A step up!

Every year Ben and I celebrate Christmas just the two of us before heading off on our trip (this year to New Albany). So last night we set our gifts to each other out and started celebrating. Well, Ben outdid himself this time. There are some things that are too sweet for words. He told me to close my eyes because he couldn't wrap one of my gifts. So he comes out and sets this thing down, and tells me to look. I, of course, immediately get teary eyed when I see this-

Now, let me explain; at least 3 times a week, Ben hears me say in a frustrated tone " I need a step stool in this kitchen!" while I am trying to get something off of the shelf. So off he goes and gets a step stool, but doesn't stop there. (Meanwhile, I could not figure out why I wasn't allowed in the garage for 2 weeks) Get this - he sanded it, stained it to match our kitchen, and stenciled it. Stenciled it. On top it says "Daeon's Kitchen-Aid", and the sides all have stenciling too. Its one thing for Ben to know Best Buy inside and out, but he said that he had been to Michaels so many times its not healthy. This is probably one of the sweetest things I have ever received.
He also gave Stormy a stuffed animal, which she loved for about 5 minutes before we had to take it away because she was eating the stuffing out of it :

Ben got a few good presents too, here he is playing with the fog free shower radio/mirror thing (makes shaving in the shower so much easier guys) he got:

Here's to step stools and safe shaving!

A few of us just for fun-

At our new house,

At a Bama game

And Stormy with her best beach bum cousin Max!

Where are the instructions?

After toying with the idea for a while, and deciding to overcome the intimidation of creating a blog, here were are. I've figured out the basics, and while I can't for the life of me figure out how to post a slideshow or get the font I want, hopefully I will conquer that soon. Our goal is to keep friends and family updated with all that goes on in our corner of the world. Here's to many posts and lots of pictures!
Latest update: Ben is out of the class world and will begin student teaching in January! 4th grade for a few weeks, then Kindergarden. Then its the full-time gig in the fall of '08. We are still in the excited throws of owning our first home, and have tackled projects like hanging curtains (as some of you know, that is a big deal for me), reseeding the front and back yard, and installing new hardware in doors, sinks, and windows. I will save the story of the doorknob for another time. Ben has declared his next challenge is going to be blowing insulation in our attic. Nice.
I am still working at GNAR, the Nashville Assoc. of Realtors. We made a trip to Destin in August, Las Vegas in November, and D.C. last May. I love traveling, so this part of my job is right up my alley. Not much else too exciting there. Much to my own surprise, in November I decided to train for the Country Music Half Marathon. Sweet Ben got me a Shuffle, and with motivation by Chris Brown and Linkin Park, I made it up to 4 miles before this holiday season kicked in and I had to postpone training til January. In a twisted way, I am really looking forward to it.
Well, thats all for now folks. We are off this weekend to the great state of Mississippi to see wonderful friends and family for Christmas, we can't wait! Hope you remember the reason for the season, and have a joyous Christmastime!