One of my favorite things about this time of year is sending and receiving Christmas cards. When my siblings and I were growing up we would scramble to look at Christmas cards arriving in the mail. My parents placed Christmas cards from friends and relatives in a basket in our kitchen. Whenever my siblings and I would return home from school we'd race to the basket for a glimpse at any new additions. I wish I could say I've outgrown that habit...but I still love receiving Christmas cards! These days I'm racing Andrew for the mail. ;)

I ordered our Christmas cards through Minted this year. I am happy as a clam with the way they turned out! And so impressed with Minted! They had the best customer service--I was easily able to approve a proof of our card, and the order arrived in record time. It's not a necessity but they had pretty darling packaging, too. I'm a sucker for that.

If you haven't ordered your Christmas cards yet take a look at Minted! They have an almost endless selection to choose from. You can order invitations, stationary, and custom art prints, too! 

Merry Minted Christmas! :)

{This post is not sponsored by Minted. I'm just a really big fan!}

Army-Navy // Philadelphia, PA

Andrew and I joined my parents and brothers in Philly this past weekend for the 114th Army-Navy showdown game. Oh my goodness, do we ever enjoy this rivalry! I can't recall how many of these games we've attended as a family. It's something we've done for years and years. I was so happy to introduce Andrew to this infamous rivalry last year! Of course it's all in good fun. The Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen put up a lot of bravado on the field, but off the field they work together to serve our country. 

One of my brothers left the States several weeks ago for his first deployment with the Navy. He'll be overseas until midsummer. I was thinking about him a lot this past weekend. I'm so proud of my brothers for their service to our country. They inspire me!

Our family enjoyed Philly, despite the unfavorable "blizzard bowl" conditions! We were able to meet up with a few friends and relatives (all Army fans!) at halftime, and decided that the game might be best enjoyed from the comfort of our hotel room. We wimped out around the 3rd quarter. :)

Here's a few photos from our time in The City of Brotherly Love:

Inside Philadelphia's beautiful Ritz-Carlton Hotel...I'd like to take their tree home with me.

A Virginia Christmas.

Happy Friday! Has your week flown by? Ours has! I think the snow days earlier this week threw me off a little bit...that or I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around how fast Christmas is approaching!

We're getting ready to celebrate our first married Christmas together...my first Virginia Christmas! We bought a Christmas tree several weeks ago and finally finished adding lights and ornaments to it a few days ago. Our small group was over last night and someone asked if the tree was a new addition...hah! No, we're just a little slow at decorating around here. ;)

Here's a look at some other Christmas decor around our home...hope you are enjoying a beautiful, blessed season of advent!

Admiral Byrd at 10 weeks // First snow!

We had a full weekend...full in the filling sense, not in the stressed sense! :) I love filling weekends. We had my Sis and her boyfriend over Friday evening for takeout Chinese. The weather was rainy and cold and none of us were motivated to go out. We had a wonderful time just talking together...those are my favorite kind of evenings! Saturday we traipsed over to the farmers market with Admiral Byrd (and oh did folks love him!). We drove to Lorton, VA that evening to visit my dear college friend, Becky. Her brother and sister-in-law welcomed their third child in October and I was anxious to hold that precious newborn! 

Sunday morning we woke up to snow! After church we introduced Admiral Byrd to the new precipitation. I don't think he was especially taken with it. At ten weeks old Admiral Byrd is energetic, curious, playful, and anything but shy. We are having so much fun with him!

My husband...willingly shoveling the sidewalk after church. He shoveled our neighbor's sidewalks, too.  He has a heart of gold. I love that man!

Edinburgh & St. Andrews // Scotland

It's a Scotland kind of day here in Virginia. A little cloudy and cool (but not unbearably so). Andrew and I pulled out our rain jackets this morning, and I couldn't help thinking back to one of our honeymoon days.

We packed a full day of excursions into our last stop in the beautiful country of Scotland. In the morning we ventured to historic Edinburgh. Later that afternoon we took a bus through the countryside to arrive at St. Andrews by the sea! 

I was so excited to visit both of these places. My sister had traveled to Edinburgh and St. Andrews during a college spring break to visit several high school friends. Her photos and stories from the trip had me itching to visit, too! I thought of her every step down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. 

Andrew and I took a tour through Holyroodhouse Palace (the Queen's official residence when visiting Scotland) and geeked out on the audio portion. It was fascinating! We also walked by the church where Zara Phillips married Mike Tindall! I think my obsession with interest in the royal family has only grown since our trip!

The bus ride to St. Andrews that afternoon was a relaxing scenic drive through the Scottish countryside. Andrew and I kept looking at each other and saying, "We could live here!" Upon our arrival in St. Andrews we visited the historic cathedral (built in 1158!), and then made our way over to the famous golfing greens. Not far from the greens is the beach where the opening scene from Chariots of Fire was filmed!

Andrew and I walked up and down Main Street in St. Andrews, and happened upon a small cafe claiming to be a favorite locale of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge! We stepped in to purchase a few scones and San Pells. The employees affirmed the truth of the claim...Kate and William really dated here! :) 

Andrew and I took our snack to go and walked down to the water's edge to eat. We had a view of the North Sea and a beautiful sunny day...that's what dreams are made of! Scottish dreams, at least. :)

Thanksgiving.

Happy December! I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful! I'm still recovering from the piles of turkey and pie and corn pudding we feasted on this past weekend. 

Andrew and I had such a special Thanksgiving together. We spent the majority of our Thanksgiving Day with Andrew's family (no complaints...I think I have some of the greatest in-laws!), and joined my family for our traditional Christmas tree hunt the day after.

There was food. Lots of food. And football. And even a hunting expedition! Andrew and my brother, Stephen, spent Saturday deer hunting in central Virginia. Stephen's girlfriend, Elinor, and I chose to stay indoors. We had to admit this whole hunting business is a little confusing for us...it must be a guy thing. :) I'll spare you the photo of both guys returning home after the hunt with not one but two bucks!

Here's a little photo dump from our holiday weekend...