The only game Joe and I had ever BOTH enjoyed was Oblivion/Elder Scrolls.  It's the only game I'd ever played at any length on the PS3.  So we had been counting down the days to Skyrim's release.  Joe traded in almost all of his other games during a 50% bonus trade in special, and he also has a rewards card that added an additional 10% trade in rate.  So we pre-ordered it and I think we paid less than $10 for it in the end.  Our copy came with a free map of Skyrim and Joe was shocked when I agreed to have it hanging on our bedroom wall, haha.  

That being said, we have very different methods of playing the game.  Joe likes all the quests and dragon slaying and whatnot.  I like to talk to people, play tag with children, and roam the countryside looking at scenery and collecting plants.  He recently told me that one of the new features of this game is that you can actually get married and  have your spouse cook you dinner and run a shop for you. haha. I stay away from anything potentially scary, as evidenced by this diagram I found online:

I don't see myself becoming a serious gamer any time soon, but I have to say, the his and hers gaming chairs for date night is kind of my new favorite thing lately.

This is the first time we've ever had something Christmas-y in several rooms of the house. We usually just put up a tree and that's it.  This year we both had fun decorating together and our apartment has been feeling extra cozy for the holidays. 

First of all, I've been looking for these pink glass votives for forever, and Joe finally found some for me at Ross a while back.  I think they were like $6 for a pack of 4. He mounted them inside that empty frame, and made them look like they are floating!  I should have lit them for the picture, they are so pretty.  :)

I also brought home a branch from one of my walks with my momma on the ranch property.  I wrapped it in some white Christmas lights and now it is my perfect reading light late at night.  I love it so much I think it will stay way beyond Christmas!  ;)

Here's a close up.

Khloe loves hiding in there.  I bet it looks so amazing from her kitty perspective.  A little cave of lights. 

Here is a (blurry, greenish looking) picture of the miniature tree in our bathroom:

Here's our "mantle" all decorated. The couch is piled with cozy blankets!

A close up of the mantle shelf.  I got the chalkboard idea from Pinterest, and we've definitely had the song stuck i our heads ever since i put it up there. 

The tree!  Notice how there are no ornaments on the bottom section of the tree?  

That probably has something to do with this:

We took a painting out of its frame, strung some wire, and are using it to display more ornaments and our Christmas cards!  We need more cards, haha. I also added pictures from past Christmases onto our digital picture frame. Oh, and we got a cinnamon sugar cookie scented candle for 88 cents at Walmart. It's so yummy smelling. 

Here's the office area, looking festive.

And a close up of my favorite glittery Christmas balls!

We've been enjoying our fireplace DVD.

Not as much as she has though...

I have to get back to sipping hot cocoa now!!

Remember this post? Well I know its over two years later, but I am happy to say I am doing a lot better at pursuing my passions and letting go of fear. One of the major passions that I have reclaimed is playing the piano!  Several months ago I auditioned to join my church's worship band rotation, and I was accepted!  So I've been playing about once a month in the rockingest kids ministry band.  I can not describe the feeling to you, but it feels SO good, SO right, so ME to be playing with a band again.  I get to play all three services on the days that I'm scheduled. 

I usually have time to kill between services so I hang out with Joe, or we sit in the car and Skype with his mom.  But first I have to find Joe.  We usually go back and forth like this:

Our church building is really big, with lots of hallways.  I'm starting to learn my way around. This is my favorite bathroom at church, haha. I love the leopard print. I totally hand painted leopard print on a cabinet in my bedroom when I was a teenager.

I'm not familiar with the keyboard I play on, so during practice I write down all the program settings I need to remember for each song.  When I used to play all the time, I had so many of those memorized. I hope to get to that point again.  But for now, the chicken scratch in my hand makes me smile.

Joe keeps going back and forth about auditioning for guitar.  I stopped by a music store one day and picked him up some picks and a cool holder for them.  He usually plays with folded paper or cardboard, haha.  This was a special treat. He is crazy busy lately, but he's been picking up his guitar here and there, trying to get back into the groove again.

I feel like part of me is here that was missing for a while, and I am so happy to have it back.

We're always up to some kind of project or another. 

I'm the designated 'giant blue cart' pusher. 

Sometimes I skate on it when no one is looking.  ;)

Your husband doesn't leave trail mix in the shower?

One thing I LOVE about living in Oklahoma again is being able to hang out with my brothers and sisters--well, at least the ones that are still nearby! I keep calling them kids and then laughing at myself, because kids don't have jobs and drive convertibles and take GED classes, and make plans for the future! haha  I have loved getting to be here to see them at this transitional stage to adulthood.  I've missed them so much, and don't take living close by for granted at all!

We invited everyone over after church one day.

They slouched. And they texted. And watched movies.

And secretly liked getting stalked by my cat.

And played video games. And made weird faces. And sat with their legs bent in ways I don't even understand.

And I love them. And they are awesome. And I am having them all over again for a Christmas party soon.

Bonus:  Here's me Skyping with niece, Drea. I like reinforcing all of her bad habits. Isn't that what Aunties are for?

There have been lots of trips to the Library lately. 

I recently finished The Time Traveler's Wife.  It makes me want to see the movie again!

What are you reading? Any "must-reads" I should add to my list?

Also, does anyone use Shelfari or a similar website ? Here's my shelf. 

Finished off the last of my homemade chocolate sauce by pouring milk right into the jar and shaking it up.

We bought a giant tin of hot chocolate mix at Sam's, and my mom gave us this cute little serving pot (it came with marshmallows and a frother too!) So we've had lots of hot chocolate.  After watching the new TV show Once Upon A Time (finally a show we both agree on!!) we have been addicted to putting cinnamon sticks in our hot cocoa!

I got sick a few weeks ago. Completely lost my voice and my appetite. 

I made a GIANT pot of potatoes, cabbage, onions, bratwurst, and keilbasa.  Joe grew up calling it New England Boiled Dinner--but traditionally its supposed to have corned beef.  We like the sausage better.

On my last day of being sick (which happened to be a Sunday) I woke up to a light blaring in my face and the blender grinding!! This is me giving Joe a thumbs down. 

But then I woke up and he brought me a smoothie in bed, so I quickly changed my mind.

We LOVE these vitamins. They are gummy vitamins for adults. It's the only bottle of vitamins that we have EVER finished before the expired.  We are currently on our third bottle of them!  

I asked Joe to bring me a cup of coffee while we were at my parents' house.  He put whipped cream on top without me even asking.  Yes please!