Christmas time at the Sizemore's

So, I love Christmas decorations but I hate putting them out and then having to put them away. I know, I'm lazy but it's such a hassle, it's messy and you have to put it away in a couple weeks. Even though I'm anti-decorator this year I know that Joe's buddies will be coming over and I thought it would be nice for them to see Christmas decorations.


Joe and I brought it all of the Christmas decorations last night while watching "The Santa Claus" and in a few hours everything was out and I have to admit I love seeing them out. I realized that most of my decorations are things that mom gave me. They are the same decorations that I grew up seeing every Christmas season so now I get to see them in my home and they make me feel a little closer to home. I also think of all of the fond memories that the Christmas season makes me think of. I think of making ornaments, baking sweets for neighbors and friends, singing/mocking Niel Diamond Christmas hits, listening to Motown Christmas hits, hearing dad read the Christmas story, and many more fond memories. I have so many happy memories of Christmas time so even though I was feeling a little Scroogish pulling everything out gave me a new appreciation for all of my Christmas decorations.

Oh Christmas Tree. Zeus thinks it's his personal jungle gym.

The Nutcrackers

Stockings and candle holders

I love the little glass houses to the right.

Christmas dinner set mom and dad gave me a couple of years ago.

Birthday Cakes

Well, I was going to post a blog with pics of my Christmas decor but since I can't find my camera cord I guess that will have to wait. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. It was strange to not be around family but Joe and I enjoyed our day of gratitude together. Joe cooked EVERYTHING. I worked till 4am the night before and when I woke up from a nap Joe had everything on the table and it was delicious. What a great husband.

Cake 1
Joe was talking to one of his home teaching families about me decorating cakes and I got a call the next day to make a cake for her five year old daughter. I was really excited to do a Scooby Doo cake because it gave me the opportunity to experiment and try something new. Of course once it was finished I found a million mistakes but I'll probably do that with every cake I made. Overall I thought it was pretty cute and mostly importantly, my client was happy. One of these days I will create a blog to show all of my cakes but until then, you'll have to see them on here.I asked for a picture of Rebecca and her cake. Too cute.
Scooby Dooby Doo

Cake 2
Not even a week later I got another cake order, this time for a "retro cartoon" themed cake. She asked me to do "The Jetson's", "The Smurf's", or "Rainbow Brite". I ended up choosing "Rainbow Brite" because I had a hard time coming up with an overall design for the other two. Once I started putting the design down I was worried it wasn't going to come out right but thankfully, I was able to pull it off. So now I have two more cake designs and different ideas to play with for other cakes. I have a ton of icing left over from both cakes so don't be surprised if you see another cake up here. Till next time. :)

Keep Moving Forward!

Every time I say "keep moving forward" I think of Disney's "Meet the Robinson's" and instantly think of Isaac and Maylee, oh my goodness I miss those cute kids so much. Anyway, I always hear how I don't update my blog enough so I thought I would just post about what's going on with us.


School and job front
Joe recently classed up in hie schooling and he's doing well. I have been looking for a job since I moved here at the beginning of September and I'm happy to say I found a job. I had an interview at Old Navy yesterday and they called me this morning to tell me I got the job. Yay! I'm so excited to be productive and be around people. Of course the extra money will be great too so I'm stoked.


Thanksgiving Plans
This is the first Thanksgiving that Joe and I are alone. We've lived by family in the past so this is the first Thanksgiving that Joe and I will make a turkey and all the fixin's. I'm excited but I'm a little sad too because I'll miss being at home or being in Mount Airy surrounded by family. We'll be having some of Joe's buddies over though so I'm sure it will be just as fun.


The Diet
Joe and I are doing "The South Beach Diet". It's not like Joe needs to but he's being supportive. If you don't know about "The South Beach Diet" it's not about calorie counting or eating weird drink concoctions, it's about teaching you how to eat the right carbs and the right fats. The first phase is suppose to be the hardest but Joe and I have our game faces on and we're ready for the crazving battles which of course have already begun. More to come on that I'm sure.


Christmas plans
Joe and I are going to Florida for Christmas!!!!!! I am so ridiculously excited. I haven't seen my parents in six months. That is the longest I've ever gone without seeing them (no mom, I'm not counting the webcam as seeing you). I know lot's of people have gone longer and I have no reason to whine but I miss them, I miss friends, and I miss Florida so I can't wait to go down. On the way down to Florida we also get to see Kevin, Jennie, Isaac, and Maylee! Yay! After living ten minutes down the road it's difficult to not be able to hang out with the Sawyers so of course we're stoked to get to see them too. :)

Other than that....

Not a whole lot to report on. We're preparing (I bought my first serious coat for the winter) for the cold weather that will soon grace us with it's presence. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our ward and we're making friends fast. We have so much to be grateful for and we're so happy so what else more could we want? Keep moving forward right? Right!

Two years of marriage to a wonderful man...

May 5, 2009

Joe and I were curled up on the couch watching "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". In an hour or so I had to take him to a hotel in Charlotte and then the next day he would leave for boot camp. This was the last time for a little while that we could be together. As we were watching the movie my mind was racing thinking about how much I would miss him, how difficult I knew it was going to be without him, basically, I was having a silent melt down. Then, before I knew it the tears were pouring out. I had told myself I wouldn't cry but as I sat in his arms I felt as though my heart was breaking and I couldn't control them any longer. Joe turned the movie off and placed my tear streaked face into hands. We sat there and he said a sentence that I will never forget. He said, "I never knew it was possible to love someone this much" and in that moment I felt so blessed to be with a man that loves me so completely and endlessly.

November 3, 2009

Today, two years ago I was married to my Joe. I really never thought, knew, nor believed I could love one individual as much as I love Joe. As I pondered today of our two year journey together I thought of good days, hard days, lonely days, and days I wished would never end. I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to take this journey with anyone else. I will never understand what I did to deserve Joe. He is so very good to me. Even on my worst day he loves me without question. I love Joe today so much more than two years ago today and I know as each year passes that my love for him will continue to grow stronger.

Dear Joe,

I am utterly, and hopelessly in love with you. Without you I am incomplete and I am only my best when I am with you. I look forward to every moment we have together in the years to come. I can only hope in eternity I can show you the love that you show me everyday. I love you. I respect you. I admire the man that you are and the man you strive to be. I can't wait for the day that I have a little girl or a little boy that has your eyes or your nose. I look forward to growing old with you and telling our children of the days that we survived on Ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly. You make me so proud as you serve family, friends and strangers. You are everything I dreamed of having, everything I never knew I needed and everything to me.

Forever yours,

Jenilee Zywot Sizemore

Instead of getting professional pictures taken we had a friend take pictures of us to mark such a great occasion. She got so many great shots. Enjoy!

In no particular order...

Isn't this one cool?

Love the background of this one

Sweet kisses

She caught us dancing

We pass this tree on the way to church. I love it's yellow leaves.

The sky was gorgeous

This is one of my favs

<3

I absolutely LOVE this one

Forever...

Happy

Not my favorite...
Cute
Ah the yellow tree
Stealing kisses

The 234th Navy Birthday Ball

I know, I'm such a blog slacker. Sorry, I make no excuses other than that I am a dork. Anyway, moving on, Joe and I went to the Navy Birthday Ball last Friday. I got to buy a dress, accessories, I got my hair done, and basically got a whole day of being pampered (always fun). Neither of us had been to a Navy Ball so we were very excited. We didn't know anyone there so we sat where we could find a seat. Luckily, we did sit next to a very nice couple that we chatted with throughout the night. The program before dinner was rather long but interesting.

The key note speaker was a man who had been captured by the Japanese during the war and was held hostage for four and a half years. The man was fascinating. Here was a man who could have taken his life circumstances and gone through life letting people pity him but did he? No. He was light hearted and cheerful and during all of his tribulations he was optimistic. When he was rescued he weighed eighty pounds and had to be hospitalized for ten months. He went right back to duty after he recovered and once he retired he served his community and still does. After listening to him we had a yummy three course meal and afterwards we danced and explored the casino. The whole night was very fun and we were home and in bed by 11:30pm. It was a very fun night and the best part was being on the arm of my handsome, and sweet husband.

Gotta love a man in uniform

I'd say 90% of women there wore black

Cheese!
The ball was at the MGM Casino
This is us slow dancing. As soon as we stopped to take this
every other couple did too. Yep, we're cool like that.We look like deer in head lights.... really, we do.
We had to have some fun too exploring the casino

Oh yes, Joe looks terrified

Coat check. It was like 35 degrees that night.
Last pic of the night

Home sweet home at last!

Well, these last couple of weeks have been interesting. About two weeks ago we had an appointment with base housing and the housing agent showed us two units. The first one was all linoleum and on top of that it was white! It was gross to say the least. The second one however had carpeting and ceiling fans so I asked where we needed to sign.

We had no idea we'd be singing a lease but a few hours later we had the keys to our new town home. That was on a Wednesday. Thursday we moved all of the stuff we brought up here with us to our new home. Friday we flew to North Carolina and hung out with the Sawyers, Saturday we drove a sixteen foot truck all the way back to Connecticut and then Sunday we moved in. It was a crazy few days. It was so great to get to see Kevin, Jennie, Isaac, and Maylee. We've only been gone for a month but it seems the kids have grown so much. I miss those precious hugs and kisses. Jennie and I had become so close after living there that without her here has been tough so getting to hang out again was great.

After twelve hours of driving I was glad to get to unload everything BUT we only had one person to help us unload. It could've been worse though, at least he showed up right? It seems like I've been packing, and unpacking, and packing, and unpacking for the last several months so I am happy to say that we are unpacked until at least May.

Joe and I couldn't be better at this point. Being together again is just so great. He is working hard at school and I'm looking for a job. We now live right across the street from base so we have guys over from the base like every other day for dinner. They are so grateful for home cooked food that they would probably eat fried garbage and love it. Anyway, we're doing great, lovin every minute together, and we're so utterly happy. We're going to the Navy Ball on Friday and we're so excited so look for pics from that. :)

One day of visiting was not enough!

Sorry mom, we were possessed by aliens

Love this picture, miss these cute kids!

Cheese!

111 Georgia Street! We're ready for visitors!!
The house was a mess and covered with boxes!

I'm sorry Zeus, did I disturb you?

My boys (yes, that is Zeus staring up at Joe)

One half of the living room box free

The other half of the living room. I missed my piano.

Shot of the window

The dining room
The new bathroom accessories
Upstairs- Our room
The guest room which has been claimed by every one of Joe's buddies...lol
Oh, the forecast is calling for snow on Friday. Oh joy... (heavy on the sarcasm)

The kind of man I married

So, I have lots of pics to post of our move but before I do that I wanted to share a story about my Joe. Joe and I were driving back to our house and there was a nasty traffic jam. While we sat and waited and wondered what was going on we finally saw a woman, in her car with her flashers on blocking traffic. It was obvious that her car had stopped running (because why else would you stop in five o'clock traffic) and she was all alone. As we drove by her Joe told me to pull over. I pulled over and after a long day of school and such Joe jumped out of the car to help this poor woman. Joe started to push the car by himself and another man got out of his car and they pushed her to safety. Being the big emotion basket case that I am my eyes started to water. This was the kind of man that I married. I married a man who is willing to serve without hesitation, without bribe, and without reward. I think we (okay, more like I) tend to forget sometimes that service isn't about what we get out of doing something for others but serving our brothers and sisters willing and with a cheerful heart. I love Joe dearly and he never ceases to amaze me in his never ending ways of serving others. Here's to you babe....Hoorah!

Joe (on the right) and a Petty Officer