I can’t believe I forgot to blog about our trip to the Vineyard!

Sam’s aunt is the head chemist at Valley Vineyards! So cool. We took a party bus out there last Saturday with his extended family and rented out the top floor for a wine night and dinner. They let you grill your own steak/salmon if you want! Naturally, he grilled mine because I couldn’t do that even if I wanted to… but everything was delicious. I had the best time catching up with some of his cousins that we don’t get to see but a few times a year and having the usual bonding sessions with his mama and aunt Nicole :) 

Found these in my boyfriend’s room. He was raised right.

EASILY my favorite gift this Christmas. My perfect boyfriend got me this beautiful Pandora bracelet, complete with charms with my birthstone, a heart (because he loves me, awwwh), and his birthstone/the month we started dating (and two cute little stopper charms!). Hard to be mad at him for going over our gift price limit when it’s so gorgeous…

We had such a great night together with my family at my grandma’s and his at his aunt and uncle’s, stoked to spend today curled up watching movies then Christmas with his dad’s side of the family, his boss’s, and then more relaxinggg. :)

This is where Sam and I watched movies last night. Home theater (which, in order to get into, you must enter though a secret entrance behind a bookshelf… AWESOME) with 9.1 surround sound and 137 inches of pure glory… It was amazing. 

Friday we went over to Matt and Nan’s and watched 30 Seconds or Less and chatted about Nan’s bun in the oven and what they’re going to name her while little baby Hunter slept. Saturday we went to the Cyclones game and then to Newport on the Levee with Sam’s coworkers & co. Yesterday was spent at my uncle’s with my cousin’s new baby while Sam and the guys did manly things… And then we had a late lunch with his grandparents, hung around with his uncle, then went to his friend Matt’s house (see: glorious photo above) to watch movies and drool over his adorable 2 year old son, Aiden.

Sundays filled with my boyfriend, our families and friends, babies/toddlers, large high definition televisions, and football? I’ll take ‘em. 

Celebrated Sam’s graduation this weekend! Friday night we went out to a lovely dinner with his family at 360 (the revolving restaurant in Covington) and it was absolutely delicious! They had a new chef as of 6 months ago, and I got the penne pasta with artichokes and a butternut cream. Paired with crab cake appetizers, a spectacular caesar salad, and the bottle of Pinot Gris that his mom and I shared - it was perfect. 

Saturday morning was graduation, brunch with his extended family, then I went home to nap while the boys went to the gun club. We finished off the evening at the Cyclones game & then went to the tavern for drinks with Matt, Nan, Matt, & Robbin. Sunday we went to church & dropped off our angel tree presents, then helped his aunt & uncle hang siding and trim around their staircase before the inspection on Wednesday. 

I’m SO proud of Samuel, but, for the record… I would NEVER, ever want to get a degree in economics… Even if it WAS my masters or whatever, just… No. So much stress and hard work. 

Sometimes I make cute things for my boyfriend for Christmas and he LOVES them! :) I made him a Christmas countdown with an envelope for each day. Inside each of the envelopes is a quote, picture, “coupon,” or some other random little thing just to remind him how much he means to me every day up until Christmas. Idea taken from The Dating Divas, their site is AMAZING. 

Sam and I like to drive around and look at Christmas lights. This house is my favorite so far! They have their own radio station that you can tune to in your car and the lights are synced with the music. There’s a train in the driveway and a Santa with his sleigh that moves up and down a rope, AND the lights inside of the house blink with the music too! We found this gem in his boss’s neighborhood on our way to a dinner party.

Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful with my family and his :) Didn’t manage to wake up for Black Friday shopping (oops…) but spent Friday painting/hanging siding at his aunt & uncle’s house and then we had a Home Alone marathon! The best. Last night was Sam’s 5 year class reunion (I didn’t even know people had those?) so I played arm candy while he mingled with people he didn’t really care to see or talk to. 

I’m a lucky lady. :)

My friends are funny. 

Sam made chicken parmesan for dinner ANNNND had opera cream cake from the BonBonerie waiting for dessert :) Omnomnom. My favoriteeee.