Merry Christmas 2016

Christmas cards from previous years:

2015

2014 and 2013

Merry Christmas from the Martins!

All the Pumpkin Pictures

Just to give you fair warning...this post is pretty much the definition of a photo dump. It's the last day of November, and I am just now getting around to posting all the pics from our pumpkin patch excursions. I totally planned it this way...wanted to give you a break from all the pumpkin pics that dominated your social media feeds in October.

Huston at the Dallas Arboretum Pumpkin Village, 2016

Visiting a pumpkin patch was one of the top "to do" items on my Fall Bucket List this year. While there are still several items on the bucket list that have yet to be checked off, I will go ahead and pat myself on the back and say we excelled at the pumpkin patch task! 

First stop: Storybook Ranch

We visited Storybook Ranch in McKinney on the first day that it opened {September 24}, so they were still working out a few kinks...which actually worked out in our favor! It wasn't even the slightest bit busy, so we enjoyed all of the activities {petting zoo, hay maze, pony ride, wagon ride through the 1800s western town} without having to wait in line.  My life-long friend, Brandy, and her kids {Preslee & Jake} were in town and joined us for this adventure.

Next up: Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch

The Pumpkin Patch at Flower Mound was a little overwhelming {i.e. crazy crowded}, so we didn't take the time to wait in line for any of the activities {hayride, pumpkin patch train, bounce houses}...but we still had a great time with our friends Chelsie and Cameron! 

Final stop: The Dallas Arboretum

This was our second year to visit the pumpkin village at The Dallas Arboretum...and it didn't disappoint! There's a reason it's referred to as the best pumpkin patch in the state. We went on Columbus Day {since I had the holiday off and Ryan doesn't work on Mondays} thinking it wouldn't be as busy since it was a weekday...WRONG! It was packed! However, I have to say that the Arboretum employees do a fabulous job making it as efficient as possible to park and get through the admission line.

Sooo...after visiting these three fabulous pumpkin patches {all on weekend days}, I feel like I learned two valuable lessons for next year:

1.  Go early in the season,

and

2.  Go early in the morning!

What does "Rock Chalk" Even Mean?

Rooooock Chaaaaalk Jaaaaayhaaaawk, K.....U.....

Rooooock Chaaaaalk Jaaaaayhaaaawk, K.....U.....

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, KU

Rock Chalk Jayhawk,KU

Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!

Everyone's heard it...the eerie {incredible!} Rock Chalk Chant that Jayhawk fans initiate in the final two minutes of a game when it's clear that KU will win. It'll give you goosebumps every time!

If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element.  {Especially likely on mobile devices}

It's one of the most well-known chants in college sports, but lots of people wonder what it even means. I decided that today, the opening day of the 2016 NCAA tournament for my beloved Jayhawks, was as good a day as any to give a little background on the famous Rock Chalk Chant.

There really isn't a formal meaning/definition for "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!" beyond it being the battle cry for the University of Kansas. However, there is a story/rationale behind the phrase. The original cheer was "Rah Rah Jayhawk, KU." It's important to understand that the KU campus is built on a limestone ridge {Mount Oread}, and limestone is commonly referred to as "chalk rock." Given that the university is literally built on "chalk rock" {and both words rhyme with Jayhawk}, these words were transposed to replace the "rahs" in the original version, resulting in the current Rock Chalk Chant!

It's more than just a chant though...it's a universal way to connect with other Jayhawks. Living in Texas, I get super excited when I see anyone with any type of KU emblem and always give them a "Rock Chalk!" as I pass by. My friends and coworkers used to always ask "Do you know him/her?" but they soon came to realize that the exchange of the "Rock Chalk" expression is just a signal of camaraderie among Jayhawk fans worldwide.

Here's to hoping we'll hear the sweet sound of the Rock Chalk Chant all the way through April. #RockChalkInHouston #Final4

Rock Chalk, friends...ROCK CHALK!

Merry Christmas 2015

Click here to see our Christmas cards from previous years.

Merry Christmas from the Martins!

Our First Christmas Tradition

There are so many wonderful traditions that go along with celebrating Christmas. Family traditions seem to create the very best memories...memories that you can hold on to forever. As we get married and start families of our own, it's fun to establish new holiday traditions.   

Our first "Martin Family Tradition" came about unintentionally...and I guess it started even before we got married. It goes back to the first Christmas we were dating when I gave Ryan an ornament for his non-existent Christmas tree. The following year we both got each other ornaments, and so the Christmas ornament tradition was born. After we got married, we decided that we'd pick out one ornament together to represent something special from that year and wait until Christmas morning {or whenever we exchange gifts with each other} to hang it on our tree.  

2011: The beginning of our ornament tradition.

2012:  The long-distance relationship ornament. 

2012: Ryan gave me this ornament the night we got engaged {12/22/2012}.

2013: An ornament to represent buying our first home together.

Our Christmas ornament tradition evolved a bit while we were on our honeymoon in Aruba. We knew we wanted to take home some type of keepsake to remember the trip, but we had a hard time finding a souvenir that wasn't ridiculously cheesy. We finally found a small "beach in a bottle" trinket and decided we could turn it into an ornament. Thus, travel souvenirs were added to our ornament tradition.

November 2013: Aruba

January 2014: Breckenridge, Colorado

August 2014: Nashville, Tennessee

November 2014: Napa Valley, California

Do you have a unique Christmas tradition?

Today I'm linking up with Katie {Katie Elizabeth}, Lisa {Lisa Loves John}, Annie {Home of Malones} and Cait {Home Sweet Ruby} for the Christmas Holiday Link-up. Thanks for hosting, ladies!

Wedding Traditions

I'm still a newlywed for....oh, another nine months at least {newlywed status lasts a full year, right?}, so I hope you can understand that I'm still so incredibly excited about The.Best.Day and how it truly went off without a hitch!  Today I'll share with you a few of the common wedding traditions we included in our special day.

Photo credit goes to McGowan Images...truly exceptional photographers!

Something Old

I wore my Granddad Lukens' cowboy boots.  He passed away in 2010, so it meant so much to me to have a part of him with me on my wedding day.

Something New

My wedding dress...

Something Borrowed

I borrowed an heirloom pin from my Grandma Mills.  It's a tradition for all of the women in the family to wear this pin on her wedding day.  My sister-in-law, Kelli, was the last to wear it, so it made it even more meaningful when she pinned it inside my dress.

Something Blue

Of course my "something blue" had to be tied to the Jayhawks!  

We included a section in the program so our guests would know how we tied in the wedding traditions.

I also had a sixpence in my shoe {from my grandma!} and three lucky pennies {from the year I was born, from the year Ryan was born, and the year we were married}.  After the photo opp, I taped these inside my boot so they wouldn't get lost. 

We did a lot to make our wedding unique to us as a couple, and looking back at the photos and watching the video, I am sooooo glad we did that.  However, I'm equally glad that we included a few of the customary wedding traditions as well.

  

November 2, 2013...The.Best.Day