Christmas and a rivalry

You don't even know how happy it makes me to know that Christmas-time is officially here. It has always been a tradition to put up Christmas decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving so that is our plan today. Yesterday Brad was able to get started a little earlier in the day but then we had to break for a party we were throwing in honor of the Florida/Florida State game that afternoon.

For those who don't know, this is the biggest rivalry game in Florida and Florida State's season and it always occurs on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This rivalry seems to stretch back since the beginning of time but really started in the 60's. These schools are the two flagship universities of the state of Florida so it makes sense that this rivalry game can become, let's say, intense on both sides. Anyway, since the two teams are in difference conferences this is never a hugely important game because it won't affect their conference standings. But you best believe that both teams (and their fans) get pumped for this particular game because at the very least bragging rights are at stake.

This season the Gators came into the game as the No. 1 team in the nation so we were pretty sure it would be a victory for us. Add to that that it was a rivalry game that we were coming into with a perfect season record and you better believe we wanted to beat 'em! And, of course, the Gators did not disappoint. We won a great victory yesterday, 37-10!

Back to Christmas decorations. . . with the game and related festivities out of the way that left today to decorate. It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas and I'm so excited it's here! We actually had a really full day because we were trying to hang outdoor lights for the first time in our new home. None of our ladders were tall enough so we had to go out and get another . . . and then the special hooks we bought didn't work on our roof so we had to devise another plan for how to attach the lights. . . and on and on it went. So we got started relatively early (around 11am) and finished decorating right before dinner time. Oh well!

I love the way the house looks! It's my first time getting to decorate an entire yard for Christmas and I think it turned out really well. And each year I look forward to unwrapping all the ornaments we've collected over the years and reminiscing with Brad as we hang them on the tree. Brad mostly loves trying to pull me under the mistletoe. At least he's getting into it, right? ;-)

I hope everyone else is having fun getting into the Christmas spirit! Our place is still a little but of a work in progress but pictures to come soon, I promise! I want to get the house a little more spruced up and then I will deliver!

~Layne