Cook Christmas

I love being married to this kid.

He's entertaining. Loving. Genuine. Detailed. Kind. Serious. Smart. Supportive. And he protects my Bird Feeder from Squirrels.

Now back to wrapping up Christmas.

We spent the first half of Christmas with my family and the latter half of Christmas with Seth's family.

Seth's parents.

Getting ready to open presents.

The soon to be newly wed Cooks.

I sure do love being a Cook. 

I love being able to make a smiley face out of the two O's.

I like that it is at the beginning of the Alpha.

I enjoy that I usually only have to say it once and never really have to spell it.

And I love how I can connect kitchen like puns at my leisure.

Karla will enjoy all these little things as well :).

Sweet Julian smiling big at his momma.

We enjoyed having a little kid around the Cook house this Christmas. He kept things entertaining and just has the sweetest grins.

 Julian w/ his Madre and Grandparents.

I think this photo is sweet.

The Cutsinger family.

Tacky Christmas Sweater.

I think one of the hardest things about being married is having to split time with family for holidays and just life. It's so tough to keep things fair. It's hard to make everyone happy - and Seth and I can stress ourselves out if anyone is unhappy about something. It's not easy to coordinate with my family, Seth's family, sibling's in-laws families, etc. We've done the best we can thus far and hope to continue that if we are able.

Now off that soap box.  My family has always had a traditional Southern New Year's Dinner. Seth and I have continued that tradition for our family. We usually don't have turkey - but Jay and Steph are awesome and provided us with some turkey for the meal. We made collards, black eyed peas, rice, cornbread, and hog-jowls. For dessert I made one of Seth's moms recipes - Chocolate Pecan Pie.

The fellas preparing the turkey that Jay brought.

Chocolate Pecan Pie.

It has a little breakage going on there, but it is still pretty and was delicious.

Seth is a pie kinda guy. 

He loves sweets.

I'm trying to avoid sweets.

Every so often I try to please my man. 

So, I made one of his favorite desserts (next to a fruit cobbler, of course).

At the first of the year Seth and I promised to STAY HOME. We have a lot we want to get done at our home. School was starting up. We were traveling WAY too much. It's been good - but we still never have enough time :).  For the first three weekends in January - we traveled one day each weekend - but hey at least we weren't gone for the whole weekend!

That sums up the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015.
2015 - be good to us!

And make sure we get back to this place for a visit!

The Cook's :).

Sineath Christmas.

Gosh - I'm sure you all have been just as FULL of life as Seth and I have.

We had a wonderful Christmas.

Enjoyed Family.

Had a HUGE, lovely, WIDE Christmas tree.

At a bonfire it blew up in flames and burned within mili-seconds.

Seth didn't like it.

He told me we would NEVER get a live Christmas tree at Thanksgiving again.

I told him - Yes we are.

He told me - No we aren't.

Then gave me you aren't going to win this one stare down.

And I said okay.

The weekend before Christmas we enjoyed seeing Seth's cousin get married. We went to a square dancing party the night before their wedding. Being as Seth and I have never square danced we were a little unsure of this adventure. We ended up having a WONDERFUL time. Seth even asked if we can try to find a square dancing crowd in Florence to get in with.

Only if there was more time in the day sweet Seth.

Seth's Parents and us at the Barn Dance

The Marsh kiddo's minus Woody.

 I really enjoy this picture of Granddad w/ sweet Julian.

What is it about our nephews? They both just ADORE their Granddad & Pops.

Mom opening her 'gag' gift.

My mom and dad are some of the HARDEST people to buy for.

Like Ever.

It's Ridiculous.

And there has been a time where ol Daddio took the gift idea Eason and I had for Mom.

It was mean. Rude.

We don't let him live it down.

Anywho - Mom and Dad always say 'Let me think about it' and then always come back with 'I don't really need anything. I have everything I need.'

Although, it didn't quite come to that with them this year (they actually told us a few items they could use) - Seth and I thought we'd play a trick on Victra.

We pretended to make a donation for her to an organization (I know that is awful sounding right - but we had to do it - don't judge).

We gave her a card letting her know we contributed to an organization in her name.

So, I gave her a few items and then gave her this goodie.

She opened it up.

Looked at it.

Looked at us.

Busted out laughing.

Showed it to Dad.

And was putting it back into the bag.

No thank you.

Just an awkward laugh/grin to reveal her dislike.

She then told me she would definitely start telling me things she wanted during holidays and birthdays if this is what my plan was to do. 

We laughed and proceeded to tell her it was a joke and we did no such thing.

Opening up a gift from Gam and Pops.

Gift from E and Uncle Seth.

Love my bro.

Even though Eason can be a turd.

He is a great brother.

He is always available for talking or texting.

Will always listen and provide his take on things.

Supportive like no other.

Not a great picture buddy at times.

He's my go to kid and I couldn't ask for a better little brother :).

Sineath kiddos and grandkiddo.

Henley & Mackay

Carsyn opening her gift.

Catherine and her gifts.

Eason and Aunt Macka.

I'm not sure where we got Macka from. I think we weren't able to properly say Martha for some reason, so Macka came about and we have stuck with that for all my days.

A gift from my cousin that my sis-in-law made :). 

Cook - est. 2010.

Goodness - 4.5 years with this stud. I'm still loving it.

Laughing at Seth.

My mom is an AWFUL picture taker. She will cut your head off in a second while taking a picture. I had her take a picture of Seth and I and darn it if she didn't cut my man's head off AGAIN. So, Seth took a picture of her like she takes a picture of us. Then he got one of us laughing at what he was doing. I enjoy the laughing one.

Seth doing a Victra with the camera.

The Sinclair kiddos.

Sweet Addy B and Victra.

That's about all I can do for now. I'll post pictures from our Greenwood Christmas and other happenings in the next blog.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend - Boy am I ecstatic that it is FRIDAY :).

Much love from us Cook's :).

Woods Wedding and Thanksgiving!

This past weekend this girl got married.

I LOVE this picture!

Olivia is my cousin and she just rocks. She was in my wedding and was so amazing to me - thoughtful and generous and involved so much. I will never forget what an asset she was to Seth and I and I was thrilled to enjoy her Wedding Day with her. 

She had an awesome photographer - HOT bridesmaids and a total HOTTIE matron of honor :) - crazy groomsmen - a loving family - the cutest flower girls - a GORGEOUS dress - A wedding cake to DIE for - and her favorite MAN of 13 years to walk (stumble?) down the isle too. 

It rained most of the day and a few arrangements had to be changed - but Olivia took it like a champ. She was far from being a bridezilla in the least! She was amazing. Overall - by the end of the day on December 6th she was a married lady - had a beautiful wedding and was a lovely bride!

Olivia and Brian

 Such a sweet moment.

I can't wait to see the rest of her wedding pictures. If they are anything like the sneak peek they are going to be mind blowing!

Now my family and I love to take some selfies. No lie.

We have a family group text that we keep up with and every so often we will throw some selfies in there. And selfies are ALWAYS a must when we are together :). I'll spare you all and just share a few with you.

Bride Selfie!

Addy B, Cara, and I 

Brittany and Myself.

Our Grandparents!

Father, Brother, and Bro in law of the Bride :).

Me and the Bro.

Now Eason is a selfie taking fien. He goes a little overboard at times with his selfies and Brittany and I have to draw him back in to contain it.

Exhibit A.

 Ahhh, he's just so darn cute.

We're working on the selfies with little man. He isn't currently into the selfies or any pictures for that matter.

My sweet little Sineath clan.

Moving along - 

This past Saturday and Sunday I completed my first semester of Grad school! Whoooo Hooooo! It has been amazing to come home and not have to immediately start doing school work or studying.

Seth and I indulged in three nights straight of watching Blue Bloods and Prison Break this week. What a selfish and unnecessary treat! We loved it, but had to put a stop to it last night.

I've listened to Christmas music since like November....the beginning of it. I love it. I love Christmas. I love cards. I love trees and festive lights. I love wreaths. I love stockings. I love everything about Christmas! It's always such a wonderful reminder of what we are living for - why we celebrate - Jesus' birth and the hope he brought on this earth through becoming flesh. 

Our Thanksgiving this year was a little different. My parents were in Kiawah (there first time away from Union in I'm not sure how long). Seth and I stayed a few nights in Kiawah with them and then we trekked on to Camden to share some festivities with the Cook family.

Mom and Dad at the Ocean Course - It was absolutely beautiful.

Thanksgiving in Kiawah - with my poor man's head cut off.

Oh my goodness - it can't get cuter.

Mackay is into 'Roaring' and he crouches down and throws his hands up and roars at you. Of course it scars the poop out of me :). Mom had been wanting Seth and I to see Mackay do this - because it is just so darn cute. He wouldn't for a bit and then finally he copied Pops. This kid loves his Pops.

Our Nephew. Blue eyed, cheek squeezing, cutie is what this kid is. He didn't love his E and Uncle Seth over Thanksgiving. He only wanted his Momma and Nana - but that is okay we got to hang out with him and see his cute self.

I love this picture. Dad laughing and Julian not pleased with something.

Karla and Tyson.

Seth's cousin Polly took pictures of us while we were in Camden.

Cook family.

Sweet boy.

They make cute babies for sure :).

All the Cook kids.

The Original Cook kids.

Married in Cook kids :).

We've had a busy but full past few months. Look forward to celebrating Christmas with our nephews and family in less than two weeks - Wow!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

The Cook's :) -

Gosh I married a looker.