Wrapping up Christmas.

Well the presents are opened and decorations are coming down. Another Christmas under our belts. If the years hardships ever doubted how blessed Cody and I are, I was truly reminded over the last couple of days. This time of year reminds of how great our lives are and the people we share it with.

I hope Santa delivered everything you wished for. I hope your belly's are slightly bigger and your homes are full with love and laughter. Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year.

Now on to New Years... I hope your thinking of those resolutions...JB

The Bunyards!

Christmas with the "little" brothers.
It's not very often were all together in
one place.

The most important things in life are your friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life. If you have these then you have everything!

- Author Unknown

Christmas and Birthday All in One Month!

Well with the month closely coming to an end, it is time to for the December birthday blog. Whoohoo! I love birthdays, but I can not imagine the double excitement of birthday and Christmas; all in one month! Whew.. I think I'll stick with my October birth month.


First I would like to say Happy Birthday to my little brother, Chase! Today is his 21st birthday.


Chase has always been our Christmas baby. I believe he came home, dressed in a stocking, on Christmas day 1989. According to my mom, I went in the house, took one good look at him, and then returned outside to play.. haha. Needless to say I wasn't too enthused with a quiet "Baby Brother".. However, he has made quite a splash on my family's life since then. I hope he uses his new found freedom wisely and I wish him many more to come.






Next on the agenda is to wish my most favorite Sister in Law a Happy Belated Birthday. Ashley Reed turned the ripe age of... eighteen.. on December 13th.Given that I have never had a sister, I feel blessed to have her in my life. Not only is she super smart and sassy, but she is gorgeous and overly generous. I know there are many exciting things in store for her and Kacey. Happy Birthday Ash!

I love you guys! Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!! JB

Quote on December Birthdays..

"Keep birthdays and Christmas separate. Never wrap a birthday present in Snowman paper.. They will hate snowmen because of it.." - Unknown

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Hello! Happy Christmas Vacation to you! (Hopefully you get a few days off)

Well, it is here! One week to go till we gather around our tree and open our perfectly wrapped gifts. I hope all of you are near the end of shopping and wracking your brain to the think of the perfect gift. Hopefully your family and significant others made your shopping a little easier and gave you a list.. Unlike Cody, who thinks he can telepathically send me his list. Um, no! But me on the other hand, I have a much better strategy. Oh yes!

I'm a girl who knows what she wants. So I start jotting things down in November. Honest. I will even tell you what store to go to and a ball park range of cash to take.

So those of you who favor Cody's non list making ways, help out your gift givers and write a few things down. And if you hesitate to ask for something because you think it might be too grand or expensive, just listen to this song. It is sure to make you feel better. Ha! Hippopotamus

Here a few things that are on my Wish List.

1. Pair of Ugg Boots.
A nice pair that I can put on and go!

2. Under the counter CD Player
We have one now, but sadly its broken. I love to listen to music on those few occasions that I cook...No seriously, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I love having access to music.

3. Wicked Soundtrack
You guys probably know about my small obsession with the musical. Well now I can rock out to the all the great songs everyday.

4. Sewing Scissors and Bag from Thirty-One
First, I love to sew. Second, if you haven't checked out Thirty-One's stock of goodies. You should!

With all this silliness said, I hope you stop to remember the real reason for the season; celebrating the birth of our Savior. Merry CHRIST mas! JB


"If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give love away." Author Unknown

New Years in Jacksonville?

So in the excitement of sharing my decorating stories, I completely disregarded telling you about the "Maroon Room's" Christmas tree. How dare I?

So here is the scoop. Cody's Maroon Room, or man-cave if you will, has a perfectly decorated MSU tree that even Dan Mullen would be proud of . It it sporting a list of True Maroon ornaments: from football players, helmets, and even a couple silver cowbells. Of course I was not allowed to help decorate; Cody's Room, Cody's tree... ( No hard feelings there, I'll decorate the big one and he can stick with the little one. ) Nonetheless, I do have to say that It looks pretty darn good. I'm impressed! Good thing I didn't graduate from Ole Miss or anything...















Speaking of Miss State, Cody and I will soon pack our bags and head to Florida. WhooHoo! For the second time this year, the Bunyards will make their way to Jacksonville. (We left for Bahamas out of Jacksonville earlier this Summer. Definitely not a fun drive.) Anyways, since the recent news of the Gator Bowl scheduled for New Years Day, Cody has been a busy bee making our arrangements to make sure we are there. And after a couple calls and swipes of the credit card, we will join our family in celebrating the Bulldogs success and hopefully a Win! JB



Before marriage, women should be told: "If you marry me, your marrying football." -Graham Taylor

Simply Festive

Joy to the World!.. I hope you are enjoying this joyful month; minus the frigid temperatures, chaotic traffic, and insane Christmas shoppers. Those things really haven't got to me yet, so I'm having a great December so far. I've spruced up my classroom with some Christmas decor and I occasionally bee bop around the room singing my favorite carols. I even made it a game to throw some Christmas trivia at my sweet students. They seem to like it, but I really just enjoy listening to there answers. For example, I asked if anyone knew what it meant to "trim" a tree.. Response: To give your tree a "hurr" cut. (hair cut if you didn't get that) Boy do those kids make me smile!


Rocking Around the Christmas Tree!.. So the tree is up at the Bunyard household. Oh and does it look good! I think they get better looking each year. Or maybe I just add more stuff? Anyways, I couldn't decide if I wanted real or fake. I weighed my options, compared prices, and even took a couple trips to Lowe's. But after much deliberation, I choose a fake. Yep, our massive 9 foot, prelite tree was a perfect choice.. Complete with a few presents underneath. Check him out!

Dreaming of a White Christmas!. One of my favorite parts of decorating the tree is looking at all the different ornaments; old and new. I love to find old ornaments that were passed down, the glass ones that have amazingly managed to not get broken, and the ugly homemade ornaments that my parents refuse to give away. Luckily, Cody is pretty carefree about tree trimming, so I have full decision making when it comes to ornament hanging . Here are a few of my favorites that will never be left in the box.















Oh, Holy Night!.. Speaking of ornaments, I have decided to start a new tradition. I stole this idea from a lady in my Mississippi Magazine (Which I entirely love and recommend you get a subscription to). http://www.mismag.com

Each year she sews a character from a story and adds it her tree. I love this idea! Due to my recent obsession with the crew from OZ, this year I decided to make the Tinman. And he looks great! I can't wait to make Dorothy and her ruby red slippers next year!

Isn't he Cute!



It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!.. One other new item to our Christmas decor is our new monogrammed stockings! Mrs. Donna Talley did a fantastic job on them! They look perfect on our mantle. I just love to sit with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy our perfectly decorated mantle. Plus, all the cards and greetings remind us of all the wonderful people in our life. We are truly loved and blessed. Speaking of cards.. I hope you enjoy yours!







Walking in a Winter Wonderland!.. Cody and I aren't the only ones in our household with Christmas Cheer. Jasper is now sporting his Christmas sweaters around town. He has several, of course, but I never hear him complain. Plus he is just too darn cute in his red and green!

Merry Christmas! JB

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.

-Dale Evans

A Very Belated Wedding Post

First I would like to apologize for the delay in writing this post. I have a legitimate excuse, I promise. I was waiting and anticipating the the arrival of fabulous pictures to pop up on facebook. )

Secondly, a month ago today, two very special people tied the knot in one of the most anticipated events of the year. My dear friend and fellow teacher, Sarah Lewis and her hotstuff fiancee ended the chaos of planning a wedding and said "I do".

Now these two were destined to be together for sure. Right down to their quirky meeting. It didn't take long for the sassy fourth grade teacher and muscle man gym teacher to notice each other. And after several months of dating, Clay knew he couldn't let Sarah get away. The rest is.. history!



Their ceremony was beautiful, complete with a huge wedding party, precious slide show, and song that would bring you tears. The reception was a complete blast and true to Sarah and Clay's personalities. Every nook was filled with fun trinkets and every table filled with a smiling guest. The DJ was rocking, which is always a must, and Sarah even serenaded her guests with some Bob Segar; which was totally cool! It was such a pleasure to see their hard work come together so perfectly.
At the end of the night, we wished Mr. and Mrs. Sartain off on a fabulous honeymoon and a fulfilling life together.

I wish you years of happiness and the joys that come along with marriage. Remember that you always have a companion and lifelong friend. And when you count your blessings, count your spouse twice. Congrats to you both!

"A happy marriage has in it all the pleasures of friendships, all the enjoyment of sense and reason - and indeed all the sweets of life. - Joseph Addison

Gym, Tan, Laundry...

Similar to the Jersey Shore Crew, I too have a list of chores that need to be done. But UNLIKE the Guido's and guidettes, I do not enjoy them, especially the laundry part. It seems the older I get, the more GTL I find myself doing... Boo. I'm sure you can relate. Anyways, December is finally here and with it comes those anticipated holiday events. But my holiday excitement was diminished with my massive to do list.. Which is growing as we speak..

However, after short consideration, I decided I would rather spend my Christmas Break being merry and brite then having miles of laundry and running boring laps; it was a no brainier really.

So with the tree up and cards sent, I quickly got to thinking what other festive events I would like to participate in this month. Wah-la! Here is my itinerary for this joyful month. Feel free to join in on any of the extravaganzas if you'd like.

1. Zoo Lights- The zoo has always been one of my favorite places. Everyone always seems to be in a great mood and there is never a lack of smiles. So animals, smiles, lights, and fake snow are great components of a magical evening.

http://www.memphiszoo.org/zoolights

2. Ice Skating -Speaking of the zoo, I heard that it is now hosting an ice skating rink this month. Being the overachiever, I think this a good idea. You'll have to stay tuned for the post ice skating blog... http://www.memphiszoo.org/zooonice

3. Miracle on 34th Street- Also being a fan of the arts, I can't wait to be an audience member and watch Miracle on 34th Street performed. The Desoto Family Theatre always puts on a fantastic show, and I know this one won't be any different. Plus I'm counting on it to amp up my Christmas spirit by a hundred! http://www.dftonline.org/

4. Graceland-As shameful as it is, I have never visited Graceland. I know, its terrible. I guess I have just taken it for granted since I basically live in Elvis's backyard. Excuse or not, it has actually worked out in my favor. This month, I am taking the tour of Graceland, plus I get an added bonus... Christmas lights! Oh yes, I will be taking the tour of Graceland holiday style. I'm already singing Elvis carols in my head. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ODrPL9-kEs

5. Cracker Barrell-OK, as embarrassing as it is to admit, I have never really been to Cracker Barrell.. It never really interested me, but I hear quite often that I am missing out. So I am making it a point to go and sit in the famous rocking chairs, visit the Old Country Store, and eat the "best" homestyle meals, made from scratch. And if that didn't get me in the door, I've also heard that Cracker Barrell is an even better experience during the holidays. So again, my mishaps have actually been helpful.

So there it is, my holiday to-do list. No gym, tan, and laundry to be found. Only fun-filled events that will fill me with Christmas Cheer. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! JB

Not lucky, Blessed.

Hello all! Happy Belated Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoyed all the yummy dishes and gobbled until you wobbled.. haha. I know we did! Cody, Jasper, and I headed to my parents for a delicious Turkey and dressing lunch. (It is so very nice to have my three brothers and parents in one place.) And later in the day, we joined Cody's family for a very untraditional meal, tacos!! Oh yes, Thanksgiving Day Tacos and a competitive game of Scrabble was a success! I can only wish that your day was just as enjoyable.

I also hope you took some time to give thanks and ultimately count your blessings. After a tough day or bit of bad luck, I often remind my near and dear friends to stop and count their blessings. But one time in particular, I realized that I was guilty of being terribly hypocritical... Yeap, I was preaching what I didn't practice. SO..I have made it a point that every morning on the way to work, which is about a fifteen minute drive, I turn the radio down and count my blessings. From the big to the small, I count them all. With that said, I challenge you to stop and give thanks more than just once a year. Give thanks once a day.

Now this may seem absurd to some, but it really was an "eye opening" experience to me. I quickly realized how truly lucky I am. No, not lucky, but blessed. Happy Thanksgiving!

JB

Your birth is Something to Celebrate

Hello all! Happy November! This month brings much more to our household than just turkey; Oh yes, it also hosts a very special birthday. November 22 is Cody's twenty fourth birthday. Hooray!

I can't imagine my world without my sweet husband and I am thankful for every birthday we get to spend together. I think this is the...fifth time (give or take) that I have gotten to wish Cody happy birthday and I hope for many years to come. So in honor of the five birthdays we've spent together, I would like to list five reasons, don't worry, there not mushy, why he is awesome. (In no particular order )..

1. Ho, Ho, Ho

Cody is a great gift giver.. Seriously. I don't think he has ever giving me a present that I haven't just loved. He always seems to know the perfect thing to buy. Its a talent, really.




2. It's a no brainer.
He is smart, I mean super smart. I love hearing him talk about smart stuff.. It's hott!




3. Achooo!
Next to my mom, Cody is the best nurse. He always takes care of me when I'm sick. And somehow he manages to never catch my colds.

4. Can you pass me the hammer?
Oh how I just love a man and his tools! Cody never ceases to amaze me with his skills on fixing things. I can't think of anything that he hasn't managed to put back together.

5. Give my regards to the chef.

I love that Cody can cook. (Luckily, or we would starve) But since I'm some what of a picky eater, he always takes in account things I would enjoy. And not to mention, his dishes are always yummy.




Of course there are many more reasons I could list, but for times sake, I'll stick with five.

Happy Birthday to my husband. I hope its a good one!

Happy Birthday to a Holliday;

Heather Holliday that is. One of my most favorite people is having a birthday this week. Sadly the older she gets, the older I realize I am. However, it makes me smile to know that we have still remained friends throughout the years hardships. I am grateful to have her in my life.



Heather is a hoot. She is one of a kind. For anyone who knows her, well, you know what I mean. She is talented beyond words and brightens my gloomy days. Happy Birthday to my sassy, Maid of Honor. Many more to come missy! JB

I loved this day! These pictures remind me that we always have fun no matter where we are ; )