This Christmas we made snowmen out of sand!

This year Cody and I chose to go to Ohio for Thanksgiving and Florida for Christmas day--so, we packed up and headed south to the Sunshine State and it sure lived up to its name!

Sunday afternoon, on the plane and ready for vacation!!

Our Christmas present from my parents this year was a King Size mattress and bed--so Monday morning we set out on our bed-hunting adventure! It was quite the task, seeing that we were shopping in FL for a bed that needed to be delivered to Blacksburg, Virginia--this is mom and I gearing up for the long day of shopping!

First stop, ROOMS TO GO

Dad found a comfy spot to watch as we spent his money

Mom found a new chair she wanted---sadly, we had no luck at rooms to go...maybe later in the week!

The next few days we relaxed, went shopping and ate--it was a wonderful vacation!! The the festivities began.

We started Christmas Eve off at my home church, McGregor Baptist's Candlelight Service

neat drama 

Kayla singing and sounding amazing!

then my favorite part began...

it was so gorgeous with all the lights turned down and everyone's candle lit!

We all stood up and sang JOY TO THE WORLD! It reminded me of how even when I feel it's just me and Cody as the only Christians in the world--there are hundreds and millions of believers across America and the World, and we ALL need to be encouraged that we are ONE body joined together!

Cody and I with our niece, Jordan, after the service

View from the balcony--i miss my home church, it was so good to be there with my honey!

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After church we made a last minute stop to see my grandpa Charlie and some family--we stayed for a bit then came to our Annual Christmas Eve tradition--party at the Propp's!!

The Propp family have been friends of my family for over 20 years now (HOLY COW!) We met as neighborhood friends and our parents new each other and we hit it off--today our parents are best friends and I even ended up marrying a man that looks like my old pal Ramsey Propp!!

This is Tara Propp (now Morris)--we've been friends for 20 years!!!

Mr. Propp, my second dad!!

My brother and Sister-in-law at the Propp's Christmas Eve party

The oldest Propp kid, Ryan, has a son and his name is Cody, as well---these are the two cody's and they finally got to meet!!

One of my oldest family friends, Ramsey Propp, on the right and my honey!! They stood next to each other for the first time on Christmas Eve and we all noticed how similar they really looked!! How funny!!

Well, that was the beginning of our Christmas break and a snapshot into the Holidays--more to come!!! Christmas day in FL and finally our Snowy White Christmas in Ohio!!

Hope all of you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas, truly celebrating Christ's birth as the main reason for Christmas--we have so many things to be thankful for, we are so blessed!

Love and Blessings, 

Cody & LaRae

Christmas before Christmas!

Since Cody and I were flying to Florida for Christmas this year, we decided to do a mini Christmas with each other the Saturday morning before we left--so Friday night was "Christmas Eve" for us--we had a nice dinner and came home to choose one present to open! 

Our "Christmas Eve" together!

Me picking my present from under the tree!

Cody meticulously chose his, as well!

opening his up... wonder what it is??

A coffee thermos and travel mugs---he really wanted them!!!

I opened mine and got a jewelry holder---i love it!!!
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The next morning we woke up to CHRISTMAS MORNING--

we had orange rolls and orange juice (our Christmas traditions!)

We had the fire going as we opened presents. 

My stocking and all the goodies Cody got for me!

-Lemonade vitamin water, argyle stockings, neck massager, fleur de lis note pad and yummy tea tree lip gloss!

Cody and his crazy eyes about to open his stocking!

Cross pops--lollipops in the shape of crosses. It may be sacreligious, but very hilarious!

Maine Maple Syrup!

Then he got a BIG Ohio State Tervis Tumbler--His cup!

Now it's time for PRESENTS!!!!

I got a black beenie I've been wanting forever!!!

Cody got the 1st and 2nd seasons of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"

He got me a monogrammed necklace!

Cody got his UGG Boots!!

We had a great FIRST Christmas together--now it's time to head to FLORIDA!!!

Recipe of the Week!!

Peppermint HO-HO-HO Cake

1 chocolate cake mix (and ingredients to bake cake)
1 container chocolate frosting
12 candy canes (pulvarized to bits in the blender)
1 8 oz. block of cream cheese (softened)
1 stick of butter (softened)
3 C powdered sugar
1 8 oz. tub of cool-whip (thawed)
peppermint flavoring to taste

Mix cake mix and bake. Set aside to cool. While baking and cooling, mix together the cream cheese, stick of butter, powdered sugar, and peppermint really well with a mixer. Add peppermint a little at a time, (they have different strengths depending on which one you use) and take a little taste after mixing in. You can always add more, but you obviously can't take any out. I add about 3/4 teaspoon of the one I use. Then slowly FOLD in the cool-whip until all is fluffy! Put in fridge to get cool and thicken a bit.

When cakes are cooled and filling is thickened a little, slice the cakes in half horizontally, so you now have four layers of cake. Place first layer on cake stand or plate, spread 1/3 of peppermint fluff close to edges (not completely, as it will ooze when you add more layers on top) and then sprinkle crushed candy canes all over. Repeat this two more times. After last layer is placed on top, place in fridge to chill for an hour or so. After cake has cooled, place frosting in microwave for 15 seconds at a time until pourable. Pour frosting over top of cake and let it "ooze" over the top and down the sides. Sprinkle more candy canes over the top and put back into fridge to stay cool!! Enjoy!!

Oh yah! Be sure your top layer of cake isn't wider than the rest of the layers, because if it is, then all the chocolate glaze drips off the sides and pools at the bottom instead of running beautifully down the sides as it's supposed to!

*I am trying the recipe this weekend --I've heard it's amazing!!! ENJOY!!


~LaRae

6 Months has flown by!

December 21st Cody and I will celebrate our 6 Month Anniversary!!

I truly can not believe it has been six months, oh how time flies by! Today we're doing so much--appropriately enough Cody will be preaching again today, we have our big Northstar Family Christmas Dinner and then tonight we are flying out to FL for Christmas holiday! It'll be a great start to our first six months--VACATION!!!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and remembers the true reason for the holiday....no, it's not presents. It's Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
LaRae & Cody

Videos of Christmas at the Lyric!!

The video wasn't working on Blogger--so I uploaded them to YouTube...click the links and view them at Youtube.com (they are filmed in HD, so click "view in high definition" on the bottom right of the video once at YouTube--it's better quality!)

Opening Act Link and Cody singing Holy Night

Marys Boy Child Link

New Star Shining Link

Hannah Sewell singing Labor of Love

Little Drummer Boy

We hope you enjoy watching "Christmas at the Lyric"

A Christmas to Remember!

Our weekend started out with Cody's parents coming in on Friday afternoon! They stopped by my office and met a few of my co-workers! Later that night we relaxed, had dinner at our favorite little Italian restaurant then all came back to our house to watch a movie! The next morning I felt like one of those escorts at Disney World. Cody's parents dressed up at Santa and Mrs. Claus to promote "Christmas at the Lyric"--we had a great time!!!

           

Mark and Robin all dressed up downtown Blacksburg!             

       This little girl was so excited to see them--she was jumping up and down!!

       

Later that night we got all dressed up and we went to see The Nutcracker at Radford University. Robin and I were so excited, the boys not so much--but they were good sports and Robin and I made up for it later :)

This was the first time I'd seen it and Robin hadn't seen the nutcracker for almost 30 years!!

The opening scene--we couldn't take pictures so I had to sneak this one!

 

The final act--i figured they couldn't kick me out at this point! :)

The next morning was "Christmas at the Lyric"

They put our service on the Marque sign!!!

Just a small bit of the crowd eating the yummy donuts and coffee

Shane welcoming everyone (cody's fabulous photoshop skills on the screen)

Pictures of the service ...

Mrs. Clause reading "The Night Before Christmas"

All the kids singing for the audience-it was precious!!

*We had an amazing turn out and people loved the service!! Cody did an incredible job at producing this entire event!! I was so proud to be married to the boy on stage!!

****VIDEOS ON THE NEXT POST**********

Love y'all,

LaRae and Cody