes, October 31 means a cheap dinner from Chipotle! Dave was reminded of the great deal a couple of hours before dinnertime, so we made sure to head on over as soon as church was done that night. The only catch to the free burrito deal is that you have to dress up in aluminum foil (in other words, like a burrito). Below are our interpretations of that requirement.

My aluminum foil headband

Dave's aluminum foil toupee