3rd Annual Forrest Christmas Party

It is hard to believe that it was already time for another Forrest Christmas Party! We love getting all our friends together to chat, eat, and celebrate the season! And, this year didn't disappoint!

Our Guests:

The Cousins - Drew & Ashley

Mike, Tiffanie & Elijah

Jennifer & Nick

Matt & Lindsay

Brandon & Leanne

Jarred & Brittney

Kinsey & Marly

Me & My Love!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Skewers

I originally got this here. But, it never hurts to make it your own!

Ingredients: 

Cherry Tomatoes
1 or 2 Green Peppers
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Toothpicks

Directions:

Core the green peppers and slice them into squares. I cut them to about the size of my tomatoes. Cut the Mozzarella Sticks into pieces.

Then take the toothpicks, and layer on one tomato, then a slice of green pepper, then mozzarella cheese. And, done! So easy!

Christmas Crafts

Each year I love getting out the Christmas decorations. It is something about having my house decorated that really makes so excited for Christmas. This year I wanted to mix up our decorations a little bit.

The first craft was this cranberry candle. I paid all of $2 for this and that was only for the cranberries! I already owned the candle in the glass and then I had the cylinder vase. I simply just put the cranberries between the two. And, even though they are fresh cranberries they last a good while!

Next, the snow candle. Again, this only cost me a couple bucks. I owned the vase and the candle. And, believe it or not, this is Epsom salt! It makes for great fake snow!

And last, jingle bell candles! Another cheap centerpiece! I already owned the snowflake plate and the votive candles. I went to the Dollar Tree and bought a couple packs of jingle bells and spread them out around the candles.

These all were super easy and so cheap! They have added such a nice little touch to our Christmas decorations!

Wedding Bouquet Ornament

If you are anything like me, you have your wedding bouquet that you saved - but what do you do with it now?

My bouquet was daisies which don't dry well. I did dry my bouquet but it still just looked like sad lump of old flowers.

I will admit I saw this on pinterest. It wasn't an original idea but I did my own little accents.

So, I bought this plastic ornament at Walmart - all $.97! Popped off the lid and put in my petals. Then, I decided that it needed a little more something. I still had some ribbon from the wedding. The black ribbon with the white dots was from the vases at the reception. And, the pink ribbon was from the wedding favors. This is a neat way to preserve the ribbon too!

Yes, this is our third married Christmas but, better late than never!

Governor's Mansion Holiday Tour

I saw a story on the news that the Governor's Mansion was going to be open for a holiday tour. Of course, this was not something I wanted to miss - I mean it is going to be our future home some day.

This was inside the foyer of the mansion

This little baby tree represented Gov. Haslam's newest grandson that had just been born.

We loved this print of the mansion.

The beautiful dining room!

There were so many beautiful trees!

Tyler was checking out the view!

We then took a little bus ride down to the underground hall.

This was the American solider tree. There was an ornament for every fallen soldier this year.

These were the children's book trees. Children from elementary schools in the area decorated ornaments that told about their favorite books.

More trees!

I thought this was a neat ornament!

The cool outdoor space that you could see up to ground level.

This was the higher education tree. All the Universities, Colleges, and Schools in the state sent in an ornament to be hung on the tree.

Of course, we had to find the UTC one!

2nd Annual Forrest Christmas Party

Every year we look forward to having all our friends over to celebrate the season and this year was no different!

We had a great spread of food! 

Check out the dessert table - complete with old family photos!

Even more good food!

Jim & Marly - the engaged couple!

Nick & Jennifer

Blair, Tiffany, and Baby Elijah

Ashley & Ryan

Lindsay & Matt

Tyler & Me

Blair & Brad

Thanks to all our friends that came. We are so blessed with such great people in our lives. 

Merry Christmas!

A UTC Christmas

One of my first tasks at my new job was the holiday parties. Four to be exact.'

Student Leader Party:

Provost Phil Oldham, Kari Oldham, and myself

Brown Academy student decorating the Founders Hall tree with staff.

(I can't help but melt over these pictures. Tyler will be such a good daddy someday!)

Faculty & Staff Holiday Party:

Me with my boss, Terry Denniston

The beautiful Lindsay Street Hall

Ornament Centerpieces

Hope you enjoy!

Four Christmases?... Try TEN!

You probably all have seen the movie Four Christmases. I remember watching it with Tyler when it came out and thinking to myself that our Christmases would be something similar. Well... I was right.. just add a few extra than four.

We managed to still see everyone for Christmas and kept almost all the same traditions while adding new ones! We lost a lot of sleep during the holidays but it was totally worth it!

1. Barnett Christmas in Athens the weekend before Christmas. Tyler's Dad's extended family.

2. Forrest Christmas with Tyler' s Dad's side of the family

3. Christmas with Tyler's cousin, Harry. (sorry! No pictures from this one!)

Cooking on Dec 23 for the dinner on Christmas Eve. Tyler takes a few lessons from Nanny.

4. Christmas with Tyler's grandfather - (sorry no pictures!)

5. Christmas Eve morning with Tyler's mom.

We got her a copy of our wedding album and she LOVED it!

Jon and Chelsea opened presents with us at Amie's house.

6. Priest Christmas Eve Dinner - Tyler's Mom's side

Tyler and Nanny - ready for the guests to arrive.

Drawing a number for the present swap.

Ready for the present swap game.

Drew got the shop vac that Tyler later stole back from him.

After the Priest Christmas Eve dinner we drove back to Chattanooga.

7. Christmas morning on our first married Christmas!

Tyler got me bookends for all my cookbooks.

I got Tyler the George W. Bush book! Of course!

We continue the tradition of caramel bread for Christmas breakfast.

Because of the chance of snow on Christmas day we had parked my car down at the Dollar General so that in case it was bad weather we could walk to the car and still make it to Nashville. Well while we opened presents there was a huge downfall of snow... and it was covering the road. So we hurried up getting ready and started on our half mile trek down the hill to my car.

We were not only carrying our luggage but presents and two desserts that I had prepared for Christmas dinner.

We finally made it to the car and we were off to Nashville.

We finally made it to Nashville and we were only 20 minutes late!

8. Christmas with Granny Peggy - my Dad's side (sorry no pictures on my camera!)

9. Martin family Christmas

(How many Martin's does it take to stack presents?!?)

Sarah opens her presents from Tyler and I.

Tyler opens one of our presents.

Dad opening his gift from the Wallers in VA.

We bought my parents a new microwave. My mom was VERY excited. Their current microwave is 33 years old. My dad got it for my mom on their 1st anniversary.

Then Riley got to open his presents!

10. Young Christmas - my Mom's side

My grandmother packaged our gifts in her old prescription bags. Our gifts were things she acquired in bingo at her retirement home. We got an electric Bible - for the Governor - (as she calls Tyler!)

We came back to Chattanooga with one day to recover before I had to head back to work.

We successfully made it through our first of many Christmases!