Thanksgiving Preview

Being from a large family has it's perks- Multiple Thanksgivings :)  We started the holiday season off right yesterday at Memaw & Papaw's Thanksgiving Lunch. Needless to say everyone left full and satisfied.

As always, pictures were taken:

Charlie manning his post

walk around buffet style lunch

pretty sister- Emily

"stop taking my picture"

I can't wait for Thursday. We will be back in Hartselle for Grammie's Thanksgiving Feast. YUM!

Christmas Cards

It's that time again... time to beg my sister to take a photo of our little Thomas family and put together a Christmas Card. When I asked Brent to do this he suggested we use a photo from Halloween. To this I said, "We were dressed as indians." His response, "Greetings from the Thomas Tribe...Merry Christmas to you and your people." Seriously? NO! I hope my sister is able to capture a good photo of us sometime tomorrow or Sunday. Looks like Charlie will get a bath tonight to get ready for the occasion. I plan on using Shutterfly to order our cards and hopefully send them out by the beginning of December.

Here are a few of my favorite designs:

(check out http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards for more designs)

For some reason I'm always drawn to red... be it wrapping paper, bows or ornaments. They have hundreds of cards to choose from so I may change my mind but I'm leaning towards something simple (1  photo). Shutterfly is doing an awesome give-a-way for us Blogger users. If you're a blogger and interested in obtaining 50 free holiday cards for yourself click here. 

Thank you Shutterfly for the fabulous holiday treat!

Big Day

Tomorrow is the big day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TWIN (Jessica). It's back to normal with an Alabama Football game on my birthday. Granted it used to be the Alabama/Auburn game. Tomorrow we will DVR the Bama game and hit up my favorite restaurant: Chuck's Fish. Then spend time watching Alabama take care of business while sharpening up for the big game next week. Brent spilled the beans that he purchased a jewelry box for me but that it won't be delivered to our house in time. I did get my present from my grandparents (new Tory Burch flats) and I'll be wearing them tomorrow celebrating the big 26! If only the gave you the day off for your birthday.... Goodnight All!

Auto Show

I know it sounds like a weird place to spend and Sunday afternoon but I thoroughly enjoyed the 2011 Auto Show at the BJCC today. Brent made mention of wanting to go and I though "Oh no, boring old antique cars". Not that I don't enjoy old cars but I was forced to attend many a car show growing up with my Memaw & Papaw and they always seemed to bore me. This was like visiting every car lot under the sun (except Mercedes & Hyundai) and seeing every model for 2011 and being able to sit and maneuver around in them.  Brent and I have been preparing to upgrade my 2006 4 Runner to a new SUV at the beginning of next year. Our two options are the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Both were super nice in the 2011 models. I can't wait to actually start test driving the options and make sure I can back that big tank up.

GMC Yukon

Chevrolet Tahoe

 
The Tahoe & Yukon are basically the same thing...just a few minor differences. What I did learn is that GMC produces roughly half as many Yukons each year as Chevrolet does. I was also told that the GMC seems to have a few more options included without having to add them. That is reflected in the price tag though as Yukon is a tad bit more expensive. I'll leave the executive decision up to Mr. BR.

We were really surprised with a new car put out by Buick. When I think Buick I think "grandma". However, Buick stepped up their game with the new Regal. Brent currently drives a 2004 Camry. He has aspirations to drive a big truck. If the truck scenario doesn't work out (AKA we still live in the town home when it comes time for him to upgrade) I really hope he checks out the Regal. For it's price point it seems to be the most luxurious. It's one car I'd gladly trade in and out with him and my big SUV.

Here are a few photos:

Time for the Amazing Race! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Darkness

I'm not digging this dark at 5pm thing yet. I typically work 8a-4:30p...however in my new role I'm sometimes there later and can't stand leaving when it's pitch black outside. I find myself assuming it's 8pm on my drive home. It's a huge trick on my mind! I did love Sunday morning when I woke up and realized I had an extra hour to sleep before going to church. I felt so refreshed.

I hope to shoot more photos this weekend. My sister-in-law asked if I'd take some of her and her family (Mike & Dex- the dog). I hope they turn out well. I absolutely love taking photos of people.

Things are about to get exciting around the Thomas household. I've got a birthday next week, followed by one Thanksgiving celebration after the another. Our office was lucky enough to get Thanksgiving and the day after off and I could NOT be more excited. Big day of shopping & football for me on the 26th.

Last Sunday at church we had the pleasure of hearing the author of our pre-marital counseling book speak. It was so random! Our church just concluded a series on unmasking ourselves and this last week happened to be focused on our relationships. It was so nice to see the author speak in person. Brent and I both looked at each other and asked if we remembered anything we read. Unfortunately, neither of us could remember much. I know we took it to heart then but apparently we did not fully take in what we read. That seems to happen to me all the time. I think I read to fast and never really take time to mentally absorb all the words I'm processing.

Well enough with the randomness- I'm going to heat my leftover tortilla soup and watch Brent clean our tile backsplash. I promise to post pictures of the finished project-before Thanksgiving-- that's my deadline for him :)

By Request

Here are photos from Halloween. "Dances with BR's" & "Squating Pigeon" had so much fun at Brent's work Halloween Party. Brent picked out our costumes...and character names. He really got into this indian character.

{proof that he indeed did sing karaoke with a chilean miner}

New Hobby

Today was a great day. We went to church (early at 8am) and followed that up with a day of loafing & visiting family & friends in Brent's hometown of Calera. Brent's best friends wife (my friend Jana) noticed that on my 101 in 1001 list I had a goal to take photos of a family. She asked if I'd be interested in practicing on them and I was so excited for the opportunity. I had so much fun capturing their interactions. For the record, my lighting skills need great improvement and I broke down and shot on automatic because I was worried my subjects would be agitated if I kept messing up. They were troopers and I thank them so much for letting me be a part of their world for an hour. Click here to see  a few of my favorites from the day: http://ashleythomasphotos.blogspot.com/ 

***You'll also notice the new gadget I've listed to the right of my blog. It's a direct link so you can check from time to time if there have been any updates. I hope everyone had a great Sunday.

bad habit

I can't believe I'm admitting this but I started biting/ picking my nails again. I absolutely hate it and did it for 23 years of my life. After meeting Brent and deciding one day he'd put a ring on my finger I stopped. (Who wants to have gross nails when people ask to check out your ring?) Cold turkey...well finger by finger until finally I had 8 of 10 pretty nails. By the time the wedding rolled around (8/2009) I had pretty polished manicured nails on all 10 fingers. That lasted until the Alabama/Tennessee game last year and the blocked field goals drove my picking into overdrive. I managed to grow the nails back out and had them until the BCS championship game got a little too close and I had to force myself to stop because we had just won the title and I was lucky enough to be in Pasadena to witness it all. I believe South Carolina (earlier this October) was the death of me. I've managed to pick all nails off and am thoroughly disgusted with myself. I thought it was a one time instance but it's October 30th and the habit is in full swing. I hope by writing/ publishing this I will hold myself accountable and break this nasty habit once and for all with tomorrow being the first day of freedom. Wish me luck... Mind over Matter.

59 Days until...

CHRISTMAS!. I've purchased 1 persons present. How pathetic is that? I always tell myself I will get started shopping early. I'm usually good to buy the first gift right after Thanksgiving but really need to spread the ca$h out this year and shop early. Has anyone else started shopping early? Any good deals anywhere? I don't even know what to get my loved ones. Needless to say I have NO idea what to get Brent this year. Hope everyone else is in the same boat as me. Here's to a happy FAST approaching holiday season. Yippee!

Weekend Roadtrip

This past weekend we were able to head to Gatlinburg and Knoxville with several good tailgate buddies. It's became a 3rd Saturday in October road trip tradition. We all head up Thursday after work (or in the Thomas family's case--half day Thursday) and stay until Sunday. Nothing beats a big cabin and a Roll Tide Victory. (Special Thanks to my friend Alicia for awesome tickets) Here are some photos:

To top off the trip Charlie was able to go camping with his Memaw & Papaw. He LOVED it (you may wonder how I know this since he can't talk but I could just tell the way he lit up when he saw my grandparents and how much he pouted once we put him in the car to come home). Here are some photos my grandmother and I staged of the dog... I know..I'm crazy dog mom.