Hi...

So, I have been meaning to start contributing to this blog, but along the way I actually started a tumblr blog... not what I would call a very husbandly thing to do.  After some thought, I am going to keep the tumblr blog (this is news to Stef so if you do not see any further additions from me then you know she has changed the login information and you might need to make sure I am OK) and also begin to contribute here.  The tumblr blog will be more of a photo blog with some updates to my new found adventures (don't laugh).

Stef has done an amazing job here, but get ready guys we are about to take this thing to a new level... I'm not saying its going to be a move in the right direction, but I am sure to change the dynamic.  My first offering: how about an update on our goals we set at the beginning of the year (I refuse to call these new year's resolutions)?  Stuck to our refrigerator, you will find a list of our short term goals. And on that list you will already see one item marked off.  That is the word "January" marked out and "February" added.  Yes, we have already missed a deadline.  I'm sure we will do better in the future.

One more thing: There is only one good TV show on Wednesday nights. Stef is doing Pure Barre while I have been doing the Spartacus workout at home... sounds fierce huh? This coming Monday is Valentine's Day and I have the perfect gift for Stef. This Saturday I get to attend a Pure Barre workout and I am scared. Quick clue on Stef's gift: it is 6 ft tall and some would say very handsome. Was that too much information?... I am new to this. I just got in trouble because I used all the hot water. I figure I will be sore all next week from Pure Barre. Oh, and I have the most amazing wife.

Later!

Nate

(This is Stef - can you tell that my husband has ADHD? My favorite part is "One more thing" and he lists how many? Hehe!) :)

3 Snow days...really?!?

I have been in my house for three full days.  72 hours.  (Okay, probably not technically 72, but who's really counting?)  I have also been wide awake at 5:30am ALL three days.  Yes, you read that correctly, 5:30am.  Usually, I am not fully awake at 6:30am on my drive to work!  Luckily, I have been able to fall back asleep after about an hour or so of laying there staring at the ceiling.  This isn't about my sleep habits.  Moving on.

Nate and Bella working hard!

 To be honest, I have really enjoyed these days off.  I promised myself early Tuesday morning (5:00am)  as I was watching for my school district to role on the screen that I would be productive if we had a snow day.  Ummm, God was listening and said, "Here are three.  Please be fruitful."

The holidays flew by! A little catch up on us...

I just don't remember Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's going by so quickly?  I guess the old saying is true about time and age...you know the one.  :) 

So to catch you up on our life....Nate and I have had a pretty low key holiday season.  We spent Thanksgiving at our house, just the two of us.  It was a very quiet and calm day!  Thank you to Boston Market for making our Thanksgiving dinner! :)  We spent the rest of the break putting up Christmas decorations.  Luckily for us, I have amazing grandparents that passed their decorations down to us, otherwise it would have been a pretty sad looking around our house.  I absolutely loved our tree and the smell of Christmas's past that it brought with it!!

Making sure I wouldn't fall? 

Nate trying to calm Bella for pictures

Nate exasperated with my request for additional lights...

Love this picture!

Finished product! 

The next big event over the holidays for us was a post-wedding lingerie shower held for me by two very sweet friends, Jennifer and Lisa.  I was honored that Jenn and Lisa would do this, and Nate was super excited too! Hehe!  Also, it was one of the first times we officially entertained in our house.  Super fun and exciting for us - now we just need to do more entertaining because it was fun!  We had a great time with my mom, mother-n-law and sweet girl friends.  (Side notes:  So glad that you were able to drive up from Houston Jena! I hope to see you and Jamie for a girl's time soon! Had a great time visiting with Lisa Friday night and Saturday night - can't believe it has been 3 years since we were roommates! A big thanks to my mother-n-law, Rilla, for coming for a week to help us with random house stuff, lots of cleaning, and to be here for the shower.  We love when you are here with us!!)  Back to the shower -We were all able to catch up, hang out, and tell great stories.  Here are a few pics of the day... 

The beverage area

The food table - so pretty!

The sitting area - soon we will have more
comfortable chairs and more seating...

The beautiful hosts - Jenn (on left), Lisa (on right)

All the girls 

Miss you, Lee! 

Mom and I

Rilla and I

A few days after the shower, we packed up and headed to Jonesboro, AR to spend Christmas with Nate's family for a week!  We were so happy to spend time in Arkansas with our family and friends that we don't get to see too often and were so blessed to be surrounded with love and hospitality throughout our visit.  A big Christmas present from our Father upstairs was snow all day on the 25th!  It didn't stick, but it was gorgeous! Here are a few pics from our time there....

The beautiful table for brunch at Rilla and Bill's 

The group enjoying our yummy brunch!! 

Bill and Connor

Nate and Casey opening gifts

Not sure, but it must have been funny!

Nate with my stocking! 

                                         

                                                       Bella meets a horse...she didn't care for horses too much. 

Nate, Grandpa Ed, Gary, Casey

The men and their wives - me, Emily, Christina

The infamous kiss picture

Brothers

We are all so cute! 

Duck Hunting! The Boys and their dad.

Casey's birthday! 

Being silly....

That's all folks!! :)  Happy New Year!!

Super Target!

My love! 

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to spend time with our favorite nephew, Ryan, and his mom and dad, Mandy and Ronnie.  It was a fun filled weekend with lots of good memories!

I should tell you that Ryan was not ready to share Aunt Stef and Uncle Nate with his Mom and Dad.  He tried to convince them that there really just wasn't enough room for all three of them to visit.  He said it would be best for them to stay in a hotel and let him stay with the Aunt and Uncle.  When told that was not the plan, he said that Ronnie and Mandy should bring their sleeping bag, because there was only one bed.  Haha!! :)

Uncle Nate and Ryan

The family arrived Friday night, just in time for Ryan and Uncle Nate to get a little play time in and then head to bed.  Ryan decided to sleep under the desk in the guest bedroom, dubbed "The Cave" by Uncle Nate.  Bright and early Saturday morning, we headed to Einstein Brothers for our normal morning routine. Ryan likes the cinnamon and sugar bagel poppers, bet you couldn't guess why?!  (I should mention that on the way to breakfast, Ryan saw a Super Target.  This became the topic of much discussion and was a place that Ryan declared we must visit.)  

Shark Tank

After breakfast, off we went to the Dallas World Aquarium where we had a great time looking at all the cool fish, watching the sloth in the tree, and getting up close and personal with the sharks.  (I think the adults enjoyed this more than the 6 year old!)  Some of the pics in the shark area didn't turn out great.  

Sloth - not in a cage and so close
I could touch him. 

Uncle Nate had a hard time leaving two hours on the meter, so we walked to Sonny Bryan's BBQ in West End for lunch.  We learned that Ryan has a very keen sense of direction on our way back to the truck.  He told Uncle Nate that he knew a shortcut.  Being the adventurous Uncle he is, off they went on their shortcut.  Nate let Ryan lead the way, and they beat the rest of us back to the truck by several minutes.  He definitely did not get that from me...

Ryan sticking his tongue
out at the shark! 

At this point, we had not forgotten about Super Target.  As Mandy and I sat in the back seat staring at our phones so that the men did not hear our gasping at their driving abilities, Ryan declared that Super Target was on our agenda.  Over the next 15 minutes, I think we all said "Super Target" no less than 1,000 times! :)  "Uncle Nate, don't forget we are going to Super Target."  "Uncle Nate, where is Super Target?" "I'm going to Super Target and buying a toy."  "Where are we going Ryan?"  "Super Target!"  Haha!! Gotta love it!  We made it to Super Target, bought a pretty cool Lego tow truck and the boys spent the afternoon playing, while the girls went shopping.

The Snake

Nate and I were super excited that Ryan brought Toy Story 3, so Saturday night we decided to watch it and grill chicken for dinner.  It was really hard for little man to keep the plot a secret, but he tried really really hard!  :)

Uncle Nate, Aunt Stef
and Ryan

Unfortunately, our fun had to end on Sunday.  We went to church and then had a little play time.  Uncle Nate and Ryan rode the scooter and skateboard in the front yard.  I tried, but have no balance and enjoyed watching much more.  (Nate did fall, but only Ryan saw it.  Ryan was sworn to secrecy by Uncle Nate.)

I just loved Ryan's face!!

Nate and I can't wait for our next fun weekend with Ryan, Ronnie and Mandy!  We love you guys!!

(Day 429): 6 Months of Wedded Bliss

Wow!  Time flies by so quickly.  What does six months of marriage look like for us?  It looks like: one new name, Stefanie Spencer; one new dog, Bella; one new house, nicknamed the "G" house; one new job, Kindergarten teacher for me; and two people learning how to be one. We can't wait to see what one year looks like !