Christmas time!

Christmas time in New Jersey!!

The first Snow that really stuck December 9, 2010

I decided I could do better and for cheaper that what I saw in the stores :)

Me and Callie... our nightly T.V watching situation..

Loved Carole's tree last year... thought I would try to do something similar..

Wanted to do something fun to our banister.. so I tried.. greenery, lights and a couple bows.... not bad for a new housewife :) 

West Point

West Point

We went to West Point to go visit one of  dad's friends Eric, who is the chaplain there. He gave us the greatest tour of the school. So very interesting, and incredible!! The fall colors are in full view.. such an amazing drive through upstate NY to get there, and the campus is gorgeous!  So much history, so much to learn and see.

At West Point with the parents.. Overlooking the Hudson River

Another view of the Hudson river.. and Constitution Island 

All of us with Dad's old student, Eric, the chaplain at West Point. He gave us the best tour of all the campus,  told us about all the history and interesting facts about the school. He is a West Point grad. so knows a ton. It was a once in a lifetime tour, very special! Such a neat guy! 

Where they have chapel outside in the spring, summer and fall. The trees were absolutely gorgeous! 

Some of the dorms... and a Cadet

One of the fields...

NYC with the Chay's

                                                                        NEW YORK CITY! 

Lunch in little Italy.. at our favorite place

Dad and Chris in the medieval armor exhibit at the MET 

The Met. with the fam. 

I liked this lamp post... Chris and I always take a picture by it when we go to the Met. 

The group shot.. I love that background :) 

An Egyptian tomb at the Met. HUGE! 

On the stairs at the Met

Chicago

Chicago!! 

Chicago skyline at sunset 

What a great city! Chris had to go there for work.. I joined him for fun. :)  It was my first time there.. Great food, great shopping, fun places to see and things to do!  We can't wait to go back... any time other than the winter.  :)

Magnificent Mile was really magnificent! Some of the best shopping.

Went for a walk down to Navy Pier.. A couple on a bike ride saw me trying to take a picture  with my camera set up on  my Starbucks cup on a trash can... so they stopped and offered to take a picture for us. 

At Navy Pier 

We went on a sunset boat tour... at sunset. Was pretty cold and windy.. Not the best for Chris' cold... woops .. 

Light house in the middle of Lake Michigan

About to go to dinner.. self timer picture again...  :) 

A GREAT restaurant in downtown Chicago. 

More wedding!!

One of my favorites! 

That cake was incredible... if you read this.. can't wait to get it again on our 1 year!  

Loved the guest book... I am so thankful to have it, forever.

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The no see picture before the wedding

SO cute!! We love y'all!! 

That first dance was so much fun... even if we didn't have a clue what we were doing .. .think that made it even better and more memorable! :) 

Dinner and a nap

A little after work snooze... waiting on dinner :)

She loves her daddy.... 

Dinner turned out pretty good. It was italian turkey sausage meet balls with blanched kale and egg fettuccine :) I was a little suspect of it at first... but it really was awesome!! It was in Chris' top 5.
 

The little white dog...Callie Clayton

She keeps us entertained all day long! 

Her favorite way to nap on the couch next to us....

Cooking: Cooking out.. a team effort :)

He did the grilling I did the baking... works out well!

Paula Deen's Lady mac and cheese... and grilled chicken... was pretty good :) 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/the-ultimate-ladys-cheesy-mac-and-cheese-recipe/index.html

New Jersey farm excursion...

So... I thought it would be romantic to try to go pick some pumpkins in an actual pumpkin patch.. or some apples out of an apple grove... thinking that seemed like a real New Jersey thing to do in the Fall.... Well... didn't end up picking anything.. going to save that for a different day... but had a lot of fun looking around and enjoying the cooler weather :)  

Great little farmers market in Chester... 

Lots of fall activities at this place... we opted out of the hay ride... sounded like a bad idea for the allergies ;) 

The start of the corn maze...

Thought it looked like a natural spot for a picture... a self timer camera picture ;) of course!!

We thought it was only natural to name the little friend Sanchez... Was possibly Sanches IV  ;)

Who knew... bison in New Jersey...hmmmm

The one in my kitchen is much prettier! Chris always told me roosters were nasty creatures... but I just love them ( or the country French ones for decorating with) :) 

Real corn fields... with a corn maze through it.. so they say.. again, bad for allergies, opted out..