One word,.....Christmaaaaaas!!!!! The absolute best time of the year, the best time spent with family, the most cheer and happiness all year all around! Oh how I do love everything CHRISTmas and everything about it! (putting Christ in the center) This has been the best send off holiday as being a 'single lady' before I dive into marriage :) and my new life with the new ways we will celebrate holidays between two families instead of one as Cody and I are our own little family. It is so difficult to realize that my mom will have a rough transition with that being a single parent, she is so close to Morgan and I. I hope she can ease into the transition well and doesn't feel like she is losing a daughter but is gaining a son! And we hope to live in Tennessee.
The rest of Christmas break from the last blog has been a whirlwind of fun adventures and memories for Cody and I and we have no kidding made the Chattanooga to Knoxville trip at least 15 times. We had to do that to appease both families, doctors visits, Christmas celebration traditions, and wedding planning. There is nothing like family!
Before I dive into Christmas I realized I never talked about Halloween! Somehow I skipped that! Well we celebrated Cody's first Halloween and had our cousin Nathan over and it was a blast. I am happy to say Cody liked Halloween! Especially when he realized we really get to eat candy ha! His parents never let him or his brothers participate in Halloween and I feel like he has been deprived! It was always such an awesome tradition for us Dyars and Beckers to all get together in the middle of the school year to have lots of fun and fulfill our hotdog and chili before trick-or-treating tradition! And lets not forget our post trick-or-treating candy auction! Anyways, this year on Halloween before we did anything, Cody and I drove to his house with my grandmother and mom and took save-the-date pictures! They were breathtaking! Along with the gorgeous scenery, Gigi's wonderful photography skills, and my moms directing, we ended up with 30 PERFECT pictures. It was so hard to choose which 3 I liked for the card! Since we have sent out the save-the-dates I will go ahead and show you guys. We have had a lot of trouble getting some save-the-dates to some people for some reason so if you haven't gotten it yet don't panic! We are still working it out!
Wonder Woman and Jason the ax murderer!
Sorry for the picture of a picture but here are two pics from our save-the-date session! I LOVE LOVE LOVE how they turned out!
All pictures were taken at Cody's families farm!
Ok, back to Christmas. So the whole month of December, every Monday Cody and I went to pre-marriage counseling with my preacher Ann. It was honestly one of the best experiences! We learned so much and brought up many many discussion topics with each other while working through the christian workbook
Getting Ready for Marriage. We really enjoyed working and talking with Ann! I think that book is perfect for couples who don't date too long like most people or have trouble bringing up or discussing difficult issues. But for Cody and I, we have been dating for almost 5 years and we have experienced so many life situations together and we also talk about EVERYTHING! We are on the same page 99% of the time. The one benefit for dating as long as we have is we are able to know most of the books answers and know the answers to the questions about each other.
Another thing that has taken a large role in me and Cody's Christmas break this year is two dreadful words....JOB HUNT. Man, even knowing beforehand how challenging it is, I really don't think you understand until you go through it. Cody is the top priority right now for finding a job since he has graduated but I have been keeping my eyes open too. Cody has probably applied 50 times at least and has not gotten really anywhere. He is so positive and hopeful, it is hard to watch the whole process of the often disappointment. He has gotten one offer lately that will take into effect August which we are forever blessed for (if it does work out) but man we are about to be married and we can't be broke going into marriage! We need some kind of income!! I have to know it will all work out. Trust in the Lord!
One neat thing this Christmas that has become 'our thing' is watch every single Star Wars movie! I never really was into Star Wars growing up and never had an interest having watched bits and pieces of each movie. But Cody sat me down and had me watch all of Episode 1 and I was instantly hooked! We watched them backwards just so Cody could get me hooked to the series since the first 3 episodes are the most action packed but I am so glad we did it that way! It worked for me! I already knew Darth Vader was Lukes father, and Luke and Leia were siblings. I had known that for years.
So after our Star Wars marathon ended, it was time for all of the family Christmas's! The first Christmas we went to was my Nana's Christmas up in the smokies. We rented this 4 story cabin and oh my word it was the most fun we have had ever! Each night we stayed up until 3 or 4 playing games and visiting together. Man I love my cousins! I am so blessed to be the oldest cousin and I do believe God gave me that role for a reason. I love pathing the path through life for everyone! I am also eternally blessed 70% of my cousins are within 4 years of age from me! On that Friday we all arrived to the cabin around 4:00pm and immediately explored every inch of that huge cabin! Oh we were in awe! Almost each person had a room (poor Edgar and Cody had to sleep on the broken pull-out couches) and aunt Jody and uncle Wade got the 'honeymoon suites' in the uppermost 4th floor since they like to go to bed early and we could go on the very very bottom floor and not bother them. The 3rd floor consisted of my Nana, Morgan, and Nathan. Mainly because Nana wanted to wake up and cook breakfast early. Oh and not to mention each person got their own bathroom! We were in heaven! On the 2nd floor, was my Dad and Tonya, Nick and Laura, and me. On the 1st floor, the game floor was Cody and Edgar in their own separate rooms. (Nana fell completely through one of the couch beds because it was such poor quality. She was ok). One really neat thing we did this year as our annual Christmas practical prank was the penny trick! I got 300 pennies and distributed them out to each person (grand kid) and we hid them very well all throughout the 4 floors. And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere. We hid them in the bathroom towels, pillow cases, toilet, food boxes, shoes, stockings, everywhere. The trick was the adults would see a penny randomly on something and think, "WOW! a penny!" and then as time goes on they find more and more and more and start to get freaked out. They of course eventually figured it out but seeing that process in their minds is one of the greatest Christmas gifts LOL! (last year was balloons)
So as everyone started piling in as they arrived we all played and had a great time in the 3rd floor icing cookies and watching the cartoon version of the Grinch who Stole Christmas since we did that every year as small children. We sang songs and acted crazy until bed time.
v
Cookie icing fun!!!
My plate (note the 'R')
Traditions
Main 3rd floor
2 hot tubs, one on 3rd floor, one on 2nd floor.
Nana, Uncle Wade, and Me. Great picture!
'Honeymoon suites' for Uncle Wade and Aunt Jody up there.
My Nana! (She always is this happy) Nana always put so much time and effort into her Christmas to make sure it is perfect for us and she loves each and every one of us so much! Her love is definitely shown through her actions. Thank you Nana!
Nathan, Morgan, and Nana's rooms.
Running up the stairs (I love stairs and this place had multiple multiple flights)
My room!
The stinky bathroom.
Running back up the stairs!!!
The quiet landing to the 2nd floor
The first floor, the game room. Us kids spent 90% of our time here. Foosball table behind me. (and Codys bed poor thing) Next year we will have our own room because #married lol.
And last but not least our pool table! There was also a hanging swinging bench on one of the porches! So peaceful!
So on Saturday morning we woke up really really early to make it to the Applebarns breakfast and it didn't disappoint! We walked around the Christmas store and all us grandkids decided to get Nana cute little ornaments with our names on it as a thank you for everything.
My sweetheart and I outside the Applebarn. I love this picture! Photocreds to Aunt Jody and Nana!
A picture of the beautiful Smoky mountains as Cody and I are trying not to see our breakfast again as dad drives crazily back to the cabin. (sorry dad)
After breakfast, the kids head to Wonderworks to do their new rope course and I have to say, it was INCREDIBLE! I would definitely do it again over and over and over. We went through the 4 levels with ease with the 4th being the scariest but best! I've always loved stuff like that! I love anything active! After that we ate at the Old Mill and their portions were huge but delicious! Following that we arrived back at the cabin and wrapped Nana's ornaments for present opening Sunday morning.
We didn't have any wrapping paper so we had to get creative. We used napkins and Tonya's colored markers.
Here we are at work on the presents. (The 1st and 2nd floor were the kids floor)
We challenged each other to pool and foosball (with me being the foosball champ, I had to re-state my title guys ;)) There were just enough people to play foosball AND pool simultaneously! In the picture above we had "settled down" and played a game of apples to apples. Nana has always been so cool! She will stick with us grandkids the whole time eating up every second of the fun :)
There became too many people on the floor so I got booted onto the couch behind them. (hey I really got the better deal, the couch was comfy and perfect for selfie stick angles;))
Apples-to-apples was SO MUCH FUN! We play in a funny way and I don't think we stop laughing once!
Sweet Nana
Morgan and Edgar
As seen on my instagram, Cody got his very own grankids stocking this year because he is being welcomed officially into the family! a.k.a. we're engaged!
The next morning we woke up and ate Nana's famous sausage balls and opened presents. We had to be quick because we had to check out at noon. :'( tears. We left the cabin and headed to Cody's Nana's Christmas immediately in Chattanooga.
Nana Wamacks Christmas, Codys Nana, was a lot of fun! We opened presents and played board games and ate delicious food! Their decorations were beautiful! And I do have to admit that Cody and I did fall asleep because we hadn't slept but 4 hours a night the past 3 nights from my Nana's Christmas. It was worth it though!
Cousin Will, Uncle Greg, Miles, and Cody (Amy and Kaden in the background)
Same people but Papa on the far left. I can't wait to officially be apart of this family!
The Christmas decorations!
For each Christmas Cody and I got our wedding registry gifts which we are so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so grateful for!
Next was Gigi's Christmas! It was one of the best ones we had ever had! It was so much fun and everyone was so happy! We had chili for dinner, read a Christmas Story play, watched the 'adults' open presents and watched Christmas movies until 1:00am! I'm not sure why but both of my families never sleep haha! The next morning we woke up early, opened presents, and ate delicious morning rice! Gigi got Cody and I some of the most beautiful, thoughtful gifts anyone has ever given us regarding our relationship and our upcoming marriage! Cody and I were amazed!
This was one beautiful thoughtful gift! Cody and I have started collecting ornaments for when we have our first married Christmas next year in our own place with our own tree! You have no idea how long we have been waiting for that.
This was a exquisite box with our names engraved and our wedding date that holds our wedding rings! I am so blessed to be the first grandchild married! It is such a blessing and a special time! I can't wait until the actual wedding!
This is just a gorgeous picture of sweet Gigi and Granddad! They put so much time and effort into making sure we are all happy and their Christmas goes well! They will do ANYTHING for each one of us! What a precious gift to have them as my grandparents!
The whole Becker fam adults (minus Gigi)
Sweet Ada! She is my buddy and ecstatic she will be my flower girl! She got these beenie boppers things and she loved playing with them together! She is my little buddy! Children are a blessing! I don't know what we all would have done if Aunt Steph and Uncle Pauls 5th child Ada was never born!
Aunt Steph and her new Iphone plastic case that we almost lost. Oh my.
Uncle Paul!
Granddad, me, and Cody.
Me and my beautiful mama!
Morgan, me, and cousin Katy.
Look at this cute cute outfit Gigi got me! I love it so much! And notice the AWESOME shoes! I've always wanted cool shoes like these!
Aw!
All of our stockings all 'hung' in a row.
Getting ready to open the presents youngest to oldest waiting on the stairs.
Dyar family children (can I include Cody) :)
Sleepy 7:00am. That's what happens with younger kids :)
After breakfast we packed up and drove to the Raborn Christmas!
Part of our car traveling selfies as we made the Chatt-Knoxville trip 15 times. (This is the dog Max form the Grinch that I found and got at Hobby Lobby!) He's so soft!
Sorry it's sideways, the blog is having a glitch but notice the matching shirts! We never match and it makes me happy!
We arrived at the Raborn household, had sandwiches and saw the aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins!
Here is the Raborn family clan! So neat to be the absolute youngest on this side to see the cousins having kids! Little Kaden, Beau, and Grayton are so precious!
After dinner and presents (thank you so much Jamie and Miles) , Cody, Miles, and I made gingerbread houses! We actually had a really fun time! Miles' (my father-in-law) turned out the best! ;)
This was my little icicles gingerbread house!
After Raborn Christmas, I went to my house for Dyar Christmas. We celebrated the day after Christmas to accommodate my dad's schedule. We played board games, looked at Christmas lights, had fun, and ate sausage balls. It was such a bittersweet Christmas being the last one at my house, the last one with my dad (divorced parents life to a T), and the last Christmas I can or want to technically celebrate with my family without Cody. I can't wait to see our own new traditions next year! Sweet mom gave me some of our wedding registry gifts and some sweet thoughtful gifts. She always knows what we need and want! I got this awesome 3D printing pen that I have been dying to have! That is what I work with all of the time in my Materials Science Engineering classes so I am ecstatic! I have one of my own! !
Since we are in the process of moving houses, we don't have a tree and this is a wonderful substitute!
Some cool metal rod game!
Cody and I ended the Christmas celebrations with a Bonefish date night and Starbucks! Two of our favorite places! Look how handsome my sweetie is!
These are the gifts I got Cody! These are stockings for our own house one day and for next Christmas! I can't wait!!! I also painted that deer on the wood block! It was harder than it looks! It is a good compromise than having a real deer head in our bedroom I think;).
This is the sweet gifts Cody got me!
I finally got my new monogrammed initials on something!! I have been waiting on this for a long time!! Thank you so much Cody!! Cody also got me the selfie stick! And it works! Third times the charm (dumb phone).
This has been such a bittersweet Christmas break (more sweet than bitter) and I hate to see it go. I am leaving Christmas break knowing that I will never get another actual Christmas break like these during college EVER. When I start working (hopefully soon) I will never ever get a month off for Christmas and that makes me sad! Christmas means so much to me and all of the time spent with family. I will really miss it. I will have to get used to a few days off only. Here's to the absolute best Christmas ever!
Love,
Kayla Dyar (Raborn)
1-6-16
P.S.- 150 more days until the wedding!!!!!! :D
Active countdown on my instagram!
