I AM GOING HOME!!!

Today is a great day even though it is raining!! Patrick and I get to go back home! We are going to have Christmas with my mom's side family for lunch and then pack up and leave. We have enjoyed our stay here, but we miss our house! Lexy and Duke are even ready to be back. I have enjoyed spending time with my family and playing with Caroline and Eli. I miss my family very much when we are gone, but I really miss being at OUR house. I cannot wait to go home and take down the decorations and clean the house before I go back to work. We are going to have some church friends over New Year's so I have to get everything ready.

Thank you to my family for putting up with me for this long (10 days). I love you all and have enjoyed my time up here!

We will be back in January for Sally's(my sister in law) 16th Birthday! I can't believe Sally will be 16!

A busy Saturday!

Yesterday was very busy but fun for me! My friend Staci married my cousin Andrew and I was a part the wedding! We got up early to get our hair done and it was so much fun to be with Staci during this time! We had fun talking about old memories! We then went to the church to get our pictures made. Then it was time for the wedding! Staci was so beautiful! It was a great service. The reception was at Cleveland park and it was so beautiful! Here is a picture of the high school friends:Lindsay, Staci, and Sarah. We are all now married and have all been a part of each other's weddings. It is so hard to believe we are now all married. Congrats Staci and Andrew! WE LOVE YOU!

After the reception, we came back to my parents house for my dad's side Christmas fun! My cousin is home for the war and he had pictures of Iraq. It was neat to see what he did for 14 months and where he lived. I am very proud of him and I support all the troops.

After my grandparents left we went over the Laney's house! Brandon got a Wii for Christmas so we all had fun playing the Wii and playing with Brynn. We really miss the Laney's in Columbia and we wish they would move to be near us!! :) We enjoy spending time with them when we can!

Once we got home I was exhausted. I had a very eventful day but a great day!

Biltmore House

Yesterday my mom and I went to the Biltmore house for my Christmas present. I have never been. I loved every room of the house! The best room was the dining room. I would love to have Christmas lunch there with my family! I also loved the bowling alley! The house was amazing! After we toured the home, we walked around outside and then went to the winery. We ate at the bistro and it was so nice! We then took the tour in the winery and had a wine tasting! I am usually not much of a wine drinker, but their wine was WONDERFUL! :) I am going to have take Patrick back in the spring so we can see the gardens! I really enjoyed my Christmas present.. Thanks mom!!

On the way home we stopped by the dish barn in Hendersonville because they have my everyday china for a discount price. I found more little bowls and the pasta bowl. The whole store was having a great sale and while we were looking around we found some cute Christmas china for 70% off. My mom bought me the 16 piece setting for my birthday (in June) and I am getting more pieces for Christmas next year! Here is a picture of the china.

When we got back I met Patrick's parents and sister at Hobby Lobby to get some pictures framed that they bought me for Christmas and then I came back to my parents house and watched tv while missing my husband!

I am getting ready to head to Staci and Andrew's rehearsal for their wedding! Patrick is not going to be there because he is driving home from Lexington but he will be here when I get back! :)

I hope everyone has a great day!

A Christmas to Remember

This Christmas was a Christmas to remember! On Sunday night we were staying at Patrick's parents house and Patrick woke up at 4:30. I just rolled back over and went back to sleep and woke up at 5:00 and heard him in the bathroom. OH NO HE HAD THE VIRUS!! I then got up and ran to the bathroom because YES I had the virus as well. We were both miserable. We were up from 5-8 just fighting each other for the bathrooms! I then called my mom and she called my sister to come to our rescue. They called their family doctor who then called in some medicine for us and Andy came to give us some medicine. After that Patrick felt better, but I still did not feel great. My mom came and picked us up around 4:00 and we just sat on their couches all Christmas Eve night. I was so upset because I love going to my dad's communion service, but I was not about to move!
Christmas morning Patrick woke up and he felt so much better but I was not 100% great, but I was so excited it was Christmas! It was a happy but sad day because my dad was sick with the virus on Christmas.
Patrick and I did gifts that morning at my parents house! I was so happy because he bought me Dance Dance Revolution. Yes I know I am a dork, but I love video games that are active, like Guitar Hero and Dance Dance! I was just sad because I did not have enough energy to play!
I gave Patrick and nice watch and Guitar Hero!
After presents with us we started the day with visiting family! It was so nice to see all of our family and especially to see Caroline and Eli enjoy their toys!
Although our family was sick on Christmas we had a great Christmas because we realized how blessed we are and how lucky we are to have a healthy (most of the time) family!

I hope everyone had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WAY TO GO KELLY AND ANDY!!!

I just got back from my sister's praise band concert and it was AMAZING!! I am know in the Christmas mood! The whole concert touched my heart. It was a great time of worship! Patrick said it best when he told me that Kelly and Andy should make a duet cd. They are amazing together! Great job tonight Kelly and Andy! The concert was the best Christmas present in the world! WE LOVE YOU BOTH VERY MUCH!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas

The Christmas season officially starts today for the Graham family! I am thankful that we are feeling better and Patrick is here to stay until Wednesday! He got off for Christmas Eve! We are also happy to announce that we have a new cousin. Emma Katherine Elliott was born yesterday around 5:00. Mom and Baby are doing great! Congrats Matt and Crystal! We are so happy!

Today my cousins for Knoxville are coming down to see us for Christmas and we all going to my sisters Praise Band Christmas concert! I am very excited about the concert because the band has worked real hard on the concert and I can't wait to hear all the Christmas music!

Tomorrow we are going to relax before all the fun starts!
Christmas Eve we go to Patrick's family's church for their service and then my dad's church for communion and then to Patrick's Ma's house to wait for Santa Claus!

Christmas morning Patrick and I wake up really early to have Christmas together and then we get ready to head to his parent's house to open presents with them! We then head to Grandad and Ma's for lunch! We then head back to my parent's house to open presents with my sister and her family. We eat dinner with my grandparents and spend time with my dad's side of the family. This year will be extra special because my cousin is home from the war and will be home for Christmas! :) After dinner we head to Patrick's Ma's house again for presents and we usually get home around 12:00.

On Sunday the 30th we will have Christmas with my mom's side of the family!

I know this sounds like a lot of stuff and I am tired just writing about it, but we enjoy spending all this time with our family. We don't get to spend much time with the whole family since we don't live up here so it is nice to everyone!
I will probably not have time to blog again until after Christmas!
So MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! :) I hope everyone has a great Christmas!

It's amazing what a couple hours will change!

This morning my day was going crazy because I thought Patrick would not be home for awhile, but boy did things change after that!

I was getting ready for Staci's bridesmaid luncheon and I got a call from my mother-in-law that our cousin was in labor. Matt and Crystal live in Columbia as well so we are really excited about Emma coming. Emma's due date is Jan. 8, 2008 but she has decided she wants to be here for Christmas! I was so excited! JuJu, our aunt, was going to travel to Columbia later this afternoon so I had decided that I would go with her so I could see Emma and Patrick!

I then left for the bridesmaid luncheon with Lindsay and we were having a great time. After we got done eating I started feeling funny. I was praying that I would not get sick, but I did! Lindsay and I had to leave early because she said I turned really pale and I felt really bad. The stomach virus had set in.

When we got in the car I called Patrick and he said he went back to work because the rain stopped so he was going to be able to come up here tonight and stay til Sunday! I was so happy! I then called JuJu and decided not to go to Columbia because I did not want to get anyone else sick.

So now I am at home waiting to here that little Emma has been born and waiting for Patrick to call to say that he is on the way up here. I feel better but I still feel like BLAH! All I want to do is lay around and sleep. So I guess things really do work out for the best, I just have to have confidence and be patient! I am going to get to see my husband before Christmas and we have a new cousin to welcome in the world! God is good! :)

All I want for Christmas is my Husband to be in Spartanburg!

Holidays are always very stressful for us because we try to see all the family and we have to travel out of town. This year is becoming more stressful than ever!

I came to Spartanburg yesterday and today I am going to Staci's bridesmaid luncheon for her wedding next Sat. Patrick had planned on coming up tomorrow and staying until Sunday before heading back to work on Monday.

He called me this morning and said he had to work tomorrow because it was raining today. I had thought about going back to Lexington to see him but our cousins from Knoxville that we see about twice a year are coming tomorrow and I can't wait to see them. I am hoping Patrick will be able to come to Spartanburg tomorrow and leave again on Sunday.

He has to work on Christmas Eve, but will be here for Christmas and then he leaves again the day after Christmas. I am staying up here because my mom surprised me for Christmas with a trip to the Biltmore house on Thursday and then Staci's wedding is that Saturday (which I am very excited about). So Patrick is going back on Wednesday and coming back up on Friday and we both are FINALLY going back together on Sunday after the Dobbins/Towery Christmas Lunch on Sunday!

Please pray that we keep our sanity over Christmas holidays! All I want for Christmas this year is for the family to be together and include MY HUSBAND!!!

Pray for the Watson's

I got a call from my sister last night around 10:00 and she is not going to work again today. Eli was throwing up again. On Monday Caroline went to stay with my sister's mother in law and now she is throwing up as well. My mom is going to keep Caroline today and my sister is going to keep Eli. Please pray for healing for Eli. Also please pray that my sister does not get the bug as well. She has yet to feel sick so that is a good sign!
I hope everyone has a great day!

Christmas Holidays!

Well tomorrow is the last day of school before Christmas break! I am so excited! Not only am I excited about Christmas, but I need a break from school. My students also need a break. They are very antsy and tired of sitting through classes.

One thing that upset me today at school was that no one can say Merry Christmas. We have the daily announcements over the tv and they did a special on the many holidays that are celebrated during this time. At the end of the show they said I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday. I also am not allowed to say I hope you have a Merry Christmas to my classes. Last year I taught at a very small school and everyone said Merry Christmas, so this is a change for me and I don't like it! I never remember any teachers tell me as a student to have a Happy Holiday all of my teachers said Merry Christmas. I remember my mom always wearing a small pin that said Jesus is the Reason for the Season. I am almost certain I might get in trouble if I wore something like that or even said something like that. It is amazing how much things have changed since I have been in school and I have only been out for 5 1/2 years.


So I will end with saying MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

What has happened to the Graham's?!?!

I cannot believe it has been a month and half since I last posted! I am so sorry and I am sure some of you have not checked my blog because I have not updated it, this is why I got Kelly to post on her blog that I actually updated!

Alot has happened in a month and half so I will share some details of our life!

1. Thanksgiving - Patrick and I went home for Thanksgiving and had a great time! It was great to spend time with family and friends. I actually went shopping at 4:00 on Black Friday and tried to fight this guy for Guitar Hero, but I lost! I was so upset when I got home, but I did get Caroline and Eli some nice clothes! After taking a nap Patrick and I went shopping again and we ended up buying Guitar Hero. It is part of Patrick's Christmas present, but we play with it now! I LOVE IT!! :) It is such a great stress reliever when I get home from a terrible day! Patrick calls me a dork because I am so into the game! :)

2. Christmas decorations- We left early on the Sunday after Thanksgiving because we were both really ready to get back to OUR house. When we got back we decided to start decorating for Christmas! We put our tree up and then Patrick did the lights and I decorated the tree. I also decorated the living room. Here are some pictures of the decorations! (The picture of our tree is on the side of the page.)

3. Byrnes Football game - My parents came down the next weekend and we all went to the Byrnes State football game! It was so much fun and neat to see old teachers and classmates! I was also happy because I did not have to drive far to get to the game! I was very proud to say that I was a Byrnes alumni after the game! :)

4. Christmas photo- While my parents were down we decided to get them to take our Christmas photo. We probably took about 15 pictures and had trouble picking one out! We also decided to include our animals since they are our children. That part was interesting because Duke is an outdoor dog so he really enjoyed coming inside and Lexy is scared of him so I had to hold her down. After the pictures Duke and Patrick started wrestling. Here is one of the pictures we put on the card, (The other one is the picture of the both of us on the side of the page) plus Duke and Patrick wrestling.

5. Anna Camille - The Tuesday after Thanksgiving our cousin gave birth to a beautiful girl named Anna Camille. We saw her for the first time today and she is so precious! We are also waiting anxiously for our other cousin to have another little girl named Emma. We are excited about the new addition to our family and Emma will live in Columbia so we can visit often!

6. Christmas Shopping - I found out last weekend that I have the best husband in the world! Patrick went Christmas shopping with me last weekend. For those of you who know Patrick you know how amazing that is that he ACTUALLY went shopping! We actually almost finished in one day! We went to Target and the mall at Harbison, which was crazy! Patrick was a great trooper during the whole shopping experience, but I don't think he will ever do it again!

7. Sunday School Christmas Party - Our Sunday School Christmas party was last night and we decided to have a progressive dinner. I volunteered for the main course. We had lasagna and salad, because it was easy! I had so much fun decorating my house and getting everything together. I have never hosted 15 people before at my house, but it was so much fun! I can't wait to do it again! Here is a picture of some of the place settings for the evening!

8. Summer Baptism- Our best friend Summer was baptized today at her church in Spartanburg so we left this morning to make the 9:30 service to see her. It was a wonderful service. She is a member at AMRBC and their youth choir sang during the service and they were WONDERFUL :) Their minister is also amazing and it was great to hear him again! We also got to sit with JuJu so it was an extra special day.

9. Two classes - One of the main reasons I have not had time to blog is because I was taking two classes at one time for my masters. I finished both courses two weeks ago and started another course last week. I will start the two class load again in January. I am very excited because I am almost half way done with my program! :) The end is in site!

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas season and I hope to continue to blog more! My last day of work is Wednesday and then it is time for Christmas fun and Staci's wedding! :) I will definitely have plenty to blog about! :)