I am SO Thankful!!!

I am SO Thankful this Thanksgiving season. This was my first Thanksgiving as a Menier.....and if you know me I said this about everything before I was married, of course it was "this is my LAST....as a Schindeldecker...." This year we started over at the Cregan's side for Thanksgiving and ended at the McFaggen's. As always we enjoyed our family and how close we all are. I made asparagus wrapped with provolone and prosciutto and topped it off with some Balsamic vinegar and Olive oil....oh boy it was a hit! I will be making that for Christmas that's for sure. 

Mine looked WAY better then these, but this will give you an idea! 

Every year at the Menier's we do a prayer circle before we eat. Everyone forms a circle hand-in-hand and one by one says what they are thankful for that season. It really ends up to be an emotional time and some that I treasure. All of the kids end up listing off almost everything under the sun, thankful for their cousins the most. With the adults being thankful for health, family and friends. J's sister also got married this year so we were both thankful for becoming wives and husbands. Katie and Tee just gave birth to their second boy {see Welcome to the world Mr. Cashton Broussard} just 6 weeks ago, so they defiantly had a ton to be thankful for! But what happened next I will always cherish!!!  They then turned to me and stated that they would be honored for me to be Cashton's Godmother!!! yeah I cried. ;)

What a little chunker! He's looking right at his Godmother!

July of this year I also came across a part of my past that I have been searching for, well for a long time. Thanks to an amazing detective friend, I was re-connected to my long lost family. I am not quite ready to tell the full story, but I wanted to include my love for the Hunters/Carlson's in this Thanksgiving post. 

This was at an impromptu Thanksgiving dinner with most of the Hunter's

 

So THIS Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for! My amazing, thoughtful, kind-hearted Husband. My ever loving family, including my newly expanded family {both sides, Menier's and Hunters!} my always-there-for me friends and my Godson Cashton! 


LYLY!!! {Like You, Love You}
Jamie

1st annual Chili Cook off!

In October we went over to the Guanzini's for their 1st annual Chili Cook off! We had 9 contestants with over 20 adults and 5 kids in attendance, it was so much fun. 

getting everything ready

the tally sheet

Here are the contenders:

  

 some of them were really spicey!

Adam wanted to sit outside where it was less crowed, and cooler. 

And the winner is.......

Scottie! 

Thanks again Steve and Mandy, what a great turnout and fabulous time!! 

Welcome to the world Mr Cashton Broussard

Cashton Julius Broussard 

My adorable nephew was born October 16th at 11:40 (ish I forgot the time) weighing in at 8 lbs and 21 inches long!  Katie (J's younger sister), Tee and Keyon are so proud of their youngest son, and little brother.

What a precious little peanut huh!!

6 month anniversary date

Wow I cant believe I have been a Bride for 6 months! (okay so our date was actually in September, we are now celebrating our 8 month anniversary tomorrow!!)  time sure does fly by. J and I have always celebrated our monthly anniversary's so we knew we had to do something for the 6 month wedding ann! I told him I would plan this date and surprise him. All he knew was that he needed to be ready with a bag packed for a one night stay, other then that he did not know anything else about it.

We left our home about 2:00 and headed West on 494. He thought we were going to our cabin, so he knew he was wrong when I went west. He then started guessing everything we could be going towards. Mall of America, the water park, something in Edina. I finally turned of the highway and into the Hilton hotel's parking lot. So he knew we were staying at the hotel. We checked in and went up the elevators and got off on the executive level. The room was standard, but what counted was WHO was in the room!

We unpacked and relaxed a bit before going down to the bar for some drinks and appetizers. At this point I was looking outside and checking my phone a lot so J was asking questions about everything. I had him thinking I was waiting on a car to come pick us up. About a hour later I told him that I forgot something in the room and to come up with me and we'll come back down for our next adventure. When I opened the door J realized his next surprise was IN the room! I had found this great company: http://aestheticaffair.net/  I hired two massage therapist to come to our hotel room and give us a couples massage! I tipped the masseuses a little more and they had candles lite and soft music playing. It was SO perfect!  It was such a relaxing experience. Since we have been in the middle of remodeling the house we needed to get pampered.

After our massages, we had dinner at the hotels' restaurant, Chop house. Thankfully I had a Groupon coupon for it, however even after the discount it was still spendy....so probably wont be going back there, but it was fun and memorable.

 The food was really very yummy and it the portions were HUGE, (but not quite worth the money)

Our anniversary cheesecake, OMGoodness so good! 

Day 6/7: Cruising and last day

This was our last official day on the ship, we took full advantage of it!

We took in the view from our private deck and....drank Champagne! 

 This was a free bottle of wine that we won at a meet and greet on the ship, cant get any better then free Champagne on your honeymoon! 

Cheers!!

After drinking the bottle and reading my book, J was taking in the view, we went to the main deck and checked out the pool. Today was the first day that the waves were large enough to make us almost seasick, throw in a bottle of Champagne, and we were good to go! 

With the boat a rocking and our added drinks this hallway seemed to go on forever

The pools became wave pools!! 

Here is a small video of the "wave" pool! 

Eating at Johnny Rockets, fried foods are the best when you are drinking. 

We had the two best waiters ever, they were SO much fun!! 

during the parade of waiters...

On our last day we didnt do much other then get up, eat breakfast and head out the door. 

We had such a fun honeymoon

but sad to be going home so soon.